Interview: Craig Williams

We chat with Essex based wedding photographer Craig Williams in our behind the lens interview series, where we chat to the professional capturing couples special days.

How long have you been photographing weddings for and how did you get into it?

I shot my first wedding in 2001 after coming back from travelling. I had been photographing a lot when I was away and it just felt odd to not be doing it once I got home. Weddings seemed like a good start.

The only problem I had was I had never been to a wedding or ever really looked at wedding photos. I booked myself on a workshop but found the whole concept of posed photography quite hard to get my head around.

I took my 2 Nikon fm2 cameras and just shot the wedding the way I saw it, after some polishing and digital coming in over the next couple of seasons its all seem to work so I just didn’t stop.

What do you particularly like about photographing weddings?

The pace the atmosphere and overall emotion I get to Document.

I get to photograph some extremely private moments about the couple’s family and friends and get to feel and share the excitement and happiness that comes with weddings days every time I go to work. It’s the best job ever.

What is your favourite part of the day?

If I had to pick probably photographing the couple.

I’m, not a heavy posed photographer I let them walk and talk for the first real time as a married couple and let them naturally pose themselves with some loose guidance.

It’s amazing what can happen when you let people breath and be themselves.

How would you describe your style and approach?

I shoot 80% Documentary 20% everything else that the wedding needs. I have some couples that want 100% documentary and that’s great but it comes with its own pressures as there will still be pictures they expect but I love that pressure.

I approach every wedding the same open-minded and through the eyes of a guest. The couple invests so much of themselves into the wedding to give their guests an insight into their personality and style so I want to should that.

Who, or what inspires you?

Mostly Music and Movies I love to see good Framing, light and colour in Movies and well music gives you all that without seeing it.

What advice would you give to couples looking for a wedding photographer?

Look at what you really want from the photography. This will be probably the first time you have ever researched wedding photographers so take the time to learn what you like and set a realistic budget around that.

Photographers get booked between 1-2 years before your wedding so don’t wait.

Make sure you trust your photographer to deliver your vision.

What tips would you share with couples to help their day go more smoothly?

Have a no drama rule on the day. It’s meant to be fun so enjoy every second.

If there was one place in the world you would love to capture a wedding where would it be and why?

I have photographed wedding all over including Hawaii, Bali, Italy, France, Denmark…. But never Marrakech. I would love to shoot in the desert!

Finally… Whats the best moment you’ve had as a wedding photographer?

I spent this new years eve in photographing a wedding in Rome in a beautiful house overlooking the city as the fireworks went off that was pretty epic.

You can view more of Craigs work on his website at CraigWilliams.net