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A Cheshire Woodland Wedding

I’m really excited to share this gorgeous wedding with you, especially as it was at such a unique venue- Cheshire Woodland Weddings. It’s a stunning Cheshire wedding venue with lots of opportunities for beautiful wedding photography, but on top of that guests can enjoy outdoor activities such as archery, crazy golf and shooting!

It was my first time as a wedding photographer at this venue and it was a pleasure to be part of this incredible day capturing images of Kym and Ashley along with all their friends and family.


Kym and Ashley’s Cheshire Woodland Wedding

I started the day by joining Kym and her bridal party getting ready. It’s always lovely to spend time with the bride and her bridal party before the big event- it’s such an exciting and special part of the day. All the girls looked fabulous with make up by Glam by Sam and hair by Jennifer Webb Hair Studio. Kym’s stunning dress was from WED2B. I then made my way over to spend some time with Ashley and the groomsmen who were enjoying some pre-ceremony beers!






Kym and Ashley then chose to do something quite unusual: a pre-ceremony ‘first look’. Kym surprised Ashley by appearing behind him in her wedding dress, and it was clear to see the emotion written all over Ashley’s face as he saw his beautiful bride to be! As a wedding photographer it was a really special moment to capture.

 

Cheshire Woodland Weddings is the ideal venue to embrace the great outdoors, so it made perfect sense that the ceremony was held outside. Kym and Ashley exchanged their vows within an enchanting thatched shelter nestled in 15 acres of Cheshire woodland, with their guests taking in the view.



 



The wedding party was also joined by a special guest: the wedding rings were flown in by an owl! Those of you who know me will know that I’ve previously had a funny experience with a ring bearing owl, but luckily the owl at Kym and Ashley’s wedding was far better behaved!

 

 

 

Wedding photography at Cheshire Woodland Weddings

Being a wedding photographer at Cheshire Woodland Weddings is a completely unique experience, literally a breath of fresh air! This venue provides the perfect opportunity for guests to truly take in the great outdoors and Kym and Ashley certainly made sure that was the case, with their guests sampling archery, shooting, and crazy golf! It was great for me to be the wedding photographer at such a unique wedding.


After the ceremony everyone enjoyed a glass of fizz in the woodland and at the nearby waterside gazebo, which was the perfect opportunity for some lovely wedding photography. I managed to steal a few minutes with the happy couple to capture some shots in the stunning Cheshire woodland. I also captured some great aerial shots of the wedding party, as well as some fun images using smoke bombs.



   



We then headed inside for dinner. Cheshire Woodland Weddings offer a beautifully rustic barn which has a capacity of up to 200 guests, which features a fully licensed bar, space to eat, drink and celebrate! The wedding cake was by Simply Vegan Cakes and looked stunning!




Then it was time to enjoy the evening party and first dance. Entertainment was provided by The Brightons, and as you can see from the photos everyone had a fantastic time!



Some of my very favourite photos from this wedding were actually the ones we captured right at the end of the evening, where I took a little time outside with Kym and Ashley to shoot some stunning images in the woodland as night fell. The festoon lights draped in the trees are magical, and it was a perfect end to this Cheshire woodland wedding. 

 

Cheshire wedding photographer

If you’re thinking of getting married at Cheshire Woodland weddings (or anywhere else!) and are looking for a professional wedding photographer, I would love to chat about your plans.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023 Wedding Photography Trend: Direct Flash Photography

Much like fashion, wedding trends come and go. I’ve been a wedding photographer in Cheshire and North Wales for 24 years now, and in that time have seen a lot of different wedding trends. I always like to keep up to date with the latest trends in wedding photography, and lately I’ve noticed a shift toward direct flash (or high-flash) wedding photography. The trend started gaining traction last year, and it’s looking like it will become even more popular in 2023.

What is direct flash wedding photography?

Previously, the trend in wedding photography was to use flash in a way that made all images look like they were shot in natural light. In contrast, direct flash wedding photography involves using direct, on-camera flash that illuminates the subject and brings a feeling of closeness. Direct flash photography gives images a bright, dramatic look.

It’s interesting that for so long, the trend in weddings for so long was to make images seem natural, but now we’re leaning into the fact that artificial light doesn’t have to be a bad thing.


Why has this style of wedding photography become a trend?

