30 days of Wedding Photography | Day 7 | Golden Hour

There are various pieces to the puzzle that make up a breathtaking image; composition, emotion, pose, the moment, but by far the most important part is light.

In the photography game, 'golden hour' is the holy grail of photography. Golden light is softer and adds a warm tone, which for a wedding images it is the mood you want to convey. It's magical, mystical and romantic and the results are striking.

Throughout any day, the sun moves in a semi-circle movement, starting low below the horizon from the east, makes its way up to its highest point, then makes its way back down to the west toward the horizon once again.

If all of the conditions allow, we get a clearly visible sunrise, and sunset when the sun is at its lowest point over the horizon. Photographers call these times the golden hours.

In my experience, the sunsets in Winter tend to be more dramatic, but the light goes earlier in the day so this can sometimes be a challenge with timings.

In Summer, it's easier to capture. Especially those weddings held around Midsummer in June. Obviously, as long as it's not a wet one!

Photographers don't always get the chance to use golden light. If it's cloudy or too late in winter, with it going dark early, your chance to use golden light diminishes. Weddings are planned to the minor meticulous detail and often they overrun so it's not always possible to pull a couple out of their wedding breakfast just as the speeches are rounding up! 

As the golden light isn’t as harsh as the mid-day sunlight, it makes for much softer, cleaner portraits, with a warm and enlightening feel around the couple. This makes for some stunning photographs. 

I usually have completed the bride and groom portraits section of the day before the wedding breakfast, and have the shots “in the bag” at this point. I usually ask my couples if they wouldn’t mind doing some more portraits again at sunset if we get a visible “golden hour” as the light is so much better for photographing couples in.

Some of my favourite images have been captured in the golden hour. I always get a rush of excitement when we get an awesome sunset to work with!

Golden Light Wedding Photography

If you'd like to chat about your own upcoming wedding and you're looking for a wedding photographer who specialises in natural light, relaxed and reportage style photos then get in touch.

Email me matt@mattherrington.co.uk or text/call 07872 177736

Matt
Matt Herrington
North West Wedding Photographer

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 6 | Reflections

As a photographer, I'm a naturally creative person. I'm always looking for quirky backgrounds, angles and perspectives that will make my images stand out.

When looking through my archives for the 30 Days of Wedding Photography challenge, I noticed just how much I use reflection as a tool in my wedding photography.

I use lakes, puddles, mirrors, windows or even my phone screen positioned underneath the camera to create a reflection.

Adding another element into a photograph like this adds more depth and style to a moment of the day.

During the bridal preparation part of the day, reflections are a great place to start for one reason.

Often, the Bride and her Bridesmaids are fairly nervous and stressed in the build up to the ceremony, and don’t necessarily want a huge camera in front of their faces.

With reflections in mirrors and other surfaces, I can capture plenty of key wedding moments without ever pointing the camera in the same direction.

This is a massive creative win.

Some moments present themselves in reflections but most of the time I will add a reflection to a bride and groom portrait, when I have a little more time to think and curate my shot.

Reflections can be subtle or majorly obvious, but either way they add further interest to the images. They're usually the shots where people go "wow!".

Indoors, outdoors, rain or shine I love to reflect my images as much as possible, as I'm sure you'll agree the effect is stunning.

Natural Wedding Photography in North West 

I am a relaxed wedding photographer, specialising in natural portrait and reportage photography. I meet couples each Tuesday at locations across the North West to talk weddings and find out a little more about their plans.

If you'd like to chat through your wedding and your vision for your wedding photography, get in touch by emailing matt@mattherrington.co.uk or text/call 07872 177736

Matt
Matt Herrington
North West Wedding Photographer

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 5 | Groomsmen

So yesterday we had the beautiful bridesmaids, so today it is the turn of the groomsmen.

Best men, ushers and page boys plus fathers of the bride and groom come together in one big gang of testosterone-fuelled fun that is always a laugh to photograph.

Men are either super confident in front of the camera, or really hate the idea of posing and 'modelling' on their wedding day.

