Richard Skins Photography

So many but this year it definitely had to be one at Chateau de la Bourlie in Dordogne in south west France, 37 degree all day but such an incredible experience and couple knew how to throw a party! was pretty epic...

Unobtrusive, Dynamic, Warmth, Energentic, Romantic

I'm proud of winning be named the South west photographer of the year three times, once in 2014, 2018 & 2020. It's one of the better awards as the first stage is voted by the couples you have photographed in the year, if you don't get a high enough score you can't get through to be judged by your peers.

Make a photographer high on your priority's, good photographers will get booked up early so don't leave it too late.

I'm a sucker for a hand written card bride and groom's write for each other in the morning, always great moment to capture.

My first point of call for my clients is my website, I have worked hard to give all the relevant information that they might need. After the website I always like to chat to couples before booking and they can ask any questions and I can go into more detail about my approach and pricing. I try and make booking very simple, a bank transfer and online wedding contract are all that’s needed, this can be done in a matter of minutes. I’ll let them know to get in touch at any point over the months leading up to their wedding but tell them I’ll be in touch 2 months before the date to arrange either a meeting or telephone conversation depending on distances. On the wedding day itself I try to arrive early on the day, I hate to be late so I'll usually leave with too much time to spare but you never know. starting with the preparations I’ll just be in the background and won’t direct anyone. I simply observe and capture what I see, that’s not saying I just stand behind a curtain or sometimes similar. I’ll chat and laugh to make people at ease. It doesn’t usually take long before you can really take more pictures of people without them caring. I’m main aim is to look for emotion and storytelling in my images. To capture the emotion in people is my most important aim, all while trying to get good composition, lighting and to fit it into the whole narrative of the day.

There isn't one, they're all important.

I photographed one last year I've nicknamed 'bubble girl' as it looks like the girls head is in a massive bubble, I'll add it to my profile so you can see.

Embrace the rain or whatever the weather might throw at you, some of my most favourite weddings & shots are ones with dramatic weather.

I studied film-making at the Northern Film School, so this has definitely contributed to how I have developed my style of photography over the years. I'm particular drawn to a series of images that can all work together to build a complete narrative of a wedding and if that has a cinematic feel to it then the better.