Andrew Fowler Photography

Bagden Hall Wedding: Liz & Henry, 15th October 2011

2012-01-23T00:25:00.000-08:00

Ceremony & Reception: Bagden Hall, Scissett, Huddersfield

Bagden Hall is always a great venue for a wedding but it is particularly attractive, from the point of view of photography, when you can make use of the autumnal tints. Liz and Henry picked a beautiful day to get married. The light was amazing and it was warm enough for everyone to be outside most of the time.

Liz was without doubt one of the most excited brides we've ever photograghed. Henry, on the other hand, was one of the calmest grooms so it made for an interesting day. The shot of Liz below was taken as golf balls were whizzing through the trees, causing us to duck for cover a couple of times!

At the evening reception Mike Bryson was drawing fantastic caricatures of everyone (including Gav & me). I'd whole heartedly recommend him for any wedding, he kept everyone entertained all evening. If that wasn't enough, there was also a tarot reader on hand.

Congratulations to Liz and Henry and a big thank you for a fun day.

Click here to see other weddings at Bagden Hall

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Landscape Photography: Hoar Frost on Haw Pike, Addingham, West Yorkshire

2012-01-17T05:46:00.000-08:00

Addingham is a pretty village situated right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. It's perfect for a Sunday walk as it's only 30 mins drive from home and, although there are some big hills around, there are plenty of less challenging walks as well.
We did this particular walk up Haw Pike a few weeks ago in thick fog so the idea was to redo it on a day when we could actually see the scenery. Although it was a bit foggy again (and very frosty) today, it was clear enough to be able to appreciate the amazing scenery.

The walk starts in Addingham, following a well worn footpath out of the village and across the fields. It's uphill but you hardly notice it until you reach Bracken Ghyll Golf Course and look back the way you've come! After dodging low flying golf balls you find yourself at Chelker Reservoir with its huge wind turbines and stunning views. From there it's another gentle climb up to Haw Pike. As you walk around the Pike and start to descend, the ruins of the priory at Bolton Abbey come into view across the valley. The return leg passes through woods, across fields, over an abandoned railway line, through farmyards and down to the River Wharfe. The final mile follows the picturesque river back into Addingham.

If you are ever in the area with about 3 hours to spare, give it a go. You won't regret it!

Sandygate Hotel Wedding: Nicola & Andy, 8th October 2011

2012-01-15T11:19:00.000-08:00

Venue: Sandygate Hotel, Wath upon Dearne, South Yorkshire

Nicola and Andy were married in Cyprus and organised a party at the Sandygate Hotel for all their friends and relatives who were unable to attend the wedding and gav and me were on hand to take a few shots of the celebrations.
The Sandygate recently featured in the TV series The Hotel Inspector and is well known for its Elvis impersonator chef and the quality of the food, which I can definitely vouch for, and the place is absolutely stuffed with Elvis and other music memorabilia.

A big thank you to Nicola & Andy, who had a great time posing for the photos and being "papped" for the day and congratulations on your wedding.

Click here for wedding package prices

Wedding at Holiday Inn, Tong Village, Bradford: Louise & Chris, 1st October 2011

2012-01-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

Ceremony: St Mary's Church, Rothwell, Leeds

Reception: Holiday Inn, Tong Village, Bradford

Another new venue for me, although there were a few familiar faces (including Clare & Richard, whose wedding Gav & I photographed back in 2009). It was uncharacteristically hot, scorching in fact, for October and the autumn colours were stunning, although the low sun meant lots of fill-in flash and creative positioning of people to get the best shots. I love a challenge!

Congratulations to Louise & Chris. I hope you enjoyed your special day as much as we did!

Bagden Hall Wedding: Jenny & Matt, 2nd September 2011

2011-12-04T13:37:00.000-08:00

Ceremony: St Mary's Church, Mirfield, West Yorkshire
Reception: Bagden Hall, Scissett, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire

I can't tell you how busy I've been this year, so apologies for the lateness of this (and the next 6) blog posts!

Another cracking day (as always) at Bagden Hall. My first time at the beautiful church of St Mary's in Mirfield and hopefully not the last.

Jenny & Matt are a lovely couple, who seem to spend a lot of their time laughing. Matt in particular was in hysterics for much of the day and it was infectious.

The only slight hitch was Matt's German uncle getting lost on the way to the church, although, he did arrive just as the ceremony was starting, much to everyone's relief! Oh, and we nearly got hit by a couple of golf balls but apart from that it was a fantastic day!

Congratulations to Jenny & Matt and thanks for all the fun and laughs on your big day.

Caricaturist, Mike Bryson

2011-11-07T05:54:00.000-08:00

Here's a great idea for something different to entertain the guests at your wedding. Halifax based caricaturist, Mike Bryson, was at a wedding Gav & I photographed at Bagden Hall a few weeks ago and he did this caricature of us (that's me on the right). He somehow managed to draw just about all of the 80 guests, as well the two of us. I was amazed how quickly he works!
Have a look at Mike's website, you'll be amazed too!

