• I Compose Stories of Wedding Days.

    I care about people and care about the images that serve as their memories

    I'm Phill. I photograph weddings. You can view some of my latest work and news below or use the menu items above to find out more about me and my services. Click here to go directly to my Wedding Photography section. I'm committed to providing you with exceptional customer service and evocative imagery. I'm available for commissions across the UK and beyond.


    If you're wired more so than most, you can also keep tabs on me via my Twitter account and my Facebook business page.

Purbeck Wedding : Meleza & James

Picture the scene if you will. A large Edwardian house overlooking an English bay. A bride prepares for her marriage. Out to sea a yacht is moored. Her intrepid groom sets course for shore, his boat cutting through still morning water.

If only the mind’s eye could render photographic images directly. The pattern of English August weather precluded an easy eve-of-wedding sleep out to sea, sad to say. In fact the sea was so choppy the night before Meleza & James married, sleeping out there was nigh on inadvisable, if not for safety’s sake then at least for the sake of making it to the church in a reasonably refreshed state.

It drizzled and rained throughout the big day itself (except, serendipitously, when Meleza arrived at the church, when she and James exited to a shower of confetti, and for a brief spell when everyone was able to gather overlooking the sea for a few group photographs) and nobody was bothered in the slightest. It’s the way things happen when the weather does this on wedding days. If anything it focusses people’s minds on what it’s all really about and on this occasion it was all about a fantastically spirited, joyful and caring couple and their happy, hearty family and friends.

That’s all a wedding day needs really.

It was barely over a month earlier that I first met Meleza & James; a pre-booking consultation, planning meeting and engagement shoot all rolled into one. Everything happened so quickly, as they say! I truly enjoyed their day immensely and I’ve truly enjoyed reliving that day in piecing together the photographic record.

I arrived at Studland Bay House to find Meleza’s Dad, Manie, sweeping away a premature Autumn. I found James gathering himself in the galley. With his grooms-men he then proceeded to rustle up a fortifying English breakfast and saw to it that I was fed too; a theme that continued throughout the day, both James & Meleza always had an instinctive mind to ensure everyone was well taken care of.

Full-English and steaming tea below. Fresh fruit and chilled champagne above. That's in terms of the layout of the house by the way, not the order of images surrounding this caption.

I was so consumed by the fine breakfast downstairs that by the time I made it to the bridal suite Meleza's make-up was done. Oh, hang on...

STATEMENT BUNS!

Always handy to keep a Mr & Mrs Gray in the attic.

Hide & Seek with Panther Bow Peep by Schuh.

Whilst on shoe safari I encountered James, on his way to engage in the eternal ritual struggle between grooms-men and their wedding day accoutrements.

Meleza & James married at the rather unique St. Nicholas Church in Studland. I must express my gratitude to the Reverend Wood for his marvellously accommodating approach to photography. I view a wedding day as being comprised of five significant acts: preparation, ceremony, cocktail reception, breakfast & speeches and the celebratory party that ensues. I’m a story-teller at heart and I love nothing more than to relate the whole story; there are aspects of each of those five acts that I always enjoy exploring. If however in some hypothetical wedding universe I were only allowed access to one of those acts, it would have to be the ceremony. In great part it’s because that is where it really happens but also it’s because the ceremony invariably gets inside me, emotionally, when it comes to editing the day’s images. More deeply than any other aspect of the day.

If in years to come future generations can look at a set of images and say, “That’s when they actually got married,” how more profound a gift could there be?

Rev. Wood even went so far as to offer me use of the pulpit to photograph the processional as Meleza arrived up the aisle. A quick test of the viewpoint led me to realise I’d prefer a more interactive eye-level position from the church floor but I’m incredibly grateful none-the-less for the offer (and secretly I was quite tickled by the audible gasp from a member of the congregation as I appeared above the pulpit top).

Jenny Packham. Meleza. A winning combination.

A fitting viewpoint.

Back to the gardens of Studland Bay House for the cocktail reception.

The most alluring posed group shot I've ever taken.

Floral arrangements by Meleza's friend, Hannah.

Had it not been for that dress, had it not been for that suit indeed (it tends to take a great deal more for a groom’s attire to impress in comparison but impress it did in this case), had it not been for the people wearing them and the church they married in, if Meleza & James had married in a Portacabin wearing bin-liners (not that I’d wish to put ideas into anyone’s head but I’m sure that would make for a fascinating wedding too) there would still have been… the wheelbarrow!

Meleza & James picked it up via an online gardening store (they’ll place it in their garden as a keepsake) and the bridal party spent the morning gathering the natural ingredients for Meleza’s friend and bridesmaid Chantelle to create the most enchanting table plan I’ve yet encountered.

I was in Seventh Heaven. Thanks Meleza & James!

