If you're looking for photo shoot locations that have you heading down back roads, hidden allies, open fields, and any other interesting places you can think of, then you'll likely love Dudek Photography who thrives on going new places and doing news things in order to turn his wedding photos into artwork. Owner and Photographer, Damian Dudek, adds that he will also (of course) get the must-haves and make sure he captures all of the real moments from the day while incorporating the couple's personalities.

Damian combines his own unique style with modern techniques and approaches each wedding with the attitude that he's more than just the person who takes your wedding photos - "I am here to make this a pleasurable and stress-free experience." Damian is heading into the next season of weddings with five years of experience and tons of references from past couples who had such an experience with him, and since he limits the number of weddings he shoots each year, we're thinking you should check out his portfolio and contact him asap before all of the dates are booked. Let us tell you why...

Personally speaking...

Damian has always loved photography - both developing his own style and admiring other people's. While at college, he decided to buy a camera and he began to teach himself everything about the art. "I believe that learning photography through this unconventional way helped me develop a very unique style that strives to highlight the emotional aspect of every wedding while focusing on the uniqueness of every event," Damian told us.

Dudek Photography was established in 2005, and after doing a few weddings for close family, Damian found a love for being such an integral part of a very important day. "I felt that there was a demand for high quality wedding imagery that is customer-centered from the first meeting with the couple to a lasting relationship as they enjoy the many joyous occasions of their lives."

It's this ongoing communication that Damian gets to keep with his couples that keeps him coming to work every day. He's also continually inspired by capturing the unique personalities of his couples. "It's inspiring to know that when people look at their photos ten, twenty, or even thirty years down the road, that they will still remember the positive experience they had with Dudek Photography."

Sara Cheeseman was a bride who had such a positive experience with Dudek Photography for her engagement and October wedding photo shoots that she has since hired Damian for a family photo session too. "He asked lots of questions to get to know my husband and myself in order to produce photos that he knew would suit our taste and sense of style," she told The Ring.

One of the reasons Damian is able to maintain such one on one service with his clients is because, when you book Dudek Photography, you are booking Damian. He personally takes care of the meetings, scouting out photo locations, and photographing each couple to add that extra personal touch. This also means that Dudek Photography books a limited number of weddings per year, which he says "provides 100% focus to the customer for any given day."

Damian made Julie and Chris Petroff feel like they were his most important clients when they hired him for their engagement shoot and September wedding. "Whenever we would call or email him, he would respond back immediately," they told us.

Damian also works with an extensive list of trusted assistants who help on the wedding day with equipment, lighting, posing, and formals. Dudek Photography is also a member of Wedding & Portrait Photographers International (WPPI).

With seven years of wedding photography experience, and five of those with his own Dudek Photography, Damian has shot all over Southwestern Ontario, including in the London area where he resides, K-W, Woodstock and all of the spots in between and beyond.

Dedicated from inquiry to delivery

When Damian was looking for a photographer for his own wedding, he was asking potential photographers questions that only one photographer could ask to another, and he thought to himself, "how do couples who want a great experience and great photos, but are not familiar with the photography world, know how to ask the right questions?" This is why he decided that Dudek Photography needed to be a supporter for couples searching for the right wedding photographer. "Couples are encouraged to ask as many questions as they can think of to feel reassured that they are booking the right photographer," says Damian. "And where they are missing information, I will gladly take the time to fill them in." From the first inquiry to the delivery of the final product and beyond, each couple should know that they are important to Dudek Photography, he adds.

Gerbrich Vandenberg said that meeting and working with Damian was always positive when she was looking for a photographer to shoot her August wedding. "There were never any questions left unanswered and we felt confident that he would do a great job."

Derek and Sarah Belore hired Damian for their engagement and August wedding photos and told us that Damian was amazing to work with. "He is kind, calm, flexible, willing and extremely easy to work with. He listens to requests, offers suggestions and is willing to do anything to make the day easier for the bride and groom."

Since searching for his own wedding photographer, Damian also realized that wedding photographers are more than just people who take your wedding photos. Everyone says they have great customer service, but Damian says he goes one step further - he offers more so you have to do less. He even helped a bride find a limo when hers broke down the day of the wedding!

The support Damian gives to couples isn’t just reserved for major dilemmas, though. "Whether it be holding the bouquet when their hands are full, getting them a drink when it's hot outside, or making sure they have their comfy shoes around when their feet start to hurt," Damian and his assistants take pride in making the wedding day as smooth as possible."

Artwork that suits your style

Always on the lookout for different locations for his couples, Damian knows that every wedding is special and unique so he strives to make his photos such, too. "Each wedding is a unique experience that allows me to keep my work fresh and engaging," he told us. This is why Damian approaches his photo shoots with the philosophy to provide each couple with a piece of artwork in every photo. "Each photo has a story to tell, this is why they must be personalized to suit each moment."

