30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 17 | Kids

Kids at weddings really do provide a major part of the entertainment! They are so fun to work with, and most really enjoy dressing up smartly and being a part of an amazing day filled with happiness and joy.

My approach to capturing kids on a wedding day is simple. Let them be themselves! I meet so many little ones with so many different personalities, and commanding them to pose or do something they feel uncomfortable with is definitely not the way forward!

I love taking a casual approach and let the kids run, play and enjoy themselves whilst I capture them having fun on the big day.

Just like adults, kids show their true personalities when they're comfortable and enjoying themselves!

For the quieter kids, I often end up purposely making a fool out of myself so that they start laughing at how much of an idiot I'm being! If it gets a smile or laughter, it's more than worth it for the memories!

I'll always follow one key word with my approach to photographing kids, and that's 'FUN'!

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 16 | The Kiss

Some couples kiss more than others, especially in front of their family and friends. But one thing is for sure, a good old kiss is here to stay for weddings!

The best kissing photos are the ones which happen naturally throughout the day, such as the first kiss as they are pronounced as an official couple. Other than this, kisses usually come about during times when the couple are spending “together” time with each other throughout the busyness and fun of the wedding day!

Newlyweds tend to get carried away in the craze of the wedding day but soon come to realise that they’re there for one main reason, to be officially married together. It’s a lovely moment to capture when it happens without asking for a ‘staged’ photograph.

Photographs with kisses in sometimes feel cheesy, but it looks awesome for photos for creating drama in the scene. The kiss shot is the best way to show love, affection and romance all at once in a moment.

One thing I love about getting the couple to kiss for the camera is that this moment often creates natural conversation, happiness and laughter which looks amazing on the photographs!

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 15 | Nerves

The wedding day can often be an emotional roller coaster for most couples. It's my job to capture all of those emotions. The most part of the day, I'm photographing happiness, laughter and joy, but there's certain times when the nerves and anxiousness kick-in!

As a wedding photographer in Lancashire, I get to observe all of these emotions without having to get involved. 

The most usual time I pick up on nerves is before the ceremony begins. Because my package offers full day coverage, I'm often capturing the preparation stages. The realisation and reality of the wedding day finally hits most couples just hours before they see each other at the alter. 

It's important for me to take a careful approach when photographing people at this time. Whether it be bridesmaids, groomsmen, close family members or the couple themselves, probably the last thing they would want is a photographer in their face. Granted, there's some beautiful natural photos to be captured at this point, but my ethos is to put people's feelings as my priority. 

I often start by meeting everyone without even putting a camera to my face. Shaking hands and greeting with new people helps put them at ease! It's only after everybody is comfortable with me in the location that I'll pick up the camera and start shooting.

This is where I try my best to be a photographic-ninja, hiding myself as much as possible whilst getting the natural moments, but staying unnoticed!

Most grooms tend to show their major nerves whilst waiting on their soon to be bride walk down the aisle. Again, saying hello and having a chat with the groom and his groomsmen always goes a long way to natural photos, before pointing the camera their way. 

Along with the groom, most fathers of the bride and best men tend to do a speech during the wedding breakfast - the emotions are very much apparent at this time of the day, which creates some very interesting photo opportunities!

I always want to capture the best photos for my couples, but I'll always respect people's feelings and emotions first, before taking the picture!

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 14 | Wedding Pets

Every couple I work with is different, and with that, each have completely different ideas and outlooks on how their wedding day should be. 

I always encourage to couples to break tradition where they can, and go their own way with wedding planning.

Parents often advise the couple to invite those who are most important to them on the day, but sometimes, that doesn’t mean they have to be human. I’ve been to a number of weddings over the years where people have invited their well-loved pets for a portion of the wedding day, and I totally love capturing them!

Bringing the family pets along is not only a great way to make your day personal and unique to you, but also provides some great photo opportunities that will be treasured forever!

If bringing your pet along to the wedding day isn't do-able, couples can bring them along to their capture you session instead!

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 13 | Laughter

Laughter is my favourite expression to capture through the camera! I spend lots of time searching for moments which provoke laughter naturally, but most of the time they just happen naturally!

I love those moments where I can completely step back from the bride and groom and capture their love and laughter without having to get involved.

There’s almost always someone in the family who thinks they are a comedian. I try to stay around these jokers as much as possible ready for the next line to happen!

I always try my best to encourage the couples I work with to have fun in each others company, and to be as playful as possible in front of the camera! Taking a casual and fun approach is my favourite approach to creating hilarious natural moments whilst the couple enjoy the process.

I’m so grateful to be invited in to one of the happiest days of someones life and to capture people having a great time and a laugh.