Wedding photographer in Somerset

Natural and relaxed, candid wedding photography 

A Somerset wedding photographer who…

  • Has photographed over 130 weddings in Somerset and the surrounding counties
  • Gives you a free online gallery which allows easy selection of photos
  • Will take beautiful natural and colourful wedding photos
  • Has an unobtrusive relaxed photography style
  • Won’t make you wait weeks to see your wedding photos
  • Has many years of experience – established in 2006.
  • Is friendly to your wedding guests
  • Has lots of positive reviews
  • Offers an efficient service
  • Is confident in his abilities

No gimmicks

No over the top Photoshop filters hiding bad photography, just timeless images. And no wedding dress photos with bleached out details because the camera is set to auto!

Well composed, colourful and timeless images

At each wedding I do my best to tell the most accurate story of your day. I capture natural and relaxed wedding photos for you that you will love.

Suppliers  |  Hen parties

Natural and relaxed, Somerset wedding photography 

Why book me as your photographer?

An experienced Somerset wedding photographer

I’ve photographed over 130 weddings. I’ve been to posh venues and simple venues. I’ve photographed sunny wedding days and rainy wedding days. I’ll get you the best photos whatever the circumstances. The price you pay for my wedding photography is based upon years of experience. I’ve already overcome the challenges of working with lots of people, working under pressure to time tight timescales, and have mastered the technicalities of using a camera.


Rapport with you and your wedding guests

Rapport is about as important as the photography itself. I love to meet your guests, have a joke and bring out the smiles. People notice how hard I work at weddings and often comment. That helps people to trust me and enjoy having their photo taken.


Efficient but friendly photography

There’s a lot happening on a wedding day and as a wedding photographer you need to be organised and make sure you get the shot. This includes organising the family group photos. I’ve worked with groups of 5 people to over 200! You can trust me to get everyone under control and in place whilst keeping everyone happy.


Discreet wedding photography

Most of the time you will forget I am even at your wedding. I will be quietly capturing all the special moments, without interrupting you enjoying time with your wedding guests.

High resolution photos

You get full quality, beautiful high resolution photos. The photos I provide you with contain exceptional levels of detail due to the (very expensive) lenses that I use, and a very high resolution camera. I even give you your wedding photos in various sizes so it is easier to upload them to social media.


Freedom of use once you have your wedding photos

After your wedding day, the digital photos I give you, you can post on facebook, on your website, give them to friends, or print your own as big as you like.


No over the top Photoshop filters

Whilst I can add all sorts of filters to your photos if you so wish, my style is to edit your photos so they look natural, colourful, and they truly reflect your wedding day. I aim to provide you with timeless images that will look beautiful in years to come, not just for a year or two whilst a style is on trend. A photo that is well taken in the first place doesn’t need to be fixed in Photoshop to look good.

Properly exposed photos

It’s easy to press a shutter button on a camera, but not so easy to get the technicalities of a photo right.  So many photos taken by photographers don’t properly consider lighting on the subject and control of contrast, which leads to poor quality photos that look substandard.  I am careful to make best use of the light available so as to avoid over exposed details and ugly shadows.

Some of my favourite wedding photos

Wedding photography prices

5 hour

photography package
350 edited photos

•  Free consultation.
•  All photos taken by myself.
•  Image retouching.
•  Image colour correction.
•  License to copy digital images.
•  Discreet photography style.
•  Plenty of image choice.
•  Quality trusted service.

£875

1 hour engagement shoot – £150

6 hour

photography package
420 edited photos

•  Free consultation.
•  All photos taken by myself.
•  Image retouching.
•  Image colour correction.
•  License to copy digital images.
•  Discreet photography style.
•  Plenty of image choice.
•  Quality trusted service.

