Black 'n White

Many couples say they prefer black and white pictures. Of course everyone wants to have certain pictures in colour, but there is something about black and white that has wide appeal. Somehow the picture has a more creative feel when there is no colour - you are drawn to the shape, mood and texture of the picture - there is simply so much more emotion.

Here are a few pictures:-


(Above) This is a very simple pose - but I love the expressions. I prefer this picture in black and white, it just seems to work better for me.


I like this picture in black and white - my eye is drawn to the veil and the outline of her dress. The black and white texture gives a greater sense of beauty.


The bride loved her shoes, they were the highlight of the day! The texture and grain in this picture, aided by the soft light, makes the picture work.


This is a classic black and white picture, using natural light and strong shadows to create added depth and appeal.


Soft window light helps to make this a simple yet beautiful image, which is aided by the gentle black and white tones.

The Bride and Groom

The highlight at a wedding for me is the bride and groom together - the day is a celebration of their commitment and love for each other. Every couple, and every wedding therefore, is different. My personal aim at a wedding is to capture these moments. Reportage photography does not do everything here - as I find the bride and groom do not naturally spend a lot of time together on their wedding day, because there is so much going on and so many guests. So I try and spend a little time at every wedding with the bride and groom to get some lasting pictures of them. Here are a few, some are reportage photographs and some are posed:-


(Above) This is a posed portrait. It was taken towards the end of the day and I asked the bride and groom to go to the top of the stairs and then look down at me. I think it makes for a really nice relaxed picture.


This was a completely candid moment caught from some distance during the wedding service. The couple had a fleeting kiss which I caught on camera. The slight movement is because there was so little natural light that I had to use a slow shutter speed.


This was a set piece picture. I had asked the guests to form a tunnel for the bride and groom to walk through whilst people threw confetti. The picture makes for a great scene that is not too formal and captures some great expressions.


This is also a posed shot, taken at the end of the day - it was dark outside and the only light was from an overhead outside lamp. I like the embrace and the natural expressions, and it is not too cheesy either - it makes me think of a young couple in love.


I love this shot. It is slightly set up - in that I asked the bride and groom to walk down the path from the church together, but the expression between them is completely natural. It has an innocent, 'young love' feel about it - it just seems to capture the moment, and the day.

Newark Wedding - Sarah & Darren

Sarah and Darren were married in December 2006 in Normanton and they held their reception at Newark Town Hall, above the Buttermarket. The main photographer at the wedding was Samantha Hook and I worked with her to provide some additional reportage photographs. Samantha is a great photographer and we get on really well (from April this year Samantha and I will be working together). Newark town hall is lovely inside, as you can see below. I met Sarah and Darren a few weeks ago. They are a lovely couple and Samantha and I had a great time taking their photographs.

Here are some of the pictures:-


(Above) this is inside Newark Town Hall. The decor and the layout for the room is beautiful, a lovely setting for a wedding.


Some friends taking pictures outside the church. I love the expressions.


This is a completely candid moment - the bride was not aware I was taking this picture.


This photograph was taken by Samantha. It was almost the last picture of the day, taken right at the end of the evening. It was one of those pictures where you say "shall we try this" - what a great result, this is a stunning picture.


This is a candid picture of the bride walking into church and shows off her lovely wedding dress.

Grooms

So let's take a look at photographs of the grooms. This requires some reportage wedding photography and some more natural poses. The main focus of a wedding is of course the bride, in her beautiful dress, but it is also a special day for the groom. Taking pictures of the groom tends to vary according to the groom and the setting. Some are more relaxed in front of the camera and some less so. The skill of the photographer is being able to adjust accordingly. You will see all of the pictures selected are black & white - they just seem to work better with grooms.

Here are a few pictures:-


(Above) This is a simple and common wedding picture, but if taken right it still makes for a nice picture. The key is in the expressions, which in turn is linked to the timing of the picture and the way it is taken. This picture was taken during the drinks reception, when everyone was feeling rather jolly, as you can see.


