My Photography Experience

Photography is a very personal service where you are always dealing one to one with your supplier – the photographer.

You will be sharing your important, personal and meaningful events with them, often inviting them into your home, and it is therefore important that you know who you are dealing with, what their background is and, basically who they are!

Now, you can’t get to know me via a web site but I can give you some background details that may give you an insight into me as a person and a photographer.

My interest in photography started as a child when my father gave me a Halina 35mm camera for my birthday. This was a very basic machine, manual everything and without even the benefit of a built-in light meter!

However, many, many films went through that camera and I learned all about focusing, judging light and setting shutter speeds with it over the years. My interest continued through university and I started taking semi-professional pictures after that in the north west of England where I was then living.

I moved ‘down south’ some 20 years ago and have been taking professional photographs ever since, having run two studios and currently working again from home. I think I have learned photography from some of the best – David Mathias and Michael Frost for weddings and portraits, Nigel Homes for glamour and fashion, Art Ketchum for model photography – to name but a few.

Photography is always changing – I have gone from twin-lens reflex to single-lens reflex cameras and now to digital. Film moved from black and white to colour and now seems to be on the way out completely. I learned darkroom techniques and in the last five years have had to learn computer techniques and Adobe Photoshop©

What has not changed is the need for the photographer to be a ‘people person’ – to be able to relate to people, to understand what they want from the service they are paying you for and to apply your skill in giving them the best work you can. Remember, anyone can drive a Ferrari formula-one racing car but that does not make them a world class racing driver! In the same way, anyone can take pictures with a camera but that does not make them into a photographer! A fact that people seem to have forgotten these days!

I am a member of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers, the British Professional Photographers Association and the Bureau of Freelance Photographers and I hold a current CRB certificate for working with children and young people.

I have years of experience in wedding, portrait and event photography and that experience shows in my photographs and the way that I deal with the people and the circumstances of each individual shoot. For instance, wedding photography is not just about taking pretty pictures. It is about understanding what goes on the wedding day and the dynamics of the church or civil service. It is about dealing with the parents, the minister or registrar, the chauffeur, the hotel staff and the videographer in a courteous and considerate manner. It is about understanding the emotions, hopes and fears of everyone involved in the big day and it is about handling the photography in a good-humoured and firm way so that everyone has a good time! This only comes with experience and a lot of patience!

*Testimonials:

“Thank you so much for everything…you and Pat are an excellent team and looked after us so well…Thank you also for bearing with some of our more flamboyant guests! It was a real pleasure to have you both there on the day. Thanks again. Angelo & Vicki Zissis”

“Thank you for your photographs and CD…a lovely way to remember a really good day. Chris & Jim”

“Thank you so much for capturing the moment for us! Many thanks. Mr & Mrs Gordon”