Choosing your wedding photographer is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when planning your wedding. Over the years, as a full-time Warwickshire wedding photographer, I’ve answered hundreds of questions from couples about wedding photography, wedding planning and what to expect on the day itself. Here are some of the questions I’m most frequently asked.
What happens if I’ve booked you for a set time and there are delays on the day?
The purpose of booking a set amount of wedding photography coverage is to reserve that time exclusively for your wedding day and to ensure we have enough time to capture everything you’ve planned.
That said, wedding days are live events and they don’t always run exactly to schedule. In my experience, small delays are quite common and can add up fast. Hair and makeup can overrun (I’ve even helped sew buttons on to Groomsmens shirts), transport can be delayed (I’ve seen some Grooms & Brides start to sweat when no one turns up dues to transport issues), family photographs can take a little longer than expected (I’ve even had to help hunt missing guests over the year), and occasionally venues can find themselves running behind schedule. It’s simply part of weddings and as an experience wedding photographer I’m able to tell what is normal.
If timings drift slightly and my diary permits, I will usually do my best to be flexible. My priority is always making sure the important moments of your wedding day are captured, and I’m certainly not someone who starts packing away cameras simply because we’re beyond the agreed coverage time.
However, it’s also important that couples book sufficient coverage for their wedding day. I wouldn’t want anyone to assume that additional time will automatically be available if their plans extend significantly beyond what was originally booked. Every wedding is different, and much depends on my commitments before or after your wedding. I am like most wedding photographers a parent, that said I will also do my very best for my couples.
If delays become more substantial, I would simply have a quick and discreet conversation with you, or somebody you’ve nominated, to discuss the best way forward. In most cases it’s a straightforward conversation and we find a sensible solution together.
I remember one wedding very well, it was like the perfect storm of events coming together, where the day experienced a number of unexpected delays in a chain event. The bride arrived later than planned due to personal circumstances, and as the day progressed the schedule continued to drift at every stage. I won’t mention the venue involved, but due to the earlier delays, their service was significantly disrupted, especially the wedding breakfast and the speeches ended up running several hours later than originally planned. It was quite stressful for everyone, nobody had done anything wrong, and these things occasionally happen when you have lots of moving parts coming together on a wedding day. Fortunately we all rallied together.
In that particular case, I had the flexibility to stay later and, given the circumstances, I chose not to charge for the additional time. However, that was a decision based on the specific situation, the scale of the delays and my availability on the day. Every wedding is different and I’ll certainly always remember this one
The important thing to know is that if something unexpected happens, I will always be reasonable, approachable and focused on helping make your wedding day a success. After all, the last thing anybody needs on their wedding day is unnecessary stress about the clock.
Shorter weddings are a little more challenging, as I may have other commitments on the day, longer weddings I normally have cover for, but I will always do my best for you.
When will My Wedding Photographs be available?
This is one of the questions I’m asked most often, and quite understandably so. After months, and sometimes years, of planning your wedding day, it’s completely natural to be excited about seeing your photographs. I genuinely understand it. Whilst I’m your Wedding Photographer, I’m also human, and if it were my wedding photographs, I’d be just as eager to see them too.
I think this question also gives couples a useful insight into the reality of professional wedding photography, because a large part of the work actually happens after the wedding day itself. Whilst the photography may be finished when I pack my cameras away, the process of selecting, editing and preparing your final gallery is only just beginning.
Under normal circumstances, most couples receive their completed wedding gallery within around 4 to 6 weeks of their wedding day. I also try to provide a selection of preview photographs either on the day itself or within a few days, giving you some beautiful images to enjoy and share whilst I work through the full gallery.
Whilst this is the typical delivery timeframe, every wedding is different and occasional delays can occur due to workload, seasonal demand or disruptions to normal working conditions. For this reason, the official delivery timeframe and full details are set out within my Terms & Conditions, which should always be considered the governing document.
