"If you don't pay attention...you will all end up as wedding photographers" ...The standard threat the tutors directed at us while studying photography in the early nineties.

Wedding photography (and to be fair, the weddings industry as a whole) during that period was viewed as formulaic and stilted, lacking in creativity and the bottom of the barrel dregs for any photographer.

How things have changed eh! 

The Digital age arrived and the wedding industry was picked up by the scruff of the neck, slapped around the chops and given a thorough shaking down.

The Internet gave us the tools to widen our search and get creative, these days we personalize our weddings with our own unique touches.

Pimms & lemonade has overtaken the bubbly as the tipple of choice,Curry and comfort food such as sausage and mash are regular wedding breakfast choices and your just as likely to hear the bride walking up the isle to snow patrol as you are to the traditional Mendelssohn

Wedding photographers have embraced the new approach to the big day and in a small amount of time have changed perceptions to such an extent that many students inspire to wedding photographers

The days of the old boy with the step ladder, slipping tights over the lens for a "blurry" effect are long since gone, and I'm pretty sure if my dear old tutor was still plying his trade today he wouldn't be trotting out that "you'll be a wedding photographer" line to get us motivated

inspiring images from a fellow professional

Sometimes you just have to doff a cap to a fellow photographer. The way this fella has captured all the emotion and beauty of the big day and the genius use of a garage door as a background...breathtaking

The madhouse

 It's always nice to be told that my arrival has caused butterflies to flutter around a brides tummy and as much as i like to convince myself it was all due...ahem...to my chiseled looks...cough...the truth of the matter is that the arrival of your trusty photographer signals its all systems go and the official start to the best day of your life


Throughout the hairspray haze and the nose clearing scent of perfume, there is a real sense of expectation, that makes for fantastic photographs.


Champagne glasses with lipstick marks adorn the kitchen worktop, Mum would have been ready within an hour of getting out of bed and Dad will no doubt be sitting in the corner, keeping out the way awaiting his cue, which usually comes bellowed in the form of  "DAAAAAD GET READY NOOOW"


Remember to keep in mind that buttonholes are delivered with the bouquets so don't forget to arrange for a member of the wedding party to pick them up in advance.


Buttonholes are worn on the left hand side - a men's buttonhole should be worn on the outside of the buttonhole of the left lapel: Not in the button hole 

                                                                                       

                                        

                                                  

Highlands House, Chelmsford, Essex

Highlands house is that cool mansion you see when parking your car at the V festival, here is a small selection of pics taken from the weddings of Sarah & Paul and Pauline & Richard

                        

Facebook

I'm a big fan of Facebook and for a self confessed nosey parker, I just love having access to a website that lets you peek at what friends and colleagues are up to.


I have been a bit slow in setting this up but...drum roll... i now have a facebook page for lee waymont photography...i will soon be popping an icon on the website but for now - 
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lee-Waymont-Photography/130162977055295?v=wall

I also think creating a page devoted to your wedding is an idea worth exploring.


You could add all the information regarding your venue (how to find it, menu, hotels nearby etc.) as well as asking for guests to request songs for the DJ's play list, alongside a place for guests to post pictures of the big day, so you can view them on your honeymoon.


Just remember to set your privacy settings to only include the friends you want to view the page.

The photographers 10 commandments

Rule 1 - Always check your surroundings

Autumn love

Halloween skies and swan flyby's - Dedham Essex, 31st October 2010

Venues

Choosing a venue is one of the most exciting and fulfilling parts of the wedding preparation.


Many of you will travel around, savouring various locations in the quest to find that perfect fit, while for others a brief visit will provide all the inspiration needed to picture that special day.


I have photographed happy couples in a wide variety of locations, and I find I learn something new about the advantages and challenges each venue has to offer with every wedding I undertake.



The choice of venues is endless, from the majestic grandiose of an ancient castle to the intimate setting of the local restaurant, all of you will have your own preferences and ideas.


When I snap multiple weddings at the same location, I am always amazed at how different the photos look.
The changing of the seasons, the weather, the flowers, the variety colour schemes, and of course, most importantly, you and your guests make your wedding unique.


