I first met Rebecca and Julian at a lovely little pub about 30 seconds from Burgh House in Hampstead. They were visiting Burgh House to sample their wedding menu and it seemed the perfect opportunity for me to pop along afterwards and discuss their photography. Fast forward a few months to Easter and we were back at Burgh House and Rebecca and Julian were getting married. I’ve shot weddings at Burgh House before and I love this little venue in the heart of Hampstead. It offers a really intimate setting for a couple’s special day.

The day actually started with bridal preparations at Home House in Portman Square. And what a room to get ready in. I could mention the colourful patterned walls, or the incredible light beaming through the window, but you’ll see all this for yourself in the pictures that follow. It was then onto Burgh House for ceremony, drinks, food and speeches. During the drinks reception Rebecca and Julian popped out for 15 minutes to visit Parliament Hill, the meeting place of their very first date, so I jumped in the Bentley with them and tagged along for the ride. This was a brave move on their part because just as we made our way from Burgh House the bright sunshine was swiftly replaced by strong winds and even a little bit of snow.

Home House played host to the evening celebrations where the couple and their guests were joined by even more friends and family, partying on into the night. Rebecca, Julian, it was an absolute pleasure to document your wedding day for you and I hope these pictures bring you many years of happiness.

Here’s a small selection of my favourites from the day along with a few words from the happy couple themselves.

If you’re a bride or groom planning a London wedding, I’d love to hear from you to discuss your photography.

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I’ve talked a bit before about my love for working with available or natural light. By this I mean the environmental light present on the day. Working this way allows me to remain discreet, without bursts of flash alerting my presence to all and sundry. But more importantly than this, it allows me to capture the true mood and ambience of a scene so that viewers might really feel what it was like to be there at that precise moment.

Because I never add light sources to make an image more pleasing I need to ‘find the light’ which allows me to capture lovely moments. Flat light will ultimately lead to flat pictures so I work very hard on the day to keep an eye on various natural light sources, be that the sun, candles, lamps, window light and even reflected light from adjacent surfaces.

During bridal preparations at this recent wedding, the dress had been left hanging in front of this wonderful large window creating a lovely diffused light into the sitting room. As the bride and bridesmaid lifted the dress down ready to slip it on I used this natural light and framed the story within the curtains either side for extra narrative. If I had chosen to use flash to introduce my own light source here this moment would have looked very different indeed, and it would have none of the atmosphere that it does now.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this in the comments section below.

For photographers: This image was taken using a Canon 5D Mark 3 with the 50mm f/1.2L at f/2.8, 1/2000s, ISO 3200.

The post Natural Light wedding Photography | Portfolio Series XXV appeared first on Steven Carter Hewson | A Moment in Time.

Things move pretty fast on a wedding day and as a documentary wedding photographer there to tell the story, I need to keep up. More often than not, my day starts with some of the bridal preparations and this time is usually pretty calm and relaxed. There is normally plenty of time to work with the scene to record the emotion and anticipation of the day ahead. But once the bride steps out of her car, it’s all systems go. There are then a series of moments where there is little time to reflect. Things are happening everywhere and the pressure is well and truly on.

I actually took a couple of shots before this one with my wider 24mm lens, capturing Susie actually stepping out of her car, and these will make their way into the final gallery. But then this moment happened. I saw Susie lead the way into church as her father turned momentarily to thank the driver. Clearly, despite being nervous, Susie couldn’t wait to get inside that church.

The picture itself is not flashy. It’s pretty simple in its construct and content. But when I look at it, I really feel what Susie was feeling in those moments right before the big moment. As usual, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

For photographers: This image was taken using a Canon 5D Mark 3 with the 50mm f/1.2L at f/4, 1/3000s, ISO 400.

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I love a winter wedding (especially around Christmas time) so I was absolutely delighted when Sophia and Nick asked me to join them at St Audries Park in Somerset to capture their wedding day. St Audries is one of my favourite wedding venues in Somerset and they really do take care of absolutely everything. A perfect day from start to finish.

Sophia and Nick’s wedding took place between Christmas and New Year which meant the Christmas tree stood tall and proud in the main reception room. The couple then introduced some of their own special touches to make the day unique and personal to them. Even the wet weather couldn’t put a dampener on things and the whole day was full of love and laughter. Just my kind of wedding.

Here is a small selection of Sophia and Nick’s winter wedding photography at St Audries Park in Somerset, complete with a few words from the happy couple themselves.

