Rarely late
I'm rarely late for a wedding but when I am it's never my fault. Take last Saturday for example. I got to the bride's house with no problems at all. Its great to photograph a bride getting ready - the nerves, the tears, and the highly charged erotic atmosphere make for great shots. That done, feeling slightly aroused, I head for the Church. The only problem here is the parking. There is no-where near the Church and I'm forced to park down the bottom of a steep hill...
After the ceremony we have to head over to the reception, which is a good 40 mins drive away. I'm an South London boy and when I get up to North London I can get a bit confused. I have to get to the venue before the bride and groom because they want some shots stood next to the car (genius - that will be a good shot). After going the wrong way up the A41 I'm going to be a bit late but not much, only 20mins or so. A butchers in the A-Z reveals I'm not that far away, a quick U-turn and a few back streets and I'm nearly there, good job I used to be a cabby.
This is it I think as I turn onto the road where the hotel is supposed to be and I'm only about half an hour behind. I drive down the road at high speed - it must be down here somewhere. I reach a big gate across the road - this must be it. I get out and start to open the gate when a woman on horseback approaches, " you can't come through here" she says, " this is a private farm". A farm in London - don't be mental. So where is the hotel? " You have to go back out onto the A-41 and go right round" sneers the horse woman " I explain that I'm the UK's leading wedding photographer and I'm late for a wedding.
The bride and groom and all the guests are at the front of the hotel and the chauffeur is desperate to leave. They are speculating on my whereabouts. *censored*ing and moaning about me, as they have nothing else to talk about. I'm an hour late but Derek Pye, the UK's leading wedding photographer, arriving on horseback was a sight to behold.
Comments (22)
Anony
from: one of the 'masters'.
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Anonymous
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Derek
Photography everywhere.
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Anonymous
reportage photography is not just turning a color to bw ???
if this is what you think you are so lost
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Anonymous
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Anon
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Anonymous
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Anony
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Anonymous
detracting or speculating as to the sites authenticity. Indeed as m'colleague
rightly points out phrases such as 'dude' and mo-fo' do seem to be the sort
of things 'the kids' are saying these days on the wrong side of the pond. I
understand that they have picked it up by watching re-runs of the Ali G show
who may or may not be some sort of a 'gansta'.
I think our cousins in the the good old US of A need to understand that a
subject as serious as wedding photography would not be treated lightly here
in Blighty, least of all with a spoof site. It would be just irrisponsible as idiots
might take it seriously and start judging their own output or expectations
against the pictures within. Oh, and we gave you a language, please have the
decency to use it properly.
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A Wedding Photographer
A Wedding Photographer
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A Real Wedding Photographer
Yours
A Real Wedding Photographer from the UK who loves this site!
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A Pretend Wedding Photographer
With perhaps the exception of what I still class as a real wedding photographer, you know the ones with a beard and tweed jacket with leather elbow patches and breath like Ghandi's flip flops.
Derek you are our leader, we all aspire to be 1/2 the consumate proffesional that you are.
A pretend photographer.
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Anonymous
farm animals in my next bout of tardiness.
Derek, would you consisder posting some more of your masterpieces.
I have exhausted the selection you have posted, looking at them again and
again, and I have to admit a little bit of wee came out i enjoyed them so much.
I would also like to hear about the wife. Does she play much of a part in your
creative process?
I haven't enjoyed a blog so much since ... well ... ever.
OT : I am bemused by some of the Americans who have posted on this site.
Why do you so strongly insist on living up to your reputation for having no
sense of irony. I know lots of nice Americans who do have a sense of irony -
they are fed up with the rest of you. Shut it will you?
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Anon
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A Professional Wedding Photographer thoughts
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Professional looking advice from professionals
I have 150 pounds to invest in a good camera, flash and a few accesories. Any advice regarding gear?
P.S. I m interested in solid gear. I don t want to change it after 3-4 years...
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toptastic togger
Sound advice indeed there.. "invest in something with flash and lens built in".
In these cash strapped times the cost of equipment is no joke, where savings can be made then so be it.
Another good tip i often dole out is regarding the "uncle Bob" over the shoulder shooters.
Dont stop them stealing your plagurised shots, simply let them take them for you. after the fizz of the day has died down simply flatter Uncle Bob by asking if you cn download his "excellent" attempts to your portable hard drive and print them off for the album/Max Speilman wallet.
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Monkey Butler
Many top wedding photographers have added a schedule of touring workshops to help out the less experienced snapper. Would you consider finding space in your doubtlessly heavily booked diary to do something similar?
I've found your site invaluable in dealing with troublesome clients, particularly the brides. It's like they want everything to be perfect...."Why weren't you at the church?", "Why are the pictures all fuzzy?", "stop taking pictures of me in my pants."
Where is the trust? I'm sure my pictures are better than they could take and I've never met a bride willing to carry a camera on the day so surely they should be grateful someone else is willing to take the pictures when I'd rather be enjoying the booze and chatting up the pretty girls to be perfectly honest.
And why do they always arrange their weddings for the weekend? Don't I deserve a weekend off?
Please help me build up the kind of relationship you seem to have with your brides.
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Derek
Drinking booze and chatting up the birds is an essential part of wedding photography, especially the booze bit. It is called blending in.
I have a clause in my contract that means I can send a substitute photographer if the wedding falls on a Saturday.
Simple really.
All the best
Derek.
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John ,
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John ,
A celebrity worthyy of your skills with an amazing website:
http://www.sarahjanenewbury.com
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Richard P Walton
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