Mick Cookson Photography

Your Manchester Wedding magazine

2012-01-26T16:56:00.001Z

The latest issue of Your Manchester Wedding magazine will hit the shelves this week. I have a preview copy which has just arrived. One of my Manchester city centre weddings is featured - Sinead and Luke, who were married last May at The Midland. I remember the day oh so well - it was a real test of my professionalism. You see, City were playing in the FA Cup final - which happened to be showing on a 50" plasma screen in the bar area, where everyone was gathered before the wedding breakfast. I had promised myself to watch the game on Sky+ when I got home, but it took every ounce of strength to concentrate on my job, working like this - under such pressure. Man...the job's pressured enough at times without this!

Anyway, I don't think anybody noticed, and I was very pleased with the collection of images - most of which were shoe-horned into a gorgeous Italian black leather album. Sinead keeps in touch from time to time, and has pencilled me in for a family shoot in March...it's OK, the Derby's not until April...;-)

Location, Location, Location

2012-01-19T09:41:00.002Z

I thought I'd show these two images from my personal collection. Taken at Whitby in North Yorkshire, and the view from my balcony at home, both were taken with the same camera and lens combination. Both are landscapes, (arguably the image of Manchester is an urbanscape), but both images show the location with an almost tangible quality. Compositionally they are very close, with the main focus being on the left third of frame, whilst both images sit within a natural panoramic framing, be it from cloud cover or a lens filter. Though the two images and locations couldn't be any further away from each other, in terms of subject - they work perfectly together as a set

Your Merseyside Wedding Magazine

2012-01-18T14:10:00.001Z

A new wedding magazine has just been launched for the Merseyside region - Your Merseyside Wedding. I was asked by the editor to supply a recent Liverpool-based wedding to be published as their first Real Wedding feature. I've photographed a few weddings in Liverpool and Wirral, so thought it best to send Hannah & Dan's lovely wedding from last June - at the lovely Palm House in Sefton Park...well, it'd be rude not to!

The magazine in sale now, but you can check them out (together with the other titles in their group) here.

A Walk In The Park

2012-01-14T19:33:00.001Z

The wedding season doesn't start for another couple of weeks yet, so I'm enjoying a little more family time than I normally get. Today we took little Sophie to feed the ducks in the local park - a last minute call really with around forty minutes of daylight left. I took the baby Nikon compact with me - just in case. Amongst the usual 'daddy shots' of Sophie playing on the swings and getting generally all muddied-up, was this tranquil scene.

Yes, it's possibly a bit twee and 'chocolate boxy', but it sums up our short time in the park beautifully - quiet with virtually the whole place to ourselves; the only sounds were the ducks bantering with each other. Nothing else. Bliss!

The image has been given a slight colour film grading to add to the mood....hope you like it.

Aviation Stock Photography

2012-01-13T10:20:00.001Z

One of my recent personal/commercial projects was shooting stock images for a specialist aviation photo library. Now, NOT being a plane spotter (though there's nothing wrong with being one), I approached the whole project differently from most other photographers. Not knowing anything about the aircraft, I spent a few hours here and there down at Manchester Airport's Aviation Viewing Park - a very therapeutic 'escape' on a summer afternoon; a great way to get out of the office with the mobile phone switched off for a couple of hours (so nobody can hassle you!) You really should try it...

I got to meet with (other) plane spotters, blending in perfectly as the 'Newbie'. The friendly bunch used to give me the gossip as to what was expected in that day - all a bit secret squirrel. I felt like an undercover reporter on a big story a lot of the time, whilst I stood there with my sandwiches and coffee eavesdropping on the scanners and general chit chat. Some of the spotters there actually travel round Europe spotting planes at all the major airports, summer-long. Each to their own I suppose...

The folio of images has been building up over the past few summers, with my shooting vantage points varied all around the perimeter of the airport's two runways. The agency loved what I was doing - very different from the usual stock images, so I stuck at it, as best time allowed. I didn't spend days camped out, just the odd morning or afternoon where I had 'windows of opportunity'.

These days, when not on wedding duties, I spend my time shooting other commercial and personal projects. This aviation project has now been 'grounded'. I have had a success with several images being sold around the world...

