Relaxed, Candid Wedding Photography by
Paul Waring
Luxury Photographs you can feel
And, Let me guess...
You’re planning a wedding that suits you down to a tee. A little quirky, breaking a few traditions. But mostly, Relaxing & partying with your people and not dealing with the usual pretentious nonsense.
Finding a photographer is a little overwhelming. You don’t want to spend the day posing – You want genuine and honest photography that takes you back to the joy & emotions of the day.
Read on… I may be your man!
outdoors buff, coffee nerd, Daddy, Husband.
I’m Paul. I’ve got a real thing for capturing weddings naturally, the way they happened.
You get little ol’ me at your wedding, a relaxed bloke filled with dad jokes and coffee. I’ll bring my eyes, they’re attached (there’s your first dad joke). I love to people-watch and pick out those intimate moments.
The small touches between family members, the little looks that people in love will share. THAT’S where the magic is.
My photos are designed to be loved by you immediately, be magical in ten years, make you cry happy tears of reminiscence in twenty years, and be passed down as a family heirloom in 30 years.
I live in the North West and photograph weddings anywhere with a road. My people are free-thinkers, and usually just a little bit wacky.
SCOTLAND to
BRIGHTON
TIPIS to
TITHE BARNS
REAL people
REAL emotions
UNREAL stories
and I stay for the
P.A.R.T.Y.
My images are created to take you right back to the EMOTIONS of the day in 10, 20 or 30 years.
Working with me is like having an old friend at your wedding. A friend with a fancy camera, and COFFEE RUNNING THROUGH HIS VEINS.
MY VIBE
My vibe is ‘casually elegant’.
“What does that even mean?” I hear you scream. Well, I love elegant weddings. I enjoy documenting luxury. But elegant doesn’t always mean formal, luxury doesn’t always mean stuffy and high-end photography doesn’t need to be over-posed and awkward.
Let’s think outside the box.
KEEP IT REAL
My ‘thing’ is real. I document real people and real moments. I don’t fake things, I won’t set things up or alter the narrative. It’s a real wedding and that’s what makes it awesome and YOURS.
TAKE IT EASY
I’ve been told I bring a relaxed vibe to a room and it’s like having an old friend at the wedding (with a fancy camera). This works for me, it means we can just hang out.
TRUST
All good relationships are built on trust. I’ve been trusted by other wedding photographers to capture their big day (an honour), I’m a trusted supplier at venues across the UK, a brand ambassador for a few companies, won multiple awards, and been trusted with hundreds of weddings – but I don’t like to brag!
I’m also a writer/educator/reviewer at fstoppers, a photography website and resource with a readership in the millions, and run mentorships for new photographers. OK, maybe I do like to brag, a little…
LOVE IS LOVE
I capture weddings for Brides & Grooms, Brides & Brides, Grooms & Grooms.
DIVE IN AND CELEBRATE
I immerse myself in everything I do, blending in to capture the essence of a wedding day. I believe in celebrating your wedding with you. From huge days to intimate moments, I’m there for the ride.
A little Brag
// Multiple-award winning photographer
// Brand ambassador for Folio Albums and Narrative Software
// Selected as a Junebug Weddings supplier
// Preferred supplier in wedding venues throughout the UK
// Writer at fstoppers.com, with a readership in the millions
// Over 250 weddings photographed
// Selected as ‘best candid wedding photographer’ by Enterprise Awards body
“I don’t know how you did it, but you captured every emotion”
Some things you may want to know about wedding photography by me...
I know candid wedding photography is kinda ‘your thing’, but will you still get group photos and portraits?
Yeah, of course. I get it, everyone is looking their most dapper, your mum’s got her hat on. You want some classic wedding shots and that’s fine. I always urge you to adopt a VIP attitude to the group photos and capture the important people. As for portraits, I love to go for a stroll with you at some point in the day to get some really nice photos of the two of you together. We’ll keep it fun, relaxed and efficient, though. I’m not about the cheesy photos next to water fountains!
My wedding is in the middle of nowhere… How far do you travel?
