I met Gary & Marc at their engagement shoot at Bradgate Park, it’s fair to say they were slightly anxious about posing in public and being the centre of attention.
As a photographer it’s your job and duty to make couples feel as relaxed and as content as possible. I feel I do a good job of doing just that. At the end of the shoot I got the impression, as I do most of the time, that they felt a sense of relief that actually being in front of the camera isn’t so bad.
This stood them both in good stead for their wedding day at the West Mill in Derby.
The West Mill is a stylish, historic, venue with four floors, each with individual character. This was my first visit to the West Mill and I couldn’t wait to incorporate the industrial architecture into the images.
On arrival I found Gary frantically putting the final, unique touches to the venue to make it their own; it looked superb.
When I went to meet Marc, he was very relaxed, on the outside anyway. I spent some time with him capturing his preparations.
As more guests arrived, the anticipation built, and the ceremony was soon upon us. What a lovely ceremony it turned out to be, full of emotion and joy and a privilege to bear witness to.
With the weather being on the slightly chilly side I had to move fast with the group photos and portraits.
Couples Portraits
We dodged in and out of the showers and made the most of the winter light as it came and went. Gary & Marc really pulled off their portraits and we came away with some great images.
The celebrations continued into the evening, as I witnessed some touching speeches that came from the heart.
Arcade games kept the kids and adults amused until the dance floor opened. To end a perfect day we stepped outside for a chilly but beautiful sparkler send off.
Chippenham Park wedding photographer & Photography
Chippenham Park wedding photographer & Photography
A wedding day at Chippenham Park is always special. This luxurious venue offers some of the best backdrops and views in the business. The pristine grounds have so much potential; as a wedding photographer you’re spoiled for choice.
It was a beautiful late summers morning with blue skies forecast for Leanne & Jamie’s wedding day.
The bridal preparations flew by, and I had a great time getting to know the bridal party. In particular their two boys, what characters they were; I knew I was going to have some fun capturing their personalities.
The scene was set for a lovely outdoor ceremony, you can’t beat outdoor ceremonies on a beautiful day, and Chippenham Park has not one but two options for this.
The excitement was building as the ceremony came closer. What a memorable moment as her son walked her down the aisle to give her away, Jamie standing proud as he watched on. It was a heartfelt ceremony with many personal touches.
Leanne & Jamie didn’t want too much fuss, they opted for a more relaxed, reportage style of photography. I really enjoy this, being able to capture expressions and moments unseen. It’s also just as nice to capture the intimacy and closeness of a couple; this is best done when I take you off for some couples portraits, you can leave the prying eyes behind and just have five minutes alone. I always feel these times are good for the couple, just to breathe, relax and soak up one another before you head back to the guests.
Golden hour
After some entertaining speeches, the light was dipping, creating a gorgeous glow that I just couldn’t resist; we headed out for some golden hour romance, and those images turned out dreamy.
They partied into the night and topped the day off with a sparkler send off. Just an all round beautiful wedding, thank you for letting me be a part of it.
Anita & Luke’s Elsham Hall wedding was a beautifully intimate affair. They were one of the most relaxed couples I’ve ever photographed; it was refreshing to see. No fuss, no drama, just two people in love enjoying their wedding day with their nearest and dearest.
Sometimes weddings without too much structure and entertainment crammed into a short space of time can work in your favour. Anita & Luke had plenty of free time to just mingle and catch up with their guests, they soaked up the day and took it all in.
This also meant we had an extended period of time to wonder the stunning grounds of Elsham Hall; the venue has vast options to get creative, with so many hidden corners to explore, I was in my element. Waterscapes, wildlife and so much green space; just wonderful, this is certainly my type of venue.
Anita & Luke were a joy to be around; they clung to one another for comfort, and held each other close and tight for their portraits. I could tell they had a special bond, so it was an honour to be a part of their wedding day and witness first hand the feelings they have for one another.
We had set aside some spare time to take advantage of golden hour, although this didn’t quite pan out as the drizzle started to come down. None-the-less I suggested we still headed off into the fields. I’m so glad they were happy to embrace the adventure, we had fun in the fields then as the rain got a little heavier we got the brollies out and created some of my favourite images ever, you can’t beat spontaneity. Thank you for letting me be a part of your day, I had a ball.
