IMPORTANT WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW…
FAQ’s
Before enquiring, to save both myself and you time, please read through all of these frequently asked questions. Everything you could possibly need to know, and a lot of which you don’t really need to know is here.
EQUIPMENT
People ask, not sure why, doesn’t really make a difference but whatever… I’m currently using four Canon EOS R5’s, a DJI Mavic 2 Pro Drone, iPad Pro, iMac, Mac Book Pro alongside 4 WD Elements hard drives.
INSURANCE
I’m insured through HISCOX - policy number PL PSC10001397829/03 public Liability to £10,000,000 and professional indemnity to £500,000.
Some venues require this information so please feel free to direct them to this page where they can download my documents….
HOW MANY IMAGES DO YOU GET?
Completely depends on your day, how much is going on, how long I’m there for, what things you have planned for your guests, how many people are there. It’s impossible to guesstimate a number. The more things you have going on, the more photos you’ll get.
On average over all of my packages - between 300 and 800 photos. If you have me for hybrid shooting then the number of images will be less than photo only.
EDITING
I shoot slightly darker in camera because this is the look I like, it’s also how I capture crisp movement. I do not shoot bright and airy photos. My edit enhances a few colours but desaturates greens slightly because I don’t like bright british garish greens (like a golf course). I try my best to keep colours as true to real life as possible. I don’t want to be getting the whole #sepiagate bullshit months after I’ve delivered a gallery.
To see some before and afters visit this page
What I show on my instagram is a snapshot of a grid which I’ve put together on aesthetics. This is not a true representation of what your wedding photos will look like, they are my fave photos I’ve chosen to showcase and most likely what will perform well for engagament. Please look at some full galleries which are all on my website before booking. It is important you see everything, warts and all. I do not provide unedited RAW images* If the weather is dull, the colours in your photos will be dull, If the weather is bright and sunny, they will be brighter and sunny. If the colours you choose are muted, then your photos will look muted, if your venue is dark, your photos will be dark, if you choose green and white florals, it will look awful (only joking, but it’ll be very bland)
This is my art, my interpretation of your day through my eyes, if you don’t like my edit, please look elsewhere for a more suitable photographer. If you choose to enquire, then subsequently we have a zoom, chat about random things while my five year old runs in butt naked, I’ll send over a quote for your wedding and it will include up to 5 full galleries of weddings that are similar months/typical weather/guest numbers and venues of what you’ve described so that you can get a better picture of what to expect. Please remember though, another couples wedding day will never look like your wedding day because they aren’t you. I am a very flexible photographer and my style suits most venues. Please be aware of different photographers styles when shopping around. Some styles lend themselves to certain venues more than others.
*IF YOU ARE A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER OR A PHOTOGRAPHY WITHIN ANOTHER SECTOR THEN I MAY ISSUE RAW FILES
TYPE OF IMAGES
I watch people, I sit and watch them until they laugh, cry, dance. That’s what I love about photography, capturing a moment. I also love storytelling. I love little details, I love capturing everything that means something which is why I ask a lot of questions upon booking. It’s why I have an important people downloadable form so I don’t forget the VIP’s. Couple portraits are very much based on you, do you want to be away from your guests for long periods of time, are you lovely dovey or are you more natural. 90% of my images are naturally captured moments in time, walking, running, dancing, 10% are group shots or slightly directed shots. I love movement in my images, so I shoot on a very high shutter speed which captures every moment in fine detail. This is what makes my images slightly darker.
I will plan to take you off as a couple for up to 2/3 sessions of 15 minutes when the time feels right in natural lulls,
I try to avoid making you miss entertainment or key moments of your day.
Please be aware that if you choose to get married in winter then I will have to be more forceful and strict with these sessions due to fading light and often bad weather.
Please think about your ceremony time in winter months. ideally aiming for 11am/12 noon to maximise the light. Reception/ sitting down meal times - try and do this when the light has gone, so not before 3.30pm.
