Ask the expert - photography

Chris Price is a wedding photographer based in West Wales. Here he tells us about his business and gives advice to couples about choosing their photographer.

Please can you tell us about yourself and Chris Price Photography?

I live with my wife of nearly six years, Nicki, and our fast-growing and ever-entertaining children Rose and Joe. When I have spare time, you might find me hiking, climbing or attempting to cook something yummy!

When shooting, my philosophy is to ‘capture the moments, not make the moments.’ It’s the couple’s day and my job is to make sure that the joy of their celebration, and the happiness of their guests, shines through in the images that I capture.

My style is one of unobtrusive and laid back reportage. I want my images to remind the viewers of their own experience of their special day so that, in looking at the photos, they can be transported back in time to their wedding day.

What services do you offer?

After an initial meeting, most couples will choose to book a pre-wedding shoot and then I’ll cover preparations through to the first dance on their big day. In terms of delivering the images, I put up a highlights blog or Facebook gallery soon after the wedding so that the couple and guests have pictures to enjoy while I process and retouch the hundreds of final images that are provided on DVD. Some couples choose to have a professional album created as part of the package, but many choose to print pictures or photo-books themselves.

Have you noticed any changes in the wedding market in the time you have been trading?

Because more and more guests bring their own digital cameras to weddings, professional photographers have to produce photos that are of a consistently and significantly higher quality than the photos that guests will take. Also, because most photographers now have great looking websites and blogs, couples can really research potential photographers and choose one whose style they like.

In the digital age, do people still like a traditional album?

Some clients choose to have a high quality professional album made as part of the package and the quality of modern wedding album materials and workmanship is really, really stunning. That said, because most photographs nowadays are looked at online, many couples are happy saving some money and printing pictures online themselves or coming back at a later date for a wedding album once their finances have recovered a bit from the inevitable shock of a wedding.

What are the current trends when it comes to wedding photographs?

In terms of the photos that I capture, I try to provide a consistent style of high quality and beautiful photographs, so generally avoid trends such as lots of different processing techniques that can make images look unnatural.

That said, I love to embrace the ideas and desires of my clients. The fun and unique twists that they plan for their big day never cease to amaze me. Whether it’s surfing before breakfast, horse-drawn carriages or bouncy castles, I love the creativity that couples generate when planning their wedding. Ultimately, the trend of shunning the over-formal and of making your wedding day all about having a great time with the people that you are closest to is a great recipe for a day you’ll always remember.

How soon before a wedding should couples book a photographer?

For popular summer weekends, established photographers are often booked 12 months or more in advance, so it’s definitely worth enquiring as soon as you’ve chosen a few possible dates. Once you’ve found a photographer whose style you love, it’s usually possible to reserve them by paying a deposit that will be deducted from the final bill.

How many meetings beforehand do you suggest couples have with their photographer?

Meeting your photographer before the big day is a really great idea. There’s so much to do and think about on a wedding day that having a friendly and familiar face behind the camera will make all the difference. Meeting with couples that are in the exciting planning phase of their wedding is one of best parts of the job and it gives us all chance to discuss not just the logistics of the day, but to talk about the special touches, guests that are travelling from afar and other details that are important to the couple.

It’s also become much more common to have an informal pre-wedding shoot. This session not only provides a bunch of beautiful and professional quality photos of the engagement period to share with friends and family, it also really helps couples become more relaxed and natural whilst being photographed.

Do couples prefer to have more traditional images or ones that are candid and fun?

It’s always worth having some beautiful, arranged, photos of the wedding party, families and friendship groups, not to mention taking a bit of time out, maybe around sunset, to have a quiet moment with your new husband/wife and capturing some intimate moments at the very start of married life. That said, often the most beautiful and memorable photos are taken in those magical moments that occur throughout the day and when the photographer is the last thing on anyone’s mind. The challenge, and reward, of producing beautiful candid shots is what keeps me motivated and excited, no matter how many weddings I’m fortunate enough to be a part of.

What advice would you give couples looking to book a photographer?

I’d offer two pieces of advice: 1. Remember that your wedding day is, above all else, a celebration of your love and happiness and that you should plan the day around what’s most special to you. 2. Regardless of budget, choose a photographer whose style you love and with whom you’ll enjoy being around on one of the best days of your life.

Which part of your job gives you most satisfaction?

Knowing that when the wedding cake is long eaten and the honeymoon is over, the photos that I’ve captured will be treasured for a lifetime.