The Forever Moment

For weddings, I ask clients to describe their vision for their special day, so I can pick up on the vibe they're trying to create - and then think about how I can work with them to produce photos that will provide lasting memories of that vision.
I ask about locations and timings - even at an early stage in the planning, I like to create a mental plan for how I'm going to go about the job, what equipment I'm going to take with me, the logistics involved in giving them the coverage they want. Weddings rarely go exactly to plan, so I need a Plan B - and you can't have one of those without having a Plan A in the first place.
I ask them about preferences in photos - colour, black and white, toned? Do they like traditional poses or do they prefer a candid, fly-on-the-wall style? There’s no objective measure to determine what makes a photograph a good photograph, but (in my opinion) the best photographs are the ones that clients connect with at an emotional level, so it obviously makes sense for me to find a way to trigger that connection before I pick up the camera.

Being able to take photos for clients at the important times of their lives, and knowing that I'm responsible for documenting them. A wedding day is unique – it can never be repeated.
It’s a tremendous privilege - most of my clients have more tomorrows than they've got yesterdays (unlike me!), and it's very empowering to think that my photos will be reinforcing their memories well into the future. The fact that they've chosen me to do the job is an act of trust, and I take it very seriously - but that doesn’t mean I can’t do it with a smile on my face and a twinkle in my eye!

It was probably Confucius who said “Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life.” And I agree – photography can occupy me for 90 hours a week sometimes, but it doesn’t feel like work.
Being self-employed brings challenges – there’s no sick pay, no holiday pay, nobody else to make the hard decisions, and it’s a world where the annual appraisal has been replaced by daily introspection, self-assessment and deciding on my own personal development plan. But this is a small price to pay for the freedom to choose my own path, the opportunity to meet fascinating people who invite me into their lives (and their homes!), and to earn a living in a way that’s governed by my own beliefs, philosophy and ethics. I get to visit places I’ve never been and to be a part of the happiest days in the lives of people who were previously complete strangers.
“It’s work, Jim. But not as we know it.”

Because my whole business is founded on the belief that a great customer experience is the foundation to business success. What’s more, anyone can provide it – it doesn’t cost a lot, just a bit of thought. And it can always be improved.
If you’re my customer, then (outside my family) you’re one of the most important people in my world. If you’re only thinking of becoming a customer, the same goes for you – and I won’t pressure you to make up your mind.
I price my services fairly and competitively, and do everything I can to deliver outstanding value for money. Obviously, so far as prices go, I can’t please everyone all the time – but that’s the market-place for you. Sometimes we just have to agree to be different – no hard feelings.
There’s part of me that’s a frustrated performer - can’t sing, can’t dance, can’t act, and the only musical instruments I’ve mastered are the ones that play someone else’s recordings. But, book me for your photography project and you give me a time to shine – and I’ll make the most of that opportunity.