A BRIEF HISTORY OF MODERN WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
Take a look at your grandparents wedding album. Not THAT long ago the album would be full of dull, uninspiring photographs filled with line-ups of static bodies and forced smiles.
Then photographer Denis Reggie coined the phrase 'wedding photojournalism' in the 1980s and wedding photography received a new lease of life. His definition was ' a genre that recognises coverage in real time by a photographer respectful of the natural occurances and flow of the wedding day without assuming a leadership position in arranging, staging or prompting subjects'. The reportage album was born and black-and-white photography enjoyed a resurgence.
In the same way a documentary film captures the events warts and all as it sits back and lets things flow, the photojournalist would capture the day as was without any way of stepping back to re-shoot a more pleasing version.
In the late 1990s photographer John Dolan took Reggie's ideas on wedding photojournalism and modified the photographer's role to 'help' instigate the images in order to capture the important sights and emotions that might be missed if the flow of the wedding was left to its own devices. He wanted to make real people look beautiful and beautiful people look real.
The idea that a more hands-on approach by the photographer would produce a more pleasing series of images for the wedding couple was born.
MY ROLE
As a photojournalist with over 20 years experience of working as a senior on both weekly and daily newspapers I understand and embrace these philosophies and I am highly skilled in capturing the moment as it happens, creating the mood with a little arrangement and setting up ordered groups for formal shots. From the first meeting onwards you will find that unlike many newspaper photographers I am very relaxed and easy to work with and if you have any special requests (Uncle Hank over from the USA for the first time since 1973 etc.) then let me know and I will be happy to work them into the schedule.
Having chatted with you at length, I will know well in advance how much importance you want given to capturing the actual flow of the day, stepping in to shape beautiful images and ordering guests into formal group shots. From the first photograph taken I will work around your schedule to capture the moments and moods of the day with those criteria in mind so that your finished album will show your wonderful day captured exactly how you want it.
I would like to think that when you view my three storybooks and my image gallery you will see a greater range of ideas than on most wedding photographer websites. As an active photojournalist I am continually looking for creative ideas and don't get bogged down in capturing the same shots during each wedding. There are always opportunities to capture or create wonderful images on the spur of the moment and I work tirelessly to give you as many of them as possible.
MY PRODUCTS
Whether you opt for a storybook or dreambook package I will work to the highest standards using the finest equipment to give you a huge quantity of wonderful images covering all the aspects of your big day.
The difference between the storybook and dreambook packages is how the images are presented.
The storybook packages have the images presented in a range of stylish photobook albums and cover design, page layout and page colour can be planned around your individual choices to create your album.
The dreambook packages are designed from scratch with you to create a truly individual A3 album made from aluminium, leather and/or acryllic with pages of the finest double-sided photographic papers. These albums are all one-of-a-kind pieces that will enhance the wonderful photographs taken and create a stunning individual record of your love and commitment to each other.
DATE AVAILABILITY
If you like my work and would like to see if I am available to cover your wedding day then please send me an email with your wedding date, venue details and contact numbers and I will reply shortly.
If I am free to cover your wedding then it would be wonderful to arrange a no-obligation meeting so I could explain how I work in more detail, you could see my work up close and ask any questions you may have.
I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Colin J. Horne