FILM (video)
Highlight films are a highlight of your day. I can only film what I can see. Not that I should need to explain but you won’t be getting a 12 hour film of your 12 hour day. These days thanks to Tik Tok I doubt you’ve got an attention span able to withstand a 30 second viral video of a cat chasing a cucumber. I literally walk around, filming what I see in hybrid mode. This means flicking between film and photos with the longest segment of film being around 10 seconds. There is NEVER a continuous segment of filming. If you are having me for film only and your photographer whisks your wedding party and nearest and dearest off for 4 hours to rattle through your 178 group shots then don’t expect any footage of those people. Please seriously consider this for your film.
HOW LONG ARE THE HIGHLIGHT FILMS?
If you book me for a highlight film on a full day wedding package then expect a film of between 5 -15 minutes long. If you book an elopement film then these will be typically 5 minutes long and much more cinematic, artistic interpretation of your adventure.
None of my highlight films include full ceremony or speech coverage. Simply because I don’t like creating those films. I really don’t enjoy the traditional wedding films and I want to offer something different. I always advise couples to get a guest to record full speeches and ceremony on a phone so you have it to watch once in a blue moon, I can set up a tripod to record speeches on a phone if you wish. Short snappy entertaining highlight films are my thing, it’s what I adore creating. Please look for alternative professional wedding videographers if what I offer his not what you’re looking for.
I have loads of examples of my films on the film page here:
WHAT IS THE TURN AROUND FOR IMAGES AND FILM?
Usually 6-12 weeks . I say 6-10 weeks, in the height of summer this can be up to 16 weeks. I will always communicate this, please do not message me asking where your photos are after two weeks. I’m a mum to a 4 year old who comes first.
You will get a sneak peek within 48 hours of your wedding day and it will contain upto 70 images.
If you’ve had a film this will also be likely to creep to 20 weeks regardless of time of year. Whilst every effort will be made to get your photos and film to you within this time frame, sometimes I need some extra understanding. I am human, I will always communicate with you if things are late.
Being self employed means I don’t have set working hours, but please be cautious when contacting me at 2am, I can turn into a bear with a sore ass.
WILL IMAGES BE WATER MARKED?
Only if you wet them, lol - No, they won’t be.
HOW ARE THEY SUPPLIED?
All packages are supplied in an online Pic time gallery. Most packages include a USB stick and 5 fine art cotton rag prints in a pouch, the prints are ones I choose based on my favourites from your sneak peek and ones I see you have chosen to post on social media. Films are supplied in the pic time gallery to view, then a Vimeo link is provided so you can download, as well as a copy on your usb stick.
The reason I provide 5 fine art prints is a practical illustration of what I hope your photos should look like. When I edit, I edit on my iPad screen, export on my laptop screen, send to your computer screen and you view on your iPhone screen. That’s a lot of screens. All of which will vary in screen brightness, brand, tone, night mode etc. The only true way to ever view the intended end look of your photographs is via printed photograph. I can help you source printing after your wedding, please be aware that ASDA printing machines are utter shite.
WHAT USAGE DO WE HAVE?
As with everything, I retain the copyright on MY images, you have full usage. You can print, share, do whatever you like with. My only request is that if sending to a magazine, supplier, blog or newspaper they credit me with website and or Instagram handle. It is theft for another company to steal an image without my consent, regardless if you have sent them the gallery. Please don’t feel that you have to tag me in your posts. You can do whatever you like, tag or no tag.
INSPIRATION IMAGES
I get asked a lot if you can send me images as a reference. Often the photos I get sent have been taken on a California beach at golden hour, with the best will in the world, Blackpool promenade ain’t gonna look like that at 7pm in October. That couple are probably models and that photo was probably a photoshoot. If you send me very structured posed images that you imagine for your wedding day I will probably get nervous and not want to take your wedding on. By all means send them over in the initial enquiry questionnaire , that’s fine. My style is very natural, I don’t pose couples if I can help it, I work very much in the moment with the surroundings I have and the attitude of the couple. I read your body language, if I get the feeling you are not comfortable I will opt for a more relaxed portrait session, if I can see you’re loving model life then I’ll probably chuck you in a lake somewhere.
