What to expect when you book Karen Parker at Parkwin Photography as your wedding photographer.
My Approach and Style
"It's not a photo shoot, it's your wedding day"
I want you to relax and enjoy your day and not feel like you are being pestered for photos all the time. Photography that does not impact on your day. Creating a time capsule unobtrusively with natural, candid, un posed, unique photos as individual as you. This timeless documentary style not only preserves the moments but all the true emotion and atmosphere. Even your couple portraits are un posed giving, natural, fun, truly romantic, unique photos.
Booking your Wedding Photography
The first thing to consider before booking your photographer is to decide what style of photography you like and how that has an impact on your day. For more information go to Choosing the Right Photographer for you.
How far in advance do we need to book our wedding photography?
I have bookings up to two years in advance. If you like my style and approach, contact me as soon as you have your date to check my availability for your special day.
When you know that I am free, we can arrange to meet up for a no obligation free consultation either in person or via video call. It is very important that you get along with your photographer other wise you will feel uncomfortable on your wedding day. We can have a chat about your wedding, your exact requirements and you can ask me lots of questions and view my work in more detail. I will hold your date for you until you have made this important decision.
What to Book
Choose one of the Collections listed or ask me for a quote tailormade to your exact requirements. This will be based on how long you would like me to be there on the day and how you would like to receive your images. All of this will be discussed at your consultation.
How do we book?
A completed booking form and a reservation fee of £250 (for full day wedding photography) is required to secure your date and price. A full confirmation and details of further information will be sent to you.
Before Your Wedding Day
How I prepare to ensure that your day runs smoothly and you have no worries about photography.
I'll work closely with you beforehand so that I know everything about your day enabling you to relax and enjoy your celebration without me interrupting you. I meet with you at your venue approximately 4 to 6 weeks before your wedding to hear your plans and ask you lots of questions. I'll ask you about your timings, family dynamic, group photos and more.
It is important that you feel comfortable with me and the camera. So I include a mini photo shoot. I'll offer a little guidance about what works well in couple photos (and things that don't) and we walk around your favourite places at the venue. It is also an opportunity for me to get to know your personalities a little and hear about the type of photos you would like. The photographs taken are given to you with a License to copy, print and share or can be used on a signing board or guest book on your wedding day.
If you are having a religious ceremony I also attend any rehearsals you may be having (if available). This ensures that you know where I will be standing during the ceremony and don't panic on the day if you cant see me! I also find out about any particular restrictions at that venue.
I prep all my equipment to ensure that it is clean and in perfect working order. Prepare charged batteries and memory cards. Write up my notes and make copies of the Group photo list to hand to the group photo helper (as discussed at our meeting). Sort parking beforehand, either reserved on site or find local parking nearby. Make sure I have the right app on my phone to pay for the parking and usually have the location code all ready to hand, so that I can input it as I am walking to the ceremony venue. Have all my equipment to hand so that I can remove it from the car quickly. Get to know the location well. Talk to the venue and any other suppliers such as the toastmaster before the day. Check traffic early in morning and aim to arrive early. Check in to a hotel the night before if location is some distance from home so that I don't get held up in traffic in the morning.
Get a good nights sleep the day before!
On your Wedding Day
Capturing the essence of your day. I don't intrude, stop proceedings or tell people what to do! For the majority of the day I blend into the background. The only time I will be evident is during any group photos you wish me to take. I take these quickly and efficiently, so that you can get back to chatting with your guests. I like to tell the whole story of your day. Therefore, I am normally there from when you are getting ready in the morning, to way beyond your first dance. I don't want to miss the party! When the evening buffet/food arrives is often a good finish time. However, if there are still unique moments happening I will still be there taking photos! If you would like less photography coverage, a bespoke collection is tailormade to your exact requirements.
I will also do anything I can to help make your day go well. I am often seen taking button holes and other items from the house to the ceremony venue, checking that the flowers have arrived at reception or helping with my 'emergency kit' during the day. I always have at least the following with me, safety pins, needle and thread, croquet hook, scissors, plasters, Rennie!).
The Moments
My approach enables me to photograph genuine moments as they unfold, with an emphasis on the people, a sense of place, atmosphere and emotion, the essence of your day. Not just the big moments, your first kiss, first dance, cutting the cake... but all those magic, spontaneous unique moments. Laughing with your bridesmaids in the morning or your faces as you see each other for the first time. Your proud parents during the ceremony, a hug from Grandma or Grandpa dancing. One of my favourite times during the day is when your guests arrive and see friends they haven't seen for years. Then there are the moments you may not even see, your flower girl hiding under the cake table or falling asleep amongst the presents.
Morning Preparations/getting ready photography
I always aim to arrive early just in case I get stuck in traffic. If your wedding is taking place a long drive from my home, I will stay in a hotel the night before, so that there is a short drive to the venue in the morning. This avoids any traffic problems and means that I am fresh and ready to start taking photos for you instead of exhausted after a long drive.
I'll remain quietly in the background (unless people speak to me!) capturing the details and the atmosphere. I don't get in the way or pose people unless you have asked for some posed shots when everyone is ready. We will have also discussed what time I need to leave to get pictures of the groom, guests arriving, move to the ceremony room or drive to the next venue ready for your arrival.
Wedding Ceremony Photography
For civil ceremonies with a registrar or blessings with celebrant I normally stand at the front of the ceremony room to the side. The opposite side to the Registrar's table .This enables me to capture you walking down the aisle, see your faces during the ceremony and the reactions of your guests.
