FilmPhoto.co.uk.

What wedding photographs are allowed in church?

Simon — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 10:01:00 +0000

Well, it’s entirely down to your priest – or in a civil wedding, the registrar.

You have no say I’m afraid.

The typical permission we get is to photograph the following moments:

- Bride coming up the aisle.
- A fake signing of the register
- Married couple coming down the aisle.

At no point other than that are we allowed to photograph.

Now some are a bit more relaxed and will allow a small and discrete number of photographs to be taken during the service, but without flash.

For my part, I take the view that the service IS THE MARRIAGE!! So, actually the last thing you want is some photographer blundering around, flashing everywhere distracting your friends and family from your special moment.

If given complete freedom I will work from the side or rear of the venue. I will try and capture the exchange of rings and the moment you are declared Husband and Wife. Then, if things allow there might be other moments such as the congregation while you are signing the register, friends doing readings and so on.

What to look for in a photographer

Simon — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 10:18:29 +0000

By Guest Author: Becca, from alosangeleslove.com

This isn’t going to be a post about what questions to ask your photographer. Those posts exist all over the internet. And this isn’t going to be a post about what techniques to look for, since everyone’s aesthetic preferences are different. What I like may not be what you like, and visual preferences in wedding photography are really subjective. But you know what isn’t subjective? Whether or not your photographer can capture the essence of joy, love, and sheer unadulterated beauty in your wedding day. A photographer isn’t great because his (posed, prepared for) engagement shoot is featured on Green Wedding Shoes or Style Me Pretty. A photographer isn’t great because she’s snapped a few beautiful images of beautiful hipster 20-somethings at their beautiful handcrafted wedding. No. A photographer is great when they can see the genuine beauty in pure love, regardless of how it’s packaged.

When I started searching for a photographer, I scrolled through pages and pages on site after site of perfect colour- and light-saturated images. I scrolled through pages of stunning dresses and perfectly decorated settings and interchangeable brides and grooms. They were all slim, stylish, under 30, and gorgeous. None of them looked like me. None of them looked like my friends with hips, curves, laugh lines, or maybe even some pigment in their skin. Very few of them were apparently anything other than heterosexual. And I started to get suspicious. Because it’s not normal – even in Los Angeles – to be hit with that many beautiful people (and Los Angeles is pretty darn ethnically and sexually diverse). So I went to the featured photographers blogs to look through their most recent work, but no, I still couldn’t find any average looking people.
I understand that photographers’ websites and blogs are marketing vehicles. I expect the websites to feature traditionally attractive women and men. But your blog? Your most up-to-date work? Theoretically a glimpse into your entire portfolio? And not one single woman larger than a size 4? Or how about a black, Latino, or interracial couple? Or how about a gay or lesbian couple? Or how about a couple who got married in a hotel banquet hall setting? No? You haven’t photographed any weddings like that?

I call bullshit. Maybe in your corner of the world it’s more ethnically and racially homogeneous, so maybe you get a pass there. maybe. And maybe you live somewhere with smaller homosexual populations or where gay marriage isn’t yet legal, so maybe you get a pass there. But, um, 60% of women in the United States wear a size 12 or larger, so you don’t get a damn pass there. And, while I don’t know anyone (besides fraternity boys) who has done extensive statistics on the number of 10s versus 5s on the attractiveness scale (which yes, I find repulsive, but moving on), I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that everyone hiring you for wedding photography isn’t a culturally-defined 8, 9, or 10 because that’s statistically impossible.

So where the hell are the photos of everyone else? A wedding photographer friend confirmed my gut-wrenching suspicions: that lots of famous, big-time photographers everyone’s swooning about take photos of “everyone else” but won’t blog their “less attractive” couples because it hurts their “brand” and “image.” Chubby, ethnic and old is apparently downmarket. Even when they can afford the “upmarket” photographers who happily take their money.

