Tori and Caspar (and Tabatha)
At last – a chance to catch up on some of the great venues I visited for the first time last year and I’m going to start with a real cracker.
Bickleigh Castle near Tiverton in Devon impresses in every respect. Run as a family business you’re assured of a personal touch and that makes for a very intimate yet relaxed occasion.
Tori and Caspar took advantage of one of the venue’s special offerings – a very long weekend. They arrived on Thursday, enjoying dinner in the evening with key family guests who were also staying at the Castle. Friday was spent in rehearsal and saying hello to all those who had arrived during the day – with family from Ireland, Berlin and other parts of the globe it struck me as a wonderful way of having more time with people you don’t often see. All too often the day itself just flies by .
Bickleigh Castle near Tiverton in Devon impresses in every respect.
On the big day itself they had two ceremonies, a brief civil ceremony followed by a church service in the attached chapel. It’s tiny, with standing room only for most guests, but amongst the most atmospheric I’ve ever encountered – truly wonderful. The party continued on Sunday, with a large party heading for the beach, whilst others went fly fishing on the Castle’s stretch of river.
This really was a memorable event for all concerned – I can’t wait to go back.
Tags: Bickleigh Castle, Devon, Devon Wedding Photographer, Tiverton, Tiverton Wedding Photographer, Wedding Photographer Devon, Wedding Photography Devon
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12th December, Claire and Brian, Preston Park, Brighton and Pangdean
I photographed Claire’s sister’s wedding on a sunny July Saturday and as a result of my work on that day Claire asked me to photograph her wedding – as I’ve said earlier in the blog 2009 was a wonderful year for the weddings of sisters of previous brides and I always enjoy meeting the family again.
Claire and Brian’s wedding had that wonderful warm winter light that gives photographs that ‘Christmas wedding’ feel – the shots outside the church were stunning, whilst the venue, Pangdean, allowed us to go into the gardens just as the sun was setting.
The main barn had a beautifully decked out Christmas tree which set the scene well and made a good backdrop for the handful of family shots Claire and Brian chose. After a glorious summer wedding for her sister what would Claire make of her pictures in December?
Thank you so much for the beautiful photos – they are absolutely perfect and exactly what we wanted. You have captured the day so beautifully!
“Thank you so much for the beautiful photos – they are absolutely perfect and exactly what we wanted. You have captured the day so beautifully! I am driving Brian mad as I have not stopped looking at them since we got the link, although he secretly loves looking at them too! It brings a smile to my face every time I see them as I think you can see how happy we are and how much fun everyone is having. All our family are thrilled with them….”
Which pretty much encapsulates what I hoped to achieve when I set out to be a different wedding photographer – thank you, Brian and Claire.
Tags: Brighton, Brighton Wedding Photographer, East Sussex, Pangdean, Preston Park, Wedding Photographer in Brighton, Winter Wedding
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3rd December, Gemma and Redmond at Great Fosters
Another return to one of my very earliest wedding venues – I photographed here almost 15 years to the day and on that occasion took studio lights and a softbox to illuminate some family group shots. For these I had a Hasselblad with a waist level finder on a tripod.
Fifteen years later I was working with a selection of digital cameras and a variety of lenses to be able to shoot in low light with virtually no flash at all – and Gemma and Redmond were adamant they wanted no group or set piece shots at all, but instead absolutely everything photographically was to be reportage or fly-on-the-wall, with definitely no posing.
The ceremony room, the Orangerie, is helpfully bright – with glass on two sides it lets you make the most of the light on a December afternoon, whilst the reception area, The Painted Hall, had just – only just – enough light to use no flash for some of the pictures.
Thank you for all your hard work yesterday. Our friends and family commented on what a lovely person you were and how relaxed they all felt with you.
Gemma and Redmond spent the day doing exactly what they wanted, being with friends and family, whilst I was left to capture the day.
They were kind enough to send an e-mail the next day: ‘thank you for all your hard work yesterday. Our friends and family commented on what a lovely person you were and how relaxed they all felt with you’.
I often think this dimension to wedding photography is left out by too many people – you spend a lot of time with your wedding photographer on your wedding day and what he or she might be like to be with is not going to be obvious from ‘shopping around’ loads of websites.
