61 PHOTOGRAPHY MEET DENISE, OF DENISE WINTER PHOTOGRAPHY In the beginning… I’ve had an interest in photography for as long as I can remember, it was always people and places, a way of documenting my memories. I travelled extensively for work so when I had my son in 2007 and knew I needed a career change. I signed up to a four-day course which covered wedding and portrait photography with some of the most awarded and prestigious photographers. One of the wedding photographers teaching on the course offered to mentor me and share his knowledge. At the same time, I started second shooting for a wedding photography studio. After two weddings I was completely hooked. I loved the unpredictability of a wedding day, the raw emotions and the overwhelming feeling of love, I still feel this gratitude today. Since 2007 I have documented 612 weddings, that is a lot of love-filled moments. If I wasn’t a photographer, I would still be working with people, I enjoy the energy of being with people and I also have a strong interest in human psychology and behaviour, so maybe a therapist or a support worker to young adults and teens. For the love of weddings… A wedding day is filled with many pure moments, one of my favourites is the bride seeing her parents once she is wedding ready. There is a lot of focus on the father-of-the-bride at this point, but I feel the mother-of-thebride is equally important. You can feel the emotions and see the bond they share; it’s beautiful. With a career spanning 16 years, there have been many treasured memories. If I had to pick one, it would be a wedding I did for a couple who met under awful circumstances during the London bombing in 2005. He was a firefighter who had helped in her rescue. It was incredible to think that out of something so awful, a beautiful and pure love story was born. Golden nugget advice… I have two pieces of advice for a couple planning their wedding day. The first is time, always allow enough time. The day will pass quickly, factor enough time to enjoy your reception, to chat comfortably with your family and friends, to be able to stop to soak up the atmosphere. With enough time on your day, you will feel present in the moment rather than rushing and feeling harassed. My second piece of advice may seem obvious, hire the wedding suppliers you feel completely confident with, and have complete trust they will do the best job for you. Sometimes they may not be the cheapest option, but there is no price for the peace of mind they will give you on your wedding day. What’s your favourite film/food/song? I enjoy most cuisine, but if I had to choose a favourite it would be Thai or Indian. I am half Burmese and growing up our house always had the aroma of spices and herbs. I love music and you will often find me shaking my booty on the dancefloor whilst taking photos. There are far too many amazing songs to choose just one, but if I had to it would be The Foundations Build Me Up Buttercup. I’m not sure why or how, but it somehow became a song me and my children would sing and dance to when they were younger. Even now they are teens, we still have a sing-along when we hear it. Denise Winter Photography, Camberley, Surrey www.denisewinterphotography.co.uk www.instagram.com/denisewinterphoto
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