£1050

1 hour engagement shoot – £150

7 hour

photography package
490 edited photos

•  Free consultation.
•  All photos taken by myself.
•  Image retouching.
•  Image colour correction.
•  License to copy digital images.
•  Discreet photography style.
•  Plenty of image choice.
•  Quality trusted service.
•  FREE 1 hour engagement shoot

£1225

8 hour

photography package
560 edited photos

•  Free consultation.
•  All photos taken by myself.
•  Image retouching.
•  Image colour correction.
•  License to copy digital images.
•  Discreet photography style.
•  Plenty of image choice.
•  Quality trusted service.
•  FREE 1 hour engagement shoot

£1400

9 hour

photography package
630 edited photos

•  Free consultation.
•  All photos taken by myself.
•  Image retouching.
•  Image colour correction.
•  License to copy digital images.
•  Discreet photography style.
•  Plenty of image choice.
•  Quality trusted service.
•  FREE 1 hour engagement shoot

£1575

10 hour

photography package
700 edited photos

•  Free consultation.
•  All photos taken by myself.
•  Image retouching.
•  Image colour correction.
•  License to copy digital images.
•  Discreet photography style.
•  Plenty of image choice.
•  Quality trusted service.
•  FREE 1 hour engagement shoot

£1750

Engagement photography

Why is engagement photography important?

I’ve photographed a LOT of weddings and one thing that I have learnt is that engagement photography adds so much to your wedding photography package because there is limited time on the wedding day. If you choose to have an engagement shoot it means there are no distractions.

Unlike your wedding day, there is no relative trying to drag you away to say hello to someone who has just arrived, no person from your wedding venue asking you questions, and no pressure to hurry things along so the meal isn’t delayed.

Your engagement shoot massively extends the limited time you’d normally have on your wedding day. Even if you really love having photos of yourself and you have a stunning wedding venue, it’s impossible to fit everything in and an engagement shoot gives you many more romantic photos of the both of you without the pressure of time like on your big day.

Feeling comfortable on an engagement shoot

Another bonus to having an engagement shoot is that it is your first proper opportunity to get used to me and being in front of my camera. I’m really not that scary, but wouldn’t you rather have someone take your photo when you have spent a bit of time with them and enjoyed their company first? Most people aren’t used to or super comfortable with the idea of having professional photos taken of them at first.

When you are having an engagement photography session with me, I can soon put you at ease and make it seem like a very natural and fun experience. As I go along, I love to show couples the photos I have taken of them during the engagement photoshoot, so as to give them confidence and generate excitement. I can see what will make beautiful magical photos in my head, but you might not have the same foresight to know what is possible with the surroundings. That’s where it is important I show you how things are going. It relaxes you and it helps you have confidence that the photos are going to look brilliant during your engagement photography session and also on your wedding day.

Wedding venues where I have been hired as wedding photographer

 

How I became a wedding photographer

I was born in London, however I have spent most of life in Somerset. I first got into wedding photography after photographing some friend’s weddings and also some family weddings. Those were not local weddings though, they were in New Zealand of all places.

In my early adult life I was always artistic and creative minded. Along the way of figuring out what I wanted to do as a career, I ended up going travelling. During that journey of discovery I had my camera. That was where my creativity grew and I discovered I enjoyed photographing weddings (as well as lots of other things of course).

I admit as a younger person back then I didn’t appreciate Somerset as much as I do now. No high mountains or glaciers like New Zealand, Somerset is a more understated beauty by comparison. However, I was also an inexperienced photographer back then compared to now.

Since those travelling days, I have been the wedding photographer for many couples in Somerset and of course not all are super glamorous or have a huge budget. However my photography skills have moved on vastly over the past 20 years, so I can get great photos in the most ordinary of locations.

One thing that evolved very early on was how I interacted with the wedding guests at the weddings I was attending. It’s no good being good at working a camera if you are not good at working with people. I had to force myself to come out of my shell in order to get everyone’s attention and get them to stand where I needed them or provoke a smile by saying something a little silly. When you have photographed over 130 weddings, you learn what works and how to get the best out of people. If they like you, they will smile for you.

I am also pretty calm at weddings these days whatever is thrown at me. I’ve dealt with plenty of tight deadlines and awkward lighting conditions in the past, but now I know what to look for, what to avoid, and I have become better and more efficient at capturing photos even in difficult circumstances. That’s experience for you, you can’t buy that as a photographer.

One of the best things about being a wedding photographer in is all of the majestic and historic buildings we have here. We really are spoilt to have such beautiful places as a backdrop for wedding photography. Add to that some of the lovely landscapes I have seen when photographing some of thes couples I have worked with.

