My Approach and style

I’m a relaxed sort of picture maker. Photojournalism taught me to become part of what’s going on, to watch and adapt, moving and mingling, making pictures as I go. I’m very ‘hands-off’ and try hard not to interfere with what’s naturally happening. I think it’s real life, real light and real colours that make pictures sing. Most people seem to understand they don’t have to freeze and grin when I’m around and can just be themselves. And that’s how I’d hope you want you want your family and friends remembered? It’s a long lovely day and there’s so much time to find and make pictures. It won’t matter whether the clouds deposit the wet stuff on us or not…this being the UK we’re all used to it…it’s all about capturing the real character, emotions, humour, charm…and weather of your day, to charmingly present and preserve it for you.

Maybe the picture below helps show the benefits of my approach to documentary wedding photography. I’m on the dance floor, no-one looks bothered as I’m part of things, meaning I can make this this dance floor picture, of the bride’s mum dancing with the presiding vicar, a family friend. Until it gets too dark I use available light, and I interact with guests in a natural way so as to become part of the day, taking pictures amongst everyone. It’s the opposite of guests feeling said on by an outsider with a long lens. I may have chatted with just about everyone by the end of the day. It's all about observing, anticipating, and gently moving to keep finding pictures. You’ll be so busy that most of what goes on you’ll have missed. 

One of the ways we all connect with weddings and feel part of them is we basically know what to expect from a day; however different, they do mostly follow a familiar pattern. But I want to make a long picture story of you and your wedding, and for the pictures to have meaning and character that separates them from anyone else’s wedding. My ‘close in’ but ‘hands off’ approach allows me be inside your day without getting in the way.

So when something like the ad hoc rounders match at Mike nor Mima’s Larmer Tree Garden wedding in Dorset takes place, I’m naturally right in it with them. Family and friends battled it out well into dusk. These were fabulous people who took their games very seriously. Fittingly, ‘Team Bride’ won with Mima carried shoulder high off the field as darkness fell. I think at these moments photojournalism storytelling comes to the fore. I was right in the middle of it with cameras and a smile so the fun can be remembered. The reception games and tug of war at Hannah & Pedro’s DIY reception at Buritan village hall in the South Downs also spring to mind. The only time I’ve seen a bride fly through the air, knocked off her bouncy castle Gladiators style plinth by her new husband. Don’t worry, she got her own back.

During a wedding ceremony I'm always sensitive about how much I can move around. It’s usually fine to change positions in registry offices or non-religious venues, but in churches and chapels I’m in the hands of whoever's presiding. They’ll probably allow me at the front for the moment when the bride walks in, but from then on I could be just in one place so as not to disturb the ceremony. There’s always pictures to be found from wherever I can be. During Tracey and Chris's marriage ceremony in the vast Winchester College Chapel I was asked to stay in a one spot in the choir, but it gave a great view of these children at the front who had a mischievously close view of the proceedings.  

There’s nothing worse than a photographer in the way and I never will be. At large church weddings it’s rare for me to get anywhere near the couple as vows are exchanged. And that’s fine. At the stunning cathedral sized Italianate church in Salisbury (below) it took some negotiation for the vicar to let me be briefly at the front even for the appearance of the bride; but I was allowed a view from the sides during the service. This turned out fine as there was a medieval screen for me to photograph through. I’m sure neither the wedding party or vicar knew I was silently clicking away…until they saw the pictures.

Photojournalism leads me to seek views and pictures from all sorts of angles. ‘Off stage’ pictures of couples showing them as a team are always lovely. Moving around during the speeches I noticed Rosalinde and Andrew out of sight of their guests waiting to be introduced by their best man. I think the picture said so much about them. However much I enjoy the fun and reactions during wedding speeches the moments around the edges can be even better. 

I constantly try to be open to the many elements that might make a picture worth looking at again and again. It could be any mix of action, colour and light…just something in a scene that draws the eye and makes a picture. The picture might make you want to know what's happening; or it might be just charming, endearing, funny, or a moment of emotion. Juxtapositions…of character, behaviour, colour, shapes and place are everywhere. I love the work of lots of photographers and constantly look at pictures. I’ve a silly number of photography books and try and learn from the work of geniuses like Harry Gruyaert, Jason Eskenazi, Eve Arnold, Joel Meyerovitz and Carolyn Drake, to name just a few.

Before Kay and Clayton’s wedding, the getting ready (below) happened at Kay’s parent’s home. It was a vicarage as Kay’s dad was a Church of England vicar and her mum was also ordained. As I’m also a vicar’s son (‘The Son of a Preacher man’ …thank you Dusty Springfield for our first dance song..), I felt right at home.

As a photojournalist (news/press photographer) I often positioned myself so people couldn't avoid walking towards me. The papers want clear face pictures and I sometimes spent hours (..days..weeks!) waiting for someone to appear, then manically clicking whilst walking backwards trying not to fall over. The odds of looking silly on the TV news were high, and I often didn't disappoint. As a documentary wedding photographer those so called 'skills' are rarely used. I avoid being in any prominent place in front of a couple or guests for more than a moment, preferring to observe and find pictures without intruding. But anticipation is still everything. Sensing their excitement and that something might happen, as Debbie & Tony (below) escaped after their confetti shower and headed around the front of the beautiful Hill Place in Hampshire for a first married moment alone, as they gathered pace Tony broke into song...it was wonderful. 

I've concentrated more on ‘as it happens’ pictures but most couples want some portraits. These are easily done, take about twenty minutes or so, fitted in before the wedding breakfast, or later on when the light or weather might be better. (We can nip out at both times, as well as quickly off a wedding bus, or out of a wedding car for a snap or three..) Asking a couple to just be in a particular place together in good light is always enough to get something nice. But it’s also fun when couples take over and start playing within their portrait. It was a bit blowy for Kristina and Jeremy at Southsea Castle and Kristina, so to speak, just went with the flow. I’d suggested to Mima and Mike they just ‘be’ together behind a light dappled folly and after a few pictures I left them a while to clamber up a bank and through trees to get another vantage point. Turning round I found the gift of them dancing and laughing.

Every wedding and reception venue has it's charms and possibilities. From cathedral to registry office, wooded glade or village hall, to social club, it doesn't matter where a couple celebrate with their guests. Weddings are personal, about people, and full of character, and that's what makes them ever new and surprising to photograph. Through a day I’ll always stand back looking for those wider pictures that show the landscape of people and place all together. It’s amazing what we all forget.

My ‘hands off’ style of documentary photography allows me to melt in to the events of the day which also gives me time to spot the smaller but important moments. Although my kids haven’t (yet) married, as a parent I fully get what a big day it is for them as they watch their child marry. Parent’s faces during a ceremony deserve to be remembered. I’ve been up to Scotland a few times for weddings and Mhairi and Neal were married at the Lothian Chambers on The Royal Mile in the heart of the old city. Mhairi's parent’s faces were a picture of pride, and her mum's congratulation couldn’t have been bigger. Lovely people, and a fabulous day that ended just as it should, with a whisky fuelled Ceilidh. 

For all my belief in melting in without being in the way, sometimes I can't resist joining a scene. You can spy me below, and maybe spot the small smile on my face as I realise the picture has come together - Mike and Mima sharing the view, guests occupying other windows, and a discreet place for me in the bottom left corner.