Jan 4, 2021 | Round up 2020
Every year around January, I love looking back and reflecting on all the previous years’ gorgeous weddings and putting together a little blog post of my favourite photos. Although 2020 was a strange year and in no way went to plan, I was still lucky enough to photograph 7 wonderful weddings which absolutely helped keep me sane and happy.
I won’t bang on about all the heartbreak of 2020 because we all know how awful most of it was, so instead I’ll celebrate this absolute bunch of babes and their determination to prove that love always wins and no horrible virus can put a dampener of their joy.
If you’d like to chat to me about being your Dorset wedding photographer, please contact me here! Can’t wait to hear from you.
Oct 22, 2020 | COVID weddings, October 2020
“I had the most perfect, magical, emotional, intimate and fun day getting married in front of our 10 guests. I didn’t stop smiling and laughing! The day was entirely about love and laughter and I would not have changed it for the world” – Zara
We all know that 2020 hasn’t been the year any of us asked for or wanted; weddings like many many other sectors have been horrendously affected and many couples have had their hopes of a wedding with all of their family and friends totally dashed. In the spring, most of my couples postponed their weddings into 2021 hoping for the big wedding with the party and sweaty dance floor we didn’t realise we wanted so much. A few though, have decided to stick their fingers up at COVID, embrace the restrictions and to go for it all guns blazing. For some, the small numbers with less pressure are appealing, for some, they just can’t wait to be married any longer. Either way, looking back on your photos of family members with masks on will certainly be a sign of these crazy times, and one to tell the grandchildren.
One thing is for sure, intimate weddings are a beautiful thing. Simple and with much less stress, couples can not only take time to really speak to all of their guests but they can really spoil them too with a larger food and alcohol budget for each person. Finally, the excuse to not invite the rude Uncle no one actually likes! I fully appreciate they’re not for everyone and the 15 guest number is a real squeeze, but I have loved every minute of the ones I’ve had the pleasure to capture so far and can’t wait for more.
Zara & Tom decided to have a ‘first look’ at their micro wedding at Basing House in Hampshire. When all traditional rules are off, why the hell not? I love that I could could capture Tom’s face for her as he turns around.
“All of the stresses of postponing our wedding was so worth it! To any couples wondering if a micro wedding is the way forward, I would say go for it as it was the best day of my life and I cannot wait to celebrate more next year!” – Zara
A wedding wouldn’t be quite the same without cake! Both these couples dished up delicious food to their guests whilst they said a few thank you’s and told a few heartfelt and funny stories. Some traditions are just too good to leave out, cake of course being one of them.
If you’d like to chat to me about capturing your small or intimate wedding I would love to hear from you! Feel free to drop me a line here, or for more info about small weddings and prices click here.
Oct 15, 2020 | COVID weddings
I get it, 2020 has been… lets just say…not the year we had all planned and hoped for. Big weddings with all of your nearest and dearest are off the table at the moment, however small weddings are still going ahead and I’ve been lucky enough to photograph quite a few these last few months. In fact, I think it’s these glorious small weddings which have kept me sane these last few months! Corona Virus may have had other idea, but love, thank goodness, isn’t cancelled.
So, if you’ve decided you can’t wait any longer or if having only a handful of your best ones is actually really appealing, I would love nothing more than to capture this for you.
I’m keeping it super simple – between 1st October 2020 and 30th April 2021, I’m offering small weddings an hourly fee of just £200 per hour.
Get in touch for more details, I can’t wait to hear all about your plans.
Aug 12, 2020 | Personal Projects
“He is happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home.”
– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
He moved here as a baby in the 1930’s. The house was originally built in 1880, with it’s original fireplaces and features still intact. A few appliances and the wallpaper were from around 1940.
It has not been changed or redecorated since.
When he died at 84 and then house was emptied, this was everything that remained.
I was so so honoured to be asked to photograph this beautiful house; it stands as a museum to the past.
