In this episode we welcome our first ever guest, wedding photographer Freya Raby. Freya is a Yorkshire based wedding photographer looking to find the beauty in real moments.

We chat all things wedding photography, including where to find your perfect wedding photographer, the difference in styles and what to look out for and the costs of wedding photography.

Wedding photography is often one of the first things couples book for their wedding but it can be very tricky. Freya, Hannah & Scott help you think about what is important and leave you with a great foundation to start finding your perfect photographer.

Show links:

Freya Raby: https://www.freyaraby.co.uk/

Hosts: 

Scott - https://www.scottcarneyphotography.com/

Hannah - https://hannahrachaelweddings.co.uk/

Website - www.allthingsweddingspodcast.com

Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things-weddings/id1679802407

Google Podcasts - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5jYXB0aXZhdGUuZm0vYWxsLXRoaW5ncy13ZWRkaW5ncy8

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/06CqKJgSoPgVVxScT4HCAQ?si=honePMsQS2mCMt3wrcWcRw

Intro Audio

Welcome to All Things Weddings helping you navigate your wedding planning journey. And here are you’re hosts Scott and Hannah.

Scott

OK. Hello. Welcome to all things weddings. I'm Scott, the photographer behind Scott Carney photography.

Hannah

And I'm Hannah, the wedding planner behind Hannah Rachel Weddings. We're here to help you navigate your planning to freely share tips, insights, behind the scenes so you hopefully feel less overwhelmed and stress free while planning your gorgeous wedding. Want in on all our tips and to listen to us chat to some of our favourite suppliers. Well then let's dive straight in.

Scott

So on today's episode we have Freya Raby. How are you, Freya? You ok?

Freya

I'm good. Yeah. How are you?

Scott

Yeah, we're good. Yeah. What's what's been happening this week?

Freya

Not much January’s very much a catch up time after the hectic 18 months we've had post the c-word. But so yeah, feeling like I need all the time in the world to just, yeah, chill. Blog things update websites

Hannah

Yeah

Freya

Accounts.

Hannah

Ohh

Freya

Fun and games.

(laughter)

Hannah

We've all been there.

Freya

There, yeah, but managed to squeeze in a week away. So that was nice.

Scott

Nice, where did you go?

Freya

Lisbon, so yeah, very hilly, but. Yeah, just, just, super chill. You know, a little little five day, five day break.

Hannah

Lovely. Just what you needed.

Freya

Yeah. Exactly.

Hannah

So, when's your first wedding? When are you back to it all?

Freya

I'm back mid March and from then it just we just kind of ease into it which is nice as opposed to the last couple of years which has been. Pretty full on.

Hannah

Non stop.

Freya

Yeah.

Hannah

So how many weddings are you shooting sort of in the year then what's your kind of what's a nice average for you? What do you like to shoot?

Freya

This year, I'm aiming for maximum of 30. I think 30 would be would be really nice. Yeah, just kind of means I've got the odd the odd weekend off. Not a fan of sacrificing all my time just for work. I think I've done that. You know, in the first couple of years of starting out with a business, you tend to just, you know, put all your time and effort into work, but yeah, after basically having 5 summers where I didn't see friends or it.

Hannah

You want a bit of chill?

Freya

Yeah.

Hannah

What about you, Scott? How many weddings are you shooting?

Scott

35 max this year, I think about 33 at the minute. So depending on when no more weekends though. So yeah, forget a couple more midweek, I'll take them. But yeah, I think 35 for me has to be like the cap, really. Just to like Freya said to balance everything, I think just need a bit of. A little bit of time around weddings and stuff, so yeah, it's nice to have the start of the year quite slow, maybe like 1 in February 1 in March, 2 in April. So it's quite a nice little start. Then obviously summer busy, but yeah.

Hannah

See, I think my brain would explode if I did like 35 weddings a year. I don't think I'd be able to do it. (laughter)

Scott

Yeah, I feel you're busier before though, like.

Hannah

Yeah, yeah, there's a lot of prep work, a lot of function sheets, consultations before. I always say like 80% of the wedding is done before I turn up on the day. So.

Freya

Hannah

With experience.

Freya

With experience and time. So yeah, but you end up just shooting thousands of photos on the day.

Hannah

Yeah I bet.

Freya

I think my biggest gallery last year, I think I had a second photographer with me and we shot like 12,000 images

Hannah

Wow. That’s incredible.

Freya

Processing all of those.

Hannah

Is a lot of time. So what are we talking then? Sort of time scales after the wedding? A lot of couples won't see that behind the scenes, will they? They'll they just want their gallery. They don't understand why there's been this big backlog that everybody's been going on about.

Freya

Yeah, I mean, you know, last year for example, because we had the the backlog of all the COVID postponements I photographed, I think 60 weddings in in a year. But obviously they're kind of condenced to the the summer months and there was a point where. You know where you're shooting, like basically every other day because you're having to travel then as well between them. You know, it's not just the weddings or on your doorstep. If you've got to go out and you know, drive, for example, down to Essex the night before and then there's the prep work the night before the wedding. Obviously, the wedding day. Come back. You've shot a 14 hour day.

Hannah

Yeah. Knackered.

Freya

Yeah. And then driving back the next day, you know, it's not just one day when it's three day wedding. But yeah, there was a point where I think in two weeks I I photographed 8 weddings.

Hannah

Wow

Freya

So 8 weddings in 14 days. And I had backed up to edit like 17. Well yeah, I mean it was like mental breakdown. Like when.

Hannah

Yeah. It is hard isn’t it.

Freya

Yeah, you know that couples are waiting. And it was it was a really, really hard time. So yeah, for this year and moving forward, I will never take that on be doing that again. I mean it it wasn't a choice. It was.

Hannah

The circumstance because of COVID.

Freya

Yeah, I either photographed this wedding and you, you wait a few more months for your photos or you don't have a photographer which just wasn't an option for me. But yeah, everyone was really understanding. I mean, I had a couple of people who weren't that happy, but I feel like you always, you're always going to get that in. Any industry, but yeah, so so this year moving forward, I'm aiming for a 6 week turnaround time because you know you you see the diary and you can balance out.

Hannah

A bit better.

Freya

Yeah, editing time. Yeah, so it should be. Should be six weeks hopefully. But I always try and do previews as well, like within basically 48 hours of the the wedding day. I think it's nice for.

Hannah

So then people have a snippet of what they just experienced because they are getting so excited, they wanna share it, don't they?

Freya

Yeah, exactly. And you don't want, you know, the one photo your aunt managed to get on

Hannah

No exactly.

Freya

Their old iPhone. (laughter)

Hannah

So then your style, how would you describe? I'm sure there's a lot of couples listening to this who will know about your style because you're everywhere. You’re all over Yorkshire. I think we shot 3 weddings together.

Freya

Last we did. It was, great.

Hannah

Yeah, it was really good fun. But what? How would you kind of describe your sort of style?

