They say that it’s “your special day”. That may be true, but that doesn’t make you the most important people at your wedding.
Your grandmother, your father, your best friend from primary school, your sister, your uni mates and even your cousins are equally as important to me as you are on your wedding day.
The thought of being photographed kissing on a mountaintop makes me cringe if I’m honest, but I’m sure there are some people out there who are only having a wedding for that opportunity. Some, but probably not many.
For many the wedding is just an excuse for a party. A once in a lifetime opportunity to bring all of your favourite people in the world together in the same place and celebrate relationships. And an amazing set of images that captures everyone’s personality and cheeky side will be invaluable for the rest of your life.
So as a wedding photographer, I appreciate that nobody wants to be followed around all day being stalked for photos, especially by a 6” bearded baldy with a wide angle lens. My focus on your wedding day will be where I’d want it to be at my own wedding, on the guests.
You may see many members of your family every week, but having them there will be so special. It’s fun to imagine before your wedding day all of these groups of people mingling, laughing and enjoying each other’s company on your wedding day; when you close your eyes you can see them now, all just being themselves.
But they won’t be themselves, not at first. They’ll be sober, which may be unusual, so you might not even recognise them. They have probably had a stressful morning getting there, they’ve had to squeeze into the new dress and realised that suit from last summer no longer fits.
Of course you’ll want nice photos of them all looking all ‘nice’ and that’s part of my job. But the thing that I enjoy more, the thing that you’ll enjoy more and will give you more pleasure is photos of your guests being themselves, letting the wedding faces slip, throwing in 3 canapés at once, minesweeping the tables, necking their fifth shots, falling over their own feet, sharing an old joke or snogging your aunty June.
To be able to see through the garb and capture the personalities of your favourite people is what I will enjoy most about being at your wedding. Smiling at every photo I process and knowing will be photos that will make you smile, laugh and cry fills me with a smug joy.
I do this by being me. I may not fit into your wedding at all, you might be inviting a load of stiffs. But in 99% of cases I’m able to build a rapport with all guests and engage them in a way to breakdown the barriers and capture them when they’re having fun and enjoying themselves the most.
Wedding photography as a genre has become so homogenised that for many people looking to hire a wedding photographer for their wedding they feel like they’re spending evening after evening flicking through websites and seeing the same old thing. It’s usually a bride and groom, often looking bored, holding hands in a cornfield at sunset or kissing on a clifftop.
“I won’t repeat the essay I’ve already written to Owen about how truly awesome he and his amazing photos are – I actually ran out of superlatives. However, just know this, choosing Owen as your wedding photographer may be the best decision you make about the whole of your day. Owen, thank you again for everything you did to make our wedding day complete and thank you so very much for our perfect photographs; we couldn’t have asked for anything more and will treasure them forever. Xxx” LC via Facebook Page Review
“Awesome photographer, can not recommend highly enough. Becomes one of the family for the day.” Facebook Page feedback from bride RZ
“Owen was fantastic… The way he engaged with the guests was great. He went the extra mile to make our day perfect. Thank you Owen.” Facebook Page Review Feedback from LC
“Excellent service, laid back and personal approach really made the day that little bit more special! Also brilliant at working with an unruly bunch! Thank you!” JW feedback through Facebook Page
“I met Owen at a recent wedding. Not only are his photos superb but he’s also a genuinely top bloke. Highly recommended.” PW via the Facebook Page Review
“Top man! Took some really innovative and amazing photos. Not intrusive at all!!” TH Via Facebook Page Review
