Frequently

asked questions

“A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.”


Wedding Photography FAQ

How would you best describe your style?

My style is typically unobtrusive, I’m not the sort of photographer that’s going to shout at your guests and dictate where they should be and what they should do - that said, I’m happy to direct moments when needed. Mostly though, I will just photograph your day as it naturally unfolds, anticipating those meaningful moments that I just know you will love. I look for stories within stories and moments between moments.

Will our photos be black and white or in colour?


I intend to deliver a good selection of black and white as well as colour photos. Generally, the split is around 70/30 with more of a leaning towards a greater number of colour photos. I love black and white images, they are timeless and really allow for a moment to stand out without the distraction of colour. Some images work best in black and white and others in colour. Many photographers will provide a black and white image as well as a colour version of the same image. I believe that if a moment works best in black and white, then that’s the way that moment should be portrayed and vice versa. That said, if you want more colour in your wedding or you’d prefer a greater number of black and white photos, then please do let me know - preferably before I start editing your memories!

Do you have back-up equipment?

Yes, I carry three cameras, several different flashes and lenses with me. It doesn’t happen much but in the unlikely event that something goes wrong, I’m able to quickly swap equipment and carry on.

How long have you been a wedding photographer?


I’ve been a wedding photographer for just over ten years - I’ve worked in all kinds of conditions from the darkest and wettest to the hottest and brightest. I like to use the natural light available as much as possible, however I’m also happy to create light wherever needed - I’ve worked in some conditions where there has been little to no natural light at all!

How many weddings do you shoot a year?

I aim to shoot around 20 weddings a year - mainly working from March through until September. I don’t tend to photograph many winter weddings, that said, I do shoot some so don't let that put you off enquiring but I tend to be more choosy about the work I take on. I’m a big softy, I don’t like cold fingers and frankly, I prefer to hibernate in the darker months!!!

Do I need a second photographer?


Only you can answer this but if budget allows, I would almost always say yes! This is especially true if you’re having a large wedding or multiple locations are involved! Two is always better than one! Having a second photographer allows for your big day to be covered from many different angles and allows for two parts of a story to be told from different perspectives. If you have two photographers then generally I will always follow the bride; this allows for the second photographer to capture the story from the groom’s perspective before these two stories eventually become one.

How many images will we get?


No two weddings are the same. I like to think of weddings having a pulse, some are upbeat and hectic, others are slower and sedate. The pace of your day will determine how many photos you receive. For full-day coverage, I aim to produce a minimum of around 350-500 photos - you might get more, you might get less but they will all be equally beautiful! While the copyright of the images will always remain with the photographer, you will be given personal usage rights to print them and share them with your friends and family.

Will I receive all the high resolution photos on a usb?


You will receive an online gallery that will allow you to browse through all of your photos in one place. From this gallery, there will be options to purchase prints and artwork directly from a professional lab but there is no pressure to do so. Following your gallery going live, you will be given a digital download link with all the fully edited high-resolution files, I’ve found USB drives to be unreliable in the past.

Do you do group photographs?


The trend in wedding photography has been to move away from traditional group photographs. Personally, I still feel it’s important to have a selection of group photos. It’s entirely up to you how many group photos you would like or whether you wish to skip this part entirely - it’s your wedding day! I’m easygoing but in order to keep your wedding on schedule, I’d recommend keeping group photos to no more than eight because they can take a long time to organise. Keeping these to a minimum will allow me to capture more of those natural moments that you’ve likely booked me for. I will request a group photo list before the wedding day to minimise the amount of disruption to the flow of your big day.

Do you do posed couple portraits and if so when?

One of my most favourite parts of your day will be when I whisk you both away from your wedding party to take some intimate portraits of the two of you together. This allows for the two of you to take it all in without the hustle and bustle of your wedding guests. Quite often this is the first time you will have been alone after saying your I do’s and this allows for some really special intimate moments to be captured. These portraits are not posed as such, I may offer a little direction here and there but on the whole, they are fun and relaxed, allowing for the two of you to just be in the moment. I like to spend around half an hour; this will usually take place a little after the ceremony, depending on the weather and light conditions. It may be that I also whisk you away a little later in the evening when the light’s softer but this will all be discussed with you on the day and there’s never any pressure to do so.

I have visible tattoos or a scar that I don’t want in my wedding photos, can these be removed?


I work incredibly hard retouching all photos so that you look absolutely flawless. If you have blemishes, spots, bruises, etc, do not worry. As a rule of thumb, I remove everything that isn’t permanent to produce a fully edited, very high-quality finish. If you have tattoos or scars that you would like removed, feel free to let me know before I edit and I will remove these as part of the service.

I like my personal space, are you a touchy feely photographer?

