Wedding Belles & Boys

I’ve been photographing weddings for over ten years now, and one of my favourite subjects are the children! Those old enough to understand what’s going on are always so excited to be part of the big day. From the gorgeous bridesmaids to the cool page boys, they’ve always got a smile and are nearly always up to something they shouldn’t be!

I started photographing weddings 3 years before I set up Mouse About Town. At one point I was doing over 40 weddings a year, which was crazy busy, but great fun! I got to meet some real characters and some really lovely couples. I now have three young children of my own and still get booked out regularly for weddings. Combined with all the other types of photography work I do, it’s a good balance.

I fully understand the needs of every couple I photograph, taking the time to meet them and get to know them. Some can be camera shy, which is when a more natural, subtle approach works well. Others have a full schedule of shots they’d like. Everyone is different and it’s my job to capture the essence of the day.

I take all photos in colour, any that couples receive in black and white will have been changed during post production. Photos of children, (especially babies) can become timeless when the colour is removed and the image stripped back.

Reception Highlights

There is always a lot of relief after the ceremony finishes! The bride and groom can relax, enjoy a glass of fizz and mingle with guests. For some, the hardest part is done and they have the rest of the day to enjoy and celebrate.

The reception always provides endless photo opportunities. There is much merriment and as the afternoon goes on and the drinks flow, everyone is relaxed. I use this time to photograph from the background, preferring to capture natural moments of guests and their bride and groom enjoying themselves.

I have a very discreet manner and can blend in seamlessly. People are often very unaware that they are having their photo taken. I frequently get complimented on this aspect of my work, and I take it as a lovely compliment. At the end of the day, everyone is there to have a good tine and it’s my job to capture that.

There are always lots of silly moments during the afternoon and evening of a wedding. It’s super fun. If it’s a full day, I leave after the first dance, and there are many occasions where I feel that I’m leaving just as the party is getting started!

Venue Highlights

I have photographed many different wedding venues over the last 10 years, ranging from tiny chapels to grand estates. One of my favourites was in a Welsh folly at the top of a reservoir!

All the venues I have worked at have had real character and charm. I like to familiarise myself with the venue and it’s grounds prior to the wedding so that I know the best place for group and couple photos.

I have various different lenses that are suitable for different styles of photography. Venues tend to lend themselves well to a wide angle lens, which can provide sweeping interior shots and exaggerated skies.

Speech Snippets

It would be fair to say that in the 10 years I’ve been photographing weddings, I have heard some hilarious speeches and met some very nervous speakers!! It’s always a great part of the day, with normally a few surprises thrown in too!

My approach to photographing the speeches is the same as my approach to the rest of the day. I try and blend into the background and capture the candid moments as they happen. I’ll move around the room, focusing on both the speaker and the guest's reaction. I try to get a balance.

Between the hysterical laughter, there can be some very tender moments as loved ones who have been lost are remembered or a story is told that brings a tear to someone’s eye. Letters are read from those who couldn’t make the journey and it warms the hearts of those in the room. It’s my job to capture all the reaction.

It’s always the best man’s speech that is the most eagerly awaited! I have met some very nervous chaps whose speeches have been super short, and also some very confident ones who enjoy standing up and speaking in public. They all go down well though, with plenty of banter!

Couples Clips

Making time to capture photos of the bride and groom is a really important part of the day. Couples can often get to the wedding breakfast and find they’ve barely spoken to each other, so busy are they meeting and greeting with their guests. Taking them aside for 20 minutes or so gives them a little bit of quiet time together, which many couples appreciate.

If I’ve been booked to cover a full day, I will spend a little bit of time during the morning to familiarise myself with the venue and it’s grounds. I like to find areas that will make nice spots for photos with the bride and groom. This preparation means I know exactly where I’ll be taking them later, saving time and ensuring the couple get back to their wedding party quicker.

When taking photos of the bride and groom alone, I like to keep my distance and let them be. Natural moments come across much better than poses that have been contrived. Many couples also aren’t used to being in front of the camera, and they generally prefer this approach.

I take a mixture of portrait and landscape photos. I always try and find the best light and the best angles that flatter both the bride and groom. It’s often just a case of watching how they interact with each other and asking them to pause when I see a nice moment. There is little direction.