Freya

I think on the more kind of relaxed documentary side of things. Yeah, very much into capturing like the the little details as well as the big picture of the day, but not in a particularly like overly staged or possibly way like the. The main priority for me is that people live and enjoy their wedding day and I am literally there to to document it like it's not a shoot like I'm not there to to direct, you know, it's it's somebody's life. So yeah, I'm there to just literally document it and provide them with photos that like truly represent what their day felt like, really.

Scott

I think it's styles is like a hard isn't it? Because like I say, everyone a lot of people use a similar word, so I think they guess they're like the key buzzwords, if you like, out in the industry. So, like couples looking, they'll see like documentary and relaxed. And you know, we don't take off a photo shoot. But then photos might show like loads and loads of just post photos you like kind of contradicts to what they say. And then also. Most I don't know about you, but like sometimes I'll send full galleries to couples when they inquire. But a lot of times they don't, you know, don't necessarily ask or they, you know, they kind of going off my Instagram off my portfolio. They might look at, you know, 50 or 100 images that most probably like to decide to book almost, which is great. I you know, I spend a lot of time trying to curate that to make sure that. Like what I put out online does kind of fit my style really well. Obviously it's still hard, but so I think for a lot of couples probably looking at, you know, really looking at a few 100 images from a photographer, maybe at most. To then decide like is the person for me. So they're kind of looking at what you write and a little bit of what you show to. Then decide. So it's I think it's quite a minefield for like people trying to plan because we obviously know because we like in the industry and we shoot all time. We're seeing, you know, our own styles. We can kind of look at other people's styles, I reckon and think right, they're quite posed, they're not so posed. They're very like, I don't know. I call it like real or raw or whatever you want to call. I don't know, you know, like, I'll deliver. Shots of like if people were laughing and there's double chins, if there's like shot, you know, people do shots, their faces, they pull like a lot of that stuff. Like it's just what's happening. It's kind of real. So I will show that whereas I know a lot of people still documenting the day with their, making it look really beautiful almost in a way. If it's, yeah, there's kind of so much and then like, says bright and airy. If you want to call it that way.

Freya

The edit style.

Scott

It's not kind of. Yeah. True. It's not necessarily how you know, it's like you would see it with your eye really. It's kind of brighter than that and saying with dark, I guess as well and it's kind of dark and we call it dark and moody, I guess, don't we? But don't know what couples would see that as, but it's quite. Using the light, a lot of the shadows and kind of everything looks quite dark.

Freya

Yeah, it's kind of the. What was that like edit style that people used to do in the in the olden days, you know, like not black and white kind of brown, sepia, sepia. Yeah. It's kind of like sepia, but just. Yeah.

Scott

Can you wear it? Yeah, CPS sepias is there.

Hannah

We're talking like 70s. It's like the the vibe.

Freya

Yeah, I I think that that's that's been a bit of a a bit of a trend.

Hannah

Would you say that that's the thing a lot of some people photography styles is more trends. They are, they do flip between.

Freya

I think people can, you know, there's there's loads of different trends. So for example, at the minute the one of the trends is a champagne tower.

Hannah

Yes.

Freya

I mean, we've never really seen that before and that's is something that's happening regularly that it you know it's you do that when you do your cake cut type thing. Where do these trends come from?

Hannah

Styles shoots?

Freya

Yeah, yeah.

Hannah

Styled shoots. I blame style sheets for everything.

Scott

Thinks like, yeah, online, just think just cause like not that long ago. And there wasn't really Pinterest or Instagram. You kind of everyone's experience of weddings were like what? Who? You know, weddings they went to like your friends and family, weren't they our weddings you’ve seen? You might have a like a wedding magazine, I guess. But like, really there wasn't as much people weren't seeing the like TikTok trends or such where they guess and now they're saying. Oh, we want to do that or it's not right or wrong. Obviously it's just if you've seen right. Oh, we love that and do it great. Like they say, things just become popular then for some, then suddenly there everything out then. They go away again or they, you know, they come back again or.

Freya

Yeah, I think Pinterest boards can be like very helpful, but then also, almost detrimental. You know, people become obsessed with it. It looking the best that it can. But at the end of the day, like, you need to. When, when do you ever get all of your friends and family together in one room? Like you know that the priority, at least for me? I mean, I think that, you know, that's what comes into play with different people styles is if you book a photographer who has. You know, does a lot of these more posed shots like the champagne tower and like, lots of couple portraits and that for them, that's probably the priority. So if if you're that type of person and you want the photos from your wedding day to to be, you know.

Hannah

Beautifully curated.

Freya

Yeah, you know.

Hannah

You as a couple, the portraits.

Freya

Yeah, what could be found? Basically in a magazine, if that's what you you want from your wedding day, then you know, go for it. And and again with the kind of dark and moody edit style like different photographers are drawn to. Different things in different lighting, like for me I'm always looking for basically where the natural light is coming from and that's kind of reflected in my work and my edit style is very much just keeping it as as natural as as possible kind of enhancing where it needs to be enhanced. You know I'll always spot remove that spot you get on your chin on your wedding.

Hannah

That one that nobody wants?

Freya

Yeah. You know, and kind of like what you said, Scott, like making things like curating it a little bit to not be like an exact replica of the day. You don't need to know that you're a spot on your chin, for example. But yeah, I'm always kind of looking for that. And then in in the edit it's keeping it as natural as it was basically. So it just as it ages as gracefully as possible.

Hannah

So do we think Instagram's a good place then for couples looking for suppliers, do we think it? It is a helpful place, or do we think it is to curated?

Scott

Obviously, it's got the pros and cons hasn’t it like everything I think you can. You can get lost a little bit on there. I think sometimes it's like Freya was saying you gotta try and remember what's important to you and that, like, say, if that's hanging out with friends and family and you want as much time with them as possible, whether that's you getting married at Lake Como and you want the scenery is a key thing for you and you want a massive couples shoot with the scenery. Then great. Like I think as long as you remember what's important and chat to like your partner about it and you both on the same wave length of like what's important to us, what do we, what do we want to capture most from our day. What's the key thing and stick to that as most as good as possible. I think it's. It's good to be able to look at least, you know, and you can see like especially people look through, you know, the venues and you can see who's what the venue before, how that look and. Sometimes need a bit of inspiration. Don't you? Like it's can be hard to imagine. Like your wedding somewhere if you just looking at a completely blank scene. Or so. I suppose it. It can be good for that and. Even just seeing who? Yeah, who's worked there before, which can be useful for like certain suppliers, like there's a few facts I think are good. But I do think you can easily get in a rabbit hole like say, a Pinterest of Instagram of, you know, any platform where you're just getting stuck on like.

Hannah

Seen so much.

Scott

Yeah, like, oh, I love this I love that I love this and you've got like, and then suddenly you’ve got so much going on your day. You know, it's almost too overwhelming. Or you might get lost, whether that's financially or just like, say, just follow trends that maybe you're not bothered about. If you're asking yourself, like, why are we doing this? And if you're like, well, we just think it's fun or we love it or it's traditional to us, then great.

Freya

Yeah.