This composition normally makes for a good picture. It is a posed picture but the main element is the expression of the groom.


Walking shots of the groom and the groomsmen is a favourite shot these days, perhaps too much so. But they can still make for a nice relaxed shot of the 'walking to church' story - and this case walking from the pub!


I like this simple portrait. The use of the nearby wall and the shallow focus adds depth to the picture. The sepia look provides a degree of grit and texture to the image.


This is a simple but effective portrait. Whilst it is obviously a wedding photograph, of the groom waiting at the church for his bride, it nonetheless makes for a nice portrait. In years to come the groom - and his wife - can marvel at how slim he was on his wedding day!

Traditional or contemporary?

Are you better going for traditional wedding photographs or reportage wedding photography? The answer to this question depends upon a number of things. The typical cost for traditional wedding photographs will be around £800 to £1,500, depending upon the photographer and the package. You will get a limited number of very well taken and well presented photographs. The people in the pictures will be you but the setting and the type of picture will be a familiar format. So if you just want a few traditional wedding photographs and your budget is within this range, then traditional may well be for you.

If traditional wedding photographs are not your thing, if you really want a selection of natural pictures from you wedding day, along with some more formal pictures, then you need to do something else. However, the cost for good quality contemporary photography is more - and typically you should expect to pay at least £1,500. The reason is quite simple, the task is much more involved, a photographer will only do 1 wedding on a day, he or she will be taking many more photographs, and therefore the albums tend to be fuller - and this all means higher cost. You pays your money and takes your choice.

Be wary of packages at low prices offering natural photography. There is a huge difference between quality natural photographs and snaps. One of the regrettable features of the current trend towards natural photography and the abundance of good quality digital cameras is that taking snaps has never been easier - but snaps do not make timeless memories from your wedding day - they just make snaps.

Here are a few photographs that caught my eye:-


(Above) This image was taken with an ultra wide lens - then lens alone costs £1,500 to purchase. I saw the composition of the best man (who looks like the groom in this picture) and the bridesmaids waiting by the door of the church. I realised the lighting and the composition, combined with this extreme wide angle lens, would make a good shot. It is not a 'snap', that is for sure.


This image was taken without flash in what was a relatively dark church, although I know it looks well lit. I used a special lens that lets a large amount of light into the camera - again this lens costs some £1,000 to purchase - so that I could take the picture without camera shake and without a tripod. The quality of the lens means the picture is sharp and rich in colours. The composition provides a balanced picture. It captures a special moment in a special way.


This was a set piece photograph. Set piece in that the walking was done only for the camera - but they still had fun doing it. It makes for a great, relaxed shot. I used a professional zoom lens for this picture, so I could adjust the lens as the group walked closer to me. The difference between a professional zoom lens and one you might buy in the high street is the sharpness of the image and the focusing speed. This is also a £1,000 lens.


There is much more to this picture than you might think. I was doing this wedding with Samantha Hook Weddings, so there were two professional photographers - Samantha Hook and me. Samantha was setting up a formal shot of the the boys and during the set up they were having a laugh and some fun. Whilst Samantha was busy setting up the formal shot I was able to focus on the boys having fun. The lens is again high quality and hence the sharp focus on the groom and the feeling of depth in the picture. This is another £1,000 lens, but different from the ones above.


This is a slightly different group shot. I was standing on the church wall for this picture - only about 4 feet from the bride and groom, although it looks further - and had arranged the group and the bride and groom. I was using the same extreme wide angle lens mentioned to above.

Pictures that inspire me

I love photographs. Reportage wedding photography has the ability to capture life and make it seemingly immortal - a small treasure of moments now past yet still alive in our memories. They bring back times and thoughts that we had long forgotten - but when remembered they bring a cheer and a smile to our faces. Such is the power of photography.

