Question 1

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH?

Accepted Answer

I love the craft of photography. As a former press photographer, I tell stories using a documentary approach that captures the authentic moments of your special day. I keep things simple and make sure you both never get overwhelmed or feel like the wedding is a huge production of lights, light stands, and assistants. My trusty Leicas are all I need to get the job done right using available light. I happily capture a limited set of staged photographs, including the obligatory group photos and creative shots of the couple.

Question 2

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

Accepted Answer

I’m from Chichester, England, and made the move to San Antonio, Texas, in 2006. Why? I married a Texan. We both worked on a cruise ship in 2002 and started dating.

Question 3

WHEN DID YOU START IN PHOTOGRAPHY?

Accepted Answer

I have been a full-time professional photographer since 1992, starting as a press photographer. I’ve been drawing since a kid, and then I picked up my first camera around 13 or 14 years old. I still sketch, but I do it with a camera. Good fortune has been in my life. I got a break working on a local newspaper shooting news stories, sports, and handshake pics, and I developed my craft. Most importantly, I had great mentors who taught me a lot! I then traveled the world for ten years before meeting my wife, who hails from Texas.

Question 4

WE ARE BOTH UNCOMFORTABLE HAVING OUR PICTURES TAKEN. HOW CAN YOU HELP US DURING THE WEDDING?

Accepted Answer

Well, that’s how I feel too. Seriously. I’m a very calm, mellow person (some even say I’m funny) who tends to blend into the scene rather than bring attention to myself. I have this British accent which helps, apparently. Combined with my documentary style, will have you both used to me within the 30 minutes of getting ready time. The only time you’ll really be aware of the cameras is in the family group photo and the creative portraits. You can just be you, and I will take care of the rest.

Question 5

SHOULD I GIVE YOU A SHOT LIST?

Accepted Answer

You will see that I’m very thorough and I cover the wedding day, including all the decor and details as I find them. There is no need to provide a shot list. The only list that I might need is a list of the family group shots. If I have one of those detailed shot lists from the internet that your photographer must cover, then I really cannot focus on delivering what you hired me for in the first place.

Question 6

HOW MANY IMAGES DO YOU SHOOT?

Accepted Answer

It varies with every wedding that I shoot, so there is no set answer. I’m not a ‘machine gunner’ hoping to get lucky shots. I think, anticipate, and react to moments ensuring great images every time. ‘Less is more’. Quality over quantity.

Question 7

WHAT IS YOUR INSPIRATION FOR YOUR WORK?

Accepted Answer

My hero of sorts is a French photographer, Henri Cartier-Bresson. He is considered the master of candid photography and was one of the early pioneers of street photography. It’s his particular early work that I’m drawn to. Cartier-Bresson was uniquely talented at capturing decisive moments using geometry, composition, form, and balance in his images. I have many photographers I enjoy reading about, and if you come to my studio, you’ll see a huge stack of books.

Question 8

WHAT DO I NEED TO BOOK YOU FOR OUR WEDDING?

Accepted Answer

$1500 will hold the date along with a signed contract.

Question 9

DO YOU SHOOT INTERNATIONALLY?

Accepted Answer

Yes. I photograph Texas statewide, all over North America and Europe, passport-ready. I love shooting in my home base of San Antonio, Texas. 50% of my weddings are in Houston, Austin, Dallas, and the Texas Gulf. My recent weddings were in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Santa Fe, and California.

Question 10

DO YOU EDIT ALL OUR PHOTOS AND HOW LOING DO WE WAIT?

Accepted Answer

Yes, all images are edited in-house. Images take approximately 6-8 weeks and are delivered to a private gallery.

Philip Thomas Photography

About Philip Thomas Photography