Supplier Spotlight - Olivia Whittaker Photography
Well hello there, hope everyone is well and happy on this glorious Friday!
Today is the third Supplier Spotlight in my series, and it’s one very near and dear to my heart. I’m here to introduce you to my good, good friend and talented photography Olivia Whittaker. Myself and Olivia go a long way back, having met each other on the first day of University as nervous aspirational photographers, and as you can tell, it had very different outcomes 10 years later!
All photos courtesy of Olivia Whittaker Photography
I have had the pleasure of seeing Liv grow and grow, gaining such confidence and strength in her photography. She is a boss as a business woman, has fought for what she believes her photography is, and going the extra mile (figuratively and literally) for each and everyone of her lucky couples. The nervous girl I knew at University has really changed into a beautiful and personable powerhouse, and her photography is packed to the brim with personality. She’s made lifelong friends within this industry, and anyone who knows her falls in love pretty fast, so she was an obvious choice to be interviewed for this blog.
It is clear she is creative and loving in her approach to her couples throughout this interview. Unfortunately, we have yet to work together, as she is the other end of the country to me, but we 1000% will one day, and I cannot wait. She is one to watch, and you can do so by clicking any of the links at the bottom of the interview - it would be your loss if you don’t!
Firstly, please introduce yourself!
I'm Olivia a wedding photographer based in the lovely hills of Lancashire, although I travel worldwide to photograph.
Why and how did you get started?
My first ever wedding was shot in between my first and second year of uni and I thought that was my wedding photography career over but after graduating university studying documentary photography I took some time out and travelled to India to teach photography with a charity. When I came back I returned to my supermarket job where a colleague asked me to photograph her wedding, I was pretty reluctant at first but I ended up having a really good time and it snowballed from there.
Describe your style in 3 words!
Natural, Romantic, Joyful
…at least thats what I hope it looks like!
Tell us about the first wedding you photographed…
Terrifying, truth be told I'd never even been a guest at a wedding at that point so I really had no clue what I was doing.
I wasn't ready for how fast paced the day was going to be or how much there was to photograph. I was honestly like a headless chicken, just spinning and shooting anything and everything for fear of missing something that was important.
There are so many things I did that I look back and cringe on but the couple were happy and ultimately thats all that matters.
What’s the biggest lesson you have learnt along the way?
To not compare my work and my business to anyone else. It doesn't matter what someone whose been shooting for 20 years is doing, and it doesn't matter how many clients someone has, its all about what is right for me and my clients.
The biggest lesson was when I stopped comparing myself and just concentrated on what I wanted to be doing
and what my clients truly wanted from their photos.
Highlight of your career (so far)!
I don't know how to even pick just one...
Meeting and making so many life long friends is definitely a huge highlight and benefit, from suppliers to clients I've met some of the most incredible people who are now some of my best friends. The wedding industry is such an amazing community to be part of and I'm so grateful for everyone I have met throughout my career. Being shortlisted for north west wedding photographer of the year after being nominated by previous clients was huge for me - I cried many tears of joy that day! My highlight from a wedding day I was able to capture a surprise pregnancy announcement with one of my couples in their couples shoot, it was super emotional and now they have a beautiful baby boy.
I love really getting to know my couples, a lot of the time it feels like I am photographing a friends wedding.
One bit of advice you’d give to your couples when it comes to planning a wedding.
Do what you want.
Don't listen to what auntie Sandra says is best or do what cousin Mary did because you think it will please someone else in your guest list.
It's your big day, you don't need to follow a traditional guide to a wedding. Don't want to stand up and do a speech? Then don't!
Some of my favourite weddings are when the couples toss tradition aside and make their day personal to them.
Planning your wedding should be a fun and happy memory, not full of stress from trying to please everyone.
What does a typical day in your life look like?
When I'm not shooting (which is a really tiny part of the job unfortunately) a typical day is wake up to a big breakfast and then set up in my office for a day of emails, admin, editing, pause for a big dog walk, meetings, more editing and scheduling social media posts before a home workout and cooking tea.
Every part of my day ultimately leads to food before binge watching Netflix.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future?
To continue to grow my business, I'm so proud of how far I have come over the past 5 years.
I've photographed in so many beautiful parts of the world so if I can incorporate even more travel that would be amazing.
And finally, what’s your favourite bit of a Wedding Day?
This is such a hard one for me ... I love the emotion and anticipation when the music starts pre ceremony but I think ultimately I LOVE the dance floor.
They're some of my favourite shots of any wedding day and really shows off everyone having fun.
Thank you again to the amazing Olivia for being a part of the Supplier Spotlight series.
I can’t wait to give you a hug and drink cocktails when this is over!
You can find Olivia below:
www.oliviawhittakerphotography.co.uk
@oliviawhittakerphotography
All photos courtesy of Olivia Whittaker Photography