Today we share some insights into the world of wedding photography with Evan and Clair of Soulmade Stories. Partners in work and life, their success can be attributed to two key things: photographic talent and an ability to connect with people of all walks of life.
Take it away guys…
Tell us a bit about your business…
We are a husband and wife team. I’m Evan, a guy who’s passionate about capturing love stories and special moments through intimate, spontaneous and candid images. My wife Clair tends to care for the finer details, assisting me and often helping the bride and groom to relax and enjoy their photo shoot.
What is the main advantage for couples who work with you?
Connecting with us is easy, we are always happy to discuss each couple’s needs, whether it’s about the wedding day, photo shoot requirements or just simply some guidance needed for the wedding preparation. Our relationship with the couples is more than just a supplier-client relationship.
Can you share some of the things that go on behind the scenes?
Apart from the numerous hours that goes into editing and refining the magical moments of the couple, I put a lot of effort into building a strong relationship with my clients by getting to know them, particularly their cultural background – I work with clients from Japan, Korea, America, China, NZ, just to name a few.
To give you an example, I often learn a few useful sentences in the native language of my clients so that I can chat to them and their family in their own language – e.g. the last one I learned is “ahn-nyong-ha-se-yo” (“how are you?” in Korean). Strange right? But honestly as soon as I start talking in their language, the couple or the parents just start laughing and chatting with me, and all the nerves in front of my camera just suddenly disappear!
Do you think there are any preconceptions about the wedding industry?
Wedding photography is often undervalued during the wedding planning process – the true importance of having a collection of beautiful images is normally only realised afterwards when the couple and their families are able to relive the special moments through images.
What are some of the main questions couples ask you? And what are the answers?
“So, how are you going to capture our day?” – this is what I get asked by couples all the time when they firstly meet me. Unfortunately I have to tell them that there is no standard answer for this question! My inspirations always come from the chemistry between me and the couple, and though I have my unique style reflected in my images, how I capture those images is different for each couple.
I generally determine my approach by observing every little detail on the day such as the location, the atmosphere, the weather, and of course the emotions of the bride and groom together with their guests.
Can you describe what sets your business apart?
Clients are often surprised that on their big day they could be quite comfortable and natural in front of me with my camera, and that is all thanks to the connection and friendship my wife Clair and I build with all our clients along the way.
We are always there for our clients from the day they approach us until they pick up their album. Our clients don’t think we are only another vendor they have to deal with but more often we are guests they invite to their big celebration of their marriage, well, with a professional camera on hand.
What’s your next predicted wedding trend?
Film wedding photography! People are very obsessed with thousands of digital photos these days, but increasingly couples start to look for the raw and unfiltered aesthetic that only film can offer. This is an extremely personal experience for both the photographer and the couple. Definitely something we are keen to take on if you are looking for some film photos taken at your wedding!