Hazlewood Castle Wedding: Sian & Danny, 27th August 2011

2011-10-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Hazlewood Castle, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
Blessing: St Leonard's Chapel, Hazlewood Castle

What a beautiful day for a wedding (and a great venue too)! Sian & Danny were certainly counting their blessings because they had been due to marry on the Friday (when it was chucking it down all day) but had to change the date to the Saturday and it was glorious!

Hazlewood Castle is an amazing venue from a Photographer's point of view with a wide variety of backdrops and features, both inside and out (not to mention great food and staff as well). St Leonard's Chapel, situated right next to the main house, is beautiful and Father Ian is one of the most down-to-earth Ministers I've ever met and he always ensures that the ceremonies are lively and entertaining.

Sian and Danny and their family & friends all had a great time, as you can see, and so did we!

Congratulations to a lovely couple and thanks for a really fun day.

Click here for wedding package prices

Ipswich Waterfront Wedding: Mel & Ed, 20th August 2011

2011-09-29T00:12:00.000-07:00

Bride's Preparations: Melverley Heights Hotel, Ipswich, Suffolk
Ceremony: The Unitarian Meeting House, Ipswich, Suffolk
Reception: The Waterfront Bistro, Ipswich, Suffolk

I've known Ed for a few years now and I was chuffed when he and Mel asked me to photograph their wedding. The fact that it was being held in Ipswich was a bonus as I'd never been there before and it meant that we could make a weekend of it and explore a bit of Suffolk.
Mel left it right until the last minute before getting into her dress and it wasn't until we were leaving the hotel that we realised that no-one was sure how to get to the Meeting House (although we did have a vague idea having been to the rehearsal the day before).
I volunteered to lead the way, guided by the ever-reliable satnav, only to lose Mel 5 mins later in heavy traffic. We arrived at the beautiful historic Meeting House 10 minutes late to be greeted by some worried faces. Thankfully, Mel arrived shortly after, much to everyone's relief (especially mine!).
Ed's father conducted the ceremony, which made it feel really intimate and quite special and after a few formal photos in the nearby courtyard, we all headed for the Waterfront Bistro for the reception. The marina was full of boats for the annual maritime festival and there were loads of people about, which made for some interesting reaction shots as the couple walked along the quayside.

Congratulations to Mel & Ed and thanks for a belting weekend away!

Marquee Wedding, Cumbria: Ruth & Brock, 13th August 2011

2011-09-20T00:32:00.000-07:00

Ceremony: Ulverston Register Office, Cumbria
Reception: Marquee, Leven Valley Sports & Community Centre, Haverthwaite, Cumbria

We finally arrived at the hotel in Barrow at just after 1:00am after a foggy, rain drenched 3.5 hour drive across from York - and then had to back up all the previous day's shots and re-charge all the batteries ready for an early start in the morning.

First job (after a hearty Cumbrian breakfast) was to shoot over to Haverthwaite to get some shots of the marquee and then it was a mad dash back to Ulverston to meet Brock. As it turned out, he was late and Ruth was early so there was only time for a few quick snaps before the ceremony.

The weather forecast was distinctly dodgy but as it turned out, it wasn't too bad and the sun even came out a couple of times, although the heavy overnight rain had left the field around the marquee completely waterlogged. That didn't bother Ruth, who came equipped with some Blackpool FC tangerine wellies (the whole family are nuts about 'The Tangerines', hence the day's colour theme.

Ruth had opted for a '50s style dress and we decided to make the most of the retro theme by taking the couple up the road to the beautiful Haverthwaite station on the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway. They had also hired an old ice cream van, which came in handy!

It was nice to see so many familiar faces as well (we photographed Ruth's sister Jane's wedding last year at the Merewood Country House Hotel on Lake Windermere).

By the end of the day, I was absolutely knackered and there was still the 2.5 hour drive home to contend with but it was well worth it.

Congratulations to Ruth & Brock and thanks for another thoroughly enjoyable day!

Click here for wedding package prices

Related articles:
Cambridgeshire marquee wedding
Lake Windermere wedding
Ullswater wedding

Wedding At The Hospitium, York: Lucia & Laurie, 12th August 2011

2011-09-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: The Hospitium, Museum Gardens, York

The hills are alive with the sound of.....er.....Laurie!

Yet another great fun wedding and another new venue for me, although Gav had been there before. My morning started with Laurie at the guest house in York where he was staying with some of his family. I got ther pretty early having expected the traffic to be horrendous (but it was't) so we had plenty of time to get some nice portrait shots (my Rembrandts, as I like to call them).

The Hospitium is situated in the museum gardens in the centre of York, so there were loads of interesting locations for photos and loads of tourists watching our every move. In fact, some Japanese students decided to get in on the act!

Lucia looked amazing in her bright red dress and Laurie hardly took his eyes off her all day!

The day was finished off with a short walk to the river bank to set off some chinese lanterns, most of which ended up in trees or local gardens.
Lucia's family are from Poland and we were treated to a demonstration of traditional Polish dancing, which was pretty lively, to say the least. I think Laurie needs to practise that a bit more!

Gav & I left at about 10:00pm and set off on the 3.5 hour journey to Barrow In Furness for another wedding the next day - but that's another story!

