The first thing to stress is that I don’t advocate a day full of posing people; and I certainly do not encourage excessive groups shots. Good photojournalism has its place for large parts of the day because a good photographic narrative of a wedding day is important.  So here I am discussing posing for the artistic shots with the bride (before the ceremony) and with the couple (30-45 minutes after the ceremony). These are the shots that dominate my portfolio (and many pro photographers struggle with!).

My main advice here is to NOT to look at bridal magazines. In fact do not look at typical wedding shots for inspiration. Most traditional wedding shots of the couple make them look awkward or embarassed (how many shots have you seen of the bride smiling inanely at the camera with the husband placed clumsily behind for example). Instead ditch the flowers for most shots and look at good editiorial and fashion magazines such as Vogue. Now what I am not suggesting here is that you start asking the bride to pout and perform model poses with which she is uncomfortable. You should be looking for ideas for poses that do not rely on the couple looking at the camera. These are the questions you may wish to keep turning over in your mind:

- Which poses flatter the couple/woman. Why?
- How does the pose help the couple connect?
- What type of mood does the pose convey?
- Under which circumstances (eg in front a church) might the pose work in a wedding context?
- What type of light do you need to model the pose and what image enhancement would you need? (more on this in forthcoming parts 2 and 3).

It is also important to assess realistically whether a particular wedding couple would be able undertake each pose. But with trust, a good wedding photographer should be able to lead the bride and groom into an exciting/emotional/dramatic pose with good explanation and gentle handling.  Wedding photographers are not really getting paid to stand the bride and groom next together and asking them to grin at the camera.

Wedding Photographers Surrey

Another bad weather day in June (7th); but as with all weddings, the rain didn’t affect the underlying enjoyment of the day for the couple or their guests.  Stephen is about to re-join the army in Afghanistan.

Agnieszka and Kenneth were a bit unlucky with the weather on 6 June. But naturally they still had a wonderful day, and it certainly didn’t stop us from getting some great images.

Yesterday I was delighted to win a number of awards at the Master Photographer Association’s Annual Competition (South East Region).  The competition was judged by industry icon Dennis Hylander FMPA FBIPP.   I was particularly pleased to win the title of MPA 3in1 Wedding Photographer of the Year 2009 because this award is based on consistency across a number of images within single weddings. In fact I came first and second in this category!   I was also successful in the contemporary weddings category.

Winner – Best 3 Images From a Single Wedding

(Images taken at Stoke Park Club, Buckinghamshire).

Highly Commended and 2nd Place – Best 3 Images From a Single Wedding

(Images Taken at the Bingham Hotel, Richmond Upon Thames).

Highly Commended and 2nd Place -  Contemporary Weddings

Here are a selection of my favourite portfolio shots from the last 18 months.  This style of showreel is more like a video and different to anything I have used before.  It should be played with the sound on!

Caroline and Andy’s wedding took place amidst glorious sunshine on 30 May.  Alexander House in West Sussex  – after the service at St Swithun’s, East Grinstead – was again a new venue for me.  Another great place for wedding photography.

Everyone seemed to have a fantastic day in the strong sunshine at Suzy and Nick’s big day on 24 May 2009.   This was my first time at Northbrook Park, and it’s a lovely, well-run venue.

Linda and Jeremy’s wedding took place in glorious sunshine on 2 May 2009 – at St Mary’s church Fetcham and Coltsford Mill, Oxted, Surrey.  I hope they have a lovely honeymoon in Costa Rica.

Another visit to Richmond Park, and this time it’s Jessica and Roy’s wedding.  A lovely relaxed couple who enjoyed their photography.  I hope they have a great honeymoon in Beijing.

Diana and Chris’ wedding day was at the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey.   Sunny, high-contrast conditions pose real challenges for this venue, but we still achieved some lovely images.  Diana, Chris and their guests had a lovely relaxed day.