Questions to ask a Wedding Photographer

Frequently Asked Questions

You are based in Wiltshire; do you travel elsewhere?

Yes, I am based in the beautiful market town of Malmesbury. I can and will travel anywhere to photograph your wedding. I have photographed weddings all over the U.K., Europe and beyond.

How would you describe your style?

The Wedding Photojournalism pages give more information, but I class myself as a documentary wedding photojournalist. My day is spent capturing the story of your day unobtrusively.

I aim to observe your wedding day as it unfolds, naturally and unobtrusively. I work very close to the action and try to blend in with the guests as much as possible. I am not the type of photographer who will ask you to “pretend” to do your make-up or interrupt your day.

My clients understand that this involves me capturing the real moments and memories from their wedding day – rather than fabricated and set up photos that don’t tell a story at all.

What preparations do you make before our wedding?

About a month before the wedding, I will send you a questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire covers the final details such as time, formal images, names of wedding party members, etc.

On a more functional note, I always make sure my car is serviced, I have dual Sat-Nav in the car, and I leave with plenty of time to spare to avoid traffic delays.

I shoot with two high-end professional cameras; backup equipment is always on hand.

Do you photograph in colour or black & white, and do you edit all the images?

I shoot exclusively with high-end digital equipment. Every image that you will receive will be hand-edited by myself. The editing involves colour correcting, cropping and conversion to my signature film-style photo emulation.

I deliver every image in both colour and black and white.

See what else is included in all my wedding packages.

Do you take group shots?

Although I am a documentary wedding photographer, I understand that some weddings require a certain amount of traditional group photos. I encourage you to have no more than three to five group shots, and with the aid of one of your ushers, we will do these very quickly and professionally.

Guests usually do not want to be standing around waiting for a photographer to direct them, so I will organise this section of your day quickly and then move on.

Occasionally, there is a requirement for many more “formal photographs” (such as Asian weddings or weddings with many guests). In these situations, to allow me to continue to create the storytelling-type images that you see on this website, I can arrange for a second shooter to be on hand specifically to cater for the formal shots.

How do we book?

Contact me at any time, and I will check availability. You are more than welcome to come to my studio in Malmesbury to discuss your wedding further over a coffee.

I require a completed and signed contract and a non-refundable booking fee of £200 to secure my services for your wedding date. I can not hold dates without the form and retainer payment. The remainder of the balance is due 28 days before the wedding date.

What happens after the wedding?

Because of the importance of helping you cherish those memories, I may take up to eight weeks to edit your wedding photographs (often quicker). You will then receive a link to your online gallery and photo film. Albums, if required, take around eight weeks for design, production and printing.

Are you insured?

Yes, I am fully insured. I have professional indemnity insurance along with public liability insurance. Many wedding venues will insist that all your suppliers have appropriate insurance, so I encourage you to ensure that every photographer you speak to also has full coverage.

Anything else we should know?

Being Welsh, I love rugby (and played for many years for the London Welsh Rugby Club). I’m also a 1st Dan Black Belt in Judo and part of the Coaching team at my club. I’ve been shooting weddings full-time, professionally, for fifteen years and have covered over 700 weddings.

I was the first wedding photographer appointed an ambassador for Fujifilm, and along with my wedding commitments, I have given lectures and talks at events worldwide about the business and art of wedding photography.

My favourite music artist is Johnny Cash, and you can often find me presenting a Country Music Radio Show on The Incapable Staircase.

I have a strange fear of toads; I once bought Bill Gates a hot dog as he didn’t have enough cash and have been on TV with Kylie Minogue (seriously!).

Are you a full-time photographer?

Absolutely. My “job” is as a wedding photographer. It isn’t a hobby or part-time thing for me, as it is with other wedding photographers. I’ve been shooting weddings full time for fifteen years, and because I don’t also have a “day job”, I can give my business 100% commitment in terms of time and effort.