My Style
I’m an experienced, natural wedding photographer who works in a relaxed and friendly documentary approach. I do love interacting with the couple and their guests and creating beautiful portraits too, so I am not a strict documentary wedding photographer.
My couples are able to relax and enjoy their day and they never have to feel like they are performing for the camera. They know they will get amazing portraits and photos of their day as it actually happened, with a large dose of things they might have missed if it wasn’t for me and my cameras.
When I first started as a wedding photographer I worked a lot for Paul Walker and this wedding was one of his. I was brought in as the second shooter last minute.
Crow Wood Hotel Wedding Photography
Crow Wood Hotel and Spa is a large complex with a hotel, fitness centre, restaurant and riding stables all set within 100 acres of beautiful countryside in Burnley, Lancashire in the North West of England.
For all its glorious greenery, you would never know it was so close to the M65 motorway.
On the wedding day when I arrived the bride was in a flurry of activity getting ready. I met up with Greg, the main photographer and got some SD cards from him, then left him to the bridal prep and went to get some shots of Crow Wood hotel and await the groom.
Whilst downstairs, I also showed the wedding coordinator my drone C2 certification and insurance. If you get someone in for drone work at a wedding and they are doing it commercially, they must have these things.
I got some lovely shots of the venue and wedding details and even had a look at the cute ducklings on the lake.
Groom Prep
Soon, the groom arrived and met up with his guests at the bar. I took him and his best man outside for a few portraits but quickly let them rejoin the family and friends having a few drinks and chatting.
Crow Wood Hotel Wedding Ceremony
Before the wedding ceremony began, I introduced myself to the registrars and made sure I knew where I would be and that I wouldn’t get in Greg’s shots.
They also had a videographer (Jack) in so I talked to him about his shots and had a bit of general industry chat. I’ll link to his website below. He’s fairly new to weddings but does great work.
The ceremony was lovely and the bride looked stunning in her wedding dress. It was only a short ceremony and before we knew it it was time to head outside for group shots, confetti and canapes.
Reception at Crow Wood Hotel
We got everyone outside for the confetti then the bride and groom had a great time getting covered in petals.
We then gave them a bit of a break to see everyone and have some canapes (these were delicious) then when the time was right Greg got started on the group shots.
Group shots can be a lot like herding cats so I enjoyed not having to do them for once and instead focused on candids.
Greg also took this time to get a few couple portraits done. Like me, rather than doing one long portrait session, he breaks it up into two or three shorter sessions throughout the day.
This gives the couple more variety in their portraits and more time with their guests.
Check out my packages, portfolio and contact me.
Wedding Breakfast and Speeches
There was a good break for us before the speeches and Crow Wood were kind enough to provide us with a delicious meal. I took this time as always, to check over the morning’s work and make sure all batteries, cameras and SD cards were good for the rest of the day.
It was soon time for the speeches so the staff got us through before they started.
My job was to focus on the reactions of the guests mainly. These always make for some good shots.
Couple Wedding Portraits at Crow Wood Hotel
After the meal, we took the couple outside again for some couple shots and a few more group shots around the lake and at the pagoda.
They then spent some time with their guests, so it was more documentary photography.
I had earlier spotted a tree I wanted to take the couple to for a few sunset portraits. When the time was right I took the couple put there just as the sun was setting. I couldn’t have asked for better light!
Cutting the Cake
The evening guests had all arrived, and the DJ was set up, so he called the couple to cut their cake. This went well, and it was on to the first dance.
Crow Wood Hotel First Dance
The staff removed the cake for cutting, and the bride and groom went straight into their first dance as a married couple. After a couple of minutes, everyone joined them on the dance floor and from then on, it was one big party.
Once Greg and I had the shots we wanted, we bid farewell to the bride and groom, packed up and went home.
It had been a lovely Crow Wood Hotel Wedding Photography.
Take a look at my other Lancashire Weddings.
Check out my packages, portfolio and contact me.
To see more of my weddings at venues in this area, head over to my Lancashire wedding photography page.
Shot on behalf of Paul Walker Photography
Videographer was Jack Smithies
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