My Inspiration
I remember discovering my grand-parents' wedding photo, grainy and battered, folded in four, a tiny fragment of the past - it seemed sad somehow that only this one tiny photo appeared to have been taken to remember such a momentous occasion in their lives.
When I started photographing weddings and Bar Mitzvahs I knew that it was important to take the whole picture. Images not only of the wedding couple or Bar Mitzvah boy or girl, but all those around them too, and all the things that make that day special.
I like to think that one day when someone's looking through my client's old photos it would be rather lovely if they discover not only a picture of the bride and groom, but the best man too, the bouquet of flowers and guests laughing at the speeches. With modern methods of photography making it possible, it's wonderful that as a contemporary photographer I can cover not just the formality of the event but the laughter and intricate details too.
One of the things I love best about social photography is that I can tell the story of the celebration through the photos, capturing the mood of the ceremony, the laughter of the guests and everything that makes a wedding or Bar Mitzvah complete. This is my style and I hope I can bring it to your function so that none of your photos end up gathering dust in your attic.
Before Deciding to Book
Please visit my wedding gallery for a selection of my wedding photography, and the Bat/ Bar Mitzvah gallery if you're having a celebration for your daughter or son. If you like what you see, please do then get in touch and we can discuss your requirements.
Most people like to meet me before hand, to check out my work, discuss everything in more detail and of course check me out and see if you'll feel comfortable with me at your celebration. You are also welcome of course to have a chat with me on the phone, look at my online galleries and book after that and we'll make sure we meet at the consultation stage instead - whatever suits you best.
Before your Wedding or Bat/Bar Mitzvah
With every booking I insist on a full agenda from the bride and groom or parents of the Bar Mitzvah before hand and we go through this, so I can really listen to what elements of the day are important to you. I'll make sure, when it counts, I will shoot to the style you want, focusing on the people most important in your lives and taking photos that suit your personalities and style.
For weddings, you also have the option of a pre-wedding shoot, where we can take some romantic, fun or quirky photos - whatever your taste. Perhaps all three? This is also a great chance to get to know each other better and put you both at ease in front of the camera if you're a little nervous about that. We can shoot at your venue, on location in London (I have a few favourite places), a favourite hot spot of yours perhaps or even around your home.
For Bar Mitzvahs you too can commission a shoot, usually to capture your son or daughter in their 'civilian' clothes, doing something they love, such as a favourite hobby. Or perhaps a relaxed family portrait session. These are great if you want something more for just the immediate family before the big party and a great memento of the year your child enters official adulthood. For those with children who are a little more camera shy, it's a great chance for them to get comfortable with me and in front of the camera.
During your Wedding or Bat/Bar Mitzvah
During the wedding or Bar Mitzvah party, I shoot with available light as a first choice where possible to create stunning atmospheric images for you. I also take lots of natural, reportage style shots. When needed, especially with evening or indoor functions, I can also wield my flash-gun like a magic wand to capture the ambient light of a low-lit reception, funky colours at a pumping disco, and balance the light when the sun isn't behaving itself - often during a family photo session.
I have been told I am Ninja-like in my ability to get lots of great natural shots with no-one noticing they've been caught - especially during the speeches, where there's a chance to capture some wonderful spontaneous moments. I also love taking portraits and for weddings couples, being a bit of a romantic myself, I'll take some wonderful photos of the two of you, using the venue you've carefully chosen or a great spot nearby, that you'll love and cherish forever. For Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, I'll use my great people and organisational skills to get the family photos taken with minimal fuss and with maximum fun. It goes without saying I'll be taking some lovely portraits of your kids too and I love working with young people.
After your Wedding or Bat/Bar Mitzvah
Whilst those of you who've celebrated your wedding will be off on your honeymoon and Bar/Bat Mitzvah families will be trying to get back down to earth after a year or two of build-up and excitement, I'll be starting my post-production work on your photos. I'll be selecting the very best pictures I took and editing away in Photoshop to make sure the colours, contrast, crop and overall picture is the best it can be. You'll get approximately fifty images for every hour I attended your celebration and all of them will be uploaded within a month of your wedding on a private website for you to view and show off to your family and friends.
Following that you'll receive your high-resolution disc of all these images alongside your beautiful glossy preview book. Your choice from then is to either say good-bye and thank me for the best photos you've ever seen of yourselves, friends and family and go off and do all your own printing - anything from a canvas print to your mug on a mug, or you can come back to me and select a stunning album from my collection.
Prices
I need to know a little bit about you and your wedding or Bat/Bar Mitzvah before I can give you an exact price, after all no size fits all. So it's best to get in touch. The most important thing I need to know is the date of course, followed by whether it's a wedding or Bat/Bar Mitzvah! Then the hours of coverage you need and the location, plus any special requirements will be really useful.
You will probably want to talk some of this through with me, so just give me a call on 020 7263 2239 for a chat or drop me an email via the contact form and let me know when it's good for me to call you.
Planning an Alternative Wedding?
If you’re planning a wedding that's a little bit alternative, such as a vintage style wedding and want something different from your photography, please do feel free to contact me, I’d love to hear your ideas and see how we can work together to create something unique.
Civil Partnerships
Just because you don't see it, doesn't mean I don't do it......I've yet to be asked to shoot a civil partnership, which is why you see none on my galleries, but I welcome enquiries from same-sex couples who want to find a suitable photographer and would be delighted to shoot your special day.
The Professional Bit About Me
Just so you know, I am a full-time professional photographer living in Archway, North London. I shot my first wedding in the summer of 2004 and my first Bar Mitzvah in the spring of 2005 and my first corporate job in 2005 as well. so I've been freelancing professionally for over seven years. Before that I trained by assisting other photographers and shadowing them, as well as geekily digesting lots of technical information from books, photo mags and training courses.
I am happy to cover weddings and Bat/Bar Mitzvahs within the M25. I will travel further afield, but travel time and cost will be extra. I welcome people from all faiths and backgrounds.
I have Full Public Indemnity and Liability Insurance, am the Sole Proprietor of Flashfields Photography and Susannah Fields Photography and every single picture on this site was taken and edited by me. At all weddings and Bat/Bar Mitzvahs I always carry back-up equipment and also have a back-up list of photographers in case of emergency. However I recommend all clients investing in a wedding or Bat/Bar Mitzvah party to get insurance to cover any eventualities beyond yours or my control.
Not only do I do weddings and Bat/Bar Mitzvahs, I also do commercial, editorial and creative photography and you can visit my other website susannahfields.co.uk to see more about that. I also teach you can see about my photography lessons - if you're thinking of picking up a camera yourself or honing your skills.
You can also sign up to my Soozletter (from the contact page) for quarterly updates and become a fan on Facebook to see some of my more recent work and projects.
Your wedding or Bat/Bar Mitzvah might end up on my blog, or some pictures in my gallery, but you can opt out of this. Hopefully you'll love the pictures so much, however, that you'll want to keep showing them off, in any way you can!