...including the official cover for FLIGHT 93, the book on which the film is based. So....still unable to tell the difference between an A319 and 737-200, my time spent shooting the big metal birds taught me nothing, apart from how to escape from my working 'bubble' from time to time, to enjoy the sunshine and relative tranquility, and to plough some energy into a random project. A bit like fishing, but with the smell of aviation fuel thrown in!

Road Safety Campaign for More Than

2012-01-12T21:38:00.000Z

When not on wedding duties, I shoot commercial and editorial photography for a collection of clients. Normally, a lot of my work is contractually obliged to stay away from my blog and website, though some of it allowed to feature.

This project is for the insurance company More Than, for their Winter 2011/12 Road Safety Awareness campaign. The campaign is progressing around the schools of the UK at the moment, with guest presenters and children's entertainers getting the road safety message across to primary school pupils.

Away from the schools, and into the media, this shot features a trained Labrador wearing one of the new hi-vis jackets. It was taken in a city centre in rush hour traffic, with the simple yet patience-testing job of getting the dog to look in the right direction, together with just the right amount of background action. No photoshop jiggery-pokery here. This was taken lying down in the rain with a Nikon D3 camera and 24mm f/1.4 lens, hand held. I'm really pleased with the result, as is the client - raw editorial photography in 'perfect' conditions! You may well have seen the ad in the press so far....?

VIA and Polar! shoots, Manchester

2012-01-03T09:46:00.001Z

Just as I finished for Christmas, an urgent call came in from an advertising agency in the West Midlands. Could I shoot some architectural interiors and features of two bars in Manchester? No problem I thought; it would make a welcome change to my 'Saturday Job'. VIA and (the private members') Polar! bars in Manchester's Canal Street had just undergone refurbishment, with new decor, lighting, seating - the works.

These images will feature in the new websites and promotional material for the two bars. Shot using a set of fast prime lenses, these images use the natural ambient lighting, mixed with a small amount of flash to slightly boost otherwise heavy shadow areas.

Hope you like 'em - the clients do...

BEST OF 2012

2011-12-31T16:59:00.006Z

This year, I thought I'd put my twelve personal favourites of the 2011 wedding season. Though not an easy choice to make, whittling down hundreds of images from dozens of weddings....as of today - New Year's Eve, these are my 'immediate' top 12 images.

In no particular order or month, these images stand out to me as a photographer, for their varied qualities - some images being more staged, or traditional, whilst others a little offbeat. Hope you like them...and no, they're not going to be a calendar for 2012!

First up is an unusual reportage image of Sophie at Crewe Hall. A winter wedding meant for a dull, overcast day, but just before sunset the clouds broke and gave us literally ten minutes of beautiful low, golden winter sunlight. Sophie was being helped by one of her bridesmaids around the hall for a formal shot. Chasing behind I spotted this and shot it on the run....

Shooting Sarah in the hairdressers having her hair and makeup done, one of the stylists who knew her was jokingly complaining of being tired from a previous late night. I waited for my moment to pan around from Sarah, (who was held quietly captive in the chair) - to grab this shot. I just love the way the poster mirrors the stylist's face...

Paul - the father of the bride was quietly running through his speech as daughter and bridesmaids were getting ready in the lounge. I quietly followed him and managed this shot of the reflection in the hall mirror. A square crop finished the composition off perfectly for me....

Hannah & Dan were married in Liverpool. En route from the church, via Penny Lane, to The Palm House, we shot a selection of images live from their car. No..I wasn't wearing a seatbelt (sorry), but by kneeling on the passenger seat I manged one of my favourite wedding images ever. Totally offbeat...

During my shooting day, we do put aside around 15-20mins to shoot some lightly directed formal portraits. Taken in the Lowry, this image of Alexandra & James was fully directed by myself. I had noticed the image of the man looking on at them, and asked them to just sit facing me. They went one better of course, and made the image the success it is.

Viv & Paul's wedding in York was the most unique of the year. No bridesmaids, speeches, formalities, backed by two superb musicians playing beautiful medieval music, their wedding was a dream to photograph. The venue was The Treasurer's;'s House, sitting literally in the shadow of York Minster. Taken just before the family group shots, this image of the musicians playing seemingly alone, but cleverly using the room's acoustics as a natural amplifier was stunning to witness.

