ISPWP Member Spotlight: Lincoln, UK Wedding Photographer Paul Sutton Photography

How did you get your start and why did you choose wedding photography as a career?

It didn’t, it sort of chose me. When I first started out, I had this pipe dream; I wanted to travel the world and photograph animals or something, I hated the thought of photographing people. The truth is, these days I can’t think of anything more fulfilling than photographing people, I feel you can convey so much more raw emotion. It’s easy for the viewer to relate to. I shot my first wedding in 2008, the clients were local and heard I was a photography student, it just sort of escalated from there.

How has your extensive experience in wedding photography helped you in difficult circumstances on a wedding day?

I think one of the most challenging scenarios as a wedding photographer is working in low light conditions. I think that the only thing that can teach a photographer how to tackle these scenarios is extensive experience; being able to shape light and use additional lighting if required is invaluable on a wedding day.

Tell us about some of the more unique weddings you've shot.

I’ve had all sorts of wacky themes. I’ve shot a Game of Thrones themed wedding in Sherwood Forest in the thick of Winter, I’ve shot a Super Mario themed wedding; Great Gatsby, I’ve had to shoot group portraits in the changing rooms of Derby City Football Club’s changing rooms (by the baths), and I’ve had a Bride and Groom literally dance down the aisle to The Beatles! I’m sure there are plenty more.

What advice would you give a bride who is looking for a wedding photographer?

I think I would have to say don’t book with a wedding photographer unless you can see yourselves in their work, each photographer has a different style. I think a lot of people book wedding photographers for the wrong reasons, usually because they might be a little cheaper. Wedding photography is an investment, not a cost; it becomes a cost when you book somebody cheap.

What's your favorite part of the wedding day to photograph?

I like to photograph every part of the wedding day, but I would have to say that I take the greatest pleasure in photographing the fashion inspired portraits of the Bridal party and the Bride and Groom in the afternoon. I also love photographing the Bridal prep.

What kinds of weddings do you love to photograph?

I don’t have a particular kind of wedding that I love to photograph. I can honestly say that quite often it’s the ones I think I will enjoy the least, bizarrely.

How important is it to hire an experienced wedding photographer?

It’s very important indeed. People would not believe how much actually goes into photographing a wedding. I wrote a blog all about this a while back: https://paulsuttonphotographyblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/12-reasons-why-you-should-hire-a-professional-photograper/

What do you do for fun when you're not shooting weddings?

I’m a huge fan of shooting film. I have an array of cameras but my favourite has to be the medium format Mamiya RZ67. I do all of my own developing as well, it’s great fun and you really appreciate photography as a process. I like to shoot fashion and street photography.

How would you describe your style of photography?

This is actually quite a difficult question. I find it relatively easy to describe another photographer’s style, but get stumped when it’s my own. I would probably use the words ‘artistic’ and ‘conceptual.’ I shoot a lot of reportage style of work at weddings too.

What do you offer to clients that is unique? What is your Unique Selling Proposition?

It’s very hard to be unique in this day and age; whatever you’re doing the chances are it has been done before. Not many people shoot film at weddings any more, so I decided a couple of years ago to introduce this into my wedding photography. I am constantly looking for ways to be different; I do believe this is key to success.

Do you offer albums? If so, describe the albums you offer and why you think it's important to provide albums.

Yes, I do offer albums; I tend to use Graphistudio (http://www.graphistudio.com/en_GB/home) and Album Epoca (https://www.albumepoca.com/en/). I believe that albums are important since there seems to be very little tangibility in photography any more; it’s nice to be able to look, touch and smell. Digital images mostly sit on a client’s computer for the occasional reference.

Do you do "destination weddings?" If so, what are your favorite destinations?

I haven’t done any yet, but I would welcome the opportunity.

How would you describe the current state of the wedding photography industry, and where do you think wedding photography is headed in the years to come?

I think that the industry has become very saturated in recent years, and it’s very easy for poor photographers to make a living; ultimately, this has a knock-on effect for professionals offering a quality service.

What (or who) inspires you?

I have drawn inspiration from all sorts of different places and people over recent years; currently, I would have to say the ISPWP members are pretty inspirational. There are some extremely talented individuals in the society

What is the biggest challenge facing wedding photographers today?

In my opinion, it’s probably how saturated the industry is, but as I always say “if you’re good enough and you work hard enough, nothing will stand in you way.” I think a lot of people use this as an excuse for being unsuccessful.