The Fashion Issue 2011 - Breast Cancer Awareness Edition

Hot Brands Cool Places spoke with Kevin Scott Wood, Founder of Scott-Wood Photography for an exclusive interview What do you enjoy most about being a photographer?

Whilst I am naturally a person who is happy with their own company I actually do love meeting different people especially from different places and cultures that aren’t part of my everyday life. It’s fantastic to be part of a couple’s special day and be part of the joy that they relive from their day as they see their images for the first time. Creating an image that someone will always treasure is both a challenge and a privilege If you weren’t photographing weddings, where else would your passion take you?

Definitely travel photography focusing on people and architecture. I would love to photograph Italy top to toe but as I don’t have about 6 months spare that will just have to wait at the moment!

What advice do you have for brides and grooms about choosing a photographer?

You generally get what you pay for. Don’t expect world class photography for budget prices.

When I cover a wedding there is about 60 hours work in total and I provide experience, competence, creativity and a bespoke service that is reflected in the price.

I would always advise couples to view albums of at least 3 photographers of a style that they like; view photographer blog pages to get an idea of what they do and the type of images that they do. If you see repeats of the same images on each blog entry it indicates they tend to work to a set routine – if that suits you that is fine but it isn’t for everyone.

Ensure the albums you view are real full weddings – not model shoots or a mix of weddings in one album. When you are happy with the style and the photographer do check what equipment they use and how they ensure they continue to operate if something goes awry. I recently had the misfortune of dropping my favourite lens during a wedding but was able to swap straight to the back up as I always plan for the unexpected. Check how they back up your images after the day and how long they keep them and finally check they are insured. One last thing, do make sure that the photographer you want is the one that will cover the day and not an assistant and be absolutely clear about what you get for your money – coverage time, amount of images etc and back it up by asking for a contract to cover you both You can help couples arrange to get married in Italy, this sounds a wonderful option, what are the key steps?

We work with several excellent planners throughout Italy and would always advocate using a planner for overseas weddings, especially when the native language isn’t English. We can introduce couples to planners and venues in Italy. Usually if couples in the UK are interested we will meet in the UK to discuss their day and then help them plan an initial visit to preferred venues etc. We will then often combine an engagement shoot with a trip to see venues and this gives couples a really good idea of how I work and also how I work with planners and venues.

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