Wonderful Welsh Wedding

On Friday, I photographed an amazing wedding in Wales. A little off my normal beaten track, but it was worth it.

I met Jenny and Rob last year, when I was photographing a wedding in Kilsyth for friends of theirs. I got chatting to them and quickly found how well I was getting along with them. We kept in touch, and in the springtime, Jen asked if I was interested in photographing her wedding.

Given I arrived back from a long drive from Wales on Saturday evening, and spent the entire day on Sunday at a wedding fayre in Dunblane, the images are still in the early stages of editing and clearly not yet ready. But I thought I'd write a sort of diary about all the work I put into each wedding. You might be surprised to hear it starts before the actual day itself!

Tuesday - Three Days Prior to the Wedding
A very busy day, workwise. I have a promotional shoot for a charity I work with. It's in Glasgow, and so I have to charge my batteries and prepare my equipment. I've also got a note of my brief and the details about where I'm going and who I've got to see. After the shoot, I head home. I need to edit these images quickly, to be issued with a press release later that day.

I'm thinking about the wedding at this point. I've got a checklist of things to take with me in my camera bag. I've also ordered extra memory cards, just in case. Batteries and memory cards are one thing that I don't think I can ever have too many of. Not as exciting as some purchases, but absolutely crucial. I start recharging my batteries for my flash guns, and also my camera. In addition, I'm also charging the batteries of my spare back up camera.

Jenny and Rob have also approved a "new" thing I thought I'd use for this wedding - a moodboard. Given the distance, and lack of face-to-face contact, I felt it important to communicate my ideas through images as well as text. They are happy with the ideas of inspiration, which is good. I can then think about planning my images appropriately.

Wednesday - Two Days Prior to the Wedding
Another busy day! I'm driving down south, and staying with my grandmother half-way, overnight. This enables me to break the journey up, and means I'll not feel tired the day of the wedding because of trying to drive all the way to Swansea in one go. My bags are packed, and I've double checked everything. I've even got a range of clothes, as it's warmer in Swansea than it is in Scotland. I've also got a map to my overnight accommodation in Wales, and all the relevant contact numbers and details. I also take some photography books and magazines, and my trusty notepad. My notepad is full of badly drawn stick figures, for ideas of composing images. Its small enough to take with me, and quickly reference at any occasion. Most of the time though, it helps me get composition ideas stuck into my head before the wedding, it's simply a method of memory aid. I leave in the evening, after rush hour.

Thursday - Day before the Wedding
I arrive in Wales, and check in to the Inn I'm booked into for the next two nights. It's only three miles away from the wedding venue. After a shower (it's been a very hot day!) I head over to the venue, where I meet Rob and Jenny who are staying at the venue and have invited me to meet them that evening. Its a gorgeous location - a proper (haunted!) castle. I'm introduced to their family, and afterwards I take a wander round the grounds on my own. It's a new venue, and this time I've not had the opportunity to see it in advance. However, a wander round helps me see places and opportunities for interesting photographs. While Jenny and Rob head out with their family to a local restaurant, I head out for the evening to socialise with some friends in the area. In the evening, I return, and I relax and head straight to bed.

Friday - Wedding Day
Jenny and Rob meet me together - they're not superstitious at all about seeing each other before the wedding! We have a wander, and I take some photographs of the couple at the castle, in their normal clothes. This is just a little fun spontaneous extra we've decided to do. The castle is gorgeous, but there are some places I simply wouldn't ask Jenny to stand while wearing a white dress - however, its a little easier with jeans on.

Everything is set up for the day. The couple are getting married in a theatre in the castle, and the cake arrives. I head with Jenny and Rob to their shared room. Although they don't want preparation shots, I do want to photograph the dress and shoes. Their room is gorgeous - a huge bed with drapes and a canopy. I can't resist photographing the dress hanging over the bed, I think it's a photograph that Jenny will love. She sees what I'm doing, and I think she realises exactly how good it will look. While Jenny and Rob get dressed, I head to the conservatory. I photograph the room where the tables are dressed and set for the wedding breakfast. I take the opportunity to photograph the details, the bride and groom's name plates, the favours, the glasswear, and of course, the cake. It's a good room for light, but I also note that there are certain things I want to avoid in the background, and certain areas where a little extra flash might be required. Although we're surrounded by windows, when it comes to cutting the cake I'll have to use a little flash to avoid the couple becoming a silhouette against the window.

