Should you book an engagement or pre-wedding photoshoot with your photographer? A few reasons why getting comfortable with your photographer and being in front of the camera can work wonders ahead of your wedding.

Even if you have chosen to go in the direction of a documentary wedding photographer, it’s likely you will still want to capture a handful of group photos whilst your family are all together in one place for the day. Here are some of my top suggestions to make the most of the time you have.

A very intimate London wedding at Islington Town Hall in the Lord Mayor's Parlour followed by a cosy reception in The Londesborough Pub in Clapton for Sinead and Alice.

Intimate, emotional and personal - photographs from a small, international London wedding at the iconic Islington Town Hall followed by a lunch for close family and friends after a short walk to The Drapers Arms

It was a huge honour to be chosen by Bhavin and Shivani to photograph their wedding weekend in London. Day one of the wedding was on a chilly but clear day at the Hilton Syon Park.

Wedding photography at Brunswick House for Nancy and Derek, an especially extraordinary wedding with their combined ages of 172! A pleasure to photography their wedding here at Brunswick House.

A glorious summers day wedding for David and Thea at the grand Henley Business School on the banks of the River Thames in Oxfordshire, featuring a mid afternoon boat party and a few wet guests!

September was a busy month for me travelling to weddings in Lisbon, Bordeaux and Santorini and it was amazing to be thrust into new cultures and working with the different lights and backdrops in some of the most beautiful places in Europe. Caroline and Anthony chose a venue local to where they both grew up, Chateau Giscours, for their wedding photography

September was a busy month for me travelling to weddings in Lisbon, Bordeaux and Santorini and it was amazing to be thrust into new cultures and working with the different lights and backdrops in some of the most beautiful places in Europe.  

This was a wedding I've been looking forward to for a while - ever since meeting the utterly charming Alice in Stoke Newington last year.  Not only is she the most natural beauty but she is relaxed, creative and had chosen the most wonderful venues for her wedding.  First up getting ready at The Zetter in Clerkenwell, as photogenic as a hotel can get, and then the short stroll through Smithfields to the oldest church in London, St Bartholemews.  A cavernous space founded in 1123 as an Augustinian monastery.  Having photographed there before I knew that the light and colours are like a painting.   Unusually I attended the rehearsal a few days before to meet the characterful Father Peter who provided the most entertaining and authentic service I've been to in a while.  He made the wedding about Jack and Alice entirely.  It felt incredibly personal and accessible.  Fortunately for October we had a lovely warm day and so walked straight from the church and on to St Johns.  I've never eaten there before so it was a real treat to be seated with the guests and have a chance to enjoy some of Fergus Henderson's renowned food. 

An intimate and personal Hampstead Heath wedding at the beautiful Burgh House followed by a party at The Star in Hampstead.

Spotlight on one of my favourite London wedding venues - Islington Town Hall

I had two almost simultaneous enquiries for this same date in July and had to make a decision but Kate made a very convincing argument as to how much fun and how beautiful a wedding at the Pergola Hill and Garden would be.  Having photographed a styled shoot there before I knew what a fantastic setting it was and so it was decided.

A festive August wedding with intimate ceremony at Chelsea Town Hall and Islamic ceremony at home in Kensington followed by a bright, entertainment filled summer evening.

Now living in New York having moved to be with Bryan, Niamh wanted to have her wedding in London.  The ceremony was an intimate family gathering in Mayfair with drinks reception at The Connaught before a short break and rejoining for a large sit down feast at the extraordinary Petersham Nurseries - one of my favourite wedding venues in London.  As darkness fell the candles lit the glasshouses and the most lavish floral displays.

A colourful central London Nigerian wedding at the very grand St Bartholemew the Great church followed by a music and dance filled reception at Plaisterers Hall

A small and intimate ceremony and celebration with Canadian Elyse and Polish Sebastian who met and fell in love in London and were engaged in Mexico.  They told me they were non-traditional from the start.  He was there to pick out the dress and they started the day with close family and friends at their favourite coffee haunt, Bar Italia, in Soho before the ceremony.   They told me 'we truly are best friends', and I think this comes out in the pictures.