To print or not to print

Should you print your wedding photographs? This is the question…

As a wedding photographer, I obviously have tens of thousands of photographs backed up on hard drives. As a husband and father I also have thousands of photographs of my family, kids and friends. Like most people, I also have a ton of these on hard drives and mobile phones, so why bother taking them if not to print them and look at them?

I try to make sure my couples understand the benefits of having your photographer print the photographs of their wedding day.

“But they will be on my socials, so why bother?”
The benefits of digital files are obvious, fast easy to share on social media, they can fit in your pocket and be shared endlessly. The downsides however, are long lasting. The files can be corrupted, the system or phone you use could break or be superseded, even if you go that extra step and back up to the cloud, theres no guarantee that they wont be all just lost in the ether.

“I can print my own”

Yes you could, either at home or at a supermarket booth. If you are happy with less than perfect finishes, printed on cheap paper with cheap inks by someone who doesn’t care if there is an error or blemish and if you don’t mind that they wont last a year hanging on a wall before fading.

The benefits of printed wedding photographs, printed by your carefully chosen expert, namely me.

Prints are physical and like albums, can last generations. They are a fixed in time hard copy, that if looked after will outlive us all.

Imagine your great grandchildren asking your grandchildren what they remember about their great grandparents, now imagine the joy and wonder that those kids will experience looking at wedding day prints from over a hundred years ago, imagine how outdated our flashy mobile phones and computers will seem to them… Anyone use a floppy disk anymore?

In short, yes print those wedding photographs. Not just for you, for your children and their children and their children’s children…

As someone who deals in images and works on photographs every day, Im always looking to improve. I take as much pride in the printing aspect of my work as I do when taking the photographs. I have used many different printers over the years for many different reasons and still use tried and trusted printers year in year out, why? Because I trust in the quality of their work. They, like me care deeply about delivery the highest possible calibre of products and I know my wedding couples do too.

I am always searching for the best printing partners and as such I recently switched to a new system of print delivery, one that makes it easier and cheaper for my clients to order prints yet offers the best finishes possible. I have a found a new vendor and although its early days… Wow, Im really impressed.

Not only is the ordering process simple and intuitive, the turnaround time is so fast. The colour reproduction, which for me as a wedding photographer is paramount is spot on and the print quality is excellent.

In summary I am over the moon with my decision to move to this way of working and I hope that all of my clients feel the same way.

I will be adding new wedding album packages to my offerings over the nest few days, in the mean time I cant stop ordering prints of my family and friends, I think Im going to need some more wall space…

Above – example from the private, clients print shop 

When you book me as your wedding photographer you will have your own private (if you wish) online album that allows you, your family and friends, the option to print in many different formats, finishes and styles, whether mounted, unmounted or as albums.

I am over the moon to be able to add this new wedding print service to my offerings and I hope your will be too.

 

Get in touch if you would like to know more…

What is documentary wedding photography

Photojournalistic or documentary wedding photography definitions differ from photographer to photographer. Best described as candid photos, they are images that capture unplanned or unposed moments throughout your wedding day.

North Yorkshire Wedding Photographer - a moment on the dance floor

Documentary photos make you feel immersed in the events of the day, as they happen in real time. Little moments, that as a bride and groom you will most likely miss, you cant be everywhere at all times.

North Yorkshire wedding photographer

Last minute changes to the speech

The father of the bride making last minute changes to his speech, Grandma wiping tears away as you say I do, the kids having a naughty moment at the sweet counter, a nervous groom taking a moment to re centre himself or your best friends generally having fun. These are all moments that help to tell the story of your wedding day.

 

 

Nervous groom at the altarDocumentary wedding photography ensures you can experience more of your friend’s and family’s enjoyment long after your big day has ended.

Groomsmen enjoying a chat and a pint at the wedding venue

Groomsmen enjoying a chat and a pint at the wedding venue

My style of natural wedding photography often involves me candidly taking shots with long zoom lenses. Most people don’t like having their photo taken so can often have a forced look in close up or posed photos. I can hang back, not be intrusive and yet still capture the pure authentic emotion on everyone’s faces.

 

In effect, a fly on the wall approach and in no way influencing the story of your wedding day.

 

 

 

 

This photography style means that the wedding photographer has to be proficient in photographing in different environments with often challenging lighting conditions. Professional cameras, lighting and camera accessories are also essential in creating beautiful wedding photographs.

 

 

North Yorkshire Wedding Photographer

I also photograph the more traditional, styled, editorial and portrait shots through out the day but those are genres that I will explore in other blog posts.

 

 

 

 

 

IT WOULD BE GREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU…
CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS YOUR DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKING!

 

Bride signing the register

Bride signing the wedding register

North Yorkshire Wedding Photographers Ramblings

A glimmer of hope for weddings in North Yorkshire in 2021

I am writing this as I sit in my car, in a quieter than usual North Yorkshire market town, on market day with no market. I’m waiting for my daughter who is in the vets getting her puppy’s jabs. Dad Taxi rates apply.

I’m contemplating the return to some normality after the government announcement. All going well, things will get back to full swing in the summer which will be welcome news for brides, grooms, wedding photographers and indeed the huge industry that supports weddings.
I imagine other wedding photographers, all breathing a collective sigh of relief at the sight of the thin shaft of light coming from the end of the tunnel.

I have to be honest, it has been hard for me to get through this past year or so, last summer was shaping up to be a very busy time for my wedding photography business, the best season yet. I was looking forward to meeting all the brides and grooms and capturing some beautiful, timeless photographs, it was a shame but I will/have survived.

