Andy Hook Photography

Winning Wedding Photographer of the Year

Book your suppliers as early as you can. Prime dates can go a couple of years in advance.

In the months leading up to the wedding, we will organise a portrait shoot of the couple. This is a great time to break the ice and get them used to being photographed by me before the wedding. When I deliver the images from the shoot I will also send a document with all the questions, and details I need to make sure I deliver exactly what is expected. One or two days before the wedding I will then speak to the couple to confirm timings. On the day it is mainly unstaged documentary photographs, but also some lightly directed shots, plus any formal shots that I have been asked to do. I typically shoot the entire day from the morning preparations through to the evening party. In the first 2 weeks after the wedding, I like to send a highlights gallery, followed by the full gallery within 6 weeks. We then select photographs to be included in the album. On completion of the album design, it usually takes up to 6 weeks for the album to be made.

About 10 years ago I did a portrait of the groomsmen in the style of Annie Leibovitz's 1990's celebrity group shots. I still quite often get requested to shoot a similar shot. I did another shot inspired by a famous photo of Faye Dunaway at the Beverley Hills Hotel the morning after the Oscars. I liked the concept and applied it to the morning after a wedding in Greece. The image won me the accolade of wedding photographer of the year.

Umbrellas and enough space for all the guests to go indoors! I also keep a few extra umbrellas in the car. Spare shoes, for if there is a break in the weather to get some portraits.

Slightly random, but I started my career photographing the wildlife in the Galapagos Islands.