Congratulations to Lucia & Laurie and thanks for a cracking day's work!

Magazine Article: Hospitality & Leisure Design - Sept 2011 Issue

2011-09-14T06:08:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, I was at Rudding Park Hotel near Harrogate, photographing the new 40 bedroom Follifoot Wing for Gamma Illumination who supplied most of the lighting.
A few of these shots feature in an article about new lighting technology in the September issue of Hospitality & Leisure Design magazine.

To see the full article click on the following link:
http://www.hlmagazine.co.uk/latest-issue/ (Pages 26-30)

Nostell Priory Wedding: Sarah & Mark, 6th August 2011

2011-09-01T14:24:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Nostell Priory, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

At last! A black & white themed wedding - the perfect excuse for some black & White wedding photography!

Sarah & Mark were a little nervous of having their photos taken initially but they soon got into the swing of it and we ended up with some cracking shots.

The weather was as unpredictable as ever but, yet again, we got away with it and the sun shone just at the right times.

Nostell Priory is always a favourite venue, not least because of the fantastic food, supplied by Dine Caterers, which really is special.
Congratulations to Sarah & Mark and thank you for a most enjoyable day.

Beatles Themed Wedding: Liz & Dylan, 30th July 2001

2011-08-16T05:44:00.000-07:00

Ceremony: Allerton Bywater Methodist Church, West Yorkshire
Reception: Snaith Sorts Hall, Snaith, East Yorkshire

As a huge Beatles fan, I was really looking forward to Liz & Dylan's wedding. I first met them at Jane & Dave's wedding last year when Dylan was playing the drums in the band at the evening do (a Beatles tribute band - Tragical History Tour). It was obvious that their big day was going to be a lot of fun - and it didn't disappoint!

The couple's house was a hive of activity when I arrived to photograph Dylan getting ready. His two best men took me into Dylan's newly built recording studio in the garden to watch them run through their joint speech (which was great) and then Dylan showed me a video he'd been filming which had me crying with laughter, but more of that later.

The lads travelled to the church in a beautiful all white convertible VW Beetle and when they got there, we did some unusual groom/best men shots at the local chippy! Dylan then went off to hide in a side room in the church ready for Liz's arrival. This is where the video comes in. The minister had helped the lads set up a projector & screen in the church and the show started with the best men asking the congregation if anyone had seen Dylan. One of them said he would ring him, at which point the video started with a shot of Dylan's hand groping around on his bedside table to pick up his phone. There followed a series of shots of Dylan running across the screen in various locations until he eventually reached the church (all to the soundtrack of the Beatles "Help", of course). CLICK HERE to see the video on Youtube. Everyone was howling with laughter as Dylan made his perfectly timed entrance at the end of the video. What a brilliant start to the day!

The reception venue was a typical school sports hall but the interior had been transformed to look like a huge marquee. Each table was decorated in a different Beatles song theme, with the placemats being made from old LP records with customised Apple labels. The cake was a huge Yellow Submarine design (home made) - the amount of imagination and work that had gone into everything was amazing.

True to form, the speeches were unusual with Liz's entire family doing a joint speech and presenting Dylan with a massive 3-tier pork pie (he likes his pies, does Dylan!).

The evening was rounded off perfectly by the superb Fab Beatles (click here to see separate Fab Beatles blog post) - What a fantastic day!

Well done Liz & Dylan on creating the most memorable & enjoyable wedding I've ever been to!

Click here for wedding package prices

Pre-Wedding Shoot: Mel & Ed

2011-08-10T00:49:00.000-07:00

Location: Greenhead Park, Huddersfield

Mel & Ed are getting married in Ipswich in August during the town's maritime festival, so I can't wait for the big day! To get them (and the kids) used to being in front of the camera, we all went for a stroll around the newly refurbished Greenhead Park in Huddersfield.

Music Photography: Beatles Tribute Band, The Fab Beatles

2011-08-07T13:32:00.000-07:00

Venue: Liz & Dylan's Wedding, Snaith Sports Hall, Snaith, East Yorkshire.

The Fab Beatles are one of the very best Beatles tribute bands. They have even worked for EMI records to help promote "real" Beatles products, so I knew seeing them play was going to be a real treat. My parents saw the Beatles play at the ABC cinema in Northampton in 1963, just as they were hitting the big time (The Beatles, not my parents!), and I suppose this is the nearest I will ever get. At least I had one advantage over my parents - my Dad always said "You couldn't hear a thing for all the bloody screaming!". There was none of that at Snaith Sports Hall!
Every other detail was spot-on, from the instruments (the drum kit is the actual one Ringo played on the 1964 US tour) to the in-character banter between songs (except 'Paul' was playing right-handed - sorry, I'm just being picky).
Anyway, an absolutely brilliant performance (and they even played 'I'll Get You' which has always been a favourite of mine).
I've tried to recreate the feel of the A Hard Day's Night film with these, which has a sort of hazy glowing high contrast quality to it.

http://www.fabbeatles.com/

Cedar Court Hotel Wedding: Jess & Scott, 23rd July 2011

2011-08-04T12:23:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Cedar Court Hotel, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

At last, a Saturday with no rain forecast!
Scott didn't want all the usual preparation shots so I arranged to meet him at Cedar Court. It was first time there for both Gav and I so we had a quick recce which confirmed our preconceptions that there were not many obvious features to use. Still, never mind, there were some nice willow trees and an old gate to be going on with and at least the weather was on our side!
Of course, the fact that Jess & Scott are a great looking couple and very natural and relaxed in front of the camera meant that we didn't really have to worry. There were also plenty of cute kids running around so, as it turned out, we had plenty to occupy us.
After much brain-wracking, I realised who it was that Scott reminded me of - unfortunately, he had no idea who Kurt Russell is!

