Show and Tell with Jules Fortune Photography

Today I am delighted to introduce you to one of my newest Sponsors Jules Fortune Photography. Jules who is based in Lancashire and mostly shoots around the North West has been featured on the blog before with two of her real weddings. Today she has been kind enough to answer a few questions for me while she shares with us a few of her favourite wedding and boudoir images. She also has a rather special offer on her Boudoir packages.

Special Boho promotion

The first 10 ladies who book a Boudoir Package of £400 or over they with receive a 10% discount, quote ‘BOHO’ when booking.

Show and Tell with Jules Fortune Photography

Jules is a female photographer based in Lancashire. My photographic passions are Weddings, Lifestyle Portraiture, Bump Photography and Vintage Boudoir Photography. I love pretty details, emotion, capturing the moment and timeless classic style. I have been a freelance photographer for over 15 years, shooting boudoir and weddings for 6 years.

Jules Fortune Photography – Weddings and portraiture
Black Book Boudoir – Vintage Boudoir Photography.

How long have you been taking photos for?
Since 14 years old when I picked to be part of the GCSE Photography Team. Then after Art College Has several jobs including photographic assistant, window dresser, and masseur! Until went back to Photography 10 years ago

When did you start your photography business and what made you start.?
Started to freelance around 10 years ago, and then set up Black Books Boudoir and the Wedding Business around 7 years off the back of that. After assisting Wedding photographers and freelancing in fashion for a while and felt it was time to go it alone. I had lots of ideas and passion of things that I wanted to achieve, with ambitions for the future. I’ve never looked back.

Where are you based?
I’m based in Rawtenstall, Lancashire and mostly shoot around the North West.

How far will you travel for a wedding?
Will travel anywhere in the UK.

How would you describe your style?
Classic, Timeless, Natural, Documentary and flattering!!.. Due to my fashion, portraiture background

What is your favorite bit of technical kit?
I love my D800 Nikon, which I added to the kit last year and my 10-20mm wide angle lens. I use this lens to create wow room shots, it’s also perfect when in small spaces to enhance the drama to the shot. I use it too to create a quirky feel to my party images.

What makes you different to your competitors?
Wedding and Boudoir photography require similar people skills as they are all about rapport with the clients for me. If you get a great connection it really helps for natural images. The E-shoots that I shoot with my couples really help here as you get to connect before the big day and create that trust and understanding. My wedding packages include the E shoot free of charge and this is really important to me. With the Boudoir everyone is very nervous, so rapport is key to helping my clients relax, have fun and bring out their inner film star to make them shine and get the most perfectly, sensual images.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
The excitement of each job!! Every wedding is so different and has its own challenges. I love every stage of the day. Wedding photography has to up there with one of the best jobs ever. I love the fact that you are there up front when the couple when they take their vows and get to see and feel all the emotion. Boudoir Photography is a chance for me to really get creative with lighting and ideas. I ‘m always trying to push myself and experiment so you can never say you have done it all, and that’s why it stays so fresh to me. I’ve never stood still with the Boudoir Photography having my own studio built at my home two years ago to create a personal space for my work.

What is your biggest achievement so far?
Having the studio built at the bottom of my garden!.. It was a teenage dream to have my own studio. It gives me great freedom to be creative. The studio was only a reality too when Black Books became so popular, which I think is my next greatest achievement. Also of course meeting the man of my dreams who helped me get here and my little girl Mya.

What sort of couple do you think you attract?
I guess couples who understand the importance of great photography and choosing the right photographer to be with themselves and their guests . They understand that their images are the memories that will be with them forever and they want great shots to treasure. I get a lot of word of mouth referrals and bookings from couples that have meet me at weddings and am told it’s because I was so approachable and able to blended in with the wedding party that I had made an impression on them.

What would be your ideal wedding to work on?
I know that Vintage and Retro are big at the moment but I have always been a retro freak myself, and love second hand and anique. I love pretty details, anything different and quirky. Strange and wonderful venues. The outdoors. Couples who adore to different with their styling, suits, dresses, ideas and not sticking to tradition, but adding lots of personal elements to make it their day personal to themselves. I think it’s definatley the way forward with weddings. They don’t have to be expensive or lavish, just unique. That’s when their exciting…!!!

Which celeb would you like to photograph?
Uma Thurman would be great in the Boudoir. I admire her quirky side and she throws herself into some great acting roles. She also would look sensational.

Who is your favorite photographer and why?
Bob Carlos Clarke an Irish photographer was my first inspiration, that’s really turned blew me away. I discovered him at Art College in 1990. Highly Talented and incredible artistic. He was mostly known for his erotica work, and I wonder if subconsciously that’s what has lead me to my love for Boudoir Photography. As my love for his work still reminds. I also love the wedding work of Lancashire photographer Jeff Ascough.

Who took the pictures at your wedding?
I was lucky enough to have a photographer friend as a guest at my wedding. My wedding was very low key with just 25 guests and he took a few very natural shots which I adore and have them in frames around the house as well as a home made album. That was perfect for me.

What in your opinion makes the perfect photo?
Lighting, compostion, expression and that look in the eye.

What is your favorite photo that you have taken?
Ahh some of my favorite photos for myself are of family on holidays and around the house. Just simply stuff, but from a work point of view mmm.. its hard.Maybe for my wedding work it’s the LOVE photo, because it’s a little different. In boudoir again so many for different reasons, but I think it’s a smoky Hollywood number.

What advice would you give couples when choosing their wedding photographer?
I would say don’t be guided by price…. big or small!!. Just because they have a large price tag and everyone thinks there the best photographer around that does’nst mean there right for you. You need to meet your photographer and gel with them as a person. Also look through there blog and get a sense of consistanty throughout there weddings. Not just the best bits on a gallery. If you love their work, like them and price is right for you, your’ve cracked it.

Can you give me some information on your pricing structure?
I mostly get book for full day and that’s is currently priced at £995. Although I do offer a coverage of just 4 hours for £800. My prices for 2014 all day bookings will be increasing by £150 but if you book me before the end of Febuary 2013 I am holding my current all day price.

What is your ideal way to spend a day off?
Full day out with my little girl and hubbie at the beach in Anglesea, Lunch at the Ship Inn, then home for a cosy night with hubbie for a movie, scrabble and the odd cocktails throw in!!:)

What can you never leave the house without?
My Lip Gloss and Phone ( 1 for messages and two for the Instagram!!. Never know when you see that image!!)

Who would be your 5 dream dinner guests dead or alive?
Russel Kane, Dawn French, Stevie wonder, Bob Carlos Clarke and Sarah Milligcan, I think would get on too!

What would you do if you won the lottery?
Buy a place in France and renavate an old caravan that would be pitched close to Red Wharf Beach in Anglesea , North Wales.

If you weren’t running your business, what would you be doing?
Still working in photography, or something artistic hopefully. I’m also a qualified Holistic Masseuse!!??.. so would possibly do that!!