My approach to wedding photography…
If you’ve skipped through my website and landed straight here, welcome! I’m Amy, a wedding photographer based in Derbyshire covering weddings across the UK and beyond. The vast majority of couples come to me looking for a documentary style photographer, with big focus on candids while poses and stiff, formal photos take lower priority. Smiling in the photo, not for the photo is my mantra. If that sounds like what you’re looking for in a wedding photographer, keep reading!
On Enquiring
Once I’ve received an enquiry from you (you can get in touch here) if I’m available on your date, you’ll receive a response from me within 48 hours. This includes a link to my extended portfolio, featuring various weddings across all sections of the day, to give you a better idea of how I work, show you consistency in my style across different seasons, venues and lighting conditions. This is also the gallery system used to deliver your gallery to give you a feel of how your wedding gallery will look.
That initial email also contains a link to my schedule for you to conveniently find a time that works for both of us to book a call in, without any back and forth!
On Zoom
Once you’ve selected a date and time to suit you, I’ll send a Zoom link over for us to use. Zoom calls are merely a chance for you to get to know me a bit better by speaking to me, ask any questions you want, and I tell you all about my approach to wedding photography… oh well, I guess we’ve covered that part!! Still, I think they’re super important. Unlike other suppliers, I will be around and close by you all throughout your day, so if you don’t like me when I turn up in the morning, that would be a little unfortunate!!
There are no obligations with Zoom calls, I always end off by letting you know it’s totally normal to be speaking to other photographers. The most important thing is that you’re both happy with the decision you make, so if that means going with someone else it’s absolutely fine! As long as you let me know so I can free that date up for the next couple.
If you decide you’d like me to photograph your wedding, then that’s amazing! I will be sending over your contract and invoice for your deposit as soon as I’ve finished celebrating myself!
On the Lead Up
After you’ve sent your deposit and contract, there’s not much more I need until 6 weeks before the wedding! I send through a questionnaire for you to fill out, all the details of the day so I know where I need to be and when I need to be there, any surprises you have happening, the order of the day, the formal group photos you’d like, and a list of the suppliers you’re using so I can share your gallery with the people that have worked so hard on the build up.
Around two weeks prior, we’ll have another call to chat through the details and iron out any final questions. After that, I’ll see you there!! If you need me at any point from booking right up to the day, I’m always happy to help and answer questions where I can.
On the Day
The main event! I am more than happy to chat to anyone, and I’m a big believer than to truly capture the vibe of the day, you’ve got to get in the mix. Case in point when we’re all (yes, we!) on the dance floor! Couples and guests usually tell me they’ve forgotten I was there, which is not the insult that it seems! To me that’s a big compliment, it’s exactly what I want to achieve on the day. It means I’ve fitted in with their closest friends and family, capturing their day as a professional without standing out or being in anyones face. I can totally appreciate that having your photo taken can be a little daunting! It’s why I work quickly, always moving around in order to make guests feel comfortable.
The same applies to your couple photos. I do not want to take you off for hours on end, away from your own wedding. Sure, it’s great to get a few photos of the two of you together (I’m sure in reality you want that too!) but 15-20 minutes at two points during the day is all I really need, then you guys can go back to your wedding, chatting to friends you haven’t seen for years and family that you only see at weddings. I’ll be there to get all of those.
I also don’t have a set finish time, like you may notice elsewhere. I generally keep this open ended, you never know what might happen after 9pm! Dancing on the bar? I want to get it. The couple hoisted up on shoulders? Yes!! These things never happen within half an hour after the first dance. I play it totally by ear and head home when I feel I’ve done the evening justice!
So in terms of my approach, that’s about it! The most important part for me is that I’m telling the story of your day. I’m always keeping an eye on the room, the guests, you guys, looking around to see if I can find another perspective. Really, it’s your wedding through my eyes, details, hugs, laughter, dancing, tears, emotion. I want it all… for you!!
If you’re getting married and that all sounds like the type of photographer you want at your wedding, one who will help you where requested on the lead up, one that gets in the mix on the day, one that doesn’t head home straight after the first dance, head to the link below and fill out my enquiry form. Speak to you in a couple of days!