This afternoon on the wedding blog we are introducing you to one of our talented industry buddies, the beautiful and brilliant Ms Lissa Alexandra. Lissa will shoot your day with a smile in her own,
stunning & unique
style.Better yet, she’s offering new Brides Up North reader clients £100 off all wedding albums when referencing the code ‘BUNFEB16’.
Let’s say hello.
How did you get into wedding photography?
I’d shot photography for years as a hobby, mainly landscapes & animals. You could say I’m mostly self taught but then wanting to fine tune my skills I decided to take some evening classes. I ended up doing 6 years of them; from black & white film processing to advanced photoshop. I was never really interested in capturing people but then a friend asked me to shoot their wedding and that day changed my life. This will sound really cheesy but I fell in love! After years in the printing industry reproducing artworks for other artist’s and photographers I found a way of creating my own art that I knew the clients would love. My first client’s reactions to the photos and how it made me feel was magical. My life overnight took a complete change of direction and I’ve never looked back, I owe that couple so much, I’m very grateful.
Why wedding photography specifically?
Variety! There’s nothing like the thrill of a wedding day, you never know what’s going to happen, it’s so exciting! Plus, I find the whole experience a huge honour to be part of a couple’s most precious day. Weddings nowadays are so varied, the levels of style and creativity you see is just stunning, I’m a real sucker for details! They’re emotional, creative, fun and romantic, who wouldn’t want to shoot weddings?
What is your favourite thing about being a wedding photographer?
There’s no way I could pin point one thing, it’s too difficult! There’s the bond you form with your clients, the privilege of being the one who’s asked to capture their big day. The variety in types of photography from detail shots to freeze framing funny moments to timeless romantic images, I just love it all!
How do you get couples to relax on the day?
All my clients have been photographed by me prior to the wedding during their engagement shoot. I deliberately do these so they know exactly what to expect from me and to feel more relaxed as we’ve already formed what I like to think is a friendship. Come the big day they know the score and pretty much don’t even notice me photographing them.
Any advice to any brides who don’t like to have their picture taken?
When we first meet, I’d say 90% of my clients tell me that they dislike having their photograph taken. My advice would be to really get to know your photographer so they feel like a friend, that way you’ll already have a head start. I do this with my clients by having an engagement shoot, I can’t stress enough the positive feedback I get after the shoot. Of course, it’s always a bit awkward to start with, but as soon as we’ve got talking, had a laugh, been given a bit of gentle direction and a few handy tips, by the end, I promise, it’s just pure fun. A main advantage to this is the TRUST you gain from the couple. Once they’ve seen those photos, when it comes to the wedding day all their fears are gone and I’ve got a photo happy bride & groom.
Ultimately though it’s not the couple’s job to try and feel relaxed, a good photographer will automatically put you at ease without you even realising.
What sort of makeup should a bride wear to look great in her pictures?
I love makeup but I wouldn’t profess to being an expert in it, so my recommendation would be to find a good makeup artist and follow their advice. One tip I do have is if you choose a photographer who uses a lot of flash lighting then I would recommend staying away from foundations/ primers with a sunscreen in, these contain reflective elements and will make your complexion look shiny in the photographs, but seriously ladies get a professional makeup artist, I think they’re worth their weight in gold!
Anything to avoid which might look bad in the wedding pictures?
Coming from the style of natural looking photography I have to say I really dislike a forced pout! Give me a big beaming natural smile any day! Over working a pose can also look just as awkward. I really think just forget about the photos and enjoy the day. It’s up to your photographer to capture you at your best.
Oh, I almost forgot, I get asked a lot about fake tan, this is such a tricky beast to tame. If you want one practise, practise and practise. Just remember any artificial colour against a white dress adds contrast and this will emphasise the tone even more.
Which celebrity wedding would you most like to photograph and why?
Gosh, I’m not sure. Probably an artist or singer’s wedding, someone very creative. Kate Moss’s wedding photos were pretty epic and I loved her styling, that would have been a nice gig to get!
Any really memorable weddings that you have captured?
I’ve covered quite a variety of stylish weddings, I think one of the most lavish was where the bride flew in the florist from Carrie Bradshaw’s wedding in the ‘Sex And The City’ film from New York! My favourite style of wedding is an outdoor woodland setting. I’m a country girl at heart and without sounding all hippy there’s something about being in the elements surrounded by nature and wildlife, it’s very me! I love all types of wedding but an outdoor ceremony adds an extra beat in my heart.
It’s going to sound sickening but I really do find every wedding moving. I’ve listened to many an emotional story during the speeches of how couples have met, faced adversity and even overcome life threatening illnesses, it’s a very humbling experience.
Any funny stories to share?
On the whole all of the weddings I’ve shot have pretty much gone to plan. One funny moment I remember is when half the wedding cake went mysteriously missing. It turned out the family dog had got his chops around it in the morning and the family had spent the day desperately trying to hide it from the bride till cutting time, she took it extremely well!
What sets you apart from other wedding photographers?
What makes all of us photographers different is our creative vision, personalities and technical ability. Anyone can hold a camera and take a shot. My creative vision gives me the ability to spot a special moment or create a stunning portrait. My easy going personality means I get on well with people, my clients often tell me that I put them at ease and blend in very well with their wedding guests on the big day. My images have a unique appearance, which makes them instantly recognisable. I like softness in the images and therefore I created my own post production filter that gently mutes the contrasts and pastelizes the colours.
I feel all these elements and more set me apart from other photographers. Please don’t take my word for it though, just read the testimonials on my website and see the thank you cards on my Facebook page, they’ll tell you more than I’d ever dare too.
What can a couple who book you expect on the day?
A friend who’ll be there, put you at ease, capture the story of your day and have a giggle along the way.
What is included in your “package”?
– An engagement shoot (this is basically a mini rehearsal shoot before the wedding, clients receive 50+ digital images).
– Wedding day coverage includes all day shooting from morning prep to after the first dance.
– On average clients get around 600+ individually edited photos in a presentation USB or DVD.
– Complete duplicate set of images; one in my unique pastel filter and one in their original colour.
– A private online gallery for clients to share.
– Optional ‘sneak peek’s straight after both shoots to be shared on social media.
Can you give us an idea on price?
On average £1600 however this varies on wedding date and location.
Can you do a discount for Brides Up North readers?
Definitely! Here’s £100 off all wedding albums to any new clients who book their wedding referencing the code ‘BUNFEB16’.
How can Brides Up North get in touch with you or see more examples of your work?
Have a nosey at my website (soon to be updated) www.lissaalexandraphotography.com or for all my latest news & work ‘Like’ my Facebook page ‘Lissa Alexandra Photography‘.
