My name is Mia Hooper and I’m a Dorset Wedding Photographer, specialising in laid back, heartfelt and joyful weddings!
I love photographing vibrant and happy people in love and I’ve got oodles of experience, so… you’re looking for a Dorset wedding photographer who can not only take beautiful photos but who can also put your enjoyment of your day at the absolute heart of everything, right? Someone who knows what they’re doing, who has years of experience and someone who can make the whole day chilled out and fun; someone who will basically feel like another friend at your wedding? Well, that’s me!
Dorset Wedding Venues
Thinking of having your wedding in Dorset? Ahhh I love Dorset! Literally my favourite place on the planet. Dorset is an amazing county with stunning countryside and a breathtaking coastline. If you like to feel the sand between your toes then the seaside towns of Bournemouth, Poole and Swanage have got you covered. But if you’re a lover of lush fields then there’s more to Dorset than Durdle Door, as the county has a whole host of stunning countryside venues from castles and stately homes to cosy rustic barns. As a Dorset Wedding Photographer I’ve put together a list of my top 10 Dorset wedding venues to give you some inspiration:
Sound good? Fancy a chat? Drop me an email here!
Sopley Mill
If you’re looking for a wedding venue that’s a bit different then one of my favorites is Sopley Mill in Christchurch, Dorset. Sopley is a glorious mill which has been beautifully renovated to hold weddings, with a huge lawn out the front and multiple rooms to hold the different elements of the day. Want to see some of my Sopley Mill weddings? Take a peek at Lorna and Sam’s super fun day: https://www.mia-photography.com/sopley-mill-wedding-photography-lorna-sam/ And the gorgeous Keshia and Ash: https://www.mia-photography.com/sopley-mill-dorset-wedding-keshia-ash/
Tithe Barn
If a rustic barn venue is your vibe then Tithe Barn in the Symondsbury Estate might be right up your street! The Tithe Barn is a restored 14th century barn with exposed beams, high ceilings and large windows letting in loads of dreamy light. The barn is fully licenced for civil ceremonies so you can have your dream wedding day all under one roof!
Lulworth Castle
Looking for a venue with a massive ‘wow’ factor? Well then it’s got to be Lulworth Castle! Lulworth is an absolute beauty of a wedding venue, with sea views, parkland and a choice of three locations for your wedding ceremony: St Andrew’s church, St Mary’s and the jaw-dropping Saloon within the castle itself.
The Italian Villa at Compton Acres
One of Dorset’s most prestigious wedding venues is the Italian Villa at Compton Acres, the Villa is located in Poole and just a stone’s throw from luxurious Sandbanks. The Villa has 10 acres of manicured gardens making it the perfect backdrop for gorgeous wedding photos! The venue is arranged over three floors and offers a choice of ceremony rooms, including a fab outdoor option.
Think you’ve found your perfect Dorset wedding photographer? Contact me here, I can’t wait to hear from you!
Kingston Maurward
Kingston Maurward is a glorious award-winning wedding venue. And if countryside vibes are your thing then you can’t get much better than Kingston Maurward’s 750 acre grounds! The Estate is a wedding photographer’s dream, with a scenic lake, perfectly manicured lawns, elegant terraces and of course, the magnificent House itself. The House has everything you’d expect from a stately home, marble fireplaces, a grand entrance hall, regal rooms and chandeliers a plenty!
Summer Lodge
If you’re after a country house escape for your wedding then Summer Lodge is well worth a look. Summer Lodge is a country house hotel set in the midst of the Dorset countryside. Lush grounds, enchanting rooms and great food. If you’d like to make your stay as relaxing as possible then the hotel’s heated pool, on-site spa and beauty treatments have all your pre and post wedding pampering needs met. Oh and did I mention the hotel’s famous Whisky bar? Need I say more!
Deans Court
Dean’s Court is a simply stunning wedding venue! There’s epic grounds, lush green backdrops, an awesome lake and of course a gorgeous house. If you choose Dean’s Court for your big day there’s options for both indoor and outdoor ceremonies (with the house as the backdrop as you tie the knot) So if it does happen to rain on your wedding day (which of course it won’t!) your ceremony won’t be affected.
Came House
Came House in Dorset was built for parties! This elegant country house has extensive grounds, and just wait til you see the doomed conservatory – the perfect spot for a truly magical wedding ceremony! Came has everything you could need all under one roof, a dedicated wedding team to help all your plans run smoothly, a chapel for blessings, plenty of space and options for indoor or outdoor ceremonies, parking for all your guests. Best of all there’s onsite accommodation so you and your closest friends and family can all stay for the weekend.
St Giles House
St Giles House, located in Wimbourne, is an historic family home that has been restored as a stunning wedding venue. The House itself is breathtaking and would make the perfect choice for couples wanting country house charm for their big day. And if dancing the night away with friends and family is high on your list of wedding day musts then St Giles has its own award-winning nightclub and Speakeasy – it’s perfectly tucked away in the House so you don’t have to worry about noise complaints from the locals as you party your socks off!
