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What with all this football clogging up my Sky Plus planner* and the lashing rain we have been having all week I am in the need for a good dose of prettiness to lift the spirits.
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Luckily Brides Up North Featured Supplier Jess Petrie Photography is one of the very best in that department (did you SEE this styled shoot? To die for!) so it’s over to Jess to flip the balance back to beautiful.
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Let’s meet her. And if I were you? I’d book her in a flash.
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How did you get into wedding photography?
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I first got into weddings whilst studying for my HND in photography back in 2000. A professional wedding photographer came to the college and asked me personally if I would like to assist him on his wedding jobs after seeing my work. This became pretty regular for the following five years during wedding season. I also got to shoot quite a lot of weddings of my own for family, friends & friends of friends during this period. Everything was shot on either medium format or 35mm film, as it was before the digital era. My HND & Degree in photography were all darkroom based and everything was shot on film. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 2004. Whilst at college I studied Art & Design and then Fashion & Design which has given me a good eye for detail and fabulous wedding dresses!
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Why wedding photography specifically?
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There is nothing better than photographing two people that are in love. The eclectic mix of emotions throughout the day, the changes of the day’s events, the people, the atmosphere, the dress, the details, it’s all so special and you cannot recreate any of it on any other type of shoot: it’s impossible.
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I believe strongly in evoking true emotions from people when photographing them (natural & un-posed), it is so important to me and at weddings I have the perfect setting to achieve this every time. The moments caught on camera at weddings are pieces of history caught in time, and the couples can pass these on for generations to come. It’s such an important time of anyone’s life and to be able to capture this for them and share their stories is a great honour.
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What is your favourite thing about being a wedding photographer?
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My favourite thing about being a wedding photographer is being able to witness all the emotions of the day, then later share them with the couple through my photography.
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I feel the most rewarding time is sharing the photographs with the couple after the wedding when they get to re-live their special day thorough the photos. Presenting them in an album is something quite special as a lot of couples who get married probably only have the photos on disc, which means they rarely see them again.
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With a well presented album it’s a special keep-sake that can come out at family get togethers, parties, or just when you please, and the whole day can be re-lived, even with those who weren’t there!
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I have also followed on many stories with the couple after their big day such as photographing the bride whilst pregnant with her baby-bump, photographing their new born baby, a family portrait… it is so incredibly special to be able to follow someone’s life, story-telling through my photography.
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How do you get couples to relax on the day?
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If possible I like to get couple to have a pre-wedding shoot before the big day itself. I find that pre-wedding shoots are a perfect opportunity to get used to my camera & the way I like to work, especially if the couple are camera shy. They are also lots of fun and can be shot in any location from the comforts of their own home, to a regular walking spot, to the wedding venue itself, a shopping mall, the beach, and abroad! The locations and preferences to the couple are endless.
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The pre-wedding shoot is a bit of a practice, without the restraints of what the wedding day can bring, and therefore I am able to spend time with couple encouraging them to be as natural as possible. With gentle guidance I coach them as to which angles are most flattering to the camera. I love to see their faces when the images are ready. This is where the confidence kicks in (because they know they look smokin’) and on the wedding day they are totally rocking it! Pre-wedding shoots are great to incorporate into wedding invitations and update your Facebook page with! Awesome!
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If the couple don’t have time for a pre-wedding shoot I make sure I spend a lot of time getting to know the couple by meeting up with them and chatting over the phone. I do have a genuinely relaxed nature and I’m pretty calm and laid back. I have been told that this has really helped people relax around me and I cannot stress how important it is to be an easy going wedding photographer, as the last thing a couple need on their big day is a stressy photographer causing chaos… and believe me this does happen!
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Any advice to any brides who don’t like to have their picture taken?
