This is me!
Hi there!
I’m Aga (yes, like the cooker in your nan’s kitchen!).
You don’t really want to know that I love chocolate, my vintage bike and first picked up my camera when I was 3 (all untrue, by the way).
But I do want to tell you that I’ve photographed over 350 weddings so far and I can not wait to document more laughs, portray more love and create more heartfelt, emotive images.
I have shot weddings in 12 countries on 3 continents (and counting!), it has been such an exciting adventure and it just keeps getting better! :)
How I Shoot
For me, humour is almost a matter of principle when I’m photographing a wedding, but it’s also a tool. A smile is always helpful to get a grumpy page boy to cooperate or the vicar to let me photograph the ceremony from the front (there is no vicar? That’s great, humanist ceremonies rock!) I try to be unnoticed and blend in as much as possible when I’m shooting but in practice this isn’t always easy.
I often get approached by various guests asking me questions ranging from ‘what camera is this’ and ‘how many photos have you taken today?’ to ‘do you want a drink?’ and ‘can I take a photo of you?’. I see this as all a part of the rhythm of my work. The social aspect of weddings is part of what I love most about them. Weddings are all about people – the connections between them and the atmosphere they create.
Getting to know the crowd and the relationships within it is part of telling the story of the day. It is important that I work in the background in order to allow the story to have its own voice – the B&G/bridal party session being the only moment during which I would step in to give suggestions and directions, with a view to capturing the most flattering and creative angles and poses.
The Day and Beyond
My approach to shooting weddings is very simple, I’d describe it with two words: {absolutely} NO FUSS. You don’t have to worry about me, weddings are stressful enough without adding photography to the long list of ‘what might go wrong’.
A personal meeting is recommended before booking so that both sides are sure they can spend 12h in each other’s company. The rest of the process happens over email unless we can spoil each other with the addition of the engagement session, of course.
On a wedding morning I arrive usually 3 hours before the ceremony and capture the day in a documentary manner, only stepping in during the couple’s portrait session (and only if required. If you’re happy to just be fabulous without me telling you what to do, which way to turn and where to look – I’m more than happy to follow. Otherwise a little direction is what I offer whilst still keeping things as natural as possible).
What you receive from me is a large collection of unforced, creative, dynamic and as romantic-as-you-happen-to-be, images – a photographic reportage of your day ranging from macro shots of your jewellery all the way to wide angles, contextual captures, portraits, action shots etc… Be prepared to LOVE THEM ALL. Also, it’s probably good to be prepared for your wedding collection to look nothing like anything you’ve seen before. I would strongly recommend that you do not try to plan every detail of your wedding photography.
Try not to make lists of photographs you want because the chances are that you will end up disappointed when they don’t meet your pinterest expectations. Every wedding is different, and every wedding set (even created at the same venue) is different.
Why not leave room for creativity and life? Plan for great things to happen, make arrangements if needed but at the same time stay realistic. Spectacular sunsets or magical summer haze don’t happen everyday but if they do, I will be there to make the most out of them.