Scott

But if you're just doing it cause it's like ohh, just saw it and I thought I was the thing that people do now we're just going to do it. It can be a bit like, yeah, it can ruin it a little bit in a way though.

Freya

Yeah, I mean, I had a a meeting with one of my couples who's getting married in April. And I said, you know, are you feeling apprehensive or stressed about anything on the day? And they said the parts that they were feeling like that about they've just removed them.

Hannah

Brilliant.

Freya

I thought that that was excellent. They they said that they felt worried about ranking their friends and choosing bridesmaids and groomsmen, not doing bridesmaids and groomsmen. They felt worried about first dance not doing it, you know, just all those things that feel stressful. Why you? Why are you doing it? Yeah.

Hannah

Why I think it's important for, and sometimes couples do need a little bit. They need somebody to say it's OK. You don't have to do something that you don't want to do. And you know, a lot of my couples go. Oh, we don't really understand the cake cut or we're not really too sure about this or what or why do we need, you know, to factor this in. All we wanna do is chat and you know, and drink and and celebrate. And it is like some things logistically you need to do. For for it to work and for it to pan out and to run smoothly, but other things no, just scrap them.

Freya

Them. Yeah. I mean, you know, what are all the like the cake? Like, doing a first dance? I mean it's only a thing because people have done it before. And if if you can't dance. I am one of those people. Why would? Why would I want? You know, all of my friends and family watching me awkwardly moving my feet, yeah.

Scott

Yeah, I think that's the thing, isn't it? Like, I mean, if if things like it's like a wedding tradition and that's important to you then. Great. Like that's, you know, go with it sort of thing and it. But yeah, don't feel you have to. I think sometimes you get family pressures, I think, which is completely understandable, like and you can see how that sometimes affects it. And again, not saying just completely mug off your family and don't do or say but like, try and think of it as like what's important to us as a couple. Or what's? Yeah, like.

Hannah

It's easy to get that unwanted advice, isn't it? And it's filtering out what's important to you and what you're doing because you feel that Granny has said. It's been a family tradition for 50 years that you need to do it, yeah.

Scott

Yeah, don't compare yourself like other because as that’s the thing is, you know often and not always the case, but often you people get married at, you know, it's a similar age and a lot of your friends start get married at the same time as well. So you go into a lot of weddings and then you can easily get caught just comparing yourself to like everyone else, almost kind of sometimes, like, oh well there when was great and we want our to be great. And you know, so I think you can lose track a little bit when you're just in the wedding, like minefield of just seeing so much now, so many images out there and content and everything in as a supplier. It's similar, isn't it? Like so much wedding photography content out there, I found myself looking at loads of stuff and then I'm like, questioning myself sometimes.

Freya

Yeah, yeah.

Scott

And so it's the same for a couple of, isn't it? Like I think if you can just stay true to what you want. And whether it's super traditional like, looks like a royal wedding. Whether it's like, say, just super chill. Just going to chuck a marquee, up in your parents garden and not do anything wedding based. Then whatever works for you like you.

Freya

Yeah, brilliant. Yeah. And I think finding suppliers that complement that and that understand that's really important. You know, one of my favourite ever weddings, I was the only thing that they paid for.

Hannah

Wow.

Freya

It was at their local, very unattractive Community Church, you know, made out of like the most awful stone it. Was it was not a pretty church. But you know, one of their family friends married them, so that was free. They got every single guest to bring a plate of something to eat.

Hannah

Oh wow.

Then raided aunts and uncles and her parents like cupboards for crockery and it was so mismatched and just incredible, you know.

Hannah

Perfectly imperfect.

Freya

Yeah. That was perfect. Yeah, that was what they wanted. They were gardeners. So they just kind of went into their garden on the morning, picked up loads of flowers. And did it did it themselves? I mean, for some people, that'd be really stressful but. That was what they wanted to do. She made her own veil, you know?

Hannah

Wow.

Freya

Incredible. Yeah.

Hannah

So then, for couples who have been on Instagram social media, they've got an idea of who they want. What's the kind of next stage then for them to start inquiring looking at pricing. I know one of my biggest bugbears is when suppliers don't put pricing on the website.

Freya

So annoying.

Hannah

You know just. You're making it really challenging for couples to navigate and to understand how much you're like what what the package is.

Freya

What Is the price.

Hannah

Yeah.

Freya

When you, you know, generally people only plan a wedding once. That that's the general vibe. So as a for example, with a florist, you know, I know that I can go into a local supermarket and pick up a decent ish bouquet of flowers for 15 pounds. OK, so it's my my wedding day. I'll be playing a slight premium. So what? A bouquet is going to cost me £50. Like, I don't even know where I'm starting with floristry, so to see even if florists have a minimum spend value which is completely understandable, you know if it's their full time job, there's only so. They can only do generally one or two weddings a week. You know, they would probably want a a bigger budget wedding, but fine. But tell tell me

Hannah

Somebody, yeah.

Freya

what that price is. You know, if if I'm thinking I can get a bouquet for I don't know £80. And then I get a quote back and it's 300. OK, if you know, if that's what you want me to pay, that's fine. But I would like. To know like to know.

Hannah

Like to know why? Well, what's gone into the cost, you know? Is it because you saw all Dutch imports? Is it because you work specifically with a local grower? Is it because I want a massive floral arch? You know, what is it that I need to understand where my budget is going? Because everybody has a budget no matter what, no matter what it is, you have a budget that you're working towards and everybody needs to factor that in with the venue, with the photographer, with the catering, drinks, how much they've got to spend and if you've got no indication of price. It is really challenging to know how to to move forward with that.

Freya

Yeah, like if I didn't go in, you know, supermarket shopping and there being no pricing on the shelves, I mean that would be so irritating.

Hannah

Really stressful.

Freya

Yeah. So I think, you know, starting planning, obviously the the main thing is the date. And then the venue would be the first things that you book. And then from then on you know, if for example it was a church wedding and getting the church booked and and the vicar nailed down or a civil ceremony registrars, I'm not sure. It will be, it will be. It will vary council to council, won't it? How far in advance they'll book and things. But yeah, like I as a photographer, I book about kind of a year, a year and a half. In advance I used. To book much further in advance, and then the pandemic happened and trying to. Unravel and help and support 2-3 years worth of couples was was really challenging, so from from then on I've kind of gone. You know what's the what's the point in having something in the diary like three years down the line and it's very tired, tying for me for me? As well, you know, personally.

Hannah

If you wanna book a holiday or something, or you want to.

Freya

Hannah & Scott

Wow.

Freya

Hannah

It's good that couples. Know what they want? Yeah, definitely.

Freya

Hats off to them.

Scott

If you've got a dream venue then I guess. Like it makes sense because you could be like look. Yeah, we know what this venue we want a certain you know, especially like Saturday in August or you want a very certain date at your anniversary date when you met or whatever. You know, if it's a peak summer date, I can understand people getting venues in like fairly early if they, you know, they know that's for. Sure, what they want.

