Jennie & Andy's pre-wedding shoot

Last saturday I met up with Jennie and Andy in London for their pre-wedding shoot prior to their wedding early next year. As it was close to where they live, we explored the area around Shad Thames and Tower Bridge, which contains lots of examples of one of my favourite architectural features - railings!!! (not so many brick walls though, another favourite) Railings are one of my most used perspective devices - they draw your eye through the photo to the couple, providing a 3D quality to a 2D image. Here are some of my favourites from the day...

Remember, you don't actually have to be getting married to have a shoot like this - a portrait shoot with the two of you is a great way to get some lovely images of you both, and they make great presents when framed up! Contact me at info@davidburkephotography.co.uk for more information!

All photographs copyright David Burke Photography 2010

Nia and Andy's pre-wedding shoot

I recently met up with Nia and Andy, whos wedding I will be shooting in September back in good old Cardiff, my (and Nia's) home City!

We had a relaxed wander around by the Courts of Criminal Justice in London (after some initial confusion regarding the Old Bailey) and as the light started getting low I broke out the videolight. Here are a few favourites...

All photographs copyright David Burke Photography 2010

Why bother with a pre-wedding shoot?

A lot of people don't like the way they normally look in pictures - this is usually because they are being photographed by people with poor equipment, a lack of knowledge of how light affects the image and how to pose people to flatter their figures.

The phrase I hear most often when meeting people for the first time is "I hate having my photograph taken!" so being asked to have two sessions with a photographer sometimes seems like just more torture to them - they are nervous about being with someone they don't know or they are worried that they're going to be asked to do ridiculous poses in public!

When I meet clients for a pre-wedding shoot it's all very relaxed - we meet up either somewhere that's special to you, or somewhere I think makes great pictures and we walk and chat for an hour or two, stopping along the way to make some great images of the two of you.

Meeting with me for a pre-wedding shoot is a great idea, and here are a few reasons why:

It's a great way to allay any fears and for you to get in a bit of 'practice' before your big day - everyone agrees that within a few minutes any nerves have gone!

You get to see how a professional photographer gently directs you to make great images - people are very wary of 'posed' photos;  I only gently suggest improvements to body shape to show the human form in it's best light

You get to know me and we can build up a relationship before we work closely together on your day

After the session, I process the images within a day or two and they're loaded into your own private gallery. You can then see how great you both look, see the difference between colour, black and white, and any toned effects and tell me any likes or dislikes.

For new couples, you'll receive a free 12 x 8 inch print of your choice from your shoot. Other products are then available - small albums, prints (mounted prints are often used where guests can sign the mount on the wedding day) or a DVD of all the final images.

If you are nervous about being photographed, when would you rather experience those nerves and get your fears calmed - months prior to your wedding so that come the wedding day, you are looking forward to being photographed and getting creative, or on the morning itself when you have so much other stuff going on?

All images copyright David Burke Photography 2010

Emily and Dan's pre-wedding shoot

Here are a few shots from Emily and Dan's pre-wedding shoot, prior to their wedding in April 2011 at St John the Baptist, Penshurst and then the Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells.

We shot in and around the City, which is a fantastic venue with a great urban-look to it. Shooting on a Sunday ensures it's really quiet as well!

All images copyright David Burke Photography 2010

James and Sarah's pre-wedding shoot

Earlier this month I met up with James and Sarah one sunny morning for a stroll round Dunorlan park for their pre-wedding shoot, prior to their 12th Sept wedding at the Register Office in Tunbridge Wells and reception at The Brew House Hotel.








The Brew house is a very modern boutique hotel with some great funky areas so hopefully we'll get some great shots that mirror it's interior.

All images copyright David Burke Photography 2009

Gemma and Craig pre-wedding shoot

On a hot, sunny Sunday I met up with Gemma and Craig for a 'try before you buy' pre-wedding shoot. Gemma and Craig had expressed an interest in meeting up to discuss their wedding plans with me, seeing some example albums and going out for a shoot.

We headed out to Greenwich park for a two hour stroll around in the sunshine. Although I had a quick look on the net at the park, I'd never been there so scouted the venue 'on the fly' as we went....

Due to most of London being in the park, we couldn't really use many of the classic shots up by the Observatory, but found some quieter spots before heading down to the Naval College.

This is a great way for prospective clients to get to know me, see how I work, and see results personal to them before they commit to a photographer - getting on with who you choose is just as important as the results they create - you want your big day to be fun and relaxed so you need to have a photographer you get on with.

I really enjoyed the couple of hours we spent together and hope to work with Gemma and Craig - not least because their venue is the best in London....

All images copyright David Burke Photography 2009

Laura and Andrew Pre-wedding shoot

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting up with Laura and Andrew for a pre-wedding shoot on London's SouthBank. We started from the London Bridge end and walked down to the Oxo tower, getting some great shots on the way but also getting to know each other a bit more.







Despite saying they were nervous, they both did really well and are now more prepared for the big day (maybe it was the glass of wine that helped!)








All images copyright David Burke Photography

Chris and Rachel's pre-wedding shoot

on Sunday we spent an enjoyable sunny (too sunny really though !) afternoon with Chris and Rachel on a pre-wedding shoot (or E-shoot if you're American). A lot of couples ask whether there is much point carrying out this shoot, as they will have loads of wedding photos to use very soon. The pre-wedding shoot is useful in a number of ways:

It allows us to work together before the big day to get used to each other and build more rapport
It shows the couple some of the poses they will use and makes them aware of things they need to consider (how to stand etc.)
It relaxes couples and shows them that having their photo taken can (and will be) great fun and relaxing!
It gives them the opportunity to purchase images for invitations, wall photos and even small albums.

A great way to use one of these photos is to have it mounted up prior to the wedding then displayed on the day and allow your guests to sign the mount, which will make for a great memento of the day !

Portfolio shoot with Louise

I had the pleasure of shooting a model shoot with Louise around Tunbridge Wells on a sunny morning this week. I'd found some locations I wanted to try out - some of them making use of the pantiles in Tunbridge Wells, renowned as the town's beauty spot...







Others were in slightly more unusual areas of Tunbridge Wells - Louise did very well in some slightly more grungy areas of TW...







Model shoots is an area I'm keen to expand David Burke Photography into, so please contact me if you are looking for a model photoshoot with retouched images included in the price, or, if I feel it would benefit us both, TFP/CD work.