Group Clips

If I’m being totally honest, group photos are not my favourite part of a wedding. I understand why people want them, but I personally don’t feel they capture the true essence of the occasion. I’m always thrilled when a couple say they don’t want any group photos at all. It means I’ve got more time to concentrate on capturing those more candid moments.

I have photographed weddings where there has been three A4 pages of specific group photos. It really can interrupt the flow of the day, leaving some brides quite stressed. When group photos are requested, I like to keep the business fairly short. I ask for a list of photos in advance of the day and also request that a copy be given to the best man or chief bridesmaid or someone who is good at rallying people together. It means I can get on with the task of taking the photos while someone else rounds up the next group so that they are ready when it’s their turn. It really does help to speed things up.

When it comes to group photos, I always like to know where we’ll be doing them before we start. This normally involves me walking round the venue and it’s grounds in the morning to find a suitable spot.

Group photos can be as serious or as silly as you like. Personally, I like to keep things quite informal, but I’m always led by the couple and what they prefer.

Groomsmen Highlights

Let’s be honest, when it comes to weddings, it’s normally the bride who steals the show! It’s therefore always a pleasure when I get enthusiastic groomsmen wanting some pictures too! During the morning, while everyone is getting ready in their rooms, there is always a very different feel to the gents prep. It’s fairly relaxed and there’s normally a beer in hand. There’s lots of banter and it’s great fun.

I enjoy photographing both the bridal prep and the groomsmen’s prep as these are both aspects of the day that the other person doesn’t get to see. When looking through the photos after the wedding, I think it’s nice for couples to get a glimpse at what was going on elsewhere. It gives the full story and means they don’t feel they’ve missed out on anything.

Having photographed weddings for over 10 years, I am well accustomed to managing my time. I’m often required to split my time between the bridal prep and the groomsmen prep, whilst making sure I get pictures of guests arriving as well as capturing shots of the venue and the ceremony room.

After the ceremony it’s then about managing my time to ensure that all the group photos are done swiftly to leave enough time to capture shots of the wedding breakfast room and candid pictures of guests relaxing and talking. It’s a busy day, but one that I enjoy.

Details

Having photographed weddings for over 10 years, I understand how important it is to capture every detail. Often, it’s the smaller aspects that tell the story best. Piece all these little things together and you create a natural and honest portrayal of the day.

I photograph absolutely everything at a wedding! It’s about stepping back and picking out the detail. It could be a discarded pair of stilettos that one of the bridesmaids has kicked off or the handbag of the Mother of the Bride that she’s left on her seat. It’s the things that go unnoticed by most people that can actually sum up the feeling of the day the best.

I have captured so many images over the years so it has been hard to pick out a handful to share in these blog posts. From beer bottles to fag butts and empty confetti cones, each image is unique to each couple and their special day.

I do hope you enjoy scrolling through the images here. If you would like more information about my wedding photography packages, please get in touch on 07983 465414 or send me an email using the form on my contact page.

Quite often, a lot of time and effort has gone into making things like the place names, the table decorations, the wedding favours and cake etc. I feel it’s important that these items are documented so that these beautiful sentiments aren’t forgotten.

Bridal Highlights

I’ve photographed many, many weddings over the past ten years. You can find highlights of some of these over on my weddings website - www.gillthomas.co.uk.

Right now, I’m in the process of updating my weddings page on Mouse About Town to help showcase the work I’ve done and continue to do. Weddings are lovely occasions that I truly enjoy capturing. From photos of the bridal party getting ready right through to the first dance, weddings always provide a wonderful array of different moments.

I have a very natural approach to wedding photography. Blending into the background means I can be extremely unobtrusive. Many couples appreciate this style of photography as it means they can get on and enjoy celebrating their special day with their friends and family, safe in the knowledge that every single moment is being captured on camera in a totally natural, unposed way. This truly reflects the joy and fun shared.

I take all photographs in colour. Any images which couples receive in black and white will have been changed during post production. Some images lend themselves particularly well to black and white, which creates a timeless feel to an image. Other pictures work much better in colour. I use my judgement, and when I can’t decide, couples often get two versions of the same image - one in colour and one in black and white!

I thoroughly enjoy taking photos of the bride getting ready. There is always so much fun, (and normally lots of fizz!) Often I can hear the giggles and laughter before I’ve even entered the room! It’s my job to capture those moments the bride shares with her girlfriends so that she has the memories to look back on.