How long do you stay on the wedding day?
The story of your day begins with the bridal preparations in the morning. I usually arrive 2 hours or more before you get married to start capturing the moments that build up to the ceremony. Im with you right the way through the day until your first dance.
You're based in Bridgend, what areas do you cover?
I will travel anywhere to shoot a wedding. This year I'm working all over the place. The Gower, Bridgend, Cheltenham, Brecon, Usk and Mid Wales. I'm always on the road and enjoy shooting at new places.
Do you travel abroad to photograph weddings?
Absolutely! If you're getting married abroad it can often be cheaper to ditch your local photographer who doesn't speak English and take a UK photographer with you. Even after paying travel expenses.
Do you do any portraits of the Bride and Groom?
I spent at least 20-30 minutes with the bride and groom during the afternoon creating photos of just the two of you. I do this in a very natural way and you'll feel comfortable in-front of the camera.
Do you shoot your photos in colour or black and white?
I shoot all my photos in colour, and convert to black and white afterwards. Around 20% of your photos will be converted to black and white.
We're really worried about rain on our big day!
You must have lots of worries building up to the wedding. I give you one less thing to worry about. The stories that I like to tell with my camera won't stop because we're indoors hiding from the rain. It never usually rains ALL day, so we might be lucky enough to get some pictures outside too.
How do we receive our wedding photos?
That's dependant on what package you choose. With the barebones package you'll be able to download them from my website to save to your computer / hard drive. With the standard and platinum package all your photos will be on a USB for you to keep.
Who owns the copyright to our wedding photos?
Legally, the photographer of any photograph will always own the copyright. I simply give you permission to use them. You can use your images to make your own prints, share them with your friends and family, and use them online. There's only one thing I ask, and that's not to re-edit your photos. This instantly removes the look I've worked very hard to create.
Are all the photos edited?
Absolutely. After a wedding I typically spend a full day editing all your photos. This may include colour and tonal correction, blemish removal and cropping. For images that I feel suit black and white, I’ll go ahead and convert them for you.
How far in advance of the wedding do we need to book you?
If I'm available on your wedding date then I’ll be more than happy to take your booking. I booked a wedding once the week before – I'm very flexible! It’s advisable to get in touch ASAP to ensure my availability. Most clients book around 18-24 months in advance.
What kind of album do you offer?
A story-book style album is included in all my wedding packages. As standard it includes 60 images of your choice. There's options to upgrade. For more information, please refer to the wedding pricing brochure.
Do you require a deposit for bookings?
Yes. I require a £200 deposit to secure your wedding date. I can then tell any new enquiries for that date that I'm already booked.
When is the remaining balance paid?
The final outstanding balance is required 30 days before your wedding date. Any other prints, albums or canvases ordered after your wedding are invoiced separately to your wedding photography package.
Where can we go for our engagement shoot?
Pretty much anywhere you wish. It’s always good to try out new venues and locations. Most often we choose a local park or hotspot where we can get a nice relaxed feel to the shots. Any location further than 30 miles of Bridgend may require additional travel expenses.
What do we do with the images from our engagement shoot?
The images are available to download in high resolution from my website so you can start using them immediately. They'll also be included on your USB when you receive your wedding photos so that everything is in one place.
How many photos would you expect to take on our wedding day?
I normally shoot 1000 plus photos on a typical wedding day. This really does depend on the size of your party. I aim to show you 400-500 of the best shots from the day, which are fully edited and ready to print.
Do you do any family group photos?
I shoot in a natural documentary way, but I understand the importance of having some group shots done. This is usually limited to 5 different group shots. The longer we take traditional posed photographs, the less time I have to document the afternoon. We will discuss your group shots prior to the wedding.
Do you have a web gallery for friends and family to purchase prints from the day?
Absolutely. As soon as you've seen your photos for the first time, the gallery will then be live on my website. It's password protected, so that only your friends and family will have access. You'll need to share the link and password with them. From there they can log in and order prints by adding photos to the cart.
How long do you keep the files?
I've have never deleted a wedding yet, and all your pictures are backed up 3 times over. If you were ever to lose your USB there's a small charge of £20 for a replacement.
What cameras do you use?
I use a number of different Fuji X Series cameras. These are small and lightweight and are totally unobtrusive. Guests often don't realise I'm the official photographer which is the aim. I usually have at least 2 cameras on me at any time, with spares in the car as backup.
How soon can we see our pictures?
Your photos will be ready for you within 8 weeks after your wedding. This is likely to increase during peak times (July-October) Depending on the time of year and my workload, this can sometimes be quicker.
How many pictures can we have in the album?
It depends what package you choose. With the standard package you can choose 60 pictures for your album. There are options to upgrade your album, we can discuss this during your initial consultation / final pre-wedding meeting.
How does the album design process work?
I will design an album for you, as I know how to make the "story" flow from the beginning of the day right through to the end. I will email you a proof before ordering with our suppliers. If there are any changes that you’d like to make, we can do this for you before ordering.
Can we meet up to see more of your work?
Of course! You're welcome anytime at my studio in Bridgend. There's lots of pictures hanging on the walls and there's some sample albums for you to look through.