they will not be aware of me, even provided on request, the Jewish
though I have introduced myself.” weddings look great in black and
Mark takes his inspiration from white. Even the liberal ceremonies,
the great reportage photographers in a synagogue or a hotel, lend
– he likes to be unobtrusive, there themselves to his approach.
in the right place at all the right
times, recording unposed moments Networking
in a storyline to capture the spirit
of the day. He will set up formal Such is his standing with the
groups or portraits by request, but North London Jewish community
never stage-manages the guests. (“there can be 250 guests at a
“The amateurs coming into it wedding and they all seem to know
think that photojournalism means each other!”) that he needs no
getting top hats thrown in the air. advertising. He says it would not
I don’t do any of that stuff.” work anyway, and word of mouth
is the only way to become known.
Made for monochrome He is based in Burnham, between
Maidenhead and Windsor, and his
There’s another reason why Mark connection with community is as
does not patronise his clients by a photographer. He’s not a local
stage-managing garter and kilt or an insider, he has got there by
stunts. He specialises in Orthodox earning a reputation.
Jewish (Hassidic) weddings. These Mark became chair of the Lon-
are real social gatherings, formal don Portrait Group in 2004, retiring
yet very warm, full of interaction in 2008 after four years in which
and ceremony without needing he persuaded some real stars to
gimmickry. They also pose real talk to the group. Mark’s long as-
problems for photographers! sociation with Olympus (UK) Ltd, as
“The civil ceremony is usually a testbed for studio work with the
on a Friday”, Mark explains, “and E-3 system and earlier FourThirds
is just the legal marriage, which models, no doubt helped. He
would not be photographed. Noth- secured Bob Carlos Clarke, John
ing ever happens on a Saturday, Swannell, Barry Lategan and other
as that is the Sabbath, and the big names to visit the LPG. At the
religious ceremony takes place in end of his term, he held a personal
the Sunday. exhibition, and published an LPG
See: http://www.markseymour.co.uk/
“Strict orthodox weddings must book featuring the star guests and
be held outdoors, centred on the group members. Only 200 were
hoopa (tent), and they must take printed and one recently sold on
place after sunset. The official sun- eBay for over £100 – a real collect-
set time is used, so it’s not totally ible volume.
dark, but a December wedding The London connection is just
could be at 4.30pm outdoors with one side of his business. He got
just a few minutes of fading light. a big break when Cliveden House
“Once, it had to be flash for made him their recommended
these weddings, but with the Nikon photographer, a connection he fol-
D3 and D700 capable of excellent lowed up by tying in with the Four
results at 6400 you can shoot by Seasons hotel group and Claridge's.
available light at f/2.8 or f/2.” He does advertise, with his
Mark has just equipped himself newly-updated website as the me-
with two Nikon D700s – preferring dium for prospective brides to see
the lighter and smaller body for his his style. “It is all black and white,
style of work – and six classic fast all journalistic, no groups, and few
prime Nikkor AF-D lenses. Some portraits”, he explained. “This gets
are rare models which command me the right clients, high-end cli-
high prices on eBay. He’s using ents who can understand what it’s
the 20mm f/2, 28mm f/1.4, 35mm about. I see very few people before
f/2, 50mm f/1.4, 85mm f/1.4 and the wedding, but they know what
105mm f/2. they are getting.”
His move over from Canon 1Ds Wedding fairs still work for him.
MkIII, with the 16-35mm f/2.8 “Future brides do not know about
zoom as a favourite lens, came me, they don’t know you, or any
after Nikon’s John MacDonald other photographer. It is all down
persuaded him to test the high ISO to your marketing, your images,
capability of the 12 megapixel full your website.”
frame D3. Even with its low light
abilities and the ultra fast prime Award publicity
lenses, he may still end up timing a
1/15th or 1/20th shutter speed to Mark has another marketing
catch a moment of hiatus when a weapon, his astute use of national
moving subject is still for just long awards. Since 2004 when the
enough. Mario Acerboni 3-from-1 Wedding
Though everything is shot as a Photographer of the Year award
raw file and colour can easily be was introduced by Acerboni’s UK
22
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