Well fuck you and your brand. You and your unfortunately narrow interpretation of beauty are some of the ugliest things I’ve run across in the wedding industry. When you don’t post photos of paying clients on your blog you are explicitly telling them that they are unattractive. No, actually, you’re telling them you’re too talentless to capture the unique beauty in their specific love. You’re explicitly telling them that their wedding wasn’t as special as your other clients’ weddings. And you play a small part in adding to the sadness and misery of the world. Because when you behave like a shallow asshole, real people like get hurt by your petty branding bullshit. Like Rachel said in the comments on Monday:

And from a follow-up email with Rachel:

This is part of the bullshit that subtly twists us into thinking brides all look like models and that therefore my plain-Jane face isn’t really bridelike. Granted, it’s not a photographer’s responsibility to change the systemic issues that drive my self-esteem problems. However, it’s a paid photographer’s responsibility to respect all his damn clients, regardless of what they look like. If you take our money to capture our wedding photos, it’s your responsibility to capture our joy and beauty, and our beauty-as-joy. And that requires that you see it, that you understand it, that you interact with it, and that you cherish the real heart of the wedding.
Fuck the sofas in fields with pretty people – it’s EASY to take pretty photos of pretty people in pretty settings in posed situations (whether they’re actual clients or models, it’s still staged) . But you know what takes real art? Seeing beauty where it really resides – in scrunchy-faced tears and heads-thrown-back laughter and overwhelming love, caught in an instant as someone brushes away a tear in real-time. If you don’t want to capture that, why would you bother with becoming a wedding photographer? The majority of the world isn’t an 8, 9 or 10 on the attractiveness scale, so you’re going to have clients who aren’t model-like. If you tell them they aren’t model-like, you crush their beauty and the chance for real art. But if you can treat everyone with respect and see the real beauty that drives them as people and a couple, then you can create wedding photography art.

So when you start to consider which photographer to hire for your wedding day, my one piece of advice is to hire someone who obviously respects all her clients. And the way you do that is to look through her blog and confirm that she respects people of all sizes, shapes, colors, and sexual orientations. Make sure he respects each and every client enough to blog them (unless the client requests otherwise). Make sure she respects ballroom weddings with bad carpeting as much as a rustic-chic handcrafted color explosion wedding. Make sure he respects people like you and will know how to make your photos glow, from the inside outward, on your wedding day.

And if you find that, then you’ve found a photographer who understands the messy beauty at the core of weddings, and therefore the point behind wedding photos. I want photos that are honest, that capture the hugeness of it all and not just the prettiness of it. Because the prettiness is besides the point. I want to look back at my photos in 30 years and be able to reconnect with the hugeness of the day and the marriage experience and not just think to myself “wow, we sure looked pretty.” What I want is the raw emotion of the day: the pretty, the ugly, the heart wrenching, and the ephemeral moments that slip by so quickly that I’m likely to forget them individually but that I’ll somehow remember because, woven together, they created the fabric and texture of the day. I want it all captured spectacularly but, most of all, I want it to be honest. Because that’s where the art is, and not in the Pretty. And any wedding photographer who’s forgotten that is nothing more than a shuttermonkey with a hollow “brand.” And that’s the last thing I want anywhere near me and my loved ones on my wedding day.

You can read more about Becca on her very interesting blog at www.alosangeleslove.com

My thanks to Becca for allowing me to repost this article. I think she hits the nail on the head when she talks about finding the “beauty in every bride” – that’s basically my view, every bride is beautiful and I love shooting weddings.

Should I do my own wedding make-up ?

Simon — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 07:37:00 +0000

Get it done professionally, enjoy the pampering and have a great look.

Having hung around with make-up artists on lots of photoshoots I’m amazed at the materials they use and the tricks they have up their sleeves.

Everything from (hugely expensive) make-ups that glow but don’t shine (you don’t want to look sweaty in your photos) to tricks for slimming faces, plumping lips, widening eyes etc.

I’ve only ever shot one wedding where the bride wore no make-up and it stands out like a sore thumb.

I would recommend trying to find a make up artist who has worked for photographers, their technique is very different and more sophisticated I believe than your regular beautician.

We can provide a full make-up service as part of our wedding photography packages.

The Matara

Simon — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 15:21:34 +0000

Recently we photographed Brad and Holly’s wedding at the Matara, we though it was nice change to many of the hotel venues chosen for weddings.

