Deciding which London wedding photographer

March 26, 2013

London wedding photographer

Further to my article last week on what makes for a good London wedding photographer, I’ve been asked for more helpful hints. As an experienced wedding photographer I’ve had many encounters with photographers who have just not been professional; in their photographs they’ve produced or how they presented themselves. I believe that if a couple is giving you the honor of attending their wedding day then the least you can do is be professional. Whether I’m in a registry office in, say Richmond, or at Hampton Court Palace or a beautiful hotel in London, bride and grooms deserve the best.

 

London wedding photographer

So, here are more invaluable opinions of some of the world’s best photographers. Take the time to  plan this important part of your wedding day to ensure you have the photos that you will love. London Wedding Photographer David Stubbs

 

Personality counts with a Photographer

When you are hiring a wedding photographer, don’t hire someone whom you don’t really like on a personal basis! Their photos might be great, but remember that your photographer is going to be a very substantial participant in your wedding day, not only capturing your memories, but becoming a big part of them! So make sure you’re comfortable with their personality. If you find your photographer irritating, abrasive, or if you think their jokes are cheesy, keep looking. You really don’t want to look at your wedding photos, and think “Oh wow, remember the incredibly inappropriate joke the photographer told right before he shot this?” or “That guy got on my nerves – I remember feeling irritated with him as this photo was being taken.” Your day is about your happiness, first and foremost. The most beautiful photo in the world won’t mean as much if your memory of the photography experience sours it! ~ Buffy Goodman, Edmonton, Alberta

 

Don’t just hire the Photographer your friend recommended

The number one mistake to avoid when hiring a wedding photographer is to listen to everyone else. Your best friend might have loved her photographer, and your cousin probably swears by hers. So you meet with both of them and their pictures seem good enough. But did you like them? Your photographer will be with you all day, so it’s important you get along with them and enjoy their company. Your instincts will tell you a whole lot!
~ Britney Gardner, Turn Loose the Art, Huntington Beach, CA

 

So if you would like to discuss wedding photography you really must speak with London wedding photographer David Stubbs. My London wedding photography experience ensures a smooth and happy wedding photography service, giving you exactly what you want. Call me for an informal, get to know you chat on 07976 237 673 today. Alternatively, complete my contact form now.

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Choosing London wedding photographers

March 20, 2013

I’m often asked what makes for good London wedding photographers, and why you shoud choose a professional wedding photographer at all? I’ve had a good think about this – as a experienced wedding photographer who works throughout the length and breadth of London (though I am based in the Twickenham and Richmond area) and has provided wedding photography to many, many happy couples, I could simply just sell myself. Then I thought what about the opinions of some of the world’s best photographers? Their thoughts and opinions carry weight. (more…)

Photography Competition- not just for London wedding photographers

March 12, 2013

I’m going to hold a few competitions this spring and it’s not just a Photography Competition for London wedding photographers. You’ll have the chance to win fame and fortune plus print enlargements and even a free portrait session. This is the first Photography Competition

Here’s a silly one to start.

What is it?

Photography Competition London wedding photographers

 

London wedding photographers guide;

For free advice on choosing, click on London wedding photographers.

You can phone me on 07976-237673 or email me on Contact Page.

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I found these interesting points from a Brita Bevis;

COMPING AS A HOBBY

Not many people know it, but comping (the art of entering competitions as a hobby) has been around for a very long time. As far back as the 19th century, in fact. And now, at the start of a new millennium, it’s still going strong, with comping having taken off in a big way on the world wide web. Is it really surprising though, when you discover that for an outlay of maybe just a few pence, you could end up the owner of a brand new shiny car, or even a house? And don’t forget with a Photography Competition what you could win!

In 1983, when I entered my very first proper comp, I had a vague knowledge that some people had won big prizes from the odd article I’d read. But it was probably very different for you, as these days, hardly a week seems to go by without seeing a smiling winner beaming from the pages of a newspaper, or being interviewed on TV, on one of the many programmes that have publicised the hobby

 

 

 

 

 

 

A cupcake wedding cake is so much tastier

March 4, 2013

A cupcake wedding cake

Mmmmn.. Just had my 5th  delicious cupcake in the space of a day! All the fault of Lisa’s cupcakes at the Sweetest Feeling Cupcakes. I was unfortunate enough to be at the stand next to her at the Hotel Anoinettes Wedding Fair yesterday and couldn’t resist devouring cake after cake after cake. Why do people eat traditional wedding cake when the could have a whole range of exciting and light flavours such as Lisa’s?  A  cupcake wedding cake is superior.

 http://www.sweetestfeeling.co.uk/

cupcake wedding cake

Which is best?