Tags: Egham, Great Fosters, Great Fosters Wedding Photographer, Surrey, Surrey Wedding Photographer, Surrey Wedding Photography, Surrey Wedding Venues, Wedding Photographer in Surrey
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Nicola and Brian, 19th December, Chalfont St.Giles
A wedding in the snow – what could be more romantic or pretty?
Nicola was hoping for snow and on this occasion the weather did not disappoint – the 19th of December was a beautiful crisp day with clear blue skies. The snow that had fallen heavily on Thursday night settled and stayed put for the wedding.
Nicola arrived at the church for a 3.30 ceremony as the sun was setting, casting the whole village in a beautiful warm light. But by then end of the ceremony the sun had gone and I was left with the challenge of using enough flash to see Nicola and Brian clearly but also allowing maximum use of what little daylight was left so that the snow could be seen in the background.
Confetti shots in the dark? The results are really magical and very atmospheric.
There can definitely be a very special magic in weddings just before Christmas and this one had it in spades.
As I drove back to the reception my car helpfully told me the temperature was already minus 3 degrees, not great for battery life, but back at the marquee in the garden you would never have known and a wonderful evening following. There was even just enough light in the marquee to show the ‘stars in the sky’ lights on a black background that formed the ceiling of the marquee.
I was pleased to be asked to stay to photograph the dancing – it added another dimension to the story of the day with its sheer happiness and exuberance. There can definitely be a very special magic in weddings just before Christmas and this one had it in spades.
Tags: Buckinghamshire, Chalfont St. Giles, Christmas Wedding Photography, Wedding Photographer Buckinghamshire, Wedding Photography, Winter Wedding
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Henry has worked closely with a number of the pre-eminent wedding venues in southern England over a number of years, and is delighted to be recommended by them in recognition of the quality of his photographic images and professional, unobtrusive approach to each and every wedding covered.
As a way of helping future brides and grooms choose the perfect venue for their day, Henry has compiled an overview of each of these based on his extensive experience – visitors can learn more about their settings, and what makes each so unique. All of the guides are of course liberally illustrated with a range of favourite images that truly capture the essence of these most special of places.
Read the guides
Tags: Amberley Castle, Clandon Park, Farbridge, Gate Street Barn, Jeremy's Restaurant, Ramster, Upwaltham Barns
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The old cliché is that the sun always shines on a bride, but at the start of Claire and Dan’s wedding the promised afternoon improvement in the weather didn’t appear to be materialising.
Wisely Claire and Dan took the view they were going to have a memorable day, whatever the weather did to them, but there was an audible sigh of relief mixed with joy when as the vows were being exchanged the sun spectacularly emerged. Claire and Dan were keen to get outside for photographs in the courtyard – you can get outside at Ramster as soon as the rain stops and they were rewarded with some great photographs, as well as many of their guests following them.
We’ll be able to look back at them with pleasure over the years to come as they capture the moments and emotions of the day so well …We are both very happy we met you and had the opportunity for you to photograph our wedding
Claire mentioned when I met them that she hated being photographed and it would be hard to get any good pictures of her. This is something I hear from most of my clients – and why I’m particularly happy and pleased with a really good set of pictures. Their verdict? “We’ll be able to look back at them with pleasure over the years to come as they capture the moments and emotions of the day so well …We are both very happy we met you and had the opportunity for you to photograph our wedding”.
Tags: Ramster, Surrey, Surrey Wedding Photography, Wedding Photographer in Surrey, Wedding Photography, Wedding Venues
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When I met Colette and Tim about a year ago it was clear their photography was very important to them.
Colette is a graphic designer and put a great deal of effort into planning every aspect of the day – from the moment I arrived at Gate Street every detail showed that she had come up with a remarkably unified and beautiful vision for the day.
Whilst Tim was very clear about his preference for reportage photography throughout, Colette had sent me some mood sheets with photographs she liked and of a style she would like to see in her own pictures. Help! – not my usual style at all. And there was one other small problem. The ceremony was at 4 o’clock in November – when the light starts fading shortly after 4 o’clock.
These are amazing! We are both so happy with the final results. I know that it wasn’t an easy brief but you really have done an excellent job
I’d thought long and hard about making the best of the light and so used the light just before and just after the service for the elegant ‘contemporary posed’ shots that appealed to Colette and then switched to reportage photography for the rest of the day for Tim’s pictures. The result? “These are amazing! We are both so happy with the final results. I know that it wasn’t an easy brief but you really have done an excellent job”.
