Birtsmorton Court Wedding Photography
Oxford to the Cotswolds Wedding Day
Surrey wedding day with bells and whistles
Humanist woodland wedding celebration at Broadfield court
Relaxed Informal Wedding Day in Shoreditch
“We hired Kevin for our wedding this year in May. He was so easy to work with in the run up to the wedding, with clear communication and quick replies. On the day it was a pleasure to have him with me, my family and friends as we were getting ready. The photos he took captured our day perfectly and we loved every single one! We can’t stop looking at them. I highly recommend Kevin, for his professionalism, calming personality and absolutely fantastic photography skills. 5* thanks again!”
I shoot quite a lot of weddings in London every year and last year was no different. It’s a location I always love going to because it throws up so many alternative and urban wedding photography locations. Plus I just like the London vibe, the hustle and bustle! My family who live in Berkshire are not too far away either so it’s an opportunity to drop in for dinner!
Sarah and Daniel were a dream to work with from start to finish. They were laid back and knew exactly the kind of wedding photography they were looking for. Nothing stuffy and formal just super relaxed, informal, documentary shots that capture the day as it naturally falls into place. This is just what I do so I couldn’t wait to start!
All smiles as Sarah looks through a picture album gift from her bridesmaids in her Stoke Newington apartment.
Sarahs Mum giving an impromptu fashion show which went down a storm!
Sarahs bridal prep was at her apartment in North London. I was immediately made to feel welcome by her bridesmaids and parents who insisted I have a cup of tea before I start work! I always make sure I photograph the small details throughout the day and that includes things like someone making tea, breakfast, all the things that go into making the day real. Again, it’s documentary wedding photography which is capturing people being themselves.
The dress is on and Sarah is looking amazing!
Something I often hear in the morning is “where has the time gone?” It’s true, the time soon disappears and before you know it the nervous excitement in the air has ramped up! We were soon heading down the stairs and jumping in the waiting cabs. I remember the day being super sunny with harsh shadows in certain areas so the challenge was maintaining good exposure. I shoot in manual mode so it’s something I have full control over and can change my settings in an instant.
The first kiss in the light and modern ceremony room at Museum of the Home.
Sarah and Dan are all smiles during the confetti throwing
The ceremony was held at Museum of the Home, formerly the Geffrye Museum. The museum is an 18th-century Grade I-listed former almshouses on Kingsland Road in Shoreditch, London. The ceremony room was lovely and light which created nice even lighting throughout. As much as church weddings are brilliant and atmospheric the lighting is never normally the best so this modern light, airy ceremony room was great. Drinks were had outside in front of the magnificent building where we also spent a few minutes taking some fun, relaxed couple shots. Thankfully Sarah and Dan didn’t want many group photographs and instead wanted to spend the time with their friends and family.
Wedding guests have a laugh on a red London bus taking them to the wedding reception.
Bride and groom arrive at The Londesborough pub in Stoke Newington for the wedding reception.
After jumping on a waiting red London bus, the party headed for The Londesborough Pub and Kitchen in Stoke Newington where the wedding reception was to be held. This pub was amazing, I loved capturing all of the fun and laughter during speeches as there were so many expressive faces! As you can see from the pictures in the blog it was decorated brilliantly so I made sure this was captured on camera.
Taking a stroll around the Stoke Newington streets
First dance at the Londesborough Pub in Stoke Newington
We nipped out before the sun set for a few more couple shots around the streets to make best use of the area before heading back inside for the evening shenanigans! For many reasons it was definitely one of the weddings of the year for me!
All the best to Sarah & Dan!
Keep scrolling down to view the in depth gallery!
London to Cliveden House Wedding Day
“We LOVE the photos and slideshow, thank you so much!!”
It was a pleasure photographing Abigail and Henry on their special day last year. Having found me online and after just a couple of emails I was booked and already looking forward to what would be a brilliant occasion. The wedding day would be split between London and Maidenhead as each location had a very special meaning to Abigail and Henry.
