Category Archives: Down The Lens

Down The Lens: Showcasing wedding photographers Wasylewski

Ok, so your’re engaged, you’ve chosen your venue, you’ve even written a sketchy invitation list. You’re pretty confident you’ve found your dress: just one more try on and then decision made, you’ve booked the grooms suit and chosen the Bridesmaids dresses. Now you’ve got more than 6 months to sit back, relax and wait for the big day to happen right?

Wrong!!! Don’t do it!!! DO NOT RELAX!!! Please!!!

You’ve forgotten the most important decision of your wedding! Believe me, you have to focus on the biggest decision of your wedding day that is – your photographer! Don’t take the decision lightly because you’ll end up with awful photos that will embarrass you to put on your wall at home, or if you’re thinking Uncle Jimmy will do it, he loves photography and has some really good shots, DON’T DO IT!!! There is a really, really important reason for this too.

Down The Lens: Fashion Wedding Photographer Jan Plachy

Today’s post is an absolute labour of love!!! I am so excited to introduce you to this but let me ask you this question first.  Have you heard of Fashion Wedding Photography?  If not, you’re in for a treat!!!

A couple of weeks ago I went up to London to The National Wedding Show on the prowl for unique, creative vendors, and I’m so glad I went.  I found my gem of the day, my icing-on-the-cake, I spotted something A-Mazing!!! And I was so excited.

Amongst a lot of super-talented creatives who had gathered for the day to show off their talent in the industry I spotted some photos on the wall of one of the booths, and I had to get a better look.  As I stood admiring the photographs I suddenly realised that what I was looking at was an idea I had fallen in love with since starting the wedding blog – combining fashion photography style photo shoots with wedding photography creating fashion wedding photography.

Down The Lens: Showcasing wedding photographer Julie Harris

It’s 9.56 pm Saturday night and I’m sitting on the couch, all snuggled up in my throw to keep Jack Frost away as I write this post. Hubby’s tucked up in my favourite chair and is watching a recording of Jonathon Ross nattering about Daniel Craig and bobbing his head like the Churchill dog which has left me with a mental picture of a mini Jonathon Ross in the back of my Rav bobbing away. Hmm, not sure I like that one. Anyway…

… back from my digress and on to this edition of Down The Lens, your guide to great photographers around the world.

Just a quick note about my DTL: the photographers showcased in my Down The Lens features are all selected by me. They are not submissions.  I select these wedding photographers because I believe they are outstanding in one way or another.  They are my personal choice governed by what I believe is great wedding photography.  Those I select are not selected because of being part of an ‘elite’ club or because they’ve won a ton of accolades.  Some are award winners, most are just great people doing great work and are chosen as they represent talent in their craft.

I literally google, a lot, {perks of my job } and look through dozens and dozens of wedding photography websites worldwide so that I can bring you awesome examples of wedding photography that is within your reach.

Down The Lens showcasing wedding photographer Andrew Billington

I can’t believe another Sunday has rolled around and I’m already doing the next Down The Lens unique wedding photography feature on the wedding blog – geesh! It only seems like yesterday I posted last weeks feature on Gordon McGowan.

What I love most about these features is that I get to show you real weddings, only without having to leave you with 50 or more photos to trawl through.  Instead you get the best of the best, of the best to inspire your wedding planning.

And it’s about those wedding photographers making their mark in the industry by producing exceptional, unique wedding photography utilising unique wedding ideas and creating exceptional stories, exceptional art.

Down The Lens: your definitive guide to spectacular wedding photography

Today’s unique wedding photography showcase is by Andrew Billington.  Andrew’s got a very clear documentary style of photography {my favourite kind} and it’s because of this that his photos tell more than a thousand words!

Documentary style photography is less traditional in the fact that it’s not about setting up or posing shots: it’s about storytelling!

What I love about Documentary wedding photography is the result; you don’t just see, you feel!  You get an entire sense of the day: the mood, the atmosphere and the emotions.  Nothing beats seeing the elated looks on the Brides faces, or the Cheshire Cat grins of the Father or Mother of the Bride and Andrews got some pearlers of examples.

Check out the first photo… an intimate, strikingly happy moment shared between the Bride and Groom that could not have been captured by setting it up or posing the moment. Expressions like this can’t be posed. Beautiful!

© <em>Alice In Weddingland wedding blog</em>

Stunning B&W of the Bride (above) – meet Jen!

