Top Wedding Photographer and Best Wedding Photography Packages
Sometimes we arrive at a place and its maybe better than expected. This is Awe & Wonder Photography. Its been going a while. It provides its customers with what they want by keeping in contact and working through exactly what you want from a wedding photographer on your wedding day. Some couples, however, are not sure what to expect and so Awe & Wonder can step in and offer a gentle guide for the day.
Kinbane Castle. A favourite for most elopement and engagement shoots
So Awe & Wonder work hard to get you want you want, help you through the day, have a good deal of fun along the journey and have you wishing that you could be friends with the photographer at the end of the day.
Not only that but I really love coffee, good coffee. Stuff that people with long beards and checked shirts with their buttons done all the way to the top normally drink. And have dreams about tasting.
Awe & Wonder Photography also has experience. 11 years in fact. So there is no stress when it rains or something doesnt quite go to plan. Experience also brings with it the ability to communicate well and work with all the people on your wedding day - even the difficult ones. I find it amazing that some photographers are good with a camera but not with people.
Summer Rain in Antrim
So we get then to pricing. Photographers have all sorts of prices. Honestly I’d get confused myself if I was looking for a photographer. Its kinda like the story of the three bears. Cold, right and Hot. Cheap, great and Expensive.
Three options.
You got the photographers working very hard for very little reward. Some of these guys might be starting off or actually retired from their regular job and are putting in a few hours to make their retirement plan last a little longer. If you get someone on the way up who has talent you’ve got a bargain.
You’ve got the just rights. The ones who know their value and want the business but struggle with charging more than they should. There are many in this group. Its where I find myself and many other photographers I respect.
Then there are the ‘too hots’ or ‘up their own arse’. They are charging big money and getting away with it. There are others equally good for less but we get drawn in. They must offer something more. They might. Some are extremely talented and I can understand the pricing, some are not so much. Hey if you could get away with it then so would you.
Despite the analogy, what i am trying to say is money doesnt define the type of photographer you get. In all three of these areas you can get good and bad.
I can only talk for myself a top bloke who is a wedding photographer with some of the best wedding packages around. Sure check them out. You’d be unwise not to.
Click here and we can get a chat a a massively overpriced coffee.
How to get through that first dance! 😁🙄 5 simple songs to help.
I have seen it all with the bride and grooms first dance. Some people might say that but between working at weddings and attending weddings I think I have. From a whole bridal party doing a choreographed dance to Michael Jackson’s Thriller to a couple just improvising some crazy moves. Nothing surprises me but it does occasionally still give me a laugh. So as someone big into their music, this advice is for those unsure about how to go about it and also some music suggestions should you get stuck.
This is your day (yes both of you). Make a moment.
Sometimes you can see the groom (occasionally the bride) and despite this being the best day of his life, for the next 5 minutes he would give anything to be already on his way to the honeymoon. The first dance. He is just not a mover, he dances like Chandler Bing (shame if you dont know that pop culture reference). Even worse is the groom that doesnt really want to miss out on drinking with his mates and cant be bothered. Planning is not about one of you knowing what will happen at a certain moment but what is expected from each other at certain moments. Whatever you do, try and celebrate the moment. With the whole day, it goes past so quickly, why not make another moment to remember.
Do what is comfortable for you.
Trail each other around uncomfortably. Get the bridal party involved. Learn a routine for the both of you. Get your family involved. Stand in one spot draped all over each other (much to the discomfort of the guests) Just be normal like everyone else. All of this can be you or not. Most important is that you are completely on board and happy with it.
Dont let it drag on.
My first dance became uncomfortable because it went over that 5 minute barrier of shame. I just invented that name. We weren’t the first couple who picked a song they loved but didnt tell the band or DJ to invite the bridal party or slowly turn it down and off! Unless its got variety 5 minutes gets to the uncomfortable stage especially if its slow or repetitive.
A slow dance or fast and furious?
Again this falls on who you are as a couple. For me its one of those moments of the day and there will be time for rocking it out after. However if you are gifted with some real moves then get on it and ramp up the beat.
Daddy/daughter dance.
I have spoken about this with some of my friends about it potentially being the worst moment of my life - dancing that last time with my daughter before she is away to be with someone else and start her family. I guess if you have had a a great relationship with your dad then it might be another moment to celebrate. I have loved hearing some of the songs chosen for this.
Skipping that first dance.
This is the one that doesnt sit right. You have this whole day about you both and then decide to remove a focal point in the day. It has happened a few times and it has been a little confusing for the guests.. While its not about them, the evening and the dance floor needs that first dance,if only for a few brief moments.
The Music.
