WEDDINGS - QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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How long have you been taking wedding photographs professionally?

A friend introduced me to photography while I was studying for my Engineering degree at Brunel University back in the 1970s. I got so hooked that I ended up studying photography and fine art at the same university. Having painted in oils as a teenager I had little trouble getting to grips with the artistic elements of picture creation. I took my first wedding in 1976 for a friend and soon after began working for a local photographer. It was film then and all in black & white, I have vivid memories of hand processing rolls of film and developing prints in the darkroom.

Do you take the weddings yourself or hire operatives?

I personally take the photographs at all my weddings because photography is very subjective and it’s the only way professionals can retain any artistic credibility. Customers book you on the strength of your demeanour, skill, capability and personality, so it’s important they get you and not someone else. Very large social weddings/events sometimes require you to be in two places at once and in those very rare situations I have when necessary used the services of a professional colleague.

How many photographs/images will I get?

I do not set any limits to the number of images I take and supply. I start taking pictures as soon as I arrive at a wedding and do not stop until I leave! So the quantity depends very much on the length of time I spend at the wedding. Normally, for a small wedding where I only attend for a few hours, the number of images may fall between 80 and 150. If I stay for the reception and speeches the quantity usually exceeds 250. A full days coverage may result in between 400 and 1000 images. Other factors effecting the quantity of images are locations, weather and image styles. For every hour taking pictures at a wedding I spend another 5 back in my office processing the images. The fact that I take nearly two weeks processing a full days wedding shoot does ensure my customers get a professional result, even though my charges work out about half that of a car mechanic!

What happens if it rains?

Apparently it’s good luck if it rains on your wedding day! I have taken some very romantic images in the rain. The thing is to look on the positive side. Most people look upon an umbrella as something to keep them dry, for me they are a prop that can add mood to a picture. It would be very unusual for the weather to be so bad not to get at least some photographs taken outside during the day.

I will always stay on at a wedding if there is a chance the weather may clear later. Several flash guns are always brought to a wedding, so I can set up a temporary studio if necessary. If anyone does get wet , it's usually me!

What happens if your camera fails?

No professional goes to a wedding without backup equipment. I have a duplicate backup camera and often use two during a wedding to avoid changing lenses and disrupting the natural flow of events. I also have a third in the car, a small professional rangefinder for unobtrusive candid work.

What happens if we or you are ill on the wedding day?

If you have to postpone your wedding, the deposit can be transferred to any new date you book without any penalty. If you cancel the wedding or rearrange the date on a day I am unable to attend, then the deposit will not be refunded. In thirty years I have never been too ill to photograph a wedding. I’m still very fit and although no longer play football, I still play competitive league and county tennis as well as badminton regularly every week. It’s very important for a wedding photographer to be physically and mentally fit, I have to move and think quickly and can often lose 4lb in weight during a wedding. If it ever does happen and I am too sick to attend I will provide a professional colleague as a stand-in and will do my best to ensure your original brief is adhered to. You will of course be free to source another photographer if you so wish and in such a case your deposit would be refunded.

What type of images will I get?

'Technically'.....the images will be high resolution Jpeg files on a CD or DVD. These can be used to produce your own prints or used in various formats on your computer, TV , web site, facebook, phone etc . Your image disk will contain two directories, one will hold colour versions of your images and the other B&W versions. 'In-content'.... they are normally a mixture of traditional-formal shots of the couple, family and friends etc. , together with some contemporary-informal candid images taken throughout the day. 'Artistically'....due to my oil painting background and art training I tend to prefer the ‘classic’ style, but will always adjust my picture taking to suit my customers preferences. Hence it is vital for me to know what you like and what you don’t.

When is payment due?

You would normally be asked to pay a small deposit to secure the booking, after that you are not expected to pay anything until after the wedding when you receive your image disk and prints etc. This can be between 2 to 6 weeks after the wedding depending on how long your honeymoon is! As I do not expect full payment until after the wedding many couples take advantage of my 'Gift Vouchers' by putting them onto their wedding gift 'wish-list'. This way they can often afford a more comprehensive package or/and reduce if not eliminate their wedding photography costs.

What happens after the wedding?

I personally process and optimise each image and this can take between 4 and 14 days of heavy computer work.( Many photographers don’t bother, but digital images straight from a camera leave much to be desired and most can be significantly improved by a variety of adjustments.) Once this has been completed and your web gallery populated with images I will phone or email to tell you your images are ready for viewing on-line and that your CD/DVD disc is ready for collection. Full payment will be due a maximum of 8 weeks after the wedding or when collecting your image disk, whichever is the sooner. If you have ordered an album, they are normally ready within 2 to 4 weeks of choosing your images. Picture book albums take between 4 and 8 weeks to complete design, proofing, printing and construction. The world class Jorgenson albums can take between 4 to 8 weeks, as some have to be specifically and individually made in Australia!

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