Paul photographed our wedding events and we cannot recommend him highly enough. His documentary approach meant that he was able to capture the most special and candid moments in an unobtrusive way. The resulting photographs are art pieces: beautifully framed, dramatically lit and wonderfully creative.
We also greatly appreciated Paul’s kindness throughout the process. He was attentive to our requests, constantly reassuring and made sure that we were always comfortable. To say that we are pleased with his service and work is an understatement, and we will undoubtedly be contacting him for future events.
Rhea and Jamie
When it comes to a wedding venue making a striking and dramatic first impression The Ned in London has to take the top step on that particular podium. This former headquarters of The Midland Bank is testimony to the glory days of the banking industry and the extravagant ground floor makes quite the statement when you first step through the impressive doors.
Coverage of Rhea and Jamie’s wedding celebrations had actually begun the previous evening with an informal gathering of friends and family at Iberica in Marylebone, but for this blog post I’ll be focusing on the main event at The Ned.
Documentary Wedding Photography at The Ned
The day began with guests gathering and mingling on a terrace with spectacular views over the London skyline before moving into the dramatic Tapestry Room for the ceremony where they were entertained by a wonderful string quartet.
Following the ceremony we headed to another terrace with equally impressive views to capture some group shots and a few relaxed portraits of Rhea and Jamie, whilst guests headed to The Saloon to enjoy drinks and live music.
It’s testimony to the incredible staff at The Ned and the first-class organisational skills of Grace Precious of Events with Grace that, while this was going on, the Tapestry Room was completely transformed from a ceremony room to a beautiful dining room such that it was barely recognisable as the same space! I’ll let the photos tell that story.
Speeches and cake cutting followed the wedding breakfast before everyone headed back to The Saloon for a lovely first dance and partying, including a surprise performance by some friends for the Bride and Groom’s benefit.
With all of the days events taking place on one floor of this albeit spectacular venue, this was a wedding celebration ideally suited to my style of documentary wedding photography. I never had to go very far to find a story to tell or moments to capture that I knew would ultimately make for a compelling collection of images for Rhea and Jamie to remember their day by.
Enjoy this selection of images from Rhea and Jamie’s stunning celebrations.
Looking for a documentary wedding photographer to capture the story of your wedding?
You might be interested to know you can reserve your date with me for up to 21 days with absolutely no commitment while you do your research. Click here to find out more.
Radley College in Oxfordshire is best known as a highly respected boarding school for boys, but one late September weekend in 2021 its 800-acre campus and grand buildings also made a stunning venue for the wedding of Georgina and George.
Arriving at Radley College for the first time I was immediately struck both by the expansiveness of the grounds and the grandeur of the buildings. I knew this was going to be a wonderful wedding to photograph.
Amongst its many aesthetic attributes the college boasts an impressive chapel that quite frankly you don’t expect to find in an educational establishment. When I turned the corner and saw it for the first time I was quite taken aback! What a memorable venue to make your vows in!
The weather was overcast but for most of the day the rain held off, which not only meant that the light was perfect for shooting documentary wedding photography, but drinks and canapes could be enjoyed by everyone outdoors amongst the splendid architecture.
It also meant that Georgina and George were able to take a first spin as man and wife in a fantastic open top vintage Jaguar, something that would have definitely been scuppered by the rain!
The beautiful Jaguar XK120 that the bride and groom took a spin in and the impressive marquee that hosted the wedding breakfast, speeches and dancing
By the time the heavens did open in the evening I don’t think anybody really cared! They were all too busy throwing shapes and busting moves on the packed dance floor to the tunes provided by the highly energetic live band.
It was a day and a venue ideally suited to my style of documentary wedding photography and I thoroughly enjoyed being there to capture George and Georgina’s wedding story.
Documentary wedding photography at Radley College
Enjoy this selection of images from Georgina and George’s love and fun filled wedding day
“I can’t recommend Paul enough! He really does have such an artistic eye which is exactly the style I was looking for, but the photos are better than I could have imagined; Paul manages to capture so much in one image, each time I look through the photos I notice more detail that I didn’t the first.
