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ERICA AND TOM'S ROMANTIC EASTBOURNE WEDDING

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Another last minute phone call from my pal Kirstie Blake: "My dear friend has just been let down by her photographer, can anyone help?"   And the next morning, I am hurtling through Sussex on a glorious sunny July Saturday to the rescue. 
 

I instantly fell in love with Tom and Erica's cool, retro Peacehaven bungalow, and it wasn't long before I'd fallen for them and their friends and family too!

Some weddings are all about the planning, some are all about the style, and some... some are all about the warmth of feelings, the strength of commitment and love from friends and family. 

Wanting nothing but the best, Dad booked a classic chauffeur-driven Daimler to drive Erica to the town hall.

And who couldn't help but be totally smitten by the Britain's youngest best man!?  Aw... so cute!!

and while the groom waited nervously...

a romance appeared to be blossoming between the best man...

... and one of the ladies in the congregation.

though nothing could distract from how beautiful the bride looked as Dad lead her down the aisle

There were tears and smiles at Eastbourne Town Hall.  With more than their share of challenges, this young couple came through for each other in a big way.

with more than a little help from the littlest, cutest best man ever ever ever

the signing of the register

the walk down the aisle, with a littlest best man now a bit grumpy and no doubt in need of some sugar

 What is lovely about Victorian Town halls, like the classic one in Eastbourne where Tom and Erica held their wedding ceremony, is the mix of colours, the wonderful architecture, the mix of natural and modern lighting and the melange of municipal rigour with a gentle, relaxed local atmosphere.  

Of course nothing expresses the joy and excitement following the wedding ceremony than confetti

and while a lot of wedding photographers won't use a wide angle, I can never resist squeezing in that little bit of extra action, because it is as much the guest's day as it is the bride and groom's.

After the formal shots, we had a little bit of time to run off for some romantic photo down time at Burling Gap.  And no trip to the south downs in the summer would be complete without... an ice cream.

as the saying goes, what's yours is mine, and ... erm... well that's it really..

Birling Gap and Crowlink, near Eastbourne in East Sussex, are part of the world famous Seven Sisters chalk cliffs, one of the longest stretches of undeveloped coastline on the south coast.  One minute you can be walking on ancient downland, the next you could be rockpooling below towering cliffs of chalk. Spectacular, unspoilt views of the sea can be seen from all angles. The beach below is ideal for seaside picnics with its rock pools and areas of pebbles and sand. It is a great example of a marine nature reserve.

Also, great for a bit of a snog, after your wedding.

but the fun didn't end with just one ice cream and a bit of a snog...

... and we were off to East Dean for a full-on Hog Roast.  Just look at the delight on those kids' faces...

then of course there were the speeches...

... the cake....

.... the cake down the bride's cleavage....

... the cake in the groom's face...

and then a proper, bonkers knees-up party

and also, thankfully, a beautiful South Downs Sunset 

Do please feel free to leave a comment, if you enjoyed these pictures, and thanks for reading. 

x

Adam

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Heather and Sam's Dartmouth Wedding

For one young couple, with a love of the sea and the outdoors, there was no way rain was ever going to stop play...

And with storm clouds gathering over Blackpool Sands, you could be forgiven for thinking that anyone who had ordered a beach wedding with outdoor games might be a little down in the mouth as they tapped the barometer that morning.  But with Sam a fireman (Fireman Sam!) and Heather a marine engineer, there was never any likelihood of them bringing anything other than their own brand of inner sunshine to the proceedings.

Staying at the lovely boutique Strete Barton guest house nearby, Heather and her bridesmaids were determinedly cheerful.  Perhaps as locals, they're used to the overcast sky...?

 

And certainly the guest house itself is not only picturesque but comfortable and stylish enough to put a smile on anyone's face. 

With a simple line of pearls, and a subtle, figure-hugging gown from Allure Bridal, Heather's look was effortlessly stylish.  Keeping everything low-key and minimal, while at the same time, choosing the best, can really pay off for a bride.

