QUESTIONS YOU MAY WANT TO ASK
WHAT MAKES YOU DIFFERENT?
As you are searching around you are going to start to see the same things and start to become unsure who is best suited for you. So what makes me different? Natural and fun and a bit of a laugh – I try have as much fun as I can with your photos to get the most natural and fun photos of you both. I typically sway to the more “hands off” natural shots but throw in a few posed ones for good measure. I like to keep my photo sessions short, sweet but effective lasting no more than 10-15 minutes across 1 or 2 sessions through out the day. The photos shouldn’t take over the day. Personality – I can talk to anyone about anything and make people feel at ease, in particular the couple them selves who I know deep down feel a little awkward at the idea of having photos taken. The guests – I like to make sure all the guests know who I am by the end of the day, I don’t want to remembered as “the camera guy” but more by my name of John - and I do this by simply being me and having as much fun as the guests are having, not only does it make the day more fun for me but it allows your guests to feel more comfortable around the photos. I want the guests to feel they can grab me anytime for a photo.
HOW MANY IMAGES DO I GET?
I will aim for around 400 but this often hits 600-800, sometimes it may be more – sometimes less it all depends on the day. It’s hard to put an exact figure on it but your package total is the minimum you will receive. On a gold package with bridal prep and lots going on this could hit as high as 800. But for advice – Don’t go booking a photographer based on the number of images – some will guarantee you 1000 but you have to ask your self will they just give me all the bad photos as-well to hit the target. I prefer to deliver a quality selection of good photos and I give you as many as I have available.
HOW WILL I GET MY IMAGES?
Via online gallery for you to view and download, (USB & DVD if requested) Something to keep in the loft for back up purposes.
DO I GET PRINTS INCLUDED?
As part of my Silver & Gold package, Framed prints are included. In my Platinum Package, prints are included as well as a fully designed bespoke Wedding Album – but you are also free to add on wedding albums after – Wedding albums start from £225 up to £275 depending on size and style. Be mindful of getting things printed yourself as cheap print suppliers can really ruin a photo or make them look poor and you end up in a “buy cheap buy twice situation”.
CAN I GET MY PHOTOS PRINTED MY SELF?
Yes – you have full print license to do as you please with the photos , but I cannot guarantee the colouring or quality of the printing company if you do these your self but I can certainly help you as best I can.
DO YOU HAVE BACKUP EQUIPMENT?
Yes! 3 Cameras, 6-7 lenses, multiple flashes, back up cards and much more. Your images are as important to me as they are to you.
DO YOU EDIT THE PHOTOS?
100%, every single photo I provide to you has been edited professionally by me in some shape or form
WILL MY PHOTOS HAVE YOUR WATERMARK ON THEM?
No, you may see watermarks on sample galleries but your final images when downloaded will be watermark free for you forever.
CAN YOU REMOVE ANY SPOTS OR BLEMISHES ON MY FACE?
Of course, if I notice anything like this I will by default remove anything like this from your photos.
HOW LONG DO IMAGES TAKE TO BE EDITED?
I aim to edit all images within 28 days of the wedding but frequently I will aim to return these even sooner where I can – in very busy periods this may extend to 6 weeks (but this is rare)
WHAT IF I’M ILL ON THE DAY?
I will turn up on my death bed if I need to or in extreme situations, I’ll find someone to cover me for you with the same quality and style – I know it’s not ideal but these things do happen. But I’m very careful when it comes to things like this – I avoid buffet food from previous weddings and I tend to keep any holidays far from bookings to avoid any overseas bugs.
WHAT IF I DECIDE TO CANCEL?
Ultimately there is a loss of your booking fee with cancelling and this is because I may have lost other bookings due to keeping your date blocked off – but I do however keep my deposit’s reasonable to reduce this concern.
DO YOU DO PHOTOBOOKS OR ALBUMS?
Yes i do! Wedding albums start at £275 They can be designed to include as many or as few or as many photos as you wish but as a rule of thumb for a good album I would say 60-70 images for a 20-page album.... Additional pages can be added at £12.50 per spread
ARE THERE ANY HIDDEN EXTRAS IN YOUR PRICING?
Absolutely not - The price I give you is the price you pay for all your images digitally and for the coverage you requested. The only extras are for printed materials such as albums or prints. If you want them and for travel to long distance locations – anything outside of 2 hours will incur travel and accommodation fee’s. A closed down motorway or accident can lead to me turning up late and so I don’t like to risk it and I’d rather be there the night before.
WHAT IF MY WEDDING IS RUNNING BEHIND?
No extra charges I stay till the job is done - Simple as that.
ARE YOU INSURED?
Yes, full public liability insurance by the standard for your peace of mind.
HOW DO YOU COMMAND THE DAY?
I have a reserved yet firm approach when I need to be, I completely understand couples don’t want to spend their day being paraded around with on-the-dot timings but I also have a duty to ensure I try to get the photos you want. If I’m a little nudgy with timings and you want more time to drink tequila just tell me to go away I won’t take offence - I promise. There can be occasions where daylight is limited & the weather is temperamental and we have limited timings. It is these moment’s I will be some what more pushy to try capture those moments and for this reason during the consultations I will ask you how important your photo’s are. if you say not very then I will take a more reserved approach. I try to hide away as best I can during the day blending into the walls as best I can and utilising some distance so I can hide away most of the time to try to capture the most natural shots.
I FEEL AWKWARD POSING AND I’M WORRIED ABOUT THAT BIT.
