© 2005 - 2008 UKWeddingStore.co.uk (www.marinckygroup.co.uk) Web Design and Marketing by Wedding Site Design
Cumbria & The Lake District
East Anglia
East Midlands
Lincolnshire
London
North East
North West
Northern Ireland
East Anglia
East Midlands
Lincolnshire
London
North East
North West
Northern Ireland
Wedding Photographers - Please choose your nearest area
What The Photographer Sees
We love our work as wedding photographers. It’s hectic, but always fun – and, over time, we have learnt a lot about what helps to smooth the way to a great day. We often say a wedding is like a play without a dress rehearsal – it’s a familiar production, but there are moments of sheer panic when those in the lead roles aren’t sure what happens next!
As the photographers, we are at but not in the wedding, so the bride and groom will often treat us as confidantes, and hiss at us “What do we do now?” or even something along the lines of “Look at his ex – she’s lost two stone; I could punch her!” So what advice can we offer from our side of the fence? Here are some tips that should help you get the most out of your photos – and your day.
Hint number one: Your wedding outfit is your costume, so flaunt it! In our experience, your dress will look the worse for wear as the day goes on – even on the driest day, it’ll acquire mysterious grass stains and general grubbiness from footpaths and floors. If you’re really unlucky, a spot of oil from the wedding car might stain it before you even get to the church. However, no-one else is likely to notice any of this and it won’t show on the pictures, so it’s a pity to be overly self-conscious, or to spoil your photographs by walking into church with your dress hitched up around your knees.
Hint number two: Small children look great in wedding photos but are quite capable of creating havoc! If your two-year-old pageboy refuses to carry his decorated rolling pin, you can’t make him do it, so be flexible and have it photographed by the wedding cake instead, to save both his tears and your own. Don’t forget, children are often frightened when they are on display. Like most photographers these days, we take informal shots throughout the day in addition to the formal ones, so your reluctant little star can be captured talking to the bride and groom, spinning around with the other attendants, or collecting up confetti to sprinkle on the train of your wedding dress instead!
Hint three is to keep your temper – and your sense of humour – when it comes to the photos. Even formal pictures usually have a less rigid feel nowadays than in years gone by. After we formally photograph a group, people naturally relax, talk and laugh, so we always try to get another shot then – and it’s often the best one.
There’s no need to get all Bridezilla with your wedding party if they fool around – some of our most appealing pictures are of baby bridesmaids poking bigger ones, little pageboys whispering, or the bride and groom beaming at one another. In fact, we always back off when you first leave the ceremony and again when you get to the reception, because those spontaneous moments of greeting and congratulation make lovely informal shots.
Hint number four is to think about the time it’ll take for formal groups to be arranged, because this can really eat into your day. Most couples still want the core formal shots of the bride, groom, attendants and immediate family, but additional groups can be added on the day if needs be, or some can be cancelled if the couple decide they can’t bear to go through with them all!
Please let your photographer know if there are any family wars, so he or she doesn’t try to push sworn enemies together! Also, remember that a loud-voiced insider such as the best man, an usher or one of the mothers is an invaluable aid in assembling groups for the photos.
If you don’t want too many formal shots, a good compromise is to ask your photographer to take a high-level picture of all your guests. Nev specialises in hanging out of hotel windows, stretching over balconies and clambering up stepladders to secure this type of shot!
Helpful hint number five is to remember it’s your day. If, for example, the caterers are trying to hurry you to the table to eat but you still have pictures you want, negotiate with them. The reception staff are just taking their duties into account, but you must keep an eye on the bigger picture – after all, this day is a one-off. On the other hand, it is a good idea to get your guests settled with a drink before the photographer gets into action. This means they can be chatting while the various people are collected together for pictures.
Above all, enjoy the day. Everyone wants it to be a wonderful occasion, so don’t miss the overall picture by stressing about the details. Remember, no-one but you knows what didn’t happen, just as no-one sees the photographs we didn’t take! Relish the company and the occasion so you can look back on all those pictures with pleasure, not regret.
Written and kindly supplied by Shirley Bell Glenhirst Photography
We love our work as wedding photographers. It’s hectic, but always fun – and, over time, we have learnt a lot about what helps to smooth the way to a great day. We often say a wedding is like a play without a dress rehearsal – it’s a familiar production, but there are moments of sheer panic when those in the lead roles aren’t sure what happens next!
As the photographers, we are at but not in the wedding, so the bride and groom will often treat us as confidantes, and hiss at us “What do we do now?” or even something along the lines of “Look at his ex – she’s lost two stone; I could punch her!” So what advice can we offer from our side of the fence? Here are some tips that should help you get the most out of your photos – and your day.
Hint number one: Your wedding outfit is your costume, so flaunt it! In our experience, your dress will look the worse for wear as the day goes on – even on the driest day, it’ll acquire mysterious grass stains and general grubbiness from footpaths and floors. If you’re really unlucky, a spot of oil from the wedding car might stain it before you even get to the church. However, no-one else is likely to notice any of this and it won’t show on the pictures, so it’s a pity to be overly self-conscious, or to spoil your photographs by walking into church with your dress hitched up around your knees.
Hint number two: Small children look great in wedding photos but are quite capable of creating havoc! If your two-year-old pageboy refuses to carry his decorated rolling pin, you can’t make him do it, so be flexible and have it photographed by the wedding cake instead, to save both his tears and your own. Don’t forget, children are often frightened when they are on display. Like most photographers these days, we take informal shots throughout the day in addition to the formal ones, so your reluctant little star can be captured talking to the bride and groom, spinning around with the other attendants, or collecting up confetti to sprinkle on the train of your wedding dress instead!
Hint three is to keep your temper – and your sense of humour – when it comes to the photos. Even formal pictures usually have a less rigid feel nowadays than in years gone by. After we formally photograph a group, people naturally relax, talk and laugh, so we always try to get another shot then – and it’s often the best one.
There’s no need to get all Bridezilla with your wedding party if they fool around – some of our most appealing pictures are of baby bridesmaids poking bigger ones, little pageboys whispering, or the bride and groom beaming at one another. In fact, we always back off when you first leave the ceremony and again when you get to the reception, because those spontaneous moments of greeting and congratulation make lovely informal shots.
Hint number four is to think about the time it’ll take for formal groups to be arranged, because this can really eat into your day. Most couples still want the core formal shots of the bride, groom, attendants and immediate family, but additional groups can be added on the day if needs be, or some can be cancelled if the couple decide they can’t bear to go through with them all!
Please let your photographer know if there are any family wars, so he or she doesn’t try to push sworn enemies together! Also, remember that a loud-voiced insider such as the best man, an usher or one of the mothers is an invaluable aid in assembling groups for the photos.
If you don’t want too many formal shots, a good compromise is to ask your photographer to take a high-level picture of all your guests. Nev specialises in hanging out of hotel windows, stretching over balconies and clambering up stepladders to secure this type of shot!
Helpful hint number five is to remember it’s your day. If, for example, the caterers are trying to hurry you to the table to eat but you still have pictures you want, negotiate with them. The reception staff are just taking their duties into account, but you must keep an eye on the bigger picture – after all, this day is a one-off. On the other hand, it is a good idea to get your guests settled with a drink before the photographer gets into action. This means they can be chatting while the various people are collected together for pictures.
Above all, enjoy the day. Everyone wants it to be a wonderful occasion, so don’t miss the overall picture by stressing about the details. Remember, no-one but you knows what didn’t happen, just as no-one sees the photographs we didn’t take! Relish the company and the occasion so you can look back on all those pictures with pleasure, not regret.
Written and kindly supplied by Shirley Bell Glenhirst Photography