Keith Riley
Wedding | Last Updated: April 4, 2024
I’m Keith, a wedding photographer based in Cornwall. I photograph most weddings with my wife, Abi Neda Riley, also a wedding photographer in her own right. Our styles are slightly different, but fuse perfectly together.
The difference is mainly in the kit we use. She always shoots with prime lenses, whereas I have always used zoom lenses, but also have a 35mm f/1.4 which I mainly use during morning prep, and sometimes during speeches.
I love the versatility of the 24-70mm f/2.8 and 70-200mm f/2.8, especially during the ceremony, where most of the time it’s difficult to move in churches. I also love how the 70-200mm compresses the background at 200mm and love to use this focal length for couple photos, which allows me to stand back and give the couple some space, so the images are natural.
I give very little direction during the couple session, and when I do, is to do with placing the couple in good light. There is no other direction throughout the day, it’s all unposed and natural.
I use two Nikon D750
cameras with a Holdfast MoneyMaker
and I absolutely love the dynamic range of this camera. I mainly use onboard bounce flash for the evening reception, and an ice light, which has come in very handy for a few destination weddings where the receptions are outside, and in the dark.
There’s nothing flashy about my images. I’d like to think they are simple and honest. Those fleeting, unnoticed moments to the untrained eye, disappear in an instant, and are the hardest to capture.
After having a baby earlier this year, it has made me realize even more how important this is, and it has helped steer the direction of my photography towards a photojournalistic / street style. I have always been a fan of Cartier-Bresson, and have recently come to admire the work of Josef Koudelka.
My kit:
Cameras:
Nikon D750
(x 2)
Lenses:
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8
Nikon 35mm f/1.4
Lights:
Westcott Ice Light
Nikon SB-910 Speedlight
Holdfast camera straps
Check out these 8 essential tools to help you succeed as a professional photographer.
Includes limited-time discounts.