Photography is, therefore, a subjective matter - what inspires one person may do little for another. Yet, there are certain photographs that transcend this barrier and have universal appeal - beyond the people who are directly involved in the photographs.

I used to think the art of photography was the ability to capture great moments, to be in the right place at the right time: to be there when there is a great sunset or a shaft of light coming through the woods, illuminating a flower within the undergrowth. I then found there is another side to photography, the ability to look at normal, everyday situations and to create something timeless. This is what I love most about photography, to use creativity to convey the best from what is around us.

Here are a few of my favourite pictures:-


(above) I took this picture through the door window of the wedding car, and hence the reflections. The picture has an expectant look - a "I'm just getting married!" look.


I often find that flowers look great in real life but rarely make good pictures. This in an exception, for me at least. I find the contrast in colours and the sharpness of the picture very appealing.


This is a very simple but effective picture. The bride's figure is beautifully shown in a straightforward composition, with the holding of hands the main point of focus.


Children can make great subjects - and that is certainly the case here. These two children were more than a handful at the wedding and this is a rare moment caught on film.


A candid moment - but the beauty of the bride is stunning. The soft colours and focus add to the appeal of the picture, giving it a natural feel and attraction.

Brides

One of the great things about being a wedding photographer is the chance to take pictures of brides. Reportage wedding photography means that you can take many more natural pictures than with a traditional approach. A wedding is of course about many things but most people would agree that the centre of attention, and quite rightly, is the bride, as she is given away in marriage to her husband. It is a beautiful sight and a privilege to take the photographs. Well, that is what I think anyway.

So here are a few pictures of some of the brides that I have photographed:-


(above) I love this black and white image. It was taken a few years ago with window light only. I used a high grain film to provide the textured look.


I know this picture includes the groom, but the bride looks fantastic.


This is a candid moment, just after the service. The bride did not know I had taken this picture. Her expression is great, with people in the distance looking on.


This was also a candid moment, later in the day and a different wedding. The bride was blowing some bubbles - a perfect moment to catch on film.


This is the same bride from above. She looked stunning and this was a relaxed pose for the camera.

Wedding Portraiture

The current trend for reportage wedding photography has meant a decline in the call for good quality, and perhaps old fashioned, wedding portraiture. I think this is a shame. Many of my best pictures are portraits - not stiff, rigid poses, but modern and contemporary photographs. What I am trying to say - and perhaps not very well - is there is still a need for well composed wedding portraits. A few well-taken photographs will outweigh several hundred snaps.

Here are some of my favourite wedding portraits:-


(above) Everyone loves to see a picture of a beautiful bride and it is always nice to capture some full length photographs of the bride.


A traditional bride and groom photograph may seem a little uninspiring but I think they can make really nice pictures, if taken well.


I call this a walking portrait. I had asked the bride and groom to take a stroll and captured them in mid-action. The picture looks like a reportage photograph, partly because of the black and white texture, but it is a portrait.


A casual looking portrait of the bride and groom. I was about 50 yards away with a long range lens. This meant that I was not so "in their face" and helps to create a more relaxed wedding photograph.

Reportage Photography

Many bridal couples ask for reportage photography today. The term reportage is used to describe photographs that are natural and capture events as they unfold. People have become rather fed up with only traditional poses and want to remember more from their day - they want to remember the emotions and atmosphere from the day, the details and the moments which can become so easily missed and forgotten.

Reportage photography is a skill rather than just a photographic technique. It is much more than snaps. It is about capturing natural moments in a creative way, not just taking a picture of what is around you. If you have a look at various photographs, you will see the difference between "snapography" and reportage photography. The trick with reportage photography is to be able to capture photographs without too much intervention but in manner than still makes it a great photograph, not just a snap - and this is harder than you might think.

Here are a few reportage photographs:-


(Above) This photograph was a candid moment that the bride had no memory about. As she looked in surprise, I was able to take the photograph with the groom just behind her. I could not have set up this picture, it was a case of being in the right place at the right time.