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I’ve said it before, but I really do love a London wedding. Maybe it’s the diversity that they offer. The way I see it, London doesn’t have wedding venues per se, London has venues that also host weddings. This makes each and every one completely unique. Couples have total freedom to design the day their own way. On the morning of Helen and Vincent’s London wedding I made my way to meet Helen at Hotel Verta in Battersea, adjacent to the London Heliport and with panoramic views of the River Thames. The hotel has often been described as one of London’s most exclusive ‘Hidden Gems’.

Another of London’s hidden gems is St Mary’s Church in Battersea. Standing on the banks of the River Thames just off Battersea Church Road, this beautiful Grade 1 Georgian church is one you could easily miss were you not looking for it. Before photographing weddings here I actually never even knew this church existed. However, St Mary’s Church is a perfect host to any wedding ceremony with the balcony overlooking the main hall offering a rather unique vantage point. With some careful planning (and a couple of dry runs before) I was able to capture Helen arriving and stepping out of her car at ground level before making my way to the balcony for the sweeping aisle shot, showing off the train of her dress perfectly.

Following the beautiful ceremony it was back to Hotel Verta for drinks, dinner and dancing. And some fantastic Irish dancing at that. We even spotted the odd helicopter taking off from the nearby London Heliport. It was an absolute pleasure to document Helen and Vincent’s wedding and here is a small selection of my favourites telling the story of their day.

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Kelly, Liam and their daughter Molly live just up the road from me in a beautiful village on the borders on London and Kent and planned their wedding last year at Turkey Mill in Maidstone. On the morning of their wedding it was just a short drive to their home to capture the bridal preparations and the anticipation of the day. Molly just lit up the room and I, as a dad to three children, found myself drawn to her cheeky little antics all morning.

Turkey Mill is a beautiful venue and they certainly know a thing or two about weddings. The whole day was planned to perfection and I loved the way Kelly and Liam injected their own personality into the day. Being big music fans, every table was named after a favourite band or musician, their table plan looked like a gig poster and they had an open guitar case for collecting all their wedding cards.

Hugh Price was on hand to provide some mellow afternoon music and The In-Laws got the party started in the evening. And what a party it was! By the time I left that evening the room was rocking from wall to wall. It was great fun to photograph, having a little boogie myself along the way. It’s all about blending in though, of course.

Here is a small selection of Kelly and Liam’s Turkey Mill wedding photography, and a few words from the happy couple themselves.

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As a documentary wedding photographer I’m always looking to capture something real, to portray the real essence of the day. Historically though, wedding photography was more about the posed group shots, or formals as they are often referred. Of course I will take a few small formal shots if the couple request them but the one shot I always advise against is the big group shot of everyone. Firstly, they take the most time to organise, especially with larger weddings, which means less time just enjoying the day with family and friends. And secondly it really announces my presence to the entire wedding party, making it more challenging to blend in and remain unnoticed afterwards.

However, it’s still great to capture a shot of all the guests in context and there are a couple of points in the day when everyone will be together in the one room. The wedding breakfast is usually one of them, and the ceremony is the other. Following this beautiful ceremony at the oh so special Botleys Mansion a couple of weeks ago, I spotted the stairs at the back of the atrium and knew they would make for a wonderful sweeping shot of everyone in the room. So I made sure I was in prime position as the happy couple made their way up the aisle following their marriage.

This is real. This is storytelling. This is my kind of group shot. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

For photographers: This image was taken using a Canon 5D Mark 3 with the 24mm f/1.4L Mark 2 at f/8, 1/500s, ISO 1600.

The post My kind of Group Shot | Portfolio Series XXIII appeared first on Steven Carter Hewson | A Moment in Time.

The one thing truly unique to any photographer, whether a documentary wedding photographer or otherwise, is the way they see the world. This is what sets them apart from other photographers. The way I work when photographing a wedding is to be reactive to the moments presenting themselves. But I never just ‘grab’ shots. Composition is really important to me and I put as much thought into this as I do the moment itself.

I like my pictures to be neat, balanced and tidy so I’m always looking for lines and shapes to help balance the picture and lead the viewers eye through it. I’m also a sucker for a bit of symmetry. The shot below was taken during bridal preparations at Home House in London the weekend just gone. The main door into the bedroom was backed with mirrored glass and I spotted this might make for an interesting angle. So I braced myself tightly up against the wall with my 24mm lens, inched closer towards the door and managed to position myself (after a little bit of contortion) in such a way as to be able to mirror in the door the action taking place in the room.

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It was Edie’s 3rd birthday and her aunt and uncle, Izzy and Mark, had arranged a huge party at The Master Builders in The New Forest that day to celebrate. There were cards, cake and dancing. Oh, and a little wedding ceremony of their own thrown in for good measure.

