MEETING CHRIS HANLEY
Chris Hanley is one of the UK’s most cherished wedding experience photographers, creating iconic images that are works of art in their own right. WorkLife caught up with him about what inspires a stunning photo, how to choose the perfect photographer and how to look great in photos.
We love your photos…what inspires you? Light is the magic that brings images alive. I get extremely excited about light as it’s such a powerful medium. Of course, I could hardly be a photographer if I didn’t find inspiration in people, and I follow my gut instinct about how they should be lit and photographed to bring out their unique characters, relationships and striking features.
Tell us about your e-shoot concept There’s only one relationship that should rival that of the happy couple’s and that’s with their photographer! An e-shoot, or engagement shoot, gives them the chance to build a rapport and also gives the photographer the opportunity to study the couple so he can get the best out of them on the wedding day. We tend to choose urban locations for our e-shoots so the shots provide a counterpoint to the wedding day.
Any tips for looking your best in photos? Every bride I photograph looks gorgeous on her wedding day. If you’re nervous in front of the camera, though, there are tricks to ensure you’ll love what you see in your photographs: One failsafe way to look slimmer is to take a tip from Miss World! Turn your body so it’s at a 3/4 angle to the camera. Put your weight on your back foot and point your front toe, with a slightly bent knee and lift your head whilst dropping your shoulders. Or…just forget the camera and enjoy!
We love the concept of ‘Cherish the Dress’. Tell us more… Cherish is all about making the wondrous wedding feeling last…and capturing it in a post-wedding photoshoot, so the memories live forever. Complementing the energy and emotion photographed on the wedding day itself, we created ‘Cherish the Dress’ to give the wedding dress a chance to shine in its own right. Editorial style shots create a fashion-spread feel and without pressures and time restraints we’re able to stage sensational frames that will leave the bride’s confidence at an all-time high.
What trends are emerging in wedding photography? Vintage is hot and it’s set to stay. We’ve shot some really stunning vintage inspired weddings this year, with brides often commissioning handmade wedding dresses using antique fabric. Fascination with vintage has prompted us to launch ‘Vintage Cherish the Dress’ - we shoot at evocative locations like the atmospheric East Lancs Steam Railway and the shots have a brooding, Silver Screen feel.
How do you know you’re picking the right photographer for your special day? Owning a camera doesn’t make you a photographer it makes you a camera owner. All photographers are not alike, so it’s well worth doing your research before you commit. Look for a portfolio packed with sensational images. Examine the editing: is the look consistent? Are there too many gimmicky computer effects? Does everyone look happy in the group shot? Look at a photographer’s website: do they have a blog? Are they on Facebook? Good photographers are popular and will have regularly updated online examples of their recent work. Ask your photographer if they’re full time professionals. You’ll be surprised at the amount of amateurs and enthusiasts trading as wedding photographers. It can be tempting to leave wedding photography in the hands of an enthusiastic amateur. My advice: DON’T!
16 - LIFE
www.chrishanleyphotography.com 01614871217
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74