Feb 24, 2020 | Wedding help
Since starting my wedding photographer journey nearly 15 years ago, I’ve been lucky enough to visit many, many wonderful wedding venues around Hampshire, so I thought it was high time I compiled a little list of my favourites to give any new Brides and Grooms some ideas of venues to visit. So first up, drum roll…
Clock Barn
Clock Barn in Whitchurch has got to be at the top of my list – I always shoot around half of my weddings here every year and I bloomin’ love it. In fact, I’m practically part of the furniture.
Just look how beautiful it is inside! It’s absolutely perfect for a rustic, Hampshire barn style wedding. The ceiling is super high so the room feels very light and spacious and you can opt to keep or take down the neutral white bunting. I love it when couples hang flowers down from the ceiling too, not only does it look beautiful but it smells amazing as well!
One of the best things about a Clock Barn wedding is that there are so many gorgeous little areas for photos – from the main road outside which is shrouded in trees to the willow and the flowers out the front to the textured rustic barns… there’s even a cornfield in the summer! Clock Barn has everything you could want for a beautiful, rustic barn wedding, and I haven’t even mentioned how amazing the food is yet!
Penton Park
Penton Park in Andover is an absolute gem of a wedding venue. A private house sitting on top of rolling Hampshire hills, the house can be hired for exclusive use for couples to get ready in, married and party.
The gardens are green and beautiful, with the option to marry in the great outdoors or in the elegant dining room. The best part is that it’s so customizable; want to get married outside and then have a pcinic? No problem! Want to get married indoors with only 20 people and then have banquet late in the evening? Sure!
Penton Park has a wonderfully homely feeling – you’re made to feel completely and totally welcome by the team who run it so it’s always one of my favoutire places to visit.
Beaulieu Treehouses
And now for something completely different! Beaulieu Treehouses in The New Forest is a completely unique and unusual venue, and absolutely perfect if you’re looking fr something a little bit quirky!
It’s impossible to show how fab the treehouses are from photos because their mostly hidden in trees…which is the best bit! The wedding ceremony can take place in either treehouse depending on number of guests which people can access by wither walking up the ramps or braving it across the rope bridge. After the ceremony, guests are usually encouraged to walk back down to ground level where everyone can tuck into canapes after giving the wedded couple a good old confetti soaking.
One of my favourite things about Beaulieu Treehouses is that just a little further into the woods is a fire pit, which is perfect for gathering around for the speeches. In practical terms it gives the venue staff an opportunity to get the rooms ready for the party whist you and your guests can huddle together, keeping warm over the fire, sharing speeches and hot mulled cider.
Rhinefield House
Rhinefield House in The New Forest is a glorious building – in fact it looks more like a castle than a house with the longest and most alluring driveway I’ve ever seen. The gardens are simply perfect, with a huge carp pond in the middle and it’s iconic blue gates at the bottom. Recently, couples can get married outside which has become hugely popular, so guests get to really use and appreciate the gorgeous grounds of the venue.
If getting married outside isn’t your thing or if the weather isn’t ideal, then ceremonies take place inside the grand dining hall. Dark paneled with a huge window and chandeliers, this room has a real historic feel to it – check out that amazing fireplace!
I’ve always been spoiled for choice with where to do my couples shots at Rhinefield because there are so may beauty spots, so I always take my couples out for a little wander round the gardens and sometimes out into the New Forest area too. My favourite time of the day for couples shots is just as the sun is starting to make it’s way down so the light is soft and extra flattering, and if we’re lucky we might even get some gold in the sky.
Lainston House
Lainston House in Winchester is a wedding venue with everything…literally everything! Not only does it have the most beautiful gardens and country views but there’s a ruined stone castle-like building in the grounds which makes for a wonderful backdrop to the photos.
There are so many beautiful rooms too; there’s the tastefully decorate hotel part but also a barn you can hold the reception in, plus you can opt to have the wedding ceremony outside so there really is something for everyone’s tastes.
I’ve shot all of these venues multiple times and highly recommend each one. They often have open days so the best thing to do is check their social media and see when you can take a nosey around. Feel free to ask me any questions, happy wedding planning!
If you’d like to send me an enquiry for your wedding, feel free to get in touch via my contact page here.
Jan 4, 2020 | Best of 2019, Featured
Hampshire Wedding Photographer – best of 2019
Well, that went by in a blur! Another fabulous year, another wonderful 33 couples who shared their most precious day with me. This, I promise you, is not something I take lightly.