Throughout my blog, I'm going to be sporadically popping up posts which will focus on a specific venue by using photos from different weddings to illustrate this uniqueness.

Honeymooning

The pressies have been opened, the left over cake sits on the table side and the once gleaming wedding dress is hanging on the door,showing the remnants of uncle bobs clumsy wine spillage.


Post wedding blues will no doubt be soothed by the thought of that poolside cocktail you'll soon be sipping on your honeymoon.


In the Airport, the old favourite "dewy eyed look" to the check in person,cuddling your spouse while casually dropping into the conversation "it's our honeymoon" in the expectation of getting an upgrade,will get you...SWEET BUGGER ALL...trust me, spare yourself the humiliation, I've tried it...so did the couple in front of me,and the friends we met on the holiday, and my friends friends...you get the picture!


One thing I will say though, if you are planning a long distance  trip,be mindful of the seasonal weather patterns.
It's cruel irony that most weddings take place in the summer months,so if your planning to head for far away pastures, chances are that your gonna be taking a gamble on the 
weather.
.




One couple I photographed went to the Maldives. They had blissful hot sunshine everyday, but didn't take into account the prevailing winds which were common to the area at that time of year.The breeze provided welcome relief in the day, but during the night the choppy waters would keep them awake at night, as the waves battered around their luxury water bungalow.

The flip side to this is the couple who told me they didn't realise they had booked their Caribbean holiday slap bang in the middle of hurricane season. Despite their trepidation, they went on the trip and had two weeks of beautiful weather.


So I guess what I'm trying to say is no matter how much research and planning you do, you are, like your wedding day, in mother natures mercy,whatever she throws at you, just lap it up and enjoy every moment.


Note: The top 3 pictures were taken in Antigua, at my sister in laws wedding, we went in February and it was just wonderful...not a cloud in the sky.
The bottom set were taken from my honeymoon in Langkawi, Malaysia...we went at the start of autumn, and short of a few heavy downpours (lasting around an hour) it was as hot as the curry they served for breakfast (which, by the way went down a treat...egg and baconsmaken).

John Hayes

I was extremely saddened to hear the news that the BBC Essex DJ John Hayes has passed away after a short illness.
I was privileged to take the pictures of Dawn & John's wedding, John praised the pictures on air, of which I was very grateful.


My condolences and love goes out to Dawn & Johns family.

Time to get hitched

So the question's been popped, the preparation starts now, and you will no doubt be starting to get a little plan together as to how you want your day to unfold.

Your big day will whizz past, and before you know it you'll be shaking off stray bits of confetti in the hotel room. 


So when deciding on a suitable time for your ceremony, it's always a good idea to map your day out and allocate timings, this will ensure you best utilise what precious time you have.


It's not much of an issue if you are getting married and having the reception in the same place, but if you are marrying in a church and moving to another venue, then there are many factors to consider when choosing your time.

For example, if you are employing a toastmaster, you will probably be wanting them to arrange a receiving line, this on average takes around 20 - 25 mins (depending on the size of your party).


Once everyone has received a peck on the cheek or a sturdy handshake, 30 mins will have elapsed, and had you not allocated this time,it would have eaten into valuable drinking time and the chance for extra pictures. 


The best way to find your perfect ceremony time is to work backwards, starting at when you would like your evening guests to arrive. I have put an example together using a previous wedding I have attended, where it was  decided to take the majority of the photos at the venue rather than the church.


7pm onwards - guests arrive
6.30pm - Speeches
4.30pm - Dinner is served
4.00pm - Receiving line
2.30pm - Photos, mingling and quaffing the bubbly
2.00pm - leave church on route to venue after being photographed & peppered in confetti
1.00pm - Ceremony (approx 40 mins) 


Bride - 12.30 - Leave for church (approx 20 mins)


(Things to do in advance - Arrange for when the hairdresser, make up artist and photographer are to arrive).


Groom - Fry up, get scrubbed up, get to the church in good time