The art of the wedding photographer is founded on the following philosophy. An image is simply a fleeting moment of light which, if captured correctly, can last a lifetime. That smile, the kiss, a certain look, a touch or even a tear. Something you will keep close to your heart and cherish through the years. There dwells the difference between a photograph and a snapshot. Miss it and its gone, lost forever in eternity.
As a Kent based freelance photographer I started shooting weddings after stepping in when a couple I knew were let down at the last minute by the Groom's brother, a real case of cold feet. After witnessing their disappointment and speaking to other couples I decided to take a different approach to wedding photography. That was ten years ago and it still seems to work well.
My first rule is always to meet the couple in person and discuss their needs; some photographers have a tendency tell people what they want as opposed to asking them. It's important for me to listen to my clients and understand how they want their day recorded. You may want traditional, reportage or even a black and white celebrity paparazzi style. A mix perhaps, it's always going to be your choice.
My second rule is to price all weddings as I would any other photographic assignment. I don't offer inclusive price packages; why pay for things you don't want? Instead I provide a clear quotation, based on each individual couples requirements. Every wedding is different, people are different, there isn't a one size fits all.
To reflect this rule, my pricing is simple and covers the time I spend on the shoot and processing the images. No hidden extras or inclusive album deals, for many people PC's, laptops or even mobile phones have become the wedding albums of the 21st century. This is how I work for photo editors so why should weddings be priced any differently?
Once a couple have their images, which are supplied as jpeg's on a memory stick, they are free to source their own prints, albums or photo books. If they wish me to provide this additional service I will be pleased to.
My third rule is to be as unobtrusive as possible on the day, to plan ahead and blend in. Pushy wedding photographers can ruin the whole day. I also never shoot a wedding without a second photographer, you can never be everywhere at once, and it's often the more candid images that are so very special.
EXPERIENCE
I got my first camera when I was seven, not quite as good as the top of the range Nikon equipment I use today but every bit as magical. I still have the first grainy black and white photos of my brother that I shot the day I got it.
Over the years I have travelled the world with a camera, photographing people and landscapes from Patagonia to Arizona, weddings as far and wide as Japan and India, demonstrations in London, festivals in Africa, mountains in China and the stunning wilderness of the high arctic.
Most of my assignments are journalistic, commercial, tourism or forensic. I'm proud to be a member of the Freelance Section of the National Union of Journalists.
I hope this gives you an insight into who I am and what I do. Please take a moment to visit my website to see some of the more recent images from around the world.
MIKE BARTLETT
Click for Website: www.bridgehouseassociates.co.uk
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Telephone: 07738546005
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