Wedding Photography Blog

Last updated: Sunday, 07 February 2010

Hazlewood Castle wedding fayre this weekend - I'll be in the Great Hall

Hazlewood Castle's first wedding fayre of the year will be held this Sunday between 11 and 4. I'll be exhibiting in the Great Hall with a number of new albums and a few special wedding fayre offers.

Andrew and Sally's Graphistudio wedding album

Andrew and Sally collected their Graphistudio storybook wedding album on Tuesday. After spending a while choosing their wedding photographs from their August wedding at Rogerthorpe Manor, Andrew and Sally decided to upgrade to a Graphistudio wedding album. Even though I offer a free alteration of design on all my Graphistudio wedding albums, Andrew and Sally loved the proof layout and the files were quickly uploaded to the Graphistudio head office in Italy ready to be turned into a superb storybook.

Upon receiving their storybook on Tuesday, they were both overjoyed and full of praise, commenting how they'd been recommending me and my services to anybody and everybody and how they loved the album, photos, service etc, all great stuff to hear. Sally's dad also took the time to contact me today with the following message.

"Chris, I have just seen Andrew and Sally's wedding album and I am moved to write a note to you... The album is stunning, the pictures are brilliant and I am jealous! Your work is phenomenal and I would advise anyone contemplating hiring you to arrange their wedding date around your availability. Andrew and Sally are so pleased with everything that they just did not know which photographs to choose. once again, thank you so much. John."

Tags: Rogerthorpe Manor wedding photography : Pontefract Wedding : Graphistudio Wedding album : Italian Story Book : Wedding album

January 31st 2010

Pre-wedding photo shoots in Leeds, Hazlewood Castle and Waterton Park

Three pre-wedding photo shoots today, one on the outskirts of Leeds for Paul and Liz marrying at Bagden Hall, the second at Hazlewood Castle near York for Lawrence, Catherine and their daughter Liannha  and finally ending the day at Walton Hall near Wakefield with Melanie and Tim.

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Tags: Pre-wedding photoshoot : Engagement photography : Bagden Hall : Hazlewood Castle : Walton Hall Waterton Park

January 30th 2010

Simon and Michelle's wedding, St Oswald's in Guiseley to 3 Albion place in Leeds

Simon and Michelle married on Saturday at St Oswald's in Guiseley before celebrating with a reception at 3 Albion Place in Leeds. The historic church of St Oswald's provided a stunning venue for the wedding ceremony and a very friendly vicar was more than obliging for photography requests, allowing me to shoot from the front of the church whilst Alex covered the events from the rear.

Following the ceremony we headed into Leeds city centre for the wedding reception and wedding breakfast at 3 Albion Place. With no evening reception to photograph our day ended after the wedding breakfast and speeches, however stepping outside into a now deserted city centre we quickly called Simon and Michelle out for some impromptu night shots before bidding them farewell.

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Tags: Leeds wedding photographer : West Yorkshire wedding : wedding photographer : Leeds wedding venue : 3 Albion Place Leeds

January 23rd 2009

Rob and Elaine's wedding at Wentbridge House, Wentbridge near Pontefract

No snow! For the first time in a while a wedding without any of the white stuff. Although the temperature remained cool, we didn't risk frostbite today for Rob and Elaine's wedding at Wentbridge House. Following their civil wedding ceremony we were quickly outside for photographs with their guests and then with Rob and Elaine alone.

Just before the start of the evening reception and their first dance we popped back out for some night time photographs around Wentbridge, finally shooting some more inside the hotel using the modern decor and furnishings of the new building. Back inside, the big screen display of photographs went down a storm with plenty of well received compliments from the wedding guests.

Tags: Wentbridge House wedding photographer : West Yorkshire wedding : Wakefield wedding photographer : Wentbridge House wedding

January 19th 2009

Congratulations Peter and Rebecca

Peter and Rebecca were married last April at the Bridge Inn near Wetherby.  Peter has been in touch this week with the great news that they have a new addition to their family, born on the 5th January was baby Joseph Thomas. Congratulations and don't worry the sleepless nights don't last more than a couple of years! One of Peter and Rebecca's wedding photographs below.

January 9th 2009

Nicola and Stirling's wedding at Hazlewood Castle York, North Yorkshire

The first wedding of 2010 for me on Saturday as Nicola and Stirling married at Our Lady's Church in York before celebrating at Hazlewood Castle hotel.

The deep snow certainly made driving interesting and the temperatures a touch on the chilly side, but Nicola and Stirling were fantastic and happy to head into the snow once we arrived at Hazlewood Castle. Not only once but twice as following the wedding breakfast and speeches we headed out again for some after dark snowy photos.

Judging by the very well received evening screen show of photographs from the day Nicola and Stirling's efforts were certainly appreciated by their guests.

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  Tags: Hazlewood Castle wedding photographer : York wedding Photography : North Yorkshire wedding photographer : York wedding

January 8th 2010

Snowy Waterton Park

A quick scenic photograph of a heavily snow covered Walton Hall at Waterton Park from yesterday.

Tags: Walton Hall Waterton Park: Wedding venue Wakefield : Wakefield wedding photographer: West Yorkshire wedding photographer

January 6th 2010

Paparazzi ! Guests with cameras.

