“John is fantastic at what he does! From the moment of arriving at our wedding venue he was totally chilled out and relaxed which is exactly what I needed during the morning of my wedding”
You want lovely photographs, but you also want to spend your wedding with the people you’ve invited. That’s how I approach it: plenty of time to enjoy yourselves, a bit of help when you need it, and photographs of the things you were too busy to notice.
I photograph weddings in Glasgow and across Scotland, from small gatherings to full days with a busy dance floor. You don’t need to know how to pose or have every detail worked out before we speak.
Before the wedding
Start by sending me your date, venue and a little about your plans. We can talk through the coverage that suits you, and you’re welcome to see complete wedding galleries before deciding. It helps to see a whole day, not just a handful of favourites.
Around four weeks before the wedding, I’ll send you a questionnaire and we’ll arrange a catch-up. We’ll go through the timings, the family photographs you’d like and anything else that matters to you. This is a good time to work out how photography fits around your plans.
Jump to: Morning prep · Ceremony · Family photos · Portraits · Speeches · Evening · Your photographs
The guide below describes full-day coverage. Smaller weddings and elopements have a different pace, and we’ll talk through what works for yours.
Morning preparations
For full-day coverage, I usually arrive around two hours before the ceremony. There’s time to photograph the getting ready, the details you’ve chosen and whoever’s there keeping you company.
I like having that time to get to know everyone a little. You can carry on with your morning while I photograph what’s happening, whether that’s a quiet few minutes or a room full of people trying to get ready at once.
If you’re getting ready in separate places, we’ll discuss the locations beforehand and work out what’s practical to cover. If you’d like a first look with a parent or someone close to you, let me know so we can leave a little time for it.
The ceremony
This is the part where you can forget about photographs and concentrate on getting married. I’ll work discreetly, within any rules your venue or celebrant has, and keep an eye on your guests as well as the two of you.
There’s often a lot happening beyond where you’re standing. Those reactions are lovely to have alongside the photographs of your vows and the walk back down the aisle.
Congratulations and family photographs
After the ceremony, I like to give you time for the hugs and congratulations before gathering everyone for group photographs. There’s no need to rush straight past your guests.
A short list agreed beforehand helps keep the groups organised. Think about the combinations that really matter to you; I generally suggest around ten or fewer. I’ll help bring everyone together, then you can get back to the celebrations.
A little time for the two of you
We’ll usually take around 20 minutes for portraits, depending on the plans and the light. We can go for a short walk and use a few spots nearby, without taking you away from your guests for ages.
If being photographed feels awkward, you’re not alone. I’ll give you a bit of direction so you’re not left wondering what to do. You don’t need to perform for the camera.
The timings are a guide, not a strict schedule. If it rains or things run later than expected, we can adjust when and where we take the portraits rather than force everything into the original plan.
“John was a dream to work with to photograph our wedding. From the start he was quick to reply which put us at ease. On the day he was full of ideas for our venue and the photographs came out even more beautiful that we could have hoped for”
Speeches and dinner
Speeches are one of my favourite parts to photograph. I’m watching the people speaking, but also the laughter and reactions around the tables. You can’t see everyone while you’re listening, so these are often lovely photographs to look back on.
Having speeches before dinner can help anyone speaking relax and enjoy their meal afterwards, but it’s your choice. We’ll go through your plans beforehand.
Evening light and the dance floor
If the light is looking good after dinner, we might nip outside for another five or ten minutes. Some of my favourite portraits come from this part of the day. There’s no need to promise a sunset; we’ll see what the weather gives us.
Then it’s back inside for the evening celebrations. I stay beyond the first dance for some of the party too, when everyone’s getting involved and the dance floor starts to fill.
After the wedding: your photographs
You’ll receive your photographs in a private online gallery, ready to download and share with family and friends. You can look through them together, revisit your favourite parts and catch up on the moments you missed.
For details about previews, gallery delivery and albums, have a read of my wedding photography FAQs.
If you’d like to hear what having me there was like for other couples, you can read their reviews. You can also browse complete wedding stories to see how the photographs fit together.
Tell me what you’ve got planned
Send me your date, where you’re getting married and a little about the two of you. You don’t need to have all the answers yet. I’d love to hear from you.