The Matara Centre was created by Geoffrey Higgins after the death of his wife June, inspired by a vision they shared in the months before her death. It began as a meditative centre for well-being, and has evolved into a centre for the celebration of life and life’s events.

7 Royal Tips for your Wedding Day

Simon — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 20:23:24 +0000

Image by Defence Images via Flickr

7 royal wedding tips for your wedding day.

It has been a cracking day, we have all enjoyed Kate and Wills wedding with all it’s pomp, ceremony and romance. But what tips can you take from the Royal Wedding for your big day?

1) write your own wedding vows.

Kate and William did not get that choice, but you do. At all the weddings I have been to, there is nothing that makes it more special than having your own vows that you have written yourselves. It is a guaranteed tear jerker, but also so wonderfully romantic.

2) the wedding dress.

Kate’s dress had two things going for it, firstly it was inherently elegant, slim, fitted and not huge around the legs. Secondly it had a full shoulder straps and cover over the shoulders and arms. Strapless wedding dresses need to be custom tailored and perfectly fitted to you. Straps and lace look so much nicer.

3) The uniform.

While we are on the subject of dress what about the men. The thing about a uniform like Williams is that it holds you end, makes you stand erect and proud. Now you may not be a member of the services, but you can still adopt the cut of the suit and it will make any fella look much better.

4) The wedding video

Well, assume they set it on Sky+ they’ll have a lovely video of their day courtesy of the BBC. But did you you notice the poor sound quality on Kates vows? This is very difficult to get right, especially when Uncle Joe is doing the video for you, so think about a short video mYbe set to music rather than full coverage where you can’t hear the words.

5) Open top cars (or carriages)

If you can rely on the weather they are lovely, though they can be a little windy on the brides hair style. So if you are going to be travelling a distance (and quickly) then I would steer clear.

6) Minibuses and coaches.

I think we all felt a little surprised to see all the nobles climbing in and out of the school minibus. But a lovely red double-decker bus can look terrific and is a good laugh for the guests too.

7) Photographs at the wedding venue

Yes, if you think about it, the royal couple don’t get the lovely shots in the church doorway and the family outside the venue. These days with churches being more and more hemmed in, and so many having gravestones everywhere it can be difficult to get a larger group in at the church. Your reception venue is now often the place where the family groups are photographed.

I’m sure you have your kist of things you did and did not like about the royal wedding, so please leave your comments and ideas.

Location:7 royal wedding tips for your wedding day.

No related posts.

Choosing your wedding photographer

Simon — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 17:03:00 +0000

So how do you choose the right wedding photographer? After all there are a lot of us around, and we seem to offer similar, yet not identical, things. And prices? Prices are hugely variable. So what should you ask to find the right wedding photographer for you?

Wedding Photography Price

OK, you will have a budget, but be prepared to break your budget on your photography. It’s the only thing you will have in 10 years time. Not the meal or hotel, but the photographs – consider where this sits in your budget.

Then add in what you want from your photographer:

- A wedding album

- Additional Prints

- Canvas Prints

- A CD/DVD of all images

Wedding Photography Timing

When do you want the photographer to start and finish? It used to be your photographer turned up just before the service, took 12 pictures before you went in, then another 24 group shots outside the church afterwards.

Well it’s not like that now, our typical session will start with the bride getting ready in the morning all the way through to the dancing in the evening, so work out which parts you want covered. Remember though, you really want to tell the Story of the DAY – the whole day, not just the service in the middle:

- Bride getting ready

- Groom getting ready

- Guests arriving at service

- The service itself

- Guests after the service

- Speeches

- Cake Cutting

- First Dance

- Evening Fun and Dancing

- Wedding couple portraits

- Family portraits

Wedding Photography Style

No doubt the style now is much more towards the “reportage” or “natural” photography of the wedding day. Our aim is to make sure we get happy, smiling (or emotional) people being natural throughout the day.

But, your family will never forgive you if you do not have the formal group shots – and indeed you will want them in the years to come.