Wish I had a list of every first dance I have heard. From the beautiful to the megamix….. here are a few selections from the traditional to current trends
Recent Favourites A little bit of Class
Kodaline - The One 1. Joe Cocker - You are So Beautiful
Ellie Goulding - Your Song 2. Etta James - At Last
Ed Sheeran - Photograph 3. Des’ree I’m Kissing you
Ed Sheeran - Perfect 4. Josh Groban - When you say you love me
John Legend - All of Me 5. Glen Hansard - Falling Slowly
Double Fromage Rock Ballad City
Lonestar - Amazed 1. Bryan Adams - Heaven
1000 Years - Christina Perri 2. That Aerosmith song from the film about the meteor (i know
Anything by Ed and Bon Jovi it I just dont want to say it!)
The megamix if it goes wrong 3. Foo FIghters - Everlong
Make you feel my love - Adele 4. Bon Jovi - Always
5. Bryan Adams - Everything I do
I have my preferences. They are all quite simple songs. My first dance turned out to be the ‘This song is a little too long’ dance. We loved the song by a local artist, Iain Archer - Working up a storm. He released two albums with a small reach (and he doesnt even list them on his back catalogue. This is on the 2nd (in case you try to find it ). 3 minutes in and I was all for giving it a miss.
Van Morrison medley - Crazy Love/ Tupelo Honey / Have I told you lately.
Foy Vance - Guiding Light
Peter Gabriel - the book of Love
Coldplay - Everglow
Jason Mraz - I’m yours
How to ease through your Wedding Day (have your best day!)
Just engaged recently? Its that time of the year when ever photographer and other wedding supplier is chasing your business. So how to make a decent plan and get on with it? Yeah! You’ve landed in the right place. Firstly enjoy this time (especially after it has just happened). The well wishers, engagement presents and the beginning of the planning. Eek!
Some of the best weddings are a natural fit for the bride and groom. Its planned around who they are.
Its important to understand that most weddings pass without much bother, just the smallest inconveniences. Having been to over 600 weddings I have seen quite a lot! Very few of those were as a guest maybe only 10 or so. Its more interesting going to a wedding after you’ve seen behind the scenes. I have seen some unexpected behaviour and experienced them as a supplier too. So i’m hoping this read is a help in making the day better because you are better informed!
When you work in the Wedding Industry sometimes its good to be reminded that most of the couples planning their wedding are doing it for the first time. They can read magazines or other articles from photographers and florists and planners but sometimes it doesn’t get down to the nitty gritty details which is what you were looking for. If you are not a 24 spreadsheet kind of person for an event the points below may help just a little! I will work on more detailed information and set the points out in their individual blogs later.
Everyone wants that perfect Wedding Day, where every little detail goes the way it should. However, for some, the first sign of something not being right can turn it from the dream day to a stressful day. The sheer joy of this very special occasion is undermined by being anxious and worried . Once the day has arrived there is very little can be changed, everything is already in motion.
Before anything else - even the planning begins - and before we get to helping through the wedding day, think about these things.
Firstly people or things? This is a massive question for you. Having more guests and a great meal or filling your venue with bits and pieces you saw at that wedding fayre two years previously? For some it will be a visually stunning day with different ways for the guests to be entertained? Remember, you might not see some of these things if you are trying to get round people to say hello! Is it a waste if you are not involved? I have seen birds of prey in a garden and it was pretty cool but does that mean that you will miss a few other things? There is a balance. However most of the weddings I have been to as a guest were brilliant because of people not things.
Secondly make sure the people around you and the suppliers are on your team!
Thirdly do what you want to do, not what is expected or what you have been told! Don’t be pressured into something that is not you or that you feel is expected. Make a checklist and separate it into the things that have to be done, the things you want and the things you ‘might’ like. Price things like where the ceremony and venue will take place because everything else can be worked around! Dress, Makeup, Hair, Flowers, Suits, Rings, Cars, Ceremony, Reception, Photographer (and sometimes videographer/cinematographer), Main Meal, Evening entertainment, Supper. There may be many more things you want or like but will stretch that budget? Must you have it?
Be sure that you have the wedding your way!
These are 5 areas below that I believe can make or break a great day. Just a short thought on each below which I will expand further another day.
Timings
Photography
Guests
Planners, guides and venues
Communication and Expectation
1. Timings. One of the things that gets away from couples is time on their wedding day. An extra 10 minutes for one thing or something happens that is completely unexpected and it can throw out the whole day. Sometimes the family photos can take longer than expected. Each little piece of the day needs to be estimated in order to have things running reasonably smoothly and that you complete the necessary tasks! One thing that almost every couple will say is ‘ I cant believe how quickly the day went by’.
2. Photography. And the photographer. Its good to have a discussion earlier in the decision making process with the photographer about the day as a whole and your expectations for photographs. Some couples will want to spend alot of time on the photos especially their own portraits subject to location and weather. Other couples will want minimum portraiture and a more casual approach. I try to work quickly in little intervals so that all couples can spend a little time with friends. I will always approach the couple when I see a nice patch of light or something outside that might be interesting. Its also important for a photographer to realise when its time to stop!!