I’ll never ever take for granted the trust my couples give to me with capturing their most awesome day – I know what a privilege and honour this is. You allow me to do something that makes me truly happy in a vocation that I love, so for that I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Happy New Year to you all my lovelies! O and…can you spot you??
If you’d like to chat to me about me being YOUR wedding photographer in 2020, 2021 or beyond, well that would be a lovely. Feel free to contact me here and I can’t wait to get chatting weddings with you!
I would love to talk to you about being your New Forest wedding photographer or Dorset wedding photographer so get in touch here!
Nov 8, 2019 | Clock Barn, October 2019
Ooh I love love love everything about Lucy & Jake’s Hampshire barn wedding at Clock Barn yesterday! The barn was absolutely alive with flowers by the super talented Lady Lissy Floristry; flowers hung from the ceiling and seasonal pumpkins were scattered among the lanterns.
Lucy looked incredible in her elegant dress, as did the bridesmaids in their sparkly peach dresses, which all coordinated beautifully with the peach, green and white flowers. After a month of rain we were lucky enough to have a dry afternoon so we could wander the grounds freely for their photos and make the most of the gorgeous autumn colours.
Thank you both for having Ange and I along, we had the most wonderful day with you all. Many, many congratulations, and here are a few photos to keep you going until the rest are ready <3
If you’d like to speak to me about photographing your Hampshire barn wedding, feel free to get in touch via here.
Nov 7, 2019 | Clock Barn, Featured, October 2019
Ahhhh what a joy it was to photograph these absolute babes yesterday at their autumn Clock Barn wedding! As soon as I met Katie & Freya for their engagement shoot back in the summer I knew we’d have so much fun together and that their wedding would be ridiculous amounts of amazing… and boy was I right!
Katie & Freya come with the most wonderful bunch of friends and family – right from when we arrived Emma and I were made to feel incredibly welcome and like part of the family. Both brides had 4 bridesmaids each and a best man (a symmetry I most enjoyed during the group photos!) and all got ready at either Clock Barn or Norton Park just down the road. Both ladies were proudly walked down the aisle by their Fathers as everyone watched on in the big main barn, before walking outside to a sea of confetti. Although it rained off an on all day (bit of a theme lately), the girls braved the weather and we went out for couples photos regardless – in fact they were so elated I think they barely noticed the rain.
The venue was alive with flowers by the super talented ladies at The Blooming Workshop and the food by Galloping Gourmet was excellent as usual. Yesterday was a wonderful day in every way – wonderful people, wonderful venue and of course, the most wonderful brides <3
Thank you SO much for having Emma & I along, we had the most gorgeous day. Here are a few photos to keep you going before the full set is completed. Lots of love to you both!
If you’d like to chat to me about photographing your autumn Clock Barn wedding or any other season or venue for that matter, feel free to drop me a line through here.
Nov 4, 2019 | November 2019, The Domus
Saturday’s wonderful winter wedding at The Domus in Beaulieu will go down in my personal history as the windiest wedding yet! Despite the crazy weather we had, Poppy and Ryan had the most beautiful day; saying their vows in front of their loved ones at St John’s Church in Boldre and then onto the glorious Domus in Beaulieu. Bell & Blossom created beautiful bouquets for poppy and her bridesmaids in classic white and thistles, to compliment Ryan’s Scottish heritage and of course, the kilts!
Even when the weather is being tricky I almost always seem to get lucky with the photos to have a small window of dry/calm wind, so we took full advantage when the gale dropped a little and took some photos outside. The best way to deal with strong wind during couples shots is just to go with it, laugh and have fun, and that’s exactly what they did.
The Domus is lovely for winter weddings because it’s so cosy inside with it’s huge, real fireplace and abundance of candles. Poppy & Ryan both have the warmest, loveliest families so I was made to feel right at home. Thank you for being so bloomin’ wonderful, I’ve absolutely loved being part of your day.
If you’d like to speak to me about photographing your Domus Wedding in The New Forest, feel free to email me here.
I’d love to talk to you about being your New Forest wedding photographer! Get in touch and we’ll chat.