And a touch of the sea in the turquoise bridesmaid's gowns.  Because for this couple, the sea and the coast play a huge part in their lives, both professionally and personally.

Simplicity is so often the key to a great wedding.  With so many things to worry about, with so many friends and family members, with so many lists and with so many choices, it's easy to forget that the best weddings are not the ones where people remember the gowns or the cake, the colour of the balloons or the paper the invite was sent on.  People remember the simple idea of who the couple were and how much they valued the people around them. 

And so it is that with a dress, a ring, a necklace, a tiara, an outfit.  If you keep your style simple, you can often cause a greater sensation.  You don't have to go Liz Hurley to achieve a stand-out 'less is more' style, though certainly you'd be remembered for it.  But think of the first adjective that springs to mind alongside the word stylish.  Simply?  Simply stylish. 

and so, from the rustic charms and simple style of Strete Barton...

with a quick, jokey flounce on the stairwell, for a bride too uncomplicated and unpretentious to want to spend too much time posing...

...it was a quick car journey to the Blackpool Sands cafe for the ceremony and reception.  Blackpool Sands is a privately-owned beach in Dartmouth, Devon, with permanent access to the public.  The cafe itself is elegant and - again, simple, and has it's own particular beach-side charm. 

with guests ranged around in fold-out chairs, the room alive with the energy of close friends and family, the warmth and happiness dispelled any sense of the rain outside.

 

 

 

... as did Sam and Heather's sweet and tender ceremony, sealed with a loving kiss.

and of course, with laughter.  

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and yet more kissing....

.... and yet more laughing.... 

...oh and did I mention kissing?

and... um... more laughing....

In every picture, you can see how Sam and Heather's personalities have really come through, their love of nature and the sea, from the simple tea lights and fairy lights to the bunches of hand-picked flowers, candles and driftwood table ornaments. 

with almost no budget, our couple have turned a simple cafe into an ode to the elements, applying their love of the nature and all things natural to their styling.  Handcrafted, artisan-like simple touches throughout can be a great way to achieve a harmonious and rich atmosphere without spending a fortune.  

one of my favourite stylish budget touches, was the wedding tablewear, in particular Sam and Heather's ingenious use of scallop shells tied with a  bow, and a simple printed personalised name card

and another  sweet touch, was the handmade cake tray.  Here Heather and Sam have chucked out the huge layer cake and frills, going once more for the humble and down-to-earth minimalism of home made cakes and sweets. 

and then it was time to meet the dark queen of all the elements, the rain... 

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and of course, Heather and Sam were undeterred. 

Something that many couples might overlook, and again it is such a simple thing:  a really good, really sturdy, and really pretty umbrella!  This is Britain after all, the island of rain, summer wedding or not! 

and then it was back inside for a quick warm-up, a glass of wine, and, of course, some more laughter...

or some more sophisticated entertainment for the more mature guests...

But for Sam, the big highlight of the day was to get back outside, rain or no rain, with his family and his rugby mates

Beach games are of course a brilliant alternative to the formal first dance and disco.  For this couple, it was nature and fresh air all the way, as a superb way to bring friends and family together, although this might not be quite everyone's perfect idea of a big hug...

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Don and Kayan's Glamourous Westminster Pre-Wedding Shoot

Most brides wouldn't dream of letting their groom see them in their wedding dress before the big day, but in Asia, pre-wedding photography is hugely popular. 

Pre-wedding shoots see brides and grooms pose together in their wedding finery before walking down the aisle, to get perfect pictures, tailored to the couple's exact taste, which there may not be time for on the wedding day itself. 

Now couples in search of something extra special for their shoot are flocking to the UK to pose alongside famous landmarks or in renowned luxury hotels such as The Ritz.

