It’s an honour today to introduce you to two of the friendliest photographers I know – Sarah and Andrew of Follan Photography. Not only are they genuinely lovely people, but they take pretty awesome photographs! I love reading expert interviews from photographers because the information they share is a bit like gold. Sarah and Andrew have some pretty meaty nuggets in today’s expert interview!
Where and how did you learn your craft?

We are both self-taught. Andrew came home from his corporate job 5 years ago and said “I hate wearing ties. I don’t want to wear a tie ever again.” Three weeks later he tied his last tie.

After seeing how much fun Andrew was having I decided I wanted in on the action so made Andrew teach me everything he knew! Luckily I was a bit of a natural and we discovered that together we made a pretty awesome team.

What is your mission statement for Follan Photography?

To build a relationship with our brides & grooms so we can play an integral part on their wedding day capturing everything that happens.

Our commitment is to capture the wedding day as it unfolds and document the moments for future generations.

Oh, and to have fun doing it.

What inspires you about Australian brides? Is there a special ‘Australian’ quality about brides from this country?

We love that our Australian Brides don’t take anything too seriously. When things go wrong on their day (which lets be honest, it’s a rare wedding day if at least 1 hiccup doesn’t happen right?) the Aussie bride usually just shrugs and goes “oh well” and gets on with it with a smile.

Plus we find Aussie brides aren’t sticklers for normal wedding “traditions” and are keen to do things their own way. So Australian weddings are usually unique and refreshing.

Being based in Sydney also means that we get to see so many traditions from other cultures.

What should brides look for in a photographer?

Great images and very high quality products are a given!

Other than that, brides need to find photographer(s) that they “click” with. Ask yourself, “could I be friends with this person(s) in real life? If the answer is yes than they are probably the right photographer(s) for you.

Do you take traditional photographs of brides or do you strive to be different? What sets you apart from others?

We think we’re a bit different because we don’t ALWAYS strive to be different. It is important to get some traditional shots no matter how arty you want to be.

We often tell our B&G’s that we’re not really taking photographs for them. It’s for your children & grandchildren who want to be able to look through your album and from the images alone be able to see what you were like on your wedding day. Not only how you looked but also be able to see your personalities, the atmosphere of the day and your love.

Most photographers go out of their way to try and be different, unique, “arty” in their images. And unfortunately some photographers forget that the wedding images aren’t all about them and expanding their portfolios…..so in effect maybe we are different – lol).

Where do you find inspiration to keep your photography cutting edge and your interest in it fresh?

Magazines, Movies, Music, Travel, our life…

We try and make time for personal projects, some never seeing the light of day! But it keeps you learning and seeing things differently. You can then incorporate some of this into your wedding photography.

How do you keep on learning?

Practice, practice, practice…

We are not really ones to do many workshops or training courses (being self taught and all) so we just keep on shooting!

What is your number one tip for brides when being photographed?

Just relax and to not think about it too much. Your wedding day is about the people you have around you, it’s not all about the photographs.

If you trust your photographer you should be able to enjoy the day without ever thinking if you should be doing something different for them. We will tell you if we need you to do something otherwise we just want you to be you.

How can a bride look her best in front of the camera?

Great hair & makeup makes a huge difference. Never skimp on a great makeup artist, they’re worth it!

What are your favourite wedding ideas?

Having a first look hands down. Every Bride and Groom should have a first look!

It is everything a wedding should be, exciting, romantic, fun, personal…..plus it always makes a wedding day run smoother and allows the B&G to spend much more quality time with their guests!

What are the biggest mistakes you see brides making?

Other than not using a professional hair & make-up crew?

Trying to make their wedding look and feel like something they have seen on a wedding blog or magazine that’s just not them, something that just does not suit their personalities. Your wedding day is YOUR wedding day, be original, be unique but be YOU.

If money were no object, where and how would you photograph a wedding?

Where – The Amalfi Coast!

How – The same way we do now… but maybe with helicopters!

What is your dream for Follan Photography?

See previous answer 😉

Honestly, and we know it sounds so corny and cliché, but we are already living it. We have a successful photography business, get to hang out with happy gorgeous people every weekend, get to shoot weddings in places like New York and Hawaii, and have 3 amazingly wonderful kids… so our dream is to just keep living!

Thank you for joining us today on Polka Dot Wisdom Andrew & Sarah! If you want to learn more about Follan Photography, visit the Follan Photography website.