Congratulations to a lovely couple and a big thank you to them and the staff at Cedar Court for a great day (& a fantastic meal!!!!)

Oakwood Hall Wedding: Terri & Luke, 16th July 2011

2011-08-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Oakwood Hall, Bingley, West Yorkshire

A truly memorable wedding, for many reasons but mainly because Terri & Luke and all their friends & family are such a great bunch of people. What a clash of cultures, though! Terri's family are all from the North of Scotland and Luke is half Sicilian, so there was hardly a word of English spoken all day!
I met Luke and the lads at Hollins Hall for a few prep shots. It was absolutely chucking it down when I got there and Luke was looking anxious. The forecast (once again) was pretty dire but I gave him the usual reassurances that it would clear up later!
It was still bucketting down when we got to Oakwood Hall but we managed to grab 10 mins outside when there was a small break in the clouds. By the time Terri arrived it was bouncing down again, then lo and behold, half way through the ceremony, the sun came out! How do we keep getting away with it every week?
Of course there was a piper on hand to lead Terri & her Dad down the aisle, which must have been an experience for the Sicilian guests. After the ceremony, there was a blessing conducted by two Scottish ministers, who threw in some very funny and surprisingly risquee jokes along the way and this was followed a rousing rendition of Nessun Dorma by one of the guests from Sicily.
After worrying all morning about the weather, the group photos were done outside on the lawn in the sunshine, including the obligatory kilt-lifting one which had everyone in stitches!
The speeches, particularly Terri's Dad's (which he did in 3 languages), were very entertaining, as was the piper getting entangled with the balloons and having to be rescued by a member of staff!
The evening highlight was, without doubt, the entire contingent of Sicilian guests dancing enthusiastically to YMCA.

Congratulations to Terri & Luke and thanks for a great day.

Kings Croft Wedding: Donna & Stephen, 25th June 2011

2011-07-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

Ceremony: St Mary's Church, Garforth, Leeds
Reception: King's Croft, Pontefract

Stephen was, it has to be said, very, very nervous when I arrived at his parents' house in Garforth. After a few quick family group shots and the usual details, we were off to his local, The Podger (apparently, it's a type of large spanner - I had to look that up!), for a swift pint to settle his nerves before the short walk to the church.
Donna arrived in a white Rolls Royce with a huge grin on her face (it stayed there all day - the grin, not the Roller!). A fair number of her side of the family, including her Dad & several kids, had dug their kilts out for the occasion - always a bonus from the Photographer's point of view!
After the ceremony it was off to Kings Croft in Ponte for the wedding breakfast, loads of photos etc.
Immediately after the first dance, Donna & her parents launched into a mad dance 'routine' to Bat Out Of Hell, a family tradition, apparently!

Congratulations to Donna & Stephen and thanks for an enjoyable day!

Carr Hall Castle Photographs

2011-07-18T04:28:00.000-07:00

Nicola at Carr Hall Castle has kindly arranged a news article about my work on the Castle's website. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you are probably sick to death of me banging on about what a great place Carr Hall Castle is but I'm afraid you'll just have to put up with it! The fact is that it has that indefinable magical, fairy tale quality that most other wedding venues lack and it really is a very special place.
I hope I can go back there soon to photograph some more weddings!

Visit Carr Hall Castle website here >>

Click here for wedding package prices

Barley Hall Wedding: Emma & Adam, 18th June 2011

2011-07-05T04:39:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Barley Hall, York City Centre

Emma & Adam's wedding turned out to be quite an experience, one way or another! I arrived at the hotel to meet Adam slightly early so as it was right next to York Minster I went for a bit of a wander round to take a few "scene-setters" and soak up the atmosphere of the city. As it was, Adam didn't turn up until about 10 mins before he was due to leave for the venue so we knocked off a few quick "prep" shots and set off for Barley Hall. We had to take the long route round the back of the Minster through the Minster Gardens to avoid passing Emma's hotel, where Gav was busy photographing the girls' getting ready, so this gave me the chance to take some nice walking-through-York shots with Adam and his best man.

Barley Hall, for those of you who don't know, is a mediaeval townhouse situated right in the centre of York in a small secluded courtyard, accessible only by a narrow alleyway (or ginnell, as they call them round here). It is basically a small museum of mediaeval life, full of costumes and artefacts.
The wedding ceremony and mediaeval themed reception meal were held in the magnificent Great Hall. The caterers were complimented on the quality of the food by one guest with a very strong Bolton accent, who said, "Your lemon mousse with the biscuitty base were second to none!". Very Peter Kay!

