Paul Grace

My name’s Paul, and I’m a wedding photographer based in London, UK.

I cut my teeth on photography in the 00’s, during multiple trips to India and South East Asia where I’d spend hours documenting life in the hectic streets and markets.

I’ve been shooting weddings since 2015 after I was made redundant from my office job (huge blessing in disguise!). My love of documenting life in Asia has definitely shaped the way I photograph weddings, and I tend to concentrate on emotion and fun interactions. My favourite part of the day is definitely the evening party when hell often breaks loose and everyone is being their most bonkers/best selves!

I’ve always used Canon gear and particularly love the way Canon renders colour, especially skin tones.

Cameras

Canon EOS R – My main camera which I love to bits. I was keen to move to a mirrorless system due to the enhanced autofocus capability but didn’t want to reinvest in the Sony infrastructure. Canon’s first entry into full-frame mirrorless ticks pretty much every box for me, and it allows me to capture things I wouldn’t have been able to with my DSLR, mainly due to its flip screen and silent shutter.

Canon 5D Mark IV – A solid work horse. Very fast and reliable.

Canon 5D Mark III – My first full-frame DSLR. Now used mainly as a backup but still going very strong.

Lenses

I’m a bokeh junkie and love prime lenses with wide apertures.

Sigma 24mm f/1.4 – Hands down my favourite lens. On the mirrorless EOS R, it performs flawlessly, and the wider angle, coupled with the fast f/1.4 aperture, provides endless creative possibilities.

Canon 35mm f/1.4– My go-to portrait lens. I love the way this lens renders colour, almost like a painting, and the flare it creates with backlit subjects is particularly dreamy. This lens is on my camera 90% of the wedding day.

Canon 50mm f/1.4 – A solid nifty-fifty with a fast aperture. Mainly used during prep.

Canon 85mm f/1.4 – I love this lens for its beautiful compression and for the extra reach it offers.

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8 – My default dance floor lens. I shoot at 16mm, drag the shutter, and get in tight. If I can’t smell the tequila they’re drinking I’m not close enough!

Lights/Triggers

Canon 600EX-RT Speedlight – Solid and reliable, both on and off camera.

Canon 600EX-RT II Speedlight – The updated version of the above and better.

Canon ST-E3-RT trigger – Fantastic controller which allows you to change all settings in camera.

Bags/Straps

Rebel East Rebel One black dual leather harness – I’d used so many strap/harness systems over the years but this one ticks all the boxes. It’s super comfy and looks really cool too (a groom said last year that one of the best things about his wedding was that I turned up wearing what looked like a sex harness!).

Hardware & Software

MacBook Pro 15” 2017 – My workhorse computer which goes everywhere with me. At home, I hook up to a HPZR24w external monitor to ensure colours are accurate.

Adobe Lightroom – I do 99% of my edits in Lightroom (with VSCO presets), with final tweaks in Photoshop.

My dog, Cobo – 2-year-old yellow Labrador who offers endless cuddles and support ;-)

The industry is now flooded with wedding photographers, so it’s super important to find your own voice and to find it quickly. Shoot anything and everything to start with – that way you will quickly learn what makes you tick and will help you stand out from the rest. Always remember to have fun!

www.pgrace.co.uk | @pgracephoto