That said, I can equally give you great photos in the dappled light under a tree, against a big old barn door, in a small area of long grass or using the reflections of a window.

I really enjoy photographing weddings, I guess you could say for me they are a little bit like a treasure hunt, as at each wedding I am always on the lookout for the photos that are real gems. Captured emotions, cute details, fun interactions between people, and grand backdrops. Those are the photos I enjoy taking and those are the photos you will treasure.

25 wedding photography tips

1. Have a pre wedding photo shoot

Have a pre wedding shoot as well as the main photos on your wedding day, this will ensure you are more at ease on the wedding day, safe in the knowledge your photographer is super cool and you already have some great photos in the bag. I can do this either in my studio in Bridgwater, Somerset, or we can find a local location like a park or a nice Somerset location like the Quantock hills

2. Choose a photographer with experience

I have photographed a lot of weddings in varying locations in and around Somerset under differing lighting conditions. A truly skilled photographer will be able to deal with whatever weather or venue is thrown at them and will still come out with beautiful photos. All the weddings I have photographed across Somerset, Devon, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire have been very different in terms of weather and location.

3. Make enough time in the middle of the day for photos

Consider early how long a gap you want between the end of your ceremony and the start of you meal. This is the best time for group/candid photos. However, if you have a lot of group photos on your list you won’t have as many candid photos at that time of day. Perhaps either hold the ceremony slightly earlier or the meal slightly later. Your wedding is costing you tens of thousands, so why not make the most of the whole day. Start the day earlier so there is more to enjoy.

4. Don’t choose a photographer on only their best work

View full wedding albums before choosing your wedding photographer. Anyone can take a few good photos over a long time, but you want good photos all day long, so make sure your wedding photographer is going to create for you a stunning collection of wedding photos not just a few lucky photos. I have many galleries I could show you so you can see the consistent quality of the weddings I have shot across Somerset and the South West.

5. Tell the photographer what you want

Don’t take things for granted when it comes to photography. Personally I’d prefer not to be given a huge list of photos that are must haves like aisle shot, kiss shot, cutting of the cake etc, but definitely discuss what you do want in detail before the wedding so your photographer can note down anything they wouldn’t normally capture. What you may think is absolute key to your photos may have meant very little at another wedding shot by your photographer. Presenting a three page list to your photographer of photos you want though isn’t helpful either as your wedding photographer won’t have time to refer to it on the day whilst rushing about with a camera.

6. Try to keep group photos to a minimum

Don’t get too carried away with the amount of group photos you request. The more group photos the less candid photos. A professional wedding photographer won’t just take a snap, they will take the time to properly set people in the right place in flattering poses and this all takes time. Get the balance right and stick to only the essential wedding group photos so you can get lots of reportage candid wedding photographs too.

7. Orchestrating group photos

As well as not getting carried away with the amount of group photos, you should consider where they can be taken and how to get them done in the quickest time. That is where we will work together to keep things efficient. For example, if you wish to have a photo of everyone, there needs to be adequate space and preferably a vantage point for me to take the photo from. The photo of everyone obviously takes the longest and is the hardest to do because guests will wander off to the bar or the loo. I usually take the group photos very soon after the ceremony so people don’t have a chance to wander far. Then when the group wedding photos have been taken, everyone can enjoy a drink, congratulate you, and I can get lots of candid photos.

8. Meet your wedding photographer before the wedding day

If you can, meet with your photographer prior to your wedding day. It’s important to build a good rapport with your wedding photographer as this will mean on the day things run much more smoothly. You can visit me at my home in Bridgwater, Somerset or if you live a distance away we can chat on the phone or via Skype/Facetime. Many of my clients book before they have met me and some don’t meet me until the actual day of the wedding!

9. Has your photographer got backup gear?

Check your wedding photographer has a backup camera. It’s not a case of IF a camera or lens will go wrong, it is WHEN! An experienced photographer will always have professional photography equipment including backups to get them through the day without a disaster. I have on separate occasions had both a camera and lens fail on me despite using professional equipment. In both cases it wasn’t an issue as in one case I had my backup camera, and the other case I had more than enough lenses to use instead.

