Beautiful times with beautiful people

Here are some of my choice moments of 2023. It’s not a ‘Best Of’ list; there are no ‘best weddings’ just wedding stories of beautiful people and full of unique and beautiful moments. These, hopefully, show a little insight into my approach and philosophy with a blend of wonderfully candid moments, authentic observations, naturally romantic portraits and lots of raw, energetic loveliness as friends and family come together.

(if you’re on your phone, turn it on it’s side for full effect!)

Amy & Chris, Cragwood Hotel. A burst of a confetti canon on a boat on Lake Windermere. Energy and colour, two very important factors in my work.

Claire & Matt, Colshaw Hall. A defining moment. Matt hasn’t seen Claire but she can see him. A peep that says so much. Anticipation of the anticipation.

Daisy & Daniel, The Priests House. Beautifully emotional reaction from Dan as Daisy walks down the aisle. A big change of emotion from 10 minutes before.

Emma & Neil, Bartle Hall. Love the energy of the party! And these guys were no exception.

Debs & Sam, The Hawthorns. Moments make a day. This is a moment between moments. That little lull where people are at their authentic best.

Ellen & Kris, Stanley House. A moment of creativity using the light from the skylight. A quick 5 minute stop between parts of the day. Just a little extra. Who’d know there were staff flurrying to and fro around the room.

Emma & David, Hobbit Hill. Always looking out for human tripods. Attention paid to those with attention on my couples can pay dividends.

Emma & Neil, Bartle Hall. Emotions convey the feelings between people. Here it is between Emma the bride [facing away] and maid of honour, Zoe – and being fanned by a bridesmaid. But it’s the rollers that add spice to the shot. It has the look of a film from a time gone by.

Florence & Luke, Rivington Hall Barn. A moment after the moment. Luke’s brother has just delivered a heartfelt speech. Most of the attention is elsewhere except for dad and daughter. I love this moment for its emotion and painterly feel.

Heather & David, The River Hodder. A pre wedding shoot with a setting sun, a plane trail in the sky and they simply came to together on the horizon to make the shot.

Mel & Luke, The Out Barn. Just such a naturally romantic shot. These guys – a lot like me – aren’t into posing but just being with one another in this moment is all it took to show how together they are.

Jane & Lee, The Shireburn Arms. I love a couple on a mission; ones who love to explore. There was no stopping these two getting on that bridge. Placing them small in the vast landscape accentuates the feeling of time.

Jodie & Sam, The Ashton Memorial. A beautiful place and ceremony and our registrar obliges with the hand presenting our newly weds to the world. Just that small detail sets off everything.

Kate & Kevin, The Holmfirth Vineyard. Just a dreamy sunset in a dreamy landscape. No posing; just being together and letting the light bathe the moment.

Kathy & Manoj, Grays Court Hotel. The local band played a tune while the guys danced surrounded by friends. Always room for some creative documentary. The story told without a face in the frame.

Kathy & Manoj, Grays Court Hotel. Absolutely loved the long table and knew where they would enter the room from the outside. Just an uplifting frame that captures the cheers from everyone present.

Kathy & Manoj, Grays Court Hotel. Such a heartfelt hug. The children were opposite the parents and representing this exchange of words and feelings in a dynamic way was conveyed perfectly from this position.

Keileigh & Dan, Crow Wood. A sunset wander for these two. No arranging or choreographing – or anything need to say anything. Just love the way the sun casts the shadows and brings the moment to life.

Kirsty & David, Stanley House. Love the energy in these two. They are super heroes! They wanted to explore that theme and – hey presto – 5 minutes later with some glass and a boring grey door we got this. I love a bit of creative fun every now and then.

Laura & Liam, Twn Dyr Hall. Where the scene and the light come together like moons aligning. Our groomsman painstakingly steams his shirt sleeve in front of the round window. Juxtaposed with the artificial light on the left I was just buzzing documenting this moment.

Becca & Jason, Mitton Hall. The look between these two says it all. The acknowledgement of what the occasion is all about, conveyed in their own way. Natural connections and expression are best found without any direction.

Lauren & David, Pendle Hill. A pre wedding shoot on top of a hill at sunset. A simple formula. Love this as there was no need to interject just play with compositions as the sun went down.

Lauren & David, Eaves Hall. One of the intriguing aspects of a couples’ day is what other guest are doing. This guy wasn’t going to miss the rugby world cup for anyone.

