FAQ

What’s your wedding photography style?
I am very much a candid, natural, storytelling wedding photographer and I believe in capturing real moments as they happen. My goal is to create images that are not only beautiful but also authentic and full of emotion. I love to tell the story of your wedding day through my reportage photography, capturing all the special moments and details that make your day unique. From the intimate moments between you both to the laughter and tears shared with family and friends, I strive to capture it all in a way that reflects the true essence of your wedding day. I also capture those breathtakingly beautiful posed portraits of you both as well as group shots with your family and friends and these are all done in a relaxed and fun way.


I love black and white photos, do I get any in B&W included?
You will receive all of your wedding photographs in both colour and black and white. I believe that each image has its own unique qualities and characteristics that can be highlighted in different ways through the use of colour and black & white. Therefore, I provide you with both options so that you can choose the style that best suits your preferences. Additionally, you receive your images in both high resolution plus smaller compressed formats. The high-resolution images are suitable for printing and enlargements, while the lower resolution images are ideal for storing on your phone and sharing online. My goal is to provide you with a comprehensive selection of photographs that you can cherish and share for years to come.


What back-up equipment and precautions do you take?
Yes, I always bring backup equipment to ensure that I can continue photographing your wedding even if something unexpected happens. I understand that your wedding day is a once-in-a-lifetime event and want to make sure that I am fully prepared to handle any situation. My backup equipment includes cameras, lenses, memory cards, batteries, and other essential accessories.
All of my cameras are full frame models with dual card slots for additional safety. This means in the highly unlikely event that a card becomes corrupted, all of your precious wedding photos are simultaneously saved to a second back-up memory card as after all this is a once in a lifetime day that can never be repeated! In addition to this, once I am back to my office, I make several back-ups of all your wedding photos and videos to several different drives on my premises plus also a back up to the cloud to protect against anything catastrophic happening.


How many images will I receive and can I print and share these however I want?
The total number of images delivered will be heavily influenced by many factors including: the number of wedding guests, time of year, weather conditions, the size of your venues/grounds, etc. As a general guide the number of images you receive depends on which of my packages you go for, with my ‘Full Day Digital Package’ you will receive ~600-800+ images, with my ‘Full Day Album Package’ you will receive ~700-900+ images and with my ‘Signature Photo & Video Package’ and ‘Luxury Photo & Film Package’ you will receive ~800-1000+ images. All photos will be watermark free and you can print and share as you wish.


How will I receive my photos and videos?
With each of my packages you will always receive the digital files to all of your beautifully edited images in high resolution in both colour and black & white plus an additional set of colour and B&W at a compressed, lower resolution size for easy storage on your phone and social media sharing. All 4 sets of photos are available for download for 1 year via a secure private link I provide, you can download, print and share these as you wish. In addition to the digital download link, on all of my packages above the Full Day Digital Package you also receive all your photos and videos on a Philtography USB drive.


How long have you been a wedding photographer?
I have been shooting weddings now for around 13 years and for the last 8 years it has been my full time profession. Over this time I have had the pleasure of capturing hundreds of weddings which have allowed me to learn so much about capturing the perfect shots as well as always looking for new ways to improve my skills and techniques.


Should I add a second shooter?
At venues where both partners get ready together (in separate rooms of course) I am able to easily move between the 2 of you in order to capture your prep shots so a second shooter isn’t required. Similarly, during a wedding ceremony I move quietly and discreetly between the front of the room and the back to capture you both from different angles so again a second shooter isn’t required. For the rest of the day, as I am still reasonably young and fit, I can easily cover your whole day myself capturing all those beautiful candid moments as they unfold plus all of your group shots and portraits. But if you would prefer to have a second shooter, for example if you are getting ready in completely separate locations, I can easily arrange a second shooter although they are not included in my wedding package prices.


Do you do group photos?
Yes of course, group shots are an important part of any wedding day. My normal groups include a large group shot of everyone together then breaking that down into smaller friends and family groups, however I always try to keep this time to a minimum so your guests don’t get restless and you have more time to enjoy this once in a lifetime day with your friends and family. Before your wedding day I will send you a planner form which includes a list of the group shots I would ordinarily suggest and you can add or remove from this as required.


Do you do posed couples portraits and if so when?
Yes, at each wedding I always look to capture those breathtakingly beautiful posed portraits. The first couple’s shoot is usually towards the end of your drinks/canapés reception time, this is so you have had a chance to relax and see everyone plus your guests are also making their way to the dining area at that time. I also look to do a second couples shoot in the evening, ideally around sunset to get those amazing low sun ‘golden hour’ shots hopefully with a beautiful sunset too. And please do not worry about having to do any awkward posing, this is a really fun and relaxed time for you both to just be yourselves and I will capture those beautiful interactions between you.


Do you offer pre-wedding/engagement shoots?
Yes, I can absolutely add a pre-wedding shoot on to your wedding photography package. I normally conduct these in a gorgeous Gloucestershire village where there’s a large manor house and a beautiful lake all set in stunning grounds. We have a little walk around for an hour or so, stopping at various points for some nice relaxed photos. You are more than welcome to bring your children and/or dogs along too. It’s a great way for you guys to get some lovely photos before your big day and to get comfortable in front of the camera plus it’s also a great way for us to meet and get to know each other before you wedding day.


