Archive for the ‘Photographers’ Category
Creative Wedding Photographer – Featured Supplier
Friday, February 19th, 2010
I was so excited to meet Steve Gerrard last week at his studio in The Custard Factory, Birmingham. His style of photography is really refreshing and edgy. You can see from this picture straight away what I mean. Steve is also a thoroughly nice man and very easy to be with, I can’t wait to work with him.
We chatted about how he became a photographer and I asked him how his style and technique is different from that of many of his contemporaries, and what advice he could give newly engaged couples looking for a photographer. I think its much better if you read what he has to say for himself in his own words.
Hi Folks, this is Steve Gerrard. I’m a wedding photographer based in the Midands but I travel all over the UK and beyond to shoot weddings and I love my job. We’re not your typical wedding photographers. We hate cheesy, forced pictures. We love couples who want to have fun and are after something different with their wedding photography. We’re on a mission to make wedding photography cool again!
Our style is a mixture of styles. We’ll capture those candid shots of your mates laughing, your parents getting emotional and, of course, the first kiss. We also want to show off that dress and the cool suit and create the best pictures of yourselves you’ve ever seen!
Everyone has different tastes and wedding photographers vary massively in stye and approach and also what you get for your money, so we recommend taking time to browse lot of sites until you find something that excites you and suits your own style. Meeting the photographer is a huge benefit too. After all, this person will be with you on your wedding day. You want to get on with them and enjoy having them around.
You should also check how long your photographer will be there on the day. We think its important to cover the day in full so don’t limit our time at all. We’re often still there at midnight!
You may even find your venue won’t allow any photography during the service. This happens all too often and is a real shame in our opinion. Don’t find this out on the day. Check beforehand.
We want our couples to have the best of everything which is why we only use Queensberry wedding albums as well as using the finest printers and craftsmen for all our products. It means we’re not the cheapest photographers in town but our clients tend to see their photography as something extremely important and appreciate our attention to detail and quality. After all, once the main event is over, the flowers are dead and the cake is eaten, your photographs are all that remains. Imagine showing your album to your children in ten years time….
There are plenty of great photographers out there. There are also some terrible ones! Find the photographer which suits you best.
As a Wedding Planner I have to say that photographs are one of the most important things for me when brides ask for advice on what to spend their budget on. Once the day is over your photographs last a life time and you can relive your memories over and over again as you turn each wonderful page of your album. I would really recommend the best photographer that you can afford to capture your day. I hope you love these pictures as much as me. It makes me want to go and get married all over again.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Inspiration, Photographer, Supplier, Tips & Advice
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Capture the Moment – Photography Supplier & Advice
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure to meet the lovely Claire Evans, a great photographer based in Lichfield. I spent the afternoon browsing through her portfolio and chatting with her about how she started in photography and what types of service Claire offers. As you know we only recommend the best suppliers at The Wedding Genie, ones who share the same philosophy to customer service as us. Claire definitely comes into that category. Many of her weddings are featured in Perfect Weddings and she has been nominated for the “Perfect Wedding” awards.
I asked Claire to tell us about herself and her Company.
I believed that I was destined to be a photographer right from an early age. For as far back as I can remember I always wanted to be the one taking photographs rather than the one posing for them. I studied photography at college and university and became a wedding photographer by sheer chance. I had thought that my career path would take me more along the fashion photography route but being asked to photograph a friend’s wedding changed all that! Being a Wedding Photographer is quite a challenging job but I wouldn’t want it any other way – I love it! I have a studio in Swinfen near Lichfield at the present but from early next year I will be moving to my gorgeous studio in the beautiful Staffordshire village of Abbots Bromley.
What is your Style?
I love to keep my photography quite natural and aim to capture the day and its events as they happen! Most couples will want me to take a few more formal group shots but I do try to advise to keep these to a minimum so as to leave time to capture all those very special moments. The couples who choose me to be their wedding photographer do so as it is always my intention to capture the emotion and tell the story of what will probably be one of the biggest days in their lives.
I never fail to be excited by a wedding! I love everything about wedding days – the dress, the flowers, the venues, the ceremonies and of course the people! Every wedding is different and every couple is different so it is essential that I really get to know my couples over a period between their booking and and their actual wedding day. I love to hear all the plans and after quite a few years of being a wedding photographer I have picked up a wealth of tips and advice that I can offer if needed.
What advice would you give to couples looking for a Wedding Photographer?
When looking for your wedding photographer the main factor must be that you love their work, that goes without saying. You will never be able to capture the events of your big day again so it is essential that you have a photographer whose work you will treasure. It is important to also remember that whoever you choose will be someone who will be spending an awful lot of time with you, so it should be someone you get along with. Most couples will only have a certain budget to work with and photographers fees can vary greatly, but on the whole it is probably best to remember that you generally get what you pay for.
How might it help working with a Wedding Planner?
The last thing you will want on your wedding day is to be worrying about the details! Planning a wedding is a big thing and although it is very exciting, it can also be quite overwhelming. Just knowing what you have to do and in which order can be a daunting task itself. When speaking to most of my brides they often tell me that they never realised just how hard it would be sourcing suppliers and venues etc. To have a Wedding Planner who takes over the responsibility is an absolute dream. From a photographer’s point of view to have a Professional Wedding Planner overseeing the running of the day is just great. If there is anything at all that I need to know or to arrange, I have someone there who can get the job done without me having to bother any of the bridal party.