In reality, most weddings are delivered within the typical 4 to 6 week timeframe, although this can vary depending on the time of year, the volume of photographs captured and my current workload. My aim is always to deliver your photographs as quickly as possible whilst maintaining the quality and attention to detail that you booked me for.
It’s also worth remembering that a Wedding Photographer’s job doesn’t end when the wedding day finishes. A typical wedding can involve up to 12 hours of photography, followed by many more hours reviewing images, removing duplicates, selecting the strongest photographs, editing, preparing galleries, responding to enquiries, conducting consultations and preparing for upcoming weddings.
During peak wedding season, it isn’t unusual for photographers to be photographing weddings on consecutive weekends whilst simultaneously editing previous weddings and planning for those still to come. Like most professional Wedding Photographers, I’m balancing photography, editing, consultations, administration and the day-to-day running of the business.
I’m also a mum, a partner and a real person outside of photography. Whilst I work incredibly hard for my couples, I also believe maintaining a healthy balance is important. Taking some time away from the computer helps me stay creative, focused and energised, which ultimately benefits every couple whose photographs I’m editing.
The good news is that I’m a big believer in communication. If there are ever any delays, unusual circumstances or particularly busy periods, I will always keep you informed. I know how excited couples are to see their wedding photographs, and I never want anyone wondering what’s happening behind the scenes. If you’d ever like an update, just get in touch. By this stage we’ve usually built a great relationship, shared some wonderful memories and spent a lot of time together, so I’m always happy to have a chat.
The most important thing to remember is that your wedding photographs are one of the few things that remain long after the wedding day has ended. I’d much rather spend the time needed to edit them carefully and beautifully than rush the process simply to deliver them a little sooner.
As difficult as the wait can sometimes feel, I promise it will be worth it.
What’s the funniest or craziest wedding photography memory?
This may sound like a slightly disappointing answer to what is actually a very interesting question, but the truth is that most weddings are wonderfully normal. Weddings are full of laughter, emotion, excitement and the occasional surprise, but genuine disasters or outrageous drama are actually very rare.
That said, there have certainly been some memorable moments over the years.
One of my all-time favourites happened during a wedding cake cutting. The bride and groom had chosen to use a rather impressive ceremonial sword to cut their three-tier wedding cake. Everything seemed to be going perfectly until the sword passed through the middle section and, to everyone’s horror, the entire cake suddenly started falling from the table.
At that point, the situation could really have gone one of three ways. The cake could have ended up on the floor, bringing a rather unfortunate end to a beautiful wedding cake. The groom could have caught it but left it badly damaged. Or, somehow, against all odds, he could catch it perfectly.
Amazingly, he managed the third option.
What followed was one of the funniest moments of the entire day and one I will never forget as a wedding photographer. The expressions on the bride and groom’s faces changed in an instant from complete horror to absolute relief and laughter. Within seconds, the entire room was laughing and joking about it, and what could have been a disaster became one of the most memorable moments of the wedding.
Fortunately, I managed to capture the entire sequence of events, from the cake beginning to fall, to the groom’s heroic catch, to the reactions of the bride, groom and guests. For me, that’s one of the real strengths of documentary-style wedding photography. Moments like that can’t be staged, recreated or planned. They happen in a split second, and experience helps you anticipate, react and capture them as the story unfolds. That’s why you want an experience wedding photographer, just like me.😊
I’ve also photographed brides cartwheeling across lawns in wedding dresses, wedding guests bouncing around on space hoppers, and more than one groom being launched into the air by enthusiastic groomsmen. Thankfully, everyone survived and the photographs were fantastic!
One of the more common “crazy” moments is actually something many couples don’t realise happens. Every now and then, you’ll be standing at a church or ceremony venue and people start quietly checking their watches. Five minutes becomes ten, ten becomes twenty, and suddenly there are a few nervous faces wondering where one half of the couple might be. I’ve also seen panicking registrars and vicars, with multiple wedding starting to overlap.
