Walton Steve - Contemporary Wedding Photography

Capturing a moment in time, like this shot of a little bridesmaid holding the flowers, says more than words. A 80200mm lens allows you to get in close without drawing too much attention to yourself. Ensure you have enough space to use this lens. Working quickly and under pressure at a wedding doesnt give you a lot of time to change lenses.

Nikon DSLR, 80200mm lens, 1/250sec at f/2.8

Get in close. The eye contact between the bride and the camera makes this shot, and the expression in her eyes says it all. Expression, expression! That is the key to good wedding photography.

Nikon DSLR, 28-80mm lens, 1/125sec at f/4

You cant fail with a shot of this nature. It has softness, lovely colour and, of course, the cuteness of the little girl peeping through.

Nikon DSLR, 1755mm lens, 1/60sec at f/2.8

This award-winning photograph was captured between the ceremony and reception. The bride was told to turn slowly towards the sunlight until she was asked to hold the pose. The breeze has just taken her shawl and lifted it slightly, giving movement and shape to the image. The photograph was converted to black and white and blue-toned.

Nikon DSLR, 2880mm lens, 1/250sec at f/8

Directing the bride to throw her veil around created movement in this image. Again, the picture works because of the brides expression and the composition.

Nikon DSLR, 2880mm lens, 1/60sec at f/5.6

Wedding photography as a developing genre has been accelerated by digital capture, improved image manipulation and album design software packages. As early adopters of digital technology, we have been at the forefront of contemporary wedding photography capture and presentation. In the early days, our conversion to a digital workflow was met with scepticism and doubt by many of our industry colleagues. What has happened in the intervening years is quite predictable. Those sceptics have either now taken the digital route themselves, or they have simply gone out of business. It is a very stark fact of business that if you are unable to provide a product that is in demand, you will cease to trade.

There is no doubt that digital technology has allowed us, and photographers in many other fields, to expand our creative repertoire, both in photography and presentation. Our own early conversion to digital capture and workflow has paid off, but there is no future and nothing to be gained by sitting at the top of the learning curve and gazing down with smug satisfaction as the competition frantically tries to catch up. Those who have both creative ability as photographers and the willingness to gain expertise with evolving technology will take the industry forward. Wedding photography is an exciting place to be at the moment, constrained only by the vision and enthusiasm of its best practitioners. It is a fluid environment and, for professionals, our businesses can grow with it. Interested amateurs can benefit from our techniques to extend their abilities and range.

This is a beautiful image of the bride and her daughter, Libby. The little girl was looking through the window for squirrels. Notice how the brides face has been illuminated by the light reflecting off her dress. Flash would have killed the atmosphere here.