Hannah

Especially cause venues do book up quite far in advance because they can normally only do one wedding a day or a weekend.

Scott

Yeah, exactly. But yeah, lots of suppliers like don't be surprised if yeah, if they say, look, you're gonna have to come back a bit later down the line or, you know, if you're 2-3 years out, it can be, it can be hard. I think anywhere from like 18 months, two years at most, it's probably a fair thing to start like looking. But you know there's.

Freya

Yeah, yeah.

Scott

Sometimes I find like I get loads of inquiries for just the same date and then for some reason I have one Saturday night September that's just free.

Freya

Oh yeah.

Scott

Weird. So yeah, not I would say like you can still reach out to people, some will plan weddings like literally a couple of months don’t they and it can be done. But yeah, I think a good ballpark is like 18 months ish to start, like trying to get. Your supplies booked in. It's probably like a bad shout.

Freya

Yeah, but yeah, but you know, don't be put off by if you want to get married in six months time. Like you said, you do have the odd Saturday available. I've got a call this week for a wedding in two months, two months time, and it's not because they've, you know, had a photographer and the photographers cancelled. They've literally just really chill and.

Hannah

Decided that they now want a photographer.

Freya

Yeah, they've got the venue and they're like, oh, right now we need to do the rest of the suppliers. But yeah, there are, you know. There are guides out there I believe I have a guide on my website free free download. That's a little.

Scott

Very organised. I I do not have that.

Freya

That’s a little timeline tick list type thing that just kind of goes down you know what you need to do and at what point. It’s not got things on there, there's some online where it's like a arrange of coffee with your new mother-in-law like.

Hannah

Yeah, yours is not quite that detailed is it but it’s very helpful.

Freya

Yeah. So it's more like kind of suppliers and and timelines and things to to think about, you know, getting the legal bits down like the ceremony and and that and then yeah, what you want to go around that. But I think you need to prioritise. You know what's important to you as well. If, for example, you want a really amazing floral display, then I'd probably say book your florist first.

Hannah

Yeah.

Freya

But you know, having having that chat with your partner as well and seeing what what they think and what they're bothered about.

Hannah

Definitely. From a planner's point of view I couldn't agree more with that, like booking your must haves having like a three to five sort of crucial key list of the things that are really, really important for you, because for me when I'm advising my couples, it's always helpful to budget around them. So you are spending the money on the things that mean most and then you are maybe not compromising, but you know what budget you have less of the things that are less important. And I think, you know, everybody is going to have those must haves that they, they need to sort of focus on because nobody has an unlimited budget unfortunately.

Freya

No. Everyone has a budget. No matter how big or small, and you know you can go to every end of every of like each end of the spectrum for every single supplier, like we were saying about florists. You know, if you just did like buttonholes or bouquets that you're probably looking at a few 100 pounds versus you know you can literally spend 10s of thousands of pounds on you like a big arch at the top of the aisle and flowers down the aisle, and if you're having bridesmaids bridesmen, groomsmen, groomswomen. You know, buttonholes, bouquets.

Hannah

The list is endless.

Freya

Yeah. It adds up. Yeah. So you've gotta you've gotta know what what it is that you want?

Hannah

Say what happens then? If you've get couples who have a very limited budget, because obviously we've all got our prices on our website. But obviously some couples will only have a couple of 100 quid to spend on a photographer. What's the kind of advice that for those couples?

Freya

I would say like try not to stretch it. So what I mean by that is you know as a I'm a professional photographer, it's my full time job, I don't do anything else. Scott's the the same, you know, each like every person, every photographer in the industry will have different circumstances and their their pricing will reflect that and reflect, you know, the demand on them. But you know I I offer shorter coverage, not just full day. You know, I really enjoyed shooting the kind of smaller like registry, office ceremonies in lockdown. When that started to to be allowed and you could have 6 guests, it was just. It felt really, really special, so I wanted to keep photographing that. So yeah, I offer I offer a package for that and that would kind of fit that budget about there, but you know I've. I've seen friends, people, well, friends, people always at like primary school with so people that I knew I've seen, you know, photos go on on Facebook and things. They've clearly had a a smaller budget for a photographer and what and video and what they've ended up doing is trying to split that and have both at a very small budget.

Hannah

Rather than.

Freya

Yeah. So, you know, hiring people who are basically straight out of college and school, which, you know, if you're not that bothered about your photography then? Absolutely. Go for it and you know everyone starts somewhere. But yeah, it just it feels like a big shame because then. The photo and video that they get back really isn't that good a quality.

Scott

Yeah, it's tricky, isn't it? Because I think we've talked obviously beginning about styles and like that. I think if you if you have a certain style that you definitely want, you're drawn towards. And yeah, I think if you have like certain photographers or like certain styles you definitely want then not as a paid premium, but like you know. Probably gonna have to pay for it in reality is the. Case that like.

Hannah

Experience isn't it, that that photographer has been through? It's the years of, you know, honing their craft that has brings that premium really isn't.

Scott

It yeah, my style has changed, you know, over the years of things. Become maybe more important to me. I'm more drawn like, say, a lot more to documentary style now just because I've kind of seen how for me how I feel. Like I want people to experience their wedding photography and they, you know, when they get the photos back, I want them to see the real personalities from their, you know, their friends and family. They know, like they know their personalities and you know, I feel like if I start asking people to move and look certain ways and all that it just changes any of that natural sort of candidness. So that's, you know, I've just learned that over time it's not how I've always been. So I can say I suppose that as my styles honed, my price has gone up and really probably if you want a very specific thing you are going to have to like pay a little bit for it in general like you can get lucky. I think if you just want, if you put it small where you just want like a certain kind of like we just want some photos of the day. We just want to remember it. We want to be able to see some pictures. That's it. We don't necessarily really fuss on a certain style, even or like you can get away like say with students. With friends or friends, you could get lucky like there's there is options to obviously not have no one at all. You know to not have a photographer. All there's obviously gonna be a lot worse. But yeah, I do think if you really are interest in photography or have that care, I think you should probably try and like, say budget at least stretch a budget for that, even if there's other things you can remove a little bit maybe.

Freya

Yeah. I mean, you know, at the end of the day. After, after your wedding day, the photos are the only things that you take away from it and the reason why, you know, professional photographers charge what they charge is I mean very basic level our our camera gear is worth and probably have 25 thousand at this point. Yeah. And you know from from that obviously the insurance that we need, the the business insurance that we need. If you have an an office space, you know doing it full time and photographing, like I said, I did 60, 60 weddings in in one year. I mean, they all need to go somewhere, you know, the storage for that, how you deliver them to the clients. You know, there's all these these costs that people don't see, and if you're only doing a couple of weddings a year or you're doing it part time or. You know, you're you're a student. Out of college and you're kind of doing it for some money on the side you've probably not got those those costs, which you know, it's great, it means you can't charge a lot. I mean, when I when I started out, I think my first couple of years I made absolutely no money because I'd gone from working a a job where I was on minimum wage and I was like, what do you mean I can charge 900 pounds? For a day's work like, that's ridiculous. I used to get £8.00 an hour, but yeah, you do that for a year or so and. End up. I mean, I was living at home, so I hadn't no cost. But you know, as soon as you start doing like the adult things, like needing to pay rent. Ohh actually I have no money. Yeah, and this is supposed to be a job, and it's supposed to, you know, it's supposed to have some kind of income from it. So yeah. I think that's the thing that you need to think about with. With cost is what comes from that and generally it is experience.