After some very emotional speeches and a bit of down time, everyone joined in with some mediaeval style dancing to round the day off. Not your typical wedding in many ways but an enjoyable day nonetheless. Let's face it, York is a fantastic place (it's just been voted the place most people would like to live in and it's not hard to see why).

We are back in York again at the Hospitium later in the year, so I'm looking forward to that!

Congratulations to Emma & Adam who were great sports and were happy to walk miles in the name of a good photo!

Rogerthorpe Manor Wedding: Philippa & Joe, 16th June 2011

2011-06-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

Ceremony: St Cuthbert's Church, Ackworth, West Yorkshire
Reception: Rogerthorpe Manor, Thorpe Audlin, Pontefract, West Yorkshire

More and more couples seem to be opting for mid-week weddings this year. It's easy to see why with the discounts many venues offer and you are fairly sure to get the date you want, even at relatively short-notice. I don't know if it's just me but mid-week weddings generally seem more relaxed than the traditional Saturday ones. Unfortunately, no-one seems to have told Joe that!

I arrived at Philippa & Joe's house, a beautiful converted stable block surrounded by fields full of poppies, and immediately saw loads of potential for shots, which we rattled off before I headed off to the church, leaving the lads to look after Joe.
Phillipa and her Dad arrived at the church in real style in a beautiful carriage drawn by two horses, much to everyone's delight. Thankfully, the threatened rain held off yet again to allow plenty of opportunities for photos both before & after the service.

The happy couple set off for Rogerthorpe Manor in the carriage with a well-deserved glass of bubbly and were no doubt glad of the chance to have a few minutes to themselves.

Having assembled everyone at Rogerthorpe, formal shots were kept to a minimum and the rest of the day was spent snapping "reportage" style to get some nice natural shots of Philippa, Joe and their guests having fun.

The day was rounded off with the obligatory hog-roast (or Wedding Photographer's Platter, as it is now known) - How could anyone be vegetarian, I ask you!

Congratulations and a big thank-you to Philippa & Joe for a brilliant day.

Marquee Wedding, Cambridgeshire: Helen & Ed, 28th May 2011

2011-06-02T05:22:00.000-07:00

Ceremony: The Church of St Kyneburgha, Castor, Cambridgeshire
Reception: Marquee, Helen's Parents' House, Ailsworth, Cambridgeshire

Saves having to get the mower out, I suppose!

The long journey south necessitated an early start, 8:15am to be precise, but I was very much looking forward to returning to one of my old stamping grounds (I lodged with a friend in nearby Orton Wistow for a while when I worked in Peterborough over 20 years ago).

Gav was driving so we arrived ridiculously early, to be honest, and took the opportunity for a wander around the Castor & Ailsworth looking for interesting features to use later in our photos. Needless to say, there were plenty. There are beautiful thatched cottages and weathered stone walls everywhere. The imposing St Kyneburgha's is an ancient church, dating back to well before the Norman conquest and it has a particularly impressive ceiling (see below). Not only that but it is unusually bright inside, making it ideal for photography. Add to that a very friendly vicar who was happy to allow total photographic freedom and things were looking pretty good!

The only slight fly in the ointment was the weather which consisted of blustery wind, unpredictable showers and occasional blinding bright sunshine - Never mind, nothing we couldn't cope with!

After the ceremony and the main group shots we went for a wander with Helen & Ed for some intimate shots around the village, then headed back to Helen's parent's house for the reception in a huge marquee which only just squeezed into the back garden. Apparently, flower beds & trees had to be removed to make way for it.

Helen & Ed are both confirmed Hispanophiles (no, that's neither rude nor illegal!), hence the Spanish theme to the reception. The evening's entertainment was provided by The Debbie Boyd Band who kept everyone entertained and the dance floor well filled all evening. As well as being Helen & Ed's wedding day, it was Ed's Grandad's 83rd birthday and all I can say is I hope I have as much energy as him when I'm 50, let alone 83!

Congratulations to Helen & Ed and thanks to them & Helen's parents for a great day out!

Nostell Priory Wedding: Gemma & Lee, 21st May 2001

2011-05-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

Preparations: Village Hotel, Morley, West Yorkshire
Ceremony: Nostell Priory, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Reception: Marquee, Nostell Priory, Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Wedding number 4 in just over a week!

When I met Lee at the hotel early on Saturday morning, he'd already been down to Nostell Priory to set the cake up so I wasn't surprised that the schedule was getting a bit stretched. We did a few quick shots in the hotel room and reception, despite it being the darkest hotel I've ever been in, and then it was in the cars and off we went!

Nostell Priory is a beautiful location, owned by the National Trust. Normally, weddings are held in the Riding School annex but the ongoing renovation work there meant that the ceremony (during which I managed to noisily kick an antique coal scuttle) was held in the Priory itself and the reception in a marquee in the grounds.

