As a photographer, I know we all have our own style and way of doing things. The fact we're all different is what makes this industry so special. I'm always happy to answer any questions and alleviate any concerns you may have - whether that's before booking with me, or during the lead up to your wedding or portrait session. Over time, I've found there are some queries that get asked often, and I've put these together here. If you don't find the answer you're looking for here, then please reach out via the contact page, or email me here: [email protected].
It's understandable to feel a little nervous if you've never had your photo taken professionally before. While I try to emphasise a more natural and 'unposed' look to the images, I'm always on hand to offer tips and suggestions on how to pose to get the best out of our time together.
If you've booked an individual portrait session and would like to bring a partner, friend or chaperone then please do let me know in advance. I have no issue with someone being present if it makes you more at ease, but at the same time I want to be able to conduct the session in a professional manner and produce the images you would like. If I feel your guest is disrupting the session or rude to me in any way, I reserve the right to end the session early, and you may receive a smaller gallery/less images as a result.
For weddings I ask for a £300 deposit at the time of booking and completion of the initial online paperwork. This secures your date and no further work will be taken on the same day. Wedding balances are due no later than 30 days before the wedding date. For portrait sessions or events, I ask for a £25 deposit at the time of booking, and the balance is then due up to and including the day of the session/event. If paying balances on the day I can also bring a portable card machine for your convenience.
I understand this can be a difficult decision to make, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. For weddings, it depends when notice is given that you would like to cancel the booking. If there are more than 30 days before the wedding, then your deposit is forfeited, but any balance paid will be refunded (less that of any services already rendered, such as an engagement session). Under 30 days and all money paid is lost, as it is very unlikely I'll be able to book another wedding for the date. In the unlikely event that I have to cancel the booking, then all money paid will be refunded, including the deposit. I will also provide a number of alternative photographers for you to consider as a good will gesture.
Rescheduling is always preferable to cancellation, and where possible I will try to accommodate the new date. If the new date is less than 12 months after the original date, there will be nothing extra to pay. For new dates beyond 12 months, you will be liable for any increase in prices that may have occurred during this period. If I am unable to fit you in on the new date and no alternatives are available, then it is treated as a cancellation of the booking, and the time frames in the previous question apply.
I currently use Canon camera bodies paired with a number of Canon lenses. I have used this brand for a number of years now due to their excellent reliability and quality. At the end of the day though, modern cameras and less are very similar in their capabilities between brands, as long as the photographer knows how best to use it.
Redundancy and backups are so important, and despite modern equipment being very reliable, things do go wrong. I routinely carry several camera bodies (each with two card slots in case of card corruption), a number of lenses that have overlap in their zoom range, and even spare lighting equipment. This ensures any eventuality is covered, especially during a wedding or event.
Yes, I am fully insured with both professional indemnity and personal liability insurance. Certificates are available to send to venues if they are requested.
For weddings, there are usually several opportunities to do the parts of the day that need outdoors space (such as group photos) so we can work around breaks in the weather. Failing that, we can use any available indoor space as best we can. When it comes to portrait sessions, we can look at alternative venues if this is an option, or perhaps reschedule to another day if the forecast is more favourable.
Your portrait session deposit isn't tied to a specific day, and I am always happy to rearrange to an alternative date provided I am available. Suitable notice is always appreciated, but I understand things can come up at the last minute.
Having a good working relationship with your photographer is super important, especially if you plan to book me for your wedding, so I always encourage either an in person meeting or a zoom call so we can have a chat about the day and get to know each other. I'm also only an email or phone call away if you have any questions before booking, whether it's a wedding, portrait session or event.
Absolutely! Over the years I've done sessions with horses and dogs, but the sky is the limit really. Please get in touch if you'd like to arrange a session with a pet, as I am currently offering a discounted 45-minute mini session (only in Kent).
