Wedding Photographer Extraordinaire | Gareth Robins

 

· ~ my style is your style ~ ·

I love all aspects and types of photography. Some wedding photographers might focus on a particular type of photography, and get really good at it. I prefer to learn all types of photography so that I can bring the best of all worlds to your wedding. My wedding photo style is your style, they're your photos after all so I like to work with my clients to understand their needs, and then deliver on those expectations. So if you prefer natural sun-lit shots on the beach, no problem. Or if you prefer urban nighttime shots with artifical light, no problem.

· ~ the reasons I love life ~ ·

There are three big reasons why I get up in the morning. My wife, Bronwyn, and my two kids; Adam & Emma. Beside shooting weddings, I have a full time job, I'm studying part time, and I'm trying to become fit enough to get back in to karate. But playing rough-and-tumble with my kids on the lawn trumps all of those things. As much as I'm looking forward to them growing up, I wish they could stay this way forever.

· ~ I love organisation & chaos ~ ·

People say that shooting weddings is the hardest aspects of photography. I tell them they've never photographed at a daycare. Wedding photography is hard, but to me that's enjoyable. I love the challenge of learning new techniques, perfecting them so I can deliver my clients great photos. Weddings can be chaotic, so I've learned to be both structured and flexible with my approach on the day. I work with a detailed timeline of the day, but if the bride or groom want extra shots here and there, or different poses, or sometimes a different location, I'll accomodate it. Prior to the wedding I will scout out locations so I'm fully prepared on the day. I am adamant about bringing backup equipment, so that if my gear fails, I can keep shooting.

· ~ I grew up on a small exotic Island. ~ ·

All islands should be exotic, but unfortunately my island was a freezing rock in the middle of the English Channel. It's called Alderney, is 3.5miles long, there are 2000 people and 14 pubs. So we referred to it as 2000 drunks clinging to a rock.

Alderney was in fact a great place to grow up. It was incredibly safe as a kid, I would just take off in the morning, play all day, and be home for tea. I haven't been back there since I left, but would love to take my kids and let them experience it. Here are some photos of Alderney from a great photographer called Neil Howard.

· ~ If I won Lotto I'd spend the time travelling ~ ·

I've never really travelled around Europe, despite living half my life so close to it. I've seen plenty of the US, but nothing of Canada. I've been to Tijuana, but not to Mexico (the former I'm told is nothing like the latter). I think it would be great to just pull the kids out of school for a few years and travel from place to place. The one holiday I'd love to do right now, regardless of Lotto is hire one of those massive RVs and travel the US in style.

· ~ I'm trying to get fit enough to go back to karate ~ ·

Goju Ryu Karate was a HUGE part of my life. I was super fit and trained daily. But in 1997 I had a motorcycle accident (on the Auckland Harbour Bridge, if you caught in the four hour traffic jam, I'm sorry). So I've started cycling as that puts the least pressure on my wonky leg. Once I can lose the weight I think I'll be able to do more impactful exercise.

· ~ I love big ideas ~ ·

I'm writing this on the day that Tesla Motors in the US announced they were installing free solar-powered charging stations across America. Also announced today was a company building large Zeppelin-esque ships to carry us around the country. Also lets not forget that Sergey Brin said we'd be riding in self driving cars by the year 2017. Isn't the world just great!

I love that people have had an idea and then turned it into something that's changed people's lives. In a small way I like to think that my photography has an impact on my clients lives, even if it's just for the one day.