The day started nice and early at Cliveden House. It’s a luxury hotel in Maidenhead and would later that day be the location for the evening meal and celebrations. I parked up and got a taxi to The Bridge Hotel in London where Abigail was with her besties for bridal prep. As a photographer having a clear travel plan of how to get to the various locations on a wedding day is so important. Thankfully between the bride and groom and myself we figured out the logistics perfectly.
Abigail is all smiles during bridal prep at The Bride in London.
Abigail and her brother in the cab on the way to the church.
I stayed with Abigail for the duration of bridal prep and hopped in the taxi with her and her brother to St Marys Church in Barnes where her dashing groom Henry would be ready and waiting for the wedding ceremony. St Marys is a lovely big church with plenty of room for myself as a photographer to capture all the good stuff! :-)
It was time for the confetti shot and boy did the happy get confettied, is that even a word! There was enough confetti for three weddings, you’ve got to love it when the whole basket gets emptied!
Take that!! Everyone loves confetti!
Instead of everyone driving to the pub reception the bride and groom took some time out to walk to the The Watermans Arms, on the bank of the River Thames in Barnes. I love it when this happens as so many picture opportunities present themselves and you never know what will happen. We came across cars hooting their horns, children looking on in awe at the beautiful wedding dress, shop keepers wishing them good luck! All of the locations Abigail and Henry passed meant something to them which adds emphasis to the photography and capturing the moments.
Walking through the streets of Barnes to the reception.
Abigail and Henry wave a shop keeper in Barnes, London.
After the cutting of the cake with a gigantic military sword :-) and eating some delicious fish and chips it was time to jump in a cab and shout “ follow that car” as we headed off to Cliveden House. The bride and groom really wanted some photographs taken before the guests arrived and despite my driver taking the wrong turn (much to my frustration) we made it! Cliveden House is a beautiful and majestic luxury venue set in Maidenhead. Built in 1666 by the 2nd Duke of Buckingham as a gift to his mistress, it is now an exclusive 5 star hotel.
Bride and groom at Cliveden House, Maidenhead
The room where the wedding reception took place was incredible with gold plated ceilings lined with art and features. As more guests entered the room it became standing room only for the speeches. The day finished downstairs where the dancing shenanigans took place. It was a brilliant wedding day and almost felt like two weddings in one!
Congratulations to Abigail and Henry!
To view the gallery highlights please keep scrolling and If you would like to chat about your upcoming wedding please click here!
Whimsical Floral Anglo French Wedding in Berkshire
Whimsical Floral Wedding in Berkshire
An amazing floral inside outside Berkshire wedding day that I’ve been so excited to blog for a few months now. I was really pleased to hear that one of the wedding industries leading wedding ideas blog, the awesome Whimsical Wonderland Weddings chose Clementines and Nicolas big day to appear on their blog! With the bride and groom being French as well as the majority of the guests it was a wedding day that was a beautiful mix of Anglo French styles and cultures.
“We had our amazing photographer Kevin Fern who covered the wedding in pictures, we loved his photography style straight away. We wanted to go for a spontaneous, colourful and premium feel and we knew Kevin was the perfect photographer to achieve our goal”
Emotional first look for the bride and groom
Clementine and Nicolas explore the grounds of The Old House, Wolverton, Tadley
The day started with groom prep at The George & Dragon Hotel in Tadley to shoot Nicolas and the guys getting ready before moving on to The Old House in Wolverton, Berkshire where Clementine and close family stayed the night before and was also the location for the marquee wedding reception. The Old House was a fantastic wedding venue and one that I hadn’t shot at before. For some reason many couples think that they should hire a photographer who has shot lots of weddings at their chosen venue but that’s most definitely not the case. Someone who is a creative is inspired by new locations and that’s how you get the most creative wedding photography. The Old House was the perfect venue for Clementine and Nicolas and their big day with a vast expanse of amazing grounds to hold the marquee and evening party shenanigans, which there were many!