3. Guests. They can make or break a wedding. Close relatives who think they should be bang in the middle of proceedings! Distant relatives who want to conduct their own photo shoot in the middle of the afternoon. Those who make it difficult for suppliers to actually get their job done and last but not least the partner of some random work colleague who is already drunk not long after arrival at the reception (I have seen a bridal party member fall off a chair on to his face with his bum in the air and drool coming out his mouth -and it wasnt even that late!) The other side of this is that some guests friends and family will help make the evening a lot more fun! The dancefloor may hot up, just as long as that drunk guy doesnt start stripping off!
Make sure the ceremony and reception venues are suitable for what you need.
4. Planners, event guides and venues. I write this and the absolute majority of people I have worked with are amazing. I love to see them excel at their jobs because I can learn from that!
How well will you ever know the guys helping you through you wedding day? From every supplier to those walking you through the reception and attending your every need. Thats what the best of us should do. We are suppliers in a service industry. That for me means trying to facilitate the couples requests on the actual day. Nothing should be too much hassle. However not everyone works that way. I have had event managers get really cross with me, when actually I clawed back some time before the meal (the couple were really late). I havent met too many planners but one or two that I have, have been nasty to other suppliers on the actual day. Finally venues should be delivering a 5 star event and service. I have been shocked at some of the big hotels , quick to charge extra for every slight change and then not deliver the level of service expected. From poor organisation to poor staff to poor facilities. My biggest surprise is a lack of good sound equipment for speeches!
5. Communication and Expectation. With regards to communication this is absolutely a two way flow. However it starts with the couples expectations for each supplier, their part in the day and how that may affect other suppliers. It limits confusion. I have turned up to a reception entirely in line with my own timeline only for a venue to say the couple where expected an hour earlier. I mentioned before that a car driver needed to get the couple dropped off quickly to the reception because he had to be at another appointment! This derails the day if no one knows about it until the day or even in the moment just before it happens. A church service where there is no natural light and has been lit with candles may result in lights or flashes being used by the photographer and videographer - which in a darkened environment will not meet the expected ambience. 137 different family photos may not be possible on any full day of photography never mind the 1 hour you get! Yes the venue is cool but you knew if it rained it was not going to be an acceptable location for family or portrait photos.
As is a frequent complaint in our house - it all boils down to communication, communication communication!
Close friends sometimes in an intimate setting has worked well in the past year.
So consider these things, include them or ignore them, whatever you can cope with. Just make sure it doesnt spoil your day.
Living deeper in the moment
See the light. Sense the Awe. Chase the Wonder.
I never know where to post family or personal pictures. Some photographers just share everything under their photography pages. Maybe that helps people connect with them.
And they also share regularly. I have lots of photos. Literally thousands. And most of them only get seen by me. Some days I'm happy looking at those moments. They are just for me.
The words above were created by in a manifesto by David DuChemin. You should see his work and follow it and like it. Its pretty amazing.
The manifesto inspired my work, my business name but more importantly, it lit something within. Everything about the manifesto had a sense of depth, correctness and came along just when i thought about doing something else. Every reading of it is just like the first time. Yes! That is exactly what I want from photography.
To see the light you need to look for it. To sense the awe it helps to anticipate it, to chase the wonder you need to run after it.
We made it as a family to Galway last week. Before we go I ask them what they want to do when they get there. Check out a few things. No one really does. So we head off on a magical mystery tour. It should be noted that my family have a slightly longer attention span than a goldfish. Just. So we often travel far. Spend about 30 minutes somewhere and then they wait in the car for me.
This is a very long winded way of sharing one of the moments I had while out there. Seeing that light, sensing that awe and chasing that wonder leads you to (as the manifesto says) recognising the moments that you in and living deeper for being present in them.
We (I) decided I wanted to see a sunset as far west as we could go, but not too far from where we were staying. That point (according to the map was Lettermullan, Galway, Ireland. There are other points along the Wild Atlantic Way that are probably stretching that little bit further but I had committed to this. I was also fascinated by what seemed to be a series of islands connected together to get to this point.
It was an adventure. With long bridges/roads interconnecting. It was also more populated than I had expected.
However the road ended and we were left with a track. Literally two ruts and some grass growing up the middle. But I believed in the Google map showing me it ended up ahead. And after what seemed like travelling through a few peoples driveways we arrived. Well we certainly couldnt go any further.
It was not quite as I expected. It had little bits of islands all over. And even more surprisingly someone else was there! A little campervan with an older couple chasing the same thing.
