who is ed godden? Right, lets get one thing cleared up, I hate writing these ‘about me’ pieces. You always sound like a complete egotistical know it all. Well, I can assure you I’m not. I’m a very down to earth bloke that loves photographing weddings. Yep, I don’t just like shooting them, I LOVE shooting them. There’s no better buzz than seeing a bride with a smile on her face, and a tear in her eye when she sees the photos from her big day. I’ve been a pro photographer for nearly two decades. After studying photography at college I worked as a press & sports photographer for 12 years. During this time I won
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numerous photojournalism awards and was lucky enough to cover some amazing events. I’m a firm believer of learning on the job, and my experiences as a newspaper photographer certainly helped me to discover my style for shooting weddings. My distinctive reportage style of shooting means that you always get a set of images from your big day that not only capture the emotions and happiness from your wedding, but also a great story of the day. I’m based in Nottinghamshire, and am available to shoot weddings anywhere in the UK and abroad.
MY APPROACH My outlook on photography has always been the same, “If it looks good, snap it!” Don’t hang around, grab the moment. This is exactly how I work on a wedding day. With so much going on around me, I’m always looking out for the next great shot, the next BIG moment. I want you to have a fantastic collection of images from your wedding day that you can look at in years to come, still love them, and feel like they were taken only yesterday.
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I love photographing people, but I also know how important it is to shoot other aspects of your wedding day too. All the tiny details such as the rings, the flowers, the expensive shoes and dresses (yours and the bridesmaids) they all need to be captured. These intricate images aren’t just taken to provide great memories for you, they also help the story of the day unfold within your wedding album that you’ll have forever.
IT’S GOOD TO TALK
I love meeting couples in person before their big day, but I know how busy everyone is nowadays. So if we can’t meet up for a chat, we could always set up a Skype call, or chat on the phone to talk through your plans. Coming to meet me would
mean you get to see my sample albums, and meet me in person. But don’t worry if you can’t make it, there are lots of my wedding photos on my website www.edgodden.co.uk. Or we can always chat over your plans at your pre-wedding shoot.
BOOK ING ME Booking me couldn’t be easier. Whether you’ve met me at a wedding fair, been referred by a friend, or just come across my website, all you need to do is make sure I’m not already booked on your date, then fill out a booking form and pay a deposit to secure the date... it really is that simple.
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PRE-WEDDING SHOOTS A great way to see just how much fun having your photo taken can be is to book a prewedding shoot with me. We meet up, have a cuppa, then head out for a relaxed couple of hours, take some cool photos, and you’ll get a collection of beautifully edited HI-RES images for you to keep. Not only is it a great way to ease any nerves you may have about being in front of the camera, but it’s also the perfect opportunity to get some fab shots for your Save The Date cards.
WHAT DO WE WEAR?
where?
I want to capture you both relaxed and being as natural with each other as possible, so wear what you’d normally wear out. Try to avoid clothes with large logos on as it can just look a bit tacky. The simpler the better really. Wear colours that work well together, and don’t clash. Try to avoid wearing the same colours as your partner as you’ll just merge into one colourful blob when I get shots of you close together... trust me, it’s never a good look!
I can come to you, or you can come to me, whatever suits you. If you come to me there are lovely fields, villages and also Sherwood Forest on my doorstep. If I come to you it’s more likely that you’ll feel more relaxed immediately during the shoot as you’ll be in familiar surroundings.
let’s shoot! It’s very common to be a tad nervous before a pre-wedding shoot. I’d say about 70% of couples I meet hate having their photo taken. This is why having a pre-wedding shoot with me is great practice and an excellent way of seeing how easy and fun it actually is. Whether it’s raining, or the sun is shining down in full force, we’ll get some fantastic shots.
your BIG DAY So it’s finally here! It probably seemed like ages ago since you set the date, but today is the day. I’ll start by photographing either the bride or the groom getting ready. Sometimes it’s possible to photograph you both getting ready if the groom
is nearby, but generally most brides want to be photographed getting ready. It’s also a good time for me to do the detail shots of the dress (before it’s worn), the shoes, the flowers, as well as the bridesmaids getting ready if they’re around.
THE CEREMONY Obviously no two weddings are the same. Whether your ceremony is in a registry office, a church, a hotel, or even in the middle of a field, I’ll be on hand to make sure I get all the vital shots. This is where I look out for the intimate
moments, not only between the bride & groom, but also between guests. Crying in the aisles, cheering in celebration, and hugging and congratulating you as you walk out, all of these make for great photo opportunities.
candids Having relaxed, candid shots in your album is an absolute must. Capturing people in a totally natural way, unaware that they’re even being photographed always creates the best images. I’ll also make the most of grabbing all those tiny details. If you’ve splashed out and bought a fancy pair of shoes, I’ll be sure to snap them!
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RELAX Some people aren’t keen on posing for the camera at all. I know it’s easier said than done, but you need to really try and pretend I’m not there. Sometimes you won’t even spot me, therefore making this very easy for you to do so. My favourite images in my wedding portfolio are shots where the bride & groom aren’t looking directly at the camera.
WHEN DO WE GET THE PHOTOS? Photographing your wedding is just the start of the process. Now it’s time for me to sit down in my studio, drink endless cups of coffee and work my magic at the post-processing stage. Editing your wedding will take between four and six weeks.
So as soon as you get back from your honeymoon you wont have to wait long before your wedding photos drop through your letterbox. In fact, you’ll get them before your lovely honeymoon tan has had a chance to fade away!
COPYRIGHT You’ll receive your edited HIRES images on a USB stick. You can do whatever you want with them. Print them, make your own album, post them on Facebook, share them with your friends and family, the skies the limit! There’s no hidden surprises such as restraining copyright issues. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve paid for them, so I want you to enjoy them.
PRICES My current wedding prices can be found on my website www.edgodden.co.uk. I cover everything from bridal preparations in the morning, to the first dance in the evening. You’ll receive the HIRES images on a wooden USB stick, along with
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an online gallery so you can share your images with friends and family. A non-refundable deposit secures your date, with the balance to be paid at least 30 days before your wedding. No mileage is charged for weddings in England.
So that’s it really. I hope I’ve covered everything you need to know. If you’ve already booked me as your photographer, that’s great! I look forward to capturing some beautiful images on the most amazing day of your life. If you’re reading this booklet because you’re scratching your head, finding it tough choosing a wedding photographer, then good luck searching for your ideal photographer. Fingers crossed it’ll be me that you both choose! Just remember... the cake gets eaten, the flowers will die, but the wedding photos will last forever. Ed