FIVE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER

Are you currently searching and wondering how to choose a wedding photographer? It is baffling isn’t it.  With so many people to choose from with different approaches, aesthetics, practises and prices. This blog is hopefully going to make things a little easier for you. With five helpful and insightful points, this blog is going to give you a summary of why I believe we should work together. Hopefully some of the conversation surrounding my natural wedding photography style will resonate somewhere within you. If you wanted to scope out the lay of the land before we continue then here are some words on my photographic approach. Otherwise, lets get cracking with my five reasons why we should work together!

FIVE reasons why YOU should book ME to photograph your WEDDING in SURREY, Kent,

DENMARK and virtually anywhere across the UK and ABROAD

REASON ONE: YOU FELL IN LOVE WITH THE IMAGES

You have been squirrelling away on the web and came across my wedding website. Perhaps in your search bar you typed in “Natural Wedding Photography Surrey” and up popped my name. Scrolling though the pages you fell in love with my documentary style and approach to wedding photography.  If you are craving natural and relaxed portraits and fun wedding photography then this is the place for you. It is also probably why you stumbled onto this page. As a couple you want your wedding photography to hold a space and to tell the authentic story of your day.

Capturing a story is my favourite part of being a wedding photographer. I will be there to document your day just as it is. From every smile and heartfelt tear to every kiss and every spontaneous moment in between.  You are wonderful, beautiful and perfect just as you are and as your wedding photographer I will be present through all of it. No photographic gimmicks and glitter required, just the portrayal of how fabulous and amazing you are together.

REASON TWO:  EXPERIENCE IS IMPORTANT TO YOU

As a couple you want to know that you have entrusted your wedding to a professional with enough experience to withstand the heat. By heat I do not mean weather (although if last years heat wave was anything to go by I can safely say that I am well equipped). I have photographed over 50 weddings since beginning this journey in 2014. Rest assured I have encountered most types of weddings.

I have been present and photographed pub weddings, festival weddings, intimate weddings and over 200 attendee weddings, barn weddings, destination weddings, Surrey weddings, Christian weddings, Hindu weddings, Winter weddings, Summer and Spring weddings, LGBTQ weddings, registry office weddings, humanist weddings,  beach weddings, traditional weddings, alternative weddings, and stately home weddings.

The experience gained from all of these types of wedding days are extensive. I have photographed in the torrential rain, in the blistering sunshine and in the lowest light you can capture. All of these weddings have brought me to where I am today and I could not be more grateful. Providing the upmost VIP treatment for my clients is incredibly important to me. By taking a selected number of weddings per year means that I can give the most amount of dedicated time to each of my couples.

REASON THREE: YOU WANT PHOTOGRAPHS THAT STAND THE TEST OF TIME

When you wondered how to choose a wedding photographer the main issue is whether you believe wedding photographs to be important. If, as a couple, you value wedding photography with the upmost importance then you are in the right place. You are not interested in the latest trends or fads (seriously does anyone say fad anymore?) Anyway. Together you are not looking for heavily staged and photoshopped images, but rather natural wedding photography. Within your wedding album thou shalt not apply an Instagram style filter.  You are interested and yearn for images that are a testament to the day that you both created together.  Wedding photographs that gain importance the more that you look at them over time. A visual reminder of the essence of the day with relaxed, candid and creative wedding photographs.

As your photographer I offer all of these important things to you. I will be there to give this all to you. From documentary wedding photography coverage to guided family portraits. There will be candid images of your guests enjoying your wedding reception as well as beautiful detailed room and decor images. Not to mention awesome and relaxed portraits of the both of you together. Taken in a relaxed manner with no formal ‘prom’ style portraits. Just images where you feel comfortable together and enjoying one an others company.

REASON FOUR: YOU WANT A PHOTOGRAPHER WHO FEELS LIKE A FRIEND

Having your photograph take is a scary thing, believe me I have endured it. Those images of my smiling in this blog were taken by a lovely fellow wedding photographer and may I say being on the other side of the lens was nerve wracking. So I appreciate what a funny and momentous thing that this is for you. Choosing the right wedding photographer can make all the difference. Still left wondering how to choose a wedding photographer? I wrote about how you could ask an actual friend to photograph your wedding, but the consensus was not a necessarily positive one.

The alternative being, why not book a wedding photographer who feels like a friend? DING DING DING! Good news – I am not bossy, shouty, argumentative or set in my ways. My job as a wedding photographer is to listen to the both of you to find out what is important. I spend a lot of time getting to know my couples and always meet up before any serious paper work is filled out. Being open and honest with your clients is utterly important to me and getting on is my number one priority.

REASON FIVE: THE REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

A lot of my business comes through referrals from past couples who have worked with me. Now if this is not the biggest compliment, then I do not know what is. When someone has valued your time together enough to pass on your details to a loved one getting married it brings the biggest smile to my face. Being part of a wedding day it is important to do just that. Be part of the day. This is not insinuating that I steal the lime light, but rather I blend in to the surroundings. It is a huge acclamation when a wedding guest asks me how I know the couple getting married. I am fun and friendly to be around, yet still remaining professional and responsible enough to keep a time check. If you don’t believe me take a look at these rave reviews from my couples. If it makes any difference my mums are pretty proud of me too so they could provide you with a glowing reflection!

TA DA! MY FIVE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER

So there you have it, tips on how to choose a wedding photographer in a nutshell. It is so important to me that I connect with people who love what I do.  If you have made it to the end and have no desire to send me an email, this is the beauty of this industry. We are not the right fit and that is okay to acknowledge that. Ultimately you want a wedding photographer who cares about you and your wedding day.

