The Professional Touch

There is no doubt about it; weddings cost a lot and can be hard work and not just for bride and groom. There are a lot of  people involved in making the Big Day perfect: caterers, florists, hair and make-up artists, dress-makers and tailors, entertainers and of course, your friendly professional photographer.

I am always dismayed when I am told by a bride, that a friend with a 'good' camera will be taking the photos. I always ask if they would entrust their hair to a friend with a great pair of scissors? As with many professions, the camera is just a tool and you are paying for their experience and expertise. The friend with a camera is invariably unlikely to have this and in the case of weddings, shooting one is not the same as being a guest.

A professional photographer does not just take fabulous photos, so why should you pay what may seem a lot of money at first glance?

• They are trained professionals. many photographers have undertaken training and will continue to update their skills regularly.
• They are experienced and will know the best spots to take photos, they will know how to get great shots when the weather does that very British rain act, they know what to capture and will anticipate the key moments at a wedding so that the bride and groom can treasure them forever.
• They will have pro kit, including a range of lenses which is far more important for fantastic shots than the camera itself. They will also know which lens to use for best effect.
• They know how to use light to make you look fabulous. This includes using natural light and flash (which they will know how to use properly).
• They will know how to handle people and will make the shots quick and fun - no standing around for ages while someone sorts themselves out.
• As they are not a guest they will be focusing on you and getting those important shots rather than mingling and drinking. 
• They will meet with you beforehand more than once, to ensure they know what you want and which shots matter to you. You are also likely to get an engagement shoot as part of the price. 
• They will have access to professional photo printing (not high street photo printers), and be able to provide other professional products like great albums and photo books, canvas wall pictures and framed prints.
• Your album or photo book will be professionally designed so it will look as fabulous as you did on the day. The photos are often the only lasting reminder of the special day. A pro photographer will capture all the details you carefully spent time choosing, will capture how fabulous you looked and will show you and the venue at it's best.
• Last but not least, weddings are hard work and a photographer is likely to be there the whole day (or until the first dance). Many photographers go the extra mile and end up being invaluable when a crisis occurs. For example, one of my brides was pregnant and broke the fastening on her dress. Luckily I was prepared and had safety pins to hand! I have also calmed down anxious mothers, helped brides get dressed and fed one that was feeling faint from hunger as I always carry breakfast bars in my bag in case I don't get anything to eat!

 With the average wedding cost being £10,000 - £15,000 (less for smaller ones), why risk your future memories on an amateur (no matter how good their camera is!). The same rules apply to portraits and other occasions too. All my brides tell me that the day goes by in a blur so don't risk your future memories, but hire a great wedding photographer who knows how important your photos will be to you and has the skills and experience to make you looks as fabulous as you deserve to be in them, for years to come. Of course, the reasons outlined above apply just as well to any important occasion or capturing special moments like a stage in a child's life, or even family and pet portraits too. The professional touch can make all the difference.

Life's a Beach

This photo was taken on a recent visit to a nearby sandy beach which is popular with dog walkers. Henry, my puppy (featured in an earlier post) loves, loves, LOVES going there and running along the wet sand - even on a cold winter's day. It was the first place he was allowed to run 'off lead' and he loves sniffing at the seaweed washed up on the tide.

The beach was cold and on this day and there was a freezing wind coming in off the sea, so fellow dog walkers were wrapped up warm. Even so, the wind blew straight through to the bones. I took a few photographs until my fingers became numb. I loved this one of man and dog enjoying some quality time together. I used my favourite technique of shooting into the sun to capture some lens flare and throw the subjects into slight silhouette with just a tad of detail.

Sammy

 Meet Sam. Sammy is a Ragdoll cat and brother to Max who was featured in an earlier post. Where Max is totally laid back Sam is more highly strung. He knows what he wants and is not afraid to badger me for it. He is also not backward about letting me know if I have upset him in someway. Saying all that he is an absolutely adorable little fellow who answers me and comes when he is called, meets me at the door when I come home and enthusiastically gives me 'high fives', 'low fives' and 'ten' for treats.

His fur is as soft as it looks and his eyes, like his brothers, are like deep blue pools of water. He loves being groomed and will often honour me with mutual grooming (like having my hand gently stroked with damp, warm sandpaper). He loves toys with feathers and having rolled up sweet papers thrown for him to play with, where they quickly get batted under the sofa.

I love photographing animals and so it is natural that I would capture some fabulous photos of my own pets too. I must admit, that I am always pleased to be commissioned for pet portraits as I love meeting other people's pets and swapping stories.

Sunflare

When I was first given a camera as a kid of about 11 or 12 years old, I was told not to take photos into the sun. Now I do it often and I must admit, digital photography helps you do this successfully as you can check the exposure and results immediately. Taking photos into the sun is useful for portraits as your subject is not squinting because the sun is their eyes (it's behind them!) and it can also give a great halo effect from back lighting them. Sometimes though, I just like to use the flare effect from the sun on the camera lens as part of the photograph. The rainbow effect can really add to an otherwise ordinary scene.

During the last snow I set off with my camera to capture some snowy scenes. I was walking through a wooded area and turned to see this scene (click on it to see it larger):

I was struck by the effect of the sun shining through the snowy branches and before I knew what I was doing I had raised my camera to my eye and was taking the photo. No filters were used and the star shaped flare of the sun is exactly as I saw it on the day. It has become one of my favourite captures. 

Let it Snow...

I love the snow. It makes everything so beautiful and brings with it a peaceful hush, except for the crunching of your feet as you walk. It is therefore a great disappointment to me, that thus far it has been an elusive commodity in these parts of the UK. There was not a White Christmas here but actually rather a grey and damp one, which also made it tricky to get out and about with my camera in tow. The cold I can cope with (even when my fingers get so cold I can't feel them anymore as they did when I took these photos of snowy scenes), but my camera and I detest the wet.

These photos were taken in December 2010, in Tintern, South Wales. I got there early before the snow on the branches and twigs could thaw and it looked like a winter wonderland. I was a very happy bunny, especially as there was a cosy hostelry nearby where I got a hot drink and sat near a real fire to thaw my fingers! I am still hoping for snow this winter but in the meantime I hope you had a wonderful Christmas / Holidays and wish you all  the very best for the New Year.

I spy...

Meet Max. Max is a Ragdoll cat and totally lives up to the breed name. He is soft and fluffy, sweet natured and prefect for cuddling, which he adores. He has one of the loudest purrs I have ever heard! Another trait of the breed is the colour of their eyes. They are blue, like deep pools of cool water you could just dive into. Gorgeous.

Henry

Meet Henry. He is a bouncy little Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever puppy and he is mine. How could I resist taking some photos of such a little cutie?

I bought him home when he was just nine weeks old. He was a little bundle of fluff who just wanted to chew my foot and missed his brothers greatly. He is about 23 weeks old now and has settled into his 'new pack'. He is clever, quick, playful, naughty, funny, stubborn and eager. He loves peanut butter and sausages (even both together!) and walks. He gets way over excited when he meets new people and dogs and my cats think of him as that great annoying lump in the house, though he is actually very good with them even if he does always want to play when they don't.

Having pets myself I understand that they are part of the family. Pet portraits are one of my passions and photos of a beloved family pet make great gifts. I'll leave you with just one more photo of Henry, for now, but I am sure you will see more of him here as he grows up to be a handsome boy.