Hannah

And as well, everybody offers something different. So for instance, like myself, I'm quite different to other planners. My on the day, my partial, my full planning might be a different package to what somebody else would offer. So what you include in both of your packages, like some include second shooters, some include like engagement shoots like everybody offers something different. So it's important to look through the packages that you're being offered to work out, which is you know what's included in those costs as well.

Freya

Well, yeah. Completely. Yeah. And you know. I've I put a lot of effort into getting to know my clients. I mean couples, friends at the at the end of it, because for me, I think that that can photograph them better. You know, if I've met them at least twice before the wedding day, I'm not turning up as some stranger, you know, I know the. The family dynamics they've they've told me the the awkwardness, like the things I need to look out for. They've told me that actually, they're a lot closer to their dad than they are to their mum. So I will watch for those interactions with, you know, those specific family members. Yeah, and. Like, that's obviously factored into my pricing, but I I don't put that on my my website. So yeah, I think once you've got a kind of idea of who you're looking at supplier wise like speaking to them having a call, I mean you, you know you don't need to go all out and speak to like 16 people. I've had some clients who are like that. Yeah, very thorough. They were all in the event industry.

Hannah

That would be why. (laughter)

Freya

But you know, just schedule a couple of calls. See. See what you think, see if you get a vibe like with photography especially it's really important that you get on with your photographer because we are there all day on your wedding day and if we're not mates that is awkward.

Hannah

Yeah, because you're catching those really intimate, raw moments as well. You know when you're getting ready, obviously you're not stark naked, but. Like you're but you're.

Freya

Well sometimes. (laughing)

Hannah

Catching those really intimate kind of moments and you want somebody who you feel comfortable around and who gels with you and your personality and who you're happy capturing those moments.

Freya

Yeah. And you know, for some people. Also, you know, gender comes into it like my partner Chris. He's a photographer as well and he has people book him because they're, you know, the brides are quite tomboy and they want more of a male approach than a a female approach. And then I have people book me because, you know, they I feel like I have quite a good attention to detail, I think stereotypically, that is a more female trait. So yeah, that. You know, I think that that comes into play as well. Especially with photography and videography.

Scott

Yeah, I mean it is it's it's difficult because like, say if you look at and you know I'm not saying specific photographers, but you look at most photographers websites, they're going to say like you know on the pricing page, if you've got one or you know when you talk about pricing like a pre, you know pre meet, pre chat, whatever meeting before the wedding and you know consultation where you want to call and everyone says that. But there is definitely varying degrees of that, like you touched on like I'm the same. I want where I can and like I will shoot some couples who like, say, live in London. And I'm obviously the north and doesn't always work out, but as much as I can, I'll try and meet them either at their home, somewhere local to them. They're comfortable at the venue, like somewhere that's comfortable to them. We're literally sitting sometimes. You could just. You know, half an hour maybe we're just chatting through stuff. Sometimes it's like a couple of hours. I'll sometimes chat to couples. And like you say, it's like for me. When I'm at a wedding day, they've just come out of church or wherever they get married and maybe doing confetti. Then they're hugging everyone that's like the obvious thing, right? That's the next thing to do. It's like, right, I'm going to hug all my friends and family, and I've just got married and I'm excited and happy. And and that's like for me, one of the best times I want to be able to know what my focus on here because you know, where do I want to be standing, who's going to be important. For like the couple?

Freya

Yeah.

Scott

Who they're gonna be like, I don't know, hugging first or what's going to be and little things like that. I can only really get that insight from chatting to them.

Freya

Yeah.

Scott

Yeah, find out. Like, say, well, you know, just talk a bit about. I know your parents together and like you, I think you mentioned there like is that is really close to their dad or the really close their mom or their anti raise them or whatever it is it could be loads of little points you just pick up just in the sort of conversation with them a bit and you know my sibling don't know we're really close but he's moved to Australia or so we don't see him much he's coming over for the wedding and like so OK that interaction is important and. You know you can't, whether there's one of you where you got a second shot where you can't cover absolutely everything. So you just like, say what you're basically paying for a photographer to know when to take that picture essentially? Aren't you like,

Freya

Yeah.

Scott

What's going to be the important moment? Where to stand for that moment? You know, trying to pre-empt it and things like that and so much going on in my mind, I always think, how can I get that across the couples to understand that's what you're paying for almost, you know. And that's why it might seem more expensive than other photographers say. Well, you know why are my consultation not just 10 minutes on zoom, so I what time you get into the church? Right. What time you getting ready? Right. I'll see you. See you on Saturday at 10. Done. You know, like there's much more to it that, but like Freya says she doesn't have it on her website or don't necessarily convey it, but it's there. And that's just, I would always say to any couple like just even if you look at the price you think wow like 2 grand, 2 1/2 grand like. That's way out budget. Let's just completely write them off. You know, if you really love the style and you think, OK, great. At least you know, you can still arrange a chat. It's maybe not for everyone, but pretty much I'm pretty sure they're free.

Freya

Yeah it’s free.

Scott

Freya

We meet in the middle. Whatever.

Scott

like, say, you can cover a bit less or yeah maybe do a bit less coverage. Like I always stay till really late. Maybe I could just stay, you know, not quite as late or, you know, we can just chat about things. If you really love someone, at least reach out and see. But you know I'm still a big fan of saying to couples like, yeah, stretch where you can, but don't go overboard because you know, if you do that with every supplier, suddenly you've got massive debt thing from your wedding and that's not, I would always say that's not obviously ideal.

Scott

Yeah, it's definitely worth chatting.

Hannah

It’s going on that gut feeling as well, isn't it? When you're having that call, it is so important because it is. It is going with what your gut is saying. If you like the vibe, if you like, you know what? You're kind of hearing if you've had a little catch up and a meet it is, you know, going for somebody that you feel that you're going to gel with. And I think that's when. I hear because I hear a lot from my couples about why they chose their suppliers and it is always because uh, we just felt that like I could go for a coffee with them.

Freya

Yeah. Yeah. And I think, you know, that's a it's a massive compliment. But at the at the end, you know, I'm not going to get on with everybody I'm you know. We're we're all. We all have our own personalities and that comes across you know how I I photograph a wedding day and you know. Like that, that it's not going to be. It's not going to go down well with everyone that.

Hannah

And that, that's fine, isn't it? And that's that's why you go through this filtering process for as much for the supplier as well as the couple to say, look, I just don't think we're going to gel. I just don't think I can capture what you need me to and here's a recommendation of somebody who I think you're going to be perfect with and there's nothing wrong with that. That's perfectly acceptable.

