Scott Johnson – photographer at The Edge Photography and winner of numerous wedding photography awards – has been memorialising weddings with his own special brand of fine-art portraiture since 2004.

We talk style and technique with Scott, and discuss how Fujifilm cameras and lenses help him deliver on his vision at every wedding.

Photo 2022 © The Edge Photography | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF110mmF2.8 R LM WR, 1/1000 sec at F2.8, ISO 500

Beginnings

“I started in the industry in 1998 – I was a hand printer in a professional photo lab, printing pro photographers’ wedding work,” recalls Scott. “That’s how I got into it. I learnt about composition and how to make a good image by looking critically at these photos.

“I always had an interest in photography, so I just kept bugging people to let me come out and carry bags for them, to see more about how it’s done. Then I got a job as a photographer on a cruise ship. That’s where I learnt how to do it because we were on commission. If you didn’t take a decent picture, you didn’t get paid.”

On returning, Scott started picking up work as a second photographer at weddings. “After two years working with this one guy, I was starting to get more bookings than him. I thought: ‘Actually, I can probably do this by myself.’ So I set up the company I run now – and that will be 18 years ago this year.”

Photo 2021 © The Edge Photography | FUJIFILM X-T3 and FUJINON XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR, 1/800 sec at F3.2, ISO 320

Style

“I’m looking to create a timeless piece of art that could sit up in the Tate Modern,” Scott declares. “I know couples say they want relaxed, informal portraits on their wedding day – but when they see one of my portraits, whether it be of themselves or as a couple, they realise they’ve never looked better.

“They’ve never felt more confident, either, because they’ve spent their money on the dress, hair and make-up. Let’s photograph that! It’s really important to get that portrait because, well, we all grow up and get old. It’s good to remember how you were on your wedding day.

“I’m interested in taking – and I mean this in the nicest possible way – average people with normal jobs, and making them look like supermodels in Vanity Fair. It’s what gives me a kick, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary and having couples say ‘Wow, I didn’t think I could look that good!’”

Photo 2019 © The Edge Photography | FUJIFILM X-T3 and FUJINON XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR, 1/800 sec at F4, ISO 160

Equipment

For his grandiose, signature portraits, these days Scott makes use of the GFX System’s huge sensors. “Anything that isn’t candid or detail photos, I’ll be using GFX System,” he remarks. “I probably use my FUJIFILM GFX100S for 80% of the wedding. I’m using solely prime lenses as well. I’ve got the FUJINON GF23mmF4 R LM WR, GF45mmF2.8 R WR, GF63mmF2.8 R WR and GF110mmF2 R LM WR. That’s my go-to gear for most of the day.

“I generally photograph everything wide open. I love the drop-off the GFX System gives me; the large sensor combined with the lens and working at F2 or F2.8 is just beautiful.

“Mirrorless cameras have been a godsend because I can have the histogram in my viewfinder – it just speeds up my process. I’ll underexpose a little to cover the highlights, but I know I can pull the whole image up in the edit later on. If I can see in the histogram that the information is there, I know it will be there in the edit later on.”

For the remainder of the day, Scott will be going for candid photos. “For the most part, when I’m doing documentary-style work, I will use an X Series camera. I’ve got the FUJIFILM X-T5 at the moment.”

When it comes to lenses, Scott prefers primes – though this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule.

“I do have the FUJINON XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR, which I use a lot. But the XF33mmF1.4 R LM WR is my usual optic of choice. And then, if it’s a big venue, you’ve got the XF90mmF2 R LM WR, which I use more. That’s great for sitting on the periphery and picking people off.

“When people aren’t aware you’re there, that’s when they become the most vulnerable – and you get the best pictures.”

Photo 2021 © The Edge Photography | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF63mmF2.8 R WR, 1/1600 sec at F3.2, ISO 160

Advice

For anyone considering a career in wedding photography, Scott has some parting advice. “To create timeless images, you have to stay true to why people booked you in the first place. I’m in a position now where couples book me, and they trust me. They say, ‘We booked you for a reason, just do your thing.’

“I’m the supplier that’s there the longest. I’m there longer than the makeup artist, the chef, the magician. I’m there ten hours – so photographers are often seen as a bit of a ringmaster for the whole day, where we’ve got to try and keep people to time.

“It’s just about giving reassurance that they’re booking me to have one less thing to worry about on the wedding day. And no matter what happens – no matter what curveball comes – because of the experience I’ve got with wedding days, we’ll knock it out of the park still. Constant reassurance is key.”

Photo 2021 © The Edge Photography | FUJIFILM GFX100S and FUJINON GF23mmF4 R LM WR, 1/640 sec at F4, ISO 1250

To find out more about Scott’s work, head to his website, theedgephotography.co.uk. For more information about Fujifilm imaging equipment, head to fujifilm-x.com. Scott will be speaking on the Wedding Stage at Click Live – these talks are included FREE with your entry ticket!

Fujifilm will be exhibiting at the upcoming Click Live photography show – so if you want to try out any of the equipment Scott talked about in this interview, head over to the Fujifilm stand from 23 to 25 June at NAEC Stoneleigh.