THE SMALL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Gallery
About Me
With a photography-mad father it was no surprise that in growing up I too loved taking photos. It would be no surprise then that I have been taking wedding photographs for many years. As a career nurse I found that I could fit weddings in to my week day rota. Initially I trained as a general nurse in north London, followed by mental health nursing in Hertfordshire and consolidated both with work in my Scottish home town of Gretna Green and Carlisle.
Many people will have heard of Gretna Green. It is the first stop over the Scottish border, and the destination of thousands of runaway couples seeking to exploit Scottish law. The Marriages, Scotland Act allows persons of 16 and above to marry with or without parental consent. Gretna Green is the most southerly village in western Scotland and for centuries has welcomed “young sweethearts” for their clandestine marriage - often pursued by angry parents!
During my time in Scotland, I photographed several hundred runaway marriages over the Blacksmiths anvil as part of my contribution to our established family business. Once again, my nursing rota enabled me to work behind the camera on week days. It was a curious time when I found myself in casual, fleeting relationships in the lives of couples who had travelled from all over the world to seal the knot over the Blacksmiths anvil. Quite often, the bride and groom were alone and I stepped in as both a legal witness and photographer - to be accompanied by Mrs Campbell who just happened to be out shopping across the road - all of a sudden, a legal witness in the marriage ceremony of complete strangers.
Following a career move to Chichester and Pre-retirement from the NHS, my nursing role was that of a community mental health nurse working 9-5 Monday to Friday. This allowed me to attend weekend weddings. Then retiring at 55 I switched to full time self-employed professional photographer….and that is where I stand today.
Many people will have heard of Gretna Green. It is the first stop over the Scottish border, and the destination of thousands of runaway couples seeking to exploit Scottish law. The Marriages, Scotland Act allows persons of 16 and above to marry with or without parental consent. Gretna Green is the most southerly village in western Scotland and for centuries has welcomed “young sweethearts” for their clandestine marriage - often pursued by angry parents!
During my time in Scotland, I photographed several hundred runaway marriages over the Blacksmiths anvil as part of my contribution to our established family business. Once again, my nursing rota enabled me to work behind the camera on week days. It was a curious time when I found myself in casual, fleeting relationships in the lives of couples who had travelled from all over the world to seal the knot over the Blacksmiths anvil. Quite often, the bride and groom were alone and I stepped in as both a legal witness and photographer - to be accompanied by Mrs Campbell who just happened to be out shopping across the road - all of a sudden, a legal witness in the marriage ceremony of complete strangers.
Following a career move to Chichester and Pre-retirement from the NHS, my nursing role was that of a community mental health nurse working 9-5 Monday to Friday. This allowed me to attend weekend weddings. Then retiring at 55 I switched to full time self-employed professional photographer….and that is where I stand today.
ABOUT
When you entrust your wedding day photos to The Small Wedding Photographer you will be in the hands of someone with many years' experience. My style, therefore, is to work flexibly.
We will capture your day in traditional, semi formal and/ or reportage styles. We will aim to produce your wedding photos just the way you want them.
We will work both efficiently and effectively using an assertive but sensitive approach making sure that the photographs you request are the ones captured in your album.
We will treat your family and friends with respect and encourage them to capture their view of your wedding day memories be it with cameras or mobile phones.
We will work to an agreed timetable so that you enjoy your wedding day fully without any concerns about “what happens next”. We will hand over to your reception manager at the agreed time and in keeping with the photo set agreed at your pre marriage meeting.
Above all I want you to enjoy the contribution I make to your special day from the first click of the camera to the final photos as I prepare to leave.
Your deposit is 50% of your chosen package to confirm your booking. Your balance is payable four weeks prior to your wedding day.
With all our best wishes,
John Donabie
We will capture your day in traditional, semi formal and/ or reportage styles. We will aim to produce your wedding photos just the way you want them.
We will work both efficiently and effectively using an assertive but sensitive approach making sure that the photographs you request are the ones captured in your album.
We will treat your family and friends with respect and encourage them to capture their view of your wedding day memories be it with cameras or mobile phones.
We will work to an agreed timetable so that you enjoy your wedding day fully without any concerns about “what happens next”. We will hand over to your reception manager at the agreed time and in keeping with the photo set agreed at your pre marriage meeting.
Above all I want you to enjoy the contribution I make to your special day from the first click of the camera to the final photos as I prepare to leave.
Your deposit is 50% of your chosen package to confirm your booking. Your balance is payable four weeks prior to your wedding day.
With all our best wishes,
John Donabie
Contact
- Chichester, England, United Kingdom