Steve Bridgwood

My title is Steve Bridgwood, and for the previous ten years, I’ve been a full-time marriage ceremony photographer overlaying the entire of the UK and abroad for vacation spot weddings.

I’ve been round pictures for so long as I can bear in mind as my dad labored within the business, beginning out as a photographer for the EMI music label earlier than shifting on to Royal Doulton the well-known pottery producer in my residence city of Stoke-on-Trent.

It was considerably inevitable that I acquired cameras as a present whereas rising up.

After leaving college, I briefly studied A-level pictures at school nonetheless, throughout this time, I used to be much more excited by going out to observe music gigs and getting drunk with my associates, so I dropped out fairly quick.

With out sounding big-headed, I felt that I knew all of it anyway.

Quick ahead a decade, and I used to be nonetheless spending my time at gigs however this time photographing the native grunge bands. After working in a number of completely different jobs, I lastly landed myself a pictures position, working for Staffordshire Police as an HQ photographer, which, as you’ll be able to think about, was fairly grim and very difficult.

Nonetheless, I learnt a hell of rather a lot underneath the steerage of a extremely expert head photographer that basically confirmed me the bones of pictures with movie, growing and digital work.

After a number of years in that position, I realised that I had to have the ability to discover my artistic aspect and marriage ceremony pictures was actually taking off within the UK.

I might see photographers like Steve Gerrard, Martin Passion and Ian France doing a little actually cool and completely unique artistic marriage ceremony pictures.

I actually knew I needed to be a part of this nice business.

So, after a dialog with my spouse that went one thing like, “I’m packing in work, and I’m going to {photograph} weddings for a residing”, I began on my journey. Thank god she had religion in me!

Right here I’m now, capturing forty to fifty weddings yearly for some actually cool {couples}.

The folks I work with simply get me! I’m fairly full-on with the chat once I discuss with {couples}, in truth, we by no means actually discuss their marriage ceremony, extra about movies and music, stuff like that, however my pictures type is basically chilled.

My web site and social media channels appeal to these kinds of {couples}, and I really feel like I’ve all the time remained true to my model and elegance of pictures.

I’m all the time grateful for the chance to work with these marriage ceremony {couples} and their households.

I began off with numerous movie cameras after which purchased my first digital the Canon 20d. I nonetheless suppose that it is a nice digital camera, given its age. I then moved on to Nikon simply because it was a cool professional model.

I purchased a great deal of APS-C Nikons earlier than lastly proudly owning a Nikon D700 which actually let me create the kind of pictures I needed.

I’ve stated this a great deal of occasions and nonetheless stand by it, the Nikon D700 is among the most essential cameras within the digital world ever developed. I might shoot a marriage on one now, and also you wouldn’t be capable of inform the distinction in comparison with modern-day gear.

I naturally progressed to a Nikon D800 earlier than lastly shifting to the Sony system that offers me every part I want.

I presently shoot with a Sony A9 and a Sony A9II, and for me, the pace of the buffer, the tremendous shiny viewfinder, the super-fast focus and dependable eye AF are every part!

Sony Zeiss Distagon T* FE 35mm f/1.4 ZA – way back to I can bear in mind, I had all the time preferred a 35mm focal size. Even once I was at school, I had some odd 40mm f/2 guide lens on a Pentax K1000, so I suppose its one thing my eye is simply used to; the proper size, not too vast, not too lengthy and sufficient every approach that you should utilize your toes to get the body.

Zeiss 85mm f/1.8 – this lens is simply excellent. I do know that there shall be folks on the market that aren’t a fan of the Batis vary, however for me, it’s gentle, completely correct and by no means misses a beat, plus the color render from it’s nice.

The explanation I like an 85mm is that it’s a fantastic non-intrusive lens, simply lengthy sufficient to not be seen however quick sufficient to carry on to the background, even when it’s vast open at 1.8.

Zeiss 18mm f/2.8 – that is my dance flooring lens. Teamed up with some flash, you may get some implausible frames with it, notably when individuals are full-on partying on the dance flooring.

The 18mm offers me the liberty to be a bit of carefree as I wish to get within the thick of the motion. It’s a point-and-shoot lens that by no means fails me! I’ve additionally used it a handful of occasions for some artistic ultra-wide portraits.

With Sony, there isn’t actually another possibility than going OEM Sony flashes, which I initially did however ended up not liking them so now I exploit GODOX flashes and triggers.

My digital camera straps are all customized, and my bag is a Lowepro Professional Runner 350.

Sure, it’s a bit outdated, but it surely’s the best bag I’ve ever owned, as I can actually match every part I personal in it. I can simply chuck it over my shoulder once I’m on the tube in London or strolling round Manchester going between areas.

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As for tripods, I by no means use them. I simply don’t like them and by no means have.

I exploit Lightroom and Publicity (formally generally known as Alien Pores and skin Publicity) however don’t actually spend an excessive amount of time in Lightroom as I don’t actually overshoot. It’s actually only a place the place I can cull pictures and put highlights proper. The ultimate full set goes to Publicity, the place I apply the ultimate look to the pictures.

Samsung s22 Plus – I exploit this smartphone rather a lot at weddings, together with my tremendous outdated Fuji x100. The Fuji is nice to make use of on tremendous shiny sunny days when there’s actually no shade for portraits. It offers a sure look that I like in harsh solar and rock-bottom ISO that I simply can’t clarify, an virtually Stanley Kubrick-type of really feel.

I feel you’ve received to have a look at what you’ll be able to take away when it comes to gear extra so than what so as to add. Streamlining your gear offers you extra artistic freedom.

Discover the place you shine and construct on that, however largely be as unique as you’ll be able to along with your work.

The funniest story that I can share with you is once I was standing with the groomsmen at a marriage I used to be capturing, having a chat and laughing, and there was a girl enjoying the violin, sadly actually badly.

I stated to the three groomsmen, “man, the violinist is terrible. Is it simply me noticing how dangerous her enjoying is?”

One of many groomsmen checked out me and stated actually deadpan, “that’s my spouse enjoying“.

Oops!

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