Interview: Fiona Walsh Photography
This week we chat with Fiona Walsh, a wedding Photographer based in the south west who has been capturing couples special days for the last 8 years.
How long have you been photographing weddings for and how did you get into it?
I’ve always loved weddings, very deeply. When I finished my degree in Psychology there were no jobs, and I it must have been fate because then I began to consider where my heart was. Wedding photography combines two things that I love; weddings and photography!
My interest started years ago when I was given an srl camera one Christmas. Over the years, I went traveling and developed my ‘eye’ for it as well as discovering that I had a natural attraction to it. I adore capturing things from another perspective, it’s very intriguing.
What’s your philosophy on wedding photography?
When it comes to weddings it’s a joy to give you images that reflect, represent, and embody all the feelings you had when wanting and planning to get married.
A wedding is reflection of you. The way you’ve arranged it is what speaks to your heart. For these reasons I think wedding photography is a crucial aspect of the day. It’s the physical ownership of all the abstract thoughts and feelings that make up your day.
How do you approach weddings?
My aim is to allow you to look back and reconnect to the most magical day of your life. I like to be seen as a friend so that I merge in without you noticing me there. This way I can capture your enjoyment without changing anything. I work hard to make people feel relaxed and encourage them to be themselves and be spontaneous. Wedding photography is like no other, it’s not a school picture; it’s capturing your personalities, your relationship with each other. While I feel it’s important to capture your natural behaviour, I won’t leave you feeling lost, I will give you some direction which will create an amazing aesthetic quality to the image.
What advice would you give to couples looking for a wedding photographer?
Find someone with the love and passion for it and who has an understanding of how important your wedding day is to you.
Find someone who works hard to create a fun atmosphere amongst the people when they’re having their photo taken.
Finally… Whats the best moment you’ve had as a wedding photographer?
This is one of those jobs that gives you some very precious experiences. The families I’ve worked with have made me feel so welcome. At the end of my work hours on one couple’s wedding, they insisted I stay on and party with them! I wasn’t sure if I could really let my hair down but they really really wanted me to eat and dance, and invite my boyfriend too! It felt amazing to be welcomed like that. Then the father came up to me and held out his hand. As he shook it he left £40 in my hand as a gesture of thanks for working hard for them. It meant so much to know I had done a good job for them.
Another fond memory was photographing the bride’s expression when she noticed the surprise her husband had planned. When they were walking up the aisle as husband and wife he stopped half way and all of a sudden an orchestra appeared and played that tune from Love Actually/the same scene in the church. She was overwhelmed. Witnessing how much people love each other is unique.
Lastly, my memory jumps to the time I was photographing a wedding in India and the couple arrived on an elephant to the surprise of all their guests!
Thanks to Fiona for chatting with us, you can find out more about her and see more of her work on her profile page here, where you can also get in touch with her too.