First and foremost this is your wedding day, NOT a photoshoot and I will conduct my services in line with this.
If you are going for a specific feel then do please send me a Pinterest board. Its the structured ‘shots’ I get a bit nervous about.
If you want to be stood on the end of a jetty in the rain with a backlit umbrella - Nope.Find somebody else, tis not I
ME AND MY ATTITUDE
I love my business and I’m fiercely protective over it. I give 10000% to my couples on their wedding day, on the day you are my only focus and I put all my time and energy into you, I engage with your guests, often messing around (IF I READ THE ROOM CORRECTLY) Rest assured, I swear a lot on social media but I only do this on a wedding day if I feel it’s appropriate and fitting. My instagram stories are designed to showcase the real me, and therefore filter out any potential clients who do not feel I’m the right fit for their day. Be warned, I will dance at your night doo, I will have a drink if I’m offered it, I will crawl on the floor in awkward positions to get the shot, I I will take the piss out of the best man, I will make friends with the bridesmaids, I will tell anybody who listens my life story. I will probably end up touching boobs when stitching brides into dresses….. I will do all of these things because I want to capture your day for everything it is, a massive celebration of people coming together and being happy. I don’t want to be that weirdo in the corner of the room pointing a camera at you.
ON THE DAY
I turn up 2-3 hours prior to the ceremony and I leave 30 -60 minutes after the first dance. Unless requested to stay for extra hours. Extra hours are charged at £200 per hour. I may not always accept the extra hours if I have a long commute or a wedding the next day. If the day is running late then I’m not going to be the arsehole who packs up and leaves half way through your first dance but at the same time I do have family commitments to get home for.
PRE WEDDING SHOOT
The pre wedding shoot included with the full day just piccies and hybrid package and is more for me than for you. I really really want to get to know you as a couple, I use this time to understand how you are with each other. It gives you a chance to meet me, see how I work and get some (hopefully) decent pics afterwards so you can get a better feel of what they’ll look like post wedding. I won’t do a full day wedding without having done a pre shoot, so no, they are not deductible and you can’t ‘knock any money off’ if you don’t want them. I like to do them and I like to meet all my full day couples in person before the big day. For more on Pre shoots visit this page.
PRE COMMUNICATION
Upon initial enquiry, if I’m available on your date, I will arrange a zoom chat with you. I do not meet in person anymore because I don’t have the time plus, some of you might be total weirdos. You are welcome to come to my office though for a chat. Once we have had a zoom chat, I reserve your date for 14 days whilst you look at other suppliers and make a decision. At that point I then send an online quote, contract and invoice. Once I have this back you will receive a newspaper through the post. If you have a pre wedding shoot included in your package then you are responsible for booking. I will not issue refunds if you have failed to book it in with me. Three weeks or so before your wedding I will send an online checklist form to double check all the details I have for you as things can change in the 18 months or so before a wedding.
DRONE FOOTAGE
I am a fully qualified commercial drone pilot licensed from November 2020. Wherever possible I will use my drone at weddings if permission is granted by the landowner for TOLP (Take off landing point) . Depending on the weather the drone may not be able to be sent up. It cannot go up in wet weather of any kind or high winds. A full risk assessment will be done and insurance on each wedding day is taken out by FLOCK. Please remind your venues that although they may have a clause in their contracts that says drones are not permitted, they do not own the airspace around their buildings, not even a tiny inch off the ground. Therefore I can fly anywhere I like (in an unrestricted flight zone) so long as I am taking off on property where I have permission.
FOOD AND DRINK
If I’m there all day then I do politely require a meal, I don’t expect a wedding breakfast, either a tab to buy my own or a supplier meal will do. If I am not provided with a meal then I will leave site to get some food, potentially missing key moments. I use the time when you’re eating to back up my cameras and start the editing process so that I can get a sneak peek to you within a couple of days. Wedding caterers are often dickheads when it comes to feeding photographers. If you are having your speeches after your food please ask the caterers to feed me first. Often I’ll get fed after you’ve finished your food and given 2 seconds to eat before speeches start.
