Irish & Greek Wedding (dancing)

My Photography is heavily influenced by the documentary photographers like HCB this means that at a wedding I will look for the composition, lighting and try and tell a story. Not all the pictures will fit all three of these criteria of course; shots of children can be just that as long as they fit into the context of the wedding, why not, the images should remind those that were there of the day itself, especially the Bride and Groom of the day.

A few weeks ago I was the photographer at the wedding of Eve & Oisin, amazing day and an amazing couple with a lovely little girl Sophia

Eve is Greek, Oisin Irish, they asked me to stay into the evening, well after the speeches, to capture the fun, I’m glad I did, the evening was fantastic, Greek & Irish dancing and both families showing clearly how to have a good time.

Lighting was a challenge,so I used flash some of the time but experience is letting me deal with various lighting conditions more and more, allowing me to concentrate on the composition and storytelling. I am still processing and will have all the images completed in the next week or so and then they will be available to those with a log in and password in the meantime here are a few of personal favourites.

 

 

 

 

  

Lily's 5th Birthday

Hi, it's been a while since I last posted here, photography has mostly been about the kids (Millie is now 10 months old) and not on projects and paid work. Though that changes now with weddings, parties, and commisions for fine art (hours setting up a single image) happening over the next few months.

Not just a here I am though, at the weekend our friend Abi asked me to take some images of here daughter Lilys 5th Birthday. A riot with Bubbles, Balloons, Masquarade themes, Pizza, Chips, Cakes and a Chocolate Fountains. All topped off with running around and knackered parents. Wonderful. Two of my favourite images then..

 

 

Blueprint POI

Every year the company I work for, Blueprint hold a "Power of Information" day in the City of London (we are based in the City). We invite our customers, prospects, friends, business partners, thought leaders and friends.

We use the event to explore our perception of how information can be used to drive better clarity, information use and decision making. A really good year this year and my presentation went down very well, it was on BICC. Clearly I took some pictures of the event, here are a couple of my favourite images.

Ally Pally

Got a chance to meet a lovely couple over the weekend and take a couple of shots a few months before their wedding. Also got the chance to meet their pretty daughter Sophia. A couple of shots below. Walk up the hill was fun.

  

Photographers Cost & Value

Photography is a wonderful thing and a changing thing and capturing images of people is, for me, the best part of it. This passion of mine is, professionally, part time, but that doesn't mean that I treat any element trivially. Over the past few years my skills have developed along witih my equipment, my experience and good partnerships with suppliers, together with an appreciation and admiration of professional and semi pro photographers in the UK and further afield. 

I have concentrated very much on my own style and I believe that there is a "Reason" style, maybe not as developed and as mature as Anton Corbijn or Jeff Ascough (also very influenced by HCB and others) I am absorbing others style and incorporating their lessons to my own. 

So why do I say all of the above when the blog title is "Cost and value" Well it's worth highlighting what is being bought when a good full time or semi pro photographer is employed. Not just someone with a nice looking camera who can grab a few snanps but a photographer, a truly professional photographer, is I believe someone who has taken the time to study and develop a style of their own. 

This experience, art and style is then bought and brought to a wedding, family portrait, corporate event or a one off fine Art commission.

When you are buying someone like me you buy the following: - 

• Shoot time
• Post Processing time
• Professionalism and Care
• Personal and Communication Skills 
• Quality equipment 
• Post shoot supplier relationships (prints, albums etc)
• Indivdual Style and Creativity

The time taken to shoot and post process are obvious, although I wonder if there is realisation of the time it takes to post process. Equally important is the the ability to sometimes blend into the background see the shot and wait for it, and then (if necessary) organise a shot and keep people comfortable and relaxed when formal is requested. The flare, style and creativity are the natural skills but these are skills that need excercising. 

Above all else is the Creativity and the Individual Style of the photographer who captures images for you in a unique style. It will have been influenced by many other photographers and image makers but the style will be unique, albeit of a genre. 

So what should be the price of a photographer with all of the skill, talent, creativity, style, connections and professionalism, who will capture your day for you. If it's a wedding it's likely to be the only tangible thing you have of the day, after the Cake and the last champagne are gone the images remain. Well probably 10% of the total cost of the wedding should be a reasonable expectation of hiring a good wedding photographer. 

 What do you think?