What is your favourite wedding?
I often get asked that. It is so difficult to say as every wedding is special for different reasons. One of my favourites has to be Karen and Daniel’s wedding that I photographed last year in London. Daniel is a Captain in the army and his barracks are actually at The Tower of London. They got special permission to be married in the Chapel Royal of Saint Peter ad Vincula within the grounds of the Tower – it was stunning. The reception was held at the fabulous Trinity House where we were treated to a dramatically lit, absolutely mesmerising display of regimental drumming. It is certainly one of the weddings I shall never forget and makes my job as a Wedding Photographer so special.
Thank you very much to Claire for sharing her advice and thoughts on Wedding Photography. Its been a busy couple of weeks and we have many more suppliers to share with you over the next few months so keep reading.
If you want to be organised for the new year then give us a call or email to check our availability for Our Genie for An Evening session, or have complete peace of mind with our On the Day Coordination service. If you book before the end of January 2010 we are helping our couples out with a 20% discount. Alternatively if you have a question you want answered just give us a call, we are always happy to help.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Photographer, Supplier
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Choosing Your Photographer – Tips & Advice
Thursday, October 1st, 2009
I cannot stress just how important it is to choose a really great photographer. When the wedding is over there is nothing better than curling up with your new husband, and “the album” and browsing through the beautiful memories and moments of your day.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to work with Jessica Beveridge from Redrabbit Photography. From the moment we met I knew we were going to have a great day. Jess has a very calm, relaxing and confident approach. She knew exactly what to do to capture the essence of the day without making the guests feel they were being rounded up or bossed about. Her organisation was excellent and it was a joy to work with her. We kept to the timelines of the day, the food was served on time and it also meant that the Bride and Groom, Mark and Zoe, were not away from their friends and family for hours, but able to mingle and enjoy the sunshine before the wedding breakfast.
Jess had taken the time to get to know Mark & Zoe so on the day the couple felt totally relaxed, and confident that Jess knew exactly what they wanted from their photographs. I had also been able to give Jess an outline of the day, she knew who and where everyone was. Its very important to capture the details of the day. If the photographer knows when the wedding party will be ready, the flowers are set up and the tables are laid etc they can ensure they incorporate this into their own schedule and capture all the elements that make a fantastic wedding album.
Here are some of Jess’s favourite images of the day, followed by her top tips.
How Cute
Eagerly anticipating, nearly ready
Dreamy
The Perfect Ending and Beginning xxx
We asked Jess if she would give us her top tips and advice on choosing a Wedding Photographer:-
Tips for Hiring a Wedding Photographer
When deciding on a photographer for your wedding day it is vital to make sure they are going to be right for you. The wedding photographs form a critical part of your wedding, they record the atmosphere and emotion of your special day. They are the only reminder you have apart from your memories of what happened as to who was involved and how the day unfolded. Not only must they produce some fantastic results with good quality images, prints and albums, but they must also fit into your day and gel with you and your guests.
Five helpful tips on what you should consider when making this important decision.
Personality
It is really important to connect with your photographer, they will be spending a lot of time with you on the day. You must feel that they will fit in with the day and your guests without being overbearing. At the same time the photographer should have the ability to take charge when necessary, and be able to be ready in anticipation to capture your special moments. You must be able to get along with the photographer so the rapour and chemistry between you is key to you feeling relaxed in front of the camera.
Photographic Style
You must view the photographer’s portfolio to get an example of the type of style they use. There are many styles and types of photography that are currently adopted within the wedding photography field, including reportage, traditional and artistic, you must choose a style that suits you. It is always good to view a complete wedding rather than just selected images as often photographers select the best images to show in their portfolios. Seeing whole wedding will show you what you can expect to be achieved on your day.
Price Range and Packages
Budget is obviously important so you must check the charges and exactly what is on offer and what you expect to receive for your money. There can be a massive difference between different photographers’s prices and packages so look around and view lots of portfolios and price lists to make sure you understand exactly what is on offer. It is also wise to check what additional costs are involved. This can be CD’s, DVD’s, reprints, framed prints, canvases, albums, parent albums and any travel costs. I would recommend trying to purchase the CD or DVD as this is always useful if you want to print your own images or give images as gifts to guests.
Meetings
Arrange with your chosen photographer to have a meeting at the venue before the wedding day. This is especially important if they have not used that particular venue before. This will mean that they will be familiar with the layout and how everything will run on the day. You can also let them know your favourite areas so this can be incorporated into the photographs. Everything like timings and any group photographs you require can also be discussed.
References and Contract
A personal reference is always the best way of finding out a little bit more about your photographer, the way they work and the results they have achieved. The other important item is the contract. Find out when you pay the deposit and the final amount. Also get a description of the package you have ordered and the final costings. The other thing to check is the photographers cancellation policy and/or what happens if they are ill on the day.
This is great advice and I really hope it has helped you think about what you need to do and ask when making this very important decision. In the meantime if you want to organise a Genie for An Evening or see if we are free for On the Day Coordination just call or contact us. If you have a question you really want an answer to we would love to hear from you.
Until next time, happy planning.
Tags: Photographer, Supplier, Tips & Advice
Posted in Photographers, Real Weddings, Tips & Advice | No Comments »
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