Photojournalism at a wedding?

Being given the freedom to shoot weddings in this storytelling manner is what attracted me to such special occasions. Weddings have it all: the characters, the emotions, the atmosphere, the details, the moments. It’s a dramatic storyboard there in front of me, ready to be recorded – to watch, observe, anticipate and then compose images that mean so much to my clients. Merging into the background with the camera. The photography reflects the day, rather than impose upon it with lengthy portrait sessions or countless dull, traditional setup photographs.

A good wedding photojournalist won't give you lots of dull, static group shots or overly photoshopped mock fashion shoots. What you'll get is a series of timeless images that form a valuable record of the moments you want to cherish. Natural wedding photography that captures the day as it actually was.

For me, the buzz of stills photography is searching out and capturing moments. Freezing them in time – whatever the subject. That is the power of reportage photography. It’s the thrill of the hunt, seeking out striking and timeless images and fixing them for posterity. Being a wedding photojournalist gives me this in abundance.

Working at a national newspaper, every day was different. From shooting backstage at a Royal Ballet performance, to covering the aftermath of a devastating bomb on a London street, on the same day. From portraits of the Prime Minister at No 10 Downing Street, to extraordinary days documenting rare Paeolithic engravings in a remote Portuguese canyon. From capturing a beekeeper at work on the rooftop of the Opera House in Paris, to dodging flying bricks and petrol bombs in a London street riot. Even having a gun pointed at my head on one assignment.