Katie | This is me :)

Hi Katie here, Stuart's right hand woman. Well, more like his work experience student that never left, I'm 17 and currently studying a media course at Middlesbrough College. Hoping to move onto university in September, I was meant to introduce myself a long time ago and forgot so I'm here now for you all to get to know.

Weddings for me as Stuart’s second aren't as stressful as they are for him, being at the same wedding but with completely different responsibilities. They are just as scary for me, I'm usually terrified.

I’m going to put it out there now I struggle in social situations so imagine what I was like at my first few weddings but working with Stuart and the business has helped so much to come out of my shell and it's not just helped me in the business to advance but also in my personal life, my family have seen me flourish and come into my own, which I honestly couldn't be anymore grateful for.

With myself now being confident at weddings I have done a lot more. My role is very much different to Stuart’s, I used to just follow him around, annoying the life out him whilst getting the same shots as him and of course his would be better, he's done this for 13 years.

With his help I now feel more confident to move around the wedding, the reception and be able to have my own creative style put into the wedding package for the bride and groom. It’s coming up to three years that I have been working for Stuart (yes, it's been that long, I used to be shy) and I find that quite comical, when people would ask me what photography I wanted to do I would always say not wedding photography because it terrified me.

It's someone's big day I didn’t want to be the one to ruin it, but now I couldn't think of anything I would want to photograph more. I may only just be coming up to 18 but this experience has given me ideas for what I want at my wedding, whilst staying professional of course.

Like I said at the start, weddings are different for me. I'm not the main photographer and you might be thinking well what's the point of a second photographer? If they are not at the front taking the images of the bride and groom saying their vows or sharing their first kiss as man and wife, then what is point of another photographer been there?

I capture the guests throughout the day, capturing the emotion of the guests rather than the bride and groom. I also capture the moments from a different angle, the shots that you think people would like for example a shot from the back doesn't show the emotion as much as the ones Stuart takes from the front, but it sets the scene of what's happening it captures a moment in time for the bride and groom along with their guests.

The use of also having another photographer is that, whilst Stuart is off with the bride and groom I can remain behind and capture the guests and there interaction between each other.

Plus, I’m short so I can get down low and get different angles and can get back up from being on the floor no problem, unlike Stuart.

I also work a lot behind the scenes with any social media or website work usually being done by myself and Stuart. But a change is coming with my role in the business, I'm leaving for university in September and will start working for the business remotely from Preston coming back up to still shoot weddings with Stuart, don’t worry I’m not introducing myself and then leaving. The business has turned into my second family and I wouldn’t replace that for anything. 

That was a little intro to me and how I work at weddings, I'm sure you will find out more about me as I keep working, but bye for now!