Sunday 2 November 2014

Your Best 2015 Wedding Photography Package

Quality Wedding Photography

Quality Wedding Photography

I know how you feel when you are faced with a myriad of photographers offering an even greater offering of wedding photography packages. And, even though you want to capture those special moment of your wedding, unfortunately your budget is not a bottomless pit.

The Solution

Juggling quality with budget is one of the most difficult things to get right, especially when it comes to weddings and all the expectations placed upon you. So, with this in mind I have come up with, what many believe is the perfect solution. A top quality wedding photography package that is affordable.

The Photography Package

This fantastic photography package includes all this:

  • Coverage from Bridal Prep to Speeches before the meal
  • Carefully edited images provided in colour and Black and White on Printable DVD
  • Hand crafted 12 page Italian designer wedding album, with 9 individual pictures
  • Every wedding album image is expertly enhanced and photo-shopped!
Italian designer wedding album by Graphistudio

Can you see the quality and professionalism included this special package? With over 25 years experience our photographers have the skill and natural talent it takes to make the most out of every wedding - no matter what the weather is doing! So for this mastery, for this exceptional Italian wedding album can be yours for only 995.00

Booking

To ensure your date is available please call Duncan on 07795 681 507


Serving Darlington, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Co Durham, Teesside and beyond

Sunday 18 May 2014

World Class Quality Wedding Photography

One thing that pains me a LOT is to see a wedding without an experienced photographer capturing the day. A wedding is without a doubt going to be one of the most magical days of your life. Sure, you are going to get photographs at the end. However, amateur photography never tends to capture the magic. This means you are going to end up with photographs that you really do not enjoy. Let me explain why you should always opt for quality wedding photographers.
world class wedding photographers


First and foremost, wedding photography is unlike any other form of photography. Without experience even the best event photographers around will be unable to snap a wedding properly. It takes years of practice to learn how to spot the right positions to get in to snap photos. It takes even longer to work out how you are going to snap those magical moments ‘on the fly’. You may get some decent photos from professional event photographers without experience. Do not expect them to be anything too breathtaking though. They will sadly not have the skilled eye that is required to snap the best photographers.

Now, the skill of the photographer is obviously going to play a major role in the quality of the photographs that you will have at the end of the day. A skilled photographer can more than make up for any failings in equipment e.g. a poor quality lens. However, equipment will still have an impact on the quality of the photographs….quite a big one in fact. This is why you absolutely must find a quality wedding photographer. You will want to know that they have a robust camera system in place which will allow them to deal with all sorts of shots with ease. You will be surprised at how many photographers turn up to a wedding with just a couple of lenses and a single camera at their disposal. I got news for you here; that is NOT going to deliver world class photography. In fact, you will be lucky if you get anything more than sub-par photographs here.

quality wedding photographersNow, understandably, on a wedding day both the bride and groom are going to be quite nervous. The best photographers out there will actually be able to calm their nerves to the point where they can get some pretty decent photographers. Remember, these photographers will have attended wedding after wedding. They will know EXACTLY what to do in every situation. Sometimes it just feels great to have somebody with this level of experience by their side.

Now, finding quality wedding photographers is probably one of the hardest parts of planning a wedding. Honestly, it is. There are a number of people out there who say they will be able to capture your wedding. Truth be told though, they never really seem to have the experience that is needed. Take the time to really select the best person for the event and you really will end up with memorable photographs that can be cherished forever.

With professional wedding photography experience dating back to 1984, Portrait Wedding Photographers are experienced, reliable and easy to get along with. Covering the whole of the UK and taking assignments overseas in areas like FloridaNew YorkItalyCyprus and Dubai. They also only use the best wedding album manufacturers in the world - Graphistudio from Italy.

Monday 10 March 2014

Your Wedding Photography Memories

For most people their wedding day only comes around once in a lifetime and, for this very reason, it is vital that the memories from that day are captured professionally and presented to the happy couple after the event.  It is essential then that couples planning their wedding go for the best service that they can afford.  Some companies are able, through partnering agreements, to provide photographers wherever the ceremony takes place – even abroad.

Bride gets ready bridal prep photographyHow to choose a really good wedding photographer

A good option is to choose a company that has a number of photographers on the staff along with a comprehensive array of recording and editing equipment.  While the one-man operation can be a perfectly good option you might feel more confident about the whole arrangement if backup plans are in place.  Theoretically the larger the organisation the better chance you have of getting those precious memories faithfully recorded for you.  You have enough to think about on the day without worrying about the photographer’s equipment breaking down or that some technical hitch might ruin your day.