I can already hear the echoes of “Oh you awkward bugger” when Uncle Bob sees the invitation… But, worry not! I travel anywhere with a road from my house to photograph weddings. Scotland, Wales, England, I’m there! I don’t currently shoot destination weddings (that is, anywhere I need to get on a plane or boat) as I have a young family and my baby boy likes Sundays in the zoo with Daddy!
When do we see the photos?
I officially say six weeks, but always aim for your monthiversary.
What does a candid wedding photographer take photos of?
A candid wedding photographer specializes in capturing natural and unposed moments during a wedding. Rather than orchestrating scenes or asking subjects to pose, they focus on documenting genuine emotions, interactions, and reactions. Candid wedding photographers aim to tell the story of the wedding day as it unfolds, capturing the essence and atmosphere of the event in a genuine and authentic way.
How long does a wedding photographer stay for?
Well, this usually depends on the package.
Again, though, I like to think outside of the box. I arrive for preparations, usually about 90 mins before you leave for the ceremony, and then I stay until I have the photographs that encapsulate your wedding day. This doesn’t mean ‘the first dance’ which is how most photographers time their departure. It can be 9pm, 10pm or even later.
Do you have any examples of real weddings?
Of course, I even have some on this site which you can see here. If you’d specifically like to see a full client gallery and how the photographs are delivered, just get in touch and ask.
How far in advance do I need to book?
Well, my couples are often the organised type and I’m often taking bookings two years in advance. I don’t have a limit of how close you can book an available date, but I do only take on a set amount of weddings each year and usually end up fully booked.
What equipment do you use?
I photograph weddings with equipment from FujiFilm. For the nerds reading this, I use two Fujifilm X-T5 camera bodies with 14/18/33/56mm lenses.
How long have you been photographing weddings?
I started shooting professionally at age 19 and shot my very first weddings on board a cruise ship. This was in 2009, so you’re welcome to work out how many years that is. However, I only started concentrating specifically on weddings in 2017, and they have been my full-time job since then.
Can I see some reviews?
Sure, I’ve pulled a few from google here.
can I give you a shot list?
Ok, This one takes some explaining. The answer is ‘it depends’.
If you’d like to give me a lowdown of the group photos and some unique happenings during the day, then I welcome this!
However, if you come at me with a list saying things like ‘photo of the first kiss, photo of us near the duck pond, photo of people dancing’ then we might need to have a word.
Can I print with you?
I can supply prints through your dedicated photo website. You’re also able to download your photographs from here and get them printed wherever you want to.
What do you try to capture?
I don’t stop on a wedding day, apart from a bite to eat when you do. For the rest of the time, I’ll be floating around and reading the room. I’m always looking for;
Emotional Reactions: The tears, laughter, joy, and surprise expressed by the couple, family members, and guests throughout the day.
Ceremony: I’ll be capturing meaningful moments during the wedding ceremony, without interrupting the flow of the event.
Preparation: As a candid or reportage wedding photographer, I’ll be showcasing the anticipation and excitement leading up to the ceremony.
Details: Shots of wedding rings, bouquets, centrepieces, and other intricate details that contribute to the overall atmosphere and story.
Interactions: Photographs of family members, friends, and guests interacting, hugging, chatting, and sharing moments together.
Candid Portraits: While I concentrate on candid, I also capture portraits of the couple and individual guests when they’re not consciously posing. These portraits focus on natural expressions and emotions. We will take a walk at a quiet time or when the light is lovely to get some casual portraits.
Dances and Celebrations: Photographs of the couple’s first dance, father-daughter dance, and other lively moments on the dance floor.
Speeches and Toasts: I’ll capture the genuine reactions and emotions of both the speakers and the listeners during speeches and toasts.
Unplanned Moments: Spontaneous and unexpected interactions, reactions, and events that occur throughout the day. Most of these, you won’t even know happened.
Documenting the Story: As a documentary photographer, I aim to create a narrative of the day, capturing the progression of events, from getting ready to the end of the reception.
In essence, as a candid wedding photographer, my role is to preserve the natural emotions and experiences of the wedding day, allowing couples to relive the moments as they truly happened. This style of photography contrasts with more traditional posed photography, where subjects are directed to strike specific poses for the camera.