Bow Occasions talks to… Modern Photographic

Now let me tell you, choosing a wedding photographer has been one of the hardest parts of the wedding so far. Being in the wedding industry as a wedding planner and writing this UK wedding blog, I have come across so many wedding photographers and have a pretty sizeable list of those that I love.

I came across Julia and Ian from Modern Photographic on Twitter and instantly fell in love with Julia’s warm tweets and beautiful photography. I got in touch with Julia via email and we arranged to meet a few weeks later. Dean, Julia and I got on like a house on fire and although we didn’t book Julia and Ian there and then, I think Dean and I had pretty much decided that we had found our wedding photographers.

Today, I am very pleased to share with you a mini interview with Julia from Modern Photographic.

Julia and Ian on their wedding day.

Hi Julia, tell us a little about yourself.
me… Well I’m Art director at WEDDING magazine, as well as a wedding photographer, under the brand name modernphotographic. My hubby is a celebrity photographer (not a paparrazzi as some people ask- he gets commissioned to do portraiture and shoot high end events, not wait outside random london nightclubs) I LOVE weddings, I guess my whole life is surrounded by them with the magazine and the photography. I love the joy of the day, the individuality of couples and just being part of it all. I often end up helping friends with ideas for their own weddings. Im very lucky I have the perfect job!

How did you get into wedding photography and how long have you been doing it for?
I have always been involved in photography, after studying it at A-levels and as part of my university degree I was fortunate enough to get into art direction. Working with some of the top fashion and beauty photographers in the business. I started six years ago assisting another wedding photographer, after seeing at the time very few photographers offered what I would have wanted. Since starting my business lots of great photographers have joined the genre making it a wonderful diverse and offering couples better work.

I also art direct for leading bridal title WEDDING magazine, meaning I get to work with the best wedding photographers across the world now too! And I am constantly inspired.

How would you describe your photography style?
I feel my look is documentary and fashion style with a little bit of intervention. Getting all the moments that make your day special without taking over, but at the same time spending some time with the two of you and making sure you get some really beautiful shots is also important. Reportage shots are beautiful and natural but couple shots are the ones you will show off to everyone!

Where in the UK are you based and how far would you travel to shoot a wedding?
Im based in Essex, but I travel all over the UK, even as far as Scotland! A lot of London based brides travel across the country for their weddings, but its nice to have a nearby supplier to travel to view albums afterwards! And when Im really lucky I get to go abroad to shoot too!

What advice would you give couples when choosing their wedding photographer?
Find the right style for you and the right person, remember you have to spend all day with them! I know most brides are on a budget, but selecting someone because of their price, rather than them and their work is a risky business. As part of my job at WEDDING magazine I see a lot of photos and it is heart breaking to see a wedding which is obviously had so much work put into it but the photos dont do it justice

Where do you get your inspiration?
Everywhere from my own magazine, WEDDING, to blogs, to completely different genres of magazines. My husband Ian is a massive inspiration to me too. Hes been a top celebrity photographer for over 20 years. He works on a massive variety of shoots and he knows everything there is to know about lighting and photography.

What is your favourite part of photographing weddings?
Getting so involved in someones special day. Its why I’m so addicted to it. No other genre of photography, will you ever get to spend so much time with your clients or capture something so important to them.

What would be your idea of a dream wedding to photograph?
A wedding where the wedding which is a real reflection of the couple, doesn’t have to follow any tradition. Obviously its great to shoot wedding where there are lots of little details, but its even nicer to work with a couple who are completely in love and have a day that is truly about them rather than what anyone else wants.

Foreign weddings with stunning light are a real treat of course too!

If you could take a picture of anyone who would it be and why?
Well Ian has pretty much taken photographs of everyone, but recently Ive been assisting him with his work at the Graham Norton show and this week we get to shoot Little Britain stars Matt Lucas and David Walliams. Comedians are by far the most fun to photograph.

What are your interests outside of photography?
Simple pleasures… cooking, reading and interior decoration (I’d redecorate every year if Ian would let me!).

Thank you so much Julia for this fantastic interview. To find out more about Julia and her wedding photography services go to:
WEBSITE: www.modernphotographic.co.uk
BLOG: modernphotographic.blogspot.com
FACEBOOK: Modern Photographic on Facebook

Louise ♥ xx