Whats up, I’m Steve Grogan, a Manchester-based marriage ceremony photographer. I’ve been capturing weddings professionally since 2014.
If I’m being sincere, in case you’d have advised me ten years in the past that I’d have been a full-time marriage ceremony photographer, I might have laughed at you. I need to admit to having a couple of pre-conceptions about marriage ceremony images earlier than I began out, I believed it was all slightly boring and never for a second did I believe it could be of curiosity to me.
However then I did my analysis and found that you might {photograph} a marriage any approach you wished to, so long as your {couples} had been joyful, that’s all that issues. Over time I’ve developed my very own photographic type and now I stay by my enterprise mantra – ‘Don’t Settle For Boring Marriage ceremony Photographs!’
I’ve been involved in images because the early Nineties after I was finding out Artwork & Design in school. The artwork studio had a few darkrooms and I started to experiment with movie images utilizing the Pentax K1000 cameras that belonged to the faculty. I used to be hooked, however it could be one other 20 years earlier than I lastly plucked up the braveness to give up my job in Monetary Providers to go full time as a contract photographer.
Cameras
I’ve simply invested in two Canon EOS R6 mirrorless our bodies and on first impressions, I am completely blown away by them. The advances in know-how since I final purchased new cameras are astonishing. I’m nonetheless utterly in awe of the eye-tracking autofocus system.
I nonetheless have my previous Canon 6D cameras which I’ll maintain in my automobile boot as emergency backups on a marriage day.
Lenses
On a marriage day, I’ve at all times labored with a quite simple three lens setup. A Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II on one physique and a Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Artwork on the opposite physique.
I like the Canon 35mm, it’s the right focal size for my type of images and I might say I shoot about 80% of the marriage day utilizing this lens.
The Sigma 85mm is used primarily for the portraits. Prior to now, I’ve had some dangerous experiences with the standard of Sigma lenses, however the 85mm is excellent and has by no means let me down.
The night social gathering is the place I exploit the Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Artwork, a very very good lens that enables me to get tremendous near individuals on the dance flooring.
Lighting
I exploit pure mild wherever doable and it isn’t often till the night social gathering that I dig out my mild stands and use my Canon 600EX II RT speedlites. I’ve a extremely easy setup utilizing two mild stands on both nook of the dance flooring fired by way of a Canon distant set off. Sometimes I’ll use a 3rd speedlite on prime of my digital camera if I really feel I want extra of a fill mild.
Full Gear Checklist
2 x Canon R6 our bodies
2 x Canon 6D our bodies (Again Ups)
Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L II
Canon EF 35mm IS USM
2 x Canon EF-EOS R Mounts
Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Artwork
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 Artwork
3 x Canon Speedlite 600EX II RT
Canon Speedlite Transmitter
Apple MacBook Professional
G Know-how 1TB SSD
Compeed Blister Plasters
San Disk SD playing cards
Eneloop Professional AA Batteries
6 x Canon LP-E6NH Batteries
UK Passport
Covid-19 Vaccination Card
I’m on the stage in my profession the place I’ve full confidence in my very own type, I’m an actual sucker for photographing individuals having enjoyable and all the true feelings that the visitors expertise on a marriage day. All the posing stuff and styled shoots actually don’t curiosity me in any respect, I’m 100% targeted on capturing occasions as they occur on the day.
One of the essential bits of advice I might give any marriage ceremony photographer beginning out is to be your self and keep true to your personal type.
