Mark & Samantha's Wedding

After photographing Brian & Chris' Wedding on the Friday, the very next day I was up in the Cotswolds with my good friend Steve Pratley at the stunning Matara for the Wedding of Mark Fryer & Samantha Luker.


The day started off at a nearby hotel called the Egypt Mill where Samantha and members of her family had been staying. We had enough time to photograph some of the detail before photographing Samantha in her wedding dress and then making off back to the Matara to meet up with Mark.


Yet again the day just couldn't have been better. Beautiful clear blue skies, bright sunshine, a stunning location, great guests and a wonderful Bride & Groom; an absolute gift.


As is the always the case with me I'd been up to the venue several times prior to the wedding scouting out locations for photos and planning for every eventuality; even though we'd been promised a sunny day, this is England so anything can happen.


With a timetable of when I'd be photographing certain items and events, the day ran like clockwork, was incredibly relaxed and great fun; just couldn't have wished it be to better in any other way.


Following the outdoor ceremony next to an ornamental pond we made our way around the grounds with Mark & Samantha to take some 'personal' photos away from their guests. At a location such as The Matara there is so much choice with stunning surroundings, shaded areas and beautiful soft light spilling in through the tree canopy into a woodland area. We walked around a pre planned route for roughly 45 minutes before heading back to the main building.


Mark & Samantha were great fun to photograph, putting their trust in me and 'going with the flow'. This again I'm convinced is because of the earlier 'pre wedding / engagement' shoot where they'd had the opportunity to be photographed before the wedding and see how I work. There's just no way I would enter into a wedding without first having been out on a 'pre wedding / engagement' photo shoot or as Brian Whyte called it 'The getting to know you shoot'; it's just so incredibly valuable.


Anyway, I've got a little more editing to get on with before Mark & Samantha return from their honeymoon so I'd better crack on. Oh, and for any of you interested all these shots are lit using 'natural' light; the only flash I used during the day was right at the end for the 'first dance'.

Bye for now ;o)