Frequently Asked Questions
General:
Q: Apart
from weddings, what other types of photography do you do?
Q: What type of equipment do you use?
Q: Why do you use Canon instead of say, for example,
Nikon equipment?
Q: Can you shoot using just film?
Q: What about insurance photography?
Weddings:
Q: What
are the advantages of hiring a professional?
Q: What can we do to help you get the best photographs
for us?
Q: Do you provide a video service?
Q: Would you be happy working with (or
along-side) a videographer?
Q: How do you work?
Q: Do you do formal or informal shots?
Q: Can you shoot using just film?
Q: Are you happy with family members and guests
taking their own pictures?
Q: What about the photographic rights for our wedding
venue?
Q: Can you digitally alter the images after you’ve
taken them?
Q: Do you travel outside the Hampshire area?
Q: How do I book you?
Q: When do I pay you?
Q: Do you accept credit cards?
Q: Do you do more than one wedding per day?
General:
Q: Apart from weddings,
what other types of photography do you do?
A: Portraits, groups, insurance, PR and general commercial work etc.
In summary, I am willing to undertake any general photographic assignment which
does not require specialist equipment and/or is a specific area of
expertise. I also have the ability to portray any images in slide shows or
presentations using Microsoft® PowerPoint® click
here for more information.
Q:
What type of equipment do you use?
A: My main camera is a Canon
EOS 20D (which is a modern digital SLR camera) in conjunction with Lexar Compact
Flash storage cards. I also use a top-of-the-range Canon flash gun (namely
the EX580), as well as a variety of Canon and Sigma lenses. I find this
equipment to be perfectly suited for taking informal reportage images, as well
as more formal portraits if required. As a back-up, I currently use a
Canon EOS 35mm (film) SLR camera.
Q:
Why do you use Canon instead of say, for example, Nikon equipment?
A: Good question.
Firstly, I am not now (nor ever will be) one of those brand supporters who
praise their equipment to a level which defies all logic and rationality.
Ever since starting photography, I have had Canon cameras and, well, I’ve just
stuck with them. Over time, they have proved reliable and consistent, and
once you get competent in using a particular camera type, it becomes that much
harder to ‘jump ship’. The main reason for sticking with Canon EOS
cameras now, is that my lenses and accessories are all compatible with this
particular system, a situation echoed by most photographers - amateurs and
professionals alike. Believe me, there is nothing I would like better than
to be in a position to afford the Nikon, Minolta, Bronica and Hasselblad
equivalents of all my current equipment.
Q: Can
you shoot using just film?
A: Yes. If you’re not
comfortable with the prospect of having your images recorded using digital
equipment, then I also have the ability to use Canon EOS 35mm film
cameras. Coupled with the latest professional quality films from Fuji (my
preferred manufacturer), this set-up will still produce excellent results.
Q:
What about insurance photography?
A: Photographing valuable
possessions is one of the best ways of cataloguing a wide variety of items
especially if the collection is extensive and highly valuable. Although I
don’t have a specific package for this type of photography, you would be
looking at approximately £600.00 for the day, including a typed listing of all
items, 2-to-3 pictures of each item, a thumb-nail index and a CD with all images
and details of every item.
Weddings:
Q: What are the
advantages of hiring a professional?
A: A professional
photographer will be timely - arriving at your wedding promptly, and getting the
results to you (in whichever format you decide) within an agreed
timeframe. A professional has photographic equipment specifically designed
for the job. An important point to note here is that the resolution of a
digital camera (i.e. the number of pixels it is capable of recording for one
picture) is just one of many features which has an effect on image
quality. Probably the most significant factor in taking superior images is
the quality of the camera lenses. It doesn’t matter how many pixels a
‘point-and-shoot’ or ‘mobile phone’ camera has, they do not have high
quality lenses.
Another important advantage in hiring a professional is that they will use a
colour laboratory that is in the business of meeting high professional standards
of print quality. Whenever I am paid to take wedding images, the final
photographs are always printed using either Kodak, Agfa, Fuji or similar
professionally certified materials. They will not be printed out on a
domestic inkjet printer as these type of pictures can fade over time.
Although this type of printer has been making significant progress in recent
years, in terms of permanence and durability, they are still no match for ‘real’
photos printed onto professional paper.
Q:
What can we do to help you get the best photographs for us?
A: Probably the single most
important thing you can do to make your wedding day go smoothly is to ‘factor
in’ plenty of time for the unforeseen. Weddings can be chaotic events,
and having extra time to catch your breath will be appreciated by all and will
greatly reduce your stress levels.
Q: Do
you provide a video service?
A: In a word, no. My
speciality is purely stills photography.
