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5 reasons why I love being a wedding photographer in North Wales

As a wedding photographer based in Flintshire, I’m ideally located for weddings across North Wales. I love working at wedding venues in North Wales: the area is famous for its stunning scenery which makes the ideal backdrop for wedding photography.

If you’re thinking about getting married in North Wales, I can thoroughly recommend this beautiful part of the world for your big day.

Here are 5 reasons why I love being a wedding photographer in North Wales…


1. The North Wales countryside is a wedding photographer’s dream come true!

Think towering mountains, rolling green hills, pretty villages and breathtaking views. When it comes to show-stopping countryside, North Wales is hard to beat!

Some of my favourite North Wales wedding venues to shoot at are set amongst stunning countryside. For example, take Tyn Dwr Hall in the Dee Valley- one of my all time favourite wedding venues to work at. Tucked away in the Welsh countryside, this stunning Grade II* wedding venue is nestled amongst ancient woodland and is steeped in history. Tyn Dwr Hall’s beautiful grounds feature magical waterfalls bordered by trees and wildflowers, and the venue is surrounded by ancient forests and countryside with panoramic landscapes: the perfect setting for unique wedding photography.

Tyn Dwr Hall North Wales

Tower Hill Barns is another example of a North Wales venue set amongst beautiful Welsh countryside. Tucked away in the Welsh hills in a little village called Trevor near Llangollen, Tower Hill Barns sits amongst pretty gardens and a wild flower meadow, surrounded by gorgeous views of the surrounding North Wales hills.


Another venue in North Wales which lends itself particularly well to dramatic wedding photography is Ruthin Castle – a 4 star mediaeval luxury hotel situated within the glorious Clwydian Range in North Wales. My favourite place to shoot at Ruthin Castle is in the stunning grounds where I’ve captured some really unique images of couples surrounded by the castle ruins, with the views of the Clwydian Range beyond.

North Wales Wedding Photographer


2. North Wales has some stunning coastal scenery

There are not too many wedding photographers who get to spend time shooting at beautiful coastal wedding venues, so I feel very lucky that I’m based near such outstanding coastal scenery. Wedding photos on the beach, or with the sea as a backdrop, always look incredible.

One of the coastal venues that I love to shoot at in North Wales is the Quay Hotel in Deganwy: a stylish coastal hotel with breathtaking views over the Conwy Estuary towards the medieval Conwy Castle. As a wedding photographer, the best thing about shooting weddings at the Quay Hotel is the idyllic scenery. There are expansive views across the water to majestic Conwy Castle, which makes for unique wedding photography. When I am asked to be the wedding photographer for a wedding at the Quay Hotel, I make the most of the unique coastal setting by taking couples for a special photo shoot on the nearby beach. Not every couple can say they’ve had their wedding photography on the seashore, so these shots make for some really memorable photos!



Chateau Rhianfa is another coastal North Wales venue that is a wedding photographer’s dream. Not only is it a real-life fairytale castle, it is also located in a beautiful and unique setting overlooking the Menai Strait, which means there are countless opportunities for waterside shots.

One of my favourite features of Chateau Rhianfa is the outside terrace;I love capturing shots of guests enjoying a glass of fizz out on the terrace with the breathtaking views of the Menai Strait and the Snowdonia mountain range as a backdrop. As a wedding photographer, those are the kind of photo opportunities that stay in your mind long after the day has passed.

  



Chateau Rhianfa North Wales

3. Whatever your taste, North Wales has the dream wedding venue

Having worked as a wedding photographer at many of North Wales’ wedding venues, I really believe that whatever your tastes, North Wales has a venue for you.

I’ve been lucky enough to be the wedding photographer at coastal hotels, fairytale castles, stately homes, and rural venues in the North Wales countryside. Whatever size your wedding is, or whatever your theme, you are sure to find a venue to suit in this beautiful part of the country.

It also means that I am never stuck for inspiration when it comes to capturing unique images!

Chateau Rhianfa Wedding Photographer

4. I even love the North Wales weather!

This might sound like a strange one, as North Wales isn’t exactly famous for endless hot sunny days! Working as a wedding photographer in North Wales has definitely taught me that sunshine is never guaranteed, however, whatever the weather throws at my couples on their big day, I’ve learned that can always result in stunning wedding photography.

Wedding Photography North Wales
Award winning wedding photographer
Tyn Dwr Hall Wedding North Wales


Whatever the weather, you can capture some amazing outdoor wedding photography. In fact, “bad” weather might even make your photos even more interesting and beautiful! I would advise brides and grooms to not worry too much about the weather: it really is the one element of your day that you can’t control! Instead, embrace it whatever happens and take the opportunity to work with your wedding photographer to create some truly unique images.

5. North Wales is perfectly located near to Chester and Cheshire

Whilst a lot of the weddings I shoot are in North Wales, I am based on the border of Chester and Cheshire too, and this means that I get to experience the best of both worlds as a wedding photographer. One day I may be shooting a wedding at a rural North Wales stately home, and the next day I’ll be capturing some gorgeous shots at a chic city centre hotel in Chester, or a rustic barn venue in the Cheshire countryside.

I always feel very lucky to be a wedding photographer in this area of the country as we have so many beautiful venues to choose from, which means endless inspiration for wedding photography!

If you are thinking of getting married in North Wales I would love to discuss your plans for the day. I’m a professional wedding photographer working in North Wales, Cheshire and Chester and would be delighted if you got in touch for a chat.

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.