This is one of my favourite pictures, a true reportage photograph. As the bride and groom entered the reception, I moved my camera to follow them and took a picture in mid-action. I knew the moment would happen, it was a case of making sure I was in the right place when it did.


The lady clearly knew I was taking this photograph but it is still a reportage picture, as it is capturing the event and tells part of the story. It brings back the memory of all those ballons!


The framing of this picture works best for me and the glance by the groom to his new bride. The black and white texture also adds to the picture.


The classic picture of the bridal party walking to church. I really love this picture. The glances from the bride and father of the bride makes we wonder what they would have been thinking - one looks like he is enjoying a very proud moment and the other seems a little nervous, glancing down to check all is okay. Who knows really, but I still really love this picture. It tells a lovely story.

Colwick Hall, Nottinghamshire

Here are some pictures from a recent wedding at Colwick Hall, Nottinghamshire. I shot this wedding in conjunction with Samantha Hook Weddings. I get on really well with Samantha and she takes some lovely pictures, and so it was great to shoot this wedding with her. The whole wedding, service and reception, was at Colwick Hall, on Saturday 6th January 2007.

I also ended up providing another service - Alison (the bride) has a dog and she wanted to find a local dog sitter. My wife received a call the week before the wedding from Alison's mum - neither of us knew each other at this point - and it soon transpired that i was taking the wedding pictures. So, they received an extra picture of "misty moments", who took a fancy to one of our dogs, Jamie. So we nearly had two romances.

Here are a few pictures:-


(Above) Colwick Hall, Nottinghamshire is such a great venue to get married. This room is simply wonderful.


A very typical picture of the bride!


I really like this picture. It is a candid moment caught during the marriage service, just about to kiss the bride. The clapping hand in the left of frame helps to frame the moment. There was no flash, just natural light.


A nice picture of the bride and groom. I call this a modern pose - perhaps it is not modern but it has a modern feel to it!


Often the boys pictures can be rather formal, catching them when they are having a joke can be much better. This is a candid moment of the groom having a chat with his mates. The chap in the foreground and distance help to give this picture some depth.


Here is the picture of "Misty Moments" (in white) with her new but rather reluctant boyfriend.

Welcome

Hi and welcome to my blog. First, a few brief details:-

I am married with four daughters and I am just about south of 40, but not for long. I live in Newark, Nottinghamshire. I provide wedding photography across the East Midlands and further afield.

My style of photography is natural and relaxed. I like to capture pictures with style and impact. I think pictures should convey emotion and invoke a response from the viewer. This can be achieved with creative style or sentimental appeal. This may involve reportage photography or created poses.

I provide a contemporary approach to wedding photography, including reportage wedding photography and a fresh approach to portraits. My main focus is to capture the expression and atmosphere from the day, whether I am taking portraits or reportage pictures. I mainly work in Nottinghamshire but I also cover weddings in Lincolnshire and further afield.

Here are just a few:-


(Above) I like this picture because of the delicate colours and the simple composition. The picture holds my attention for ages as i look at the texture of the petals and soft colours.


I like this picture of Colwick Hall, Nottinghamshire, because it is such a great room. It is a wonderful setting to get married. The side windows let in so much daylight, which is beautifully captured by the decor.


This is a couple madly in love, just about to be declared "husband and wife". The wedding was in Lincolnshire in 2006. It was a candid moment and is portrayed in simple black & white. There was no flash used, just available light in the church.

Dogs

Okay, this one has nothing to do with wedding photography. These are a few pictures of our dogs. We have 4 small dogs, 2 are Kings Charles Caviler Spaniels and we have 2 poodles. They are all very sweet. Here are a few pictures:-


(above) - Dogs can have such great expressions. I love this curious look.


This is our newest edition - she was only a few weeks old here.


And she is a bit older here.


This is Jamie, our eldest dog, in his favourite location, sleeping on the sofa.