Wedding Photography by Karl Drage – How I Work – Event and Wedding Photography

WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY by Karl Drage – How I Work

The information below and on the following links will give you an insight into the way I work with my wedding photography clients. Allow me to walk you through some of those processes:

Sunshine after the rain for a gorgeous Rockingham wedding

Wedding Photography Consultation

I am always more than happy to meet you, have a chat about what you’ve got planned for your special day and to give me the opportunity to show you some typical photo books of my work, which explain far better than I can put into words how I like to try to tell the story of your special day. This is a free, no-obligation service and is the first stage towards capturing some magical images on your wedding day. Ordinarily, this will take place at the Shout Weddings & Events showroom in Kettering, where I’m the resident photographer. Please get in touch with me to book a consultation appointment!

Bride and Groom pose on the stunning staircase at a Stapleford Park Hotel wedding

Venue Meeting, Walk-around and (potential) Pre-wedding Shoot

Whichever package you choose, we’ll arrange to get together four to eight weeks ahead of your wedding day at both your ceremony and reception venues. It’s a great chance for us to get reacquainted, for you to make me aware of anything that’s changed since the initial consultation, and it’s also incredibly useful for me if it’s a venue I’ve never photographed before. Knowing the best locations for pictures is really important.

A tender moment between bride and groom in the gateway to the Walled Garden at Delapre Abbey, Northampton.

I get to:

See where the guests will arrive and enter;
Discover where the bridal car will pull up;
Find out where the registers will be signed;
(Hopefully) talk to the person who will be conducting your ceremony to find out what restrictions they impose. This can vary tremendously, and it’s vital that all parties are aware of expectations ahead of the day itself. Some things that you took for granted may simply not be possible;
Work out the most suitable locations for group shots;
Identify a bad weather back-up plan(s);
Look for nice, quiet, tranquil areas where I can whisk you away for a few minutes;

It really is one of the most important parts in the success or otherwise of your wedding photography.

Elevated black and white shot of a bride sitting on a groom's lap in a chair at their Sedgebrook Hall wedding

A bride and groom share a chair and an embrace at a Sedgebrook Hall wedding

If you’re feeling less than confident about being in front of the camera on your wedding day, this is also the perfect opportunity to address that. My bespoke wedding photography packages include an engagement/pre-wedding shoot as standard, or you can add one to your Build Your Own package.

The Packages

My wedding photography packages are framed around the length of time for which you require my services. While I would love to capture the bridal preparations right through to waaaaaay after the first dance, I am aware that not every couple wants such a comprehensive level of coverage. And equally, if you are getting married late in the day, you might not need me for more than eight hours from start to finish.

Full details of the wedding photography packages I offer can be found at: WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES – Karl Drage, Northampton Wedding Photographer. Essentially, you have the choice of getting the full works, or putting together a package that best suits you and what you’re looking for.

Bride sitting on the ground surrounded by her huge wedding dress

I do love a big wedding dress! – by Northants wedding photographer Karl Drage

Image Editing

All images you receive from me will have been professionally edited. This, however, does not automatically extend to body-reshaping or blemish-retouching. If you do have any specific issues you would like to discuss, please let me know ahead of the day itself. My natural style will be to deliver images that truly reflect your day.

A groom leans his bride backwards on their wedding day

I don’t usually pose my brides and grooms like this, but if they’re going to proactively adopt a pose of their own, I’m going to click away!

Colour AND Black and White Digital Images

You will receive every image I edit in both colour AND black and white as standard. While it is true to say that some images very definitely work better in one or the other, there will be some that look fantastic in both, and the feel can be so different that I really think it’s worth including each.

As a rough guide, a typical 10-hour booking usually yields upwards of 500 edited images (which then doubles because you are getting them edited two ways). Factors that can affect the number of images you receive include the weather, the number of guests in attendance and just how much stuff you have going on! My general rule is that if I think it’s worth editing, it will get edited! 🙂

Black and white photograph of a bride and groom facing one another against a dramatic sky

Black and white versions of images somehow evoke different emotions

Image Delivery

Password-protected Web Gallery

First and foremost, you will receive a password-protected link to view your images on a beautiful web gallery. My aim will always be for this to happen within seven days of your wedding, however, there may be occasions where this is not possible. Rest assured, though, that weddings will be edited in the order they take place.

If there are any images that you would like removed for any reason, please let me know and I will make sure that happens. Once you are happy, you can freely share the link and password with your family and friends. From there they will be able to directly order prints and photo gifts and download high-resolution digital files, should they wish (NB you are free to print the high-resolution files from your USB stick – see below).

A bride holds her bouquet while surrounded by wisteria

Beautiful wisteria adorns the walls at the Hill Farm House, Brigstock, Northants.

