2021 was a mixed year in the world but in the world of weddings it was a time that I saw families come together again, love and emotion bounce back and a year when my photography meant more to me than ever before.
Below are 33 photos – in no particular order or rank – that shaped my year, my style and memory. This also contains the images that saw me nominated for Photographer of the Year which I’m super chuffed with.
Thanks go to ALL my couples – I wish I could show all of everyones!
Amongst the buzz of shooting an array of portraits on a rock in Wastwater against the backdrop of Great Gable – seeing these guys just let rip with the wellies we needed to wade to this spot was a high this year.
They say never work with children and animals. I think the opposite can be true. Letting this guy do his thing in the midst of a huge group shot – letting the story play out – was a complete buzz.
I not sure I’d want to say that there was a pinnacle moment for the year. Otherwise it infers all moments after do not reach that high. But to shoot a sunset with a beautiful couple in the landscape of my home town was special.
Many, maybe too many, accents are put onto brides crying with happiness. These guys were brim full of bravado. Anthony’s reaction to Gemma in church was as unexpected as it was refreshingly beautiful.
What was he thinking? What was the reaction to? I’ve no recollection. All around find it funny as well as I do now. Wedding days are brilliant. I hunt for these moments always yet rarely are they found…
Most of my portraiture style leaves couples to be themselves – a voyeur that is there..but not there. This intensely beautiful eye contact between Carly and Aaron seemed to play out its very own narrative.
I love the outdoor and the Dales. I asked Danielle and Pete to walk across a hilltop; to enjoy a moment and to capture that in the context of such a beautiful space. I can re-live this time after time as I hope they do
I love being around other people on the day. I chatted to the grandad of the bride about photos at length. What a guy! Not sure if he was showing off but what a character.
As well as the natural style portraits I want to create special, bespoke images for my couples. This took five mins with Hannah & Jason plus a little help.. but represents a doorway to more possibilities.
Angles and compositions that frame a moment can alter the tension. I just keep feeling the world out of the doorway to the left who are about to see both bride and father of the bride as they turn the corner.
This was my first wedding back after lockdown. I loved it and much that I love about what I do is noticing detail. Above the wedding shoes a little finch was humming and buzzing about on this beautiful spring morning – just like everyone preparing for Hannah & Luke’s day.
One of those moments that just comes together. After setting them in the light I watched as dad got son ready for the big day. So many genuine moments and then…puff! A final spray brought alive by the light.
On such a heartfelt day in my home town of Todmorden I photographed two people that felt on top of the world. It is a staged shot but one that provided them with a platform to have fun and feel that way.
Such a memorable day and none more so due to how much these guys seemed to be so much as one. They even shed a few tears simultaneously during their vows, their own tissue each. Beautiful.
Just expected the unexpected. These guys were really into that time they had on their own – no direction needed. But who knew Carden Park would have a few art sculptures to play with. We just had some fun.
Sometimes its not idyllic! But then real moments do not follow an idyll. Most kids are unaware of the camera, so I just kept shooting for the moment to play itself out. She was fine after a cuddle from mum.
A portrait but also a truly romantic moment. Add to this the light and this frame is one I really love. I can’t quite remember how it happened. It wasn’t prompted or posed; it just happened unchoreographed.
Sometimes simple is beautiful. As the sun was setting there was a ridge that rode across the skyline. “Just go for a walk across there – one can lead the other – you choose”. The winter months can give the best light.
“I say, Madame!”…. A wedding – to a degree – is bound by stereotypical attire and characterisation. A bride in white, the groom in a dark suit etc. Step up the grandmother of the bride to dispel any stereotypes!
A black and white shot in front of a huge window. Lines as well as light play a great part in composition but I loved it more when I noticed Emily’s foot just off the floor. That’s the moment!
Moments that are framed at the right time tell the best stories – a second either side and the message can be diluted. After the ring went on Bethany’s finger she raised it at it highest possible point to check. There, at that point, the marriage was. Perfect.
The grandad of the groom, David, had just been mentioned in the speeches. He’d just lost his wife. 75 years of “Love”. He then picked up a small “love” sign from the table. It just seemed like 75 of thought in this pensive moment.
My approach to portraits is twofold. One is to actively create and the other – the approach I use the most – is to leave a couple be. The platform was the summer house, the time and the light and this moment is purely them.
After the groom and best man finished their speeches the emotion poured out. The family almost circled around one another for comfort. The brother – barely visible – seems to be crushed with love. Tears aplenty!
Kids have a different schedule than adults on the day. They often go unnoticed – just take a look at the best man in the foreground. But they do share the same emotions – as when mum shed a tear in the ceremony.
Sometimes pointing the camera at the subject is not the only way of telling a story. The detail around can do that. Loved the way Carly had the tissues waiting as she read a card from Aaron.
Sometimes the story is not only in the detail but the tiniest of detail. The shot of Pete’s wedding ring has the tiny reflection of Danielle in, so a nice visual metaphor of them as one.
A special shot for me as these are fab friends ‘daan saaf’. A ten min chink of light at The Mount Vineyard was enough for this shot. Part of an epic UK journey of four weddings in a week it has a place for me here.
Emotion and emotional reactions form a big part of my work. Dad seeing his daughter for the first time in her dress is almost always a provider of a reaction. None more so than Issy’s dad here.
Tucked away in the Lake District is the exclusive Forest Side. I love this shot – not only as Freya and Adam are such a fab couple – but I found this spot tucked away and all the layers just came together for their portrait.
I love to feel very much part of someone’s day and like the other guests after Adam’s speech was pretty much in tears! His mum was up from her seat to embrace and comfort her son. Just a wonderful family moment.
This was my first shoot as weddings went full again. And just the full on happiness that these two shared was the perfect tonic to reintroduce me back to what I had missed for months. Just beautiful.
I talked of pinnacles, of highs but this has something extra. It has an intimacy between them that is undoubted. That we had a chance to chase a sunset and then, near our homes, capture it – and – with an extraordinary amount of luck, capture a frame that has all the impact in needs whenever viewed.