While Kent has so many beautiful locations to get married or have a portrait session, I'm always happy to travel further. My three 'full day' wedding collections and engagement sessions include 250 miles of travel (125 miles each way), with extra miles charged at 30p per mile, or the equivalent extra if a train is more practical. My two portrait sessions include travel within Kent, but extra miles can be added to my Classic portrait session in the same way as my weddings. For weddings more than 2-3 hours away, I may require overnight accommodation the night before and/or the night of the wedding. In this case I do ask for half of this cost to be covered.
I like to strike a balance between my clothing being formal and being practical. Typically I describe it as the sort of thing an evening guest might wear, comprising of a dress shirt, chinos (usually light in summer, black in winter) and smart shoes. No jeans, polo shirts or trainers in sight.
This can be a bit of a thorny issue, and all photographers have different preferences. For me, I don't ask to be fed, but it is always lovely to be offered a hot meal when you and your guests are eating. This can just be a plate of a main course, a bar meal on a tab, or something from the buffet. Supplier meals are generally priced much lower than a normal guest, so ask your venue. If you would prefer not to offer a meal, then I will bring food with me - just let me know either way.
This will depend heavily on what I am photographing and my current workload and other commitments. Weddings typically take 6-8 weeks but can take up to 12 weeks during the height of the summer season. Portrait sessions/engagement sessions typically take 3-4 weeks. I will always try to deliver your gallery earlier, and likewise will keep you informed if there is a delay for any reason.
For every wedding and portrait session/event and corporate work, you will receive an online gallery with a range of images. The number of images, and any immediate download rights will depend on the session and any other agreements/quotes. Portrait sessions will include either 10 or 30 high resolution images to download, with the ability to purchase more, or the entire gallery. Engagement sessions and weddings have no download limits, and all images can be downloaded in high resolution. My three 'full day' wedding collections also include hard copies of your images on a personalised USB, which will be posted shortly after your main gallery goes live.
This is of course every photographer's nightmare. Let me first say that I very rarely get ill, especially to the extent that I cannot attend your wedding in some capacity. When there is a second photographer, it may be that they step up a bit more than is usual, but having another experienced wedding photographer in attendance is a great level of redundancy. This can also apply if I am stuck in traffic or due to a road accident travelling to the venue/prep location. I can also call upon a number of support networks to get another photographer to attend in my stead. While not the ideal solution, it means there is some level of continuity and you are not without coverage on your wedding day.
Your online gallery is linked to a dedicated store and a UK-based print lab. This enables you to order a range of products within the interface, choose and crop images, pick frame options and delivery timeframes in one place. You are of course free to order products elsewhere if you prefer using any high resolution images you have downloaded.
As wedding albums are a more bespoke item, they cannot currently be ordered through your online gallery store. Instead, let me know you are interested and we can begin the design process. I will take your favourite images and design a custom layout, as well as a cover design with line art or foil overlay text. Delivery is then right to your door. My 'full day' wedding collections include either a discount on an album, or even include one as standard. You can also design and order one yourself elsewhere if you prefer.
Photography is a great hobby to have, and while some things are easy to pick up, there's only so much you can learn on YouTube alone. Head over to the Mentoring page in the menu above to find out about the types of mentoring and tuition I offer - from 1-2-1 sessions on a topic of your choice, to a full photography crash course with accompanying notes.
I'm always happy to discuss your requirements if you have an event planned and would like some photography coverage. Some may fall within the remit of one of my portrait sessions, so they may be a good starting point. For longer events, or more unique aspects/image download rights, please get in touch with all the relevant details and the event date so I can quote you accordingly.
This is something I have started offering in recent years, and can range from headshots for your company, coverage of events and sports, to content for social media and website use. I also have the ability to record video content such as pieces to camera or interview situations. Please get in touch to see samples of previous work, as well as a quote.
That's great news! Whatever the service you're interested in, the first step is sending me a message with all the necessary information. For weddings and date-specific events I will check my availability and get back to you, and if am free then a deposit will be taken and any initial online booking forms completed. In the lead up to the wedding/session/event, there may be further questions and communications to ensure I have all the necessary details, and any balances due will need to be paid.