Taken in a pub in Chorlton, Manchester, Tom was checking a text message from his bride-to-be, as his little nephew attempted to help himself to his bottle of beer. Nice try young man. Taken in very low lighting conditions with a 35mm f1.4 prime lens.

This shot of Lisa with her dad is a special image for me. Lisa & Dave were finally getting married after a tumultuous, roller coaster year of illness for Dave. At early points in the year, the wedding looked almost certain not to happen, for serious and obvious reasons. But all came good; Dave pulled through and there they were. The look on Lisa's face sums up the sheer joy of finally getting to the aisle. Knowing all this, no photographer would be able to shoot this image without a lump in their throat...

Steph was famous for being punctual for everything. But, every bride has the prerogative to be late on her wedding day. This image was taken at The White Hart Inn, Lydgate. Steph was literally across the road from the church, getting ready at The White Hart. I love this shot of the ever-smiling minister braving the wind and showers (with me!), patiently waiting for a bride....for a 2pm ceremony. Thanks for this one Steph...love it!

Sometimes it's the simplest of images which command a place in my Top 12 of the year. This image of Nicky & Martin is one of my favourite images ever. I pretended to change memory cards in the camera, leaving them to do their own thing. They did, beautifully - while they 'waited' for me. Naturally lit, with a touch of flash to lift the image a little, this image works so well for me.

Peckforton Castle this time. I was standing outside waiting for the happy couple to appear for the 15 mins of formal portraits. Rebecca emerged first, waving her bouquet to some family members behind me. I quickly grabbed this image. I love the scale of the bride against the overwhelming stonework, and the lovely touch of human interest given to the image.

Taken at my final wedding of the year, this formal portrait of Sarah & Dan worjks beautifully for me. Manchester Town Hall is a stunning place to film in (ask Meryl Streep), and no Christmas wedding would be complete without a formal image of the happy couple. The subdued colours, sheer grandeur of the masonry inside the town hall, plus the lovely Christmas tree adds all the required elements for timeless classic Christmas wedding image. Yes - unashamedly setup, but loving this shot.

Image of the Year

2011-12-16T09:34:00.000Z

I've been fortunate to photograph a lot of weddings this year - with couples married at different styles of venues, with different approaches, themes - some even bordering on the maverick. Choosing my personal image of the year wasn't difficult this time. Sure, I had possibly forty or so images, some of which will be folio-bound next year, but this image kept coming back to mind. It was taken at Rebecca and David's wedding at Peckforton Castle in early November. The morning had been the usual - lots of nerves, lots of excitement and anticipation for both Rebecca and David, which both culminated and dissipated at the same time as they met for the ceremony in the Great Hall. And this shot stands out for me. Taken just after signing the register, the usual gathering of family and friends was forming behind me, ready to photograph the newlywed couple, when I spotted this. It was weird - almost like time had stood still for a few seconds. Amongst all the chatter and bustle of the guests behind me, was this image of a newly married couple, quietly reflecting on their signatures in the register, oblivious to the 'chaos' around them. Now man and wife, this was a defining moment in their day, and a defining image for me and my career. And just as quickly as I got the shot, it disappeared as the smiles and laughter broke out again...

If you've ever been to a winter wedding at Peckforton Castle, or even photographed there, you'll know just how dark and atmospheric the venue can be. For the photographers out there, this was taken on a Nikon D3 using a 24-70mm lens at f/2.8 and 1600 ISO.

So...to Mr & Mrs Barber, thank you for this - my personal Image of the Year.

December Weddings - Sarah & Daniel

2011-12-13T16:52:00.000Z

Sarah & Daniel were married at Manchester Town Hall recently. This was to be my final wedding of 2011, and I have to say I'm looking forward to some time off over Christmas and the New Year. Photographing two weddings a week or so apart, but at the same venue can be problematic to a lot of photographers. The temptation is always there to shoot the same set of images for both clients, and hope they never meet or see each other's images. But these two weddings are back to back on my blog for starters!

