FAQ

- Tell me about your photographic ‘style’, Tom.

Ok then. This is tough, without using cliched words such as ‘photojournalistic’.  Your wedding is really a big party; you prepare, get dressed, partake in some form of ceremony, have a big meal, then hit the dance floor. I photograph each wedding with a certain objective in mind – that of telling a story of that particular wedding through my photos. I love the idea that someone can open a wedding album and feel that they were in fact at that wedding, start to finish, just by looking at the photos. A bride recently told me that every time she looked at my photos from her wedding her eyes became teary and she actually felt the excitement and emotion she had felt on the day of the wedding. This is the best compliment I have ever received, and it is what I strive to achieve at every wedding I shoot. Weddings can get quite emotional, and I always have my eye out for that special moment to capture – a tear on the bride’s cheek, the look on a groom’s face when he sees his bride in her dress for the first time. So I guess you could say I’m a photographic storyteller.

- How much experience do you have?

I’ve now been a photographer in some form or other for around six years.  I’ve photographed everything from weddings and christenings to Hindu burial ceremonials in Nepal. I’ve even had the amazing opportunity of photographing Mount Everest herself.

- Why didn’t you give your photography packages more creative names? Is I, II, III and IV the best you can do?  Come on, Tom…. 

Look. I thought long and hard about my package names. I was going to name them after flowers, trees (like my logo), minerals, gemstones, tiers of royalty, breeds of dog, or complex mathematical equations… but it all just sounded so corny. I want my work itself to be the focus of this site, not my package names. So… I, II, III and IV were born. If you have better suggestions, please let me know 

- Where are you based, Tom?

I’m a bit of a nomad – I love to travel. My studio is in Wollongong, but I as I shoot lots of weddings in the Southern Highlands and Sydney. Most of my clients come from somewhere around these areas, but I love seeing new places and meeting new people so I’ll photograph a wedding anywhere – simple.  My mobile studio (aka laptop) travels with me wherever I go.

- How many shots do you normally take at a wedding, and what will I receive afterwards?

Every wedding is different in this regard, but at the moment I’m providing my clients with around 60 highly edited shots per hour that I’m shooting. So, if I’m with you for 10 hours, you’ll likely receive somewhere around 600 edited photos. You can do whatever you like with them – while legally the copyright stays with me as the photographer, you can print until your heart is content without consulting me first. Each of my packages includes the high-resolution files on DVD. I don’t watermark or otherwise alter my images either (I think it just looks ugly).

- Can you make us an album?

I’d love to make you an album. I use two incredible studios to build my albums; Asuka Book from Sydney, and Jorgensen from Perth. I offer an album for every budget – from the economical to the super extravagant and super beautiful. I can show you samples from each studio.

- Will you tell us what to do at the wedding? ‘cos that can get kinda annoying.

The bottom line is – this is YOUR wedding. If you want me to shut my mouth and stay out of the way, I’ll do so. If you want me to take a more active role in photographing your wedding, I’ll do so. I try to be as non-invasive as possible, but for the best shots possible there are occasions where a small amount of direction helps.  I’ll always try and be true to my photographic style, though, which is to tell a story through the real smiles and happiness of you and your guests.  I love crisp, simple photography; maybe a little vintage, maybe a little quirky, maybe just plan crazy.. it is all beautiful, I say.

- When will you arrive on the big day to start shooting? 

Whenever you like. My preference is to cover pretty much the entire day. You wouldn’t go to the theatre to watch a play from half way through, would you? (those of you who do this – please disregard this question). Similarly, I’d prefer to start when you start and finish when you finish.

- How long will you stay at the wedding for?

As long as you want – and generally almost until the end. When at a wedding I often get the feeling that I’m part of something that is somehow alive; like the event that I’m photographing pulses and breathes and has a unique character and personality. I don’t want to leave early!.

- Tom, do you have many leather-bound books?

Yes, and my office smells of rich mahogany

- We have a very specific idea of the shots / type of shots we want. Is this ok?

Sure is. A bride recently told me that one of my competitors had informed her that ‘we don’t shoot the groom getting ready’. Needless to say, I am now their photographer, while my competitor is not. I’ll never tell you I can’t photograph a certain aspect of your day. It is your day, not mine.  As I’ve said above, I’ll most probably continue to shoot to my style, but the bottom line is, I am at your service.

- You’ll get hungry, taking all those photos at my wedding, I imagine.  Want us to provide a meal for you?

How considerate of you! That would be lovely. If you can’t, that’s fine; I’ll take a little break while you guys are all eating to have a bite too.

- My wedding is in [insert faraway land], and the only transport to and from is by plane and then camel.  Are you willing to travel?

YES! I can’t stress this enough. I love to travel, and I am always keen to add foreign weddings to my portfolio. I’ll travel anywhere in the country, or the world, or the galaxy to photograph a wedding. Getting married on the moon? Sweet! Of course, extra fees, such as travel, accommodation, and oxygen mask may (and probably do) apply.

- Have you ever ridden a camel, Tom? 

Actually, yes I have. He was quite…. pungent. His name was Ahmed.

- Did you really go to India to shoot a wedding? 

Yep. Pretty awesome hey. Oct / Nov 2011. On the list for 2012 are three weddings in Vanuatu, one in Scotland, England, and then Croatia in 2014!  plus heaps of Aussie weddings.

- We’d like to book you! What do we do now?

Hit me up at info@thomasstewart.com.au so I can check my availability. Feel free to give me a call at any stage too.