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Wedding Photographer in Hampshire
When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.
- John Ruskin
Informal, flexible and fun! I am a specialist wedding photographer covering mainly Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey. I also cover select weddings internationally and on the recommended suppliers list at several local top quality venues including Tlyney Hall and Losely Park.
As a wedding photographer I believe I'm offering a service rather than just a product and I tailor what I shoot, my arrival and finish times to suit your day. When it comes to wedding photography one size doesn't fit all and part of my overall process is gathering your requirements to understand what it is you want from me as your photographer. As you approach the big day I will contact to confirm any special requests you may have or any family group shots you would like me to shoot.
Unlike many I do not hold you to ransom with expensive reprints and other products. All of my packages include high resolution images on CD as standard and you are free to print your own photographs and even albums should you wish. Many couples do want me to supply them with a professional album and I have a range of packages that include both images on CD and a high quality wedding album.
My coverage typically includes elements of reportage, informal portraits, groups and detail shots which is what my clients mostly ask for, a nice light day and a well balanced wedding album.
While I do have a proven approach that works, I'm also able to listen, so if you have your own ideas I'm happy to try to incorporate them into your photographs.
I enjoy my work and you will find me to be polite, enthusiastic and very personable on the day. Not only is this just good manners, it lets people relax around me and that's when the magic happens. I believe patience, good humor and confidence tempered with a little humilty are essential personality traits of a wedding photographer and that any photographer without these traits are probably in the wrong career!
I'm available to all couples no matter there race, religeon or sexual orientation. Straight, gay, White, Black or pink with purple spots, providing you are getting married in Hampshire, Berkshire or Surrey and within an hour of Farnborough you are most welcome!
Why Choose Me?
It seems like everybody claims to be a wedding photographer recently and with so many to choose from, why should you choose me over another photographer?
Value, I take a sensible approach to pricing, too low and I have to cut corners, too high and the number of people who can afford it falls. I charge enough that I can provide high quality products and a good service without being overly expensive so that the prices reflect the quality of my albums and the amount of work I put into your wedding photography. There are definitely cheaper wedding photographers around, but you will struggle to find better value.
Quality, I only use good quality products and suppliers because less goes wrong and they last longer. good quality products equal happy clients and happy clients make for an easier life! I'm a very busy photgrapher and the last thing I need during the peak wedding season is to have to spend time resolving quality control issues! The supplier of my luxury matted albums also supplies members of the Royal family and if it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me!
Print Longevity, all products are designed with resistance to fading in mind, prints are made using an archival paper claimed to last at least 50 years without notable fading. I also supply specialist metallic prints and luxury matted albums rated at 200 years under optimal storage conditions. Have you noticed how many wedding photographers offering cheaper packages don't mention print life? Those cost savings have to come from somewhere and printing is one of the areas they are often trimmed from and where my approach to value comes in. Others may be cheaper, but if the prints fade not long after your memory does, they are too expensive.
Accreditation, I'm professionally accredited holding a licentiate from the SWPP. While anybody can become a member, only those submitting a collection of work deemed to have reached the standards set by the Society are accredited. It must be earned and can not simply be 'bought'.
Skill and Experience. Having been a keen photographer for well over 20 years (since I was a teenager!) and trading since 2003 I've shot well over a 100 weddings in every weather condition from sun to snow in both the UK and abroad. Ask the competition what experience they have!
The value of the experience a wedding photographer has can't be overestimated, everybody has to start somewhere, but do you really want them to start with your wedding? It's amazing how often I see a wedding photographer asking basic technique questions on the photography forums I use. it's important to understand that just like in many professions, wedding photographers have varying degrees of skill, however unlike in many professions there are no formal entry qualifications and as the vast majority of wedding photographers are self employed, don't even have to pass an interview to start working! It really is a case of buyer beware, if in doubt, always hire an accredited photographer.
Customer focus, I'm here to photograph your special day to your requirements. I change what I do to fit your needs and never the other way around. Once size doesn't fit all and while I'm able to guide you should you want advice, I'm also able to listen!
Attention to detail, I typically spend at least a week on each wedding I photograph with planning, preparation, shooting and post production. The actual day is just the tip of the iceberg.
Clarity & peace of mind, Your are provided with a contract which sets down exactly what you can expect to receive and exactly what you will pay in order to protect you my client and myself as the wedding photographer.
Equipment, while equipment is just a tool, I invest heavily in equipment and every essential piece of equipment is backed up by a spare.
Interactivity and personalisation, against the practice of many wedding photographers you can choose your own pictures for your album and then after I have come up with an initial draft layout you are invited to make design changes so that it is customised to your individual tastes. Many photographers simply choose either the photographs, the album design or both for you!
Winter, Wet and 'After Dark' Wedding Photography
Winter and wet weddings require a specialist skill set that not all photographers possess. In many cases it is necessary to supplement the available light which many wedding photographers try to avoid.
Having run my own little photographic studio working with artificial light is second nature to me and I am equipped with both a portable flash system and a more heavy duty studio flash system for lighting larger areas.
I also have a specialist low light camera system which is the perfect tool for winter photography.
Location
I cover weddings in Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey, travelling within about an hour of Farnborough.
I can also cover your wedding abroad within the European Union providing travel, food and hotel costs are covered. This often works out cheaper than you think and with English speaking photographers abroad charging English couples more than their local customers, it can often actually save you money too.
You can also read my reviews about some of the great wedding venues I've covered by clicking on the following link. Please note this list is not exhaustive, there have been many others! The list is grouped by the main counties I operate in of Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey, but also includes a few others.
How to Book
If you are able I always suggest you come and meet me prior to booking in order to see work in print and meet me in person in order give me a better understanding about what you would like to get out of your wedding photographs. It's also important to put your mind at ease that you feel comfortable with me as a person, as your photographer you will probably spend more time with me than any of your guests, even if I am just working away in the background!
I'm based in Farnborough, Hampshire, on the borders of Berkshire and Surrey which has great rail and road transport links. If you live far away and are unable to come and visit me prior to your wedding, please feel free to request a contract or even arrange a chat over Skype so you can ask any questions and tell me what you would like to get out of your wedding photography and from me as your photographer.