My photography has never been and will never be ‘one size fits all’ – each day should be individual and unique.
Tags: Gate Street Barn, Gate Street Barn Wedding Photographer, Surrey, Surrey Wedding Photography, Wedding Photographer in Surrey, Wedding Photographer Surrey, Wedding Venues
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“Dear Henry, you photographed my wedding back in 2000 …now my little sister is getting married in October this year …your photography is just so amazing …I would love you to photograph her wedding.”
You can imagine my reaction to the e-mail – Jo’s wedding was enormous fun, so I looked forward to seeing everyone again. It’s been the year of the sisters – I’ve photographed at least 5 sisters of previous brides this year – and I always enjoy seeing those I’ve photographed at other weddings and in this case to see Jo’s seven year old son and two year old daughter.
Highcliffe Castle – A gem of a Dorset wedding venue
Highcliffe Castle is a beautiful venue, surrounded by immaculate gardens, overlooking the Solent and the Isle of Wight, with steps down to the beach – bridal footwear permitting. The exterior is is magnificent, imposing and beautifully proportioned. It has an added fascination in that the perfect outside hides an interior that was completely gutted by an horrendous fire in the sixties. Rather than being restored, the remaining original details have been left as at the end of the fire, which shows you just how the Castle was constructed in the first place – it’s well worth a visit. The ceremony room has huge windows on three sides – an enormous help for a photographer who avoids flash as much as possible.
The photos are gorgeous thanks so much! I just smiled looking through all of them and it really bought the memories back of the day!
In mid- October you never quite know what the weather will do, but Laura and Richard had sunshine and warmth enough for everyone to be outside and explore the formal gardens – and to have a shot by the old Highcliffe Castle main entrance, which particulalry appealed to them. Laura’s reaction was just what I’d hoped: “The photos are gorgeous thanks so much! I just smiled looking through all of them and it really bought the memories back of the day!”
I couldn’t help reflecting on the changes in ten years – Laura and Richard live in Australia, but unlike ten years ago their pictures are viewable by family and friends across the globe at any time of day or night. Ten years ago there was just one hard copy set of pictures and sometimes it took months or even a year for friends and family to see them.
Thank you Richard and Laura for a great afternoon – see you in Melbourne one day I hope!
Tags: Dorset, Dorset Wedding Photography, Highcliffe Castle, Isle of Wight, Wedding Photographer in Dorset, Wedding Photography, Wedding Venues
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After an unpromising week the sun shone for Matt and Georgina – a glorious day full of Autumn sunshine giving a warm light as the day progressed.
We started with the ceremony at All Saints, Denmead – a very big thank you to the Vicar and Verger for their help and co-operation – and the light meant I could capture the ceremony without distracting the congregation. Although the low level of the sun at this time of year needs handling with care the colours it gives are simply wonderful.
Farbridge, at the bottom of a valley, was bathed in sunshine and every single guest was outside – pretty good for October 10th. Georgina and Matt also had a magician to entertain their guests, in the form of Dominic Reyes. If you have read my earlier posts you’ll know I’ve been photographing weddings for 15 years. Have I seen it all before? After watching Dominic at work the answer was clearly no, he was just fantastic – and Georgina and Matt’s faces show the reactions he gets, a wonderful addition to a truly memorable day.
Tags: Chichester, Chichester Wedding Photography, Denmead, Dominic Reyes, Farbridge, Wedding Photography, West Sussex, West Sussex Wedding Photographer, West Sussex Wedding Photography
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Ana Rosa and Chris booked me well over a year ago but time seems to have flown since they sat opposite me discussing what they would like from their wedding photography.
They had a very philosophical attitude to the weather – whatever will be will be and we’ll enjoy ourselves whatever the weather. In Clandon Park too they had a perfect venue for whatever the weather threw at them – loads of room inside, in elegant surroundings, with lots of possibilities outside if the weather allowed.
In the event it was dry but windy, so Ana Rosa and Chris decided to brave the elements for their group shots – with friends from Spain, Ireland, The U.S.A. and other parts of the globe these were important photographs for them – and for a very brief stroll in the grounds.
I congratulate on their serious preparation, their dancing was clearly thought out and rehearsed, whilst their performance of “We’ve only just begun” was seriously good – great stuff, thank you both.
Tags: Clandon Park, Surrey Wedding Photographer, Surrey Wedding Venues, Wedding Photographer in Surrey, Wedding Photography
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