10. Pre ceremony photos

These can really add to the day. It’s your choice at which point I join you, but some photos of you with your bridesmaids or the groom with the groomsmen all helps to tell a story.

11. Logistics

If your wedding is not all in one location and you require photos at multiple locations before during and after the ceremony, consider how much time will be eaten up traveling from one place to another. Be realistic with your requirements so your photographer doesn’t spend too much time in the car driving all over Somerset rather than taking photos.

12. Smile

Obvious isn’t it. However, when in the midst of the ceremony, nerves can kick in and your smile may be replaced with a look of anxiousness. Try to remember to smile now and again, after all it is a celebration. I won’t be able to call out to remind you when you are in the midst of the ceremony.

13. Walk tall

Wedding dresses are beautiful, but they can trip you up a bit. Before your wedding day, why not practice walking in your wedding dress. The last thing you want are photos of you walking down the aisle with your head looking at your feet! Also, don’t race down the aisle as you leave the church, what’s the rush? Say hello to people, smile, enjoy the moment and let me capture it for you.

14. Wedding Decorations

Weddings can be very costly, but little touches that cost relatively little can add to the photos. How about bunting, fairy lights, candles or paper lanterns.

15. Flash photography in church

It’s usually the case that flash photography isn’t allowed in church. That’s fine for me as it usually doesn’t look great anyway, but some priests declare no photography is allowed during the vows or in some cases none is allowed at all during the ceremony. It’s worth checking this beforehand to avoid a nasty surprise.

16. What time of year will you have your wedding?

The time of year you choose to have your wedding will also affect your photos. Obviously in the summer months you will more likely get sunny weather (although in the UK that doesn’t always hold true!!). However another thing to consider is the length of time there is sunlight. Whereas in the summer, there is the option of extra photos outside in the evening after the meal, in the winter you do not have this luxury and if you have had a long list of group photos in the afternoon you may have missed out on some opportunities for candid photos of people outside.

17. The weather

That dreaded subject when it comes to your wedding day. A rainy day can really put a dampener (literally) on your wedding day. Saying that though, I have had only a handful of weddings I have photographed that have been a complete washout. There are usually enough opportunities to dash out and get some photos in between showers. However, you can never predict what the weather will do on your wedding day, so I suggest you have a backup plan. I as your photographer can do my best to work around poor weather, but I can’t control it. Simply a few trees may be all that is needed if it is a light shower, so perhaps when you are looking at venues, see if there is any coverage that could help in damp conditions during a quick shower.

18. Photos of just the two of you

Weddings are extremely busy days and trying to pack everything in is a challenge to everyone, that’s why the day rushes by so fast. It’s always nice to get some photos of just the two of you, but you need to make time for this. The best and most efficient way is to get away from the guests (bless them). This may mean a short drive to a nice location or just moving to the other end of the venue grounds away from people in a nice spot. Having this time alone allows all of us to focus on getting some beautiful photos without distraction from others. This should not take longer than about 30-45 minutes, but it is totally worth it for the results you will get.

19. Will the final wedding photos be edited?

No two photographers are the same, which means the photos you get from one photographer to another will vary greatly. One thing that is worth noting is that some photographers offer a cheap option often called “shoot and burn.” Now this is fine for some people, but if you want beautifully finished images, then this probably isn’t for you. I edit every photo I show so it looks at its best. The before and after of each photo can be quite dramatic depending on what level of creativity I have applied in the editing process. If you choose shoot and burn, no editing has been applied and this can lead to quite average or in some cases poor photography.

20. Backgrounds

As every moment of your wedding day is a potential photograph, consider what could be in the background. Not surprisingly everyone wants a stunning venue so that this sort of thing is taken care of automatically. However you might be in a beautiful venue having your hair and makeup done, but if your background is chock full of bags of clothes, shoes strewn across the floor, packaging and half eaten plates of sandwiches, the photos aren’t exactly going to look their best.

21. Hire a professional

Given that you are reading this, I would hope you have already decided to pay for a professional to capture your wedding. Just in case though, let’s consider the option of getting a friend to capture your wedding. Hiring a professional means it is in their best interest to get the very best shots and be prepared because their very reputation relies on it.

