This weekend saw me travel down to Taunton in Somerset for the wedding of Simon & Katie as a result of my involvement with the Royal Anglian Regiment Benevolent Charity. Simon is an officer with the 1st Battalion with the Royal Anglians and a few months ago he was seriously injured in Afghanistan as a result of an explosion from an IED which occurred in Helmand province. At the time of the incident the company were part of the Household Cavalry Regiment Battle Group and they were on an operation inserted deep into Taliban territory, attacking the insurgents where they least expected it.

Simon was flown back to the UK and spent some time at Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham before commencing some intensive rehabilitation at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Unit at Headley Court in Surrey. As you can imagine the wedding was full of emotion as family, friends and colleagues gathered at Huntstile Organic Farm in the rolling Somerset countryside to celebrate the nuptials and everyone had a fantastic time.

I would just like to take this opportunity to show my appreciation to some people and organisations who have provided support for this wedding. Firstly, Simon Revill of Simon Revill Photography for travelling all the way from Derbyshire to help me out on the day, his assistance was invaluable. I would also like to thank Lee and Lisa from SIM2000 Imaging Ltd for agreeing to supply one of their stunning wedding albums free of charge and Lee from ISL Photographic Services for supplying a large canvas. Your contributions have been very generous and I know Simon and Katie are very grateful.

Finally, I’d just like to say what a remarkable man Simon is. He has been through a very tough and trying period recently but his attitude remains extremely positive, in my personal opinion he is one of the most inspirational individuals I have met in a long time and I would like to thank him and his colleagues for the hardships they endure as they perform their duties with courage and professionalism.

Simon and Katie, all the very best for the future.

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56789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536  Three generations of military men….3738  39  After I had taken the shot above I jokingly said to the officer’s ‘WAGS’ that they should join them. The sentence had barely left my lips before shoes were being kicked off and they were scrabbling up the rather unsteady pile of logs!40  A Company, 1st Battalion.41  Simon and his brother David.4243444546474849505152535455

I must say a big thank you to Simon from Simon Revill Photography who is a fellow ISPWP member, he travelled down from Derbyshire to be the second shooter on this one and his help and commitment was appreciated by everyone.

These are just a few sneak peeks from yesterday, please vote for your favourite image by leaving a comment and I will ensure the happy couple receive a mounted metallic fine art print.

Congratulations Amanda and Graham, have a fantastic honeymoon and remember, You’ll Never Walk Alone.

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4567 A quick informal portrait inside the horse box while sheltering from the rain!89101112 Skipping out of the ceremony to the Blue Peter theme!1314 Some of the guests 1516171819202122232425262728293031 The dance-off!3233343536373839

Here are just a few sneak peeks from the wedding as always please vote for your favourite image by leaving a comment and I will make sure Claire and Gary receive a large mounted print of the winning photograph.

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Does your wedding photographer include a pre-wedding shoot? The pre-wedding shoot gives you the opportunity to get to know your photographer better and ‘gel’ the relationship. I always try and do my pre-wedding shoots at the reception venue as we can discuss any specific requirements and ideas for your wedding day photography.

Many photographers today include their photographs on a DVD but there are many who do not and others who charge a lot of money for this service. The wise bride or groom will ask if those photographs have been edited as photographs that are completely unedited are often less than what they could be and I have heard of some couples who have been disappointed with their DVD images. I edit every photograph customers receive including those on DVD as well as those photographs that are used in albums, those which are purchased online, and those which are enlarged. The DVD is included in all my packages.

Ask whether the photographs you receive on DVD will be of a high-resolution quality. Many photographers only provide a low-resolution version that only has enough resolution available for small 4 x 6- or 5 x 7-inch photographs. I provide the high-resolution photographs that can be printed in any standard size as well as versions which have been optimised and re-sized for Internet and e-mail use.

The Photographer

As part of the package deal you’re not just getting stuff, you’re also hiring a photographer. So what qualities should you look for in a photographer? In some ways the answer is obvious. You look at the photographer’s work and decide on whether you like the pictures or not. Also, when speaking with a photographer you need to decide on whether you are comfortable with this person. Does the person seem competent and relaxed? Does the photographer ask questions about you? What you must remember is that the photographer will be spending most of the wedding day with you so make sure you are comfortable in their company.

Choosing a friend or relative to photograph your wedding can result in huge savings. Don’t let this motivating factor blind you to other issues when considering who to hire for your once-in-a-lifetime wedding photographer as it can cause stress in the relationship. So let’s suppose your friend or relative offers to photograph your wedding. If you are not altogether happy with the photographs, it will likely create bad feelings between you. And if the person is not a professional who shoots weddings frequently, you may be disappointed. You must also consider whether they have back up equipment in the event of failure and it is imperative they have Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance. In many cases a friend or relative wanting to help you out will not have the experience and artistic eye to know how to arrange people to get quality, artistic photographs. In addition, their photographic equipment is likely marginal at best for producing professional-looking photographs. A professional photographer has professional cameras, lenses and editing software that helps to produce quality photographs. And a professional photographer has the experience to guide you through your wedding day to make it all happen more smoothly and joyfully.

Finally, for any bride looking for a photographer try to find one interested in creating art, and worried less on charging by time. The last thing you want on an already hectic day is to worry about how long your photographer has been there, and how much you might owe. This is the primary reason I don’t offer time based packages, when you book me for your wedding photography you get me for the day – whether it’s four hours or fourteen

To summarise, below are some useful ways to help you choose the right photographer for you.

• Do you like the style and feel of the photographer’s work?
• Do their pictures make you feel like you were part of the celebration? Great pictures don’t just happen – they are created. Look at the facial expressions on peoples faces. Do you feel the photographer has created a happy atmosphere?
• Do you like the range of albums or wedding books offered?
• Does the photographer you are considering make you feel at ease?
• Are the photographers you are considering fun and empathetic?
• Are they flexible in their approach to you and above all would you feel comfortable with them photographing you on your wedding day?

I trust this has been an enjoyable read and if there is anything you would like to add please feel free to comment below.

Unfortunately the weather was not so kind to us and we had to endure some torrential rain and thunderstorms but the weather did not dampen the spirits at this very informal and relaxed wedding. The hotel staff couldn’t do enough to help and I would certainly recommend the venue for anyone thinking of getting married in Italy – nothing was too much trouble and the service and food were outstanding – so much so that we have since been back for a holiday.

With regards to destination weddings, from experience I know that the biggest factor to great photographs from your wedding is not only the experience of the person taking them, but the connection that you have with that person. This connection has been built from initial meeting and subsequent booking – all the way through your planning and with often with an engagement shoot included. This is where I come in, I offer my standard packages and these are available to anyone anywhere in the world – beautiful prints and stunning albums as well as cards and everything else you would expect from an accredited photographer and all at my normal prices plus expenses. So if you or anyone you know is having a destination wedding please get in touch.

Enough of that, here are some images from Peter and Anja’s wedding.

Just for a bit of fun I have decided to run a little competition and ask for your votes to pick the winning image, anyone can vote and as an added incentive I’ll send a mounted, fine art metallic 15×10 print of the most popular photograph to Sav and Lindsay. Simply place your vote by leaving your name and comment at the end of the post and I will announce the winning image in about ten days.

Congratulations to you both and we’ll speak soon!

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