If however you have reached this point and feel that we would bond very well over our love of natural wedding photography and a cold margarita or flat white coffee then do get in touch. We can have a conversation over Facetime or Zoom and I can send you my brochures with additional information. I work predominantly as a Surrey wedding photographer but this does not discourage my LOVE of weddings elsewhere, including Kent, London and destination weddings. Come and say hello because every wedding excites my creativity.

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Images of Jesse were captured by Rebecca Douglas Photography

What can I say about this Inkersall Grange Farm wedding without sounding totally biased? Well truth be told there is nothing probably about this gorgeous wedding that I can say impartially – because I absolutely love it!  Not only did I get to photograph a wedding where the bride arrived in a helicopter and they played my favourite Scandinavian game at the reception.

But I also got to take pictures for my best friends wedding.  This experience is one that I know that I will treasure the whole of my career because it is not very often you can provide something so creative and intimate for your closest friends. When I started out with my business I wanted to project my commitment to working with all couples.

Being an LGBTQ+ wedding photographer it is important to me to photograph the essence of a wedding day with amazing couples. However my couples identify themselves, as well as age, race, colour and physical ability. This wedding embodies all that my business strives to be.

The setting for Amy and Ruth’s colourful, camping themed wedding was Inkersall Grange Farm. The couple booked the tipi’s as a dry hire venue which meant that they had all the creative freedom that they desired.  Ruth said that “on the run up to the wedding we’d bought 360 different coloured drinking glasses and 100m worth of coloured fabric from local charity shops. We used the fabric to make bunting and the glasses brought colour to the tables. Both of them combined brought our tipi to life!” which indeed it did!

After arriving in style (Amy by helicopter and Ruth by a vintage Rolls) their guests took their seats on the outdoor benches at the venue surrounded by colourful flags and flowers. With their closest friends and family present the brides walked down the aisle to the song ‘A Millions Dreams’ from The Greatest Showman which did not leave a dry eye in the house.  The couple broke from tradition – after legally being married the day before – they chose their ‘bearded best man’ as Amy described him to officiate their ceremony. Amy said “we chose Adam to be both our master of ceremonies and wedding officiant – we’d both known him since uni so he put his own personal touch on our beautiful blessing ceremony.”

After reciting their own written vows the couple walked excitedly back down the aisle as gleeful wedding guests threw colourful knitted pom-poms instead of confetti.  If you were interested in the use of these pom-poms that the ladies used, check out my blog piece about making your wedding more eco friendly. In this I talk about all different elements to weddings and discuss confetti in great detail. The couple played games of KUBB at the reception as guests mingled and ate gorgeous canapés from the Salted Orange Food Company.  With hilarious speeches and energetic dancing throughout the evenings festivities it was hard to know which was the couples favourite part of their wedding – so I asked them a couple of questions!

FUN LGBTQ+ FESTIVAL INKERSALL GRANGE FARM WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

What was the best moment of your day?

Gosh! What a hard question! It’s sounds cliche but we enjoyed every moment of it! We both felt as though we were gliding through the day, as if we were floating. If we had to pick one moment it would be the walk back down the aisle as a married couple when our guests through coloured pom poms in the air as we walked, hand in hand, to the tune of ‘I love you, always forever!’ by Betty Who.

Is there any advice you would give to other couples?

Keep the formal photos to a minimum – enjoy your time WITH the people who have come along to celebrate your day with you. Prioritise the natural shots – they make for the better photos anyway!!

Do you have a moment during the day when you were most surprised?

Ruth – it HAS to be when I saw Amy for the first time in her DRESS! I had no idea she’d be wearing one and she’d certainly led me to believe she’d be wearing something else on the big day. She looked absolutely beautiful. Angelic. I’ll never ever forget that moment!

Is there anything from your day that you are particularly proud of?

We’d have to say the way in which our tipi looked. We’d been collecting glasses and making bunting over the last 18 months so seeing that come together on the Friday was just incredible. The wooden signs that we’d cut, made and painted along with the assortment of coloured flags set-up on the entrance to the tipi really set the tone for what to expect inside and the day certainly lived up to that and more!

 TO TOP IT OFF HERE ARE SOME WONDERFUL WORDS THEY SAID ABOUT ME

Jesse, you made us both feel so relaxed and comfortable (both on our engagement shoot and on the big day itself) with your calming nature and effortless ability to keep things moving whilst ensuring we had fun and really ‘took part’ in our day! You caught those natural moments and nothing felt forced or too structured. You were the perfect photographer for our carefree, fun loving, bright and colourful wedding day! It’s a day we’ll never forget and thanks to you a day that we can literally look back on for years to come with such fondness, love and laughter.

Thank you!

It was such a pleasure and a privilege to be involved with Amy and Ruth’s Inkersall Grange Farm wedding. How often do you get to photograph your best friends wedding with a helicopter entrance and an impromptu live set with the bride her self? Not only were these two girls my close friends, but I was able to provide an un-biased service. I pride myself in the inclusivity of my business being an LGBTQ+ wedding photographer. In the future I hope to grow my portfolio with all manner of diverse couples. My passion lies with providing an amazing service to couples however they identify themselves.

If you are embarking on planning your own wedding and want to seek a little advice then why not check out my Wedding Day Timeline advice piece or perhaps Amy and Ruth’s Sunny Cusworth Hall Engagement Shoot?

THANK YOU to all of AMY and RUTH’S wonderful suppliers

Dresses: Rembo Styling and Maggie Sotterro Designs

Shoes: TOMS

Venue: Inkersall Grange Farm 

Catering: Salted Orange Food Company

Bridesmaids Dresses: ASOS

Flowers: Forget me Notts

Hair: Ashleigh Turner Hair and Make Up

Make Up: Kate Odudu That Beauty Place

DJ: The Fat Cats

Acoustic: Daniel Sims Music