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Photography Beverley Thomas Photography
When it comes to choosing a photographer for your big day, we asked Beverley Thomas to share with us her top tips and advice.
How long has Beverley Thomas Photography been in business? I have been in the photographic industry for decades. Starting out in a local photographic lab developing and printing films after I finished school. I was then fortunate to travel on board luxury cruise liners as a cruise ship photographer. After life at sea, I came back to Pembrokeshire and attended Carmarthen School of Art, where I studied a HND in design photography. After my studies, I became employed as a lab technician with Kodak. Working in the industry I am now established and specialize in wedding and portraiture as Beverley Thomas Photography. I also cover most genres related to photography. Over the last two years I have gained a reputation shooting for The Lego Group and seven years ago I was asked to teach parents and children
photography on a project based in our local junior schools with a company called Springboard, part of Pembrokeshire County Council’s education program. Returning to the education sector, I returned to Carmarthen School of Art and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts first class honours degree and I am currently studying for a Masters Degree with Falmouth University.
What services do you offer? I offer, along with my assistant Gill, what I expect to pay for. There’s a saying: ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’, which can’t be any truer. It’s about giving the best service possible. Your wedding day is important to me - it’s not just about a great picture; it’s about the whole package from start to finish. It’s about making the couples feel at ease. It’s about getting the bride to the church on time, even if I have to put my camera down and get her into her dress (which I have been known to do quite a lot). It’s about seeing a nervous groom who needs a helping hand, it’s about crowd control to get that all-important shot, it’s about directing the couples because they haven’t been on this venture before, it’s about creating a memory in a stunning designer storybook wedding album where every page relives another special moment and leave the couples with timeless memories.
Have you noticed any changes in the wedding market in the time you have been trading? Yes, more and more people have mobile devices and images are uploaded immediately and can be seen on social media platforms within minutes. The use of websites which are great selling platforms, making photography very accessible. Unfortunately, mobile devices will not give you the best quality to print bigger.
Photo by Beverley Thomas
In the digital age, do people still like to have a traditional album? I think so, plus we live in an age where everything is digital and not everyone prints images these days. The feedback I have from the new digital albums is incredible; they are certainly a popular choice and showcase your images to a professional high quality. The storybook albums are now works of art and something physical to look back on in years to come.
What are current trends when it comes to wedding photographs? Wedding trends move fast. Over the past few years, the industry has seen some strong, striking images emerge. Vintage came back into fashion; negative space is used to produce interesting images, particularly if you have a great landscape around the couples, black and white documentary styles are popular once again. Candid fun shots are also popular along with informal. No matter what style of wedding you choose, or which trends you prefer, your wedding photographer should focus primarily on the atmosphere of your wedding day and aim to capture the details, personal touches and emotions of your special day.
PICTURE STORY COVERAGE to make your wedding day last a lifetime
happiest day of
It’s the your life
How soon before their wedding should couples book their photographer? Couples tend to book up at least a year in advance. Once they have chosen a date, a church and a venue, the photographer is usually next to get booked up. Certain dates get very popular and I personally will not do two weddings a day - it’s just not possible. So if you have a particular photographer that you really want to spend the day with you, then book early to avoid being disappointed.
How many meetings beforehand do you suggest couples have with their photographer?
I first meet the couple to show them a body of work and explain what I do. When they decide they like what they see, I will then discuss a list of images to be captured. Some couples may want an engagement shoot, then that can be arranged; also this is good for people who may be a bit camera shy and uncomfortable in front of the camera - it gives them a little peek of what to
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