Clementine and her husband Nicolas during speeches
Showing off those jazzy blue shoes at The Old House, Tadley
I have never photographed a wedding dress quite like the amazing bespoke floral dress designed by Lisa Lyons Bridal! Wow! And then there were the blue shoes, awesome! Who says everything has to be white! It’s your day, make it spectacular and just how you have always dreamed it should be! I’m sure if there were any budding brides at the wedding they would have had dress envy! When Nicolas saw his bride to be outside the Old House during the first look his jaw dropped! I love first looks as it is an opportunity to capture genuine heartfelt emotion between just the couple while they share their moment together. The wedding ceremony itself was held at St Catherines church in Wolverton so everything was within a ten minute drive. This is always great news for a photographer and videographer as when we have to factor in driving between venues, traffic, parking, etc the closer things are to each other the better. Speeches were split with the bride and grooms parents saying some heartfelt words outside on the lawn while there was still some light and a few more later in the evening from the couples close knit friends. Speeches always make for great pictures and it’s a part of the day I look forward to as I know I’m always going to capture some spontaneous emotional moments. As the bride and groom hit the dance floor for their first dance they were swiftly accompanied by their guests to shake rattle and roll the night away! Did I just use an old Elvis Presley song in my blog post, I did! I’m really not that old :-)
From start to finish it was a brilliant wedding to photograph!
Please scroll down to view a large selection of my favourite images from the day!
Intimate Cotswolds Wedding at Pauntley Court
Intimate Wedding in the Gloucestershire Countryside
One of the first weddings I photographed in 2022 was Jasmin and Anthony who got hitched at the beautifully tranquil Pauntley Court in the Cotswolds! It was a small intimate wedding with 35 guests. The great thing with smaller celebrations is that the happy couple get to spend more time with each of their friends and family without feeling rushed. I also think venues such as Pauntley Court which is a truly unique country house set in the Gloucestershire countryside really lend themselves well to smaller weddings. The peace and tranquility of the location was really emphasised by the unusually warm March weather and created a chilled out, relaxed, fun vibe! One very cool and interesting fact that Jasmin and Anthony can share with everyone is that they were married at the birthplace of Dick Whittington, not many people can say that!
Jasmin and Anthony enjoy the warm evening glow at Pauntley Court, Cotswolds.
If you’re a guest at a wedding not only are you very lucky but quite often you get to participate in unexpected surprises! Jasmin and Anthony absolutely love wildlife, so they had arranged for a bird of prey demonstration! Not only did everyone enjoy watching the birds they also got to hold them, such as a stunning grey owl and what looked like a buzzard or kestrel. ( I don’t know much about my feathered friends )
A young wedding guest gets up close and personal with a bird of prey!
Dramatic wedding reception entrance for Jasmin and Anthony at Pauntley Court, Gloucestershire.
The wedding ceremony was held outdoors in the stunning gardens which was fantastic and just what the couple wanted to happen. When it came to the couple portrait shoot we explored the grounds and surrounding area and found plenty of cool spots for pictures!
It was a pleasure to be a part of the day and to provide a gallery of images that capture the warmth, love and togetherness that I witnessed first hand!
Enjoy looking through some of my favourite shots from the day below!
My wedding photography end of year highlight slideshow
A whirlwind 2022 wedding photography season has finally come to an end. Before I look ahead to what’s to come this year I wanted to write a blog post including a picture slideshow to look back at some of the highlights from 2022 and the wedding memories created during an incredibly busy and fun filled rollercoaster year for me!
At the beginning of the year before the wedding season really got going I made a bold move and purchased a new camera! After many months of research I decided to make the leap from DSLR to the mirrorless world. For a photographer changing kit It’s a big move and especially for me being Mr Indecisive. One of the most important aspects in shooting great pictures is feeling comfortable with the equipment that you’re using. I’ve been a Nikon shooter for over 15 years so I decided to stick with Nikon and moved across to Nikons Z series mirrorless system, purchasing the Z6ii. It’s a brilliant camera with great ergonomics and a vast improvement over the D750 on many levels! For wedding photography it worked a treat for me. As my style is documentary I need fast accurate autofocus and thankfully the Nikon Z6ii delivered. Thank you DSLR but the present and future is now firmly mirrorless!