In reality, the explanation is almost always far less dramatic than people’s imaginations would suggest. A dress issue, an overlooked button, a delayed taxi or more people than car seats, unexpected traffic or a last-minute hiccup can quickly turn into a significant delay. Before long, perfectly innocent problems have created a room full of slightly anxious people wondering what is happening. Then, moments later, everyone arrives, breathes a huge sigh of relief and the day carries on as normal.
I think what I’ve learned from photographing weddings is that the most memorable moments are rarely the ones you could plan for. They’re often the spontaneous surprises, the unexpected laughter and the little stories that nobody sees coming. Those moments are part of what makes every wedding unique, and they’re often the photographs couples treasure the most years later.
Thankfully, despite all the excitement, surprises and occasional panic, I’ve yet to photograph a wedding where the story didn’t have a happy ending.
What Wedding have your photographed that stand out to you?
This is a really unfair question, and one I’m asked surprisingly often!
The reason it’s so difficult to answer is because every wedding is different. Every couple has their own story, their own personalities, their own families and friendships, and their own memories that make the day special. After photographing weddings for many years, there are so many moments, people and celebrations that stand out for different reasons.
I also think people sometimes forget that whilst I’m the wedding photographer, I’m still human. I laugh, I cry, I get caught up in the emotion of the day and I enjoy the celebrations just as much as everybody else, albeit usually whilst carrying several kilograms of camera equipment and collecting the occasional bruise on my legs in the process!
If I had to choose one wedding that has always stayed with me, it would probably be a wedding I photographed at Warwick House in Southam, Warwickshire.
What made it special wasn’t necessarily a particular moment, photograph or grand gesture. It was the energy.
From the moment I arrived until the moment I left, the entire day was absolutely packed with fun. The bride and groom were fantastic, both families were wonderful, the guests were fully invested in the celebrations and there was just a genuine sense that everybody was having the time of their lives.
It’s actually quite difficult to explain, but every wedding photographer knows that occasionally you’ll photograph a wedding where everything just clicks. The atmosphere, the people, the laughter and the excitement all come together perfectly.
If I had to sum up that wedding in one word, it would probably be tambourines!
There seemed to be tambourines everywhere, and somehow they became the unofficial theme of the day. They appeared during the celebrations, on the dance floor and in photographs, and they perfectly reflected the spirit of the wedding. It was joyful, energetic, slightly chaotic in the best possible way and completely unforgettable.
The funny thing is that when I look back at the photographs, it isn’t the venue, the decorations or even the tambourines themselves that stand out most. It’s the smiles, the laughter and the genuine happiness of everybody there. That’s what made the wedding memorable.
Another wedding that immediately comes to mind was at Wootton Park. Once again, it wasn’t a particular photograph or single moment that made it memorable. It was the atmosphere. I worked alongside a videographer who I know very well, and from the moment we arrived until the moment we left, the entire day was simply great fun. The bride and groom were fantastic, the guests were brilliant, and everybody seemed determined to enjoy every second of the celebration.
In fact, as I think about it, many of the weddings that stand out to me share similar qualities. They are filled with energy, laughter, fun and people who genuinely want to celebrate with one another. Whether that’s simply good fortune, the types of couples who are drawn to my photography, or a combination of both, I’m not entirely sure.
I’ve also photographed more football-themed weddings than you might imagine, with Coventry City probably being the most common! Football seems to have a habit of finding its way into weddings, whether that’s through table names, surprise gifts, shirts appearing later in the evening or, occasionally, entire celebrations being built around a team’s success.
One recent wedding involved a bride secretly organising a surprise celebration for her groom after his beloved football team secured promotion. She had gone to considerable effort behind the scenes to arrange everything, and I was fortunate enough to be trusted with the secret and help coordinate some of the photography around it. Watching his reaction unfold was one of those wonderful moments that reminds you every wedding is unique.