Freya

No. Yeah. You know, if you're, if you feel like your relationship with your photographer is you need to send them to A4 pages of every single photo, you want taking if you want to do that and you need that for your peace of mind, then great. And you know you need to book somebody. Who? Who will do that? Can't do that for you.

Hannah

Because you're the more candid, the more natural.

Freya

Yeah. And if I'm sticking to a list, I know that I'm gonna. I'm gonna miss the real moments. And for me, that's so painful that I replay a wedding day over in my head, days after the the day. And if I feel like I've missed any you know, any key moments? It really sticks with me, so. Yeah, I just need to be as present as I can and and capture those those moments for you.

Scott

Yeah, it's a lot of those lists now. Like you look at some of the big websites, hitch, things like that offer, like downloadable list to send you photographer and stuff. And like I understand it like I get where they're coming from and and and why. But generally, like say if you're booking the right person, then you should. You should realise that they they know what they're doing. They're going to capture what you know. You love their work. They're going to capture what's important. It's part of that experience thing. Like you just need the freedom. I can't get a list out on the day and look at it like bride walking down the stairs or something. Like like what? Tick. Oh, I didn't get. Can you go back up? You know, like, I just, you know, trust in your like, suppliers, photographer or whoever just to get. Yeah, to know. They know what they're doing. They'll get those key shots or get, you know, the things that you've seen. About their work, they love that you love. And that's why you're kind of hiring them which?

Hannah

I normally say it's quite good if you've got, say, you spent a lot on your flowers and flowers are important to kind of, just mention it and just say look, flowers are really important to us. Yeah, we just need them capturing.

Scott

So you said on your right, didn't you? They were like, ohh, they're big, florists are like they went picked from the garden like, yeah, all those points like obviously it's important then I would straight away be like OK great. Like the flowers are hugely. And let I'll make sure. Obviously we capture them of course like it's all you know, part of it and I'll try and get lots of in context. So obviously, if I'm there at the time, depending on how well they're picking the flowers, I'd love to, you know, be out there like getting some pictures and picking it. But even if not that, like you get some of the flowers, it's important. We feel like we've just, you know, I don't know. We've just got the flowers in the garage, not bothered. So we just wanted to have something. We've got them and they're not a key thing then. Yeah, won't spend that long on it necessarily. You know, you still gonna get photos? Obviously, walking down the aisle with flowers or something, but yeah, just not gonna spend a lot of time on it. The other things, it's just that call comes out to that little chat sort of period, doesn't it, they say where? Understanding what's important, knowing that we all know what you know from our chats, what's important to you and. Yeah, sort of thing.

Freya

Yeah. And, you know, opening up to your photographer, like feeling comfortable enough to be able to share things I've done. I've done a couple of weddings where one of the parents of the couple have come out as gay. Great. You know, fine. Happy, you know, happy for you that you've that that's happened. But it was clearly a traumatic experience for the couple and they've not told me that. And then it's been on the wedding day where, you know, I'm, I'm aware that the parents have split and I will try and capture you know the couples together, so I know that, for example, the groom's mum has remarried a man. So I will try and get some photos of them together. But what I didn't know was that the groom's dad had also remarried a man up until it was the first dance and they were stood with their arms around each other. I just thought you should just told me.

Hannah

I wish I’d known.

Freya

Yeah, if you'd have told me that I, you know, because they were sat next to each other during the ceremony. But because I didn't know that they were together, you know, I might just shoot a close up portrait of the dad rather than getting the partner. Yeah, but yeah, you've you've obviously, you've got to feel comfortable enough with your photographer to be able to share.

Hannah

Those details.

Freya

Those details.

Scott

Yeah, I always give an example like I try and have a few stories like. That's a great one like that. I can say to couples when I'm chatting to them just to give my idea like sometimes like, Oh yeah, well, you know, I'll give you timings and stuff. And I'm like, yeah, let's, we'll have a beer. Let's just chat, you know, we'll chat a bit about this, maybe fully understand why I need certain things. So I'm like, you know, it might seem trivial to them or so. I try and have a few examples and one always gives like my mum dad split up when I was four. My dad moved abroad when I was like 8 ish 9 something like that. So like I've got a few memories, but generally I don't remember my mum and dad together obviously as I was four.

Freya

Yeah

Scott

And then I don't remember them really being together like they do a drop off and pick up like on every other weekend. Then my dad moved abroad. So like, I've never really seen them interact. Obviously they're my parents. It's like to me, they're both me in the world, but I'm going to see them together or like so when both my brothers got married like within, like a year of each other. So obviously they were both at the wedding. Like we didn't know what they be like. We were like, well, they're both going to be there. We knew they'd be, like, not going to fight. But like.

Freya

Yeah.

Scott

We didn't know if they would the chat, would they just avoid each other? Like what? You know, how's it going to be and to the three, like me and my two brothers, obviously they’re our parents, it's like, so, you know, such a big part of our lives, but individually so we like would be nice to see them together, but we just didn't know how it would be. But some of the photos there, but they did have a chat and they were like having a drink and having a laugh. And it was really nice to see, but obviously that's just two people having a laugh and the photographer would probably capture the odd photo of it, but it's not. It wouldn't be something where, like desperately that, you know, we know how important that is to the groom, to the, you know, the family. Whereas obviously you know and I think my brother did say this anyway, but because they chatted a bit about it and they're like, look, this is the situation with the parents or whatever. Like you know, if they are together, it'd be nice to have that and just little things like that and they just in the back of your mind then. On the day to then be able to like, you know, capture that stuff.

Hannah

And there for your personal moments, like your memories, aren't they when you're looking back through your album or your gallery, you've then got those moments that you can really cherish that, like you said to somebody else, would mean absolutely nothing. But to you, they're very personal and emotive.

Freya

Yeah, they're of the key people. Yeah, my, my, like last meeting that I have with my couples before their wedding day. The last question I was asked them is what do you want to see when you look back at your wedding photos?

Hannah

That's lovely.

Freya

What's really important to you because you know, we'll we might have gone through the whole booking process and they'll have said like. I just want candid stuff, blah, blah blah. You know, it might come down to it and they say like, we just want some really nice portraits of the two of us. You know, that's not been mentioned at any point before now. And you know, it means that, like, obviously on a wedding day, I will always do couple portraits. Generally the couples who book me only really want 10 minutes. You know, with me just going for a walk around the field or wherever they are, just nice natural photos. But yeah, we ended up spending. I did a wedding where where they said we want some really nice portraits together and I brought them out twice during the day. So once, like, throughout the drinks reception for 10 minutes, and then we did about 20 minutes in the evening, you know, just with the, with the sunset and and things. And they loved it. They really, really enjoyed it. But I I didn't know that that was what they wanted up until that point. So yeah, just kind of thinking about that. And you know, like what you said, Scott. You know, seeing those family members interact, like communicating that’s key.