Megan & Glenn, Victoria Warehouse. This venue is quite unique and a real challenge when it comes to lighting. That can achieve some rewarding results. I love how the elements of this shot have no physical connections between them. Everything seems to float in an ethereal kind of way.

Michelle & Marc, Crow Wood. As much as I’m a documentary wedding photographer, I must do at least one group shot every wedding. I love them in the way that they throw up reactions and tend to leave that to those taking part. This lot made this shot their own!

Molly & Marc, Tros Yr Afon. I love detail. Here our groom writes himself a good luck message. Just love these aspects that appeal to my sense of humour.

Molly & Marc, Tros Yr Afon. Just one of those moments. A buzzing bee catching the attention of Molly. And me!

Rebecca & Matty, Samlesbury Hall. The groom Matty get ready with his lad Jimmy watching. I love this as you can sense thoughts going through both of their minds. Jimmy is wondering what dad is doing and dad is probably wondering about what is going to happen next.

Rebecca & Matty, Samlesbury Hall. I love this moment. Rebecca has just seen her dad before the ceremony. A very emotional moment and this is just a few seconds after when the make up artist dis needed for a quick touch up. I love how Rebecca is controlling the tears. It somehow accentuates the moment in the window light.

Rebecca & Matty, Samlesbury Hall. The darkness of the dance floor can offer an opportunity to convey some high octane energy. Our DJ had a big bright light spinning and spiralling around. Sometimes you just make use of it and this shot had it straight into the lens as Rebecca and Matty danced and sang to each other. Pow!

Robin & Michele, Ashton Memorial. Sometimes its the context of where a couple are that is the shot and this beautiful building provided that.

Robyn & Alex, Ducie Street. What a party this was. And also fantastic because there was only a single call for one set photo and this was it. Just great fun with everyone just piling in for a little bit of glory!

Sab & Jonny, Crow Wood. A fantastic couple that just enjoyed every second of their day. There was a Jewish element and so the Hora took place. Cue some very energetic dancing and some images to match. Love this energy!

Sabine & Lewis, Falcon Manor. Lewis and his best man on the way to the ceremony. Both in tandem, both in their stride. Even their feet are perfectly in step as they look at one another. It’s all about the timing as well as the angle.

Sabine & Lewis, Falcon Manor. Just at the end of the confetti line and as they reach the end Lewis shakes his Dad’s hand whilst Sabine cuddles his Mum. Its a double parent and child moment and the couple’s favourite.

Sabine & Lewis, Falcon Manor. I love this. Sabine and Lewis are quietly sitting together as they wait to enter the wedding breakfast. I reframed to it with the whole room to increase the sense of waiting. And then Sabine looks at her [new] wedding ring in a wonderfully contemplative way and Lewis look on. “What’s just happened?”

Sarah & Dan, The River Barn. Sarah and Dan wanted 99% of their day shot ‘as it happens’. That’s my kind of day but in that 1%, a few frames before a portrait with Sarah and her Nan gave some unbelievable beautiful moments between them.

Sarah & Dan, The River Barn. “Tell me you got those two falling into the band!??”, said Sarah. Of course I did! Always expect the probable as well as the unexpected.

Sarah & Matt, The Tipis at Riley Green. Just a fantastic deep breath moment before he gets married.

Scarlett & Sam, Falcon Manor. Our best man’s story put both Scarlett and Sam in the same hot water. Naturally the reaction was accordingly likewise for the both of them. Just love how they both have turned in to one another as though it’s still just between them.

Scarlett & Sam, Falcon Manor. I love this for its complexity. The groups on either side of the frame provide an asymmetrical sociological view of guests at this wedding. On the left a [younger] group having fun with a mirror. On the right a group of [older] farmers looking slightly at unease. I framed it to create the juxtaposition. The group on the left seemingly have no cares whilst looking away from the lens. The group on the right seem unsure with two looking straight at the camera as if to ask what is happening.

Tara & Damien, Crow Wood. Tara’s daughter loved the idea of the preparations and embraced it as much as you’d expect the bride to do so. A fantastic off-guard moment as her eyes seemingly light up when make up has been done.

Vanessa & Quentin, The Netherwood. A beautiful November day with beautiful skies over the sands but it was the sense of occasion that Quentin and his friends had. Just responding to the day as it went along. It look posed’ but it isn’t. If you let people be themselves the moments will come.

Vanessa & Quentin, The Netherwood. Just as the other frame in this set they just did this themselves. Impromptu pinging about on the shores of the Irish Sea. Fabulous. I loved the day with these two.

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