Although a friend will not wish to fall out with you, they are not likely to be paid or at least to the extent they feel they are obliged to “work” hard. They may feel under pressure as they are your friend, but this doesn’t mean they will be as motivated in the same way a professional would. It’s quite likely that they won’t produce the same photos you have admired from them on other occasions, on your wedding day when the pressure is on.

Having a friend who takes beautiful landscapes or beautiful portraits isn’t the same as photographing a wedding. A wedding requires quick thinking and complete understanding of your camera. Photographing a landscape or taking a portrait photo is not similar to photographing a wedding where timing is critical and lighting changing constantly as well as constant distractions.

Added to that, wedding photography is something that takes place throughout the whole day as these days everything needs to be covered, not just the ceremony and group photos. With this in mind, your friend won’t have time to actually enjoy themselves, because they will need to be concentrating on getting good photos if they are to be as good as a professional photographer’s.

22. Consider including your photographer in the main meal

Taking photos all day sounds like an easy task; just pressing a few buttons and twiddling a few dials, but in order to get great photos you have to carry around heavy gear and often run with it too to keep up with the action of the day. There are very few times to stop and take a break and you have to be ready at any moment to catch a photo. A lot of concentration is involved so moments are not missed. The meal might be the first time the photographer gets to stop and take a breath and probably the first time in the day to eat something too. It’s a long day and your photographer will require energy and focus to get the best shots. When I am provided with a meal, I actually prefer it if I am sitting with the guests as it means I can keep an eye on what is going on and also build a good rapport with guests which often helps get more relaxed photos.

23. Be a show off

Any good photographer will do their best to pose people in the most flattering way when it comes to group photos, but an added help would be to practice how you stand for a photo in the mirror prior to the wedding day. Have a look at elegant clothing magazines, take a look at vogue. Don’t be put off by the skinny models, but take a close look at how they position their arms and legs, what angle they stand at and how they hold their head. These will all help to make sure any photos taken of you flatter you.

24. Adopt good posture

In a similar vein to the above, even if you haven’t practiced your poses for the camera, at the very least be aware of your posture. This is especially for tall people or people who are quite self conscious. The human thing to do is to hunch our shoulders to make us appear shorter if we are tall around people shorter than us, or if we feel self conscious. On your wedding day though, you may be the centre of attention, but it is for all the right reasons; because you look fabulous and everyone will constantly comment on how stunning you look. Accept that and reflect that in how you hold yourself. You’ll thank yourself later when you see how you look in photos.

25. Be prepared to invest in good photography

As biased as I am going to sound, the best way to relive your wedding is through how it is recorded visually. The cake will be eaten, the dress put away, the flowers withered and gone and your hairstyle only a vague memory. These days guests all have a camera and these are great additional photos to have, but many will be out of focus, dark or too bright or just flat and not showing vibrant colour. A professional wedding photographer will use the best equipment, be experienced, get everything sharp and capture all your memories in vibrant colour. A wedding is a one day event, but your photographs are what will last so please don’t consider them of lower importance and something you should skimp on. Quality photography that captures your memories is priceless. On this page near the bottom, I warn against getting caught out by someone who is inexperienced and doesn’t know how to properly use their camera when photographing a wedding.

Hire a wedding photographer or use a friend?

Choosing a wedding photographer

Weddings are a big event I don’t need to tell you that. Choosing a wedding photographer, the right one, is a big part of that. There are some things that you may not want to skimp on. They are probably the venue, the dress, and inviting the most important people in your lives. Don’t forget the photographer though as they will be the person that helps that special day live on in your minds. Although everyone agrees they need wedding photos, how some people choose to get them can vary.

It’s expensive, maybe I should ask a friend to help

Many people these days are looking to friends and relatives to photograph their wedding to save money. There are plenty of friends with “a nice camera” that take “nice photos.” What better excuse to save money on your wedding photography? Here’s why to think twice about asking a friend to photograph your wedding and why you should instead hire a professional, even when on a budget.

I want to highlight the difference between what a friend or relative will give you and the service I will give you. Also to point out that capturing a wedding in photographs is a fulfilling, but a long and tiring day. A great deal of concentration, technical knowledge, attention to detail and time is required.