If you’re looking for images that aren’t just the ordinary formal wedding shots but pieces of art then Paul should be your choice. I had my preparations photographed, which I was nervous about, but there was no need, Paul took so many which we didn’t even notice he was taking, he was never in the way.
Throughout the day he was very professional and everyone commented on how good they thought he was. The photos are fantastic and Paul had them ready for when we returned from our honeymoon. The slideshow Paul created is set to some lovely music and one of my favourite songs.
Thank you so much Paul.”
Alice & Ashley
Alice and Ashley’s wedding at Merchant’s Hall in Bristol was a truly memorable celebration, filled with love, elegance, and personal touches. Located in the heart of the city, Merchant’s Hall offered a stunning setting with its beautiful Georgian architecture and grand interiors, creating a sophisticated atmosphere for their special day.
The morning began with capturing Alice’s preparations at her parent’s home, before heading to the venue, where she made a stunning entrance, walking down the aisle in her timeless gown with her father . Ashley, looking sharp in a classic suit, awaited her in the Hall’s bright, welcoming space. Surrounded by their nearest and dearest, the couple exchanged vows, marking the beginning of their journey together.
Documentary Wedding Photography at Merchant’s Hall
After the ceremony, guests enjoyed drinks and canapés in the venue’s beautifully kept gardens, while I took Alice and Ashley for some relaxed portraits with the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge in the background. The afternoon transitioned smoothly into the wedding breakfast, filled with laughter, heartfelt speeches, and delicious food.
The day perfectly captured the blend of classic elegance and unique personal touches that Alice and Ashley envisioned for their wedding. It was a celebration that not only showcased their love but also the beauty of Bristol and the couple’s special connection.
With such a stunning and historical venue, combined with the backdrop of one the UKs most famous landmarks, this was a day ideally suited to my style of documentary wedding photography.
Enjoy this selection of images from alice & Ashley’s stunning celebrations.
Looking for a documentary wedding photographer to capture the story of your wedding?
You might be interested to know you can reserve your date with me for up to 14 days with absolutely no commitment while you do your research. Click here to find out more.
Lucy and Phil came to me through a personal recommendation after being let down by their originally booked photographer. Whatever his reasons, it was certainly his loss as far as I’m concerned. Lucy and Phil were an absolute joy to work with, and their wedding at Aldwick Estate was a beautifully relaxed day filled with love and warmth.
The day began with Lucy’s preparations at a nearby hotel, which was close enough for me to pop over to Aldwick and capture some shots of the guys getting ready too. The ceremony was deeply emotional, with Phil especially moved by the commitment he was making—a touching moment I always love to see.
Although the morning started cloudy and damp, my secret fair weather ritual worked its magic, and by the afternoon, the skies had cleared. I took Lucy and Phil into the vineyards for some relaxed portraits amidst the stunning surroundings.
After the wedding breakfast, guests enjoyed entertainment from the talented singer and guitarist Pat McIntyre, setting the perfect tone before the evening celebrations began with a lively and somewhat louder musical act!
Here are some of my favorite moments from Lucy and Phil’s day.
Planning your wedding at Aldwick Estate? Let me tell the story of your day with creative, stylish images—without it feeling like a photoshoot. Get in touch, I’d love to hear from you!
Whoever said “the camera never lies” probably didn’t fully understand the photographic process. In reality, the camera can do very little except lie, or at least only portray a very small part of the truth.
The very nature of taking a photograph requires that I eliminate virtually everything around me to focus only on what is contained within the confines of the frame.
There is simply no way that the entire “truth” or reality can be captured in one image.
For example, imagine I’m at a party. Everybody is having a great time except for one couple in the corner having an argument. If I choose to photograph that couple and include nothing else in the frame, does that photograph give an accurate impression of the event? No, of course not.
