Ask anyone. The best sort of wedding photography is relaxed, natural wedding photography. Fact. That’s how you see people as they really are, that’s how you capture emotion (and isn’t that the whole point of wedding photography?), and that’s how you remember things. This wedding – Rachael & Jonathan’s – could be a poster child for natural wedding photography. Obviously the candid documentary photos measure up, and the portraits we did of the two of them were such a pleasure to shoot and I think convey the overriding sense of fun that pervaded the day. Read on to see more…
I love this relaxed, natural photo of Rachael and her dad Mark in the sun, waiting to go into the church.
Natural Wedding Photography in Cheshire
I should point out that the sub-heading above isn’t true. It’s an outright lie in fact, as the wedding was in sunny Birmingham, but allow me to explain.Â
I’ve known this family for some time. I photographed Dad Mark’s wedding to Karen a few years back, and sister-in-law Lucy’s wedding to Chris, as well as the evening reception of brother Scott’s wedding to Adela (they’d already got married abroad). I’ve also done a number of portrait shoots, parties and so forth for them – chatting to Mark in the car on the way to the church, I think we’re up to 7 or 8 Hensel Photo Extravaganzas in total, the majority of which have been in the Cheshire area where the hub of the family is based. So that’s, as I am fond of saying, nice 🙂
Anyway, shall we look at some photos? We start at the Westmead Hotel, where groom Jonathan and many of the guests were staying (as was I). Note Jonathan’s Wedding Watch – always a lovely gift for a groom on his wedding day.
We then moved on to Rachael & The Girls getting ready (“Bridal Prep” in wedding speak) at their house, a short drive away.Â
Rachael in her wedding dress. Doesn’t she look fantastic?Â
Off to the St Nicolas Church in King’s Norton next, and the elusive sun makes an appearance for the couple. I’m particularly fond of the flare of light in the picture of Rachael and her Dad waiting outside the church.
Jonathan waiting in the church. I love how he’s caught in a patch of light, checking his watch.Â
Natural Wedding Photography
Nowhere are the natural photos more important than during the wedding ceremony itself.
Afterwards, we proceeded outside for confetti and the family groups. No matter how much the couple (and indeed I) prefer natural wedding photos, almost everyone still needs to have a few of these. A wedding is a family occasion, after all. Still good fun though – note the veil blowing about in one and the little girls mucking around and hiding in others.
After the guests were shunted off to the hotel, I took Rachael & Jonathan for some bridal portraiture. Someone had thoughtfully put a number of ancient buildings near the church, and I was pleased to find some Autumn colours too. The “passing the champagne” photo has proved to be a great favourite 🙂
Back to the hotel ourselves, for the wedding breakfast, speeches, dancing and general mayhem 🙂
Thank you
…for reading this post, I hope you’ve enjoyed the photographs. If you’re getting married – Cheshire, Birmingham, anywhere – I’d love to hear from you. Please contact me to have a chat about your wedding photography.
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Thanks for looking
–Tim