Don and Kayan, like many Chinese couples, have fond memories of working and studying here in London, and while their call came last minute, and while time was short, we had some fun whizzing around a few favourite places, including a romantic and dramatic start in Green Park, and a quirky long-exposure shoot at Paddington Station.   Along the way, we took in the ubiquitous and inevitable red phone booth, black taxi and, of course Westminster Abbey, Parliament Square, Big Ben and Westminster Bridge.

 

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LIAM AND CHLOE'S SURREY WEDDING - 36 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A SECOND SHOOTER

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LIAM AND CHLOE'S SURREY WEDDING - 36 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE A SECOND SHOOTER

So often, two is better than one....

Liam and Chloe's wedding at the Woodlands Park Hotel in Cobham, Surrey was a marvellous, sumptuous and romantic affair and a day that entailed some complications in regard to groom and bridal prep.  Chloe decided that a second shooter would be a big bonus, to at least ensure some documenting of groom prep.   It's a choice many couples make, and while many photographers love to work solo, it made me think, what exactly are the plus points to hiring a second shooter.  So here they are, the 36 reasons why you should.

Like myself Susie shoots solo a lot, but there are times when a couple want the best and the most coverage they can get from a day.   Surely one is enough? You may ask.  Well here is some of what you might not get without a second shooter. 

 

1.  You get more shots of the venue.  While your principal photographer is busy documenting your day and how gorgeous you look, your second is free to shoot your lovely venue

2.  Groom prep.  Sometimes logistics dictate your photographer would have to be in two places at once.

3. Details, details, details

4. Your groomsmen get to act like they’re on an album cover

 

5. Shots you wouldn’t expect.

6. Giant chess games.  Now that you don’t often expect to get in your wedding album.

7.  you get the groomsmen being fussed over by the groom's mother...

8... you get the GROOM being fussed over by the groom's mother

9... and when Mum is done with them, you get the groomsmen trying to be all tough and reservoir dogs...though I have to admit, they do look kind of cool and rat pack here


10. extra reportage-style moments

11. That sweet moment caught in a second angle.  While your principal photographer is waiting at the end of the aisle, your second is ready to catch that glimpse of bridal anticipation.

12. The view from the back of the aisle

14. We don’t do 13, it’s unlucky, right.  14 is like 12 but closer in

15. The guarantee of the kiss.  It rarely happens, but what if your principal photographer had a camera misfire?  What if that perfect position suddenly became obscured.  You have insurance that your second shooter could still grab the all-important moment.

16. Time.  Your principal photographer usually takes this shot, but what if he or she would prefer to plan ahead the shots to come?

17.  A second shooter means no rushing past you to grab this angle from your principal shooter.

18. A different angle.  This confetti shot won’t have been the best, but it’s still a lovely moment. 

19.  Extra coverage.  This group shot was requested to be from the balcony.  But here, Chloe and Liam also got it covered at ground level.

20. Guest shots.  While your principal photographer is setting up the all-important formal shots and portraits, your second is free to document who was actually there that day. 

21. Silly shots.  You might not want an unplanned group shot with photobomb, then again, like me, you might look back and laugh. 

22. Candid shots. Lots of extra candid shots.

23. moments when guests were off their guard.

24. and unexpected, tender moments. 

25. The view from the other side of the table.

26. Extra bromance – there’s no love like the love between groom and groomsman

27. When tears turn to laughter; a wedding is a highly-charged emotional day, and capturing that fully is what we are all about.

28. When laughter turns to more laughter

29. The most badly-played game of chess I’ve ever seen

30. Sunset.  In a perfect world, we would all be shooting bridal portraits when the sun is setting like this.  Sometimes, due to the order of the day, it just isn’t possible.  We don’t argue with the order of the day.  But it’s still nice to document a pretty sunset

31. When guests go large.

32. Another lens on that all-important first dance

33. Because there’s always room for another photographer, right?

34. Making sure you don’t miss a single moment.

35. Including those moments where you wonder, who is saying what, who is thinking what, what exactly is going on right now?