Sarah & Dan's wedding was a late start - 4.30pm on a December day means one thing. It's dark - No daylight at all to use for this one. And the reception was inside the Town Hall too. In fact, we never ventured out into the cold dark evening to be trampled in the Christmas market (thanks Sarah!) I thought long and hard about how to approach this wedding - I have other low light weddings to photograph in January and February too. So I took the plunge and invested in a new Nikon D3s camera, which gives a little more 'headroom' in low light situations. And very well it did too, working alongside my (still favoured) D700 bodies on the day. So, with less fill-in flash required, and getting to use all my fast prime lenses (no zooms on this wedding - too cumbersome) and at very high ISO settings, I went about the day's shooting, approaching the task ahead like every other wedding.

So, without further ado - I give you my favourite images from the day....oh..and apart from the two featured posed formal images, NOTHING was set up!!

As Sarah arrived at the Town Hall, she stopped to speak to her bridesmaids intermittently, who were off-camera organising themselves. Real-life documentary wedding photography with no intervention from myself.

November Weddings - Adele & Steve

2011-12-05T17:16:00.003Z

Adele & Steve were married recently at Manchester Town Hall. Adele's preparations were back home in Oldham, so it was a military exercise to time everything perfectly, to allow for travel, road works (Manchester weather!) etc.The morning was filled with the usual 'chaos' that is bride and bridesmaids getting ready - lots of hair dryers and MTV in every room....for atmosphere, obviously ;-)

These are some of my favourites from the day...

It was at this point that Plan B was called for. The weather had just turned horrible, and the darkness premature - so our plans to scoot to Castlefield before Stock restaurant were binned. It's at this point that as a working pro photographer, you have to call upon all your experience to create images for the album, as though Plan B was always Plan A...

You really wouldn't believe how this shot was lit, so I'm keeping it to myself!

After a few minutes of portraits, it was off, (via a mad dash in the rain) to a cab bound for Stock restaurant. If you've ever shot a winter wedding in Manchester Town Hall and Stock restaurant, you need to be on the ball. For the photographers out there the day was shot mostly with 35mm & 85mm f/1.4 lenses at 6400 ISO....not for the faint hearted!

November Weddings - Rebecca & Dave

2011-11-13T20:37:00.001Z

Rebecca & Dave were married at Peckforton Castle, a venue which really dictates an early night beforehand for us wedding photographers. It's a lovely, romantic candle-lit venue..but boy is it dark...especially on a grey November day! But dark means atmospheric, and to us photographers who specialise in low-light shooting, it's a creative challenge to get the best from the venue and the working conditions.

Rebecca & Dave's brief to me was to go do my own thing; their day was especially to be natural, with no formalities dominating the day's proceedings. Just how we like it.

Here's some of my favourites from the day...

After the ceremony, we were ushered down into the belly of the castle, to the Hexagonal Room for canapes. It was so dark in there, I just had to pray that the Nikons had been graced with an earlier night than I. They had, thankfully...

Then it was outside for our standard fifteen minutes' of lightly directed portraits. Still no rain, but it was a typically grey November day...

October Weddings - Nicky & Martin

2011-11-06T19:25:00.002Z

Nicky and Martin were married recently at Manchester Town Hall. Theirs was a 'proper' urban wedding with the reception at Stock restaurant...with a detour to Castlefield for some stylish and industrial portraits....including my favourite wall!

These are some of my favourites from the day...

Nicky told me that she used to smile like this for her dad when being photographed as a little girl. She also mentioned that this shot wouldn't make the edit shortlist. Yeah...right! x

Hi Mick,

Thanks for these – they’re fantastic! Really pleased with them, and as promised we hardly knew you were there all day. You were a total pleasure, apart from maybe the getting ready bit – see the one of me scowling even made it onto your blog!

I’ll circulate to everyone and I think when we’ve had chance to look through a couple more times we’ll want a couple of large prints for me & Martin at home.

Thanks again

Nicky

Martin laughed all day. Yes really. He bit his lip during the 20 min ceremony and then carried on laughing...all day.

Stock restaurant is a beautiful venue for a wedding - and really sorts out the experienced low-light photographers out there. It's scarily dark, and the temptation to use/need flash is overpowering...but I wasn't going to be beaten! For the photographers out there, we're talking 6400 ISO territory here...but I love a challenge.

