Stewart Girvan – our wonderful wedding photographer
After the confetti has settled and the champagne nothing but a sweet, hazy memory, your wedding photographs will be what is left to help you relive your magical day.
When planning our wedding, I knew that the photographer was something we needed to get right. I have attended far too many ceremonies where the camera bearer is the main event. They clunk around with their cumbersome lens bags, push in front of Granny to get the perfect angle, keep guests waiting as they arrange endless posed shots and, at the end, deliver staged, forced smiles and a day that never really happened.
I had this dread of disappointing pictures in the back of my mind while wandering through our first wedding fair. We’d almost finished our lap of the ballroom, sat in cars, leafed through menus and sampled more sponge cake than I should probably admit to, when we spotted the still image of a beaming bride and groom surrounded by their laughing guests. The picture translated a second of dynamic happiness so perfectly that I couldn’t help but be part of the moment and smile myself. We headed in its direction and that was the first time we met Stewart Girvan.
With every page-turn of his sample album, we became more and more certain that Stewart was the photographer for us. His accompanying commentary belied an honest love of what he does and fondness for each of the featured couples and their wedding days. Every photo was energetic and so much more than ink on paper. We could practically hear the best man speeches by just looking at the immortalised reactions of guests mid-laugh. The whole album was brimming with emotion, life and love.
Of course, we booked him. We didn’t even have the church reserved at that point, but we knew that Stewart had to be part of our day and crossed our fingers that our vicar would have the same date free.
When our big day arrived, Stewart was there right from the start. He was never the centre of attention, never got in the way or distracted anyone, but captured endless pictures of priceless moments. He was a joy to have around, with a true smile at all times, even when lying on the floor to get the best shot of the speeches!
Now we have our own album of photos capable of stopping people in their tracks.
I know that the bride’s preparatory ‘to do’ list is never ending. I know that you have hundreds of phone calls to make and details to arrange, but ensure finding the perfect photographer for you is a real priority. You’ll thank me for this advice when you’ve got an album that whisks you straight back to the butterflies and laughter, the love and excitement.
Find someone you get on with and trust. Look through their sample photos and choose a professional whose style matches your taste. That way, your wedding will last a day but your memories will be eternal.
I’ve heard some friends talk wearily about their wedding photos. They recount time wasted posing and re-posing, kissing for the camera, staring at a lens. I, almost apologetically, recount a whole day of uninterrupted joy. Stewart doesn’t force photos, he finds them. He has a natural talent for seeking moments rather than artificially creating them and our album tells the story of our actual day because of it.
I suppose the moral of the story is to invest in finding suppliers you like and trust. If you discover someone that you can’t imagine your day without, don’t let them get away!
Visit Stewart’s site to see more of his amazing wedding, portrait and landscape work.
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