A Suffolk wedding photographer for introverts and the camera-shy
I hate having my photo taken, and as someone who is desperately introverted, I get how weird it can be to hire a stranger to follow you around for the day. For this reason, I tend to favour telephoto lenses which allow me to step back and photograph from a distance rather than having to shove intimidating pieces of glass in your face, giving you a bit more space to breathe.
My style is very much documentary, but I know that formal group photos are important too, and I'm really happy to include these as part of our plan for the day. My aim is to keep things as natural as possible however. I'm not into dreaming up cliché posed shots or spending hours meticulously adjusting postures and details. I love making relaxed, authentic feeling images which tell your story. Real moments, real emotion, real memories.
Why me?
If you can't think of anything worse than having a photographer follow you around all day but you need one because 'obviously', then you should hire me.
There's loads of wedding photographers in Suffolk so it's not easy to work out why you should pick one person over the other. You just want really good pictures, right? Preferably within budget. A lot of wedding photographers say that they're relaxed and candid, however unlike me, very very few work without posing people or setting shots up. If you're as introverted as me or you really hate having your photo taken, then there's a huge difference between being 'relaxed' and 'unposed'.
I do not pose people and as a general rule I don't set shots up either. This includes the couple's portraits you can see on this website (yep, even the ones that look a bit posed). The only exceptions are the traditional group photos - unfortunately there's no getting round this, you need to tell groups of people where to stand and what to do because they won't figure it out for themselves - and if I'm explicitly asked by a couple to set up a particular photograph (ie: confetti/smoke bombs).
At the very most, I've occasionally suggested holding hands or standing/walking in a particular place but that's pretty much it, no posing. I go out of my way to stay as far back as possible so that people can just be themselves without having to worry about how to stand, what to do or where to look. One of the ways I do this is by using longer range lenses so that I can photograph people from the other side of a space without them even realising. You might sacrifice a bit of drama and polished finesse, but I think it's well worth it when in return you get super relaxed photos of real life memories, not stuff your photographer made you do that didn't feel natural.
You don't throw a wedding to have a photoshoot so don't turn it into one, just enjoy your day. Hire me, and just concentrate on having the best day of your life.
“We were very impressed by the photographs and the feedback about how unobtrusive you were. We have seen so many events where the wedding photographer can dominate.”
Cost
£200 per hr. of coverI don't use packages like a lot of other wedding photographers as I feel it's better to keep things flexible. This way you're in complete control and able to balance what's important to you with your budget.
I charge £200 per hour of coverage, meaning a full 10 hour day (probably about average if you include getting ready all the way till the evening celebrations) would cost you £2000. #quickmaths
Second photographers are available for £400. (Full Day)
Bookings over 6hrs include a free engagement shoot.
What's included?
Your choice of start and finish time
Tailor your cover to what's important to you. None of this "the gold package isn't enough but the platinum package is too much".
Free engagement shoot
Couples booking 6hrs or more of cover get a documentary style portraits session thrown in for free. This is because I've found over the years that I feel more connected to couples who I photographed before which means I'm better able to tell their story when the day comes, which in turn leads to better results.
Previews within 24 hours
I get it, it's a long time to wait for you gallery to arrive, so I'll deliver you a handful of edited, full resolution highlights within 24 hours of me finishing so that you've got something to enjoy and post on social media straight away. Sometimes when the cover finish time hasn't been too late I've even been able to deliver these the same day.
An online shareable gallery for a whole year
View all your photos on a beautiful online gallery for the whole of your first year of marriage. Download directly from the gallery using a PIN which you can share with anyone you like.
Online print store
Order high quality prints from a world class photo lab, directly from your gallery and have them delivered straight to your door as soon as the very next day.
Unlimited consultations and access
Right from booking until delivery I'll be available for any advice, support, and general tips. I've been doing this for years so I've been to more than enough weddings to know what works and what doesn't. Email, text, call or FaceTime me, you name it I'm there for you.
Vendor recommendations
Use all my connections in the industry to get a list of some of the finest vendors in the area who I know will deliver the kind of service you're after. My list only features suppliers who match my style and approach which means you're more likely to get along with them and more likely to love what they do.
50% off engagement & family sessions
I absolutely love spending a bit more time with my couples ahead of the big day and it makes spending the day together at your wedding SO much more relaxed. I've found in the past it's been kind of like going to a friend's wedding. Because this is something I love doing so much, the experience is yours at half the listed price.
Final planning session
When we get 2-4 weeks away from your date, we'll sit down for a catch-up where I'll work with you to make sure I'm up to speed with everything you've planned since you booked. We'll talk through everything that's important to you and work out a personalised plan to make sure you get exactly what you want, and get the most value for your money.
A free in-depth guide to help you with your wedding planning
I wasn't a wedding photographer when I got married and I remember how complicated it was so I've put together a huge, in depth guide full of tips, insights and advice. Yours for free when you book.
Travel and expenses anywhere in East Anglia
Full day weddings (+6hrs) include travel & expenses anywhere within East Anglia. Shorter bookings may be subject to costs.
FAQ
Will we have to pose?
