INTRODUCTION
Bonjour/Hello. My name is Simon Mark Whitten, AKA Firehorse Photography, a British full-time specialist ‘hybrid’ wedding photographer based in France. I offer a seamless integration of photography AND video in a single package, for your multi-day destination wedding throughout France and the EU.
Since graduating from the Kent Institute of Art & Design in the UK, with a BA Hons degree in; photography, filmmaking and graphic design, I have attended to date between 800+ weddings in 14+ countries.
When I am not working, I am usually out trail running the forests that surround our home and am a paid up member of The Cult of Hyrox, or just living our part-time van-life.
CINEGRAPHY
“What exactly is ‘Cinegraphy’?”
It’s a made up word that combines the first part of cinema, ie, CINE with the second part of photography/videography, ie, GRAPHY and perfectly describes my ‘hybrid’ approach to capturing weddings.
“OK, so what is hybrid?!”
Hybrid is the capture of a wedding using both photography AND video at the same time in a seamlessly integrated manner.
Examples of recent real weddings can be seen by clicking the link WEDDINGS from the menu at the top of the page.
My inspiration comes from various sources but mainly movies and genuinely, my clients weddings.
STYLE
Describing your visual style in words is not as easy as demonstrating it and the best thing any prospective couple can do is spend some time browsing the extensive real weddings on this site and then asking yourselves the question, “do I love it?” If the answer is yes, then let’s talk!
But in order to answer the question (because I still get asked), I’d have to say, “Timeless yet modern, sophisticated yet not contrived, intimate, yet expansive, modest in contrast and rich in colour”. Or to quote my company ethos, “Beautifully Simple - Simply Beautiful”.
On the day, I’m pretty low-key, minimally invasive ie, there when you need me to be and somewhere around when you don’t.
COVERAGE
Multi-day, morning ‘til late is my norm. What does that mean exactly? Well most of the weddings that I cover are 2-4 day events which suits destination weddings PERFECTLY, ie, it is extremely rare these days that I attend just a single day.
Having an off-grid motorhome which I can live and work out of on-site, means I can be there from early until late (over several days) without having to rush to leave and as such, do not count hours or restrict you to X amount of coverage or charge anything more whether it’s 9, 12 or 15 hours. And that’s just the wedding day… I typically cover an additional up to 6 hours the day prior and the same the day after making my total coverage at any destination wedding, anything from 15-30 hours.
PACKAGES & OPTIONS
I currently offer a number of ‘all-inclusive’ packages specifically designed for destination weddings that cover everything; photo, video, multiple days coverage, all travel etc… Please use the contact form below for further info.
TRAVEL & COSTS
From my base in Normandy, France, I cover weddings all over the country, but also throughout the EU and the UK. To date, within the EU, I have attended weddings in; France, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Greece, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
A question I am often asked is if I charge for the travel and the short answer is ‘yes’, but very reasonable rates for weddings not taking place within France!
HOW TO FIND OUT MORE
The next step is to make contact using the form below providing as much info as you can. I have a fixed annual cap both on the volume of work (number of weddings) and turnover I can take in any single season so cannot accommodate all enquiries. I look forward to hearing from you!
A Couple of FAQ’s…
Is it just you?
Yes. Always has been, always will be. It’s how I get the results that I do, by being that low-key, minimally invasive individual rather than a 3 ring circus of multiple photographers and videographers.
How do you photograph & film (video) weddings at the same time?
This is the most common question that I am asked and the short answer is a combination of technology plus a lot of practice. After a lot of trial & error. The latter part took me 6 years to go from zero video on top of the photography that I was principally booked for, to 100% video seamlessly captured alongside 100% photography. It’s just what I do.
Do we need to meet?
No and yes. No in regard to prior to booking and for 95% of my clients, it’s not even possible as I live in France and 95% of my clients do not. But yes as in right before your wedding and the day before is ideal.
Do you offer pre-wedding/engagement photoshoots?
Yes. In fact they are a complimentary part of most packages. I offer these ‘get to know you’ shoots in a variety of flavours and locations including; locally (to me), Paris, South Coast UK and possibly anywhere you fancy subject to cost.
What exactly is multi-day coverage?
Exactly what it says on the tin, - coverage over multiple days but typically; day prior = meet/recce + practice shoot + welcome party coverage and the day after is usually something like a pool party.
Is there anything that we should be asking you?
Not specifically, but you can ask me anything you like. In fact, I welcome questions and can talk weddings endlessly which after being at 800+ of the things to date, when you do the maths and imagine being at a wedding all day, every day, (and from the inside out), adds up to more than 2 years…which is slightly bonkers when you think about it!
CONTACT
simon@firehorsephotography.co.uk
+33 (0)2 33 14 88 17
61700 Champsecret, FRANCE