Thankfully, the weather was kinder to us than yesterday and we managed to have a really good wander around the grounds with Gemma and Lee and take some nice intimate shots.

The kitchen staff treated us to some (I hesitate to call them) leftovers while the guests were tucking in to their meals - the tastiest lamb I've ever had and what the chef called a chorizo stew, which was amazing.

The evening entertainment was kicked off by an incredible street musician, Tristan MacKay, who Lee found busking in Leeds. Have a search for him on YouTube. There are plenty of videos of him but, if I were you, I'd go straight to one of him performing Stevie Wonder's "Superstition", you'll be amazed!

Gemma & Lee were very easy to photograph and didn't take much directing to get some great results and, of course, Nostell Priory is a stunning backdrop.

Congratulations to a wonderful couple and a big thank-you for a most enjoyable day. Also, a huge thank-you to Danielle & the staff at Nostell Priory, who were all fantastic (compliments to the chef and sorry about the coal scuttle!).

Oulton Hall Wedding: Caroline & Luke, 20th May 2011

2011-05-25T12:25:00.000-07:00

Ceremony: The Church Of St Peter & All Saints, Morley, West Yorkshire
Reception: Oulton Hall, Oulton, Leeds, West Yorkshire

I said the weather had to change, didn't I? Well, at least we managed to get all the group shots done at the church before the heavens opened!
During the ceremony I took up position on the high balcony at the rear of the church and got some nice shots from there but the lack of handrail combined with my fear of heights made me a bit nervous and I couldn't wait to get my feet back on terra firma!
Luke was doing his best not to look nervous but he wasn't doing a very good job of hiding it. Thankfully, son Jake was doing his best to distract everyone by being extremely cute. In fact I had to keep reminding myself throughout the day that there was a bride & groom to photograph!
Gemma didn't stop smiling all day and looked as though she was having a ball!
Oulton Hall is a great venue with loads of different areas ideal for photos, both inside and out, so when the rain started, it wasn't a problem. As it was, it cleared up later on and we managed to get out in the gardens for a few shots.
The evening reception was held in the Claret Jug bar and the DJ had the floor filled, right from the first track. Everyone had a great time!

Congratulations to Gemma and Lee and thanks to them for a great day. Thanks also to Vikki and all the staff at Oulton Hall for all their help - much appreciated!

Carr Hall Castle Wedding: Lyndsey & Andy, 14th May 2011

2011-05-18T06:57:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Carr Hall Castle, Halifax, West Yorkshire

Above - I thought I'd try a Tissot-inspired shot

Below - A bit of Pre-Raphaelite wistful-gazing-out-of-the-window

Below - A bit of Pre-Nuptual wistful-gazing-out-of-the-window

Above - Hmmm! Good point!

The convex mirror reminded me of Jan van Eyck's painting "The Arnolfini Marriage" in which you can see the artist's reflection behind the couple. Sorry, that was a bit pretentious, wasn't it?

Note the grumpy faces (above)! A nice individual touch, I thought!

Below - Ay-up! Now he's trying a bit of Rembrandt!

Above - I resisted the temptation to suggest recreating Millais' masterpiece, "Ophelia". If you are not familiar with it, look it up on the internet then look at Lyndsey, her dress and the lake!

If yesterday's wedding was unconventional, today's was off the scale! I was shooting this one on behalf of Gav at White Room Photography, who had a prior booking on the day. We didn't want to let this one slip through our fingers as Carr Hall Castle is such a special venue and Lyndsey & Andy were keen for us to do it. They had hired out the Castle for the whole weekend for a truly intimate wedding with just Andy's parents and Lyndsey's mother, brother & sister in law.

Unlike most couples, they got ready together and walked together the short distance from the main house up to the watermill in the garden for the short ceremony, pulling a pre-arranged grumpy face on the way for the benefit of the camera!

The rest of the day was spent dodging the wind & showers to make the most of the beautiful surroundings of "Britain's Best Home" (CLICK HERE to see what I mean).

I was very impressed with Lyndsey & Andy's attitude to their wedding. They were determined to have precisely the wedding they wanted, without having to worry about all the usual formalities and conventions, with just the people they wanted there and instead of jetting off to The Bahamas or The Maldives, they decided to do it in Yorkshire! To be fair, they do both work for BA and can jet off somewhere exotic pretty much anytime!

Virtually everything about the day was completely relaxed and totally unplanned, which sounds like a nightmare but it was actually quite a refreshing change.

And what better place to do it than Carr Hall Castle. The Castle nestles in a beautiful secluded wooded valley near Halifax and gives you a real sense of being in your own little world. Lyndsey & Andy made full use of the hot tub and swimming pool and spent the evening of their wedding watching the Eurovision Song Contest on the enormous TV in the equally enormous lounge.

I had a great time photographing their wedding and I could tell they were loving every minute of their stay at Carr Hall Castle. In fact I'm half expecting to see photos in the Halifax Courier this week of Lyndsey & Andy chained to a radiator, refusing to leave!

Congratulations to a wonderful couple and thank you for letting me share your special day.