Highcliffe Castle
As if I’ve not mentioned enough ‘wow’ venues my list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Highcliffe Castle. Highcliffe is a huge stately home built in the 1830s and is located close to Christchurch and Bournemouth. The House sits majestically on a cliff top (it’s not called Highcliffe for nothing!) with views of the Isle of Wight. It’s set within a nature reserve and has its own beach just a short walk away – perfect if you fancy a pre-wedding dip or some lovely couple photos!
I would love to be your Dorset wedding photographer! Drop me a message here.
How I work
My main aim during a wedding is to capture your day naturally, beautifully, and authentically. My clients aren’t professional models – they don’t usually know how to pose or what to do, so it’s my job to gently guide you through everything, capturing you and your partner genuinely and flatteringly. I don’t think I’ve met a couple yet who have said “I just LOVE having my photo taken!” so you’re not alone if it’s not your favourite thing to do in the world, but I promise I’ll make it fun.
Why book me?
I put YOUR enjoyment of YOUR wedding at the absolute heart of everything I do. Yes, of course it’s crucial that I take gorgeous wedding photos that I know you want and will treasure forever, but I can promise you this: I’m not going to get them by making you stand around for an age doing group shots or by taking you away from your guests for hours on end. I’ve been doing this job for long enough that I know exactly how to get fresh, authentic and beautiful photos, quickly. I won’t fuss and flap about; I’ll get what I know you’ll love and then you’ll be back partying with your friends again in a jiffy. 
Feeling the love – my clients are the best!
“Mia was absolutely amazing on our wedding day. We had met a few months before to explore the venue and photo opportunities and it was a lovely chance to get to know her. We were instantly at ease and this translated to the wedding day. Everything was so relaxed yet totally organised and we got all the photos we really wanted – even right at the end of the night when she was about to leave Mia was happy to whiz round with me grabbing a final few snaps, and those are some of the ones we now treasure the most. The photos themselves are incredible and we couldn’t be happier with them! We couldn’t recommend Mia highly enough, she was absolutely fantastic and went above and beyond to capture some amazing photographs for us – thank you Mia xx”
Karen & Chris
“When we were looking for a photographer for our wedding, it was really important to us that we found someone on our wavelength, who thought outside the box and someone we felt we would want to have a drink in the pub with because they made us feel so comfortable. We found just that! Mia started off as our photographer and has ended up being a friend. And our initial meeting was in fact in a pub! Mia is just totally gorgeous, she is so calming and down to earth but at the same time is so passionate and creative about her work. She captured our engagement and wedding day so beautifully without forcing us into false poses which isn’t what we wanted at all. Everything was done so naturally and truly captured the essence of what we wanted to achieve. We can’t thank Mia enough for these lasting memories and would highly recommend her to anyone who wanted that personal touch. With love, Jo & Spencer”
“We were instantly drawn to Mia when we saw her photographs because we loved the way she captured colours in such a natural way without overediting. We were not disappointed – she captured our day perfectly! Not only do we love her style but she is also so easy to get along with that it’s like having a friend taking your photograph which makes a nerve-wracking day just that little bit easier! The quality of the products you get are beautiful and I loved the personal touches that show that Mia thoroughly enjoys her job – our photo album is truly a work of art! We really could not recommend Mia highly enough and rave about her to all our friends planning a wedding. Thank you Mia. Lauren & Harry”
Looking for a Dorset Wedding Photographer? Then do get in touch and we can have a good chat about all your exciting plans!
FAQ
Are you insured? Yes, I’m fully insured and business registered!
Do you offer albums? I offer beautiful fine art albums that are all lovingly handmade in the UK, these albums are available in a range of sizes and colours. Prices start from £350 for an 8×8″ 20 page leather album, right up to £650 for a big, sexy 12×12″ 40 page one. I’ll bring examples along to our meeting so you can have a look as we chat over a cuppa.
Do you offer a second photographer? I am part of a network of other fantastic local professional photographers who work together to provide second shooting services for each other. This means that if you opt to have a second photographer you can rest assured that you’ll have a highly experienced pair of professionals capturing your day, resulting in a truly wonderful collection of photos! Opting to have two photographers present throughout your wedding day is the perfect way to ensure that you receive lots of fun and informal photos of your friends and family enjoying the day and soaking up the atmosphere. I will be there to photograph the formal family photos, bride and groom photos, ceremony etc.
I only need photography for a few hours, can you help? If you are having a small wedding and would just like a few hours covered, ask me for a special quote, hourly prices from £200ph.
Do we get to meet you before our wedding? It’s important to me to meet you both before your wedding. All my packages include a meeting at your venue before the wedding to discuss which family photos you would like and to write a time plan of the day.
How long before we receive our photos? Mia, can you add a paragraph of text to answer this question.
How do we book you? That’s great news – get in touch with me here and I can get you all booked in!
Do you travel for weddings? I’m based in Hampshire but I love to travel and have shot gorgeous weddings across the south of England and UK including Surrey, Sussex, The New Forest and Wiltshire.
Do you offer engagement shoots? I offer engagement (or pre-wedding shoots) from £250. These are a great way to get to know each other and for you to get used to having your photograph taken before your big day – I promise we’ll have a lot of fun! Head over to my Engagement Shoot gallery to have a peek at what to expect here.
Do you do other kinds of photography? Although weddings are my first love I also do family shoots and a bit of commercial photography too. Get in touch with me here to chat further!