My financial difficulties pale into insignificance when I think of all the couples who have either had to cancel or postpone their wedding days, for some, at great expense and others have paid a greater price. Some will have lost loved ones thanks to this virus, some won’t have their father there to give them away or grandma there to see grandsons and grand daughters cry with joy at the alter, or Aunties and Uncles unable to see nephews or nieces make the greatest commitment to another. It humbles me to think of the collective emotional rollercoaster everyone has endured.

When we get back into our stride with the commencements of wedding ceremonies, there will be so many heart breaking stories of love and loss that will make each wedding even more emotional than normal and make each moment even more special, I just hope that I can bear the responsibility of capturing those moments with grace, poise and empathy and that somehow in that moment we can make those missing loved ones live again, if only glimpsed in a moment or a memory of love and shared remembrance.

As I write these words I can’t help but remember my grandfather who we lost in 2020, although not from COVID, but old age. We weren’t able to be with him because of lockdown and this damn virus. He died alone in another town, we had to say our final goodbye’s via zoom. He was 97 and in his own words had had a wonderful life, he was ready to go and see his wife, my nana who he outlived by nearly a decade. The week after he passed the virus ripped through his care home taking a lot of his friends and some of his carers, we are glad he was spared that and left when he did. My story is not unique, I personally know of more tragic losses, all gone way before their time. Thats why I think we have to respect their memories by moving forward and living life, to the fullest that we can, we owe it to them and ourselves.

So… Data is king at the moment, let’s all hope that the science data will allow this new roadmap to be realised. Fingers crossed that we don’t lose any more loved ones and we can all meet up in the summer to celebrate love and life with family and friends.

Well, here comes my daughter, carrying a glum looking puppy. I better wrap this up, I hope it wasn’t too much of an emotional outpouring, maybe its the weather. Anyway keep well everyone and see you soon.

Bye for now.

North Yorkshire Wedding Venues

Amazing North Yorkshire Wedding Venues.

As a North Yorkshire Wedding Photographer who prides himself on not only capturing raw emotion and candid, documentary style photos on wedding days, I also go weak at the knees when the backdrop to a special day is as beautiful as the bride. Stunning, historical (or modern) buildings just make my life easier. When every aspect is steeped in architectural beauty, the settings naturally enhance the photographs and push me to go that step further in capturing truly unique couple portraits and group shots.

Here are some of the amazing wedding venues that are on my bucket list of venues that I would love to photograph couples in… Some are outside of North Yorkshire but are so stunning I had to include them.

Middleton Lodge
Richmond
North Yorkshire
01325 377977

Solberge Hall
Northallerton
North Yorkshire
01609 779191

Acklam Hall
Acklam
Middlesbrough
01642 822000

Rudby Hall
Hutton Rudby
North Yorkshire
01642 701839

Walworth Castle
Darlington
County Durham
01325 485470

The Morritt Hotel
Nr. Barnard Castle
County Durham
01833 627232

Judges Hall hotel
Kirklevington, Yarm
North Yorkshire
01642 789000

Carberry Towers
East Lothian
Scotland
0131 665 3135

Aldwark Manor Hotel
Aldwark, Alne,
York
01347 838 146

Swinton Park Hotel
Masham, Ripon,
North Yorkshire
01765 680900

Rudding Park
Harrogate,
North Yorkshire
01423 871350

Waterton Park Hotel
Wakefield,
West Yorkshire,
01924 257911

Rockliffe Hall
Darlington
County Durham
01325 729999

Crathorne Hall Hotel
Yarm,
North Yorkshire
01642 700 398

Gisborough Hall
Guisborough,
North Yorkshire
01287 611500

Headlam Hall
Headlam, Near Gainford
Darlington
01325 730238

The Yorkshire Wedding Barn
Gilling West, Richmond
North Yorkshire
01748 822771

Wynyard Hall
Wynyard Hall,
Tees Valley
01740 644811

 

…and there are so many more.

If you are holding your wedding celebrations at any of these venues or anywhere else for that matter, give me a call and help me fulfil my dreams while I photograph your dream wedding.

Click on any of the links to view any of these wonderful wedding venues.

Pro wedding photographer kit list

What is the ideal choice in kit for a wedding photographer?

Thinking of downsizing my camera gear for weddings…

Ok Ill admit it – my back hurts, my camera’s are heavy, very heavy…

But I love my Canon 5DMk4 it just rocks. Can a smaller lighter camera system give me the results I expect and just as importantly can the new systems from the likes of Sony or Fujifilm be reliable enough for me to relax, not worry about the tech and allow me to just take pictures.

Since moving to a full frame camera with the old Canon 5Dmk2, I don’t think I could go back to a smaller sensor, so that should help with my decision to jump ship and cut down the many options to only full frame sensor cameras.

It used to be that if you wanted a full-frame camera, you only had one option, a DSLR, but now, with Sony’s introduction of the full-frame mirrorless cameras, all that has changed. The benefits of the Sony system is that its light (which is great for carrying all day), and you can shoot silently (ideal when in quiet churches and for not ruining the atmosphere). The Sony A7S II is also famed for its lowlight capabilities.

Full-frame sensors can cope well with low light, tend to have the most detail, and create beautiful shallow depth of field effects, also its now possible to use my existing canon and sigma lenses via a lens adapter, cutting down on the cost of buying a new set of glass.

First world problems or what?

I think the way forward is to hire a Sony for a couple of days and put it through its paces. Watch this space, I will report back and let you know how it went and if I will indeed be jumping ship!

My System as it stands
Canon 5dMk4
Canon 5DMk3

Lenses
Canon 24-105
Canon 100-400
Canon 100 Macro
Canon 50mm
Sigma 85mm
Sigma Art 35mm