I have been a professional wedding photographer (dedicated solely to wedding photography) for the last 8 years. I have been entrusted with and booked for over 200 weddings in this time. My gallery www.WeddingPreview.co.uk has a photography preview gallery for my each of my most recent 100 weddings.
I work as a full time wedding photographer, based in Bath (Somerset - England) I undertake around 30 weddings a year. During the busy wedding season (May - November) I limit these to a maximum of 2 per week, which is essential, if I am to remain flexible with each wedding couples plans, as well as having time to meet with couples at the venue prior to their wedding day and later to prepare all of the wedding couple's images on complete online galleries and all of the wedding photography delivered on DVD.
Making people feel comfortable in order to 'bring the best out of them' is a real art and an essential skill in order to be a successful wedding photographer. Many of the wedding couples who I photograph claim to be 'camera shy' This very common sentiment translating as they 'don't feel comfortable in front of the camera' or that fear that they do not like how they look in photographs or quite simply know that they look their best when in a more natural situation! This is not a problem if you are hiring a professional wedding photographer, with experience of group and portrait photography (in a wedding photography context) capable of producing that 'must have photo' for gram ma's mantlepiece! Its vital that your wedding photographer is a person who you feel comfortable sharing your day with!
The manner of approach, sensitivity and the awareness of the wedding as it unfolds before us is vital. Working the fine balance of non invasive, yet also respectfully facilitating and guiding the wedding party and friends and family through the 'must have' wedding photograph group shots. Being professional and able to organise and arrange groups for your photography. as well as capturing the natural, more relaxed reportage.
Being a wedding photographer requires great tact, sensitivity and organisational and people skills. There is far more to being a wedding photographer than the camera skills, creativity and technical competence that are essential. Yet these former skills are often not apparent, hence the rising popularity of the 'reportage' wedding photographer! I provide you with all of these skills and fundamental qualities that you should be seeking in a competent, qualified and reactive wedding photographer.
I take great pride and care when working as a wedding photographer. I am very proud of the feedback that I receive. My wedding Testimonials page contains extracts from many of the letters, thank-you cards, honeymoon postcards and feedback that as a wedding photographer thatI have received. It is a sheer privilege to share and to photographs a couples wedding day. A responsibility that I take very seriously and undertake conscientiously!
There is an great deal of work after the wedding too - tuning and colour correcting images (in front of a huge professional colour calibrated Apple monitor) creating an online gallery of the photos, converting files to Jpeg (for universal use) and copying the wedding images to DVD for the wedding couple, copies for their families, resizing images for the USB keys for easy sharing, ordering prints from my Pro Lab or designing their wedding books.
All this is undertaken with the aim of minimal delay - as a full time Professional Wedding Photographer, I am aware of the time it takes to undertake a wedding as well as what is entailed post wedding. For this reason I do not juggle my wedding photographer responsibility with a 'day job' - which would only inevitably compromise the quality and the promptness of delivering you your wedding photographs.
Couples usually receive the online gallery within 7 -14 days of their wedding and the DVDs and USB keys are usually awaiting their return from their honeymoon (2 - 3 weeks from their wedding date)
I also undertake a number of international weddings every year - I really enjoy the cultural variation on what one can easily consider to be the 'traditional' and 'standard' custom in a wedding ceremony. I have a great fascination in the variety of wedding ceremonies and traditions. To date I have photographed over 40 International weddings. I have photographed weddings in Italy, Turkey, Slovenia, Guernsey, America and even a Maori wedding in New Zealand.
It is my ambition to be able to photograph (& experience) every different cultural wedding ceremony before I retire.
I have been a photographer as long as I can remember! whilst at school the small windowless guest bathroom was my photography dark room, where I would develop my own black & white films. Learning the photography skills in a pre-digital era is certainly the way to acquire a skill!. I worked in a camera shop in Bath whilst I was a student at Bath College. Later I studied Communication & Media Studies Nottingham Trent University.
Prior to my photographic career, I worked in Charity Fundraising & Events for a number of charities in London and later in Bristol as the Fundraising and Event Manager for The Terrance Higgins Trust (SW) .
I can relate to the challenge and trials that present themselves organising a great event!
I worked for 4 years as a public speaking coach and trainer. Working with over 800 individuals throughout the UK, notably in Bristol, London Regents College and Bath Spa University. In these workshops I learned the essential skills of assisting people to feel comfortable in front of a camera (I used to video each person with a large s-VHS camera, so they would be able to witness and experience 'what we had seen') Assisting attendees to 'find their voice' and to feel comfortable in front of a group, aware of the fine line between nervousness and excitement!.
I can certainly relate to the daunting prospect of the after Dinner "Speeches!"
I became skilled at using the camera in a non intrusive way. A skill that is invaluable as a wedding photographer!. You can be sure that I wont add to any stress on your wedding day with my camera or acting insensitively! Your wedding photographer should be an ally not an intrusion!
I photograph weddings throughout the South West - Including weddings in Bath, Bristol, Frome, Bradford on Avon , Lacock ..... and far far beyond! - A quick glimpse at my wedding photography gallery will reveal weddings throughout the UK as well as in Bath, where I have been based for the vast majority of my life.
Please contact me to discus your wedding photographer requirements once you have booked your Bath wedding venue. I would be happy to create a special Bath wedding photography promotion for you - unique to the fact that your wedding is conveniently in Bath. As a wedding photographer I can recommend many places for us to visit for portraits and group photographs - for Bath is one of the top photogenic places in the south west, in England and possibly Europe (4 million day visitors a year can't be wrong!)
There are many fabulous wedding venues in Bath - A delight for a wedding photographer to live and work with! Here are a list of the most popular Wedding Venues in Bath and the surrounding area. Bath is the perfect city for your wedding and 'picture perfect' pleasure for a competent and creative wedding photographer!
Dominic Kerridge Wedding Photographer is among the one of the most competent wedding photographers in Bath.