Sporting events themselves can also create some interesting wedding-day dynamics. Over the years I’ve photographed weddings that have coincided with major football matches, rugby internationals, Wimbledon finals, cricket tournaments and all sorts of other sporting occasions.
I’ve seen some couples fully embrace it and arrange televisions or viewing areas so guests can keep an eye on the action. Equally, I’ve seen couples attempt to ban screens altogether in the hope that everyone remains focused on the wedding celebrations!
What I’ve learned is that people are remarkably resourceful when an important sporting event is involved. If there is a big match taking place, someone will inevitably find a way to follow it on a phone, tablet or discreetly hidden screen somewhere.
Thankfully, it rarely causes any issues. In fact, it often becomes part of the fun and creates another talking point during the day. Much like weddings themselves, sport tends to bring people together, and I’ve seen plenty of occasions where guests have celebrated a wedding and a sporting result within the space of a few hours.
I’ve also photographed more Harry Potter themed weddings than you might expect. One particular wedding always makes me smile when I think back to it. After a wonderful ceremony, the bride and groom set off in their wedding car for the reception, only for the car to break down on the way. Fortunately everyone was absolutely fine, but it certainly wasn’t part of the carefully planned timeline for the day.
What I remember most wasn’t the breakdown itself, but the couple’s reaction. Rather than allowing it to spoil the day, they simply laughed about it, embraced the situation and treated it as another chapter in the story of their wedding. Looking back, it’s one of the things everyone remembers and talks about most.
Another memory that always makes me smile involved a wedding cake and a rather ambitious ceremonial sword. The bride and groom had decided to cut their three-tier wedding cake using the sword and everything appeared to be going perfectly until the middle section suddenly gave way and the entire cake began falling from the table.
At that moment, the cake could have ended up on the floor, the groom could have caught it and destroyed half of it in the process, or somehow he could pull off the impossible.
Amazingly, he managed the impossible.
The groom caught the cake as it fell, the bride and groom’s faces transformed from complete horror to absolute relief and laughter, and within seconds the entire room was laughing and cheering. Better still, I managed to capture the entire sequence of events on camera.
For me, that’s one of the real joys of documentary wedding photography. The moments nobody could possibly plan often become the moments everyone remembers.
Of course, some of the most memorable stories are simply the result of people being people.
I’ve photographed weddings where the best man has arrived with a broken ankle after getting a little too enthusiastic during the celebrations the night before. Whilst it certainly wasn’t part of the original wedding plans, it added all sorts of unexpected challenges, logistical workarounds and, ultimately, plenty of laughter throughout the day.
The funny thing is that these situations rarely ruin a wedding. If anything, they often become part of the story. Years later, people don’t always remember that everything went perfectly. They remember the broken ankle, the delayed arrival, the collapsing cake, the broken-down wedding car or the football result that half the guests were secretly trying to follow on their phones.
These are weddings, and this is the life of a wedding photographer.
No matter how carefully a wedding is planned, there will almost always be something unexpected. The beauty is that those unscripted moments often become some of the most memorable parts of the day.
Perhaps that’s why this question is so difficult to answer. The weddings that stay with me are rarely the ones with the biggest budgets or the grandest venues. They’re usually the weddings where the people, the atmosphere, the laughter and the emotions make the day truly unforgettable.
I often leave weddings feeling as though I’ve been invited to photograph a celebration rather than simply attend it as a supplier, and I think that’s one of the reasons I still love being a wedding photographer after all these years.
Thankfully, despite all the surprises, unexpected moments and occasional mishaps, I’ve yet to photograph a wedding that didn’t have a happy ending. 😊
This One Always Makes Me Laugh – Am I Single?
Believe it or not, this is a question I’ve been asked countless times over the years.
Usually sometime after the wedding breakfast, a few glasses of wine, and once guests have decided I’m no longer just the wedding photographer but part of the wedding party too!
