When I started as a wedding photographer in the West Midlands about 20 years ago (to fund my university education and Ph.D.), wedding photography was very different from what it is now.
The wedding photos that photographers took in the past were very different from what they shoot today. Dutch angle photography, for example, is no longer popular!!! And thank goodness, because it made people look like they were falling over. Look it up – you’ll soon know what I mean! And I’m not going to mention spot-colouring!!!
Putting aside these photography fads, I admire the work of many Birmingham wedding photographers. I won’t embarrass anyone, but the work of many has remained consistently high over the years.
Most photographers today adopt a reportage style of picture-taking. This was not popular when I first started shooting weddings over 20 years ago, yet it’s a style that made me stand out from other photographers in years past.
Award-Winning Wedding Photography
I was one of the few photographers in Birmingham who took documentary-style wedding photos in the past. And I was one of only two wedding photographers in the Midlands to be part of the Wedding Photojournalist Association.
Some of my inspiration for shooting weddings come from photographers who have probably never photographed a wedding. I am talking about street photographers, such as William Klein, Elliott Erwitt, Mary Ellen Mark, Martin Parr, and many others.
Looking at the pictures of great photographers, and understanding what makes them great, helps me to become better at what I do. I also get inspiration from collecting photobooks published by Steidl: the great German photobook maker and publisher.
With that, check out this selection of wedding photos (some old, some new) taken in Birmingham and the West Midlands over the past 15 years that showcase my award-winning style of candid picture-taking. Enjoy!
West Midlands Wedding Photographer: Looking Back
If you enjoyed reading or viewing the pictures in this blog post about my time as a West Midlands wedding photographer, then please like and share. Thank you!