36. Making the most of every kiss, because that’s what it’s all about.

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KATIE AND SIMON'S COLCHESTER WEDDING

Any wedding is fun, especially when there are Greek Cypriot relatives involved...

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Katie and Simon ensured their wedding was relaxed and fun by being – yup, you guessed it, super-organised.  That isn't to say there wasn't a little bit of wedding day nerves...

Many young couples favour organising their own wedding, rather than relying on a wedding planner or parents.   For some, this can mean a day of anxiety and hard work, for others it means the day works exactly as they want it.  

And so it was that, having kicked off in the pub, Simon sauntered down to Colchester Town Hall with his best man without a care in the world, happy and confident in the May sunshine.  Not a hint of nerves. 

Until he found himself at the aisle and awaiting his beautiful bride Katie.  And then the traditional butterflies were unleashed.

Katie arrived well on time, looking radiant in white, with enough time to grab a few portraits outside the town hall with her bridesmaids and her father. 

The ceremony passed without a hitch, of course, and everyone ambled down past Colchester’s   Castle Museum for some affectionate and at times hilarious group shots outside the Hollytrees Museum.

 

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Then it was on to a relaxed reception at the Minories Art Gallery where, instead of a formal sit-down wedding breakfast, Katie and Simon had opted for the laid-back garden party atmosphere of an al-fresco buffet.

Any wedding is fun when there are Greek Cypriot relatives involved.  After the final speeches and the cutting of the cake, as the afternoon turned to evening,  the party atmosphere really took off, with a DJ and garden lights. and with a traditional Greek Wedding Dance where guests could pin money to the bride’s dress.

 

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Neal and Emily's London Engagement

A month before Christmas I was shooting Neal's head shots, complete with beard for his upcoming audition for BBC drama Peaky Blinders.  "I'm getting married, you want to do our pictures?" I grinned.  "Of course I do, Neal. Can I do you some free engagement pictures too?"

 Neal being an actor and Emily being a model and a dancer, I was truly blessed with a couple of gorgeous, and gorgeous-looking people happy to let me experiment and hike them for miles along the Thames.  We started out at Tower Bridge.

Taking in City Hall, or as we Londoners call it 'Boris' House'.

The most wonderful part of an engagement shoot, is how you get to know your couple, discovering not just their 'best side', not just how to pose them and to light them, but also what they're like as people.

Finding out what makes a couple tick, what they are about, and what they saw in each other that made them want to get married, is the most crucial part of a photographer's role.  Because then you see the true depth of their feelings and of their personalities. 

Somewhere as historic and beautiful as London, sometimes the challenge can be not to allow the backdrop to overwhelm the story of their love.  This is why, when we set up on Millennium Bridge, with St Paul's Cathedral in the background, I chose to light them in contrast to their setting.

While at Bankside, outside London's Tate Modern gallery, the moment was far more important than anything going on around them. 

And of course, that moment, isn't always about kissing and hugging, but about capturing the joy and fun that couples who are truly in love know.  Here at the London Eye, one of the more challenging locations to photograph at when the light is going, we caught a couple of our favourite candid moments.

Having dragged poor Neal and Emily virtually the length of London's South Bank, it seemed only right that we should grab some last pictures on historic Westiminster Bridge. 

And who could fail to feel the romance of Big Ben lit up behind you and reflecting across the Thames on a cold winter's evening?

And as our grand finale to a busy four hours of shooting, we braved the tourist crush of Westminster Bridge to film our iconic long exposure engagement portrait of Emily and Neal, featuring Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament and even a fleeting red london bus!

I absolutely cannot wait to photograph Neal and Emily's wedding day at London's iconic Finsbury Town Hall in June.  What a charming and beautiful couple!