Relaxed portrait of Becca and Ed near their wedding reception marquee in Bradford on Avon. Wiltshire
Over the course of 2022 I have met amazing couples and been welcomed with open arms by brides and their families every time I arrived on their doorstep first thing in the morning for bridal prep. I can appreciate it’s not an every day occurrence that a man shows up with a camera wanting to take your picture while you’re having your makeup done sat in your PJs :-) so I appreciate every one of you that made me feel welcome, offered me a cup of tea, had fun and went with the flow!
Bride to be Rhian can’t get enough of the luxury bath at Plas Dinam wedding venue during bridal prep!
On a wedding day I’m around my couples and their guests from early morning until late at night with my sole purpose to capture natural, spontaneous moments that best represent what’s happening. In my opinion It’s important I can be present during events that may seem innocuous but that really help tell the story of the day and can often produce some great pictures! An example being staying with the bride or couple as they travel between venues. The image below of Abigail and Henry was taken on a 40 minute vintage car journey from a pub in London to Cliveden House in Maidenhead, Berkshire where the formal wedding reception was to be held. I love the relaxed nature of the couple, chilling out wearing their shades! To learn more about the way I work please click here.
Abigail and Henry relax in the back of a vintage car on their way from London to their wedding reception at Cliveden House, Maidenhead, Berkshire.
I’ve travelled far and wide all over the UK spending many hours on motorways and eating way too much fast food. The long hours are always worth it to be a part of a couples special day. It’s an honour to have the responsibility of capturing moments that will last a lifetime. I’ve shot at so many incredible wedding venues during the past year. From my starting point in Worcestershire I have photographed at castles, tipis, stately homes, pubs, registry offices, hotels, marquees and even forests. The diversity and challenges that each location and venue presents is what really inspires me every year and pushes my creativity to become better. I remember documenting a more formal wedding in Berkshire with top hat and tails and the next day I was at Broadfield Court, Herefordshire photographing a couple getting hitched sat on a sofa in an amazing forest! Love it!!
Sywlia and Antonios relax on a sofa in the forest at Broadfield Court, Herefordshire during their wedding ceremony.
The world would be such a boring place if everyone was the same with the same outlook as to what a wedding should look like. It’s your day, a day where you choose what’s important to you so have it just the way you want it! Each wedding is completely unique and different to the last and I get to meet such a huge array of people, personalities and cultures! :-)
Jade and Graham chose to get hitched with an outdoor wedding ceremony at Calmad Barns, Shropshire
“We couldn’t have picked a better photographer”
I am skilled in what I do but the people I photograph really bring my pictures to life. I’m so grateful to all of my 2022 couples for binging the fun, laughter and craziness!
Super excited Louise and Steven arriving at their wedding reception held at Carradine Barns, Shrawley
Oh yes before I forget, I would also encourage anyone to print their pictures. When you have amazing photographs of such special memories it would be a shame to leave them in digital form sat on your laptop or external hard drive. In my opinion I think they should be printed into an album or framed and put up in pride of place on a wall! For more info on the albums I provide please drop me a message. Thank you for being awesome and all the best for the future!
Newlyweds Jasmin and Anthony loving the golden hour at Gauntly Court, Gloucester.
If you have enjoyed watching my slideshow and love my natural, relaxed approach to shooting a wedding then it would be brilliant to work with you in the future! Please get in touch it would be great to hear from you!
Wedding guests have fun during the evening reception at Homme House, Ledbury
River Thames Boat Ride Wedding in Richmond
OMG!!! WE ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE PHOTOS!!! They are soo beautiful thank you so so much!!! You did an amazing job, thanks a lot. We can't stop looking at them!!
Photographing weddings has given me so many amazing experiences over the years. Last summer was no exception! I was lucky enough to document Andrea and Matthew getting hitched in Richmond. The schedule for the day was to have the ceremony at York House, Twickenham before jumping on a river boat to take the happy couple, their guests ( and happy photographer ) to The Bingham Hotel in Richmond for the evening reception and party the night away!
