Like my style and the way I work? So what happens next?
How far in advance do we need to book our wedding photography?
I have bookings up to two years in advance, (sometimes three). If you like my style and approach, contact me as soon as you have your date to check my availability for your special day.
When you know that I am free, we can arrange to meet up for a no obligation free consultation either in person or via video call/WhatsApp. It is very important that you get along with your photographer other wise you will feel uncomfortable on your wedding day. You can tell me all your wedding plans and your exact requirements and you can ask me lots of questions. I will hold your date for you until you have made this important decision.
HOW TO BOOK
Once I have received your booking I will send you full written confirmation and receipt and details of future payments and meetings.
BEFORE YOUR WEDDING DAY
How I prepare to ensure that your day runs smoothly and you have no worries about photography.
Pre wedding meeting
I'll work closely with you beforehand so that I know everything about your day enabling you to relax and enjoy your celebration without me interrupting you. I love it when couples keep me informed during their planning stages. I'll be in contact to arrange a meeting with you at your venue (even if I know the venue well) approximately 4 to 6 weeks before your wedding day to hear all your plans, look at your favourite places for group photos and where you would like to walk whilst I take your couple portraits. We also talk about timings, family dynamic, group photos and more.
It is important that you feel comfortable with me and the camera, so I include a mini photo shoot. I'll offer a little guidance about what works well in couple photos (and things that don't) and we walk around your favourite places at the venue. This ensures that I can leave you alone at this special time on your wedding day. It is also an opportunity for me to get to know your personalities a little and hear about the type of photos you would like. The photographs taken are given to you with a License to copy, print and share or can be used on a signing board or guest book on your wedding day.
REHEARSAL
If you are having a religious ceremony I attend any rehearsals you may be having even if I have photographed a wedding there before. (if available). This ensures that you know where I will be standing during the ceremony and don't panic on the day if you cant see me! If it is a new venue for me I find out about any particular restrictions to where the photographer can stand.
Two weeks before
If necessary, I talk to the venue co-ordinator, person officiating at the ceremony and any other suppliers such as the toastmaster or chauffer. I'll book a hotel for the night before, if location is some distance from my home so that I don't get held up in traffic in the morning. I'll also check venues for parking or any other restrictions and arrange if necessary.
The day before
One to two days before I will contact you to confirm my arrival time and make sure there has been no last minute changes to your timings on the day. The day before I prep and clean all equipment. Ensure batteries are charged and memory cards are clear. Write up my notes and make copies of the Group Photo list to hand to the group photo helper (as discussed at our meeting). Check all my timings.
ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
I'll arrive early and make sure I am ready to start at the agreed time. I will also do anything I can to help make your day go well. I am often seen taking button holes and other items from the house to the ceremony venue, checking that the flowers have arrived at reception or helping in the morning with my 'emergency kit'. I always have at least the following with me, safety pins, needle and thread, croquet hook (If you know, you know), stiletto heel protectors, scissors, plasters, Rennie!.
Morning Preparations/getting ready photography
I'll remain quietly in the background (unless people speak to me!) capturing the details and the atmosphere. I don't get in the way or pose people unless you have asked for some posed shots when everyone is ready. We will have discussed whether you want any detail shots as well as capturing the atmosphere.
Wedding Ceremony
For civil ceremonies with a registrar or blessings with celebrant I normally stand at the front of the ceremony room to the side. The opposite side to the Registrar's table. This enables me to capture you walking down the aisle, see your faces during the ceremony and the reactions of your guests. In a religious setting I must honour the rules of the venue.
During the signing of the marriage schedule I stay a little distance away. Once signed, the person taking the ceremony will give me a nod which is my cue to move forward and take the 'formal' signing photos. As this is still part of the ceremony they will often pose the couple and position the flowers. I go with the flow, but will also ask you to put the pen down and look at each other, have a kiss and be a bit more natural. I then take any other photos you have asked for with witnesses, children, parents (time permitting) and then position myself ready to capture your guests taking photos (in a civil setting) and you walking down the aisle as a married couple. In all locations I remain unobtrusive and never use flash.