 

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CATRIONA & TOBY'S KENT ENGAGEMENT SCOTNEY CASTLE

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CATRIONA & TOBY'S KENT ENGAGEMENT SCOTNEY CASTLE

Or... How You Should Never Say Never Work with Children and Animals.

It's been quite a year for National Trust engagement shoots, which for me, being a Londoner, is quite a treat to get out and about in the countryside.  Catriona and Toby are both avid walkers and even more avid dog-lovers, and this was my first shoot incorporating dogs AND romance.  Despite the "never work with children and animals" maxim, I thought, what fun, what could possibly go wrong.  Of course things might have gone wrong, but in fact on the day, their two spaniels were so lovely and well-behaved I only wish I'd tried some more experimental shots.  As it is, a sweet afternoon of walking and relaxing was had by all at Scotney Castle. 

As a bit of a warm up - although to be honest an engagement shoot is in itself a warm-up - Mum took the dogs for a little walk while I took Catriona and Toby down to the Folly to get used to the camera.  Not everyone likes to indulge in endless selfies and not everyone is comfortable with the idea of a photographer.  But they know they'll need to be when their wedding day comes.  So of course an engagement shoot is a great way to not only get to know each other and what works best, but also to learn to relax a bit in front of the lens. 

And so, enter the pups, and what a cute pair they were.

I know spaniels are pretty easy going, but these two, they were just so cute and laid back.

Despite the glorious sunshine that marked the start of this lovely Kentish autumn day, by the time we had actually arrived at Scotney Castle, the clouds were massing overhead.  Sometimes when this happens, it's hard to resist going a little gothic.

The house which was built to replace the Old Castle in the first half of the 19th Century is known as Scotney New Castle, and is a wonderful example of Tudor Revivalist style.  So not really gothic at all, except perhaps when the dark lowering clouds mass overhead and the photographer's imagination runs a little too far away with itself...

For those wondering if the poor dogs had been left to go feral, I probably should add here the best piece of advice I can offer anyone considering an engagement shoot with their dogs;  bring a friend or a family member along who is happy to take the dogs for a break so the two of you can also relax and pose a little for the camera.  Taking advantage of a small break, we took a quick tour of the gardens. 

We were treated to the most amazing array of autumn colours.  The gardens at Scotney Castle were designed by Capability Brown with rhododendron and azalea competing with Wisteria and old English rose.   Autumn is beautiful, but Spring is an absolute symphony of colour.

We retrieved the little retrievers and took them for a last photo tour of the gardens.  

With the sun determined not to come back out again, and with the gates soon to close on the castle, we took a last tour of the old castle, which dates back to the fourteenth century.  And to lift things a little, I brought out some handy lights, at first as a portrait key light to lift Cat and Toby out of the November gloom.

And then more dramatically - and this is one of my favourite cheats with using a flashgun with radio trigger - I created some fake sunlight behind them.  While in reality we were halfway to darkness, see how the remote flashgun light highlights them and wraps round them, as if it were the dying rays of the sun through the bushes behind and picks out the golden autumn colours in the leaves.  Much prettier than a flat near-dark grey early evening. 

Because every lover's kiss deserves a bit of sun-dappled romance, even if it is courtesy of the hard-working photographer.  Thanks for a great day Toby and Cat, looking forward to the big day next year!

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MEERA AND HUSSEIN'S SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT - OR HOW I ALMOST DIED SHOOTING A PROPOSAL

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MEERA AND HUSSEIN'S SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT - OR HOW I ALMOST DIED SHOOTING A PROPOSAL

So let's make one thing clear, this was the most fun I've had on a friday lunchtime ever, ever ever!

So my very good friend Holly Poulter at Join the Revelry dropped me a line.  Was I free to shoot a secret surprise proposal in Hyde Park?  Without hesitation, except to double check my diary, I said yes, and here's where the craziness started. 

City banker Hussein had approached Bernadette at Dream Occasions,  together with Holly, to come up with some ideas and help organise a romantic treasure hunt proposal event across London.  The big thing, he said, was to make it a surprise.  