Luca & Zach

2011-10-23T08:35:00.001+01:00

This is my favourite image from a recent portrait session with brothers Luca & Zach. Mum commissioned me to shoot a set of images, some of which are to be framed 20"x16" prints for the walls at home. I try to avoid the obvious approach to photographing children - I treat them as 'little adults', so they get exactly the same treatment. This particular image was taken on the settee, with about thirty seconds to get the shot before they became bored and ran off..

Personal Work - 50mm Lens project

2011-10-21T13:23:00.001+01:00

Yesterday I was back home in Morecambe on business. I set myself a challenge - 'One hour to shoot with one lens' - a 50mm 'standard' lens. Arguably one of the most difficult lenses to use, I set myself challenges like this all the time, with a different fixed focal length lens - to keep 'match fit'. With no comfort of having a zoom control, using a 50mm means a lot of walking around to compose images. It also focuses you as a photographer into pre-visualising the image, and waiting patiently for things to happen. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't...

So, during my hour I had a total weather change from sunny to heavy showers, wet roads, pigeons...more pigeons and seagulls.

In all I took around thirty images. Here are my favourites...

October Weddings - Viv & Paul

2011-10-21T11:22:00.000+01:00

Viv & Paul were married recently in York. The wedding venue was The Treasurer's House - a National Trust building standing literally in the shadow of York Minster. ior me, it doesn't get much better than this- I simply love York and all it has to offer.

Viv & Paul's wedding was different to most - no Bridesmaids, Best Man or speeches; simply a relaxed go-with-the-flow day with a lovely family party atmosphere. All I knew was the ceremony was at 2pm, and Viv's preps were next door at Grays Court around 9am...the whole day was to be live and natural.

Here are a few of my favourites from the day...

Music for the ceremony and afternoon reception was beautifully provided by a duo playing authentic medieval instruments - no Elbow or Snow Patrol this afternoon... ;-)

The couple and myself went walkabout for fifteen minutes, around the Minster and surrounding streets - all very quick and 'painless'. Viv got to play, plus show off the forty-year old family heirloom veil...

After a an afternoon buffet, accompanied by real ales , champagne and wine, it was time to retire next door at Gray's Court - to the mellow tunes of a superb jazz quartet.

Fancy a Christmas Portrait?

2011-10-17T00:45:00.000+01:00

Due to popular demand I'm shooting Christmas portraits during early-mid November. If you'd like a family group, kids, or babies photographed for Christmas, please get in touch. Taken at your home, or on location, the stunning portraits will be shot in the same style as my wedding work, using natural light. NO cheesy poses, silly props or saturated colours on this one...sorry; just stylish images like these...

Recent Wedding Work - 500px

2011-10-14T12:52:00.002+01:00

One of my online galleries is the wonderful 500px, I have just created a gallery of some of my favourite recent wedding images....why not drop in and see for yourself HERE...

October Weddings - Abby & Ben

2011-10-13T16:18:00.006+01:00

Abby & Ben were married in the Peak District at Losehill House Hotel. Off the beaten track, this charming venue sits proudly at the bottom of a beautiful mountainous landscape...well it did on the technical recce. On the day, however it rained constantly! Still, we were not put off...

Abby & Ben live in Australia, but flew home to be married near Abby's parents' house. I'd met Abby a couple of times before, but meeting Ben was the classic 'Groom at the church steps'...and a really poilte guy. A jovial family affair meant that my natural reportage-style photography could be produced under the one roof, without anybody getting wet. We did venture out for five minutes for a formal shot or too.

It was also good to see (purely coincidentally) a great makeup artist - two weeks on the trot - Amanda Jones. Amanda does great service to brides and bridesmaids...and the all-important 'A-Lister', the bride's mum (Happy Birthday again, Helen!)

Here are some of my favourites from the day...

Hi Mick,

Thanks for these - we just got off the night flight from Vegas so it was nice to come home to the wedding pics. We love lots of them and are glad the rain didn't get in the way!

Thanks again, great job,

Abby

...and YES, that is a three-tier pork pie as Abby & Ben's wedding cake!

Personal Work - Lancaster

2011-10-05T08:14:00.001+01:00

Last Sunday was a visit back home to see mum, who's in hospital at the moment. We had some time to spare before visiting, so went 'walkabout' round my old haunts in Lancaster. With me was my trusty Nikon compact camera, and, though it was raining all day (after that glorious mini-heatwave) I wasn't going to give in!

