A wedding photographer in Hampshire

If you search for a wedding photographer in Hampshire you'll get hundreds of results. What makes my approach and style stand-out from the rest you may ask? This is a task difficult to distill into a few choice words. For me it starts with the clear understanding this is your big day. It’s your story. A day full of poignant moments that are unique to you. Moments that are fleeting. An interaction, a gaze, spontaneous laughter, rounds of applause or simply silent reflection. They’re all moments, begging to be captured.

My work captures and tells that story, beautifully and authentically. I combine intuition (what might happen next) with creative flair (how will I frame it) with technical skill (how will I capture it), and finally, presentation (how will I curate, process and present your day).

And this is my mode. I’m fast but quiet. Aware but calm. In the theatre of action but not in the way. An approach perfect for couples who don't like to pose (or certainly the idea of it).

A candid approach

Most of us aren't comfortable in-front of the camera and so naturally photograph better when we're unaware it's there. And this is when I capture people at their best – remaining unobtrusive and discreet in the background or helping the couple to feel relaxed enough in front of the camera to take something that looks natural; something that looks like them. I don't think I've ever had a couple approach me and say "we love having our picture taken!" Most couples I meet have never had a professional picture taken of them both together. If that sounds like you, then you're probably in the right place.

With my candid approach, some of what I capture is inevitably reactive but I endeavour to anticipate meaningful moments. I'm not trigger happy! As the photographer, I need to be in the right place at the right time, and when I am it gives me the opportunity to slow down, time to think, and get that killer composition. It's incredibly rewarding when you capture genuine moments-in-time and do so without having to direct what's unfolding in-front of you, and without having to take thousands of pictures to get that one shot.

Group photos

I sometimes get asked about group photos, if interested you can read more about my approach.

Creativity

As much as I can, I'll work with natural light throughout the day. I love the look it returns and it helps me to remain unobtrusive as I work away in the background.

I also love to use a wide-open shallow depth of field. Having objects out of focus frame the image helps make a picture, which is inherently a flat 2D object, feel three dimensional. It gives the image a sense of depth and context, helping you (the viewer) to feel connected to what was captured, and like you're there in the scene. This is sometimes called layering. Also, contrast is key. Not just in light, but in subject, framing, scale etc. That's a winning trio for my approach that I aspire to – observation, contrast and layering. Below are three examples:

Working with the bride and groom

When working with the bride and groom for their portraits I'll step up the direction a little, if needed. However, my aim is still to capture something that looks natural. The end of the drinks reception is often the best time to sneak away and capture these, or a summers' evening. Being disciplined with time here is paramount. I won’t remove the bride and groom from celebrating with their guests for too long. Fifteen minutes is usually plenty!

Romance and authenticity — yes, pose and cheese — no. You won't see any dip kisses here! These are special, unrepeatable moments. They’re personal. They’re timeless. They’re precious memories; for keeping and sharing.

Ninja skills

For me, the biggest compliment when delivering the final photographs is to exceed your expectations, and to hear expressions such as: “we barely noticed you on the day” or, if you did: "you were like one of our guests." My testimonials and reviews are full of similar comments.