As with all trends, direct flash photography isn’t new. It last had a major moment in the 90s when fashion photographers such as Juergen Teller and Corinne Day used this style of photography and it became a signature aesthetic of this period. For anyone who was a child of the 90s, this style of photography probably appeals; perhaps we’re currently experiencing a surge in 90s babies getting married and that has helped to elevate this trend!

We’ve had decades now where wedding photography has been largely about evenly lit scenarios and highly produced imagery. On top of that, everyone has got so used to adding filters to every photo they take and post on social media, giving everything a warm, soft glow. But trends always come and go, and it seems that people have now started to crave something different. Direct flash photography – with the drama and contrast it creates- is ticking that box.

On a more practical level, this style of shooting can also be especially useful in dimly lit indoor settings or during nighttime ceremonies.

How to incorporate this trend into your wedding photography

If you like the look of direct flash photography, have a chat with your wedding photographer to see how you could incorporate it into your day. As a wedding photographer, I love to get creative with the images I produce, and using direct flash is something I’ve been doing for a while now: I love the dramatic results that can be achieved.

However, it’s probable that you won’t want all your images to be captured this way, and my suggestion would be that it’s nice to mix up a couple of styles when it comes to your wedding photography. I’m loving adding direct flash photography in as a way to diversify the overall set of images, without completely relying on it for the whole wedding.


If you’d like to have a chat about any style of wedding photography, I would be more than happy to help. I’m a professional wedding photographer based in Cheshire, Chester, and North Wales and am experienced in different types of wedding photography. Please feel free to get in touch for a chat. 

 

 

 

Why black and white wedding photography is a key trend for 2023

I’ve been a wedding photographer in Cheshire and North Wales for around 24 years now (!), and in that time I’ve seen lots of new wedding trends emerge. As a wedding photographer it’s really important to me to keep up to date with the most recent trends, while also specialising in classic photography techniques too.

One particular trend I’ve seen emerging for 2023 is an emphasis on black and white wedding photography. While monochrome images are nothing new in themselves, in wedding photography they’ve always taken a bit of a back seat to colour images. However, for 2023 they’re set to take more of a centre stage.

Bride and groom by the lake at Alderford


The rise of black and white wedding photography

Black and white wedding photos are always beautiful: they can be atmospheric, stylish, and artistic. It seems that recently, more couples are realising this, and I suspect it could be down to the fact that all of us are using our own filters more on social media platforms and we’re seeing how great black and white photos can look.

Here are some more of the reasons why black and white wedding photography is a key trend for 2023…


1. They stand out amongst colour photos

Even if you choose to have the majority of your wedding photos in colour, I would suggest choosing to include one or two black and white images in your album, as they really do stand out amongst the riot of colour that is your other images. There is something about a black and white wedding photo that really stands out, and I’ve found that these are often the images that my couples choose as their main ‘hero’ photo to have framed on their wall.

On that note- black and white images always look beautiful and stylish in a frame, and there will never be any colour clashes, which makes them ideal to display in your home.

Wedding Photography North Wales
2. They capture the raw emotion of your wedding day

There’s often something very moving about black and white photography, and it can perfectly capture raw emotion. Without the distraction of colour you can often see details more clearly- a tear in the eye, or a proud smile. Black and white photography can often feel more ‘real’ and as if you are there in the moment. In fact, famous Canadian photographer Ted Grant once said, “When you photograph people in colour, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in black and white, you photograph their souls.”



Wedding Photographer North Wales

3. Black and white wedding photography is timeless

Of course, when photography began all photos were monochrome, but black and white is far from outdated. Instead, it is totally timeless. As a wedding photographer I’ve seen trends in dresses, hairstyles, and venue dressing change over time, but a black and white shot of a couple will always look classic. It will always be a stunning portrait to look back on and it will never age.

Tyn Dwr Hall Wedding North Wales


4. Black and white photos are flattering!

This ties in with what I mentioned initially about how we’re all starting to realise how good photos look with a monochrome filter! Black and white photos really are flattering: everyone looks good in monochrome.

If your venue or church doesn’t have the best natural light, a black and white photo can be the perfect solution.

Bride and groom kissing while her veil blows in the wind

Tyn Dwr Hall North Wales
I’m a professional wedding photographer based in Cheshire, Chester, and North Wales. If you need advice about your wedding photography, I would be more than happy to help. Please feel free to get in touch for a chat.