Beautiful locations: Viewpark Gardens

Recently I took a brief trip to Viewpark Gardens as part of a recce for a photo shoot. As photographs go, these were snapshots. I took a point and shoot approach to these photographs, simply to act as a memory jog and to help inspire me with my research.

The gardens are run by North Lanarkshire Council, and open to the public. They're also available for brides and grooms to hire for photoshoots; which is perfect if your venues aren't quite as picturesque as you'd like.

When I went on my recce, there were four sets of bridal parties arriving. Fortunately, while covering a fairly compact area, the gardens are diverse enough to accommodate more than one bride without any risk of accidentally appearing in one another's photographs. The gardens are divided into several smaller sections, all joined through corridors, but each is secluded enough to allow a group to enjoy a photoshoot without being distracted (or even aware) of anyone else around.

 I think as a location, it is perfect for creative photography, and with such a range of space, it can work well with almost any wedding theme. Whether you've been inspired by the grandeur of the Georgian period; you want the vintage style of Versailles;  you want strike a pose like a Vogue fashion shoot; or whether you're a queen of hearts with a bouquet of red roses; then Viewpark is a fantastic location to work with your wedding photographer.

My personal favourite section was the checkered floor. It's not a huge area, but through the clematis-clad trellis, it leads to a beautiful winding little path, taking you deeper into the garden. 

It's perfect for brides who might be trying to keep to a tighter budget, and can't quite afford a location with the soft rolling vistas across Lanarkshire but would still like somewhere beautiful for their bridal photographs. North Lanarkshire Council do request a payment of £37.90 (which includes VAT), plus you must book 21 days in advance, in writing, to use the gardens for wedding photography.