We moved around trying to find that right spot. To see the sun set on the water and in between all those little bits of island. It seemed the older couple had been here before. They knew exactly where to sit.
We got there with about 20 mins to spare. All finding our spots, we watched the sun go down.
Being there in that moment was special. That however was not the only moment.
The couple, not too far away, pointed out a Connemara Pony, across on a different island, standing on a raised section of land, also watching the sun go down. In that moment, the knowledge of that horse being there to watch the sun go down seemed bizarre and magical and special all at the same time.
My thoughts started running away - how did the horse know to be there at that time? Did it come there regularly to do this? Where we witnessing a one off event?
It stood there, then as then sun disappeared, it turned paused for a moment and then disappeared.
I only caught it with the camera once, as it moved off. A distanced shot, which i have zoomed in on to give some perspective. Its amazing what a camera can see when you cant.
And so, in one place, in the quiet, you connect with everything around you and live deeper, pondering about life, love, connection and a Creator God.
Photo Session - Kinbane Castle
A photo session on the North Coast at Kinbane Castle.
Following a recent local wedding photography workshop called BURN I was really keen to get out and put into practise what I had taken on board.
One of the guys who was on the workshop had flown in all the way from Hawaii. He was wanting a shoot and BURN’s main man made it happen. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the shoot which we arranged for Kinbane Castle.
Engagement Photo Sessions (Pre Wedding Sessions)
Engagement shoots and why they can be important.
I often wonder how much people value the connection with their wedding photographer. In Northern Ireland, wedding photography comes in all its forms from the very traditional photographer to the most creative. Styles evolve continuously - remember the spot of colour in a black and white photo? Remember getting the bridal party to jump together. Documentary, creative, fine art. Descriptions can be confusing. Documentary forms the basis for most wedding photography now. Mostly there are family photos and bride and groom portrait sessions. There are details shot, close ups and as I call them the ‘Where’s Wally’ bride and groom shots where they are so small you have to find the in the photo.
Most photographers will get on with all of this. However the only want to show the best photos of the day. That usually ends up with the portrait sessions.
So what separates one wedding photographer from another?
Not too much. It boils down to the photographer and the couple. The photographer can make the day the best. Or very difficult. It depends on the connection with the couple. A great connection will lead to getting more than the couple expected. A poor connection may actually end up being a mis match.
One way to get to know your photographer is an engagement session, or sometimes if just before the wedding, called a pre wedding session. It lets you know what your photographer is like and what you can expect on the day. Some include this as part of the booking, some charge for it. I think its important.
One thing is for sure, you should be comfortable with your photographer. They are there to make the day flow. Where possible meet up. If thats difficult then Skype.
Making your life less ordinary.
The beauty of spending time with family.
Sometimes, to make the time and space they have more memorable for my children, I think back to when I was a child and what I remember about growing up. The moments that still stick with me.
As a child I remember travelling extensively around Northern Ireland. I am familiar with almost every road along the stretch from Ballycastle to Castlerock. There are very few places we didn't get to. Except for the North West, around stroke city. For some reason we never went there.
We walked, fished, explored. And it created memories, stored for nostalgia.
I want my kids to remember times they travelled somewhere. To have a sense of the air, remember the warmth of the sun on their skin. Something stored in their hearts. My kids are a little more fortunate. They get around a lot. Verona, Barcelona, London (regularly) I want them to have a fondness for those travel memories.
What I hadn't counted on was these becoming special to me. Obviously as the photographer in the family, there is a responsibility to take photos. Its also a tricky balance seeing a moment and being a part of it.
My wall of photos in the house is testament to some of those moments.
However these special times occur sometimes at what seems like the most insignificant moments.
This year we travelled back to Galway for our holidays. Then headed for Wicklow were we found this most amazing little guest house. It was literally in the middle of nowhere. It was a beautiful week in July, warm and up until this point dry. The place wasn't near anywhere, you had to drive. So we asked the guest house owner what there was to do and he told us it was about a 10 min walk to a small shop and beside it was the pub.
One of those country miles. So we went.
You cant plan what sticks with you. I can guarantee that for half our family there was nothing special about this walk. But it was a little daddy daughter time, spent on a warm summer evening, having a gentle stroll to the shop (which was closed) and then to the bar. Two of us stayed and two left back down the road. We had a little drink with the locals and then dandered back while the sun set.
We ambled and chatted.
Maybe I am overly nostalgic. Maybe it was the warm air and beautiful scenery. Something stuck and lingered. I managed to get a few photos. Of course my daughter loves posing. The photos and the evening have resulted in something that will always remain for me.
Staying in will not make memories. Most of my memories , the special ones, come from walks or just heading out somewhere.
Its an ordinary thing resulting in something extraordinary. Not every time.
However in an island as beautiful as this I’ll take my chances and make it less ordinary.