Unlike some photographers who like to be very hands-on, fixing hair and positioning subjects, I want to make it clear that I'm not that type of photographer. I always prioritise respecting your personal space and will never touch you without asking for your permission. Generally, I'll show you what I mean by demonstrating, or I may occasionally ask you to move your hair out of your eyes, especially when it's windy!

What if you’ve never photographed at my venue before?


This doesn’t matter at all! If I’ve never been to your venue before, I will factor in a visit before the big day so that I can familiarise myself with the location. This allows me to discover the best backdrops for photos, gives me a chance to talk to your wedding coordinator to get an idea of the order of service for your day and allows me to iron out any lighting/venue problems that may not have been originally foreseen. I don’t like surprises unless they’re of the coffee and chocolate kind!

Where are you based and how far do you travel?


I’m based in Kendal, Cumbria which is just on the very edge of the English Lake District. While I’m suitably placed for lake district weddings (and this is where most of my work takes place), I do also travel throughout the counties and overseas. If you’re having a destination wedding then feel to give me a shout - I just ask that you cover my travel and accommodation costs!

Are you insured and DBS checked?

Yes, I am fully insured and DBS checked. Certificates can be provided on request.

How long after the wedding will it take to get my photographs?

This is a very good question. Most of the time, it takes around 2-3 weeks from the start of the edit until completion - I will provide you with a sneak peek before then as I know you will be itching to see how I’m getting on. Quite often I will take a break halfway through a full wedding edit so I can revisit the day with fresh eyes at a later point. I find that when editing the same wedding for a long period of time, you can become picture blind and miss important details. At peak times when I have a lot to edit, it can take longer so in order not to disappoint I aim to deliver your memories within 4-12 weeks - it will almost definitely be sooner than that!

Do we need to feed you?

There's no pressure to provide a meal but it would be lovely if you did! It can be a really long day for a wedding photographer and ensuring that I'm full will keep me happy! As a rule, I don't photograph people eating, it's unflattering and unnerving! With this in mind, it's the perfect time of day for me to back up the morning's wedding photos and catch my breath! I'm happy to sit with your guests and blend in so that I'm around to photograph should something happen. This isn't necessary though, and if you want me to, I'm happy to eat in a quiet area - usually at the other end of the bar.

How can we book?


If you would like to book, please let me know at your earliest convenience. Booking will be subject to a 20% booking fee (which can be paid via BACS, cheque or cash), with the remaining amount due 4 weeks before your big day.

What if I have to reschedule my wedding? Will I lose my deposit/booking fee and will there be any charges?


As long as I am available for your new date, I’m happy to rearrange free of charge. No nonsense, simple, and stress free!

Can I see more of your work?

Sure! If you’ve browsed through my wedding portfolio on the website but you would still like to see some more work before booking then please do feel free to ask.

Is it possible to have a chat or meet up?


No problem at all, I’m happy to arrange a mutually convenient time to chat over the phone, Skype, Zoom or even meet up in person. Just let me know what works best for you.

Do we need a professional photographer?

Do we need a professional photographer to document our wedding day, after all, it's expensive and we need to budget wherever we can?

One thing I will say is, as tempting as it may seem, don't cut back on your wedding photography budget. Make sure you hire a professional that you trust (even if it's not me!), wedding photography can be extremely challenging, especially in low light and you only get one chance to get it right!

Sometimes I get told something along the lines of, 'my friend has a good camera, we were thinking of getting them to photograph our wedding because it will be cheaper. That's great and I'm all for that but if your friend has little to no experience, you're taking a big risk with your memories. My friend has a good oven but I'm yet to see a Michelin star meal come out of it!

Why is wedding photography so expensive?


One of the most common complaints is that wedding photography is too expensive! Contrary to popular belief, wedding photography (while on the surface may appear expensive), isn’t. Photography is an art, skill, and luxury service. There are lots of hidden expenses involved, a huge amount of time disappears in editing (I can spend 1-2 weeks editing a full wedding!) and high-quality camera equipment is extremely expensive. Most people are not aware that when the wedding day ends, the photographer’s job is just getting started.

As the saying goes, “You get what you pay for!” Never before has this statement been more true when it comes to wedding photography. You should think of your wedding photography as an investment, not a purchase.

After the cake has been eaten, the flowers have wilted, the dress hung up and the music has stopped, just remember that your photos will last for a lifetime!

If you’ve found a cheap photographer ask yourself why they’re cheap. Are they cutting corners? Is their equipment of a high standard? What is their skill level? Are they insured? Do they have backup equipment? What is the quality of their work like? If any of these are questionable, please, please think twice before trusting someone with your most precious memories!

I have more questions

Feel free to reach out with any questions or ideas that you may have, I’m really looking forward to hearing all about the plans for your big day!

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