In Conversation with a Wedding Photographer

Weddings are one of the happiest days of your life. A day when you declare your love to the one you love, infant of the people you love. Usually at these occasions there is someone in the background, someone present at some of the most important parts of the day- from the bride getting ready until the sun is setting and the wedding party starts dispersing- the photographer. Creating beautiful images for you to remember your day with. We have managed to get a little inside information on what it is like to be professional wedding photographer, by talking to the lovely Kathy at Katherine Ashdown Photography :

Firstly, what made you want to become a wedding photographer?

I have always adored photographs. My Dad was a keen photographer and I remember really exciting evenings where he would dim the lights and show the family old photos through the slide projector. I lost both my parents in my teens and early 20’s and actually this is what spurred on my love of photography. Capturing memories for people that would only become more precious in time is just so important. Looking back I treasure every single image I own of my parents and I know my couples will go on to treasure their images for many years.

What is a typical day for you, if there is one?

A typical day if I am not shooting a wedding tends to be in my office. I love my sleep so I get up around 8am and try to be in the office 9-10am. Then its answering emails and getting on with sneak peeks from recent shoots and wedding editing! I may have a shoot in the afternoon or meeting in the evening with a new bride and groom. I love owning my own business and making my own hours so try to sneak off for lunch with friends every so often too!

What is your favourite thing about being a wedding photographer?

It sounds cheesy but my favourite thing is when I capture an image that just speaks to me. Its usually a shot full of emotion, a look between a bride and groom, Dad’s tears seeing his little girl in her dress or a confetti shot full of joy. Shots that show how it ‘felt’ to be there are what I love the most… and being able to work from home with my cat Mally sleeping beside me!

What is the hardest thing about being a wedding photographer, I am assuming you have to work a lot of weekends?

It is the long hours, working weekends and the pressure! Wedding days are very busy and I want to get the very best for my couples so I always do everything I can to go above and beyond before the day, on the day and afterwards. It tends to therefore be a pressure I put on myself but I do seem to thrive on it on a wedding day! It is though the best job in the world and I love it so it all balances out!

Do you have any particular moments that really stick with you from a particular wedding?

To be honest I have moments from every wedding that stick with me so I couldn’t pick just one! I often love the speeches as there are tears, laughter, embarrassment and I get to hear all sorts of stories about my couples!

How much time do you spend on average with the couples

If I meet the couple before the wedding 1-2 hours, engagement shoot 1-2 hours, wedding day often 12 hours and then album meetings after the wedding 1-2 hours so all in all 15-18 hours. That doesn’t include all the time emailing and editing the shoots/weddings which is far, far more!

You don’t just cover weddings what other occasions do you photograph?

I capture family shoots which I love, engagement shoots and Secret Unveil (boudoir) shoots with are a real passion of mine.

What/ who do you photograph in your spare time, or does the camera get put away when you aren’t working?

I tend not to take my camera out and about when I’m not working. If I have it with me I am always looking for the next shot and tend not to be in the ‘moment’ so if we are on holiday I will perhaps take it out 1-2 days but generally it stays in the hotel room! It is lovely though to be able to capture friends and family, I recently shot my Great Nephews christening and some family photos for one of my closest friends who has 2 young children which is so special.

I am now taking bookings for 2018 and beyond. I mainly cover east Anglia but am always happy to travel for special weddings!

Kathy’s passion for photographing these happy occasions is evident in how she talks and the photographs she produces. All the beautiful photographs in this blog are hers- I love the emotion each of them evokes, the happiness of the people. Having recently been to a Katherine Ashdown photographed wedding I can truly recommend her as a wonderful wedding photographer. Her information is all below- but I would book quickly, she is booking up fast!

Website and blog links:
www.katherineashdown.co.uk
www.katherineashdown.co.uk/blog/
FB – Katherine Ashdown Photography
Twitter – Kathy_ashdown
Instagram Kathyashdown