I knew Kristen and Glenn’s wedding at Norton House Hotel was going to be a good one because I’d had such a great engagement shoot with them a few months ago. You can see some of their photos from this session when I blogged it back in the autumn: Kristen and Glenn’s Engagement Shoot - Norton House Hotel weddings.
If you wish to jump straight to their wedding photographs just double click any of the images and it will open up the gallery viewer to see them at a larger size.
I arrived at Norton House around 10.30 and had quick coffee before starting the photography at 11am. Kristen was wanting some getting ready photographs so we headed straight up to her room where she was just beginning having her hair and make-up done. After knocking I was let into the room by Kristen’s sister, who was one of the bridesmaids, and as soon as Kristen saw me she leapt from her seat with delight, threw her arms around me and gave me a great big kiss! How’s that for a brilliant start to a photographers day!
I declined the offer of a glass of champagne (as I always do on a wedding day) as it’s no good having a tipsy photographer during the ceremony ;) and started with some details photographs of the wedding dress, bouquets, shoes, etc. We also included some natural, reportage images as Kristen was thrust back into the hairdressers seat to have her hair and make-up completed.
When she was ready I got a couple of head and shoulders shots just to show off her make-up and hair before she started getting into her dress. Because I work quite quickly I was able to get a couple of photographs utilising the natural window light as well as a couple with our mobile studio lighting. The effects would be quite different, both equally dramatic, and Kristen has chosen one of each for her album. The first one shown here is the high-key studio portrait, although it was simply done against the plain hotel room wall with one back light and one front 45 degree front light, which I have converted into high-key black and white.
The second photograph was taken when all the girls were ready and just before we were due to head along for the ceremony. I’d taken photos of the girls doing up the back of Kristen’s wedding dress, which are always good fun to do, photos of Kristen when she was fully ready and also some shots of her with her father, too.
The ceremony was take place in the Ballroom. This is a room familiar to most of the professional wedding photographers in Edinburgh but today it was set out in a new configuration which has never been tried before. Glenn and Kristen came up with this idea themselves and at first Norton House were a little unsure but when running it passed the chair cover company they were all for it. Usually the ceremony is set up for the couple to stand at the head of the room in front of the stage with a central aisle. However, if you have a look at the last photograph you can see the layout Kritsen and Glenn went with. Very different but really chic!
Myself and Diane worked from the corners of the room throughout the ceremony and got a great range of images; the declarations, vows, ring exchange, etc. All totally natural and spontaneous that make for great storybook albums. After signing of the register there were a couple of readings and a presentation for the newly weds from the children and then we were heading out for the drinks reception.
The weather wasn’t looking too idyllic and rain was threatening but we had time to do the requested Big Group photograph and their family shots before the heavens opened up. I deliberately shot the Big Group in panoramic format as Kristin and Glenn have ordered a beautiful 12 x 8 panoramic Bellissimo Perfetto album and I wanted to give the Big Group shot a double page spread in the album as it will look particularly impressive!
For the bride and groom photographs we went back inside as the rain was now pouring down. We did shots in the conservatory, the gorgeous ornate staircase and the main entrance, which is undercover. We ended up with over 60 different photographs from a twenty minute session, which was on top of the 150 I’d already taken so far. I mention this simply because it highlights one of the key differences with magazine style wedding photography. I can take a large amount of photographs in a very short space of time and with minimum fuss to the couple and guests and most importantly they will all be stunning. See what you think of the five I’ve included here.
Finally may I mention that I've just updated my website Wedding Gallery with fresh photographs from recent weddings. I have always been an advocate that a photographers work should speak for itself so in the first instance I would invite any couple currently planning a wedding and looking to decide on a wedding photographer to have a look at my photographs and then compare them to any other wedding photographer in Edinburgh. Selecting the right photographer for your wedding can be a daunting process, however, having internet access now allows you to check on a photographers skill level and expertise simply by comparing their photographs from their websites. A good question to ask yourself is, Do their images have impact and do the people in them look good? At the end of the day that is what you want from your own photographs.
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