Guy Duke Wedding Photography

Photo shoots and modelling

admin — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 10:52:51 +0000

In between wedding work recently I have been working with Matt Swift a photographer based near Buxton who I’ve known for a few years. He shoots portraits for agencies based in Sheffield who supply their clients with advertising and branding
material. We have done many shoots for a wide variety of clients through Sheffield’s few agencies. This work affords the opportunity to travel far and wide and get a glimpse into many working environments. We are always using portable studio lights and working to a brief set by an art director. The shots are staged and it takes hours of work to get exactly what we are looking for.

This is a stark contrast to weddings where I think on my feet and only have onc chance to get the desired result. As well as the technical work I do on these shoots I am often drafted in as a model due to budget cuts in advertising and the need for ‘average looking people.’

Wedding photography styles

admin — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 10:55:23 +0000

I believe that for your wedding day it’s best to aim for a good mix of formal and reportage shots. Formal shots have their place as a reminder of the important family members who were present. They allow for a very structured and geometric composition where all the theories of photography can be incorporated. Angles and lines lead the viewer’s eye from one area to another, either into or out of the image. Sometimes the photographer can make the eye read left to right which is normal. At other times the photographer may reverse this. The formal shot as it is so structured lacks personality and will not capture any real resemblance of the subject’s natural look.

With the reportage portrait even when the composition is not as carefully produced the photographer can capture the moment and the real essence of the subject’s personality. Even slight soft focus or an element of motion are acceptable. For me these shots have the greatest intrigue as they are natural and the subject is not posing. Eyes looking away from the camera can produce beautiful or handsome results. In recent times wedding photography has become much more focused on reportage photography with much less traditional group work. This also means that the day is not as interrupted as it once was. The photographer can become part of the crowd, mingling and observing rather than directing and taking centre stage.

Below are two examples of a traditional wedding shot and a modern reportage shot.

Woodland wedding

admin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 09:35:11 +0000

I have recently shot a job for Sheffield City Council who are going to be using Ecclesall woods as a wedding venue. There is a new development being built at the moment at the ex sawmill site. Wedding ceremonies will be conducted from the new building and there is an outside area for entertainment. The woods make a brilliant backdrop to wedding photos especially in Spring or Autumn.

Wedding in Durham

admin — Fri, 14 May 2010 16:33:39 +0000

My most recent wedding shoot took me to a small village near Durham. I was photographing the wedding of a couple I met at their friend’s wedding last year. Niall went to the same school as me and so we knew each other already. I travelled up the day before so that I could visit the venues and work out my shot list from the locations available.

The day went smoothly and the photos are of the quality I strive for. The church in which the ceremony was held made a great backdrop to my shots as did the estate where the reception was held (Whitworth Hall). Thankfully the rain just held off and the light was sufficient and soft.

I am now doing the painstaking job of going through each of the 350 edited photos to check them over and adjust the colour balance and exposure.

Congratulations Niall and Vicky, all the best for the future.

Guy Duke photography

admin — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 17:01:09 +0000

Hi. I have just updated my sister website Guy Duke photography. Here you can view some of my other work which is related to suburban landscapes. I strive to create simple yet interesting images from subject mater that would usually be overlooked. I sell my work through my sister’s company ‘Give Art’. I also sell work through various galleries based in Sheffield.

The other section of this site consist of portraits. Many of these are from jobs I have done with Sheffield based performers. I undertake design projects for company promotion and occasionally work on web design.

Climbing Holiday

admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:45:59 +0000

Well, I’ve just returned from a climbing holiday in the south of France in a place called Cassis which is situated in a range of limestone cliffs called les Calanques. A calanque is a geologic formation in the form of a deep valley with steep sides, typically of limestone, in part submerged by the sea. It can be considered a Mediterranean fjord.
I travelled down on the train from Sheffield with a group of friends and then hired a car in Marseilles. The whole journey took 12 hours and was very relaxing with us being able to take our own food and wine whilst looking at the scenery rushing by at 200 mph. Like Sergeant Bosco Albert “B.A.” (Bad Attitude) Baracus said “I ain’t getting on no plane fool”.

If you’re in to climbing this is the place to be. Would also be a lovely area to get married in. At least the weather is more reliable!

Now I’m ready for the coming wedding season. So to all you men out there get down on that knee propose to your queen and book your wedding photography with me.

Mobolise

admin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 14:08:02 +0000

Wednesday 3rd March took me to Ecclesall road south near Whirlow to photograph the work of Teri Spinks – Mobolise. Teri does a whole range of therapies and I was lucky enough to sample a back and shoulders chair massage. I am always in need of such treatment as I’m always climbing, swimming, running or working at my computer, all of which tend to make the muscles tense. The shoot was a great success and Teri seems very pleased with the shots which will appear on her new site soon.

Working Woodlands gallery

admin — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:59:02 +0000

last Friday evening (26th February) I photographed the opening of a new exhibition at the gallery in Ecclesall woods. A cold night didn’t bring many people to the dark woods. The artist on show was Simon Kent who sculpts wood. His work is quite sinister and I’m not sure it’s for all. Maybe those of a fragile nature might find it a bit dark and depressing. Very interesting photography material though.

The gallery itself is an amazing structure built by Hector and Cedric. Made entirely of wood it sits well in the woods. It has a very rustic feel to it and contains some great woodwork. If I could I’d buy it and live in it!

Heeley City Farm Energy Centre

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 21:42:18 +0000

On Friday 19th I visited Heeley City farm and took some photos for them at the energy centre. As it is a voluntary organisation I did the shoot for free. I photographed a family being shown round by one of the guides.

Heeley farm is pretty cool and worth a visit especially if you have kids or just like animals and the environment.

Portrait of Guy Duke – Wedding photographer Sheffield

admin — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:43:35 +0000

A friend of mine Matt Swift took this photo of me when we were working on a shoot together at Capita in Sheffield.