Afterwards, I meet the minister who is conducting the blessing. He's fantastic. I've been very lucky with ministers, vicars, priests and registrars at the weddings I've photographed, and this is no exception. I ask what his policy is on the use of flash, and also where is acceptable for me to be when I'm photographing the couple. His answer is that I can go wherever suits me, and he's fine with me using flash. He's very accommodating and friendly. He realises this is all about Jenny and Rob, and he's more than happy for me to go wherever I can to get the best possible photographs for them. I take some test shots, working out the best settings for light.

The guests start to arrive. They gather into the theatre where the ceremony is being held. I find my spot, and Jenny arrives with her father. She walks down the aisle. I've got two cameras round my neck, each with a different lens. This means I don't need to change lenses half-way through the ceremony, and most importantly, I won't miss a vital shot. Jenny looks incredible. Rob's chest puffs out and he has a broad smile on his face. I move around, but I do my best to avoid getting in the way, or blocking the view of the guests. As the ceremony comes to a close, I take my cue to head back up the aisle, and photograph the couple leaving.

Once outside, I have a few photographs with the couple under a bridal arch before the guests come out. I suggest that perhaps some of the guests might also want to capture that moment too, so Jenny and Rob invite the guests to photograph them. I know it will make a lovely photograph for the guests to have.

I allow Rob and Jen a bit of time to socialise with their guests. Then we all head to the adjoining garden. Although I want to get the castle into view, I also want to make sure my setting is appropriate, and the garden has a gorgeous stone wall with flowers and climbing plants, and a lawn, with the castle still visible just behind it. We set to work on the group shots. I start with the larger group shots first, and gradually work through them until we're left with the main wedding party. This stops people from getting restless, and means when their photographs are finished, they can head to the bar! Due to the informal, relaxed nature of this wedding, we make the group photographs fit this. There's very little formal posing. I break all the "rules" for this particular wedding. People aren't organised into uniform lines. I don't mind them not looking directly at the camera. I don't mind them standing in whatever way feels most natural to them. Jenny and Rob were enthusiastic and positive when I discussed this with them. It's all about them being able to look back over the photographs in 50 years time, and recognise the personality of their friends and family in the photos, through the way they naturally hold themselves, it's not about recreating the stand-up-straight-tuck-your-shirt-in-button-up-your-jacket-brush-your-hair school photographs. Everyone seems relaxed and happy and appear to enjoy it. There's also nobody hanging around behind me (that I'm aware of), taking photographs and distracting the group shots.

I then head with Jenny and Rob to the local country park, for our intimate couple photos. They're very giggly and need absolutely no encouragement from me to kiss for the camera. This takes about 45 minutes, and then we really need to head back to the castle for the dinner. Jenny and Rob have kindly organised a seat at a table for me, next to the couple who I photographed last year. I photograph people during the speeches, but otherwise, I don't touch the camera while people are eating.

Afterwards, it's time for cutting the cake. Jenny and Rob stand perfectly, and we get the best possible shot. I turn around, and see some people holding cameras up from their seats. I invite them to step forward and take some photographs and we have a little paparazzi moment!

I continue to photograph details throughout the evening. I go outside, and photograph the front of the castle, in both daylight and later on, when it's dark and lit up.

Later on, I leave the castle, thanking Jenny and Rob for the honour of photographing their wedding. I've really enjoyed this wedding, and they're a great couple to work with. It's been a pleasure for me to be a part of their big day, and to witness them getting married.

I head back to my overnight accomodation, and head to bed. I'm thoroughly tired!

Saturday - Day After

Time to head home! No lie in today though, I'm driving straight back to Scotland today, which will take me between 7 and 8 hours, dependent on traffic. Bags are packed, and I have a good breakfast to see me through the long journey.

I stop off, en route, to visit my grandmother. Eventually, I arrive home at dinner time. I instantly decide to upload my images. Tomorrow, I'm exhibiting at the Fabulous Wedding Fayre in Dunblane. I've also agreed to photograph the bouquet toss, so I recharge some batteries and my camera and make sure I have my kit and memory card ready.