Many people disagree on the cupcake wedding cake versus cake issue, and I’m here to set the record straight. Cupcakes are, in fact, better than cake. I’m not 100% sure of the reason, but I am totally willing to put some ideas out there as to why this phenomena is accurate. All I know is, when someone offers me a slice of cake, I almost always say, “No thank you, I’m not really a cake person.” But when someone bakes cupcakes, I’m stalking the table like a vulture.

 

A cupcake wedding cake

First off, a cupcake wedding cake is an ingenious invention for its size alone. In four bites or less, you have yourself a perfectly frosted, delicious little treat. It’s filling, and yet you can eat a second or third should you choose to.

Besides this, there’s no messy cutting or designated cutter for that matter. Dishes and forks don’t even need to be used. All you really need is a napkin and an appetite.

A cupcake wedding cake are also much harder to mess up. I have made so many lopsided cakes that had to be fixed with frosting than I can remember. Cupcakes, however, rarely come out crooked or mess up – because they’re so little!

What else? Unlike a cake, a cupcake wedding cake can be individually designed to have diverse and beautiful designs on them. If you want to be creative and use food due to turn your frosting different colors, then cupcakes become your blank canvas. If you try to put different colored or flavored frosting on a regular cake, chances are the average person would end up with a messy and odd-looking concoction.

A cupcake wedding cake

Speaking of flavors, how often do tastes differ in a family of 4, 5 or more? Everyone has their own favorite cupcake flavor and frosting flavor, and almost always goes for the same flavor combination.

 

 

Wedding Fair

March 3, 2013

I had a great wedding fair today at the Hotel Antoinette in Kingston

I had a great wedding fair today at the Hotel Antoinette in KIngston. Many friendly and curious couples came along to my stand and I even ran out of brochures! It was  good to see whole families come along and be enthusiastic about marrying here. Thanks also to the helpful staff for looking after us as well.

wedding fair

http://www.antoinettehotel.com/kingston/weddings/

Some Good Tips – 1 – Eat first, then greet your guests

Instead of a receiving line that takes an enormous amount of time to chat with every guest individually, better to get things going. Arrange for a 30 minute to 60 minute cocktail hour, make your “Grand Entrance” half way through the cocktail hour, then open the buffet line with your wedding party. Since you are the first through the line, you will be the first done eating AND have a chance to eat in peace, as your guests will be waiting to get in line. Once you are finished with your dinner, walk around and great your guests one table at a time! This allows you to greet eight to ten people at once, while the event continues to move along at a good pace.

By speaking with your guests proactively, they won’t feel as inclined to seek you out later or as they leave for “one on one” interaction. If you have 200 guests and speak with each one for only one minute each, that takes up 3-½ hours of your reception!

 

Some Good Tips – 2 Pour champagne only for toasts for guests that like champagne

I’ve seen hundreds of glasses of champagne poured for toasts, only to see dozens of glasses left untouched on the tables and poured out into the sink later in the night. Why?? A lot of people don’t like champagne and will not drink it even if it is FREE and placed directly in front of them.

It is better to have the bartender pour a few dozen glasses at the bar and have your DJ announce that the toast will be “With whatever drink you have in your hand.” The DJ can instruct your guests to go to the bar to freshen their beverage or pick up a glass of champagne if they so wish. This little tip will can save you $100 or more in wasted champagne and/or corkage fees.

 

Some Good Tips – 3 Do your toast and your cake cutting together.

Many photographers prefer to shoot the toasts at the cake table, a very photogenic and decorated location. Once the last toast is completed, it is a good idea for the groom (the new “man of the house”) to greet the guests and thank them for traveling so far to spend your special day with you. As soon as that is done, the DJ can slide on a nice background song and you can cut your wedding cake while you have everyone’s attention. It is good to then wait at least 15 minutes before your formal dances so the caterer can cut and serve the cake to your guests. The best time for your first dance is while everyone is sitting at their table eating wedding cake!