Wedding Storyteller - About Tom Nicholls, Documentary Photographer

You're a Wedding Photographer, Right?

I photograph weddings and civil partnerships mostly, but I also sell my fine art landscape photography as framed, limited edition prints. I'm based in South-East Cheshire, which is an excellent central location and allows me to shoot weddings throughout the UK.

Your style is "Documentary", what does that mean??

A documentary wedding photographer is, above all, a wedding storyteller. The principle is to record what happens on the day, to give a sense of the flow and significance of your wedding day. He/she relies on capturing that "decisive moment" - a significant event, or perhaps the most fleeting of expressions that, once gone, is gone forever.

The documentary approach enables me to capture natural and realistic expressions. I feel strongly that it is the most beautiful and elegant way to portray a wedding.

It's a policy of non-interference. I recently read in a wedding magazine that the photographer's job is to "organise the day and ensure that the wedding party is in the right place at the right time". I personally disagree with this, and certainly in the 21st century my more discerning clients would rather that I was there to record what happens on this most memorable of days rather than dominate. Documentary photographs can breathe life into a wedding album many years later and an added bonus is that the approach will certainly take one of the stress factors away from the wedding couple on the day.

Of course, every wedding photographer could claim to be a storyteller. But my desire is to create a set of pictures with artistic merit and which, seen together in an album, has more value than a simple collection of individual photographs. Post-production of images in my own particular style is a very important part of the process.

Why Don't I See Many Posed Photographs in Your Portfolio?

There's one simple reason for this - a posed photograph almost never represents a true likeness of the person photographed (the photograph of me to the right is a case in point!). His or her expression changes as soon as he/she is aware of being photographed. This is why many people shy away from the camera. If you are looking for a more "fashion show" approach, then my photography probably isn't for you!

Do You Mean "Warts and All" Photography?

Absolutely not! This is a happy occasion, and I'm hired to convey the sense of joy and significance that prevails on the day.

Does That Mean No Posed Photographs?

You and your loved ones may value having a small number of posed photographs and group shots, and I'm happy to oblige but suggest that this is kept fairly low-key.

What About Albums?

I highly recommend that you take a look at the Jorgensen wedding albums page to see the quality of the products on offer. I've always placed the utmost importance on displaying wedding photographs in the best way possible, and my Jorgensen and Graphistudio albums are of the best that you will find anywhere.

Can I just have a disk?

Yes, this option is available.

Do the digital versions have your logo on them?

No, digital images are full-resolutions and logo-free so that you can print them at home or take to a professional printer.

Will you Travel away from The Midlands and North West?

I'm actually a Londoner who has recently moved up to Cheshire, but I cover weddings throughout the UK. Recent weddings have included London, Cheltenham and the Dorset Coast. I may make a charge for travel or for an overnight stay.

Do you Carry Insurance?

I'm fully insured with public liability (£1,000,000) and professional indemnity insurance (£25,000). I ask that you carry the necessary insurance to cover against any additional costs or risks.

How Can I Book You For My Wedding?

Contact me first, and, if I'm available, a £300 booking fee will secure the date.

Weddings and Landscapes - That's an Interesting Combination?

Most wedding photographers also take on all sorts of other work and landscape photography is a particular passion of mine. The documentary style is well suited to both weddings and landscapes and I use the same approach for both. Both require a good understanding of artistic composition and how the light affects a photograph. I would hope that my artistic vision flows seamlessly from one to the other and that you can see the similarity.

Of course, wedding photography is a faster-moving environment, but the decisive moment is important in landscapes too, perhaps as light or clouds come together in a particular pattern for a second or two. Some of my wedding clients also have my landscape art on their walls.

Are your Photographs For Sale?

Most of my landscape and travel images are for sale as A4-size (12x8 inch) prints - available by request. From time-to-time I also release a set of limited edition framed and mounted A3 (16x12) prints which are available for a short period. Do get in contact if you want to be informed of any offers. Watch the blog for details of my latest landscapes.