If you are planning a private, intimate wedding, or if you fancy spending a few days away from it all, you won't find a better venue than Carr Hall Castle. Have a look at their website http://www.carrhallcastle.co.uk/ for further details and contact Nicola to book. I promise, you'll love it!

Bridge Inn Wedding: Joanne & David, 13th May 2011

2011-05-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: The Bridge Inn, Walshford, Wetherby, West Yorkshire

Hmmm! Friday the 13th and the weather was changing for the worse, oh, and a 5pm ceremony - on paper, it didn't look good! Fortunately, the rain held off long enough for group shots and some outside stuff with Jo & David (although it did look like we were going to get soaked at one point).
This was a slightly unconventional wedding with the late ceremony and no formal meal (fantastic buffet, though - must find out where they got those sausages from!) but that meant that the momentum was kept up and by the time the first dance came around, everyone was ready for a good boogie and Jo was ready to do the splits! I'd have joined in but I had a job to do!

Great fun! Congratulations to Jo & David and thanks for a really enjoyable day!

Event Photography: Coast To Coast Charity Bike Ride, 1st-7th May 2011

2011-05-08T08:38:00.000-07:00

The Finishing Line - The Bay Hotel, Robin Hoods Bay, North Yorkshire

Any excuse for a trip to the beautiful seaside village of Robin Hoods Bay! Our good friend, Glenn, along with 3 mates, was due to finish a week-long charity cycle ride along the famous Coast To Coast walk on Saturday afternoon and the weather looked promising so we thought they might appreciate a welcoming committee. They had set off from St Bees in Cumbria last Sunday and followed the gruelling 220 mile route (it was supposed to be 192 miles, but Glenn was in charge of the map!) across the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors, finally arriving battered and bruised at the official finishing line at the Bay Hotel in Robin Hoods Bay 6 days later.

Glenn was raising money for The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST), a UK based charity dedicated to providing riding therapy with donkeys to children with special needs and disabilities.

http://www.elisabethsvendsentrust.org.uk/

Details of the other charities and how much was raised to follow.

Glenn sees the tape and forgets all thoughts of sporting behaviour and charity to make

a mad sprint for the finish line in the last 5 yards.

Devonshire Fell Wedding: Jenny & Matthew, 30th April 2011

2011-05-04T04:31:00.000-07:00

Ceremony: The Church Of St John The Baptist, Adel, Leeds
Reception: The Devonshire Fell Hotel, Burnsall, Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire

Would you believe it? This was the 4th sunny weekend in a row and it's still only April. How long will it be before the hose-pipe ban?

Well, it was the day after the Royal Wedding and we were at the church where Kate (sorry, Catherine) Middleton's grandparents were married, the beautiful and very old (11th century, apparently) St John The Baptist's at Adel, Leeds. Once again, we were blessed, not only with the weather, but also with a wonderful vicar, who allowed us free reign with the photography throughout the ceremony (he even said we could use flash if we wanted - unheard of anywhere else!

Jenny looked amazing, although the gusty wind played havoc with her veil. The lads, unusually, had hats and gloves, which you sort-of assme everyone has on their wedding day but in all the weddings I've photographed, this is the first one where the groom & groomsmen have had hats to contend with. In fact, no-one was quite sure what to do with them at all!

From the church, it was quite a drive up to the picture postcard village of Burnsall in the Yorkshire Dales. We met Jenny & Matthew at the famous bridge over the River Wharfe, which featured in the film "Calendar Girls", and, despite the stiff breeze, managed to get some lovely shots of the pair of them before making our way up to the Devonshire Fell Hotel, perched on a hillside overlooking the village, for the reception.

This is another of my top ten favourite venues - fabulous location, great food and friendly professional staff - highly recommended.

Congratulations and thanks to Jenny & Matthew for an absolutely fantastic day's photography!

Sandburn Hall Wedding: Jo & Tom, 24th April 2011

2011-04-27T05:31:00.000-07:00

Bride & Groom's Preparations: The Royal York Hotel, York
Ceremony & Reception: Sandburn Hall, Flaxton, York

Steady as a rock (very fast shutter speed)!

We had to make some reference to the Beatles!

The glorious weather continued for a third consecutive weekend- unbelievable for April! It was really hot when I arrived in York and, with it being Easter Sunday, the city was buzzing with tourists.

Jo & Tom were getting ready at the impressively grand Royal York Hotel, adjacent to York Railway Station.

After a quick visit to Jo's room to say 'Hello', I left Gav with the enviable task of shooting the girls getting ready while I nipped next door-but-one to do the same with a considerably more nervous Tom.

Needless to say, it wasn't long before the lads were down in the bar, attempting to keep Tom occupied. Unfortunately the following conversation didn't help calm his nerves.

TOM: "I don't know why I feel so nevous!"

FRIEND: "That's because everyone you know will be there and absolutely anything could go wrong!"

A beautifully restored classic 1950s coach arrived to take the guests to Sandburn Hall for the ceremony & reception (always great for the photos!) and everyone piled on. I don't think Tom's nerves were helped by the traffic being at a virtual stand-still on the A64 but we still arrived in plenty of time and the bus returned to collect Jo and the girls.