Here's some images taken in the thirty minute window of opportunity offered to me by the weather and my one year old daughter's attention span...

This guy made me smile - not about his religious views, no - each to their own on that one. He was doing the usual - you know, ranting politely at everyone to repent etc...but he was a Geordie, and his strong accent really reminded me of Michael in the Alan Partridge series. Very funny to listen to...

This image was shot through the car windscreen whilst sitting waiting. The screen was fully steamed up with rain pouring down it, giving me a natural pastel filter for this shot.

September Weddings - Laura & Andy

2011-09-29T08:38:00.006+01:00

Laura and Andy were married recently at Mottram Hall. An nice early start meant I was shooting the bride and (four) bridesmaids' images early, ready for the 12 noon ceremony. The weather was good, with little chance of rain (yeah right!), but on the whole we were lucky. Andy is a mad Rochdale FC fan, and a letter of congratulations appeared during the best man's speech, from the chairman himself - wishing the couple all the very best for their wedding day - but also to thank Andy for choosing a day that the team were away at Notts County....so no moral or emotional dilemma! ;-)

And I was working alongside a very talented and professional videographer - Charlene from Love Gets Sweeter. You can check her website out here.

Here are a few of my favourites from the day...

Hi Mick,

Only just got chance to look at these today! Wow they are amazing - we have laughed and cried!!!

They are beautiful and capture the mood of the day and we have loved reliving the day! It has also helped Andy fill in some of the 'blank' bits!

Thank you so much!

How am I ever going to choose them for the album!!

Thank you for being part of our day we loved having you there!
A very very happy Mr and Mrs R

It was during the group shot of 'the lads' that somebody passed wind. Loudly. But wouldn't own up.... hilarious.....

Theo - Laura & Andy's dog even made a guest appearance too!

September Weddings - Steph & Lee

2011-09-20T09:51:00.001+01:00

Steph & Lee were married in Vegas recently....without me! Boo! But, they booked me to photograph their reception on their return to Wilmslow. The night started with a family meal and speeches at Merlin restaurant in Alderley Edge, then it was on to the Deanwater Hotel in Woodford for the party. With a full house, two live vocalists and a DJ, the celebrations were full on with very little space left on that dance floor.

Here's a few of my favourites from the evening...

September Weddings - Gemma & Ben

2011-09-18T17:10:00.004+01:00

Gemma & Ben were married recently at the lovely Lytham Hall, again a venue I'd never worked at before. Lytham Hall is a beautiful old Manor House, set deep into it's own grounds, and the weddings there are meticulously run by Paul & Ben from Rowley's Catering in nearby Blackpool. The weather threatened to spoil the proceedings, and got it's way with the final guests, and Gemma's arrival as the heaven's opened and a torrential downpour hit us for a few minutes.... Mother Nature can throw what she wants, it doesn't bother us... ;-)

Here are a few of my favourites from the day...

Mick

We've managed to find seemingly the only place in Bali with wi-fi and had a lovely cocktail by the beach.
The pictures are extraordinarily good. A million miles better than we could have ever hoped for. Thank you so much.
Ben & Gemma

September Weddings - Joanne & Mark

2011-09-09T10:28:00.003+01:00

Joanne & Mark were married at Adlington Hall in Cheshire recently...on yes, another typical North West weather-day! Overcast and dull, but at least the rain held off. This is my first visit to Adlington Hall, and I have to say it's stunning; a beautiful wedding venue, with superb grounds to shoot in...whatever the weather!

Here's some of my favourites from the day...

Mick

Just had a busy day roaming around Pompeii in 30 degree heat!
Thanks for the pics, we've managed to have a look on my iPhone, they look fantastic
Thanks ever so much again, you were brilliant and the pictures have made us very happy!

All the best
Mark & Joanne

August Weddings - Stephanie & Mark

2011-09-05T19:47:00.000+01:00

Steph & Mark were married at St Ann's church in Lydgate, with the reception held at The White Hart. Geographically both venues couldn't be any closer, the church being literally across the road! And, the minister was brilliant to deal with, encouraging both Tom from Silk Wedding Videos and myself to capture the ceremony as we saw fit. Space was slightly restricted inside, but we all managed to get our shots done without tripping over each other, so a massive thank you to Fr Christopher Halliday and the church wardens.