Also, I strongly favour the couple portraits, to feature the two of beaming, grinning and full of love on that special day.

Also, the bridal dress needs some special work to really make it.

So, there has to be an element of formal posing.

You can add into this mix some “Fashion” style posing, or “Art” posing – this may be posed to look casual or look very stylised – but the aim is to create a very “WOW” image, above and beyond your average capture the moment type image.

Questions for a wedding photographer

Simon — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:18:00 +0000

When you are selecting your wedding photographer, what are the questions you should be asking?

Be prepared, take the checklist with you, your photographer won’t be offended.

Experience

A big key question: is your photographed experienced and professional – or just a weekend warrior having a bit of fun?

The professional wedding photographer has some key benefits:

- Experience to make you look great all the time

- Experience dealing with difficult situations

- Knows which shots you must have and how to get them

- Has backup equipment just in case

- Has insurance and all those other mundane things.

Photographic Style

What soft of style does the photographer like to shoot – you are probably looking for a mix of formal and natural – but different photographers are better at certain styles. Our approach is more to the natural / fashion end of things, with the key formals captured but not over emphasised.

Personality

Do you get on with your photographer – do you think he will get in with your guests on the day.

If I can paraphrase my clients “I fit in quietly, discretely, photographing guests in relaxed way, but taking great photographs".

Appearance and Dress

Will the be “suited and booted” and well groomed? I hate scruffy photographers!

Price Range

Obviously, you’ve got to make your budget work, but don’t be afraid to go over budget – the wedding photographs are the only thing you’ll have for ever. I’m not afraid to say we are at the higher end of the price range – I’m proud of what I do and I think I do it well.

Package or “a la carte”

Does the photographer only offer wedding photography packages, or can you pick and choose the elements you need? We offer a package as a starting point, but everything is up for change – your wedding should be unique to you.

Who will take the photographs?

Surprisingly often you book a company, not an individual photographer, though you may not be aware of it at the time. I am always your principal photographer.

Do you have backup?

Very good question – what happens if I am ill? Have a several backup photographers, all of whom shoot in a similar style to me, and who’s work is of good quality. We share dates in advance so we know there is always someone available in the event of a crisis.

Wedding Photography Contract

Make sure there is one, make sure its fair. Make sure it includes the items you have talked about.

What are the prices for extras after the wedding?

Because after the day you don’t know what else you might want. I’m very clear about pricing, I keep no secrets you have all the details you need right at the first meeting.

Battle of the Brides – Win a Wedding!

Simon — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 07:52:32 +0000

FilmPhoto.co.uk is sponsoring Star Radio’s Battle of the Brides this year.

Each couple compete in various silly challenges to win a complete wedding day – including our photography.

The finale is 2pm, Sat 30th Oct, when the couples will run an assault course in Beechwood Centre.

The winners of the competition will have a full wedding service at Manor by the Lake (our next door neighbours at the studio). We shall be there providing a full wedding service too.

We’ll be putting up some more images of the assault course after the 30th.

Trash the Dress with Jemma and Guy

filmphoto — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 10:44:04 +0000

Jemma and Guy

So here we are a genuine bride, a genuine dress and a genuine lake!!

I shot Jemma and Guys wedding last year and we had intended to get together shortly afterwards to do a follow-up post wedding shoot – particularly of Jemma feeding the pigs (they’re a kind of village pet).

But Jemma was in quite a nasty car crash and things got put on hold. So we got together again, just after their first anniversary to create these lovely and fun shots.

Cherish the Dress with Lou

filmphoto — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:41:00 +0000

You may have already seen the shots of us setting fire to the wedding dress, but we also took some really nice shots of it too.

We hiked our way up to the top of Leckhampton Hill and took some stunning images of the dress blowing in the wind with Cheltenham and the Severn laid out below.

We were blessed with some terrifically moody skies this day. Photoshop barely required to bring them out to their full drama. And of course on top of the hill you are guaranteed a good wind any day of the week!!

If you haven’t seen what did to this dress and a props dress, then have a look through the blog for the Trash the Dress and Drown the Dress entries – they’re fun!!