Cupcakes by Butterfly Bakery, Bournemouth. Meleza & James, my little one says thanks for the gift :~) She especially liked the pink one.

James's brother and Best Man, Nicholas. Such an accomplished orator he can even deliver a hilarious speech in his sleep.

Yes, seventh heaven.

James's speech went down that well.

Meleza & James love the sea. It had been our intention to head to the beach for some portraits during the golden hour, as sunset approached. The weather was dire so we were forced to stay indoors.

Ah well.

There was magic in the air that night. Okay, that one fell into my lap.

Cheers!

If you were a guest at Meleza & James’s wedding (was there a corner of the World that you didn’t represent?) and you’d like to receive notification when the full gallery of photographs from the day is available do drop me a line via email or feel free to leave a comment below, or indeed no need to be shy of doing both :~)

Fantastic wedding vendors I recommend without reservation:

  • Hair & Make-up: Gill Stora & Caroline Onslow-Bartlett. I’ve worked alongside some talented hair and make-up artists but Caroline & Gill are in a league of their own. They’ll make you look a million dollars.
  • Suit hire: Posh Togs of Winton, Bournemouth (01202 548997) – Distributors for Young’s Hire. They really know their customers.
  • Cupcakes: Butterfly Bakery – They look beautiful. They taste delicious.
  • Catering: Top Table Caterers

Contact Dorset wedding photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248

by Phillip Allen

show hide 17 comments

John Parker - Another epic set of shots. :-)

Meleza van Rooyen - Thank you for capturing these beautiful moments in time on our special day. James and myself can’t thank you enough for helping make our day so special. It was the most memorable day of our lives.

matt shumate - You are seriously killing me with all these amazing weddings you’re posting. Seriously. Your ability to capture what happens during a day is epic. What can I say, I’m a Phill phan. ;)

Amber Hughes - Seriously loving all of these! I feel like I was actually there :)

Jason Lloyd - Another stonker Phil!! It doesn’t seem to matter how many images you post of each wedding, I’m always happy to wait as they are always worth it! :)

Sarah King - Fantastic Phill. The bride was so gorgeous in her beautiful dress and I love the way you get the all important shot of the shoes.

Emma Davenport - 100% perfect from beginning to end. Meleza is one of the most glamorous brides I’ve ever seen and you’ve captured loads of classic and chic shots of her. I think it was a blessing in disguise not to be able to go down to the beach – those interior shots are outstanding.

Just Alex - Just love these, Phil. You’re really knocking them out of the park.

seth - Excellent work! Your candid photos are awesome. They all seemed so comfortable around you.

Amber - Really lovely storytelling.

Ryan Brenizer - Fantastic moments, great compositions, I felt like a fly on the wall.

Jenny Meng - I really like your processing. :) Excellent work capturing the emotions of the day – really beautiful. I’m sure these images will be treasured.

Alan Hutchison - Absolutely wonderful work Phil – you are such a storyteller (and the words are quite funny too). Pure Dead Brilliant.

Laura Lawson - An overwhelming amount of amazingness! I would go as far to say these images are perfect.

Peter Lawson - Wow. So much awesomeness :)

Andy Rapkins - Flat out gorgeous. Perfect images from a stunning wedding. Was looking forward to seeing this full set following the sneak peek of the staircase shot and once again you’ve delivered the goods and then some.

Agree with Emma – the interior shots are spectacular.

Great idea getting your clients to have the wedding breakfast inside a giant softbox!

Kevin Mullins - Brilliant – simply brilliant.

Happy 1st Wedding Anniversary Alison & Neville

One year on.

Contact Dorset wedding photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248

Sue’s Schuhs

Contact Dorset wedding photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248

Milton Abbey

Contact Milton Abbey wedding photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248

St. Ignatius, the biker and the rock climber

The subject line of the email alone was sufficient to thaw me instantly from cryogenic suspension. Not that I was in cryogenic suspension. At that point.

Scottish biker marries climbing Malteser.

A quick online check of the church that Ruth & Hamish would be marrying at almost had me on the road with my camera that instant. I waited though until they were next due to visit St. Ignatius Church in Chideock, on the Dorset side of the border with Devon. Well worth checking out the Web site, well worth a visit in person, the church has a fascinating history that underscores its significant beauty.

I met Ruth & Hamish, we chatted about their wedding day plans, they commissioned me. I’m a wee bit excited. I’m the master of understatement. View full post »

by Phillip Allen

show hide 3 comments

Sam Shepherd - That is a GREAT sky picture!

Andy Rapkins - Wow. That is a gorgeous church and those cloud patterns are just – for want of a better word again – wow. Very nice.

greg thurtle - i see a monster being chased by 2 other similar sized monsters… you?