It’s 2018! …and with that it’s the New Year….
I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions.
Invariably on past experience I seem to be far less likely actually do anything I make a New Year’s Resolution for. So I’m certainly not making a resolution to blog more…but I’ve got a pretty great amount of wonderful weddings from last year that I’d love to share with you, I’ve got some tips and tricks for amateur photographers and professionals alike that might be of interest, and I’ve got some general plans for a few nice little articles here and there.
Before I go any further I’d love for you to see my summary of 2017; check out this post for my 2017 wedding photofilm.
As we dive into the year in more detail now, let’s talk about Keris and Ben’s fantastic wedding from Manor by the Lake last Spring.
Manor by the Lake, Cheltenham | Wedding Photography
I’ve mentioned before on numerous occasions that Manor by the Lake is one of my favourite venues to work at. I’m based in Cheltenham just a short drive away from the Manor. It’s truly amazing how tucked away the venue is. It’s a little oasis of stunning grounds hidden almost in plain view. The venue itself is a sight to behold, but the staff are what make it here. Every wedding there runs like clockwork. The staff are highly efficient, professional and skilled at what they do. As a photographer this makes my day much easier, but also as a wedding couple it can really take the pressure off.
“As Always, I’m looking for pictures that show emotion”
Keris and Ben’s day started with bridal preparation for Keris in the morning before the ceremony got started. Manor by the Lake has a very photogenic bridal suite, that’s always a pleasure to photograph. As always, when I start the day I’m looking for those pictures that show the emotion, the little flutter of nerves before the ceremony arrives. There are a couple of those moments here that I loved having the opportunity to capture.
“My aim is to spend my time looking for special moments”
Once the bride had made her way down to the ceremony the proceedings got underway and once Keris and Ben had tied the knot they headed straight out for some confetti. Canapés, group shots and couple shots followed. Couple shots are sometimes a bit of a contradiction to the ‘documentary’ niche that I aim for; my aim for the day is to spend the majority of my time people-watching and looking for special moments that the bride and groom might miss while they’re caught up in all the excitement. Couple shots are often a little more posed, but I always say to my clients that the more they ‘interact’ and the less I say, the more natural the pictures will look. Keris and Ben were a real joy to work with throughout the day, but especially at this point they gave off that sense of connection that, as a photographer, you look for at this point.
We headed back inside for the wedding breakfast, speeches and some great evening dancing as the band entertained the guests. A little later we rounded the day off with a few more photographs outside with some of the grounds’ atmospheric evening lighting.
After the day I was very pleased to have some of my work from this wedding featured in ‘Your Glos and Wilts Wedding Magazine’ on two separate occasions.
I hope you enjoy looking through this selection of photographs from the day. All pictures are supplied to my clients in colour and some are also converted to black and white. In short, wherever you see a black and white picture here a colour version was given to the couple too.
If you have any questions about my photography or would like to enquire about your own wedding please don’t hesitate to write me a message on my Contact page.
Cameras: Fujifilm X-Pro 2 (3 bodies)
Lenses: 16mm f/1.4 | 23mm f/1.4 | 56mm f/1.2
Flash: EF-X20 (used in the evening)
