Wedding Photographer Staffordshire – A Retrospective Look at 2017!
Some of the favourites from throughout the year from Staffordshire Documentary Wedding Photographer Stuart James
Looking back on the previous years wedding at this time of year is always very special. A time to reminisce about the fabulous weddings. To reflect on the stories captured. And probably the only time I get to consider the photos individually…
Both when I’m photographing a wedding and bringing the finished set of photographs together, it is always about the narrative of the day. The collection as a whole, rather than individual images.
But reflecting back at this time of year allows me to focus on the individual images…and bring together a set of my favourites from the year as a whole!
2017 truly was a fabulous year, with me capturing the weddings of old friends, couples who I’ve known from previous weddings, and couples who were completely new to me. Working at old familiar venues and new, it was a year of so many special weddings.
Today I got to bring together my favourites slideshow of the year, which you can see here:
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I just couldn’t help but bring out some of my favourite favourites though, and tell you a little more about them…
Most of my wedding coverages are from morning preparations through into the evening. I love how not only does this allow for a complete story of the day, but also helps me become part of it with everyone too.
More often than not now I see makeup artists with their own lighting, which when utilised can add to the scene quite nicely.
Yvonne + Elliot’s Wedding at Abbey Church + The Belfry. You can see their story here.
However, you really cannot beat a good bit of window-light, as blessed us for Emi + Chris’ Preparations at Wroxall Abbey. You can see their story here.
It’s not always possible as a solo photographer to capture the preparations of the boys, but with Emma + Mark’s wedding at St Andrews Church + Weston Park this summer, I was able to be with them both. Which with capturing their children too was extra special. You can see their full wedding story here.
When it comes to the morning preparations, everything is building up to that one very special moment…the grand reveal!
Photographing Liz + Tom’s wedding this summer was a definite highlight of the year for me. Knowing the couple for so many years, there was an extra connection on the day, and with the weather on our side it was a stunner!
Just ahead of the big reveal to Liz’s dad, I just love this little moment with mom and sister looking on. The nerves showing on Liz’s face too. Emotional connection is what it’s all about.
One of my favourite reactions this year had to be Sarah’s dad at Allerton Castle. Batting away the emotions was a new one on me! :)
The display of emotion between them both and everyone else in the room was just amazing.
From the emotion on our Father of the Bride, the next big moment I’m always looking forward to is the reaction of our groom.
When I got married back in 2015 to Beki, I was a wreck at this point; as soon as I saw Beki come through the door I was in pieces!
The expression on Garry’s face here as Claire walked down the aisle to his at Weston Hall for their wedding (which you can see here) was definitely one of my favourites.
Mike’s reaction to Kerry walking down the aisle to him the week before was something else too…literally gobsmacked!
But my favourite reaction, with the best tears of the year, has to go to Eddie as Claire came down the aisle to him at Bishton Hall…try as he might, those tears were not staying in! To quote the man himself, “I just can’t stop crying.” Brilliant!
The ceremony itself is of course what it’s all about, but for me, it’s the little moments rather than the ring exchange etc that stick in my mind. This exchange of looks between Phil + Andy at the end of their ceremony at Stanbrook Abbey was just beautiful!
From the ceremony it’s time for the recession, one of my favourites from the year here is of Liz + Tom.
Although a beautiful moment…I think Phil’s expression to their confetti exit at Stanbrook was just brilliant!!
But the award for confetti of the year has to go to Kerry + Mike’s wedding at Holy Trinity – I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much confetti!
Moving into the wedding reception, and the natural group photographs, it’s also the time I get to steal a little time with my couples. Not long, but just long enough to create the relaxed “wow” images of our beautiful brides and grooms looking simply amazing!
Three of my favourites from the slideshow come from three stunning weddings.
Firstly, the gorgeous Zoe + Rob, from their wedding at All Saints Church + The Moat House. This one was actually the very early evening, but worth showing here. Heading down with drinks in hand to the fields by The Moat House, we made the most of the stunning countryside setting for this creative portrait in the cornfield.
Whilst in September it was my last chance to be at the simply stunning Packington Moor for Char + Danny’s wedding.
But one of my favourites has to be Claire + Eddie here on the temple at Bishton Hall. For a couple who didn’t want posed photographs, we certainly made the most of our five minutes in front of the camera!
Long a favourite section of the day for me, I just love capturing the wedding speeches. The reactions. The displays of emotion and sentiment. Sharing in the stories that are told. I just love it, and love the photographs it is possible to capture.
From groom’s quite comfortable in the spotlight like Danny here:
To emotional glances between Father and Daughter, with Liz here:
To the best man’s speech going down fabulously at Sarah + Craig’s Allerton Castle wedding:
To that moment…when Eddie forgot to mention his wife! Brilliant!
Following the speeches and the meal, I often like to make the most of the gorgeous evening light with my couples, and I was definitely blessed with some stunning light on a couple of occasions this year.
For Kate + Tim’s Moat House wedding
and also for Sarah + Craig’s wedding, we really were blessed!
But I think one of my favourite ‘golden hour’ portraits of the year, has to be from Liz + Tom’s wedding…not bad for the family garden!
As the evening rolls on, it all becomes about the party, and from beautiful first dance moments like Yvonne + Elliot’s here:
To capturing the party in full swing with Emi + Chris’ Wroxall Wedding here:
I think one of my favourites has to be Emma + Mark, totally rocking out in the Orangery at Weston Park, surrounded by friends and family at the end of their night!
With many of my coverages concluding ahead of the end of the night, I always like to finish the day in a bit of style. Getting another “wow” image to complete the story.
This year I really enjoyed experimenting with my couples, making the most of the rain with Emi + Chris, utilising the building with Emma + Mark, and the garden with Liz + Tom.
But I think my favourite actually comes from Sarah + Craig’s wedding…just wow!
When there until the end though, it really is great to finish with a bang!
So there we have it. 2017 in a post.
But what a year it truly was!
Thank you to all of my clients, thank you to my friends and family for their support along the way. And thank you of course to Beki for putting up with me!
To talk to me about your own wedding plans, or to find out whether I could be the right photographer for you, please do get in touch!
Contact Stuart James, Wedding Photographer Staffordshire : [email protected] : 0800 331 7741 : 07834 978905