Hannah

Is that why it's quite nice then to have, because I think you both offer sort of prints, don't you post wedding? Is that why it's quite nice to be able to have an album or some prints or something, so then you can look back on those moments. The ones that are really important to you.

Freya

I think having a physical product in your hand is just it's so special. I mean, you know, photos were printed, you used to in the. Back in the day.

Scott

The good old days.

Freya

In the good old days you had, you know, you had film cameras, you got them developed and you got them printed. There was no digital. You couldn't view them on a phone or a computer. And I, you know, I kind of feel like that's how photos are meant to be viewed. Not just aimlessly scrolled through on your phone. So yeah, I still still do do prints for all of my. All of my couples I'll go through and print, you know, a a selection from the day so that they do get a physical, physical product at the end of it because, you know, you hold one singular 7 by 5 print in your hand and you can really look at that one photo.

Hannah

Relive that memory.

Freya

Yeah. Whereas you know when it's on your phone, I don't know. I think you just kind of scroll past it. It's one of those things that's it's a bit of a throw away moment. I don't know, maybe it's because it's so easily accessible. Yeah. You know, the first thing you do in the morning is pick your phone up. I know it's not. It shouldn't be. Yeah. Ohh. But you know Instagram. Ohh, let's just open that Facebook. It's the same thing. Whereas having like a a physical print in your hand, it just feels different. So yeah, I I do do print. All of my galleries are linked to an online like print lab as well that I recommend, and people can order straight through the gallery and have prints delivered to them. I don't mark them up really at all because I it's more important to me that people have the physical product than I make, you know, £5 off of every 6 by 4 print. But you know that's just that's a priority for me. And then I do offer albums, fewer people tend to go for them. I think it's because it's kind of the last thought of the wedding. Yeah.

Hannah

Yeah. After we spend all that money, you then do have a fork out a few £100.00 on an album.

Freya

They are absolutely beautiful. I can remember when I I got my first like sample album back from the company that I use and they are like the best. I think they're the best company in the UK that you can use for albums quality wise. Obviously you end up paying for it, but yeah, the the albums that they that they produce. The quality of the the print of the photograph looks better than it does on the screen.

Hannah

Yeah, I bet.

Freya

I have no idea how they do it or what printers they use, but honestly it absolutely took my breath away and you know it, it's just been my grandparents, like 60th wedding anniversary, I think. And you know, we all all went down and they live on the South Coast and my two brothers, my cousins were there and they dig, dug their album out of. We all sat around and, you know, looking through it and like, who's that person? And Ohh Granny, you know, look at your dress (laughter) and those flowers. You know the flowers that like the bouquets that go all the way to the floor?

Hannah

Ohh wow. Yeah. Trailing bouquets.

Freya

Yeah. And you know, to me, just having having that hairloom you like that?

Hannah

That you can relive.

Freya

Yeah. So yeah, it is. Albums are an investment. But my God, they're worth it. Like, I just think they're worth every penny. But yeah, out of all the weddings that I've done, I think last year. Well, like in 18 months, I've done about 100, just over 100. Because of COVID and I've only had three album orders from it, yeah.

Hannah

Oh, that's such a shame.

Scott

Freya

Oh yeah.

Scott

Amazing star, but like you're going to do that six months, maybe two years, maybe ten years, maybe 20, like it's it's a lot to do, isn't it? Whereas when you've got an album, you're just picking like, dunno, 50-60 or 100, maybe Max. Whatever images from the day telling a bit of the story of the day picking your favourite photos. I don't know. Like I also get the couples to pick the photos. I think that's fairly standard, but you know, you pick your favourite ones, just telling about the story of the day, the way kind of and those they feel the same Freya. The way I lay it out. Try and do it. Obviously kind of chronologically for the day. Yeah, and. You know you can just look through that at any point. It takes like 5 minutes or you can treasure it and take longer. But you know, you just open it up, you've got the physical feel. Look through anyone at any age doesn't matter what you know, screen or you know how they scrolling any of that. It's just everyone understands a book. Don't they have any age like you sit and look and see that story again, just in like. You know a few pages. Like for me just it is great, but like it's hard to sometimes you kind of sound a bit sales. You don't, you?

Freya

I know I hate it.

Scott

Might have like couples say like. Well, you would say that you would say you should have an album like you mean? And I'm saying you don't put massive markup like they are expensive but they're expensive to make.

Freya

They’re expensive for us.

Scott

They're all handmade like I get often obviously the couples names like you know.

Freya

Engraved.

Debossed do you call it debossed? Anyway on the front so it’s like they, you know, that has to be made that physically has to be made and then that stamped on the front and all this like all the options, everything is like say it's all handmade and yeah, they're just so nice and they they are like a lifetime, you know, investment. I don't know. I just think they’re underrated massively, but I understand. You know, it's a lot of expense on top of an already expensive day. So I do get that and I like, I'm happy for you to download, make their own books and stuff. It's not going to be the same.

Freya

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Scott

Quality obviously, but like it's still nice just to print anyway, even if you just print them and you can just like say loose prints, just print something and have a look. So I think even especially even more so now like your kids and kids have kids and stuff like they see less and less prints. Basically, and I know things are coming back a little bit, there's a little bit of resurgence with film now that there is with vinyl think people are appreciating a little bit of that kind of say old school, if that's right term. The physicalness of like things now almost aren't we?

Freya

Yeah, definitely.

Scott

We like, you know, everything. Just everything now is like Spotify, Netflix or whatever. It's on your phone. That's it. No, not really. Hearing a physical vinyl. You're not feeling a print like it's just, I don't know. It's a shame, but yeah, I would love if I like to give a couple of choices. So obviously I know some people don't want albums they don't have to pay for it, which I get. But you know, in an ideal world, I would have every couple have an album, but I know it's not a thing. Obviously, I appreciate that, but.

Freya

Yeah, not everybody you know is the same and wants that. But it's funny. You just said that about vinyl because we bought a vinyl player last year.

Scott

Yeah. So good, aren't they?

Freya

Yeah, I moved into a new house like nearly a year ago on the, I bought a coffee table with a lower shelf so I could have like coffee table books on it. But it's just been really nice. You know, going around and like going to an art gallery and being like, no, I'm going to spend £30 on on a book. Yeah, on a physical product. So yeah, I think that's the that's the thing with albums, it's appreciating. The the hand me downness of them. You know, the fact like, how many times are you gonna are you going to get it out and and and flick through it. Yeah, I think there are beautiful things have and I've seen some people do wedding presents, like before the day and people set up websites. And you know, you can, I don't know, it's not bid. Is it like you can basically buy things for people like.

Hannah

Oh yeah.

Scott

Yeah, like the guest list type wedding present list. It's probably got an actual name, isn't it?

Freya

Yeah.

Hannah

You mean like the wedding list?

Scott

Yeah. You get one, like Amazon doing then, obviously, certain shops you can kinda. Do it. Don't you see films and they go around and they can like, scan items off their list and they scan it to the list and they're. In the shop. But like at that online,

Freya

Yeah, I want this coffee machine.

