Madeleine & Josh at Dovestones

Thursday afternoon was a rare rain free day over my way in Saddleworth. Katie has already booked in a family shoot in August, but thanks to the magic of twitter I knew she was off work and had two bored kids to entertain. So I suggested she come over for a pre-shoot at Dove Stones. I'll be seeing these two little ones again next month with dad Chris making up the full Savage family! Here are some of the best shots from the afternoon...

  

  

  

Cheap wedding photography.

I was looking at what people are putting into Google to find their wedding photographer and the top phrase at the moment is ‘cheap wedding photography’. In the current climate I can see why. When you first look at the price of a photographer it appears a lot of money, especially when there are sites offering photographers from as little as £165 for 2 hours.


This got me thinking, is there such a thing as a cheap wedding photography? It’s clearly what people want and Google comes up with thousands of people offering it. But as my dad always said “If it looks too good to be true, it’s probably a complete bandit trying to rip you off.” Well, something like that.


My prices are on my site. But if you search you can easily find cheaper prices elsewhere. Why book me if you can get a cheap wedding photographer for half the price? So I started to look at these sites. Yep, you can get a full day of cheap photography for £400. Less if you’re after half a day. The thing is, it’s all a bit sneaky. They charge you very little for the photography then a fortune for the prints. One site was charging £20 for ONE 6”x4” print. There are people who will shoot your wedding for £400 and give you the prints. Strangely, they didn't seem to have many pictures of their work on their site. This website has some 'handy' tips for saving money on your photographer. Now read this cautionary tale about someone who got very cheap (free) wedding photography.

 Are you still thinking about asking your mate? 


For me, professionals should be charging for their skills, the photography, then a fair price for the prints. I give you a CD with all your images on it so you can do your own prints, as do most of the real professionals I've seen or know. It may seem a lot more paying around a £1000 but with a proper photographer that should be the only price you pay. No sneaky costs after your big day. People spend so much money on details at their wedding on things like the cake, bows, drinks and the food all to add to the day. They then skimp on the one thing that will help them look back on the day for the rest of their lives.


I know someone who used a friend who was cheap back in March. They're still regretting the decision. I know I'm going to tell you to book a pro, but spend some time looking around and always ask the person charging half price why they are so cheap. Meet up with at least one 'full price' pro and see the difference.

So does cheap wedding photography exist? Yes, it's everywhere. But is it any good? Well, as my dad says, "You get what you pay for."


James
Saddleworth Wedding Photography.

Trash the dress or trash the idea?

I saw this article in the Daily Mail about a subject I've had on my mind for the last few weeks....

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2176052/Trash-The-Dress-photos-Brides-destroy-wedding-dresses-art.html

Trash the dress isn't a new idea. It's been around for a few years, some people claim it was created by Las Vegas wedding photographer John Michael Cooper as far back as 2001. Wherever it started it took off in the United States but never really caught on in the UK. However the concept has started to become popular over here, renamed somewhat less 'Americanised' as Rock The Frock. The idea is to get dressed up again in your wedding dress and then have an edgy fashion shoot. Beaches, building sites and railway lines are the backdrop, places a bride would never be seen on her big day. The idea is to deconstruct the dress, which in America, and now here, means sometimes destroying it.

It's a controversial concept. As everyone knows for most people, the wedding dress is the most expensive one they'll ever buy. It's symbolic of a special day in their lives. Reading the comments below the article it certainly seems that The Daily Mail readers are not fans. It's an area, as a wedding photographer, I've been giving serious thought to.

The thing is, I just can't see us Brits going for it. 

You see, the Americans have a very different view of the dress to us. I recently got married myself and in the run up we watched almost every wedding related show on TV including Four Weddings US. From watching this show, it doesn't seem the Americans have the same love for their dress that we do. Every single woman wears their dress for the service and then changes into a cocktail dress for the evening. My wife was horrified. "You only get to wear the dress once, why get out of it on your wedding day?" So it doesn't surprise me they're happy to cover it in paint, swim in a lake or rip it up all in for a few extra photos.

Over here we like to keep the dress. Even though it costs a fortune to clean and box and then fills half a wardrobe, it's something very special. British women love their dress. They spent years dreaming of it, months choosing the style and they adore the one day they get to wear it. They want to show their kids it. My wife thinks it would be almost sacrilegious to destroy it.

No matter how much I try to see the idea as art or a new business opportunity, I can't help feeling it's a bit disrespectful to the dress and your big day. It just doesn't feel right to destroy something which is so symbolic of the best day of your life. Who knows I may well end up doing a Rock The Frock shoot, but part of me just thinks the British just love our dress a bit too much to ever really want to trash it.

James
Saddleworth Wedding Photographer.

Debbie's 30th Party

Saturday night was Debbie's birthday party. She doesn't like being reminded she is no longer in her 20's. So I won't mention it was her 30th (ooops). It was held at the Ratcliffe Rooms at Rochdale FC and Debs wanted a Hollywood red carpet feel to the night. So that called for a bit of film grain on the images and some black and whites. The new lenses were put through their paces and they are superb. It looked like everyone had a great night and Deb's text the following day suggested she may well have just drunk a little too much....

The next one is probably my personal favourite, no flash, incredibly dark room, lovely colour. 

James

Saddleworth Wedding Photographer.

What a week!

It's been a busy old week here at JTP HQ! We've had a lot of good news. Today I added Graphistudio to the impressive range of wedding albums that I offer, alongside the beautiful Folio and Loxley albums. Graphistudio are a wedding album heavy weight based in Northern Italy and their modern albums are very much in demand. You've got to pass a fairly strict vetting process to become a Graphi authorised photographer so it's great news that I'm in with them.

Two family shoots have been booked in, another wedding in October booked and today I managed to confirm that I am the (official) paparazzi at the Fortune 500 listed Squire Sanders LLP Manchester Hollywood themed Party in December. It's all good stuff, plus I've been preparing for the big party tomorrow, where I'm covering Debs leaving her 20's (she does not like to mention turning 30), in another Hollywood themed event.

And to really top the day off, my Corgi Yorkshire Tea van arrived in the post...

James
Saddleworth Wedding Photographer.

Bec & Dan at Holdsworth House

Bec and Dan got married on a lovely sunny day at Holdsworth House in Halifax. Bec is the most camera shy person I've ever met, which is in stark contrast to Dan who is a enthusiastic photographer. So, sticking the long zoom on and catching Bec without her knowing was the order of the day. I think we all agree, she really shouldn't have been so worried about being caught in the lens!

Here are my favourites from the day...

James
Saddleworth Wedding Photographer.