I’ve gathered on this page all the information that I feel is important to convey to you a clear sense of
- my customer centred approach to wedding photography
- the openness and honesty of my approach to pricing
- the service ethic I apply to my practice
- the style and quality of photographic work that I produce
If you’d like to proceed to a no-obligation in-person consultation, or if you have any questions that have not been answered on this page, please do not hesitate to contact me (using the Contact or Email link in the menu at the top of this page).
Wedding photography by Phillip Allen
In all of my photographic work I am strongly drawn to telling stories, creating a broad picture of the meaning of an event and punctuating the narrative with the capture of key moments that speak of the whole.
This fascination with visual storytelling when combined with the privilege of witnessing a couple’s ultimate public expression of commitment to one another provides for a potent canvas to work on.
I derive significant satisfaction from capturing the key moments of wedding days and weaving a visual narrative that will act as a framework for a couple’s memories for many years to come.
My approach to wedding photography as a service
I hold dearly to a service based approach to wedding photography with the needs and comfort of you, my clients, in mind.
- Less stress, more fun! I start working for you from the moment you book me, establishing a detailed plan for photographic coverage of your big day and contacting venues and officiants to pave the way for the best possible photographic coverage. One less thing for you to be stressed about so you can get on with the fun (of working out all the other critical details! :~)
- At your service. I am in your employ for the day of your wedding and whilst we’ll have agreed in advance the duration and nature of photographic coverage, you’ll find that I’m neither a clock watcher nor am I inflexible. I’m there to secure you a visual record that provides you with as many deep and rich memories of your big day as possible and for that purpose I am completely at your service (even if this means you wanting me to jump into the water to get the shot, though please warn me in advance if you have this in mind so I can pack a spare suit ;~)
- Drawing it all together. Having put in a great deal of work to provide you with the best possible service and devoted considerable creative energy to producing the best possible visual record of your day I will continue to offer advice wherever needed, beyond the wedding day, to ensure you get the maximum benefit from your wedding photographs.
Pricing and what you might expect
The only time I watch the clock is when I’m getting ready to set off to document your day.
I start when you want me to start.
I finish when you’re ready for me to finish.
I will supply you with all of the edited images from your day, in print ready digital format, in high resolution.
For this I charge a total fee of £1950. A retainer of £650 guarantees your date. The balance is payable one month in advance.
Coverage by two photographers starts from £2450. Luxurious album packages, including the full day’s coverage, at around £2550 and upwards.
I am at your service as your photographer throughout your wedding day and we will collaborate closely in planning the visual documentation of that day but to provide you with some ideas with regards to what I might normally do, I would start with the bridal preparations (and those of the groom if preparations are to take place in close proximity) before proceeding to the marriage venue to record the build up to and the ceremony itself. Shortly after the ceremony we might take a small number of posed group shots to provide you with a clear, relaxed and high quality record of how your nearest and dearest looked when they came together to celebrate your union. I would then continue to document your wedding day as it proceeds through the various stages you have planned out, including the reception, the wedding breakfast, the speeches and all the other intrinsic aspects of that special day as they occur at their natural pace (there’ll be no mock cutting of the cake to allow me to get on my way). For a short period around sunset I’d hope to have some time with you for a small series of portraits when the day’s light is at its very best. I’ll then continue to document the celebrations as they continue into the night.
Service ethic
It is important to me that you love the photographic record of your wedding day but in tandem with that it is especially important that you feel you have been provided with the best service possible. To this end I am committed to abiding with the following customer service charter.
- I will be prompt and open in dealing with all of your enquiries.
- I will not seek to impose a vision of what wedding photography should be on you as my clients but will bring to bear the quality and style of my photographic work in serving your needs. I will listen and I will offer guidance wherever necessary.
- I will be in your employ as a professional with a view to minimising some of the stresses involved in building up to and realising your big day. Your enjoyment of the process and of the results form the backbone of my enjoyment of the job.
- I will be prompt, timely, efficient and friendly in the delivery of goods and services.
- I will be up-front on my pricing policies and will not hold back images to ensnare you in additional post-contract purchases.
I place a limit on the number of wedding photography commissions that I take each year in order to maintain a high level of focus on and commitment to exemplary customer service.
My style : Your style
The style or indeed styles of imagery produced by a photographer are of course critical to your long term enjoyment of the photographic record of your day so whilst the photographs I have on display will speak volumes, I shall also endeavour here to convey something of my style and of my on the ground approach.
- I tend predominantly though certainly not exclusively towards a reportage style of photography, constantly seeking out those key events and moments that register the pulse of a wedding day. I am fast acting and wherever appropriate, highly unobtrusive. This aspect of my style will provide you with a honest, deep and meaningful visual record of your wedding day as it unfolds without interfering with the natural progression of the day.
- Many modern couples eschew the perceived stiff starchiness of traditional posed wedding photography but in my experience, after the day has come and gone, they always highly value posed photographs; people love to see clearly who was there, together, to share in the joy of their day. I find there’s plenty of room to have a bit of fun with staged photography and I seek to make this aspect of coverage as speedy, efficient and enjoyable as you’d like it to be.
- Whilst I specialise in reportage I have no qualms whatsoever about interacting with guests where it is evident that this would be welcomed, especially with those that tend to be up for a bit of fun in front of a camera and would like to contribute more expressively to your visual record of how much they enjoyed celebrating with you on your big day.
Contact Dorset wedding photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248