After an excited brainstorm, and finding out all of Meera's favourite things, it was on to the planning.

On the morning of the proposal, Hussein's brother collected Meera from her Mayfair apartment under the pretence of going to a meeting.  Instead, he gave her the first treasure hunt clue scroll - along with a single rose from Phillippa Craddock flowers, and an Artisan Du Chocolate box.

The next surprise stop was at Meera and Hussein's old apartment in Knightsbridge, just behind Harrods, where Bernadette was waiting with the next clue, and another flower. 

So far, so romantic.  And what could be more fun than being dragged away from your work in the sunshine to be taken on a whirlwind treasure hunt mystery?    

But what, I hear you asking, does this have to do with the photographer having a near-death experience?

Because, chasing them across London like a crazy fool, on a motorbike, camera bag swinging from his side, swerving and battling the insane city traffic of Hyde Park Corner and Marble Arch, was our intrepid photographer, shooting the whole event like a paparazzi, with telephoto lens and ninja stealth skilz.   At least my younger friends might put it that way.  "You're too old for this lunacy", is how my wife put it.  But what fun, what thrills, dodging the insane cab and bus drivers of the capital on a glorious Autumn afternoon, to capture the special moments of two young people in love.

Ooops!  Looks like Meera spotted me, right?  By then, of course, we were at location three and it was pretty clear what would happen next.  Hussein's brother drove her on to Hyde Park, with me just a little ahead of them on my bike, and Holly and Bernadette of course, already way ahead of them, waiting with flowers and message cards. 

As Meera got out of the car at the park, in the glorious October sunshine, Hussein was there to greet her with a bouquet of enormous pink roses and hydrangeas - her favourite colour.   They walked towards the fountain in the dramatic Italian Gardens, where Bernadette and Holly had cleared the space from tourists to create a beautiful backdrop for the proposal. 

Hussein got down on one knee and pulled out the ring to ask the all important question.

.... and though by now it must have been clear what we were all up to, still you could see that somehow it still really WAS a wonderful romantic surprise for Meera!

And of course, it needn't be said, but Meera did say Yes!  Congratulations to you both Meera and Hussein, and congratulations on your forthcoming wedding day!

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Steph and Pete's Greenwich engagement shoot

We had such high hopes, discussing picnics and the sun kissed backdrop of the O2 Arena and Greenwich Park.  How lovely, we thought, it would be to wander amidst the dappled sunlight, past the Observatory, taking a tea by the Thames with a light spring breeze wafting our hair.  Instead we got...

 

.... a shivering couple, huddling together for warmth beneath a lowering Gothic sky, as the tyrant photographer coerced them into kissing.  We were at least blessed with a beautiful location, the wonderful Greenwich Naval College, with all it's history, it's marvellous architecture.

And clearly Steph and Pete didn't mind too much having to kiss a bit. Hopefully it wasn't just in order to keep warm...

though I think you can tell from these pictures, that this is one couple who are truly in love

One of the best things about shooting weddings and engagements, is meeting couples who are so comfortable and happy with each other, who are building a life together in harmony and  hope.

Can't wait to shoot their wedding at St Mary's Church in Barnes and the reception at the London Wetland's Centre in May.  And with luck, the weather will be a little warmer and dryer.  

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SAMMY & CRAIG'S SPRING ENGAGEMENT, VIRGINIA WATER

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SAMMY & CRAIG'S SPRING ENGAGEMENT, VIRGINIA WATER

I met Sammy and Craig in a teeming bar in London's Paddington Basin development.  Despite the terrible January weather, or maybe because of it, the bar was jammed full of people to the rafters. Amidst the yelling and laughing and the loud music and the swell of human bodies, this beautiful young couple seemed to be able to separate themselves from the craziness and the hubbub, as if they existed in their own little world of peace and affection.  

