Getting there early and why I do it…
often get asked to start covering the day when the bride is fully ready. This is an opportunity missed because whilst many brides hate being shown without makeup, the getting ready stage is an essential part of the wedding day. It’s a time that the groom will never get to experience, except of course through [...]
Danielle and Kelvin’s Engagement – A walk in the park
ext month Danielle and Kelvin are getting married at one of my favourite venues in Leeds, Woodlands Hotel. Just before every wedding, I always meet my couples to go through the particulars of their wedding day. Everyone is different and each couple has specific needs that I need to cater for when I photograph the [...]
Flamboyant Creations – Possibly the best Album maker in the world…
hen I find a great company I love to shout about it. I’m always tweeting on about how excellent the service is from Amazon and Moo Cards. Hotel Chocolat is excellent as well. My web company, Big Folio, based in the US, has truly the most awesome service I’ve ever known. I love the quality [...]
Are you a Tyre Kicking bride? Then let me explain this wedding photography cost thing…
arages hate Tyre kickers. You know, those casual car buyers who kick the tyres because they know nothing about cars and figure that this will tell them what they need in order to make a purchase decision. Wedding photographers hate brides who ask the opening question – “How much do you charge?” (Our version of [...]
Wedding Fayre season – Woodlands Hotel, Leeds
It’s no secret that I love photographing weddings at Woodlands Hotel. Small enough to be exclusive on your wedding day Beautiful, colourful artwork on the walls A piano bar Lovely grounds cool seating area outside for hot, sticky nights fine restaurant wonderful wedding suite a marque that’s like a photographic studio … and I could [...]
Liane and Mike’s wedding at Hazlewood Castle
I thought today for a change, I’ll let the groom’s sister in law tell the story of this wedding… She obviously knows the couple a lot better than I do AND she was photographing with me throughout the day. (She did the bridal prep, while I stayed with Michael. You see, ‘Dolly’ is a talented [...]
Michael and Liane’s engagement pictures…
I met these guys at brother James’ wedding four years ago. It was a bit of a showbiz wedding at the National Media Museum. Now Mike and Liane have chosen the fabulous HAZLEWOOD CASTLE as their wedding venue. Nicola, who was the bride on that day in October 2007 , is now a wonderful wedding [...]
Let’s you and I do something magical together…
Had a couple of phone calls today which got me really excited. Both were from Brides who were asking me to help them with some non-photographic aspect of their wedding. One bride was asking me for some recommended entertainment for her evening at Oulton Hall in Leeds this year. I was able to recommend a [...]
Favourite wedding venues – Hazlewood Castle…
Anyone looking for a special location for their wedding should put Hazlewood Castle on their list. One of the finest venues for weddings, blessings and renewal of vows. Situated 20 minutes from Leeds, set in stunning woodland grounds with an elegant courtyard and beautiful chapel, award winning restaurant and picturesque champagne bar with outside terrace. [...]
Favourite Wedding venues – Waterton Park
WATERTON PARK is one of those venues that stands out as being just that little bit more special. Imagine a Georgian Mansion on an Island. Boats, wonderful rolling parkland views, resident swans, a bridge, ancient woodland, loads of history and a championship golf course. All of this in…… Wakefield?! Aside from golf, other pre-wedding activities [...]
Favourite hotels – Radisson SAS, Leeds
love this venue for the little pools of light, the secret inner courtyard, the helpful staff and the fact that I got married here myself. A wedding photographer’s choice. It also brings out the natural poser in all the brides. Check out their website HERE connect with me on Facebook
Attention: Totally unique individuals wanted…
lanning a completely unique wedding this year? Maybe a truly Vintage event with attention to every detail. Perhaps a Goth wedding or something really glamorous. Maybe you’re thinking of a destination wedding by the sea or an urban adventure. Your dress and style is truly unique and you’re planning the wedding to match. Maybe you’d [...]
A fabulous foodie wedding at the Black Swan in Helmsley
he Black Swan in Helmsley is a beautiful 15th Century coaching Inn which has been transformed into a beautiful boutique Hotel with 45 rooms, perfect for an intimate wedding. If you’re a foodie then this could be the perfect venue for you. The highly aclaimed Rutland Restaurant has been awarded 2 AA Rosettes. The tearoom [...]
Colin and Francine’s Wedding Album at Woodlands
Here’s a wonderful example of a Wedding Book Layout featuring Colin and Francine’s wedding at The Woodlands Hotel in Leeds. Love the Dress from Angel Brides in Horsforth and all the details. I’ve included some of the engagement shot pictures, taken at Granary Wharf in Leeds, as an introduction to the book. It’s more and [...]
Surrah and Paul’s Wedding Album at Soughton Hall in North Wales
I met Surrah and Paul at Howard and Mary’s Wedding in Oxford last year. I love it when couples have seen me work at a wedding. it’s like I’m photographing friends and everything looks so relaxed and natural as a result. Surrah and Paul’s special day took place at St Deniols Church in Howarden, North [...]
Becky and Jimmy’s Wedding Book…
We started with the Engagement Shoot… It was at Granary Wharf in Leeds. I think we all had fun that day so we decided to continue the shoot another day at my base in Rawdon. I’ve often said that I have the best couples in the world and it’s true, I’m very lucky, but I [...]
Have you got more money than sense?
Here’s a statement that some may find contentious… IF YOU SPEND LESS THAN A THOUSAND POUNDS ON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY YOU’VE GOT MORE MONEY THAN SENSE! What? A thousand pounds is a lot of money and I realise that for many, many people, a thousand pounds is simply too much. My genuine advice is this… Find [...]
Most Wedding Photographers do the art of wedding photography no favours…
I was lecturing to a small group of photographers the other day about the art of wedding photography and faced something of an uphill struggle. You see, these graduates of the arts had some preconceptions. Fashion photography, Fine Art Photography (what’s that I said…. nude photography was one answer), commercial photography and landscape photography… These [...]
Gail and Kevin’s wedding in the beautiful Hazlewood Castle…
Here’s the album layout for Kevin and Gail’s wedding at Hazlewood Castle. I’ve photographed many weddings here over the last few years. It really is one of my favourite venues. I love the grounds, the beautiful interior, the chapel and I really love the fact that couples can have a wedding in their very own [...]
Turning the mundane into the extraordinary… Matt’s suit fitting.
Being a wedding photographer is not all Glam you know. Sometimes the sun doesn’t shine so brightly on the brides big day. Occasionally the bride doesn’t get a full nights sleep the day before and make-up just can’t cover those tell-tale bags. Perhaps the couple can’t afford a venue that looks like Buckingham Palace or [...]
Waterton Park Hotel with tears, laughter, wigs… and huge hooters!
Part 3 featuring Richard and Emma’s wedding at the fabulous Waterton Park Hotel. I spoke to the couple at Laura and Christian’s wedding last weekend and they said they’ve been enjoying the blog updates while dodging Lions and Rhino on Safari in Kenya. They brought back a great tip as well. ‘Doom’, the perfect insect [...]
The Church, The first look, the tears, the candids and the formals…
Our last Blog entry saw Emma and Richard getting ready in the morning before the ceremony at Woodkirk Church in Tingley. Here, the Bride is ready and the groom is waiting eagerly at the church. I always try and encourage my brides to get ready as early as possible. This allows us some time to [...]
Have you noticed the bride isn’t dressed yet?
“We don’t really need you for the pictures at home. Would you mind starting at the church and we’ll need you till just after the cake cutting, thanks” – Er, no thanks, but I’ll recommend someone more suitable. OK, In case you’re thinking of booking a wedding photographer, let me point out that we’re all [...]
