Meet our Supplier of the Month: Your Digital Memories

Each month we like to get to know a supplier even better and bring you snippets you won't know about them from their page. This month, our supplier of the month is Your Digital Memories, a duo of photographers based in Swindon who travel the South West and beyond to capture couples' special days. Here's what the guys from Your Digital Memories had to say when we quizzed them..

Who runs Your Digital Memories and how did you start out in business?

Your Digital Memories is Glenn Stanley and Colin Norwood. Our long-held passion for aviation photography and the camera kit we had, led to our family and friends asking us to capture their weddings. We soon discovered a love for wedding and social photography and through many years of hard work, Your Digital Memories has grown into our full time and very enjoyable job.

What is your greatest fear when you are working on a wedding?

Arriving late and unprepared. We pre-pack our primary and backup kit. Try to avoid using the Motorway to get there (If you hit a jam on the Motorway it’s impossible to turn around) and we always leave with lots of time to spare.

What is your greatest extravagance that helps you get through the day?

Our greatest extravagance is our personalities aided with a camera in our hands, we think outside of the box to create unique and different memorable occasions. Yeah, we do the expected stuff, but the unusual and creative elements are what sets us apart from the normal. 18 years of business and we still think up new inspirational shots week in week out!

What is the best theme you have seen at a wedding?

Thankfully not too many couples go for the ‘Don’t Tell the Bride’ over the top themes. The best themes we see are more subtle. One that stands out was a recent Star Wars themed wedding with the couple starting the day with small hints, like cuff-links though to a Star Wars cake, then in the evening the guests were joined by Darth Vader and his entourage of Storm Troopers!

What is the hardest thing a couple has ever asked you to do for their day?

“Never work with Children or Animals” is an old adage, but one that is unavoidable at most weddings. We were challenged last year to capture images of the couple, their four black dogs and the bride on a white horse! It took a bit of time, but they were very happy with the resulting image.

When was the last time you laughed out loud at a wedding? What happened?

Speeches can be one of the most emotional times during a wedding, from the 9-year-old girl who unexpectedly stood up after the speeches to welcome her new Daddy to the family, that one brought a tear to the most hardened Photographer’s eye. Last laugh out loud was a two-line best man’s speech, unfortunately it's not to be written here...but after a brief pause the room including us erupted in hollows of laughter.

If you want to know what he said, come and see use at one of the upcoming Wedding Shows and we will be happy to tell you!

What moment are you most proud of in your profession?

That moment the couple and their guests see the evening slide-show of images from their day. While the couple are enjoying their Wedding Breakfast, we are hard at work choosing around one hundred images from the day to edit then use to produce a slideshow. This we display to all guests at the evening reception. The look on theirs and their guests faces as they see these images is a proud moment indeed.

Where is your favourite setting for a wedding?

As photographers we never get to choose where we work, so we get to see great venues all over the country. Interestingly, sometimes even the most visually stunning venue can be let down by poor staff, bad food or a disorganised day. While we have some amazing local venues, our current favourite venue is Coombe Lodge, A stunning building, with great views presenting endless photographic opportunities.

What is the one thing you can’t live without in your job?

Some would say it’s our slightly crazy personalities. We think its “Technology”, we both grow up with the joys of using film, darkrooms and chemicals to produce an image. The digital age has revolutionised our creativity and post processing. We can experiment a lot more, trying different and more imaginative ways to capture ‘that’ image. So, cameras, lenses, laptops, storage, software and all that equipment in the bags you see us carrying are what we just can’t live without.

What is the most embarrassing thing you have seen at a wedding?

Wardrobe malfunctions/mistakes! With the rise of internet shopping, brides and their bridesmaids are buying their dresses online. This can lead to poorly-fitting, badly made dresses revealing far more than the wearer intended. Top tips use a Whitewed approved Bridal Boutique. And take honest friends to your fittings!!

What question do you wish every couple would ask you when you are meeting with them for the first time?

“What’s your bank details so I can transfer the booking fee?”

All too often the first question is “how much?” instead of asking “what we offer in our style of photography and are you free on our date?

Where do you draw inspiration from for your work?

From each other – Having met though our passion of photography we constantly feed off each other’s creativity. We’re a little competitive which pushes us to get a better image each time. We also draw inspiration from working with our fellow Whitewed professionals, their passion and commitment to helping ensure the couple have the most amazing day.

Founder of Whitewed, Natalie Lovett has known Colin and Glenn for many years and worked with them on many weddings over this time. They were the very first people to join our directory as a trusted supplier and have been with us ever since. We are proud to showcase them on our directory! For more information about Your Digital Memories check out their page over on our directory, or you can meet them in real life at the following wedding shows:

The Lydiard House Wedding Show Sunday 2nd September
The Marsh Farm Hotel Wedding Show Sunday 30th September
The Chiseldon House Wedding Show Sunday 7th October

Happy planning!