Group Shots

Group shots seem to have gained a bad reputation recently as something that needs to be done at a wedding but that nobody really wants to do! I don't quite understand this and love some of the group shots that I've taken. They don't have to be really formal and boring and they don't have to be overly posed and attempted-quirky. Here are some examples of different approaches to group shots;

        

Nervous Couples

All couples want their photographs to be the best they can possibly be ... and all couples tell me they hate having their pictures taken and that they are nervous of being in shots where it is just them 'posing'. There are many ways around this potential problem and I hope that I can help ease those feelings. Here  is a shot that I love of a couple who were so lively in front of camera if other people where around, but were very nervous when alone. 

Candid Wedding Photography 2

More candid photography from a recent wedding.

Candid Wedding Photography 1

One of may favourite parts of shooting a wedding is to stand back from the guests and shoot them in a candid manner. The meal is a very good time to do this as everyone is talking to friends and 'otherwise engaged' so if the photographer does a good job, the images should look natural, intimate and often fun.

Matt & Charis: A small, intimate civil ceremony

Matt and Charis were married in Harrogate registry office. It was a small, intimate, close family and friends affair that was personal and very relaxed. I approached this wedding by trying to match the atmosphere and the intimacy of the images that I shot. I love the look on Charis' face as she realises the impact of what has just happened and she now has the signed proof! 

Church and Civil Ceremonies: Natural Light Photography

An important aspect of shooting weddings that a photographer has to take into account is that often they will be taking shots in relatively low light. Inside a church is a great example of this scenario. To the eye it seems that there is plenty of light but camera's are far less sensitive to light than the human eye. Added to this, I am often asked not to use a flash inside the church or place of worship by the presiding officials. As this is a concern for some clients I thought I would share with you some images taken in a very dark church in Leeds. I had been asked not to use flash on this occasion. What I did do was use specially designed, high quality (and very expensive) lenses that allow more light into the camera and make the most of the available light.

This is also important for civil ceremonies too as registry offices and hotel / country house locations are rarely well lit. The registrars at these ceremonies often allow flash photography but if it is possible I prefer to use natural light for the ceremony as it reduces harsh and artificial looking shadows.

The result of the way I approach this is very natural looking images I hope you will agree.

My First Wedding

Here are 5 shots from my very first wedding. This was shot about 4 years ago down on the South East coast of England and was a beautiful service in a Cathedral with a full choir which the groom was usually a part of. 

These shots show a number of photographic approaches including classic portraiture, event photography and modern reportage. The couple wanted some posed family shots too which the uppermost image shows. They wanted these shots to not be too formal, the gale force wind that I had to put up with on that day really helped with this last request.