First dances are always special moments, but there’s a real sense of challenge trying to convey a couple that are lost in the moment with one ‘click’ of the shutter.
About 3 weeks ago I was at Priors Tithe Barn in Brockworth for Fiona and Carl’s wedding. I loved it. They were such a great couple to work with and so when a family member played (and sang) the song for their first dance it really put the finishing touch to a brilliant day.
I was editing their images the other day and as I approached the final few this one popped up. I can’t describe why I love this image but in my excitement I emailed a copy over to them. Technically speaking, this was a tricky image to pull off, largely due to the fact that light was very low (as is often the case for first dances) but I felt that flash would ruin the ‘softness’ of the moment. The bride and groom just happened to be in the right place and it was an added bonus for me to have them framed in the doorway at the back, with the arches of the barn keeping the edge of the image tamed (I really wanted to convey the scale of this barn as best possible…it’s big!). The guests all looking on was the icing on the cake. I was pleased to be lucky enough to capture the groom’s wedding ring in the moment too.
I guess it’s just one of those pictures where I felt like each element aligned at just the right time. This is why I love reportage / documentary photography – you can’t pose a moment like this.

This picture is beautiful and just depicts the happy couple lost in their own thoughts. The photographers were amazing, from first thing in the morning at the house, through to the wedding and the venue. I would definitely recommend them.
Thank you for your kind words, Helen! It was such a wonderful day with so many special moments. We felt very privileged to capture it!