Scott

Like most times, people want money for, like, honeymoons now don’t they really like, everyone lives together already a lot of times.

Freya

Yeah, but it might be a nice idea. I'm not sure quite how you would do it, but you know, set it up in a way that people can give you, I don't know, £50 towards your wedding album.

Hannah

Aww that’s a lovely idea. I like that.

Freya

I think that would be really nice. Yeah, because I charge around about the £500 mark for mine like I think everybody else is a around about the same. Depends what suppliers you use and stuff you know. I've just had massive price increases from from them. Yeah. But yeah, having people, you know, buy you your wedding album as a present to have afterwards. I think that's a nice idea. Yeah.

Scott

Yeah, it's a nice idea, isn't it? Yeah. Even if, I suppose. Yeah. If you do get cash or like, money or whatever for a wedding present, I guess it's like, say, it's something you could put towards if you, you know, if you are wondering, I guess you could it that way.

Freya

Yeah. But yeah, I feel the same as you Scott I hate being salesy.

Scott

So I just like I like this like one price you get. You know I'm there all day you get your gallery. Like there's no yeah, hidden costs or anything to worry about, like, it's just an easier way almost, isn't it? Like I can try and explain the sell myself in a way of like explaining what you get.

Hannah

Yeah, show the value.

Scott

But then yeah, outside that I want to be like. Yeah, you have this paper type or this like, you know, like I'm selling carpets. Like, here's the swatches of all the different things. This is extra and like I do feel like I do believe they're worth it, but they put the name in gold leaf.

Freya

You can have gold on the front, but yeah, it's an extra 20. Well, yeah. (laughter)

Scott

Freya

That’s such a nice idea.

Scott

So we've got physical book of like, yeah, just a bit obviously. You know, we've got kids or whatever, you know, whatever your situation is it’s like, you know what happened that year and like, I'm not going to scroll back through every post I made on Facebook, but I'm not going to scroll back through Facebook even though I've got loads of photos I I'm pretty good at organising them some very good with wedding photos. Not too bad with personal ones, but you know I've got folders and stuff, but still like, what drives that on and where's that and? Like I don’t sit and look.

Hannah

You don't sit on your computer, do you? No, no.

Scott

I'm just not gonna school from my phone. Sometimes, but yeah, I just don't. It's not the same as if I know. I'll just go anytime and just grab the book and look at the last year that.

Hannah

Is it an album? So is it an album where you print the photos and you put them in like? Or is it a photo book?

Scott

Yeah it's like a photo book. Yeah, I just do it. So I just design it online, so I find it easier. But I do like I I'm a big fan of it, scrapbook style kind of, you know, with a prick like you know the.

Freya

Yeah. So satisfying, yeah.

Scott

Pritt sticks are.

Hannah

Yeah, yeah, little photo corners.

Scott

They called like the like the tube stick. Yeah, you just like you used to like. School project I'd. Love that that would be great. I might even have my kids lab, but they buy some cheap like small 6 by 4 prints or something a few and just let them stick them in a book.

Freya

Yeah. And get, like, little stickers that go over them that. Yeah, I did a I did a scrapbook when I left school and like, printed off all like, our school photos and stuff. But like every page had to be different and like I had to find unique stickers to go. (laughter) On, I mean it was totally overkill, but yeah. I was like the annoying friend at school. You like, brought the camera everywhere. Like you'd come to the school disco with me.

Hannah

This has been like a lifelong thing than the photography.

Freya

I mean, like, I never thought I would do it professionally. I I never thought I'd be able to make money from something creative. Yeah, it's just that I'm not. Good enough. Like, look at all these professional photographers. They're incredible.

Hannah

That's the thing, isn't it? It's doubt that kills things. But yeah, have more confidence in ourselves, yeah.

Scott

It's great if jobs and stuff, it's always just a little bit different, isn't it? It's such a weird thing. It's all a lot of it's like individual perception as well, isn't it and stuff, whereas like, I'm not putting accounts down here. So but like you know, shows different levels, but you know it's like it's sort of right or wrong almost isn't it? So some of the job like that where it's kind of a bit more. Factual almost site.

Freya

Yeah, yeah, I I thought I had to have a real job to make to make money. Yeah. Yeah. But you know my this was not. This was not the path I got forced into this by a family friend who, you know, knew that I loved photography and had been doing photography. You know, as a hobby for like, four or five years since being, I think 14. My my dad bought me a camera for my birthday because I just kept stealing his. But like ever since and then on I've just been obsessed with it. Taking photos.

Hannah

Is an obsession, isn't it?

Freya

Ohh hugely.

Hannah

When in in this industry it has, you have to be completely head over heels and obsessed.

Freya

Yeah, like I, I love it. And you know my like background was very mathsy math. Further math. Physics. Yeah.

Scott

I just been to college on. I don't remember. I got like an F or a U or something like that, it's. So hard, so hard. So why I?

Freya

Yeah, a level is solid. Yeah. But would I always did art on the side and would try and find a way to, like, use photography within that. So I would go out and take photos. And I would draw them and I. Was like, that's art. I'm doing the art because I'm drawing the photos that I've taken. But yeah, and then I like apply to uni to do maths and then very last minute had a a small breakdown about going and and didn't go not really about the subject just about you know moving out and living somewhere. Different and in a big city, I kind of deferred my place for a year and then I had a family friend who she knew, somebody who was a wedding photographer, and we went round to their house for a BBQ and. She was like, right, if you pursued photography at all then Freya. Like, no, not really. And I'm not really planning on it. And she was like, right. And she got her phone out and she phoned her friend that was a photographer there and then and was like, when's your next wedding? And she was like, oh, I don't know, in a couple of months. And she was like, right, came Freya come and second shoot for you. And it was in London. So I went down South and stayed with this family friend and then drove up to London to second shoot this wedding for this woman I’d never met before. Yeah. And I like. Took. I mean, I don't even know what camera a bad one (laughter) not one that was suitable for a church. Yeah, and came away with, like, basically 4 usable photos. And I was like, actually, I think I really enjoyed that. Yeah. Yeah. So that was about six years ago. And then now we're here.

Hannah

Funny isn't it?

Scott

Yeah. So where where can people find out more about you, Freya? Like, where most up to date stuff and.

Freya

I'm trying to update Instagram after 18 months of not really sharing anything because I was just so overwhelmed with, you know, shooting weddings and being present. Yeah. And then website as well. So it's all just my name, Freya Raby. On Instagram and and my website.

Scott

We'll link to everything in the show notes any way and stuff. Yeah, just have a look. Go and check out Freya’s work and yeah, just reach out to photographers if you love them. That's.

Freya

Yeah, definitely.

Hannah

The theme of today.

Freya

Yeah.

Scott

Cool, right? Thank you so much for coming on Freya.

Hannah

It’s been lovely to chat to you, really enjoyed it.

Exit Audio

You have been listening to All Things Weddings. Subscribe for future episodes or head to allthingsweddingspodcasts.com for all the show notes.