Choosing your wedding package

So, having decided to employ the services of a reputable wedding photography firm, what kind of package do you think you will go for?  Ultimately the choice is yours and wedding packages can be tailored to comply with your needs down to the smallest detail.  You will be asked for a few basic details, such as the location of the wedding and reception, what date it is taking place and some idea of the numbers attending.  The company should then come back to you straight away with verbal and written confirmation that photographers are available for that date.

wedding photography - spot colour













A popular idea these days is where the entire day is recorded.  It starts with those joyful, maybe frenetic, early morning bridal preparations and continues as the bridal party sets of for the wedding venue.  Continuing with the arrivals at the venue then the wedding ceremony; then there is the reception, meetings and greetings, the speeches and cake cutting. Finally we get to the happy couple’s first dance and guests enjoying the occasion.  All of this can be captured for you in a variety of ways. A collection of still photographs, presented in a beautifully bound wedding album, is the traditional method but you can also have the happy day’s events on a DVD or memory stick or even loaded onto a tablet.  Video with full sound is a popular choice as well and this can be loaded onto digital media for you.  Hopefully you will find a company that is flexible in their service and competitively priced.  You just have to decide what you want and they will put it all together for you. It is as simple as that!

Whichever wedding photographer you choose, have a fantastic wedding day.
hartlepool wedding photographers
To check if Duncan is available for your wedding - CLICK HERE


Wedding in Florida


Tuesday 3 September 2013

Wedding Photographers County Durham

If you are planning to do your wedding in County Durham soon, you should make the event memorable by hiring the best wedding photographers County Durham. Remember, it is always good to capture special moments of your wedding day so that they can remind you of the promises you made to your partner. Given the importance of your wedding photos, you should pick the best photographers in County Durham. This is where Portrait Wedding Photographers can help you. They are a team of highly experienced and dedicated photographers that offer exceptional wedding photography services in County Durham. Their wedding base is located in Darlington, which has an abundance of great weddings venues within a few minutes drive. They are quite willing to travel to different venues to ensure you get the best wedding photography coverage.
Portrait Wedding Photographers County Durham
Portrait Wedding Photographers

Another importance reason why you should go for Portrait Wedding Photographers is they are owned and operated by a group of dedicated wedding photographers who have been in the photography business for more than two decades. These expert photographers have the skills and expertise to be able to offer you the very best wedding photos. You can then enjoy peace of mind knowing that your wedding memories are in safe hands. Portrait Wedding Photographers are the most highly regarded and highly recommended on Google. In addition to a high quality service, you will also be given your wedding photo proofs in just a few days!
county durham bride at Redworth Hall
County Durham Bride

These photographic artists have the state of the art photo editing suite, which is fully equipped to process and safely store all your wedding images. Refined processing systems and top quality computing power means that they are able to produce stunning photos in record time.

Communication and getting along is important and these photographers encourage you to contribute to the planning by discussing with you the most important aspects such as preferred locations, styles, etc. Flexible wedding photography packages enable couples to customise everything so that they have final say over coverage and how they want their photos presented.

If you are looking for reliable wedding photographers County Durham, then Portrait Wedding Photographers are the only company who offer you everything. You will be provided with not one but two specialist wedding photographers who will capture the most interesting moments to tell the full story of your wedding.

Having two photographers means that the photography goes smoother, faster, your guests will love you for that! And there will be different angles so that every photo look slightly different, unique and fresh. This really is the best way to make your wedding day truly memorable.


At this point couple start to think that all this skill, experience, it must be expensive! Well to hire wedding photographers in County Durham with this skill set could cost you around £1,200. But you can relax because Portrait Wedding Photographers has the best packages and the best prices for you. Their aim is to give every couple a chance to capture their big day without too much expense, with low booking fees and pay monthly options available. All this and prices for prints starting at £395, printable DVD for £695 and luxury handmade Italian story book albums for just £995. So you can have the best wedding photographers and still have enough for a round at the bar!        

Hotline: 07795 681 507 - 9Am to 9PM daily

Wednesday 21 August 2013

Wedding Photography Packages

In life everything is a balancing act, wedding photography packages also require getting the balance correct between on the one hand price, and on the other the depth of service you want. The one thing you should not have to balance is quality. The one thing in life that’s a guarantee is that low prices equals low quality which in turn equals very upset brides. So whichever package you decide to go for make sure the quality is there in everyone!

