On a wedding day my passion lies in taking a documentary photography approach to capturing real, un-posed moments that can tells the true story of both the day, and the people involved...
This is one of a series of my favourite photographs, along with the story behind them to show why these authentic moments mean so much to both me and my clients, as well delving slightly into my 'photography nerd' side to look at why they work as photographs... consider it an alternative to the 'epic' wedding shots that social media tends to prefer... I did think I might struggle to find q first photo before remembering this one - which is meaningful to me both professionally and personally - as it's my niece/god-daughters wedding... From a cursory glance it's an aesthetically pleasing black and white candid shot of four people dancing - from a story-telling basis it's the bride and groom, Kavina & Christy, enjoying a moment of togetherness, lost in each others eyes, on the dancefloor - they appear totally relaxed - understandably so after all their planning came together in an amazing day! Kavina is even, subtly, drawing attention to her wedding ring with her slightly raised left hand... equally as important, and the focus of the shot - photographically at least - are Ursula & Mark, mum & dad of the groom positioned slightly in the background... There's an element of symmetry in that they are also dancing closely but at the moment of the photo Ursula steals a glance at her daughter & new son-in-law, and her pride writ large on her face... So the father of the bride, is looking & smiling at the mother of the bride, who is looking & smiling at the bride, who is looking & smiling at her new husband... On another level of story-telling the two, not dissimilar looking , couples one at the start of their marriage & the other (to out it delicately!) a wee bit further along - but both equally as happy... I did warn you I was going to nerd out! If you’re read this far and are looking for a wedding photographer who values real, unscripted moments over staged portraits, I’d love to hear from you...
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This page features a selection of candid weddings, as well as my family, event and business photography work. You will get an idea immediately by looking at these posts about how I shoot weddings. My passion is to create genuine, authentic photographs that tell the story of your wedding day, family, business or event. I hope you enjoy what you see. Latest WeddingsAre you looking for a Documentary Wedding Photographer? If so, please have a look at my approach or contact me to check availability Family, Business, Creatives & Event PhotographyAre you looking for family, event or business photography? If so, please contact me to discuss your needs Sheila & John got exactly what they were hoping for on their wedding day - a heartfelt ceremony followed by laughter-filled moments with their closest family and friends; a day that was relaxed, genuine, and full of love set against the beautiful backdrops of Derry's Guildhall & Bishops Gate Hotel - both decked out in their Christmas finery - it was an honour to capture it for them...
My day started documenting Sheila and family making their final preparations at home in Strabane (without Luna & Harvey who'd made themselves scarce for the day!) prior to their short drive to Derry for the high-noon ceremony. I love photographing at this time of a wedding as it's a chance for everyone to get used to my presence and for me to let them know I'll work around them, rather than vice-versa (including videographers like Andrew, Milltown Digital Media whose approach to the day blended seamlessly with my own) On my arrival at the Guildhall John was greeting the close family and friends who were gathering for the Whitaker Suite ceremony & subsequent drinks reception - with Celtic Wedding Harps aka Lucia McGinnis providing the musical ambience. This gave me a great chance to capture the rising excitement, and the wee bit of nerves that start to build as the ceremony draws closer. It wasn't long before Sheila arrived & made the dash through the rain under the safety of the Mercedes Wedding Car Hire Ireland supplied umbrellas! Who were on standby again afterwards when it was time to move the party from the Guildhall to Bishops Gate Hotel, for the wedding meal, while the December rain decided to make a prolonged appearance - my shot of the weddings car driving along Bishops Street towards the venue wasn't so much planned as serendipitous as they passed me as I briefly sheltered under a shop canopy!) Since their big day Sheila & John have very kindly provided with me with lovely feedback - which really reinforced my love for my relaxed, documentary-driven approach to wedding photography.. in their words - "As soon as we found your Instagram page we knew you were the photographer for us. We love your documentary style We are very quiet and don’t usually like our photos being taken, but as soon as we met you, we felt so comfortable. We were worried any potential photographer would not capture us as people, but you did it so well — you can see how we’re so ourselves in the photographs." "You worked so hard and put so much attention to detail, but it never felt that a camera was there. It made the day extra special, and we could relax knowing you were capturing memories we will have forever." "The rain never stopped us, and we love the lighting and photos the weather helped you create. We’re so in awe of how you captured everyone just how we know them. The laughter, fun, and love we all share as a family comes through in the photographs. As we sat going through them, we could remember what was being said and the fun we had. "You were so friendly and professional and made the day a breeze. We are so happy with our photos thank you so much " If you’re planning a wedding — big or small — and want photos that feel like you, I’d love to hear from you. |