After the original wedding date was postponed we all had our fingers crossed that the day would be warm and sunny..thankfully our prayers were answered! The sun was out as the day began at the magestic York House. The registrar was one of the most entertaining, laid back characters I’ve come across on a wedding day! Cracking jokes and doing his best to put everyone at ease which he definitely did! From York House we took a little bit of time for some photographs before catching a taxi to take us to the riverboat! It truly was a magical experience to capture so many happy faces filled with pure joy as the riverboat cruised majestically down the River Thames. It was a photographers dream as I was left to document this unique occasion and capture all the natural fun and laughter that was to be had.
Rustic Yorkshire Farmers Wedding
After postponing their wedding day from 2020 to 2021 due to Covid, Charlotte & Jack finally got to celebrate in style with their friends and family in an amazing marquee put up in record time by Jack! He’s a man of many talents as I wouldn’t have a clue where to start at putting together a marquee!
The location was all the way up in Yorkshire so a nice little drive up the motorway for me. :-) I love Yorkshire and seem to be lucky enough to shoot quite a few weddings there. I arrived at Charlottes parents farm house where the hustle and bustle of bridal prep was in full swing. After capturing some nice natural light images and checking out the marquee where the wedding reception was to be held I headed off to the church in Tickhill. I always like to get to the church a bit before the bride as parking can be a nightmare and also to introduce myself to the vicar. Some vicars have very specific rules as to where you can and can't stand during the service so always best to double check.
I had actually shot at the church before in Tickhill for one of Charlottes friends weddings and it was at Ginny & Mikes wedding that Charlotte & Jack found me! Thankfully I was allowed to be stood at the front so I was able to capture Charlotte being walked down the aisle by her dad. Another bonus was because the church was so big there was plenty of room to easily move around without being noticed for one or two different angles.
Once outside, Charlotte & Jack got confetti bombed before jumping in a vintage sports car that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the set of James Bond. With the roar of the engine and the smell of rubber in the air the happy couple were back at Tickhill farm in a flash. I loved the relaxed, chilled out nature of the drinks reception in Charlottes parents garden. A live band was playing as the guests enjoyed congratulating the bride and groom! I captured lots of fun, documentary long lens 85mm images with lovely bokeh. The Nikon Z cameras and lenses are superb to work with and such an upgrade from the tried and tested D750’s that were my main stay for a good few years. The development of the Nikon mirrorless system represents a huge leap forward for the company and now with the release of the flagship Z9 mirrorless is definitely the present and future!
Most couples are always slightly uncomfortable having their picture taken (as I am ) which is why I would always recommend an engagement shoot so couples can be put at ease and understand how it all works. Jack was one of those grooms that didn’t really want lots of posed portraits which was fine with me as I’m all about the reportage style and capturing natural moments. After a quick walk around the grounds we headed back for the reception where the fun and games really went up a level. The people of Yorkshire and especially Yorkshire farmers always give it 100% in the fun department! The entrance of Charlotte and Jack to the reception marquee was like no other I have ever seen! With Charlotte perched precariously on Jacks shoulders they ducked under the doorway and were greeted with over 150 friends and family waving white napkins! Amazing scenes, I loved it!
The light levels inside the marquee really tested the Nikon Z6II to its limits but it coped amazingly well. I really enjoyed the entire wedding day and was so pleased to finally get to document the fun, love and laughter with a gallery of images that Charlotte and Jack can look back on in years to come with a smile on their face. :-)
Intimate Micro Wedding in the Cotswold Village of Stanton
Thank you! The photos are so lovely! We're thrilled
I recently had the pleasure of photographing Eve & Matt get hitched in the stunning Cotswolds village of Stanton. The ceremony took place at St Michael and All Angels church before a short walk across the road to Matts parents house for the wedding reception. With the world turned upside down amid the Covid19 pandemic resulting in wedding numbers being restricted to just a handful, this didn’t deter Eve & Matt and they pressed ahead to make their special day happen! To many couples the thought of changing their wedding plans is not something they care to contemplate and instead opt to postpone the date, which I completely understand. For other couples they choose to go ahead with a smaller wedding ceremony and instead postpone their big party to next year.