"Damian captures each photo as if it’s a photo he is going to be showing in a gallery," say Julie and Chris about Dudek Photography's style. "He definitely takes control of the positioning while still allowing you to feel like you are being yourself. He really tries to find out what feeling you would like your photos to have and just makes that come alive."

Capturing 'real' moments as they unfold is something that Damian prides himself on, which he blends with 'ever-evolving-and-customized-to-the-couple' creative portraiture for a truly unique result that's both modern and creative.

Gerbrich completely agrees. One of the main reasons she chose Dudek Photography was because she and her husband could tell that Damian was talented and dedicated from the moment they met him. "We loved his portfolio and could see how easy it was for him to 'capture the moment' by the energy he had. Damian's work seemed more elegant and modern but still kept a professional tie to it."

Derek and Sarah told us that even though their wedding day ended up being rainy and cold, Damian was flexible and came up with unique ideas for beautiful photos. "Dudek Photography captured every single detail of our day," they add. "Along with formal photos, we also have fun, informal photos and many 'perfect moment' photos that capture exactly what the day was like."

Picture perfect packages

With multiple packages and à la carte options available at Dudek Photography, Damian says that brides of all budgets are welcome to inquire. He offers wedding coverage beginning at $2625 and wedding collections including unique, high quality, custom designed albums begin at $3,785. All of the packages come with unmarked, high-resolution images for unlimited printing, multiple consultations, and an engagement session. Albums and prints are included with some of the higher end packages, but Dudek also offers custom packages and à la carte extras to add on. Of course, you can add an album to your package at any time, but, if you add it when you book your wedding, you'll get your album at a discounted rate.

"We were very happy with the prices," says Gerbrich. "We thought they were very reasonable for Damian's talent and product." Sara agrees and told us that Dudek Photography's prices fell within her budget and were "very good for the service and quality of Damian's work."

Damian told The Ring, "I find that most couples want a documentation of their entire day, therefore they choose the packages or build packages with a high amount of coverage."

Walking you through a Dudek wedding...

Couples typically contact Dudek Photography (by email or phone) about twelve to eighteen months before their wedding day. But we say, the earlier the better since Damian limits the amount of weddings he does each year.

Meetings and consultations are welcome and can be done by appointment. The first consultations are a great chance for you to meet with Damian, get a sense of his style, products, and personality - and vice versa. When you're ready to book, a $700 non-refundable deposit is due to book your date, and a contract is signed.

Engagement shoots are usually done a few months before the wedding. Then, another consultation happens about two weeks before the wedding date to go over timelines, special photo requests, and final details. Damian will also share his location ideas with you and take any ideas you have. This is when the remaining balance is due as well.

One of Gerbrich's favourite memories of working with Dudek Photography is when Damian and his assistant came to her farm to check out the photo shoot location and take some photos the week before the wedding (yes, he does this!). "The excitement that he expressed from seeing the location was evident and really meant a lot to us. You could truly tell that he was not only confident but eager to take our pictures in the following week."

But, just because these are the typical meetings that happen between Damian and his couples, that's not to say that he can't be contacted at any point during the planning process. "I am always willing to hear from the couple at any point if they have any questions or great ideas," he says. "Dudek Photography really does believe that the wedding is supposed to be the couple's day, so I am always willing to incorporate ideas that are significant to them as a couple."

Since the wedding day is about the couple having fun, Damian shows up where he needs to (as discussed) and just concentrates on creating unique and beautiful imagery of the day.

Sara loved the way that Damian captured the smallest details about her wedding day, details that she'll be able to have for the rest of her life. "He didn't just look to photograph for the obvious, and that is what makes him a unique photographer." She adds that during the photo shoot, Damian made her and her husband feel comfortable.

An online proofing gallery is usually ready within four to six weeks after the wedding, then from there, the couple can use their print credit (if applicable) or purchase professional prints, canvases, and albums that they can enjoy for years to come.

Having already recommended Dudek Photography to many people they know, Julie and Chris told us that "Damian’s photos really capture the special moments and the true emotions of the day... Dudek photography has a unique style all their own and the price is definitely worth it."

Details, details, details

• Damian suggests booking Dudek Photography at least 12 to 18 months before your wedding day.
• Coverage can be customized, or come in pre-packaged deals with varying hours and extras included. Packages including an engagement session start at $2625 and packages that include a unique, high quality, custom designed coffee table album start at $3785.
• All packages include an engagement session and a disc of hi-res images, among many other goodies.
• Dudek Photography charges HST on top of quoted prices.
• A $700 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your wedding day with the remaining balance due 2 weeks before the wedding.
• Dudek Photography covers weddings from London to K-W, everywhere in between and beyond, as well as internationally. Travel charges apply to anything above 250 kilometers from Dudek Photography's home.