The Very Best Wedding Photography Packages:


As you would expect these packages contain everything you might want, at a price tag to match. So what kind of things does a bride expect, when the budgets run to a couple of thousand? Most would be looking for full day coverage from two photographers. Full wedding coverage would include things like the Bride getting hair and makeup done in the morning, commonly referred to as “Bridal Prep”. From here your wedding photographer would also capture pictures of the Grooms party and then guest arrivals at the church or other venue. What the wedding is all about, (officially) is the ceremony, two photographers here, can get the emotional shots from in front and the beautiful shots of your wedding dress and laid out train from the back. As you emerge, there follows confetti shots, maybe some more formal group shots and definitely some fantastic posed and natural shots of just the Bride and Groom together. In most weddings these photographs would make up the bulk, but for the Bride who wants everything there is much more. Photographs of the wedding breakfast and the speeches, then there’s the cutting of the wedding cake. As the evening draws on the photography takes a more informal role where guests are captured enjoying themselves and finally the newlyweds take to the floor for the first dance. This is usually where the wedding coverage ends, but it has been known for the photographers to attend more informal celebrations on the day after the wedding, maybe a barbecue or a pool party perhaps.

With all these photographs what would be the best ways to show these off? No we are not talking about key rings or mugs with your pictures on, but individually designed and lovingly handcrafted wedding albums. When all the very best pictures are assembled together, they become greater than the sum of the individual photographs. They all come together beautifully to tell the story of all that happened on the day you were married. Printed and then bound together on the best photographic paper available, embraced by covers available in fine leathers, metals, silks and other gorgeous materials. Various sizes are available to adorn the biggest of coffee tables.
Luxury Wedding Albums

For the most exclusive packages one wedding album, as stunning as it is will not be enough. Perhaps some items of wall art such as canvas prints or beautifully framed prints will bring more memories back to life. In today’s high tech world everyone loves mobile. Your wedding memories can be mobile too! Imagine having then available on your lap top, tablet pc, ipad and mobile phone. Instantly available to show friends and family when and wherever you may be.

Other Wedding Photography Packages:


To swing the wedding balance so that your investment in the photography is less, then there are photography packages where you can trim off some of the services you don’t need.

Maybe you feel that you could miss off the Bridal Prep, or the first dance perhaps. You could certainly down size on the album and go for something smaller, or with fewer pages or less luxurious covers. Many couples love having at least one framed enlargement around their home, a permanent reminder of this special day. So you could cut down on the amount of wall art and perhaps having the benefit of carrying your wedding photos is something you wouldn't miss either.


Can you see that by chatting with your wedding photographer, you should be able to pick the services you need and at the same time make your wedding package affordable? It is worthwhile noting too, that additional items such as parents albums, canvas prints and printable DVDs can normally be acquired after the wedding and don’t have to be included in the initial wedding package.

has been a professional wedding photographer since 1984, has owned his own studio and has taught at an arts college and adult learning center. He has written many article and blogs on wedding photography for the benefit of couples and inexperienced photographers. He still undertakes wedding commissions in the UK and abroad and he can be contacted through the following web links:

Saturday 3 August 2013

Ormesby Hall Wedding

Photographs from a Wedding at Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough


All photographs taken by Portrait Wedding Photographers on 2nd August, 2013

Ormesby Hall, rear
Rear aspect of Ormesby Hall
Ormesby Hall sits in acres of beautiful, landscaped gardens, not far from the center of Middlesbrough. As you will see these fantastic ground make a wonderful backdrop for your wedding photographs. Ormesby Hall is also available to hold your civil wedding ceremony too.

Bridesmaids at Ormesby Hall
Ormesby Hall Bridesmaids
Here we have three gorgeous Bridesmaids at the front of Ormseby Hall, with the Mother of the Bride standing in the doorway.

Ormesby Hall, the Bride arrive in her wedding car
The Bride arrives at Ormesby Hall

The waiting is over, as here comes the Bride, arriving in style in her wedding car.

Ormesby Hall wedding, the confetti
Confetti at Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough
After the ceremony the Bride and Groom emerge to be greeted by all their guests, showering them with confetti, bio degradable of course!

