From Behind The Lens

Andrew Howes Photography is the subject of this week’s wedding photography interview.

Andrew Howes Photography is an award winning and long standing stalwart of the wedding photography business. With over 500 weddings under his belt, Andrew manages to give his photographs a classic look and feel without making his subjects seem staged and formal. You can find him on Facebook and on Twitter, and I just know you’ll go back to his galleries more than once.

How do you describe your photographic style? Fun, creative, natural & with some classic old school!

How did you get into photography? I finished my degree in I.M.M. and started working for advertising agencies while I was there, I had the opportunity of working with photographers on campaigns – I loved what they were able to create from the use of some clever light and artistry – I then went to the UK to study photography, wedding photography was not what I wanted to do back then, but after returning and assisting some top photographers with weddings – I was hooked! That was in 1998 and I’ve never looked back!

How long have you been photographing weddings? Since 1998. To date I have captured over 500 weddings!

Where are you based? Sandton, Gauteng

What has been the highlight of your career as a wedding photographer? Apart from winning numerous awards, and having the honor of shooting celebrity weddings – the real highlight for me in my career has been being able to capture memories with all my brides & grooms. Making friends with and sharing in the most special day of their lives.

How do you market yourself? Mostly through word of mouth. In fact it’s 90% of my new business, otherwise 2 magazines per year and of course the World Wide Web.

What type of camera do you use? I use a Canon EOS 5D MKII as my main camera, my second camera is the Canon EOS 5D, I also bring 2 other cameras as back up to every shoot!

What would you love to add to your equipment? Actually not much, I have selected the equipment I use for a reason – its everything that is needed to capture the big day with quality.

Which of the wedding photographs you have taken are your favourite?

How important is a tool like Photoshop in your work, and do you retouch at all? Photoshop. What a wonderful program! I am an old school photographer though, and believe in “shooting for negative” which means getting it right the first time. That said, we do use it on clients’ request to remove or smooth out those age lines or blemishes. But honestly, no, its not always needed.

If you could be invisible- with your camera- for a day, you would… I would probably take photos of my kids all day – but on a serious note – I would like to do journalistic style photos and uncover some truths of the world!

What advice do you have for photographers who are just starting out? Perseverance! It’s a tough market out there, so just hang in there. Remember, you are only as good as your last shoot – make every shoot important!

What advice do you give to nervous or camera shy brides and couples? I have been told I make people relax, and feel comfortable and I do that by just being relaxed myself – have fun, compliment the client, and constant communication – I always try and explain my shot, the idea I have with it, and then show them the result. It helps them feel involved!

Where would you love to go for a wedding shoot? Somewhere totally unique, like Egypt – The Sahara Desert – Paris. I love a challenge and new looks, so somewhere fresh and new!

Is there anything you’re learning to do? Always learning Photoshop, it’s such an extensive program, but otherwise no. Just learning my children’s characters daily!

What will you be up to in 2011? Hopefully making a million great memories! I love what I do!

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