Couple Portrait Photography
Even when the day is being captured in a totally documentary style most couples would still like a few photos on their own. We will have discussed everything at your pre-wedding meeting. At your preferred time during the drinks reception you can take a quiet walk alone, visiting your favourite places at the venue. A precious few moments, when you can take a breath and talk about how you feel. I remain in the background preserving the genuine, fun and romance. You can pose if you want to (ideas will have been discussed at our meeting) but I wont be next to you arranging the pose. You can just go for a gentle stroll without stopping or dance, leap frog or have a piggy back! It's up to you. This will be the only time that you spend on your own throughout the entire day and you don't want to spend it with me! No more than 15 to 20 minutes is usually needed as I also know how important it is for you to spend time with your guests. Also consider the time after your wedding breakfast during the summer months. This is often when the sun is lower in the sky (the golden hour) just before sunset and the light is beautiful for photographs. If you or your parents want a more traditional posed portrait, I will take this at the end of your walk.
Group Photo Photography
We will discuss these at our pre-wedding meeting and I will ask you for a list. These are usually taken during the drinks reception. I take them as efficiently as possible in a style that you have chosen. Between six and ten group photos is the perfect number to ensure you also spend some time chatting with your guests. They will want to congratulate you and this enables me to take lovely, relaxed, fun photos of you and your guests enjoying yourselves. If you want to spend hours taking very posed formal photos, I am probably not the photographer for you.
Your wedding breakfast and evening party photography.
Your speeches are the perfect time to capture candid photos of your guests laughing, emotional family reactions (laughter and sometimes tears) and of course some embarrassment from the best man's speech. Cutting the cake is a lovely tradition and the first dance is always emotional. I always stay beyond the first dance as that's when the party is just getting started and guests really relax and let their hair down! Depending on your family and wedding party dynamic, the story of your day isn't complete without pictures of your grandparents, parents, wedding party and guests dancing. You may also have sparklers or fireworks. Amazing! The evening buffet/BBQ being served is often an appropriate time for me to finish, but if unique moments are still happening I will still be there.
Wedding Detail Photography
All those wonderful details that you have so carefully chosen and sometimes made, including the hidden items, photos of grandparents in your bouquet, the date stitched into jackets, a sixpence under or inside shoes! I make sure everything is included in your story. I particularly love it when family and friends have made items for your day. I also make sure there are lots of details shots of your venue or venues. You chose them for a reason and they need to be included in your story.
After Your Celebration
The majority of my work takes place after your wedding day. Usually as soon as I get home I upload all of your images to my main computer and back up in two other separate locations. I may not start work on your images immediately. The following week or two may be filled with other weddings, pre-wedding meetings, initial consultations and finishing of photos from other celebrations but I will keep to the schedule outlined to you when booking.
I spend several days lovingly editing your photos. Looking at each individual photograph, checking colour balance, composition and tone, amongst other things. All edited images will be professionally finished in my style, including a selection in black and white (colour version will also be included in your collection). On average, every hour that I am taking photos at your wedding requires at least three more hours of work.
A password protected highlights gallery will be ready for you to view within two to three weeks. You can give the password to anyone that you wish to view the images. All of The Collections include the edited images (800+ for a full day). These will be ready approximately 4 to 6 weeks after your wedding day (depending on time of year). These are supplied to you in high resolution with no watermark either via online gallery or on a USB memory stick. The personalised crystal or wooden memory sticks are presented to you in a beautiful, totally unique personalised wooden box or linen case that compliments your wedding day colour scheme and theme. You will also receive a written 'License to Use' agreement as directed by copyright law, so that you can copy, print and share your photos.
ALBUMS
The Celebration & Icing on the Cake Collections include stunning, contemporary albums made by the finest album printers and binders in the country. If one of the album packages listed is not right for you, I offer a wide range of books and albums giving you a bespoke choice of style, size, cover and page number. In this digital age it is tempting to not have an album. But USBs can be lost and become outdated and digital files on any device can be deleted. Your album will be there for generations to come. These can be ordered when you make your booking or at any time before or after your wedding. Other stunning presentation ideas include: acrylics, block mounts, framed prints, bamboo prints, canvas and metallic prints. Or signing boards and signing books made from photos taken at your pre- wedding photo shoot to be signed by guests on your wedding day.
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I'd love to hear all your plans for your big day. Please get in touch
Many congratulations on your engagement. I look forward to hearing from you as I would be delighted if your chose me to photograph your wedding day story.
Karen
