Pre wedding photo shoot at Highcliffe Castle, Christchurch, Dorset

Highcliffe Castle is such a beautiful location for a wedding, so I was very excited when Amy and James booked me as their wedding photographer. We arranged to meet up again the other day at the castle in Christchurch, Dorset for their pre wedding photo shoot.

James is a bit of a joker so there was lots of funny moments to capture, they are also deeply in love and it was a pleasure to hang out and photograph them. After a stroll around the castle grounds we ventured down to the beach. James was a gentlemen and helped Amy down the rocks, you’ll see what I mean in the photos.

After some tips from James on how to skim stones in the water we walked along the beach and back up the cliff. A Robin decided to come and join us and be part of the shoot. After some tomfoolery on the tree bench we made our way around the other side of the castle to the epic door way for a few more photos.

Had a great afternoon, looking forward to documenting their wedding day in August at Highcliffe Castle. Here are some of my favourite photos from the pre wedding shoot:

Magazine feature and editorial assignment

I was contacted by a London based marketing agency Group FMG to commission an editorial photography assignment for a feature within the Big Issue. The brief was to shoot on location in Bournemouth with a mixture of lifestyle photography and location portraiture.

Here is an edit from the editorial photos:

Reportage and portrait photography in Dorset and Hampshire – a fun day out in the forest

Another instalment of Paul & Jon’s mini adventures. We decided to drive out to the New Forest for a walk and take in some nature. Visiting Lyndhurst we made our way into the forest said hello to some friendly ponies and walked up the hill alongside the Beaulieu Road into the open forest. The photo above features a famous New Forest landmark, Bolton’s bench. I’ve always loved this tree and how it sits on the landscape.

We came across several piles of logs which had amazing texture and contrast in the direct sunlight, had fun documenting these, being creative with different angles and composition.  There were patches of bushes that had been control burned at some point, which made interesting and imposing shapes on the landscape.

This was one of the rare occasions when I let Jon use my camera, you can see from one of the photos a rather disgruntled photographer having his picture taken. As I have mentioned in previous blog posts, it is true I do prefer to be behind the camera.

We popped to Minstead on the way home to see Jon’s Mom for a cup of tea and to say hi to the pigs. There’s a photo taken from her window with some New Forest cows munching in the field. The New Forest is such a lovely tranquil place to visit, with so many animals, you really get to appreciate nature in all its glory.

Using the latest digital technology allows me to capture the world in great detail and clarity, however these digital negatives can appear rather flat and uninteresting. With creative enhancements and film emulation techniques the images become more real, alive and beautiful to look at.

Here are some of my favourite edited photos from documenting our day in the New Forest:

Read all about my documentary wedding photography style and approach.

Creative and fun portrait photography – pre wedding photo shoot

I was delighted when Laura and Grant booked me as their wedding photographer. We arranged a pre wedding photo shoot the other day on the beach in Bournemouth in Dorset. It was a beautiful sunny day but rather windy.

They live in Enfield in North London, Laura requested a beach pre wedding photo shoot as it is something very different from what they are used to, it also provides a fantasitc backdrop for romantic couple portraits.

We met up at the lovely Reef Encounter and talked through all the wedding plans before we made our way to the beach. They brought their dog down for the trip, this was Mr Howard’s first visit to the beach so we were all curious as to how he would react. Very happy to say he had a wonderful time as you can see in the photos and I made another new friend.

Grant and I share a similar view on having our photo taken, its not our favourite activity. I gave him some reassurance that he should be himself and enjoy the walk on the beach with his lovely fiancé. After chatting and walking for a while, taking some candid reportage style portraits, Grant soon warmed up and I was able to get some really nice photos of them and Mr Howard, who kept insisting he was also part of the shoot.

I like to make people feel relaxed and have fun, to enjoy themselves – for me this gets the best results.

The wedding is being held in Chichester with the reception at the lovely Goodwood Hotel. Very much looking forward to documenting their wedding day in August.

Here are some of my favourite pre wedding photos:

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So what is documentary wedding photography or wedding photojournalism?

Read all about my style and approach to wedding photography here.

Commercial photography on location in Dorset

I was contacted by PT anywhere to arrange a promotional photo shoot for use in advertising of their brand, company products and services. The brief was to capture personal trainers in a gym environment training their clients. Lifestyle portraiture and reportage style photography was used to give the images a natural feel and to tell a story.

Here is a slideshow with a few sample images from the promotional shoot:

Please get in touch to confirm availability and take advantage of this amazing offer.

Read all about my reportage and documentary wedding photography style and what happens before and after the wedding.

Fun wedding photos and reportage wedding photography

I love documenting weddings through reportage photography, capturing all the natural moments and real emotion. It is usual however for a couple to request some organised group photos, which is also a nice memento of the day. I have included a few of the fun moments that I captured during the group session and of the couple.

As mentioned in my previous post Luke had arranged access to one of the lifeboats which was a complete surprise for Jade. She was very excited so we took full advantage. The wedding guests were calling out for a Titanic moment!

The couple requested for some of the wedding photos from the day to be made available that evening so they could be displayed on a projector for other guests to see. So I spent sometime editing a nice selection of images during the wedding breakfast ready for the wedding slideshow.

Had a fantastic day, Jade and Luke are a wonderful couple and I wish them well for the future.

Here are a few of the wedding photos taken at the RNLI College in Poole:

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Reportage wedding photography – capturing all the fun of the wedding ceremony

After spending the morning with Jade I made my way over to the RNLI College in Poole where the wedding ceremony was due to take place and met up with Luke and his Bestmen.

The couple and some of their friends have close ties with the water, Jade and Luke both work for a water sports company in Poole. They are the first couple in their friends group to get married, so everyone was rather excited and enjoying their role as part of the wedding.

The wedding car that Jade arrived in was a complete surprise that her friends and family organised. I was sworn to secrecy! It was a touching ceremony with lots of emotions that were expressed by the reactions of the couple and close friends and family. Even the Bestmen were overwhelmed at one point, but thats ok as real men cry too.

Another surprise that Luke had organised was access to one of the lifeboats, so we took full advantage – these photos to follow in the next update of the wedding day story so check back soon..

Here are a selection of my favourite photos from the wedding ceremony at the RNLI College:

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You will still receive the highest quality of service and full package options are available. The discount wedding photographer rates are for wedding ceremonies that take place in Dorset or Hampshire. Special reduced rates maybe available outside of these areas, subject to a small surcharge for travel.

The discounted wedding packages are subject to availability, so get in touch now to check and grab yourself a bargin!

Read more about my wedding photography services here. You can view sample wedding photos in the wedding portfolio page.

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