Get to Know Me

Yes I have full professional indemnity and public liability insurance.

Yes. I know some photographers for various reasons don’t shoot winter weddings or during certain months of the year. I find the light during winter months has its own attraction that stimulates creativity when shooting a winter wedding in a different way to a summer wedding. So I love the flexibility and the challenge to shoot all year round.

Sure, no problem! Just let me know by emailing me at clive@cliveblair.co.uk and I’ll be happy to show you.

I will be. Over the years experience has taught me that people like to have one point of contact before, during and after their wedding. So when you meet and book me, I will be your photographer and sole point of contact for your wedding.

I break it all down for you in my portfolio.

Here’s a summary:
I usually start off with attending the morning preparations, usually for the bride. I’m simply documenting what goes in without too much interference from myself. I always say “Just ignore me. I’m not here really” That way I get people to quickly relax as they won’t feel the need to always be posing for a photo. If the bride and groom are getting ready at the same venue, I like to visit both rooms to get some of the grooms pre-wedding preparation too.

I always plan for about 2 hours preparation photography before leaving for the ceremony. Once at the ceremony, after a quick photo of the groom and perhaps best man and ushers, I’ll be moving around to photograph guests arriving, ushers doing their job, the groom looking nervous. Whatever happens, I aim to document it. The same goes for when the bride arrives and during the ceremony. After the ceremony, I prefer the couple to again ignore me and go and say hello to their guests. Here again story telling images are made, as guests greet the newly married couple.

If required, group photos are then covered, followed by a quick informal photo session, or “walk-about” as I like to call it, for the bride and groom. Again the emphasis isn’t on camera-aware photos – looking at the camera and smiling. It’s an opportunity for the couple to walk in a field or nice area near by, and simply talk to each other about how each other is enjoying the day so far, while I discreetly capture those precious moments of them together.

Before everyone has sat down for the wedding breakfast, I’ll take a few detail shots of the room layout. I don’t take photos during the meal as no one like to have their photo taken with a mouth full of food, so it’s at this point that I’ll down tools, catch something to eat and wait for the speeches and first dance.

Time and weather permitting I may get the bride and groom outside for one last brief photo session before I leave.

I don’t work with an assistant, as I generally work alone. During the day I’ll be blending into the background, and I find being a solo worker makes it easier to work that way. That way I can move here, there and everywhere without being concerned where’s my assistant, or how to avoid them being seen in the background of my images. Plus, you’ll be less aware of my presence if there’s only 1 person instead of 2.

I know how you feel, as I feel the same. I hate posing. I feel awkward and can’t wait till it’s over. So I’m totally on your side.
How I work to minimise that feeling is to concentrate on natural, un-posed photos that better capture your natural smile and personality.
Especially during the couples session, I never concentrate on getting posey-looking-at-the-camera-with-a cheesy-smile type of photos. Instead I look for natural, moment-led photos. It’s more about you two being together while I take camera-un-aware photos to tell a story.

I don’t insist on you feeding me, as you have enough to worry about with feeding your guests. But if you still wish to provide a meal, then something in a nearby room/area so I’m not too far away from the wedding breakfast area in case something unexpected happens, would be gratefully accepted.

You choose how long you’d like me there. Most have me for the whole day from the morning preparations until the first dance and after, but I also offer half day options either from the morning till the wedding breakfast or from the ceremony until the speeches.
In fact you can tailor-make your own coverage if one of my set packages doesn’t suit you.

Within 3 weeks your images are posted online in your gallery to view along with a link to download the high resolution versions. If included in your package, you’ll also get your wedding slideshow highlights.
Then shortly after that, if you’ve ordered a USB containing all the high resolution files of the photos in your gallery, it will be posted to you.
You’ll get a few weeks to choose your favourites for your album. Once your choice has been returned, an online link to view the draft layout of your album will be sent within 2 weeks, so you can fully approve the whole album, or if you wish make some amendments. If there are any amendments, another draft layout with your changes will be again be sent. This will be done until you fully approve the whole album.
Once I receive full approval, your album will be sent off to be made and will take about 6 weeks to complete and be returned to you. If your order arrives during September – October it typically take up to 8 weeks to be returned, as this is peak season for album manufacturers.

If you mean “Are we allowed to print, copy and distribute our images?” Then the answer is “Yes, you sure do!”
Technically speaking “Copyright” refers to the legal ownership of the images. The law in the UK assigns that to the photographer. This allows me, with my clients full permission to display images on my website, in sample albums etc.

Yes I have a variety of wedding albums to choose from. Just ask for further details.
Once you’ve chosen an album there are two choices for making your album:
1) You choose the images for your wedding album which will then be designed by me. You get to preview and change the layout before it goes to print.
2) Allow me to choose the images for you. This choice gives you the best option as, not only will your wedding album be finished more quickly, I will choose the perfect balance of images to reflect your wedding day as presented in an album of your choice. You still have the option to preview the layout and make any changes you wish.

I don’t limit the number of photograph you receive. But on average I’m supplying over 500 images, and guarantee at least 450 for an all day wedding. If there are many things happening at your wedding then naturally it’ll all be faithfully recorded and supplied for you.

Yes. Your images are available to view in your secure, password-protected online gallery, which also allows orders from anywhere in the world.

Yes, every photo is edited inline with the style you’ll see on my website and social media. This involves adjustment to exposure where needed and colour adjustment to match my style. I don’t retouch body shapes, skin, hair, clothes or background features, as I want your images to look as authentic as possible.

Everything you get will be supplied in my trademark colour processing. That way you have the option to make your own black and white images.
When designing albums I often make a few black and white, but as you get to approve the album before it goes to print, if you want to change those images to colour, no problem!