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Yes, be yourself. We all tend to stiffen up when a camera is pointing our way (even I do it), and when this happens our muscles tense up, our lips tighten up & our face transforms (to a look we dislike). Or we do the opposite and ‘over work’ it. Not a good look either. The best photographs are taken when we are caught unaware. This is our natural self: we are relaxed, smiling and calm. I often get my brides to talk about something that brings a smile to their faces, that gets them thinking about a particular memory, then I subtly snap away whilst laughing and talking with the bride. Before she knows it I caught the best photo of her she has ever seen. Part of my job is making people feel relaxed in front of my camera and whilst in my presence and I’ve been told I am a master at this!
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What sort of makeup should a bride wear to look great in her pictures?
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You would have to ask a make up artist that question as I rarely wear make-up myself. It’s probably nice to get a make up artist to do your wedding make-up if it is within your budget, if not I had a bride who did her own using MAC. She looked fab and had been to the MAC counter a few days before her big day. They talked her through some make-up tips and helped her choose the best colours and shades for her skin.
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Anything to avoid which might look bad in the wedding pictures?
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Bad lighting. I can’t think of anything worse than being in a dark room and having your picture taken. Yes I have flash and use it but you cannot beat the quality of natural light and how flattering it is on the skin as opposed to harsh, bright flash than can make your pictures look flat. I have been to dark venues before but they have always added additional lighting for the wedding party. If they don’t provide this I have heard of people hiring it. Soft romantic colours work the best, and can transform the feel and ambience of the whole room too!
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Any memorable weddings that you have captured?
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I would say all of the weddings that I have photographed have been moving, beautiful and stylish, and this is what I love so much about photographing weddings. Every wedding is different but all are beautiful and moving in their own way, and I think I must shed a little discreet tear at every speech!
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Congratulations on your own engagement!
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Thank you! We are planning on getting married in lucky 2013! I would like to be a bit of a boho bride and have tipi tents and belly dancers!
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What sets you apart from other wedding photographers?
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My style of photography most definitely. I have mastered my camera and have programmed it to work with me, when editing I do very little due to working with my camera in such depth. I take clean, light-filled images that are beautiful, romantic and timeless. I am super confident in my craft and I feel being a woman has great advantages with wedding photography as when I photograph a bride I know exactly how she wants to look in her pictures and how she is expecting to look. It is important and this part always gets my fullest attention.
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My relaxed and calm approach is definitely one to set me apart from the rest. You won’t find another like me!
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I am also one of the quickest wedding photographers when it comes to getting clients images finalized and wedding albums completed. I do not believe in making people wait for their photographs, I really dislike this.
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What can a couple who book you expect on the day?
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A super relaxed, friendly photographer who will help them with anything and everything on their day. Someone who will be unobtrusive to the day’s events, discreet, professional and know exactly what they are doing and what is coming next. I will capture everyone and everything as it happens naturally, and I always have a few unexpected surprises for the Bride & Groom on the day itself… they always go down a treat.
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What is included in your "package"?
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I have two collections. Both include wedding day coverage, an online private wedding gallery, a disc of high-res images, a slide-show, a few extra freebies from me to them as a gift (I’m a lover of giving gifts), and unlimited consultations, support & guidance. A wedding album is included in one collection, or can be added as an extra, along with a second shooter, photo-booth and other goodies.
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Can you give us an idea on price?
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My collections start from £1,300.
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Can you do a discount for Brides Up North readers?
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Sure! How does a £150 off any wedding collection sound? Pretty good deal right? Only for Brides Up North though! Please mention the wedding blog when booking.
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How can Brides Up North get in touch with you/ see more examples of your work?
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Lovely brides to-be can check out my portfolio here: www.jesspetrie.com, call me up on: 07581 209794, or email me at: jess@jesspetrie.com and we can arrange to meet up over coffee. I can bring my studio sample wedding albums, my brochures and other bits, and we can talk weddings the whole time.
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Anything else we should know?
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I also fly around the world shooting destination weddings so if you are thinking of getting married abroad, be rest assured you can still have me there, documenting your beautiful day! (I have special rates for destination weddings, please ask).
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*England game excepted, even I’ll be tuning in for that!
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2012 Jess Petrie Photography
Jess Petrie Photography is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier
Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier
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