The next supplier we’d love to shout about is Roo Stain! He is a super talented wedding photographer and videographer and without a doubt has given the best answer to the question of what makes him happy (see his answer below!). With a penchant for steak and chips and the Canadian national anthem, Roo is the perfect chap to photograph your wedding and we love it when he visits us at Huntsmill Farm…just don’t talk about stickers…
Tell us about yourself
Hey I’m Roo, I live in Nuneaton, a small town in the West Midlands, with my awesome wife Jade and our incredible son Arthur. I’m a bit of a chatter box and enjoy a good laugh and dance (probably why I love weddings).
I spent the majority of my teens and early twenties playing guitar in various bands which has left me with blooming terrible hearing but an awesome guitar collection.
I have a completely irrational fear of stickers, eat with my knife and fork in the ‘wrong’ hands, and wear my watch on the ‘wrong’ arm.
I’m obsessed with watching YouTube videos (mainly of people converting vans into mobile homes and Fails). I spend way too much money on gadgets I don’t need and I seem to be incapable of wearing matching socks.
Why did you want to become a videographer and photographer?
I once borrowed my Dad’s camera to take photos at gigs when I was playing in bands, I quickly became obsessed and my Dad never did get that camera back.
On the back of my music photography people started asking me to shoot their weddings, which at first I refused as the thought of endless formal groups shots was not my cup of tea at all, it wasn’t until planning my own wedding that I discovered the whole documentary approach to weddings, a more storytelling approach that captures the essence of the day and how it ‘felt’ rather than just how it looked. I then stopped saying no to wedding enquiries and it all took off at an insane speed.
Wanting to take my storytelling to the next level I began adding wedding videography to my services, my university degree was in filmmaking so it felt like a natural transition.
What is your style?
I would describe my wedding films as cinematic and emotional storytelling, I like to blend into the crowd and capture the wedding from the inside out, crafting a story from all the sights and sounds.
My photography is a natural documentary/storytelling style with a good helping of epic portraits. With my photos I often find myself attracted to the humour and often straight up bizarre things that can occur at weddings.
My aim with both mediums though is to produce a creative visual narrative of the day that will transport you back to how it ‘felt’ and allow you to relive it over and over.
What advice would you give couples when choosing their videographer and photographer?
Make sure you ‘feel’ something when you look at their work. Your film and photos will be something that you look back on for years to come and there are so many different styles and approaches out there, make sure you find somebody whose work is perfectly in line with what you would like from your own wedding.
Also make sure you get on with them as a person, you probably spend more time with your photographer & videographer than anyone else on the day so it is important that you feel comfortable in their presence.
What makes you happy?
Fart jokes – if I’m being completely honest
What do you love most about your job?
The people I meet. I love hearing their stories, (I guess I’m just super nosey haha) and being trusted to capture such a big moment in their lives and documenting their story is a massive honour.
What trends are you loving at the moment?
Succulents in bouquets are ace! Paper aeroplane confetti and couples just completely doing it THEIR way. There seems to be way less pressure to follow certain traditions and instead couples are building a day around doing the things they want to do… oh and brass bands, man I love the brass bands.
Why should our couples choose you?
I create films and photos that are as unique as you, I immerse myself in your day capturing all the moments you are likely to miss in the craziness. Providing you with a visual heirloom that can transport you back to your day and relive it through the eyes of a guest.
What’s your drink of choice?
San Miguel… I’m a simple man at heart.
You can find more from Roo here:
Facebook: @roostainphoto
Instagram: @roostainphoto
Check out the preferred partners page for Roo’s and the rest of our gang’s contact details.