PRINTS

You will be free to choose the images you would like printed as part of your package. All my bespoke wedding photography packages come with 5x up to 18″x12″ prints included as standard. I include the words “up to” as 18″x12″ can sound quite intimidating, but once you put it on a wall, it’s really not that big (honest!). Photos might look nice small, but they’ll look incredible big! The prints are a great way to decorate your house or to give away as birthday and Christmas presents to your guests.

WOODEN USB STICK & PRESENTATION BOX

If you have purchased a bespoke package, all the edited images will be copied on to a branded wooden USB stick. You will also receive a branded wooden presentation box of your choice, along with a selection of either 20x 12″x8″ or 50x 6”x4” prints from your day, depending on which box you choose.

All my bespoke package wedding photography clients will receive their edited images on a USB stick, in a beautiful presentation box. A range of styles are available.

Once everything is ready, I will try to co-ordinate a time to get together to hand deliver your goodies. However, if this is not possible in a timely manner, I’ll ensure everything is delivered to you by courier.

Photo books

Photo Book Type

I have chosen a rather different style of photo book for my premium packages to those most wedding photographers supply. The simple reason for that is that the photo books that I use start at 90 pages and go up to 120 pages. I just feel that they fit much better with my photographic style and aim of telling as much of the story of your day as possible. From feedback I’ve received, people seem to really love the montages of candid images of people having a great time that I have the space to fit in! They also love the feel of the pages.

The books measure 30cms x 30cms and have a padded hard-cover with a silk feel.

My preferred photo books are quite different to those supplied by most wedding photographers. Mine range from 90-120 pages.

I firmly believe that this extra space enables me to truly capture the real essence of your wedding day.

The Process

If you choose a premium package, I will put together a first draft of your book based on any feedback received from you regarding preferences after viewing your gallery. Once I’ve done that, you will then be able to request any specific changes before it gets ordered.

This is a low-resolution digital version of an actual photo book from a real wedding I photographed at Sedgebrook Hall near Northampton.

Furthermore, if you do want to book me as your wedding photographer but would rather have a more traditional photo album, I am always open to suggestions.

Newlyweds in the bird cage at a Woughton House Hotel wedding

Things to Remember

My aim is not to embarrass you or catch you out! (that’s not to say I won’t take pics that I think are amusing!) Ultimately you have complete control over precisely which pictures appear in the public domain from your day. I want you to want to share them, since that is from where my next round of bookings is likely to come!

The more comfortable you feel with me, the greater the likelihood of producing lovely images. I will do my best to relax and reassure you, taking away your stresses rather than adding to them.

Bride and groom sit, holding hands, on a bench, admiring the paintings in the Compton Verney Art Gallery

The stunning Compton Verney – one of my favourite wedding venues.

More Information

If you’ve not already done so, please take a look at my WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGES – Karl Drage, Northampton Wedding Photographer.

While every wedding is different, there are certain elements which are usually broadly similar. Take a look at a typical wedding day to see the thought processes and get a feel for my primarily documentary wedding photography style I’m likely to employ for your big day.

There’s much more work involved in photographing a wedding than just rocking up and taking the pictures. I’ve put together this guide to explain why wedding photography can seem expensive but it’s really not.

And if you’re still hunting for your perfect snapper, here’s a list of questions you should ask a wedding photographer before settling on someone.

Get in Contact

To enquire about my availability, to discuss other options or if you have any queries, please use one of the methods on the Contact Us page to get in touch.

I am based in Northamptonshire but willing to travel out of area, though please be aware this *may* bring with it an additional cost.

What my clients say:

02/10/2021

Lisa & Paul

"Karl is much more than a photographer. He truly sees people and tells a story. Both the formal and the more candid shots were so well taken and edited. The composition of the long shots to capturing the look in someone's eye all taken perfectly. I cannot wait until we have them in our hands. Thank you Karl! You were more than our photographer that day! x"

Lisa West

14/04/2018

Claire & Rob

"He turned up on time well dressed and aside the large camera blended right in to our day. Our guests believed he was a family friend. He socialised, took time and patience with our children, and my husband's need to make me laugh. He calmed my worries, picked confetti from my hair and stopped people standing on my dress, all while making us feel at ease and taking incredible pictures. This man made our wedding easy, stress-free and will help us remember it for the rest of our lives. He arrived as our photographer and left as our friend. One of the most heartfelt thank yous I have ever given… Thank you Karl."

Claire Gascoigne

20/09/2020

Holly & Dan

"Karl was fantastic. From the original meeting to our wedding day, he was professional and very supportive. We would highly recommend him."

Holly S

17/08/2022

Kate & Stuart

"Karl Drage is without a doubt the best Tradesperson/Professional that I've ever had the pleasure to hire the services of."

Stuart Willows

October 12,2019

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