Smaller weddings consisting of less than 30 people are often known as micro weddings. In my opinion there’s something uniquely magical about such a small number of people attending that everything becomes more focused and intimate. Weddings are often a whirlwind and fly by in an instant so with less people means more quality spent with each guest.
My day started with meeting Eve in her Air b&b in Broadway which is just a short drive from Stanton and equally as picturesque. Eves parents and brother were also there getting ready and helping to calm any nerves. I then hopped in my car and drove the short distance to Stanton to the amazing St Michael and All Angels church. One thing I noticed wearing a face mask whilst photographing inside is that it gets very warm and the viewfinder is constantly misting up, maybe I need to invent a new face mask for photography! After the ceremony we took a nice shots with the lovely Cotswolds stone houses as backdrops before walking across the road to Matts parents house. The garden was beautiful with a small pond situated at the bottom of the garden. The atmosphere was so peaceful and relaxed that I was determined to use every inch of the garden for pictures, even the greenhouse which took some people by surprise! :-)
It was a wonderful wedding day and I would thoroughly recommend micro weddings to any couples who are still determined to get hitched!
Intimate Garden Wedding Celebration in Congleton, Cheshire
“It was great to have you and the photos look so great!!
We’re really really pleased with them.
Thank you so much!!”
Having had to reschedule their wedding from earlier this year because of lockdown Lucy & Isaac finally tied the knot at New Life Church in Congleton, Cheshire. With their family and friends present the ceremony was a wonderful show of love and togetherness. The service was also live streamed for those that were unable to attend from around the world.
After the bride and groom ran through the confetti tunnel of love it was back to a family members garden for the evening reception. My wedding photography takes me all over the country and has enabled me to document large weddings with hundreds of guests and smaller mircroweddings with just a handful of people. Each one is completely unique and special which is what I love about wedding photography!
Holding a wedding reception in a garden doesn’t mean you can’t have speeches, a sit down meal, cake cutting, dancing or creative wedding portraits! With Isaac and his family being Greek the meal was a delicious Greek feast that went down a treat. The speeches took place on the patio just as the sun was setting and the first dance was the catalyst for the guests to create some crazy shapes! I love the challenge of creating great portraits in sometimes limited spaces. With a little bit of thinking outside the box I was able to come up with some creative images simply by using the natural environment around me. I even managed to squeeze in a large group shot! Garden weddings are simply awesome, what a wonderful wedding day!
Heather & Simons Relaxed Pre Wedding Photo Shoot in London
“I bloody love them all..thanks so so much!!!”
Before a wedding day many photographers including myself offer the option for couples to have a pre wedding/engagement photo shoot. I would always encourage couples to book one of these shoots as they really help you feel at ease before the big day and look forward to the portrait session. If you’re like me and feel uncomfortable having your picture taken, don’t panic! It’s going to be fine..theres nothing scary or forced about my portrait sessions..just ask Heather and Simon! :-) My photo shoots are so relaxed and laid back without lots of forced smiles and cheesy grins!
I met up with Heather and Simon at the Warren Met Police Sports Club in Croydon, London which is to be the venue for their wedding reception next year. We had a great time exploring the grounds looking for interesting backdrops, and there were so many! As a professional photographer with a creative eye I don’t need sweeping sunset views or blue skies to create a great picture. A small gap between two plants in front of a wall, a cricket screen, a reflection in a window is all I need! I was pleased Heather also had a creative eye as she found such a cool green door, very rustic and very cool! I really can’t wait to shoot their wedding next year! :-)
Rochelle and Farook Stylish Wedding at Hedsor House, Taplow
“The photos look amazing, we’re so happy with them. Cant wait to show all our friends and family.”