It's important to meet a couple  before you take on shooting their wedding.  Wedding photography is a very personal and often intimate relationship.  If you don't get on, if there is no chemistry, then you can be sure that will be reflected in the day, and in the final pictures.   I have yet to meet a couple and not hit it off with them, and Sammy and Craig were no exception to this, their warmth and easy relaxed manner being something I knew would be reflected in their e-shoot. 

Part of any shoot is about posing.  You can't just say to a couple: "sit there and be yourselves, stand there and snog".  But there are times, as with Sammy and Craig, when a couple has that easy, relaxed way about them, when the natural affection just comes across, and then it is best to let them be themselves and to just gently, subtly place them in the right settings.

With, sure, just a little direction, here and there. 

We chose to shoot the engagement in Virginia Water, a lovely little town which takes it's name from the lake in Windsor Park nearby.   Nestled between Windsor, Ascot and Sunninghill in leafy Surrey, it is best known for the park, woodlands and waterfall that enfold the lake and is Crown Estate property. 

As well as the famous totem pole, which we didn't have time to get to, there are also historic Roman Ruins - originally the remains of a three-thousand-year-old Phoenician city known as Lepcis Magna which were given to George IVth as a gift.   While once, they would have made an amazing, atmospheric backdrop to any shoot, they are now fenced off, making them a nice enough background, but not quite the photographic wow factor we were looking for. 

Still, the sun was shining.  We had been gifted that rare and beautiful thing, a perfect English spring afternoon.  So we grabbed a few natural shots at the ruins, and made our way to the waterfall. 

A magnet for tourists, not just from the UK, but all over Europe, the waterfall at Virginia Water gave us that fantastic glittery light, with some gentle shady spots where Sammy and Craig could relax in each other's arms while I coped with vertigo and tourists.  

Many might think that a crowded tourist attraction is the worst place to shoot in, particularly as these shots were taken on the little bridge directly in front of the waterfall, and on a path deeply trodden by almost anyone who comes here.  In fact, it's probably the best way a couple and their photographer could warm up for the public marathon appearance that is their wedding day.  If you can relax with your photographer, and be at ease in front of the camera in public, then that bodes very well for your big day, when you may well be appearing in front of hundreds of people. 

As you can see Sammy and Craig had little trouble relaxing in front of the camera, and this may be in part down to the choice of lenses.  Unlike a lot of photographers, I carry a 70-200 portrait zoom, which means I can work at a slighter greater distance from my couples when necessary, which helps them feel the session is more discrete, more relaxed, and gives them space to laugh and love.   Also, I am a firm believer that every shoot should be fun.  Whether it's a couple shoot, a wedding shoot, or a high-end corporate or commercial shoot, there should be fun and laughter. 

So there you have it, a simple mix of two people in love, of black and white and colour, of horsing around, and just walking had in hand.   No forced poses, no awkward, constrained set-ups, no crazy complicated lighting, and absolutely no stress.  What every shoot should be - an easy mix of joy, fun, love and laughter.  Thanks Sammy and Craig for a great afternoon, can't wait for the wedding day at the Royal Berkshire Hotel.  Gonna be amazing!

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Group shots - what to do, and how to have fun with them

The formal group shots.  Something every wedding photography moans about.   You have to organise all these people intent on having fun somewhere else, determined to chat, to get drunk, to socialise, to congratulate, to cop a crafty snog, or nip off for a sneaky smoke.  Goddamnit, these people are here to be photographed, not to have fun, right?  

Wrong. 

They're here to have fun.    People want to look their best and act their best, and of course they've come to wish the bride and groom a lifetime of fulfilled dreams, love and happiness.  But they've also come to have a laugh, to meet old friends and new, to let their hair down and enjoy themselves.  And part of a photographer's job should be not just to not get in the way of that fun, but to add to it. 

While some weddings can be chaotic when it comes to formal group portraits, it is crucial to have an idea of what you want, so that time isn't wasted herding your friends and family with a megaphone.  (In the wedding below, the best man actually used one!)