You are not the first and certainly won’t be the last! The best pictures come when you’re not “posing” and my job is getting you to be natural by means of my own special techniques. I try to get through the portraits as fast but efficiently as possible so you can enjoy your day as I appreciate some couples who want to get back to their wedding and I work with your needs If you let me know in your planning meeting that you wanted to take some beautiful portraits of you and your partner then I may try to push you a little on the day if you suddenly become shy and timid. You will thank me for it later
DO I NEED TO FEED YOU?
Food is appreciated, often venues offer a cheaper rate for suppliers and so a meal would be appreciated but if the venue are wanting full price don't worry I will bring something with me.
WHEN DO YOU NOT TAKE PICTURES?
The only time I stop is during the wedding breakfast but between courses I may get shots of all the guests sat down before everyone tucks into their food if there is some time though.
WHEN DO YOU FINISH FOR THE DAY?
For Gold & Platinum packages I tend to stay beyond the first dance and try to capture some of the evening entertainment too. If there is a lot going on then rest assured I will stay longer to capture it. I find the evening is when everyone starts to let loose but every wedding is different.
IS THERE A CHANCE YOU MAY CANCEL ON ME LAST MINUTE OR AT SOME POINT?
With wedding photographers being booked so far in advance it’s not uncommon for a photographer to have to cancel a booking due to other commitments, perhaps a family member is scheduled to go into hospital. Whilst I give every booking full priority around my calendar and work any holidays around my bookings, in the unfortunate event I need to cancel then of course a full refund of any monies paid will be returned and I will assist you in finding a photographer who I feel would deliver the same personality and same quality photos as me. I know plenty of wedding photographers and I will do my utmost best to assist you in finding someone I won’t leave you in the lurch or cancel with weeks to go causing you unnecessary stress. Whilst I cannot guarantee I won’t cancel your booking; I can assure you if I need to it will be when it’s an absolute worst-case scenario and it will be with deep regret as the last thing I want to do is let a couple down who put their trust in me for their wedding photography or cinematography.
I LIKE THE SOUND OF EVERYTHING. HOW DO I PROCEED?
Great, and we can always answer any further questions you may have later anyway. I advise couples to arrange a quick video/phone call before they commit but this is optional. This is purely so you can check I’m everything you want personality wise and it’s important to know if your guests will like me too.
CONFIRMING THE BOOKING
I will send you a booking contract and an invoice with a £150 deposit to secure the date.
4 WEEKS PRIOR TO THE WEDDING PLANNING MEETING?
This is a 1-2 hour video call to go through your day from start to finish, we revisit all the details we originally discussed and go over all the key points to your wedding and your running order for the day just to ensure we are both on the same page. Some time may have passed since we originally spoke so it’s good to just re-cap everything.
THE WEEK BEFORE
I appreciate things may be heating up for you at this point and so I’ll be making an effort to drop you a few emails and texts just to let you know I haven’t forgotten about your big day. It’s just one less thing to worry about for you then.
THE BIG DAY
Relax knowing your photos and or video are being taken care of for the day!
WHAT DOES MY PACKAGE ACTUALLY INCLUDE?
Professional fun photographer for the day – That’s me! on hand to capture all the shots from start to finish in an unobtrusive style from morning to the first dance.
A second photographer/cinematographer - Tom! He's my right hand man - Super friendly & talented and he is with me on every single wedding I do to capture more angles and be places I can't!
What is start to finish? – From bridal prep (if you request it) to the first dance and a little after too. – I tend not to put a fixed time limit on my end time but as an absolute minimum I’ll stay for 60 minutes after the first dance.
Bridal & groom prep – The first part of the morning can be the most fun (and stressful ) time, capturing all the getting ready scenes, the smiles, the prosecco the beers, those important first looks! It’s about capturing the day as you remember it, the laughs, the cries, the tears, the stress. Each moment will form part of your memories.
Fully edited images – all images edited in my own style, no image is delivered with out it.
Download all – Download of all your images with in 14 days of your wedding <- My target is 2 weeks but during summer this may start to creep to 4 weeks.
Online gallery – fully edited online gallery for you to view all your images.
500+ Images – I aim to delivery 4-500 images back to you fully edited* and whilst I don't like to over commit – quite simply the more that happens on your day the more I will send you. I will not cap at 500. it’s just a case of picking every single valid photo out that I believe to be worthy and sending it on to you.
Full support – Discussions, pre planning and everything else to make sure we know what’s important to you.
The chat’s form an important part of a booking – it’s a 2 way thing. I like to make sure it’s a booking I am happy with and something I know I can deliver on as much as you want to find out if I’m the photographer for you.
Anything else you need? just ask
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CANDID NATURAL PORTRAITS
If you’re not a fan of posing for photographs, don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Often the point in the day where I take you away from your guests to get the couple shots is the first time you two get to yourselves as a married couple – the first time you can take a deep breath and take it all in. It’s your first real private moment together after saying “I do” and I’d rather capture the natural joy than force you into awkward poses and rigid smiles.
That’s why I focus on getting you both to relax and have a laugh together, talk and to essentially forget about the camera.
That’s not to say we can’t get some fantastic posed shots if that’s what you’re into! I’m willing to be as adventurous as you want to be. During the pre-wedding consultation meetings we’ll have together, we will iron out what kind of shots you want, what level of importance you put on the couple photoshoot, how long you want to spend on them, etc.
The photos are to document your wedding day, not to dominate it. The day flies past and I never want to take you away from your loved ones for too long – although often my clients are glad of the breather from hosting! So I tend to break my couple shoots down and only steal you away in small segments of 20-30 minutes. If the British weather allows, or if not and you’re not afraid of a little precipitation, then I often like to fit in another 10-15 minute shoot around sunset. Golden hour is always a good shout!