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”

— Jade & Graham

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

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. :-)