Lyndsey Goddard

Wedding | Last Updated: February 11, 2021

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Hello! I’m Lyndsey, a documentary wedding photographer. I live by the sea in Kent with my husband (another photographer) and our dog (who sleeps for a living), and I’ve been in business for 10 years.

I started to photograph weddings in about 2006 and went full time in 2009, although I shot my very first wedding back in 2003 (which was a disaster – buy me a drink and I’ll tell you all about it).

I was living in London when I started Lyndsey Goddard Photography and the majority of my work is still there, although I travel to all corners of the UK for work and have shot weddings in France, Spain, Italy, Poland and India.

My style is documentary; no staged shots, no intervention and no forced fun. I’ll do a small number of group shots and 15 minutes of portraits (if the couple wants them), but other than that, I’m completely ‘hands-off’.

My very first camera was an Olympus OM-10 which my dad gave me when I was about 13 or 14. I moved on to Canon after that, and have been with them ever since, from the EOS rebel film cameras right through to the 10D, the 20D and every iteration since.

I studied Art at De Montfort University in Lincoln but was always drawn to photography. After leaving art school, I travelled, shot some album covers, dabbled in birth photography, and was on the team who covered the 2006 Cannes Film Festival for French Newspaper, Le Monde.

I did a couple of photography courses at London’s LCP (now LCC) part of The University of the Arts (where I am invited back once a year to speak to the photography postgraduate students), started to shoot friends’ weddings, they recommended me to others, and it snowballed from there.

I’ve now shot over 350 weddings, and love the creative freedom my couples give me.

My current bodies are the Canon 5D MK lVs, having upgraded from the MKlll, the MKll and the original 5D. I also use a Fuji X-T2. Although I love the Canon system, occasionally the smaller and lighter body of the Fuji will suit a situation more.

A lot of my weddings are in central London where I’ll be using public transport and not driving, so it’s important I can carry all my kit in one bag. I have been using the LowePro ProTactic 350 AW for a couple of years and it’s the perfect bag for me. I can fit all my kit in it, plus a phone charger, a bottle of water in the side pouch, a Kindle, snacks, etc; plus it has a secure clip to fasten the bag around the front of your body (good for walking late at night in the city)

This is what’s in my bag:

Canon 5D MK IV x 2

My main bodies at every wedding.

Fuji X-T2

I’ll use the Fuji when the Canon feels too big. I find I can get in closer and be a little more unobtrusive with this camera.

Fujinon 23mm f/1.4

The perfect focal length for getting in amongst the guests without being too obtrusive. Also pictured is the Fuji 56mm f/1.2. I don’t take this to weddings, but if I’m just shooting family stuff, I’ll take the Fuji and both lenses and carry them in the Ona Bowery Bag.

Canon 85mm f/1.8

I used to own the 85mm f/1.2 but sold it on account of it being so heavy and so slow to focus. The f/1.8 is a fast lens, small and really lightweight. I’ve been through three of these lenses over the years.

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 ll.

My most used lens. I’m no prime lens purist! I use this lens most of the day, usually at f/5.6 and above (it’s not pictured as it’s what I took the photo with).

Canon 35mm f/1.4

I love using this lens on the dancefloor, shooting into the lights, at its widest aperture. It creates a great look, really ethereal, and it also hits focus well, even wide open. I like to use a mixture of flash and ambient for the dancefloor, so in the evening, I’ll often have this lens on one Canon body and the 24-70mm on the other body, with the flash on that camera.

Canon 135mm f/2

A great portrait lens, it creates such gorgeous bokeh. I’ll also use this lens during the ceremony if space allows.

Godox V860ll

I used to own the Canon 580EX ll Speedlite, but lost it at a wedding reception rave in a desert in Rajasthan (true story). I asked around some other photographers and the unanimous advice was to replace the Canon Speedlite with a Godox.

This flash is brilliant on the dancefloor, which is the only place I use flash. They run off one rechargeable battery (Hurray! No more AA’s to use once then bin!), the battery lasts for a while (I can get two weddings out of one charge) and the recycle times are fast.

Holdfast Moneymaker

I have the two Canons attached to this and the Fuji around my neck. Whilst everyone is sitting down eating, I’ll often take the straps off and just walk around with the Fuji.

I also carry a couple of energy bars, some earplugs and my Kindle or a book for the journey home.

Also pictured is my dog, who I don’t take to weddings, but he’d probably like to come.

Also, my shoes. I swear by Vivo Barefoot shoes for weddings. No other shoe is still comfortable after 14 hours. These are the Gobi desert boots, which come in men’s and women’s.

www.lyndseygoddard.com | @lyndseygoddardphotography