It’s a question that gets asked quite often – ”why and how did you get into wedding photography?”
I would be lying if I said that I had always wanted to be a wedding photographer. That since I was young I was in my Grandpa’s dark room helping him develop – I wish I had such an exciting story. The truth is, is that I have always loved photography – but more the result. I loved pouring over old photo albums and lose pictures my mum still keeps in a box. In fact, I still love looking at old pictures. It’s nostalgic and there is something happy about it. But that was as far as my passion went.
Fast forward a few years when I went to Australia with my friend. My parents had got me a little red Kodak for Christmas that I loved. I took it everywhere, and on this particular trip. I think it was then the connection that I could be a documenter. Perhaps even a story teller. I would take my pictures for just Facebook at first, but there was a slow burn starting. After the trip I went straight back into a full time job and within the first 3 days was looking at places at universities where I could do a fine art degree in photography. A couple of issues to note; I didn’t know hardly anything about photography & I didn’t really have a clue what Fine Art was. Needless to say I never made the course. But, like I said, a slow burn had started, so I turned to the internet, when I found one of my biggest influences – Jasmine Star. She was showing me how wedding photography didn’t just have to be boring and old. It could be stylish and beautiful!
From here I became addicted to learning and teaching myself. When friends of my parents who were getting married asked me if I wanted to document their wedding I jumped at the chance. They were both second time in the marriage department and a photographer was not on their to hire list. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing but I still went for it. I was armed with a film camera over one shoulder and my small Olympus over the other. I didn’t get paid any money and my camera died just after the signing of the register. But, from that wedding a friend of the bride asked me to photograph her wedding and from their a small snowball had started.
Happy Friday! Have a beautiful weekend.
N xx