Interview: Becky Male
We like to chat to the people behind the lens, the people that capture those moments and love what they do, this week we catch up with South Gloucestershire based Wedding photographer Becky Male.
How long have you been photographing weddings for and how did you get into it?
I shot my first wedding in 2010 and got into it after a gentle nudge from my big sister who’d retrained herself some years previously as a wedding florist. Photography was always something I had done, loved and got massive enjoyment from, it was my sisters support that saw me start to retrain and taken the journey I’ve been on ever since.
What do you particularly like about photographing weddings?
I like how you become part of someone’s family for the day, you are invited into the most important day (so far) in a couples life and you get to see them at their most vulnerable. Emotions range from nervous tears to just married relief to giddy excitement. Each wedding I photograph is different, each family is different and each background story I am apart of is so different – That’s what I love about photographing weddings.
How would you describe your style and approach?
Relaxed, organised and in control – my style is to shoot natural images, photographing all your details in a creative way, shooting your guests as they relax, mingle and enjoy your day and taking beautiful, honest photographs of the two of you in the moments before, during and after your wedding ceremony.
People have asked me in the past if I’m friends with the couple or if I’m a relative as I appear so comfortable talking with your guests, providing them with gentle, friendly direction when needed during group shots and doing my best to blend in and not be intrusive.
What advice would you give to couples looking for a wedding photographer?
Book someone because you love their work, book someone you get on with and who you’d feel comfortable enough that they could see you cry, get stressed and you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable having them around. Ask for recommendations. Ask a photographer to show you full online galleries from recent past weddings they’ve shot. Make sure they are insured, make sure they will have more than one camera with them on your day.
What tips would you share with couples to help their day go more smoothly?
Remember this is about a lifetime together and not just a day. Don’t sweat the small stuff. In three / six months after the wedding you’ll wonder why you got stressed about your cake and you won’t care about the favours so focus your energy on making it as non stressful as possible. Plan to do something non wedding based the week before your wedding to give yourself a break from all the arrangements (go to the cinema and out for dinner?)
Finally… What’s the best moment you’ve had as a wedding photographer?
It was at a wedding a couple of months ago, I was busy photographing a very large, hectic wedding, it had been an amazing day so far and I was really enjoying capturing the guests reactions to the speeches. The Best Mans speech began, it was very witty – full of stories and laughs, all the guests are laughing and smiling. As the Best Man starts to come to the end of his speech I’m busy photographing the guests who are about to raise a toast, I listen (with my camera poised and focused on the guest reactions) he says ‘and I’d like to end my speech by thanking the hardest working person in the room…..’ At this point I’m expecting him to point towards the bride who’d organised the whole day and who’d recently returned from attending the Olympics, yet he finished his speech with ‘I’d like to thank the hardest working person in the room and that’s YOU’, spinning on his heel and pointing at me. Queue a large blush and look of surprise from me as all the guests gave me a huge round of applause. I was incredibly touched. It was a very special moment for me.