A trio of images from Phil and Amanda's wedding last Wednesday. Handling her mum's camera like a pro this young girl was keen to snap away during the speeches and share the results with her friends.

A lot of wedding photographers don't like guests taking photos during weddings, especially of the posed formal groups etc. Over the years I've heard stories from guests at weddings being told they can't take photos, photographers purposefully walking in front of guests, posing shots of the bride and groom with their backs to the guests and generally being abusive towards anyone with a camera. This rude and inexcusable behaviour is because they are trying to maximise their own sales by ensuring aunty Doris has to buy their photograph as she can't take her own.

Personally this isn't a theory I subscribe to and actively encourage guests to take photos.  As the professional photographer on the day my job is to ensure the photograph  I take is much better than that taken by aunty Doris and not to be scared of her stealing my print sales!

When booking a wedding photographer this is always a point to raise and ensure they don't mind your guests taking photographs during the day including the formal groups.

December 31st 2009

Simon and Sarah's wedding at Walton Hall, Waterton Park - New Year's Eve wedding celebrations

I joined Simon and Sarah at Waterton Park on Thursday for their New Years eve wedding. Freezing cold but bright clear skies, seems to be a common theme running through these December weddings, although we did manage a little bit of falling snow for some of the photographs.

As midnight loomed guests gathered on the dance floor and following the customary  shaking hands through Auld Lang Syne, all the wedding guests gathered on the patio for new years day shot with sparklers before we finished the night / morning / new year with some shots of Simon and Sarah out front of Walton Hall for a final photo and one that will make a stunning end to their Graphistudio storybook wedding album. Leave a comment about this post

Tags: Waterton Park wedding photographer : West Yorkshire wedding : Wakefield wedding photographer : Wakefield wedding venue

December 30th 2009

Phil and Amanda's wedding at Skelton Church and St Williams College in York.

Following the wedding ceremony we left St Giles and Skelton heading to the Minster Gardens in York city centre for the photographs of Phil and Amanda. Thanks go to Chris at Superior cars for his help in positioning the car and helping ensure we got Phil and Amanda into the exact location we wanted them for the photos.

Following the speeches and cake cutting at St Williams College guests were transported over to the National Railway Museum for the evening reception held between the steam trains on the indoor station platform.

The following clip includes many of the eighty or so photographs we used on Phil and Amanda's big screen highlights show during their evening reception.

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Tags: St Williams College wedding photographer : North Yorkshire wedding : Wakefield wedding photographer : York wedding venue

December 27th 2009

Emma and Martin's wedding at Walton Hall, Waterton Park Wakefield

The cold snap continues. With the Turkey and presents a distant memory it was off to Walton Hall for Emma and Martin's wedding on Sunday. Snow was still in abundance and the temperature refused to rise above zero, great conditions for freezing your erm...  stunning winter weddings!

Emma and Martin had kept their formal list to a minimum but were still keen to get outdoors for some photos around the island including with their young son Alfie.

The following clip includes some of the highlights from their wedding day including several of the photographs we used on the big screen during their evening reception.   Leave a comment about this post

Tags: Waterton Park wedding photographer : West Yorkshire wedding : Wakefield wedding photographer : Wakefield wedding venue

December 19th 2009 

Paul and Helen's wedding at Walton Hall, Waterton Park Wakefield.

The car temperature reading said minus three as I pulled into the car park at Waterton Park Hotel on Saturday morning for Paul and Helen's wedding. The crisp white snow and blue skies were the sign of a cold but great day ahead.

Following some preparation photographs of Helen and bridesmaids in one of the bedrooms I met up with Paul, his groomsmen and best woman in the bar (Where else?). Paul had skipped the traditional best man idea and instead chosen future sister in law and very good friend Vanessa as his best woman. Some brilliant planning on Helen's part was that Vanessa's dress was the reverse of the bridesmaids with Vanessa wearing a black dress with green sash whilst the bridesmaids wore green with a black sash. Well I was impressed!

Following the civil ceremony Helen donned a pair of Ugg's and we ventured into the snow. Keeping her feet warm was critical to ensuring we had some good photos taking advantage of both the stunning Waterton Park surroundings and the snow.

If you are planning a wedding and would like the winter wonderland feel but maybe summer temperatures, Waterton Park now offer rental of a snow machine. For only £125 you can add snow to your wedding at any time of the year, great for photographs. A special offer for Jan, Feb and March 2010 weddings the snow machine is only £80. For more information contact Pauline or Amanda

The following animated video clip of wedding highlights features a number of images we used for Paul and Helen's big screen display during their evening wedding reception.

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Tags: Walton Hall Wedding : Waterton Park winter wedding : Winter Wedding photographer : Walton Hall wedding photography

December 13th 2009 

Gareth and Naomi's Pre-wedding photo shoot at Wentbridge House Hotel

I caught up with Gareth and Naomi on Sunday morning at Wentbridge House Hotel near Pontefract for a pre-wedding  photo shoot. During winter months the sun is much lower and can add some interesting effects to the photographs. Although usually lens flare is best avoided, used correctly it can create some superb results. Gareth and Naomi love them and have already chosen a large flare photograph for their wall.

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Chris Chambers is recommended by the regions exclusive wedding venues including Waterton park, Hazlewood Castle, Nostell Priory and Allerton Castle.

www.ccphotos.co.uk

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