It’s a beautiful place, The New Forest. I had a real sense of calm driving through on the morning of Izzie and Mark’s wedding. When I arrived that calmness continued. Mark was extremely relaxed. Perhaps the most relaxed groom I have seen. Since I had arrived rather early and Izzy was still on her way to Buckler’s Yard, I met up with Mark’s brother and Best Man, Nathan, who also happens to be a fine wedding photographer himself. That’s how Izzy and Mark found me actually. When Nathan heard about the upcoming wedding he declined the offer to photograph it himself and recommended me instead.

The day that followed was as calm as the morning had been. A little hiccup with the PA system aside, everything went according to plan. It was warm, relaxed and fun. Everything the couple could have hoped for and the children certainly made it all the more entertaining. Children tend to go one of three ways at a wedding. They either shy away, pose and smile at every opportunity or just ignore me completely. The kids at this wedding all did the latter. Like the rest of the guests, they just got on with their day and that allowed me to capture some wonderful moments.

Here’s a little taster of Izzy and Mark’s wedding photography at The Master Builders, Buckler’s Yard.

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I just love weddings at Kensington Roof Gardens. It’s one of those truly unique London wedding venues. Located one hundred feet above the hustle and bustle of London’s Kensington High Street, The Roof Gardens and Babylon Restaurant make you feel you are somewhere else entirely. 3 themed gardens, over 70 trees, flowing stream and Bill, Ben, Splosh and Pecks, Kensington Roof Garden’s very own resident Flamingos. The Roof Gardens can hold anywhere from 50 to 500 guests so no matter what size your wedding, they’ll be sure to provide the perfect day.

If you are planning a wedding at Kensington Roof Gardens, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your photography.

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I love a London wedding, and this Kensington Roof Gardens wedding was no exception. Rebecca and Oli found me while searching for inspiration on one of the top UK wedding blogs and when I met up with Oli prior to the day I knew I was in for a treat. Both come from a theatrical background, as did many of their guests, which made for a very lively and entertaining day. I spent some time with both Oli and Rebecca prior to the ceremony, separately of course, and it was great being involved with both camps as the anticipation built. I even got to meet one of The Roof Gardens’ very own resident Flamingos.

Following a beautiful ceremony and some absolutely fantastic, emotional speeches, the evening celebrations arrived. Dancing erupted all over the floor, all generations there to join in the fun. It was a smashing day from start to finish and, like Rebecca and Oli, I just didn’t want it to end. Here’s a little taster of their day.

If you are planning a Kensington Roof Gardens wedding, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your photography.

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As a documentary wedding photographer, I pride myself on my discretion. My ability to remain low-key throughout the day and almost disappear amongst the guests. This is fundamental to my style and my whole ethos regarding wedding photography is built on this premise. I am not there to run your day. I am there to photograph it. I am there to tell the story of your wedding, and to do this I need you and your guests to behave as if I wasn’t even there.

There are, of course, times when there are no guests to blend in with. The candid portrait below is a prime example of this. At this point of the day the only people in the room were the bride and myself. For a while I simply observed. If there’s one sure way to make someone feel uncomfortable in a situation such as this it’s snapping away with a camera to my eye. As she walked over to the window, finding the bouquet of flowers her father had left for her, I spotted the wonderful, diffused light falling onto her face and the symmetry formed by the bride and the lamp. I adjusted my settings with the camera held low, raised the camera to my eye and took one frame. Although it could well have been posed, this was a completely real, unposed, candid portrait. The bride, lost in her own little moment. A quiet moment of reflection before the biggest day of her life.

The post Unposed, candid portrait | Portfolio Series XXI appeared first on Steven Carter Hewson | A Moment in Time.

2012. It was a busy old year. A pretty amazing year. I had the good fortune of photographing weddings in London, Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Somerset, as well as destination weddings in Spain and Italy. I photographed weddings in a whole host of venues from city centre registry offices to quaint village churches, stately homes to castles. I photographed weddings, civil ceremonies and even a humanist ceremony. Rural weddings and urban ones. I photographed the weddings of couples I had never met, couples who have since become friends, and even the wedding of a friend and fellow documentary wedding photographer. I enjoyed some wonderful wedding food, stayed in some lovely places, laughed, danced and processed thousands of wedding photographs along the way. I even shed a few tears. It’s the speeches, they get me every time.

It’s always an honour for me when I’m asked to photograph a wedding. To be invited to the most intimate and special day of a couple’s life is not something I take lightly and I would like to thank each and every bride and groom for having me at their wedding. 2013 is looking very busy already and I’m looking forward to sharing some weddings from this year. But in the meantime, grab a cup of tea and flick through my overview of 2012. A year of documentary wedding photography.