When you get them together with the family and friends, it's usually a lot more relaxed, 'blokey' and fun. 

When shooting groomsmen I try to keep them moving, so they don't become too static and awkward. There is usually a lot of banter, jibes and stories that come out in these moments. Sometimes I have to stifle the laughs so as not to shake the camera!

I always end up with strong and striking images that blend the right amount of jovial high jinks and friendship. The pictures of the guys together always have my couples laughing when we play them back on the slideshow reveal appointment.

Fun Wedding Photography for Your Wedding Day

If you're looking for some fun and laughter to feature in your wedding photography and you're looking for a young, relaxed wedding photographer to do that, then I could be just the person!

Get in touch and we can arrange a coffee somewhere in the North West and chat more about your wedding day and what kind of wedding photography you're after.

Email matt@mattherrington.co.uk or text 07872 177736

Matt
Matt Herrington
North West Wedding Photographer

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 4 | Bridesmaids

"It's not what we have in our life, but who we have in our lives that matters."

Bridesmaids!

I overheard someone once describe bridesmaids as human glitter balls that the bride has by her side, sparkling all day. How cool?

Being a bridesmaid is an important job. In a world where friendship knows no bounds thanks to the digital age, picking your bridesmaids is a huge task! You're there for every moment of planning, hen partying and the wedding day itself.

The squad you select share and revel in your day as much as you. They're as excited, as giddy and can't wait firstly for the hen party and then secondly for the wedding - especially the party!

Being a bridesmaid is a chance to come together and look sensational, as one strong team, bound by friendship, at the side of the bride for the day.

As a photographer, I hear some true revelations that have me in stitches and make me feel like I'm one of the girls whether I like it or not! Especially on the morning of the wedding when the fizz is flowing and the girls are giddy. Their energy, fun, quirks and private jokes are exciting to be around and there are always hilarious moments.

From getting ready in the morning, to guiding their bestie down the aisle, the toasts to their beauty, the bouquet tossing and then the crazy dancing - you can guarantee the bridesmaids will keep the smiles, laughter and moves going all night long.

So here's to all those beautiful bridesmaids I've had the honour of photographing. 

Wedding Photography | Natural and Relaxed

If you're looking for a wedding photographer who specialises in natural, relaxed and fun wedding photography, get in touch and let's have a chat about you and your wedding day.

I meet couples each Tuesday across locations in Lancashire where we natter over posh coffee and you get to decide whether I'm the best wedding photographer for your big day.

Arrange a get together by emailing me matt@mattherrington.co.uk or text/call 07872 177736

Matt
Matt Herrington
Wedding Photographer

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 3 | Portraits

I like capturing portraits of people. I love proving people wrong, and making them see that they're more photogenic than they realise.

At this point, when capturing portraits of the bride and groom, I work one of two ways.

1. If the couple are confident in front of the camera, I usually let them guide the posing, interactions and emotions of the shot.

2. If a couple are nervous or not so keen on being so intrusively in front of the camera, I gently guide people with clear and friendly instructions. I find that movement plays a huge part in getting those natural shots, as opposed to the static, formal portraits.

I feel that when photos are too posed they're not authentic to the personality of the couple. That's why you'll find I capture a lot of laughter and true romantic moments between a couple.

Some couples really don't like the thought of portraits when we first meet, but are often surprised at how easy I can make it, when it comes round to the wedding day.

If we've already had a Capture You session, I will probably have taken a little time to attempt some portrait shots so they know what to expect on the wedding day, and they don't feel awkward or daunted by me working so close to them.

It really does settle nerves and put people at ease, making them realise that on the wedding day they can trust me to snap away and truly seize the best moments of the day, on film forever.

Wedding Photography Appointments

If you'd like to get together and talk more about your wedding plans and how my style of natural, relaxed wedding photography can fit into your day, get in touch.

Please email matt@mattherrington.co.uk or call/text 07872 177736.

Matt
Matt Herrington
Wedding Photographer