During the signing of the marriage schedule at a civil ceremony, I will stand at the back of the room. Once signed, the Registrar will give me a nod which is my cue to move forward and take the 'formal' signing photos. As this is still part of the ceremony your registrar is still in control. They will ask for your bouquet to put on the table and (depending on the office) sometimes pose you. I go with the flow, but will also ask you to put the pen down and look at each other, have a kiss and be a bit more natural. I then take any other photos you have asked for with witnesses, children, parents (time permitting) and then return to the back of the room. Your guests will be invited to take photos at this point and I take photos of the guests taking photos and the general atmosphere of the room. Preserving the moments that you don't see. I am then in position to capture the moment you walk down the aisle as a married couple.
Blessings with celebrants, tend to be a bit more relaxed about photography. Although I always remain unobtrusive.
For religious ceremonies, I will attend your rehearsal, even if I have photographed at that location before. It enables you to see where I am allowed to stand and any restrictions on the photography.
Couple Portrait Photography
Even when the day is being captured in a totally documentary style most couples would still like a few photos on their own. We will have discussed everything at your pre-wedding meeting. At your preferred time during the drinks reception you can take a quiet walk alone, visiting your favourite places at the venue. A precious few moments, when you can take a breath and talk about how you feel. I remain in the background preserving the genuine, fun and romance. You can pose if you want to (ideas will have been discussed at our meeting) but I wont be next to you arranging the pose. Or you can just go for a gentle stroll without stopping. Or you can dance, leap frog or have a piggy back! Be you! This will be the only time that you spend on your own throughout the entire day and you don't want to spend it with me! No more than 15 to 20 minutes is usually needed as I also know how important it is for you to spend time with your guests. If you or your parents want a more traditional posed portrait, I will take this at the end of your walk.
Group Photo Photography
We will discuss these at our pre-wedding meeting and I will ask you for a list. These are usually taken during the drinks reception. I take them as efficiently as possible in a style that you have chosen. Between six and ten group photos is the perfect number to ensure you also spend some time chatting with your guests. They will want to congratulate you and this enables me to take lovely, relaxed, fun photos of you and your guests enjoying yourselves. If you want to spend hours taking very posed formal photos, I am probably not the photographer for you.
Your wedding breakfast and evening party photography.
Your speeches are the perfect time to capture candid photos of your guests laughing, emotional family reactions ( laughter and sometimes tears) and of course some embarrassment from the best man's speech. Cutting the cake is a lovely tradition and the first dance is always emotional. I always stay beyond the first dance as that's when the party is just getting started and guests really relax and let their hair down! Depending on your family and wedding party dynamic, the story of your day isn't complete without pictures of your grandparents, parents, wedding party and guests dancing. You may also have sparklers or fireworks. Amazing! The evening buffet/BBQ being served is often an appropriate time for me to finish, but if unique moments are still happening I will still be there.
Wedding Detail Photography
Then there are all those wonderful details that you have so carefully chosen and sometimes made; Your flowers, dress, cake, table plan and of course SHOES! Plus the hidden items, photos of grandparents in your bouquet, the date stitched into jackets, under or inside shoes! I make sure everything is included in your story. I particularly love it when family and friends have made items for your day. I also make sure there are lots of details shots or your venue or venues. You chose them for a reason and they need to be included in your story.
After Your Celebration
The majority of my work takes place after your wedding day. Usually as soon as I get home, I upload all of your images to my main computer and back up in two other separate locations. I may not start work on your images immediately. The following week or two may be filled with other weddings, pre-wedding meetings, initial consultations and finishing of photos from other celebrations.
I will then spend several days lovingly editing your photos. Looking at each individual photograph, checking colour balance, composition and tone, amongst other things. All edited images will be professionally finished in my style, including a selection in black and white (colour version will also be included in your collection). On average, every hour that I am taking phots at your wedding requires at least three more hours of work.
A password protected highlights gallery will be ready for you to view within two to three weeks. You can give the password to anyone that you wish to view the images. All of The Collections include the edited images (700+ for a full day). These will be ready approximately 4 to 6 weeks after your wedding day (depending on time of year). These are supplied to you in high resolution with no watermark either via online gallery or on a USB memory stick. The personalised crystal or wooden memory sticks are presented to you in a beautiful, totally unique wooden box or linen case that compliments your wedding day colour scheme and theme. You will also receive a written 'License to Use' agreement as directed by copyright law, so that you can copy, print and share your photos.
Albums
The Celebration & Icing on the Cake Collections include stunning, contemporary albums made by the finest album printers and binders in the country. If one of the album packages listed is not right for you, I offer a wide range of books and albums giving you a bespoke choice of style, size, cover and page number. In this digital age it is tempting to not have an album. But USBs can be lost and digital files can be deleted. Your album will be there for generations to come. These can be ordered when you make your booking or at any time before or after your wedding. Other stunning presentation ideas include: acrylics, block mounts, framed prints, bamboo prints, canvas and metallic prints. Or signing boards and signing books made from photos taken at your pre- wedding photo shoot to be signed by guests on your wedding day.
If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. I'd love to hear all your plans for your big day. Please get in touch and we can have a chat and you can view some albums.
Many congratulations on your engagement. I look forward to hearing from you as I would be delighted if your chose me to photograph your wedding day.
Karen