Every wedding is different and should be as you want it.  My only recommendation would be to try to keep things to a sensible limit.  We photographers want to document a day of love and fun and we want you to have fun, rather than be worrying about the 53rd set of formal shots of your third aunt twice removed.  

With this in mind, as a help to all couples, I have put together a simple template of which groups are good to include, though, as I say, the choice is always yours. 

Bride and Groom and Brides parents

Bride and Groom and Grooms parents

Bride and Groom and both sets of parents

Bride and Groom and Bridesmaids

Bride and Groom and Bestman/ushers/suits

Bride and Groom Bridesmaids, Bestman/ushers/suits

Large group shot

Bride and Groom and any special family members.

and remember - have fun!

 

Which isn't to say formal group shots should all be wacky, ad-hoc, crazy affairs.  More often than not, the ceremony and the gathering call for refinement, formal composition and a respectful portrait of family and friends. 

 

But this shot, lit and composed and shot at the wonderful One Whitehall Place in London's Westminster embankment is a great example of the opportunity a group formal portrait offers a photographer to get creative.  When nervous planners are urging you to "just pop out in the park" or grab a few shots on the stairwell, it is often too tempting to take the quick and easy option, rather than to see that something more challenging will result in something more rewarding.  Here I lit with two small flashes behind and a studio portrait soft box in front and arranged the family in the Gladstone library to create a Downton Abbey look, perfectly in keeping with the assured and sophisticated mood of the day. 

Which isn't to say the grand, sweeping staircase of One Whitehall Place shouldn't also get a look-in when it came to the group shot.  In fact it was ideal for placing all of the guests in a sumptuous surrounding.

And there are other times when circumstances force you to have a bit of fun and jazz things up.  We all pray the day will be wonderful and sunny, but as Brits, we are also philosophical to know that those rain clouds are never far away.  So it was with Heather and Sam's Dartmouth wedding. It rained ALL DAY LONG!  And it is then, at a beach-party wedding, when a photographer, has no real alternative to shooting outdoors, that the last thing anyone needs is a stiff pose and a long face. 

Although, I have to confess, the most fun I've had to date, was shooting the group shots at London's Zetter's Town House in Clerkenwell, at the reception held for Jerome and Rosie after their Islington Town Hall Wedding.  Having arrived breathless with excitement on a classic route master bus, and eager to party on at The Artisan Clerkenwell, Jez and Rosie were more than happy nonetheless to give a little time and creativity to their group shots.  The only challenge being that the outside of The Artisan is really just a courtyard.  As Jez had stayed the night before in Zetter's, they kindly let us shoot in their townhouse club, with the proviso that we were quick.  For a Saturday night, the townhouse was blissfully quiet, and so we snuck in, at first with the idea of merely shooting some classic, stylish and contemporary group shots.  

And then this happened.

Jez and Rosie, and their family were immediately game for some fun.  They're a fun and funky bunch and responded to every whacky idea with an eager grin.  "No, we don't want stuffy posed pictures, do whatever you want", they said. "Dangerous words", I said.  "Bring it on", they replied. "Do Charlie's Angels", I said.  And this is what I got.   

"Now all have a terrible family fist fight, really try and kill each other", I urged, as, so naturally you do at a wedding.  And this is what I got. 

This image makes me smile every time I see it, front lit with a studio soft box, a little kicker backlight from a flash on the floor, and light coming in from the window, but most importantly, a wonderful, fun-loving family, all game for a laugh.  

Of course, not every formal group shot can or should be like this.  But sometimes, you wish maybe just a few more were. 

So that is probably the long and the short of it - keep it simple, keep it intimate, keep it fun. Try not to squint (we do try and shoot in shade, and if there isn't any then we battle with the sun behind you)

and please, not too many this big:

 

and smile, don't forget to smile x

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