Photo by Philip Boudreau
The past 2 weddings seasons has brought Philip and I together for 3 weddings that have been a dream to work on. Not only because the wedding themselves were amazing in their own way, but it was a sincere pleasure to work alongside Moncton based photographer and now friend and colleague, Philip Boudreau.
Philip first and foremost is a top level professional in our province and his work simply speaks for itself. You can admire his consistency of his beautiful work and can easily tell he’s a seasoned pro by visiting just a few of his wedding portfolio’s on his website. Philip currently resides in Dieppe, NB but he does travel often and also does destination weddings.
Having a photographer working closely with a cinematographer can be a challenge in many instances, however, working with Philip is more like working as a team. He makes your wedding day comfortable by constantly communicating with me throughout, asking where I am setting up for certain shots, joking around when there’s down time, and being sincere with the knowledge that we both want each others work to turn out the absolute best it can. When you have a photographer and cinematographer on the same page, it will show in your wedding photographs and film.
I asked Philip a few questions for couples that are still at the early stages of hiring a photographer for their wedding. This may help you to get to know Philip a bit more to see if he’s the right professional for your wedding.
Q. How long have you been shooting weddings?
A. I shot my first wedding as the main photographer back in 2008. Since then, my business has grown tremendously thanks to all of my awesome clients! For the last few years, I have been shooting about 20 weddings per year.
Q. How would you describe your shooting style?
A. My style of shooting is definitely a mix of traditional and photojournalism. For most of the day, I let things flow as they normally would without too much interference, especially during the getting ready portion of the day and of course during the ceremony and reception. When it comes time for family formals, bridal party and couple’s photos, I prefer guiding my clients to ensure the best lighting and background. Most people look for guidance when in front of the camera, so I certainly help out with posing to ensure everyone looks their best. I keep everything very fun and laid-back, which is really what it’s all about!
Q. Do you have an online portfolio? If so, where can potential clients go to find your work?
A. The best way to view my work is through my website at www.philipboudreau.com. Viewers can find samples of my work as well as information on how to contact me, etc. I also update my blog as often as I can with new sessions and weddings, so fresh content is always available. Make sure you visit frequently to see the latest blog posts! Another great way to keep up to date is to “Like” my Facebook Page.
Q. How far in advance do brides and grooms typically need to book you in advance to secure their date? How busy are you these days?
A. Most of my clients book 12 to 18 months ahead of their wedding date but it’s never too late to book; if the date is available, it can be yours! However, keep in mind that Saturdays between June and October book pretty quickly. As an example, I only have a few dates left for this year’s wedding season and 2016 inquiries are coming in.
Since most of my work is wedding related (and very few weddings happen during the winter season), I use my down time to find inspiration for the new season, update my website and create material to help my clients with their wedding photography experience, just to name a few!
Q. What are a few of the most important things that you as a professional photographer make sure you go through with your clients before the big day arrives?
A. First off, I love to tell my clients’ full love story and that begins with an engagement session. I put a lot of importance on the engagement session not only because the couple will get lots of beautiful photos out of their session, but it’s also a great way for us to get to know each other. That’s why all my packages include an engagement session. Couples will feel much more comfortable in front of the camera once the big day arrives since we’re like old friends at that point!
I also believe that great planning will result in great photos. A well planned timeline will ensure no part of the day is too rushed and that we get lots of time for photos. I’m always more than happy to help plan the timeline with my clients and have done so on many occasions. Finally, a last consultation to go over the details of the wedding day is always held a few days before to make sure everyone is on the same page!
I highly recommend Philip for your wedding and portrait needs. He again is based out of Moncton, New Brunswick, but does travel to wherever you need him to be.