For the avoidance of doubt, no, I’m not. I’m very happily taken.
What always makes me laugh is that this question seems completely unrelated to the type of wedding, venue, age group or even who is asking. I’ve been asked at traditional weddings, same-sex weddings, intimate weddings and large weddings. I’ve been asked by bridesmaids, groomsmen, wedding guests, relatives and, for reasons I still don’t fully understand, a surprisingly large number of gentlemen of a certain age.
In fact, if I was being completely honest, I seem to have developed an unexpected fan club amongst men somewhere between the ages of 60 and 100. To this day I have absolutely no explanation for it.
The funny thing is that I actually see it as a positive sign. Well in that I clearly blend in as one of the guests, family and friends….. or its just I’m around when the alcohol is often flowing. 😊
One of the things I love most about weddings is that people relax. They laugh, they celebrate, they tell stories, they dance badly or sometimes brilliantly, they make questionable decisions on the dance floor, and occasionally they decide the wedding photographer should answer a few personal questions too.
I think it happens because I naturally become part of the day. I’m often with couples from the morning preparations right through until the evening celebrations. I spend time with parents, grandparents, bridesmaids, groomsmen, children and guests. By the end of the wedding, people often feel like they know me, and in many ways I suppose they do.
That’s one of the things I genuinely enjoy about being a wedding photographer, it’s just great fun. Whilst my job is to create beautiful photographs, I’m also there to support couples, help people feel comfortable and enjoy the day alongside them.
So yes, I get asked whether I’m single far more often than anyone would expect.
Thankfully, after all these years, I’ve become quite skilled at politely declining whilst still taking the photographs!
And if any of my previous admirers happen to be reading this, I’m sorry, but the answer is still no. 😊
What’s The Worst Thing You’ve Seen Whilst Photographing A Wedding?
This is another question that people often expect me to have a dramatic answer with how many wedding I photograph!
The truth is, I must be a good luck charm because I genuinely haven’t witnessed many disasters at weddings. After photographing weddings for many years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate that nothing has ever happened that caused a problem on a wedding day or prevented me from creating beautiful photographs for them.
In fact, most of the things that stand out in my memory are more funny rather than disastrous. Or sorry I should say my couples took in their stride and became funny.
One particular moment always makes me smile. During the ceremony, the registrar accidentally said the best man’s name instead of the groom’s name, which had a lot of playful eyebrows raised. There was a brief moment of confusion followed by an entire room erupting into laughter.
Thankfully, everybody immediately realised it was a completely innocent mistake, including the bride, groom, best man and registrar. Rather than causing embarrassment, it actually added even more fun and energy to the ceremony. It’s one of those moments that nobody could have planned, but everybody still remembers years later.
Like most wedding photographers, I’ve also witnessed the occasional guest enjoying the celebrations a little too enthusiastically, and I’ve certainly seen the odd newlywed being gently encouraged by their new spouse, friends or family members to perhaps slow down slightly on the drinks, or get outside for the photos!
One challenge that occasionally appears throughout the day is persuading a bride or groom to leave a lively conversation, the dance floor, the bar or a particularly entertaining group of friends for a few minutes so we can capture their couple photographs. Ironically, it’s usually a good sign because it means they’re having such a fantastic time that they don’t want to miss a moment of the celebrations. This is all about my experience as a wedding photographer.
What I’ve learned over the years is that weddings are wonderfully unpredictable. Little mistakes happen, timelines shift, guests get excited and plans occasionally change. However, these moments rarely ruin a wedding. More often than not, they become part of the story and create memories that couples and guests laugh about for years afterwards.
Perhaps that’s why I struggle to answer this question. When I look back at the weddings I’ve photographed, I don’t really remember disasters. I remember laughter, unexpected moments, funny stories and people having the time of their lives.
As a wedding photographer, I think that’s exactly how it should be.