I have been photographer for over 20 years.

I started out as a photographer’s assistant in London. I worked first with a food photographer using 10x8 and 5x4 plate studio cameras. Composition together with a mixture of tungsten and flash lighting painted the pictures that appeared in food magazines and advertising campaigns.

I then went freelance and joined the 'Association of Fashion, Advertising and Editorial Photographer’s’, and worked with a wide variety of photographer’s including Terence Donovan and Wayne Stambler. I also worked in John Swanell’s studios. I picked up a wealth of knowledge through Car, Advertising, Editorial, Food and Fashion photography, both on location and in the studio in this country and abroad.

I use a mixture of digital and film formats. Both have their own merits depending on the situation.

I am always looking for the ultimate image and really enjoy the adventure in its pursuit.

I always meet the couple well before their wedding day at the wedding/reception venues to go though photographic locations. I also take a number of Pre-wedding shots just as a bit of fun so that you can get used to me. It’s also good for lighting and technical photographic considerations. The couple does of course get to keep these images.

I think it’s a good idea to have a mixture of formal and informal photographs on your Wedding day.

I’ve sometimes found that couples, who ask for purely informal photographs, find that on the day, having some group shots taken seems appealing. So I think it is best to include a number of group shots either at the church and/or the reception. I tend if possible to take the largest group shot first so that there are no difficulties finding the odd guest in the bar!! Once they are taken the guests and couple can relax whilst I continue to respectfully photograph informally.

I am a purest. I don’t colour the image using filters on the camera. My use of software packages replicates what can be produced in the darkroom. I don’t manipulate the image too much and believe that the source is, all important.

What I mean by, source, is how the photograph was taken. The composition, lighting, exposure, the camera, even the feeling at the moment the shutter was pressed. All of these factors and many more make the picture taken at that moment in time unique.

Ben Harris
Photographer