Wedding Photographers in Oxfordshire

Vicky Lewis Photography provides a full-time photographer based in Oxfordshire. Her style is vibrant and contemporary and dedicated to capturing beautiful memories of your day. Besides weddings, she also photographs family portraits, engaged couples, or families celebrating their baby. Read on for more of her story plus great tips for helping you choose a photographer for your event.

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

To provide a comprehensive quote for a client I would need to know the date and location of the event. Also a brief description of the client's expectations so I can understand their actual requirement. And the approximate number of guests, style of venue and length of time they want to be photographed all help to build a tailored quote so expectations aren't just met but can actually be exceeded.

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

The advice I'd give to someone looking to book their photographer is don't just rely on their pretty pictures, you need to be sure you are compatible with them because, unlike all the other suppliers at your event, the photographer will be with you throughout. You won't know by looking at someone's portfolio if they have a really annoying shouty voice! Speak to them, Skype them and definitely have a pre-wedding photo session so you know you can enjoy their company.
Also, it's really important not to skimp on your photography budget. There's no going back for a retake so make sure your photographer can deliver the gallery you are dreaming of.
And finally, ask what you will receive from them. If their quote is super low it might be because you only get watermarked images and need to fork out for the actual useable gallery. Be sure you are happy with everything you will receive before you commit.

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

I spent the early part of my career as a Graphic Designer in the advertising industry often working as an art director on photoshoots. It was great fun but horrendous hours and it became clear to me that I would actually love to be the person taking the photos not just directing them. As it happened, I took a break from the corporate world to start my own little family and then launched my business in 2010. I kept it simple at first because I was juggling the career change from Graphic designer to Photographer with the life change of becoming 'mum'. I attended some awesome Photography courses and offered photoshoots to friends and family to practise. And, once I became established I focused mainly on family portraiture to then shoot my first wedding in 2012. This was a real game-changer for me and I couldn't believe how amazing it felt to photograph so much joy and love and I was hooked!! I often look back on my designer days and appreciate how much the experience taught me and I still apply it to my photography today, except I now tell a story with pictures instead of design.

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

I haven't been a member of Add to Event for very long so I'm very much looking forward to seeing the results of being a part of such a great platform. The website is well designed and it's easy for both supplier and client to navigate. I would definitely recommend to any suppliers in the wedding/hospitality sectors.