Budding film maker turned photographer
about me
I have always been fascinated by movies. I remember when growing up, my family and I would go on trips to see the latest blockbuster on the big screen. As I grew, my knowledge of the industry grew too. One year I got a Sony HandyCam, and my friends and I could finally start making our own movies. Needless to say none of them ever won any awards and are now lost somewhere. But it's this time learning how composition works and to survey the scene, background and actors that has stood me in good stead today.
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As I got older, shot and edited more, I loved everything about the process and started to understand techniques and tricks including the very important composition. Through my Film and Media A-Level, I began to realise just how saturated the market was for budding film makers, so pursued other less interesting avenues for a number of years.
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In Early 2010 I bought myself an entry level DSLR for messing around with. Snapping anything that I could, editing it and posting on various social media platforms.​ Fast forward a couple of years and I was approached by a couple who wanted me to shoot their wedding as they'd seen my work online. I said yes but wasn't without reservation!
This was the turning point. Since then, I have shot almost everything there is to shoot - television, theatre, newborn babies and festivals. But I am always drawn back to photographing the magical wedding day!
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My approach
My approach is centered around the words: natural and candid. There is nothing worse than being told to 'stand there and smile'. We are taught from a young age that when you see a camera you must smile and often a lovely potential moment is ruined by everyone stopping and looking into the lens.
Where possible I try to avoid this. The best feedback I had from a couple after shooting their big day was that they didn't know I was there. When I showed them their set of photos they couldn't believe how natural everyone looked. I explained that it's about making people feel comfortable enough to ignore you and your cameras.
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My style vs your style
Reportage/Documentary/Candid/Natural
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These words are overused a lot these days by almost every wedding photographer the world over. The real question is what does it all mean to them as an individual? For me it's about continuously trying to convey the scene I am presented with in front of me. Not manipulate of sculpt but simply document what I see. That way when you are looking back at your images you see actual moments with meaning, not a series of posed, artificial moments.
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It truly is trying to find the unique in every instance and tell the honest story.
