Get to know Michael, your UK & destination wedding photographer
Hello…
thanks for taking the time to stop by. My name’s Mike, a lover of the outdoors and random adventures. When I’m not taking photos or working on my weddings you can find me surfing or chilling out by a camp fire enjoying a beer.
My photography style…
is a mix of documentary, still life and beauty. I think this gives the best coverage and gives you plenty of images to remember the day by. Not every couple is the same, some want the focus to be on the documentary and candid style images more than beauty shots and groups shots. While others love to pose and spend some time taking the portraits and that is totally ok! It's your day and I'm there to capture it how you'd like, with my style and experience. Check out some of my recent weddings for a better idea of what to expect!
I'm a really relaxed person…
and am often like some sort of wedding day therapist keeping people calm when they think it's all going wrong when it's actually going perfectly well and I'm pretty handy at clipping buttonholes on too! I can even tie a cravat, but don’t ask me to tie a bow tie! I can get stuck in the middle of the dancing to capture people throwing it down and will happily chat and crack awful jokes with you and your guests, or if you'd like a more discreet approach I can do that too.
As not everyone is a model…
it can be a little daunting when the focus of the camera is on you. When we do the beauty shots I like to keep it relaxed and fun, I'll give you some pointers for certain shots, but mostly I'll get you to have a chat, tell each other a joke, maybe a kiss and a cwtch and the crazy one... say you love each other for that gooey awww moment. It keeps it a bit more natural and you might even have fun!
Bad weather... how does one cope?
You might be thinking please no, not on our wedding day! However the weddings with the bad weather have been some of the best, not only for getting great shots but for some reason, it must be the British resolve, people seem to make more of the day! I'm fully kitted out and experienced in flash photography* and am pretty good in faking a bit of sun if we can get away with it, or we can go for something moody (which can look pretty amazing) *please bear in mind that this can take a bit more time to set up than using available light.
What is your most memorable wedding?
This is a tough one! There are so many unique little things that couples do to dress up a venue and there's also been some really touching speeches! But I would probably say my friends Robyn and Rowena's wedding - they had a marquee and a super chilled out day on her parents small farm and they had some pretty hilarious speeches. Those types of DIY weddings, with hay bales and free flowing food and drink are the best!
What is the No. 1 photo that you think every couple should take?
I don't think there's any one photo that you should have. Documentary or journalistic style photography needs to be looked at like a story, so it will have lots of details, photos of the venue, the people etc. As much as other photographers refuse to take, or say group photos are dying (because they can be difficult and time consuming!) I think they're a somewhat important historical record of the day. I think a few nice group photos, not a million variations, of the closest family members is something that will be looked on by your children and grandkids. If group photos are good enough for the Royal Family - I think they're good enough for us!
What is your favourite personal touch you have seen at a wedding?
Defnitely the groom who brewed and bottled hundreds of pints of different homemade beer. It was a bit more than homemade to be fair, this was a big operation he'd spent months on in a garage! He even built a mobile bar with 4 or 5 kegs attached! I don't drink alcohol at weddings but on his insitance I did have a few samples and it rivalled so many. I think he may have even started to offer it to other couples getting married!
What is your No. 1 wedding planning tip for couples?
Take your time and think about whats really important to you. It's too easy to get carried away planning, especially with everyone around you saying what you should and shouldn't do or have. Have a list of your priorities (like a business plan!), your budget etc and use that as your guide and dont forget to enjoy it!