Bridal prep was a hive of activity! Children excitedly running around, bridesmaids chatting and makeup artists doing their thing! When I walk into a bridal suite the energy of the room always hits me. I love it when I look around and there’s a million things happening. My brain is instantly in gear and I can’t wait to start shooting. As any photographer will tell you good light is key in capturing and creating amazing images. Thankfully the awesome wedding venue, Hedsor House in Taplow has huge and I mean huge windows in the bridal suite, perfect for my documentary natural light style of wedding photography.
I shot the day primarily with my faithful Nikon D750, Nikon 24-70mm 2.8f lens and Sigma 35mm 1.4f. I would encourage all budding photographers to start by using a prime lens. It really focuses your eye and makes you work around a subject. It also saves on gym membership, I wish I knew how many steps I take shooting a full day wedding..thousands I bet!
Farook was getting ready in another room with his best mates so the morning involved switching between rooms depending on what was happening.
Rochelle looked stunning in her dress and bought her father to tears. I was so happy to be in the right place at the right time to capture that moment. It’s these spontaneous moments full of emotion and love between a father and daughter that inspire and motivate me. If you asked them to pose straight after it just wouldn’t be the same. It’s why I love shooting the way that I do. Keeping things real and honest so whenever a couple looks back on their pictures it brings back the same real emotions and memories.
London Wedding at Old Marylebone Town Hall and The Swan Shakespeares Globe
“ Thank you very much for being with us, and for doing such an incredible job on our Wedding day. Your shots were stunning, really captured the day well, and now exist as the profile picture of a good number of our friends (which I can only assume is the highest possible accolade). “
- Yu Kyung & Chris -
I photographed Yu Kyung and Chris on their pre wedding shoot a month or so before their wedding day last summer. ( I’ll produce a blog post of the shoot in the next few days ) After feeling slightly apprehensive about the shoot they soon relaxed into it and we captured some awesome shots together. I couldn’t wait for their big day as I always love shooting in London.
When the big day arrived I met up with Yu Kyung in her bridal suite at the always impressive Park Lane Hotel next to Hyde Park corner in London. I love photographing bridal prep as you never really know what you’re walking into. Every bride is different, some have lots of bridesmaids with them, music pumping while others have their best mate and no music. Each situation presents a different challenge. Yu Kyung had her best friend/ bridesmaid with her as well as her mum and dad. The atmosphere was so peaceful and relaxed as I made my way around the room looking for great angles, details and emotion.
After hopping in a black cab together we made our way to Old Marleybone Town Hall for the ceremony. It was my first time at the town hall and it immediately struck me as being an awesome building, so many picture opportunities if you had the time. After the ceremony I captured the confetti shots on the steps outside as well as a few groups and portraits. We then boarded an iconic London red double decker bus to take us all to Swan at Shakespeares Globe Theatre on the Southbank. One of the great challenges of being a professional wedding photographer is your juggling skills. Trying to carry a bag and two cameras whilst capturing spontaneous moments on a moving bus without breaking anything is always a challenge I look forward to :-)
The Swan is a lovely restaurant to hold your wedding reception. Situated on the Southbank with incredible views of the London skyline including the majestic St Pauls Cathedral, you couldn’t wish for a more romantic place. Yu Kyung and Chris really wanted documentary style wedding photography and weren’t interested in anything too staged, formal or cliché. This suited me perfectly as I’m all about natural wedding photography. Letting the day unfold organically without a photographer jumping in and stage managing your wedding day is my idea of how a wedding should be. I mean who wants to think back to their big day and all they can remember is the photographer shouting orders or taking over!
We managed to nip out along the Southbank for some evening portraits, taking in great backdrops such as the Millennium bridge and St Pauls Cathedral before we made our way back for the evening party.
I loved being in the company of this awesome wedding couple as well as their super friendly guests. They were so easy to deal with from the first email to supplying the wedding album and much to my amazement gave me a little gift as I was leaving!
Best of luck for the future Yu Kyung and Chris!
