David Early of Dearly Photography offers a warm and modern approach to wedding photography, capturing those moments that feel most real and alive.
Based in Glasgow but available to travel, David’s style is effortless and relaxed – his approach avoids stiff poses in favour of natural, joyful interactions that authentically reflect the love and joy of the day. With a background in candid, documentary-style photography, he creates a comfortable space where the magic of the day unfolds organically, preserving every smile, glance, and quiet moment.
If you’re seeking wedding photography that feels true to your story, Dearly Photography provides a refreshing, heartfelt way to relive your wedding day through his unfiltered, unstaged, and unforgettable images.
I spoke with David this week to find out more…
What moments during a wedding day do you find the most magical to capture, and why do they resonate with you?
For me, the most magical moments are often the unscripted, spontaneous ones that unfold naturally throughout the day. I sometimes have to remind myself that I get to earn a living whilst photographing some of the happiest moments people will ever have – it’s incredibly rewarding and comes with huge responsibility.
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When it comes to the couples shoot, rather than orchestrating posed shots, my focus is on capturing the feel of the moment. I want to catch the expressions that are specifically not directed by me.
To do this there’s a lot of movement involved in my photography, which helps to keep any anxiety at bay and creates a relaxed vibe. Often the best shots come from us going for a wee walk and a chat with some of my terrible patter injected in for good measure!
How do you describe your style or approach to wedding photography, and how do you think it connects with the couples you work with?
My approach is heavily influenced by candid, documentary-style photography. I’m greatly inspired by photographers like Greg Williams, whose authentic approach to capturing people has always resonated with me.
I am also a huge fan of black and white photography for real life events like weddings, as this always helps to draw focus to the human connection and emotion in the shot.
Dearly Photography
What do you think sets you apart as a photographer? How do you make the experience unique for each couple?
What sets me apart is my commitment to building genuine relationships with my couples and their wedding party. I believe that great wedding photography goes far beyond just having good equipment or even being a good technical photographer.
A significant part of my work happens before the wedding day, spending time communicating with couples, understanding their vision, and capturing the details of their wedding plans.
How do you help couples feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera, especially if they’re not used to being photographed?
Building a good rapport is essential to my style of photography. If I don’t feel that vibe from the couple, it will impact on the photographs I produce. I have a very honest approach which involves opening myself up to get to know people and let them know a bit about me.
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What feeling or story do you hope couples will relive when they look at their wedding photos years from now?
I focus on creating timeless images that couples will cherish not just now, but in 30 years or more. While trends come and go, I aim to capture photographs with a timeless, real feel to them. I believe that the wedding photographs should transport couples back to the authentic emotions and energy of their wedding day, telling the true story of their celebration through genuine moments rather than forced smiles.
I tend to avoid trends and editing styles for that reason, focusing on keeping a classic, modern and clean edit that will feel equally as real now as it will in the future when the grandchildren are flicking their way through the wedding album.
What’s your best piece of advice for couples searching for their wedding photographer to ensure they find the right fit?
Book in plenty of time and don’t always go for the best price. Ideally 12+ months in advance, particularly as popular dates tend to book up more quickly. Even more importantly, look for a photographer whose style resonates with you and one you will feel comfortable with.
The relationship between couple and photographer is crucial, and it’s so important the couple can relax in your company to get the best results.
Can you let our readers know your fee and what they can expect to receive for this?
My most popular package covers full-day photography from morning preparations through to dancing, priced at £1,800 without an album or £2,200 with an album. I offer special pricing on heirloom album collections and on photo + video services with my preferred video suppliers.
Couples can expect to receive 500+ unique, hand edited photographs and a bundle of prints from their day. Each photograph is individually hand-edited by me before being delivered in a private, online gallery. I want as many people as possible to be able to access my services and over the years, I have strived to keep my pricing competitive while maintaining the highest quality of service to my couples.
Dearly Photography
Dearly Photography
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Annabel View all Annabel's articles
Founder of Love My Dress. Passionate Podcaster and Editor. Annabel lives in rural North Yorkshire with her husband and business partner Philip, their two daughters and menagerie of furry hounds. She loves photography, meditation, walking, being outdoors and star gazing. She is fierce when it comes to championing talent within the wedding industry and when she's not working on Love My Dress, she supports her husband Philip in the running of the family's sustainable flower farm and floral design business, Moonwind Flowers. In 2013, she became a published author.