Q:
If we wanted a video of our wedding as well, would you be happy working with
and/or along side a videographer?
A: Although I could do it, I
would prefer not to. No videographer wants to see a stills photographer
moving around while they are filming, and equally, no photographer wants someone
moving/working in any of his/her shots who is not a member of the wedding
party. If you do want a combination of stills photography and moving
images, I would strongly recommend that you employ companies which provide
both. By definition, they should be comfortable (and, most importantly,
competent and professional) when working with each other, and should work ‘seamlessly’
together.
Q: How
do you work?
A: I generally arrive 1 hour
before the event to get set up and record some of the preparations. For
weddings, I use 1 or 2 cameras during the ceremony (depending on the package you
choose) and one camera for the preparations and reception. I work from 2
to 5 hours (depending on the package you choose), but you can if you wish book
me to stay longer. Exactly what I do on the day very much depends on what
you want.
Q:
Do you do formal or informal shots?
A: For weddings, I try to
provide both formal and informal images, but tailored to your specific
requirements. Remember, you are employing the photographer and as such
everything revolves around you not the otherwayround. If you want
just formal group shots taken according to a prescribed list, then that’s fine
by me. However, there is always the danger that situations can be staged
managed to the point where natural spontaneity is lost. In essence, I try
to capture the images you want, whilst causing the minimum amount of fuss and
interruption to your big day.
Q: Can
you shoot using just film?
A: Yes. If you’re
not comfortable with the prospect of having your entire wedding recorded using
digital equipment, then I have the ability to use Canon SLR 35mm film
cameras. Coupled with the latest professional quality films from Fuji (my
preferred manufacturer), this set-up will still produce excellent results.
Q:
Are you happy with family members and guests taking their own pictures?
A: Yes, absolutely no
problem. Please be aware that some photographers practically insist that
no-one else should be allowed to take photos of any of their particular
arrangements or set-up shots. As long as my work is not interfered with
and/or compromised, I have no qualms about snap shots being taken by any member
of your wedding party. Though not essential, it would be useful if you
could ask all invited guests to please not to interfere with the working
photographer (which you have paid for). I take no responsibility for any
images compromised by relatives and/or friends standing in the way of any of the
official shots, or occupying prime positions from which to take pictures.
Q:
What about the photographic rights for our wedding venue?
A: Numerous wedding venues
have related photography copyright issues which need to be fully resolved prior
to your big day. Questions you will need to ask are:
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In all these matters, you will probably have to speak to
the Vicar or leading officiate for the ceremony. Please make sure that you
include paying any of these costs into your final wedding day budget.
Q:
Can you digitally alter the images after you’ve taken them?
A: There is a certain amount
of post-production ‘enhancement’ which can be undertaken once the images
have been uploaded to a computer. However, I try to keep this side of
things to an absolute minimum, and concentrate instead on getting the image as
accurate as possible at the time of taking. I do have the ability to edit
slight irritations such as minor skin blemishes. In other words, don’t
panic about shaving cuts (groom / best man), zits, spots or cold sores etc. –
I can ‘remove’ any of these using photographic correction software.
However, as for ‘removing’ that annoying nephew or niece from the family
group shot, then I’m afraid you’re out of luck I won’t do it on
principle; maybe you shouldn’t have invited him or her in the first place!
Q:
Do you travel outside the Hampshire area?
A: Yes, I am happy to serve
clients from around the area and across the South of England. Whilst I do
not charge for driving time, I do add on a mileage fee of 80p per mile past the
Hampshire border for any ‘out-of-county’ assignments.
Q: How
do I book you?
A: Firstly, either send me
an e-mail, letter or phone me to see if I am available for the day you have in
mind. Three months beforehand, I will send you a contract for your
wedding/event date. Please return the signed contract along with the
specified non-refundable deposit and I will enter all you details into my diary.
Q: When
do I pay you?
A: The balance is due either
on the day of the event, or (if you prefer), after you’ve come back off
honeymoon, looked at the proofs, decided exactly what you want and selected a
final package including all reprints.
Q:
Do you accept credit cards?
A: Although I am working on
it, I am unable to offer this facility at the present time. I accept
personal cheques or cash.
Q:
Do you do more than one wedding per day?
A: In a word, No. I
operate a strict policy of only one wedding per day, regardless of how quick the
respective ceremonies will be. The reason for this is quite simple, and
that is, to allow for any contingencies which may need responding to on the
day. Remember, it’s your big day, and the last thing you need to worry
about is a photographer repeatedly looking at their watch with a worried look on
their face. In summary, I like to leave myself plenty of time to get to
where I need to be, do the shoot in an unhurried and relaxed manner and still
have the flexibility to accommodate any variations to your plans.
