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March 2016

wedding couple with London love sign photo

Love is the drug I’m thinking of…it’s people that make wedding photography special

By London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesNo Comments

The wedding season is upon us and in full flow now. As we sit here editing a lovely Jewish wedding that took place in Park Lane central London from last week, and another from Theobalds Park in Hertfordshire, we got to thinking what motivates us most about the work that we do. Other photographers specialising in different areas of our profession sometimes ask us “why wedding photography?” It’s almost as if it is some kind of lesser genre to them! Well as people who have been photographing professionally for just over ten years now, originally in portrait, commercial and fashion photography, weddings are where we see the most creativity and satisfaction. It is also the most demanding kind of work because there are no second chances, it is literally a case of once only moments that must be captured beautifully every time. Light conditions, weather, subject matter and venue change constantly and that’s just on one day. But that’s the thrill, and creating images that will be shown to generations to come is a lasting reward for us.

Hugging during wedding ceremony at London's Asia House

But if you had to ask what the best bit of being London and home counties wedding photographers is, we would have to say it is the people we get to work with. First and foremost that means some really wonderful couples, but also it’s great to meet their friends and family too. Every other wedding these days whether that’s in the capital or further afield, it seems we run into someone that has seen us working at someone else’s special day. A great deal of our commissions come from personal recommendations and that too is a very satisfying feeling.

wedding couple under finger London southbank

The featured image here is from Julie and Ed’s wedding at Vinopolis and Southwark Cathedral. These guys were a perfect example of a great couple who made the day extra special for us too. Sadly Vinopolis ended it’s fantastic run as a wedding venue just a few short months later. But now we all have fantastic memories of both the place and the day. Love was the drug that brought them together, and our love of what we do and the people we work with is what keeps us fresh and motivated every day!

London Gherkin wedding kiss black and white image

To take a closer look at Julie and Ed’s wedding check out the blog link here: Southwark Cathedral and Vinopolis wedding

By David Green

Love1

London Zoo Wedding Photographers

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London Wedding Photographer, Wedding VenuesOne Comment

London Zoo Wedding Photographers

A long time ago before becoming London Zoo wedding photographers…..After David’s first visit to London Zoo at the age of seven he left with a plastic Rhino from the souvenir shop, which for a time was his favourite toy, he still has it, in fact it now belongs to his youngest son who is seven years old himself. Joanna, growing up as a little girl in London, often gazed longingly at the outside wall of the Zoo in Regents Park, wishing she was could be on the other side, looking at the animals rather than the flowerbeds around her (not that there was anything wrong with the flower beds…) More about this below.

Neither of us imagined that as adults today we would be returning most often as London Zoo wedding photographers, and not just parents taking our children there. Since the days of our childhoods the wonderful Victorian zoo has changed immensely (for instance the classic penguin pool of the 1960’s and featured below in a London Zoo wedding of ours is now a curiosity piece, and there’s no elephants anymore…oh well) One of the biggest changes of all is that you can now get married at London Zoo! What a wonderful chance for a memorable day, whether a couple are animal lovers or not.

Weddings at London Zoo September shot

Big Day Weddings with David and Joanna have been thrilled to photograph there, because it has combined our childhood love of the zoo with our passion for photography. There are many fantastic opportunities and iconic areas of the zoo for wonderful wedding photography – if you know what you are doing.  Knowing what you are doing at the zoo on a wedding day is crucial, because not only do you have to get incredible well taken shots and great natural expressions from your newlyweds, you have to manage crowds, and on a typical Friday or Saturday those crowds are large. Thankfully although starting out as rather shy children, we have turned into very confident wedding photographers! In the two sample shots below David literally “parted the red sea” at the penguin pool and reptile house, while Joanna kept the waiting crowds out of the shots and good humoured. Another benefit of having two photographers rather than one! So if you are looking at having your wedding at London Zoo or another unusual and original location like Tower Bridge, have a chat with us. We know how to get the best from a hustle and bustle London wedding, and not just the more genteel settings of the home counties (we like them too, particularly the fresh air…)

To see over 100 wedding images just click on the link here: GALLERIES OR just scroll through this blog, it’s full of images! By David Green.

Wedding couple penguin pool London Zoo

London Zoo Wedding Photographers

London Zoo reception and photography

London Z00 Wedding Photos and Packages Image

Photos London Zoo weddings

kissing photo at London Zoo

Wedding Photography London Zoo

Love1
wedding couple first dance confetti cannon photo

Your wedding day is full of peak experiences – for the photographers too!

By Barnet Wedding Photographers, London Wedding PhotographerNo Comments

A widely held belief in our modern society is that your wedding day is one of, if not the best day of your life. Well, from our extensive experience of couples during their special day and the feedback we get, sometimes years later, this common wisdom is pretty accurate. The day is absolutely packed with memorable moments. In fact we would say to quote the title of this post, that your wedding day is full of peak experiences and not just for yourselves but the photographers too!

All Saints Blackheath confetti shot

What does that mean? Well when we were looking back at some of the images we captured in the last year, we began to remember some of what we felt at the time. That’s when we thought it would be a good idea to write about how the photographer feels working alongside you.

Brocket Hall Wedding ceremony image

It was  almost as if the images themselves were re triggering these moments again inside ourselves. So we decided to showcase some of those wedding photos that made us feel great ourselves while we were taking them. In fact we believe if you are not feeling the excitement and specialness of the day as a photographer, then documenting what happens will not be fully expressed with your images either.

Jewish wedding Dorchester Hotel photographers

The best wedding photographers know when a moment is special and choose their angle, framing, camera and lens settings in a flash to  reflect that. Anyone of course can take a few great pictures if they press the shutter button a thousand times. The mark of a professional is being able to make nine hundred and fifty or more of those images relevant, emotive and beautifully captured. Anything less is luck not technique. Semi rant over!

wedding kiss in lift central London

So where do peak moments come in a wedding? Well often right from the beginning. For example, the first time the bride’s father sees her in that fantastic wedding dress she spent so long searching for. The moment a groom sees his bride walking down the aisle. The looks of love and euphoria when a bride and groom are officially proclaimed “husband and wife.”

Groom cries at East Finchley wedding

Your entire wedding party cheering and throwing confetti over you. The fantastic time you spend alone at some point in the day with your fantastic wedding photographers David and Joanna! The moment you enter your wedding breakfast to a standing ovation. Hearing those heart felt words directed towards you during the wedding speeches. Your first dance surrounded by friends and family, to name just a few peak moments.

Hugging during wedding ceremony at London's Asia House

In fact the featured image in the post is that exact moment in Rachel and Chris’s wedding where John Legend’s All of Me as the first dance literally exploded into the Tiesto remix. As I got covered in confetti myself I felt a peak of euphoria as I was taking the shots. It was literally wedding magic.

Bride and groom cry at Islington wedding ceremony

Shoreditch wedding photographers photo full crop version

wedding couple Borough Market shot

See many more of those peak wedding moments in our three dedicated galleries here: Wedding Galleries

Check out wedding after wedding through page after page on our Blog right here on the website.

By David Green

Love1