Put yourself in your friend’s shoes

Would you want to dedicate (and would you enjoy) spending the entire time at the wedding concentrating on every detail and having to lug around a bag of photography gear in the heat of the day whilst not having any time to relax and chat to the bride and groom or the guests? Would you want the pressure on you knowing that the couple are primarily relying on you to get the shots that matter and they will be the lasting memory of their day? And would you want to have to deal with 20+ hours of photo editing afterwards as well? Will you be using professional or entry level photographic equipment? Will you and your camera be capable of dealing with moving subjects and dark conditions? Would you do all that for little money or nothing?

Everyone can take a good photo, but can they do the same under pressure, when the sun isn’t shining and they have to use flash, or they have to take photos indoors in a dingy room? Photos won’t always be taken on a sunny day in good conditions, and when lighting is bad or the person in the photo is backlit or moving, the friend with a “nice camera” may not take such “nice photos.” More importantly can everyone take not just a few good photos, but a whole day’s worth, and will they capture correctly the most crucial moments of the day that matter?

New photographers

Over the past few years I’ve noticed an influx of new ‘photographers’ come onto the scene. Just like any industry, people come and go. Long established Photographers retire and make way for new ones just starting their careers. This is good, as new photographers means fresh ideas and it provides healthy competition and encourages everyone to try harder to be better, and as a result it provides better photos for you.

However, not all new photographers are created equal. You’ll have probably noticed that prices on photographer websites can vary greatly and so too will the quality of the photos. Some photographers are really good and some are very obviously bad. Some photographers have a good website, but then on closer inspection they have only posted a few lucky good shots. They may only use basic equipment and be inexperienced with the challenges of photographing a wedding.

I’ve seen plenty of cheap photographers that bleach out all the detail of the wedding dress because they don’t know how to cope with bright sunlight. Or used the camera on auto and got a slow shutter speed meaning the photos are blurry.

I probably offer less photos compared to some others for the money. But if someone cheaper than me who has been to a fraction of the weddings I have, is handing to you twice as many photos where most aren’t very sharp, are poorly exposed, framed or timed badly; is that really better value?

Why hire a professional wedding photographer? Adding up the figures

Should cutting wedding costs mean cutting corners though, and do we know when we are cutting corners when it comes to photography? Myself, I have gradually been building up my professional photographic equipment, and with each new wedding, event, party or commercial job; more experience. One year I invested over £7,000 on new camera equipment (£5,000 of that just on one camera body without a lens). A new photographer on the scene is not going to go straight out and spend that amount of money on photographic equipment, know how to use it properly and then charge £300 for a day’s worth of wedding photos. They’d have to photograph more than 23 weddings just to get that money back! All that time they are not making any money to pay their bills and put food on the table.

“Passionate” about photography

So you have found a photographer that says they love photography, they are really “passionate” about it and they are really “excited” to photograph your wedding. Does that translate to new inexperienced photographer who is eager to learn at your expense, or a great photographer who knows they can produce beautiful results based on adequate experience?

I know many of my potential clients ended up choosing another photographer over me because they were cheaper. Photographers who have less experience, inferior equipment, less of an eye for good photos and not so much technical knowledge to get the best shots. As much as I feel frustrated I have lost a client, I also feel for them, as I know that by choosing someone cheap, the photos will be severely lacking. Probably very grainy, ill focused, poorly posed, poorly framed, badly lit, badly edited, and badly printed.

A hall mark of inexperience: Overexposed highlights where little or no detail can be seen in the wedding dress, it’s just a white blob.

A lot is involved in a day’s wedding photography. Even in these “tough economic times” there is no substitute for, or shortcut to good wedding photography. There is no second chance and there is no better record of your wedding day. In years to come, your venue, cake, decorations, food and drink will be long used, drunk, eaten or forgotten. Every photo I take is a lasting memory of your day. The vows being given, the signing of the register and the captured expressions will only happen once and won’t be repeated, let me use my experience to make sure they are captured well.

So if you find a photographer who is cheaper than everyone else, make sure you know how that will affect the photos. Is being “passionate about photography” enough to produce really great photos? Or by cutting costs are you also cutting corners?