AS ST VALENTINE swaggers back into town, and optimists’ eyes begin flirting with the backs of letterboxes, the chill in the air gives way to a bit of warmth.
It has to be the most romantic time of year, at least for those melting in thoughts of who penned the billet-doux that lit up their welcome mat.
The 14th day of this month is also the opportune time to propose; and if a traditional one’s not forthcoming, audacious girls are given licence to take the bull by the horns by getting down on their own bended knees on the 29th…
For the photographer charged with recording the wedding, an appreciation of the emotions, the build up and the organisation is paramount. What else would better help a couple re-live the best day of their lives but images of themselves among their friends and family?
My approach is simply to work around the couple, unobtrusively, capturing the details of the day, including the laughter, the tensions and the dancing. A group shot here and there is as integral as confetti, assuring couples they’ll have a memento of everyone who attended. But few want to spend half the day with fixed camera grins, I find.
Building trust begins at a pre-wedding meeting, to the extent that, should events become a little overwhelming, as they did for the bride and groom in this photo, they can rest, assured their big day’s best moments are being captured forever.
And they’re being captured as high resolution files with Canon’s top-of-the-range digital cameras, coupled with its professional, L-series lenses. The digital images can then be shared online, or can be used to produce album prints or even large format pictures to adorn any interior wall space.
[February 2012].



DRIVING INTO BBC Birmingham’s studios to photograph some of the station’s presenters I tune the radio into WM to get up to speed with the local news and views. Joanne Malin is talking to a woman from Bromsgrove who has written a book about curries and, as their aromatic conversation oozes from the speakers, I do optimistically wonder if any spicy snacks will be on offer when I arrive.