Will it be you shooting my wedding?
This is a very important question to ask as so many photography and videography companies out there take on bookings and then farm them out to anyone they can get to cover it. This is absolutely not how I operate, I am the Phil in Philtography and when you book one of my wedding photography packages it will always be me who will be capturing your wedding day, editing all of your images, as well as conducting all the communications both before and after.


Do you have liability insurance?
Yes, I am a fully insured photographer and am covered for all my equipment and any damages. I believe it's important to have this protection in place to ensure my clients and I are both covered in case of any unexpected incidents that may arise during a wedding.


How long after the wedding will the photos and videos be ready?
I aim to create a selection of sneak peek images within 24 hours so you can enjoy and share your magical wedding day straight away. I understand that my clients are eager to see their wedding photos and videos, which is why I work hard to deliver them as quickly as possible. Typically, my turnaround time for delivering your beautifully edited images is between 4-6 weeks. During busy seasons, such as in the summer and early autumn, it will be more towards the higher end of this timeframe. The videos usually take slightly longer at around 4-8 weeks as the editing is slightly more complex. If you opt to go for my ‘Luxury Photo & Film Package’ which includes a dedicated videographer who will make beautifully edited highlights films along with the ceremony and speeches in full, the turnaround time is around 10-14 weeks as the cinematic editing is more complex. We understand that this is a special time in your life, and we want to make sure that we deliver photos and videos that you will treasure for years to come. Rest assured, we will keep you updated on our progress and give you an estimated delivery date as soon as possible.


Does it matter if you haven’t capture a wedding at our venue before?
As a very experienced wedding photographer I’ve shot at a massive variety of different types of wedding venues including historic castles, gorgeous manor houses, beautiful barns, elegant marquees, prestigious hotels and enchanted woodlands, not to mention amazing destination weddings all over the world. So, with this in mind even if I haven’t been to your specific venue, I have almost certainly done several that have very similar setups and lighting conditions. I always make sure to scout your venue beforehand to get a sense of the space and plan for any potential challenges.

In fact, shooting at a new venue can even be beneficial, as it allows me to approach the space with fresh eyes and creativity. I will work closely with you to understand your vision and preferences for your wedding photos and will make sure to capture all the special moments and details that make your wedding unique.

Ultimately, what matters most is the quality of the photographer's work, their professionalism and their ability to connect with you and your guests on your special day. I am dedicated to providing the highest level of service and creating stunning photos that you will cherish for a lifetime, no matter where your wedding takes place.


Where are you based and how far will you travel?
I am based in Gloucestershire, but am happy to travel anywhere to capture your special day! I regularly work throughout the South West, including Bristol, Bath, Somerset and the Cotswolds, but I am available for weddings in other areas as well.

If your wedding is outside of the South West, don't worry! I love to travel and explore new places, and I'm happy to discuss travel arrangements with you. Whether your wedding is in another part of the UK or in a beautiful destination abroad, I am excited to be a part of your special day and create stunning photos that you will cherish forever.

Please do get in touch to discuss your wedding photography needs and we can work out a customized package that fits your unique requirements, regardless of where your wedding takes place.


Do your prices have any hidden extras?
No, when you book me as your wedding photographer, you can be sure that the price you see on my pricelist is the final price you will pay. There are no hidden fees or additional charges, so you can plan your wedding photography budget with confidence.

If you have any questions about my pricing or the services included in my packages, please don't hesitate to contact me. I am committed to providing transparent and fair pricing, and I will work with you to create a customised package that meets your specific needs and budget.


How do we book?
To secure your wedding date with me all you have to do is get in touch either by phone (07736319630) or WhatsApp or email phil@philtography.co.uk or fill out my contact page here. I will then create your booking contract with all the relevant information and send this over for you to check, sign and return.


Where can we see more of your work?
I have several featured shoots and venue pages on my website which you can take a look at or if you would like me to send you wedding photos from a particular venue then please do get in touch here. I also have more photos you can see over on my Instagram page.


Can we arrange a meeting or Zoom call?
Yes of course, it’s often really helpful to have a video call so you can tell me all about your wedding day and we can discuss the different package options together, plus it’s also a nice way to meet and get to know each other. If you would like to do this please let me know your availability and we can look to book in a call.


What’s the deposit amount and how do you split up the payments?
I normally split the payments into 3 equal amounts, a third due at the time of booking, a third due 6 months before your wedding date and a third due 1 month before your wedding. I find this suits most couples as you then don’t have to find a large sum of money at any one time but if you would prefer a different payment plan then please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss this.


How much do you charge for wedding photography?
The cost of my wedding photography packages start from just £995, but naturally the overall cost is dependent on which package you choose, what extras you would like included and how many hours of coverage you would like. To view a full breakdown of my different package options, please go to my packages page or contact me for pricing.


What happens if you are unable to photograph our wedding?
In the very unlikely event of me not being able to shoot your wedding, if I was physically able I would immediately get in touch with you to advise you of the situation (or someone on my behalf would if I was unable to) and to present you with some options. I have been in the industry for many years and so have built up a large support network of photographers for those unforeseen times. The options that I would offer are to source a photographer with a similar style to cover me for your wedding and for me to still edit the photos in my unique style or if you would prefer I would offer you a complete full refund. I would like to stress however that this scenario would only be in extremely unforeseen circumstances and to date I have never had to do this.

If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.