People ask why I stopped photographing weddings: here's why...

A wedding that was full of love and spiritual connection.

Firstly, don't get me wrong, Ive covered lots of great weddings, full of love, amazing venues, cathedrals, abbeys and heard some speeches worthy of a stand up routine and some heart felt, genuine speeches but like alot of things in this world today, weddings have changed.

All photographers will tell you, weddings are where the money is. Photographers and even non-photographers (that think it's easy and 'give it a go'), flock to shooting weddings so it's now ultra saturated and the time spent to shout louder on social media absorbs vast amounts of time so this seeded doubt in my desire to keep doing this.

On the day of a wedding, I would wake up early and go through the itinerary for a large wedding shoot. I would double and triple check I had everything for the whole day including printed schedule, guest list, mobile numbers of key people, night time flash set ups, champagne, smoke flares, rain day plan, even a wedding dress repair kit (used twice and saved the day!). The level of concentration required for the 12+ hours would be immense. The equipment list I would take would be over £10,000 and the financial reward to photograph a wedding was under more and more pressure.

It's very common for the photographer to play the leading role and become responsible for organising the important events throughout the day. The photographer will often liaise with Events Managers on scheduling and have a guest list of 'who's who' so often Ive been some kind of Media Manager for the couple. Alot (certainly not all) videographers would often just float around on my shoulder and follow my lead. Then, Content Creators were also hovering around me, waiting for me to organise the opportunities to capture events throughout the day but I can assure you, photographers fees are not covering this Media Manager role. Fees have not increased in 10 years. Couples are expecting full day cover for half day fees. They want a cheap photographer so they can hire a sweet trolley , miniature golf, a pianist, a string quartet, a content creator..... Its like the wedding industry has completely lost all understanding of what a vital role the photographer plays.

But here's the under lying vibe I could sense with too many weddings, it had become more about making the day absolutely jam-packed with events, and tasks, and just 'stuff'. There's now too much emphasis on the chocolate fountain, capturing 'the socials' on Tiktok and Instagram, the lavish overseas Hen party, the speeches, the perfect 1st dance and the importance of the marriage ceremony almost insignificant. It puts far too much pressure on the couple. Ive seen dozens of couples emotionally and physically wiped out by 9pm. Ive never encountered a Bridezilla in over 10 years of covering weddings but have met some Brides that are overwhelmed by the scale of all the 'stuff' that's planned - and they have planned most of it but done so because they want it to be perfect and experience how it is in the magazines and the Instagram feeds.

Not many, but too many weddings felt soulless & empty, Ive seen vast amounts of money wasted, vast amounts of food thrown away and one day I decided enough was enough.

What's very odd, and something I cant explain, church weddings had the most spiritual essence and one particular Christian wedding I covered was absolutely phenomenal; spine tingling. To this day, I cant explain what was in that room but it was other-worldly, electric, spiritual. The Christian acoustic band that played during the ceremony were so amazing, EVERYONE was singing and the couple truly loved each other and the day was about the wedding ceremony and their commitment to one another so....

To any couples reading this, put your emphasis on what the day really means 1st, go for a church wedding because lets be honest here, our Churches need community support! The last church wedding I did was the last service ever. It was closing and this trend cannot continue! Many of them are becoming empty and under-utilised. The people of the UK can't complain when Churches close for good and get replaced or converted to something else. Ive spoken to countless vicars that tell me, the situation with Churches is one of crisis. They cant continue to remain empty! Yes, hotels offer all-in-one-place convenience but you don't get that historical, atmospheric vibe like you do with a Church or Cathedral.

Book a Church and book an expensive, tried-and-tested photographer. This person will not only have a phenomenal portfolio but will also play a leading role on the day, be organised and good at organising groups of people - a skill in itself!

Don't worry too much about the miniature golf, the long list of gifts throughout the speeches, the chocolate fountain and definitely not the dance floor flip flops.

#honesty #ukweddingphotographer #churchwedding #christianity #weddingphotographer #ukheritage #westmidlandsweddings #dancefloorflipflops #ukchurches