You lovely people.
Do you ever find yourself looking across a ceremony table at two people, and you’ve only really met them a couple of times before and spent at most a few hours in total in their company, and you find yourself thinking, “I’m so glad that you two are marrying each other”?
When I last met up with Beth & Stephen for their pre-wedding shoot it was blustery and pouring with rain. The weather didn’t curb their enthusiasm in the slightest. I did however reassure them they’d have great weather come their Easter weekend wedding, though in so doing I didn’t quite have the notion of a blazing hot Summer’s day in mind. It’s what they deserved though and what a day it was.
I was joined on this commission by Nichola Rogers of Kent based wedding and event photographers Lemonade Pictures. The images in the following three chapters are a combination of hers and mine.
Beth has really rather a lot of hair, perhaps more elegant to say a good length of it. I’ve no idea where it all got packed away to* but Stephen’s cousin Lou’s styling was certainly a marvel. Beth’s brother James also has a good head of hair on him; likewise it got packed away later too…
*until later, during the ceremony, when I caught Beth’s profile from the other side and ooh la la! I must learn me the various names for hairstyles in the interests of paucity of description (befitting my habitual mode of writing… anyway…) but marvellous hair-styling work indeed.
This week’s brazen answer to the existential crisis of wedding photography…
Camera aware moments…
I was set adrift with Beth’s shoes…
Beth’s intended might be small, but he has a big heart…
A fitting image of F.O.B. Keith…
I noted that Beth had a crochet needle at the ready. “I’ve been reading your blog,” she said. A good thing too with 21 buttons to contend with. Buttoned up in record time they were too…
Straight into Compton [Acres]…
Beth’s a down to earth type. She arrived at Compton Acres by bus…
Screen L to R: A registrar, Best Man Matthew, Groom Stephen, an air of expectation…
Of anticipation…
Of something well worth waiting for…
And it is done…
If there’s a mock signing of a blank register to be done, for photographing, then it’s best done between the couple and their guests as that’s where the genuine interaction takes place. I always feel a bit bamboozled when it’s just me and them; just what is the genuine moment I’m documenting here? The portrait session comes later. It is something genuine though when it’s the people that all came together to celebrate the occasion…
I wish I could hire Beth’s Mum, Jan, to call together people for the big group shot (when requested, weather and environmental layout permitting, terms and conditions apply) at all weddings I go to. Around a hundred people brought into place in 3.57 seconds, give or take. It was a marvel to behold…
It’s only a pity after such a magnificent organisational feat that the architects of Compton Acres’ Italian Villa had positioned the balcony balusters too close together…
Then off we all set, on Summer Holiday…
Contact Dorset Wedding Photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248
by Phillip Allen
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Shella - You are just so fabulous! Love the whole set!!
Phillip Allen - Thanks Shell :~)