Absolutely not. I cover your whole wedding day completely unposed, including portraits of you both. Yes really. None of the portraits you see on this website are posed, even the ones that look like they are. I won't make you do anything weird and I won't make you whisper your favourite vegetable into your partners ear (not joking, that's genuinely a popular photography trick). I won't even "put you at ease" because with my approach, you'll hardly even notice me. The one exception to the rule is if you'd like to do formal group shots. There's absolutely no way to that incognito, groups need organising - but that's your trigger to pull.
Where are you based and do you travel?
I'm based in Framlingham, Suffolk which is rather conveniently situated roughly between Ipswich & Norwich. This makes the whole of Norfolk & Suffolk my metaphorical oyster. I do go a bit further from time to time, but I have two young children and a very pretty wife so I tend to stay fairly close to hand.
When & how will we get our photos?
I take a lot of photos. Like, a LOT. So it can take a little while to sort through everything and get them ready to send to you. I aim to have them with you by around four weeks, however depending on how busy a time your wedding falls in this could be a little later. All my couples get a link to an online gallery which you can share with your favourite humans so they can download copies or order prints. I can also supply a USB stick containing all the high resolution copies in a fancy wooden keepsake box for you to do with as you wish.
Do I need a second photographer?
Because I specialise in people who don't like a fuss, I tend to cover most weddings by myself. If you have a larger guest list though or you'd like to maximise your coverage I can provide a second photographer who will work in the same style as me. It costs more (obviously), but it means that we can cover both of you getting ready, guests arriving for the ceremony, a wider variety of angles during the ceremony, and generally better coverage of the reception. It's not easy to be in two places at once and there's a lot going during a wedding. It's very much your call, but if your guest list is well on its way towards the 100 mark and you've got the cash, it's well worth it. We'll blend in easily and double the photographers equals double the cover.
What happens if you're ill/you die?
Quite the optimist aren't you? I do take very good care of myself; I'm careful about what I eat and I'm generally in very good health, so thankfully it hasn't happened yet. 🤞🏻 Though I honestly have literal nightmares about this as I know friends in the industry do as well. There's no getting round the fact however that some scenarios in life are totally unavoidable and unpredictable. Any wedding photographer you choose carries this risk and we pretty much all have the same answer; I do know a number of other wedding photographers who I would be able to contact and ask to stand in for me. If however, heaven forbid, it was absolutely impossible to arrange a replacement (and for the record no-one can guarantee this unless they're actively paying multiple photographers to stay free on your date which would be stupendously expensive), you would get a full refund and a free photoshoot in your fancy clothes so that you do still have some wedding photos to cherish.
How many pictures will we get?
This is difficult to answer because it's really dependant on what happens during the day and how long I spend with you. I don't have any set rules other than 'as many as is needed to tell your story'. This typically ranges from 200 - 500.
Why is photography so fricking expensive?
Hah! Good question. It does seem like a lot doesn't it? Particularly when you're having to fork out £600 for a cake or £5000 to use a wonky barn. People get uncomfortable with the idea of paying someone so much for a single day, however the reality is that wedding photography isn't just one day's work. In addition to the big day, we also need to cover our time travelling, meeting clients, looking for more work and actually editing the photos which takes AGES. Plus there's also all the standard businessy type costs that need covering including 20% corporation tax and the tens of thousands of pounds worth of kit and software needed to do a great job. When you also consider how many weddings you can feasibly take on before the workload becomes impossible and actually £1500 per wedding starts to sound fairly reasonable.
What's your COVID-19 policy?
Oh gosh. This has been tough on weddings hasn't it? First off, I'm fully vaccinated. I struggle to wear masks whilst working as unfortunately I am bespectacled and when I put a camera to my face with a mask on I stop being able to see. This makes photography somewhat impossible. I'll take home lateral flow tests one week, and one day before the wedding - I don't want to kill your gran. If that comes back positive or I'm obliged by law to self-isolate then I'll do my absolute best to find you an alternative through my contacts in the industry. If I can't manage this, I'll give you a full refund. If you're unfortunate enough to have to cancel your event due to legal restrictions imposed on you, you can transfer your booking to a different date for no extra cost. If we can't find a date that works for both of us, I'll give you a full refund. You've suffered enough.
Can I just book you for a few hours?
Absolutely, however I have a minimum charge rate of six hours for summer weekends. Because they’re so highly sought after, I generally book up all my available dates and if I book, for example, a 2hr shoot on a very popular summer weekend then that means I’m not available to book a 10-12 hour wedding which is much more common and would naturally bring in much more money. 😬
Gotta pay them bills...
Are you insured?
To the teeth. Wedding photography is my proper real life grown up job, not a cheeky side-hustle so I have all the necessary cover including public liability and professional indemnity. I also insure myself physically, for example by bringing spare cameras and lenses just in case one suddenly dies. Not sure I could live with having to whip out my iPhone to try and finish cover.
“We loved having Joshua... he didn't intrude or create any awkwardness and was really good at putting everybody's mind at ease.”
Fancy a chat?
I like to meet every prospective couple before they make a booking. Firstly it's just a bit more friendly, secondly I find it's much easier to discuss your plans properly and offer you options that suit you perfectly. I don't charge for this, I'll come to you, and there's absolutely no obligation to book afterwards.
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I respond to all wedding enquiries within 24 hours so if you've not heard from me by then, check your spam and then give me a ring.