Q+A: LONELY HUNTER WEDDINGS | WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER SYDNEY NSW

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At Lonely Hunter Weddings, Richard's primary goal is to leave each couple with a collection of timeless memories that they will cherish for years to come while at the same time making sure they thoroughly enjoy their day by laughing, dancing and have fun along the way. "For me, wedding photography is not only about taking great photos but also about ensuring I do what I can to create a unique and positive experience for each of my couples. Often this means going above and beyond what's expected in order to exceed expectations. When working with each couple, I always strive to create a relaxed and stress-free environment where each couple can feel comfortable to be themselves. I understand that a wedding day is a once in a lifetime event and through my wedding photography, I aim to tell their love story by documenting all the festivities and raw emotions that come with such an event." Richard Lonely Hunter Weddings

"There is never a dull moment when it comes to weddings, you're always going from one high to the next."

How and when did you get into photography?

I have always had a passion for cameras and their ability to capture moments in time. I guess this somewhat stems from my family history as my father and grandfather were both heavily involved in the industry of film making. I studied photography and played around with film throughout my high school years. Following school, I wasn't quite sure which direction I wanted to go in so I decided that it would be best to get a trade, a job I could always fall back on rather than chasing a career in photography or film which may have never eventuated. For the next seven years I worked as a plumber. It wasn't until I purchased a second-hand DSLR camera for a trip to South East Asia in 2014 that I realised what I had been missing. I guess for me it was one of those "ahh huh" moments and since then I haven't looked back. In 2016, I won the grand final for Canon's photography competition the 'Light Awards' which further cemented my thinking that I was indeed on the right path. As most photographers do, I began my photography journey taking landscape and lifestyle shots before eventually find my feet in the wedding industry. It did take some time but photographing weddings is all I do now and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Did you always know that you wanted to become a Wedding photographer?
It was never my goal to end up shooting weddings, it is one of those things which just kind of happened. I had a friend who shot weddings from time to time and he asked me if I wanted to give him a hand as a second shooter. It was quite nerve-racking thinking about all the pressure which comes with a wedding day but at the same time, I also thought that if I wanted to grow as a photographer I needed to 'throw myself in the deep end' so to speak. It did come as somewhat of a surprise though when I looked back on that wedding and thought to myself that I rather enjoyed it. After that, I decided to actively start pursuing weddings and it all sort of snowballed from there..

Do you have any stories that you would like to share from your experiences?
I do have one story but it's based on my observations of an event which happened to a couple of mine rather than me personally. As most probably know, there are so many moving parts to a wedding day that everything needs to happen exactly as planned for things to run smoothly and it's quite easy to get hung up on something if it doesn't go to plan. It was around 5.30pm on this particular occasion and I had just finished the location/portrait shoot with the couple. I jumped in the car and raced back to the venue hoping to photograph the reception room before guests entered. Considering that the bridal party had two cars - one for the groomsmen/bridesmaids and one for the bride and groom, I assumed they would be right behind me. After photographing the reception room for 45 mins, I asked when the bridal party and guests were expected to enter as this was meant to take place 30 mins earlier. I was told by the bridesmaids and groomsmen that the bride and groom still hadn't arrived and they couldn't be contacted because they didn't have their phones on them. The guests then entered and took their seats. 1.5 hours late, the bride and groom eventually arrived, but they weren't in their hire car. It turns out they had to hitch a lift back to their reception because their hire car broke down and without a phone, they weren't able to call anyone. It would be completely understandable for anyone in such a situation to be extremely annoyed but this bride & groom didn't dwell on it. They shrugged it off and got on with enjoying the rest of their evening. The moral of the story is, there can be any number of things which can go wrong on a wedding day but you can't let something which is out of your control ruin the entire day.

What advice would you offer to Nearly Weds who are just starting out on their search for the perfect photographer?
If you're just beginning your search, referrals are always a great place to start. If any of your friends have been through the wedding process before, ask what they thought of their photographer and would they recommend them. Look through magazines, on social media or in online directories to find a few photographers who you like. Once you have narrowed it down to two or three based on their work, I would suggest catching up with them to see if their personality and views match yours. It's just as important to have good chemistry with your photographer as it is to like their work. After all, it's this chemistry which is going to help to bring out those authentic smiles and laugh out loud moments on the day.

Tell us about the best part about what you do:
I am incredibly passionate about the art of photography and when I get the opportunity to combine that with documenting such a special day in the lives of each couple, it makes for an incredibly rewarding job. There is never a dull moment when it comes to weddings, you're always going from one high to the next. I love that it gives me the ability to work closely with people as I help to create memories which I know will last a lifetime. For me though, the thing that makes it most worthwhile is when you receive those messages of appreciation from the bride and groom following their wedding day.