Jo looked amazing in her 1960's retro-styled dress, with matching beehive and false eyelashes and she made her entrance to The Beatles' "Something".

The first dance was unusual. The couple danced to a karaoke version of "I Got You Babe", sung (and I use the term loosely) by a large group of friends and relatives. This was closely followed by a bizarre rendition of the Kate Bush classic, "Wuthering Heights", which sounded more like the commentary to a horserace than a song.

So, in summary: Glorious weather, stunning bride, funny and entertaining speeches, nice venue and some nutty karaoke performances - I'd say that all adds up to a pretty good day!

Congratulations to Jo & Tom and thanks for a great day's "work"!

Carr Hall Castle Wedding: Lyndsey & Andy's Pre-Wedding Shoot

2011-04-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

Lyndsey & Andy travelled down from Newcastle to make all the final arrangements for their wedding, which included a final run-down of what we will be doing on the day and a leisurely wander around the venue, the incredible Carr Hall Castle, for a few informal shots to help them get used to being photographed.
We didn't have a great deal of time, as Lyndsey & Andy had a lot of organising to pack in while they were down here so we just had a quick stroll round the Castle and fired off a few shots as we went.
A big thank you to Nicola and the staff at Carr Hall Castle for allowing us to wander around unhindered (and thanks for the chocolates as well, although perhaps they were meant for Lyndsey & Andy!)
I can't wait to come back for the actual wedding!

CLICK HERE to see Lyndsey & Andy's wedding photographs

Clayton Cricket Club: New Clubhouse Building Work - 16th April 2011

2011-04-17T14:40:00.000-07:00

Only 2 weeks to go now until the first match and the final push to get the changing rooms, showers & toilets finished on time is well under way. The main bar area was being plastered and everyone was fascinated by the skill of the two guys on stilts who were doing the ceiling.

Magazine Cover: April Issue Of Lux

2011-04-14T01:29:00.000-07:00

I'm dead chuffed that one of my photos, taken for lighting manufacturer Gamma Illumination in Dewsbury, has been chosen for the cover of this month's Lux magazine, which is the official magazine of the Lighting Industry Federation. I know it sounds like one of those guest publications from Have I Got News For You (like Caravanning Weekly, The Campanologist or The Slug Farming Chronicle) but it actually contains some belting photography by the likes of David Thrower. My next target is to get one of my architectural shots on the cover!

Clayton Cricket Club: New Clubhouse Building Work - 9th April 2011

2011-04-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Meanwhile, back at the cricket ground, work has moved on unbelievably quickly. The roof's on, the scaffolding's down and, most importantly, the bar's being built. With only 3 weeks to go to the start of the season, the race is on to get the main areas finished. Watch this space!
CLICK HERE to go to the club's website and see the full set of images.

Hazlewood Castle Wedding: Lucy & Ben, 2nd April 2011

2011-04-08T05:16:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: Hazlewood Castle, Tadcaster, North Yorkshire
Blessing: St Leonard's Chapel, Hazlewood Castle

I always look forward to weddings at Hazlewood Castle. There are plenty of beautiful backdrops for photographs and it's always interesting to see how different the place looks at different times of the year and it's fun to incorporate references to the time of year into the photos. OK, I admit it, the real reason is because the food there is fantastic!

Lucy & Ben were a very easy couple to photograph and they both have a great sense of humour, although it was tricky to get them to do some of the 'mean & moody' stuff because they kept smiling all the time. They were up for anything and even made some excellent suggestions themselves for creative shots. The weather was quite warm for the time of year so we were able to make the most of the gardens for some nice intimate shots of the couple.

Congratulations to Ben & Lucy and thank you for a thoroughly enjoyable day's "work".

Inn On The Lake Wedding: Debbie & David, 25th March 2011

2011-03-29T05:31:00.000-07:00

Ceremony & Reception: The Inn On The Lake, Glenridding, Ullswater, Cumbria

What a stunning wedding venue! The Inn On The Lake sits, as the name suggests, right on the edge of Ullswater and is completely surrounded by mountains. Everywhere you turn there are beautiful backdrops for photographs - I felt like a kid in a sweet shop! To make things even better, the daffodils were in full bloom and the sun shone all day. It doesn't get better than this!

We arrived early to have a wander round and earmark a few potential areas for photos, then Gav went off to photograph Debbie & the girls getting ready, while I took David & the boys off for some nice relaxed shots by the lake. I was so pleased for Debbie & David that the weather was amazing. I could just imagine what it must be like to choose such an incredible venue and then find that it's thick fog or pouring rain on the big day (remember this is March in the Lake District!). As it was we had free reign to go wherever we wanted and we ended up with loads of cracking photos. Neither Debbie nor David stopped smiling all day, and I can't say I blame them!

In the evening, a magician kept everyone entertained and just before the hog roast supper (just when you thought it couldn't get any better!), everyone went outside and released chinese lanterns (most of which ended up in a nearby tree, but we won't mention that!)

It was a very long day (17 hours!) but it went by in a flash. You can't call this work, what a fantastic day!

Congratulations to Debbie & David and thanks for letting me share their special day.