Only if I pull back to include some happy party goers in the shot, some additional context, does the image begin to reflect what the real story was.
How much the camera lies, or how much truth is being told, depends entirely on the decisions made by the photographer.
So, as I see it, a significant part of the art of taking a photograph is in selecting, what, from all the possibilities around me, I choose to include in a single frame to best tell the story of that moment in that location.
How we naturally view photographs
When viewing a photograph you instinctively understand the nature of its limitations. You intuitively appreciate that there was a whole world beyond the bounds of the frame, but you also know that the choice of what to include in that frame is final once the shutter is pressed. Consequently you don’t expend any unnecessary energy trying to guess what might have been excluded. You naturally concentrate instead on what you can see in the frame and hopefully think about what it means and why it was included.
You can (and do) subconsciously draw some conclusions about what could have been out of shot based on our understanding of the world and the way things usually are, but it’s a mental process you’re largely unaware of.
If the photograph was taken indoors for example, you know that somewhere out of shot there was probably a door, a ceiling and a floor. The light falling on a subject’s face might suggest a window just out of shot. But as you can’t know for certain you don’t consciously dwell on it.
Why reflection shots are a key part of my style
My style of wedding photography and what I’m trying to accomplish when documenting a wedding dictates that the process of selecting what to include in the frame when composing an image is always front and centre in my mind.
The telling of the story of any given moment in an artistic and creative way is key to building a cohesive body of work that will have the kind of emotional, storytelling and aesthetic impact I’m aiming to achieve for my wedding clients.
What I include in the frame (and almost as importantly, what I exclude) and how I include it is crucial to achieve the end I’m aiming for.
That’s why one of my favourite compositional devices is to include a reflection in the photograph.
Quite simply, a reflection gives me the option to creatively include within the image something relevant, some additional context, that would normally be unseen outside the frame.
What makes it effective
Including extra information in the form of a reflection is particularly effective because it disrupts that normally subconscious viewing process in two ways.
Firstly, it makes the viewer consciously aware again of the world that was beyond the frame instead of having to just subconsciously construct it.
Secondly, it forces the viewer to ask further questions about what the photograph means and what else might have been happening beyond the frame. In a sense, it adds an extra dimension to an image and slightly breaks the normal expectation of how a photograph should work.
Including reflections in my work has now become such a staple of my wedding photography that I’ve found myself reigning it in slightly in order not to become too predictable and distracted by looking for reflection shot possibilities on the day.
That’s not to say I don’t still love them creating them though. I get a great jolt of creative satisfaction whenever I see a potential reflection shot and then pull it off as I envisioned, and I can’t imagine that ever changing.
Below are a few of my favourite examples of reflection shots from the past few years, some with a brief summary of why I wanted to include it in this selection.
Please feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments section at the end.
The convenient placement of this mirror allowed me to capture the waiting groom and his approaching bride while they were still two rooms apart. A very satisfying twist on a staple wedding photography image.
The left hand side of this image tells you there are some ladies hanging out together. The right hand side tells you why.
Who can read backwards?
How to get the bride and groom in the same shot when one is stood indoors and the other outside.
Most people have to look very closely at this image before they get what’s going on. There’s something about the mirror being held up by the make-up artist that seems to fool people into thinking it’s a tablet. Regardless, this is one of my favourite reflection shots, partly because of the way the reflection completes the story of what’s happening and partly because I recall the speed I had to move to make sure I captured this shot when I saw it happening!
The newlyweds being announced into the wedding breakfast is a wedding photography staple. I spotted the potential to be able to shoot it like this but it relied completely on the bride and groom walking a path that would keep them reflected in the glass. Thankfully they did that and this image instantly became one of my all time favourites.
Without the reflections there would be no human interest in this shot at all. The bride is reflected in the picture frame from the room at the end of the landing but on its own that didn’t really make the shot work. Thankfully, as I was framing it one of the bridesmaids decided to go downstairs and appeared in the mirror on the left to balance things up.