PAYMENT AND BOOKING FEE
Booking fee is £250.00 for photos, £350 for hybrid and is non refundable but can be transferable if needed.
This covers emails, zoom calls and pre wedding consultation time, welcome packs and contract drawing.
Full payment is due 4 weeks before the wedding day. You are welcome to pay in instalments if required.
COVID 19, CANCELLING AND THE COMA PLAN
If I am hospitalised 10 days prior to your wedding day then I will have to send an associate shooter to cover your day. If I cannot find an associate shooter you will receive a refund of all monies paid minus the booking fee which covers work already done - (emails, welcome packs, zooms) . If I become seriously ill in the months leading up to your wedding then I will inform you and we can come to an agreement. If I die or am involved in a serious accident on the morning of the wedding then I have a procedure in place which is given to you after you book, in your welcome pack.
Please do not lose this.
If for whatever reason in the months/weeks leading up to your wedding, communication from you to me has been rude, disrespectful, demanding or against my beliefs then I reserve the right to terminate the contract. I will not work for any person or persons who makes me feel uneasy or who behaves like a massive dick. I cannot photograph to the best of my ability with ill feeling lingering and it will be better for both parties to find an alternative wedding supplier/client. 2023 was the first year I’ve ever had to do this in 15 years of shooting.
If you need to postpone I am happy to give you one free postponing date. Please bear in mind that weddings can now go ahead with no restrictions. If you choose to postpone because somebody can’t make it, you’ve split up or you are not looking forward to it anymore then this isn’t my fault. I can still do my job, I will have still saved a date for you for months and therefore there will not be any refunds.
If I die before your wedding, please don’t slag me off on Facebook marketplace.
Wait until I’m in the ground before your harass my husband for money back. He gotta wait for probate huns.
REFERENCES
Bizarrely, a few people ask me to provide them with past clients for references. I do not supply this information due to GDPR.
If you wish to contact past couples of mine they are often tagged in my instagram posts.
ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL
On occasion, depending where your wedding is and where I am the day before I will require accommodation. I can book it myself and add it to your final balance or you can book it for me. If I have a second shooter we will require two single rooms because I don’t like people, especially my husband.
GROUP SHOTS AND ITINERARY
I don’t enjoy group shots, you won’t either, they are long, boring and it’s like herding cats. BUT they are important. Please think very carefully before supplying 102 group shots, do you really like these people? Are you ever going to look at this photo, who is this photo for, will it take pride of place on your walls? Every group shot you ask for take 5 minutes out of your day, that’s 5 minutes less of documentary real moments I cannot capture and 5 minutes less of enjoyment for you. If group shots are important to you then you may want to consider a second shooter or a photographer who was born in the 40’s, still shoots 35mm film and wears a black suit on the day. You are responsible for providing me with a group shot list and itinerary on the checklist I give you in the weeks before your wedding. Failure to complete this may result in missed moments and lateness.
Alternatively, hire a Photo Booth so they can take care of the group shots for you. Did I mention I own a Photo Booth - haha.