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Weddings at The Master Builders Hotel in the New Forest National Park are certainly not your everyday wedding. With the hotels beautiful location overlooking the Beaulieu River in Buckler’s Hard village, you really couldn’t ask for a better view. I really enjoyed the quirkiness of the venue. Whether you opt for an indoor reception or a marquee on the lawns you’ll be free to wander the grounds and take in some of the incredible scenery. The whole venue has a real sense of calm, even the moments before the ceremony itself. As a documentary style wedding photographer I always enjoy following the guests as the explore all the little quirks this venue has to offer.

If you are planning a wedding at The Master Builders Hotel, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your photography.

If you are planning a wedding at The Master Builders Hotel, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your photography.

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What can I say about weddings at Turkey Mill Maidstone? They are simply stunning. Nestled on the River Len in Kent, Turkey Mill offers almost endless photographic opportunities. The estate spans 9-acres of parklands, which are exclusive and private for you on your wedding day. Following your ceremony in the Garden Room, sip champagne on the lawns and then make your way over the bridge for a walk around the perfectly landscaped grounds. Join your guests inside the Orangery for a fantastic meal and reception followed by dancing into the early hours.

If you are planning a wedding at Turkey Mill Maidstone, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your photography.

If you are planning a wedding at Turkey Mill Maidstone, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your photography.

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I photograph weddings of all sizes, from intimate weddings with just a handful of guests to extravagant weddings with 200 or more. One of the things I always look out for is groups of guests. As a documentary wedding photographer I very rarely take the typical ‘large group shot’ of every guest stood in front of the venue. There are several good reasons for this. Firstly, these large groups take time to organise. This is time that the bride and groom don’t spend enjoying their day with their family and friends. But perhaps more importantly, by controlling the entire wedding party and effectively announcing myself as the ‘official photographer’ in this way, it makes it much more challenging to then blend in and continue shooting in my documentary style.

So instead, I always look for different naturally formed groups at weddings. Over the Christmas break I was covering a wedding at St Audries Park in Somerset. St Audries is a beautiful venue and has a rather handy balcony that overlooks the main reception room. Whenever I cover a wedding here I like to make my way up there at several opportune moments of the day to photograph guests milling around, laughing and even dancing later in the evening.

I like this picture as both a record of the reception room, and a record of the guests.

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I’ve been looking forward to featuring this wedding for some time. Everything about this Birtsmorton Court wedding was perfect. The couple, the venue, the guests. Birtsmorton Court has to be one of my favourite Worcestershire wedding venues. Actually, one of my favourite UK wedding venues full stop. This medieval moated manor house near Malvern in The Cotswolds just oozes class and makes a dramatic backdrop to any wedding day.

As is normal, the day started with bridal preparations, champagne, makeup, music and laughter. This is always a great time to capture the anticipation of the day to come. Once in her dress, Claire, her father and the bridal party made their way through the grounds of Birtsmorton Court to the Anglican church of St. Thomas of Canterbury with St. Peter and St. Paul, a charming 14th Century church just a stones throw from Birtsmorton Court. This small, intimate church provided the perfect setting for Claire and Matt’s wedding ceremony.

After a champagne reception outside on the terrace overlooking the moat, it was off to the White Garden for some rather emotional speeches. And I really do mean emotional. I like it when couples choose to vary the flow of their day, in this case having speeches before the wedding breakfast. It adds another personal touch and proves you don’t need to follow a formula. It’s your day. Do it your way.

The guests then made their way to the marquee whilst I followed Claire and Matt for a walk around the grounds. I do this with quite a few of my couples. It gives them a chance to spend some quality time together, just the two of them, and it allows me to offer some really intimate, unposed, natural portraits.

A delicious meal and a rocking live band wrapped up the rest of the wedding, not forgetting of course the incredible firework display from across the moat. This really was a terrific way to end a terrific day.

Here is a selection of my favourite photographs from this Birtsmorton Court wedding.

If you are planning your wedding at Birtsmorton Court, why not get in touch to discuss your photography.

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Weddings at Birtsmorton Court in the Cotswolds are simply breathtaking. This stunning moated medieval mansion in Malvern, Worcestershire is the ultimate backdrop to any wedding day. Whether you choose to have a civil ceremony in the Great Hall, White Garden or Garden Room of Birtsmorton Court itself, or opt for a church ceremony at the Anglican church of St. Thomas of Canterbury with St. Peter and St. Paul just next door to Birtsmorton Court, you will have the most incredible day.

Everything is taken care of, from bridal preparations in the self-contained fully serviced house to incredible bespoke firework displays overlooking the moat. You might like to take a look at more pictures from a recent Birtsmorton Court wedding.

 If you are planning a wedding at Birtsmorton Court in Worcestershire, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 If you are planning a wedding at Birtsmorton Court in Worcestershire, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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