Fabulous Photographer: Emerson Photography

Posted on: 20/03/2011

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Are you having a good Sunday?  To get the evening off to a good start, Brides Up North talks to Featured Supplier and fabulous photographer Jamie Emerson of Emerson Photography about what makes him tick, and what makes him click!

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How did you get into wedding photography?

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Quite late on in life, I woke up one day and decided to ruin a perfectly good hobby by turning it into a business. Four years later, I left university armed with a slightly increased skill-set, a massively increased appreciation of art and a BA (Hons) in photography.

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Friends started asking me to shoot their weddings so I spent another year soaking up every wedding-related thing I could find. I carried photographers’ bags and made their coffee – in fact, sometimes I still do!

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Why wedding photography specifically?

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Good question! But who wouldn’t want to be a wedding photographer? I’m trusted to encapsulate one of the most memorable days in a couples’ lives. They’re surrounded by people who want the very best for them from the start of the day, until the magic of the first dance. It’s a happy job! I’ve always been fascinated by human rituals – especially the big ones; the celebrations, the rites of passage, so wedding photography feels like a very natural choice of career.

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What is your favourite thing about being a wedding photographer?

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The couple’s first sight of each other on their wedding day. That look only ever happens once and it’s magic. Pure gold.

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How do you get couples to relax on the day?

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Often, there’s no need. The bride, her mum and her bridesmaids are usually enjoying a glass or two of fizz and revelling in the occasion. Grooms tend to be wearing a stiff upper lip. They’re nervous but they pretend they’re not. Nerves are nature’s way of keeping us on our toes. I love the smell of adrenaline in the morning! .

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Any advice to any brides who don’t like to have their picture taken?

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Many of my brides-to-be bring this up. I understand: I hate being on the wrong side of the lens. It’s one of the reasons that I shoot in the way I do. It’s why you’ll barely see me on your wedding day, unless you’ve requested formals or we’re shooting some dramatic wedding day portraits.

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What sort of makeup should a bride wear to look great in her pictures?

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I may be a bloke, but it only took a few weddings to realise that brides who hire a good make-up artist are much more likely to look good all day. Try not to see it as being “fussed over” – you’ll be glad of it when the photos show you in your best light.

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Anything to avoid which might look bad in the wedding pictures?

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Ask for honest advice from the dress shop. Even if it means leaving your family and friends at home, and going for a sneaky solo visit. The ladies in most dress shops will have seen it all and will be able to advise based on years of experience. Try to choose non-reflective fabrics for your bridesmaids’ dresses. Most wedding photographers use a flashgun at some point and some fabrics reflect flash light in a very odd way. Grooms: if you can get away with not shaving on the actual morning of your wedding, then don’t. Murphy’s Law guarantees you a rash or a good few shaving cuts!

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Which celebrity wedding would you most like to photograph and why?

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I suppose it would be a huge honour to be asked to shoot the wedding of a famous wedding photographer!

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If you were photographer at the Royal Wedding, what advice would you have for the couple?

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I’d advise them to have a second wedding in Antigua, fly me out there, dress in jeans and tee-shirts and have an amazing time on the beach. I can’t imagine many things worse than being made to line up bazillions of stiff, formal shots for posterity.

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Any memorable weddings that you have captured?

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One which really stood out for me occurred last summer, in a field outside London. It was the marriage of an old school friend who has overcome some huge obstacles in her life, including serious illness. It was a two day festival wedding. So laid back, yet so emotional. The sense of support for the couple was palpable. The venue itself was a huge ex-circus big top and a surrounding tented city. At night, there were fireworks, a huge bonfire and the whole site was lit up by coloured spotlights. Unconventional, but beautiful.

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Are you married?  Tell us about your day…

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I am married to an incredibly helpful and supportive lady. We married in Aberdeen, at the Norwood House Hotel. One piece of advice I always offer to couples is to enjoy every second of the day because it’s over before you know what’s happening! A good friend told me this at the start of the day – I was mindful of every moment and have some fantastic memories of the day. Photography was taken care of by James Burns who has sadly now moved down to Bath, depriving the North East of a great talent!

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Any funny stories to share?

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Yes, but I’d probably get sued if I told them on a public blog!! I’ll tell anyone who’ll listen any number of humdingers in private conversation!

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What sets you apart from other wedding photographers?

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My Joie de Vivre! I love life, I love my job and it shows. Anyone can be enthusiastic but the true passion I feel for my work grows as I develop my skills – I’m utterly confident I’m in the right line of work. The years of study and technical know how mean I can just “get loose” on a wedding day and let the creativity take over, barely thinking about composition, camera settings or lighting set-ups.

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What can a couple who book you expect on the day?

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On the day? Hopefully they’ll forget I’m there for a large chunk of it! I blend a true documentary, fly-on-the-wall style with some really super-dramatically lit portraits. Couples really do get the best of both worlds. There are occasions where a bit of guest organising is required and I do know how to herd large numbers of people efficiently if needs be.

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What is included in your "package"?

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Most couples go for eight hours cover, a 30 sided album and a DVD of all the full size, edited and processed images. Each and every photo on the disc is given meticulous, individual attention so my processing time is a little longer than most – usually three weeks in high season.

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Can you give us an idea on price?

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The package above is £1180 but I’ll happily provide a whopping 10% discount if you mention Brides Up North at our first meeting.

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How can Brides Up North get in touch with you/ see more examples of your work?

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The website gives a good idea of the way I work. It’s www.emersonphotography.co.uk. I can be contacted by email; info@emersonphotography.co.uk. And also by phone; 07866 12 77 32 or (0191) 584 5442

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Anything else we should know?

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I do tend to end up with some off-the-wall weddings (I’ve a Hells’ Angels wedding booked this summer!). I’ve no idea why – perhaps because the slightly eccentric clients see a little of themselves in me! My ideal clients are a lot of fun – happy types with a sense of adventure.

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Emerson Photography is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier

Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier

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