How do we choose a photographer ?

You have my sympathy! Word of mouth is a good way to start, but ultimately a wedding photographer needs to be highly skilled, personable, versatile, able to blend into background but also confident to manage large groups of people when the moment arises. It is also important to meet your photographer so that you feel comfortable with them when the day arrives.

Digital or film ?

Mike's a digital only photographer, he's used digital cameras professionally for more than five years. Nowadays digital cameras offer superior performance to film. Digital also means you'll get the images of your special day faster, plus you have the choice of having the images in either black and white, colour or both.

Do you visit the venue beforehand ?

Usually not. A ten minute stroll on the morning of the wedding is ample. Light is different every day and is the main factor in where and how you take a photo. Photojournalism is about reacting to your subject and surroundings, not planning cardboard cut-out set-ups.

A typical wedding, but no two are ever the same!

If you are not local I usually arrive about three and a half hours before the service. This factors in time to get around the small possibility of a car breakdown, so I can still arrive in good time if the worst should happen. I take photos of the bride's preparations, and once she is in her dress, I get to the wedding venue to take photos of the guests arriving and nervous groom looking at his watch. Once there it all flows naturally. Groups are usually photographed at the reception venue, but not until they have had a few glasses of champagne, so they don't feel hassled. After that I borrow the bride and groom for 15 minutes to get some nice, relaxed portraits. I then get some nice photos of the dining room before the guests go in. Once the wedding meal starts, I take a few photographs of your guests at their tables and the room as a whole. Next pictures are usually the speeches and cake cutting. If I can, I get the dance photos, but sometimes it starts very late.

What can we do to get the most out of our photographer ?

Relax and enjoy the day! You'll be using a highly skilled and versatile photographer who has been to over 80 countries covering assignments for agencies and papers. Mike once covered sprinter Ben Johnson's first comeback race after his drugs bust in Seoul. Mike flew to Canada, photographed the race (all 6.89 seconds of the 60m dash), then flew home. Mike has also photographed over a dozen professional photographers weddings, which speaks volumes.

What do we get?

Apart from Mike's photograhic skill, you will get the prints for your package. You will get high quality contact sheets with picture and picture numbers for easy reference. You will get a CD with all the images 1 year after your wedding day. If you would like it sooner, it can be purchased for £100. You will get about 40 of the best photos put on-line for friends to view. Print prices are very reasonable. Mike will store a copy of all the pictures at his home and a second copy at his parents. Finally Mike will be happy to help put an album together for you.


contact details

28 Beauval Road
London
SE22 8UQ

T: 0208 299 0484
M: 07973 303 707
E: mike@kingweddings.com