Rustic Tipi Wedding Reception in Warwickshire
Last summer I was lucky enough to be asked to document Jade & Jamies wedding day in Warwickshire. I shot their pre wedding shoot a month before on their farm and couldn’t wait to get back for their rustic tipi wedding. I was booked to cover the whole day, bridal prep through to the crazy dancing in the evening and all the good stuff in between!
Bridal prep was held at Bobs Lodge, Winchcombe Farm Holidays. The chalet was spectacular with a cool igloo positioned on the balcony to sleep under the stars, as well as a slide that Jade and the bridesmaids made the most off ;-) After capturing the girls getting ready I whizzed off to the church for the ceremony. Church ceremonies can always present a challenge with lighting. This is something I love about wedding photography, constantly being challenged and thinking on my feet in pressure situations.
It was a summer wedding but the weather on the day was anything but summer! I think we had all the seasons apart from the winter snow! Jade and Jamie took it all in their stride with not a shred of worry, whatever will be will be! If things don’t go quite as planned on your big day the best advice I can give a couple is to embrace it. It’s your day and the most important thing is that you’re together with your friends and family! I actually think it makes for great pictures. My documentary style captures all the emotion, looks of surprise, commotion and the buzz of energy!
I’ve shot a few weddings where the couples have been farmers or have farming backgrounds and for some reason they’re always super relaxed and chilled out!! Maybe its something in the vegetables! :-)
Once we arrived in the neighbours field where the tipi was situated the heavens opened and everyone made a mad dash for cover and waited for the bride and groom to arrive for a second confetti shot! Everyone was then huddled together like penguins in the arctic which made easy pickings for me capturing candid shots.
When the weather isn’t great it’s a case of taking advantage of any moments when it stops raining, this wasn’t an issue for Jade and Jamie and luckily as the afternoon became evening the sun made an appearance so we nipped out for ten minutes to capture some cool couple shots.
It really was a great wedding and one I definitely won’t forget. Congratulations Jade and Jamie you were both amazing and I hope married life is going well!!
Corporate Event Photography at the Nuclear South West Conference in Bristol
Life as a Corporate Event Photographer
Over the course of my photography career I have been fortunate to have built up strong connections with small and large corporate clients across the South West and beyond. I really enjoy the responsibility and trust that companies across a wide spectrum of industries put in me to deliver their corporate photography. I am often asked to photograph conferences and seminars so the client can have a record for future use both in print and digital. In todays fast paced world of instant news this particular Nuclear South West conference held at the Marriott hotel in Bristol required me to upload images instantly so they could be used across social media platforms. It can be imperative that clients receive their images as fast as possible so as to engage with their wider audience.
During the course of the one or two day seminar / conference I am always looking for new angles to shoot. In some cases there is literally only one position for you to photograph due to space and logistics but If it’s possible I always like to take up different positions to give my clients interesting perspectives of the event. A typical day photographing a conference doesn’t just start and stop with the speakers on stage. There are usually other networking events that the client would like captured as was the case below. There can also be small exhibitions with a chance for businesses to show off their products, make sales and network.
I’ve recently come across a great article on The Beginners Guide to Event Photography written by the great guys and girls at Pixpa. It’s well worth a read for some useful hints and tips.
Event Photography - Spooky Halloween Fun at Frightmare, Over Farm Market, Gloucester
Frightmare is a brilliantly scary interactive event that is a must see if you’re anywhere near Gloucester! Over the years it has steadily expanded with more rides to thrill and captivate its audience. It involves the public entering a ride and walking through the winding, dark corridors while a host of incredible actors and actresses do their best to make you jump out of your skin! The sets and production are first class with superb attention to detail. My job as the photographer was to document the event focussing on the fantastic reactions of the public.
I don’t often blog my corporate, event and public relations photography so my aim for 2020 is to do more..lots more blogging! I love weddings but also really enjoy this other very important side of my business. Whenever I get the opportunity to shoot events such as Frightmare or corporate commissions I jump at the chance. If you have an upcoming event that requires professional photography please get in touch.