MY COMMUNICATION
I live my life through instagram, I love it. During a period of my life when I was really struggling with infertility I found social media was my safe space rather than the real world, nobody wanted to know in my real circle because it was too awkward for them. Now I’m self employed most of my friendships are on there for support and help. I love sharing my life, I love showing my parents what I’m up to and what their grandson is doing on a day to day basis. When I’m not working I still post personal things, some days I have days off, others I get bored and overshare. This is my choice. If you are waiting for replies please don’t message me when I’m clearly having a day with family asking where your reply is, or where your photos are and why I’m not editing when I’m prancing around with family. (yes that was a comment once) Please be respectful that I do have a life outside of my business and that I do enjoying sharing it. I always work to my 6-12 weeks deadline, I will always reply to emails, some of which often end up in the junk (which I always tell people to check). On occasion I do get overwhelmed with the workload and I will take some time out. I will always communicate this to you though and will never go radio silent, unless I’m dead of course, then we have a problem.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Booking with me means you understand that I may use some of my images of your wedding day on my social media platforms. Of course, you have the right to say which ones upon receiving the sneak peek. If you wish for complete non usage then I’m afraid I’m not the photographer for you. I work so hard to create and as my client you are my priority BUT I enjoy sharing my work with others and inspiring. Chances are you’ve found me online so it would be hypocritical to not allow me to share some images. I ask you prior to the day to inform me of any people who cannot have their photo posted online - usually, adopted children, members of police or armed forces or victims of domestic abuse who may be protected. Please note that I don’t always share every wedding on every social media. I tend to take a few months off in winter and post weddings then. Please don’t get upset if I’ve not posted your day, it does not mean that I think it wasn’t worthy of posting, far from it. It’s just a whole job in itself and sometimes I just forget. Sharing your wedding could be in story form, blog form, instagram form, Facebook form or a whole combination.
OTHER CREATIVES
I insist that you check other creatives website, full galleries and prices to be able to compare services. We are all different, have different styles and ways of working, some of us are full time, some part time. Prices differ dramatically and so it’s important you understand why. This is an unregulated industry and essentially every photographer sets their prices based on what they need/want per year. It has absolutely nothing to do with how skilled (or unskilled) they are. Ask those questions, not to be a dick, but to genuinely ask. It baffles me on occasion how some people justify their prices (cheap and expensive alike) and I’m in the industry so god knows what you guys think.
COMPLAINTS / CHANGES / ISSUES / AMENDS
If you have any issues with your photos and film then please contact me within two weeks of receiving your prints in the post. Particularly with films I need to close the editing version down to make room for future films so any delays to amends after 2 weeks will mean a whole new edit which comes at a cost. One edit within two weeks is included in the price. For films, Music has to be licensed and chosen from MusicBed. If you want to record a song yourself then feel free. I will not use any music that’s not been recorded by somebody you have permission from or from MusicBed.
CONTENT CREATORS
It’s becoming a current trend to hire content creators for weddings. Whilst I do see the benefit in this, (more raw, unpolished footage of guests etc) It makes my job much harder to execute having another person around me with a phone. I will only work with one content creator who knows how I work and respects professional boundaries - Chloe. If you are thinking of hiring one then please let me know and I’ll send her over. I cannot and will not be held responsible for any decline in my services due to having a content creator on your day. This job is difficult enough competing with bridesmaids and uncle bobs with their phones out, don’t chuck a chancer with a new iPhone 14 at me, I’ll lose my shit.
SECOND SHOOTERS AND ROLES
Please be aware that if you hire a second shooter then where possible I will still conduct second partner preparations. The second shooter will pivot around me and I’ll work the timings so that I get to both partners on the day. Since becoming a mama to a little boy, I’ve seen first hand the importance of making sure the other partner is captured perfectly alongside their family. Often there’s one partner who tends to take priority and in the case of heterosexual couples, this is the ‘bride’. I feel it equally important to capture both partners equally where possible and I’ll work the timings out to accommodate both.
AI AND BODY EDITING
Please be aware that I do use Ai in regards to cleaning up images.
This means removing fire exits, unsightly distracting objects (telephone poles, fire extinguishers, other people's cameras or tripods)
I will use Ai upon request for the following issues - Temporary body ailments or marks (bruises, scars, spots and hair loss)
I won’t conduct body modification Ai for weight loss or appearance. However I can point you in the direction of editors that will.
FINAL NOTE
I promise I’m not an arsehole, but I am straight to the point, I pride myself on communication, if you follow me on Instagram you’ll get a real sense of who I am, I am actually really nice in real life, I just come across a bit of a moron online. As mentioned above, If you laugh on occasion at my insta stories, don’t wince in pain when I post something cheesy, don’t get offended by my occasional rants then I’m deffo the right photographer for you.
To me, taking photographs is approximately 10% of this job, the rest is people management. My relationships with my couples are first and foremost my priority and the success of the images and film directly comes from our relationship.