This was Clare and James' gorgeous winter wedding party at the grand Ill Bottaccio in Kensington, London. It was a crisp bright morning and I walked across Hyde Park to the studio where the girls were getting ready. The late ceremony meant that it got dark soon after the wedding but there was enough time to get a few shots on the street before the party got started. I have known Clare's family for about 10 years and so it's always such a joy and a proud moment to be so closely involved in a wedding like this.
Cat and Nick were guests at a wedding I photographed a couple of years ago in Tunbridge Wells - Katie & James - and contacted me last year to cover their wedding. I finally got a chance to see them again only a month ago when I went to photograph their engagement shoot at The Beacon Pub where they first met when working there as students. After the ceremony at St Mary's Church, Speldhurst near Cat's parents house we headed to Mountain's Country House in Hildenborough to be greeted by Cat's ex race-horse Merry. It was a beautiful day with wonderfully relaxed people and an outstanding best man speech!
I had the wonderful privilege of second shooting for the very talented international wedding photographer Nisha Ravji back in January and February in New Zealand. She got in touch with me back at the start of 2013 and floated the idea of us working together, which we have subsequently done in both London and New Zealand now. She has taught me so much both about life and photography and she continues to inspire me daily. When she told me about this wedding I jumped at the chance to second photograph for her - Ryan and Annelise are obviously absolutely gorgeous, the wedding took place in Annelise's family garden and it was like a fairytale. Such a fun wedding to photograph and I love shooting outdoors - beautiful light, space and the atmosphere is just so relaxed.
In my quest to add a few more destination weddings to my list of those around Europe and Scotland I jumped at the chance to have the opportunity to visit and photograph some weddings in New Zealand with my good friend Nisha Ravji. When she messaged to say she had found a wedding for me to shoot I was over the moon. After chatting over Skype Tasha and Andrew, both jockeys now living and racing in Macau, they booked me for their outdoor wedding at Belsaas Estate; a kiwi fruit orchard near Auckland. I’ve shot all sorts of weddings but I have to say that these two were quite possibly the most relaxed couple I have photographed! The whole day and the photography went so smoothly. Maybe it’s something about being in the outdoors – and not facing the craziness of the British weather (the last wedding I did before leaving the UK was in a horrendous downpour and gale force winds!). I’ve now got a real taste for destination wedding photography!