Ormesby Hall wedding
Wedding Party at Ormesby Hall
After the confetti our Bride and Groom lead the way into the magnificent garden to the rear of Ormesby Hall for a mix of formal and informal photos

Ormesby Hall, formal wedding pictures
Formal wedding photos at Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough

With beautiful blue skies and Ormesby Hall as a background, this central flower bed made a great position for a few of the more formal group photos

Ormesby Hall bridal party jumping for joy
Jumping for joy at Ormesby Hall

Couples today love having a mix of formal and more relaxed, fun photos, here the bride and the hens jump for joy, with Ormesby Hall as the backdrop.

Making use of the natural features at Ormesby Hall wedding
Natural features at Ormesby Hall

Wedding photographers don't have to look far to find natural items at Ormesby Hall to use as backdrops, or as here as a frame.

Ormesby Hall, front aspect with Bride and Groom
Bride and Groom in front of Ormesby Hall, Middlesbrough


Before our Bride and Groom head off to their wedding reception, there was just enough time to capture them by the side of their wedding car in front of Ormesby Hall. 

Portrait Wedding Photographers would like to thank Erin and Mark for allowing us to publish a select few of their wedding photos. As always this wedding was full of smiles, fun and laughter, made to be that way by two very special people who were made to be together, forever.

If you would like to see more wedding photographs of weddings from across the UK, Italy, Cyprus, USA and the Caribbean, you can do so by visiting our wedding photography site:


Chief photographer for this Ormesby Hall wedding was




Saturday 27 July 2013

Explanation of Camera Operating Modes for Wedding Photography

camera mode knob
First of all this guide is not intended for professional photographers, who with years of experience will have their own preferred settings.

Many of the camera users I know, including those I spot at weddings taking pictures have their cameras permanently stuck in auto mode. I am not knocking auto mode because a lot of knowledge and electronic wizardry has gone into making this a “best fit” option for many photographers. I just wanted to let you know how you can use some of the other settings to perhaps take an even better picture.

TV – Shutter Priority. When you select this mode, you are telling the camera which speed to use, the electronics in the camera then work out the best aperture for a perfect exposure. So why is shutter speed important? If  you are taking pictures of motor cars racing, or your children running in the park, if you have a fast shutter speed you are more likely to stop the action perfectly. If you had a slow shutter speed then you would find that the cars were blurry and perhaps the arms and legs of your children.

“At a wedding” – I choose speeds faster than  1/60th to ensure there is no blurring. However during the first dance I switch between speeds and I prefer slower than 1/10th as this captures the movement in the brides dress as she is swept across the dance floor.

AV – Aperture Priority. When you select this camera mode, you are instructing the camera which aperture to select. Once again the cameras electronic circuits work out the best shutter speed for a perfect exposure. The most common use of aperture priority is to control the amount of background blur.

“At a wedding” – I choose a wide aperture f16 or above to ensure everyone in a group shot is in focus and so is the background. I would chose an aperture of f4 if I wanted to blur the background.

M - MANUAL . You set both the shutter speed and the aperture. There is no need to fear this setting. You use the light meter indications inside the camera viewfinder to either expose correctly, or under or over expose as necessary.

“At a wedding” – I would use manual mode sparingly. Preferring to use either TV or AV.

P – Program.  If you are a beginner and haven’t got time to work out the best settings for shutter speed and aperture, then please use this mode. The camera adjusts the settings for you automatically. Keep an eye on them though, as shutter speeds can drop down and cause motion blur at lower light levels.

“At a wedding” – If I wanted to get a lot of general shots in similar lighting conditions I would use Program. Why? Because sometimes getting “the shot” or “capturing the exact moment” is more important that twiddling knobs!

ISO – This is the one important factor, not controlled with the mode knob, but is heavily interlinked with its use. The higher the ISO number the more sensitive the camera senor is to light. So you would choose a higher ISO number when shooting inside a church, for instance. Be careful though, because the higher the ISO the grainier or noisier your pictures become. Try taking a series of pictures at different ISO settings. When things get too noisy, go back a setting and then try not to use the higher settings unless it is a must have shot.

Photography either as a professional or as an amateur should be fun. Get out there and experiment, using the different modes and see what effects this has on your pictures. There are still lots of camera clubs about and certainly lots of forums to help you on the internet. Take lots of photographs and do print the ones you like. Photographs look different in print, than on your computer screen.

has been a keen photographer since the age of 9. At 10 he was taking, developing and printing black and white photos in his own darkroom. In 1984 he shot his first wedding as a professional. Since then he has won awards from the master photographers association and taught photography at a local college.