Even when it rains!  The photo above is pure testimony that no matter the weather your story will still be told through gorgeous imagery.  This photo reminds me of an Audrey Hepburn moment.

Down the Lens – Q & A Sesh!

When did you first start photographing weddings and how did it all begin ?

My father was a photographer so growing up there were always cameras around. I remember being so proud of my first Polariod camera and taking it everywhere. I then progressed to a 35mm camera and would spend hours developing and processing prints at home, so it’s something I’ve been doing all my life – it’s hard to imagine not interpreting the world by taking images.

How would you describe your style of photography?

I describe myself as a ‘Contemporary Documentary Wedding Photographer’ but it’s so hard to try to boil your style down into a few words. I always see my role at a wedding as the person who is in charge of telling the story of the day for the couple and future generations – for me it’s about creating photographs that lead you through the day in a compelling and interesting way and revealing some truth about what the occasion and the people were like. Most of the day is spent recording the wedding as it unfolds without interference from me (I’m yet to shoot a day without a little ‘formal’ photography but I do this very quick to keep the day flowing) – I don’t pose, ask people to repeat things or orchestrate situations; I find an honest and artistic way to tell a story.

I’m a photographer at a wedding not a ‘wedding photographer’.

What would be the favourite wedding that you’ve photographed and why?

It’s really hard to choose because each day is very different and I find that there is always moments of everyone’s wedding day that make it memorable. However, one of my favourite recent weddings would have been for Jen and Rick at Manchester Town Hall – it was just such a perfect fusion of great location, loving families and happy guests that made it feel really special; and the genuine warmth, love and enjoyment comes straight through the camera lens.

Andrew achieves beautiful skin tones and stunning colour in his photos.

What would your advice be to Brides/Grooms when choosing a wedding photographer?

Firstly, you have to LOVE their images – their photography should give you an emotional response (if you get a bit teary or smiley at someone else’s wedding photographs imagine how you’ll feel about your own).

Secondly, you need to meet them (or at least talk on the phone) and see if that’s a person you want to spend for 8-10 hours of your wedding day with.

Thirdly, look at the value you put on commissioning someone to create the record of your wedding day and be prepared to pay them accordingly.

My Down The Lens feature was originally set up so that I could show you great examples of wedding photographs and to show you the kind of quality images you should aim for for your wedding photography.  And this does not mean that you need to take out a second mortgage to get this kind of quality. Far from it!

If I was getting married today I would absolutely, definitely, in a Harry Potter kind of wizard way, go for documentary photography because it tells your story: it will capture your story more than traditionally setup photos.  I would simply include a little list list of ideas to give the photographer for the family shots – just to ensure I get all generations of my family and don’t leave out great Granny!

I want to look back on the journey that was our wedding day: looking at it from everybody else’s eyes and reliving it kinaesthetically.

Andrew is a brilliant photographer and knows his stuff, it’s obvious from photos that he has exceptional technical ability and his creativity and his keen eye capture those beautifully romantic moments in a really special way.  My favourite (I LOVE 4 of them) but I love the little girlies on the fence – a priceless moment! Check it out in the gallery.

What do you think of Documentary style photography and Andrew’s photos?  Please leave your comments, I’ll get back to you shortly

Have a super snowy Sunday!

Down The Lens: Wedding photographer Gordon McGowan

A couple of weeks ago I wanted to attend the SWPP.   For those who aren’t photo-mad like me or photographers themselves, the SWPP is the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers and is the fastest growing worldwide association for professional photographers and once a year they host a week long show where wedding photographers meet, go on some the best courses in the UK and attend a trade show.

And there’s one particular member I wanted to showcase for some time…

Down The Lens: Showcasing wedding photographers A Brit & A Blonde

I‘m back with a bang for 2012 with my first Down The Lens wedding photographer feature of the year {hoo-rah!!!} and I am so excited to be back and scribbling about my sparkly new feature that began in December last year.

Down The Lens is where I feature the best of the best in the wedding biz so that you get inspired, excited and all giggly with inspiration for your wedding photography, a bit like I do.

But hang on a sec… or two.  My Down The Lens feature is not just for Brides.  This feature is also here to inspire other photographers or anyone interested in photography or in fact anyone who loves scrolling through romantic images over a cuppa tea! Yes siree-bob!  {I’m getting excited}