The weather played it's part though, behaving itself right up to the 2pm ceremony, then letting go with rain showers and blustery winds....rather typical of the area...though not in August, surely? Anyway, we never let the weather spoil the day, and everything ran like clockwork...well apart from Steph being fashionably late - but it's a bride's prerogative surely ;-)

The church and reception were stunningly designed and dressed by Mat Hepplestone and his talented team at Red Floral and unanimously described as 'insane' - truly a compliment to the team's art!

Here are some of my favourites from the day...

August Weddings - Alexandra & James

2011-08-25T11:45:00.001+01:00

Alexandra & James were married at their parish church in Stockport, with their reception at The Lowry in Salford Quays. A gloriously sunny start to the day made for a great atmosphere - with a well-attended church service. The minister was brilliant - sarcastic to the end with myself, allowing me to 'do my thing' unhindered. With that in mind, I duly did, and 'snipered' my shots using a zoom lens for a change (the church was quite brightly lit inside with the sunlight streaming in). Transport was a set of black cabs, neat and understated, and the party hit the ground running when they arrived at The Lowry.

Here's some of my favourites from the day...

This is my favourite image of the day. Totally sums up Alexandra's emotions as she watches one her best friends sing solo in church...

One of guests lives abroad and couldn't make the wedding. No problem; one life-sized cardboard cutout later... he joined everyone at the bar, in the group shots(!) and the wedding breakfast too...

Mick,

Can't thank you enough, the photos were brilliant, everything we wanted. The only issue is going to be whittling them down!

Thanks again

James

Hi Mick

Just to reiterate James' sentiments - we are absolutely thrilled with our pictures. I think the favourite one is in the gallery with the photograph looking down on us; truly exceptional photography and a picture no-one in the world will have.

We will make a start on getting the images down to the required amount for the album. Just to check - how many images do we need to choose? Got a feeling we'll be getting some extras too!!

Many, many thanks for capturing our special day so perfectly.

Alexandra

August Weddings - Michelle & Tom

2011-08-18T17:21:00.000+01:00

Michelle & Tom were married at Great John Street Hotel in Manchester, with a church ceremony at St John's in Chorlton. As usual, the weather was pretty dull, but changeable...very changeable. Shooting at SJS as it's known was my first time. The hotel is a lovely themed venue...I remember it from a few years ago though, when, I my past TV life I used to have the odd beer there amongst the Coronation Street cast...but shhhhh, don't tell anyone! The building is beautiful these days - fully rejuvenated, with a lovely roof terrace. Pity the weather wasn't brilliant, but we didn't let it spoil things.

Here's some of my favourites from the day...

August Weddings - Lisa & Dave

2011-08-18T15:54:00.000+01:00

Lisa & Dave were married at the Parish Church of Middleton - a stunning Norman-dated building, with lots of character. A real hidden gem, steeped in history. Lisa & Dave are the most down-to-earth clients I have ever photographed. With no preconceived ideas, they wanted me to just 'go for it' and document their wedding day. Without going into detail, Lisa & Dave's day was extra special. A real Roller Coaster ride of events have interfered with their long term plans...but they got there. And with God's will, they'll stay there, for many many years to come.

Photographing a wedding is all about the people, the emotions and the celebrations of the day. But more importantly, as a photographer, it's about capturing as much of these elements as one can, whilst trying to stay impartial. Saturday was difficult to remain impartial, but I did my best...here are some of my favourites from the day...

August Weddings - Leisa & John

2011-08-12T23:20:00.000+01:00

Leisa & John were married in Cheadle on a very changeable August Saturday. Both bride and groom and avid brass band fans...and musicians too. Along for the ceremony were some of their closest friends, playing them into and out of church, plus the hymns of course - no organist required, thank you! Mention of the famous Brighouse and Rastrick brass band were mentioned in the speeches as thank yous to certain members. I was impressed!

The reception was at Chancellors Hotel. Situated in Fallowfield, Manchester, I'd never heard of the venue before. Off the beaten track, the hotel is beautiful, with a vast mature lawn and gardens to photograph in. Here's some from the day...

Leisa's dad Paul is an avid City fan (good lad!), so this shot had to make the shortlist...

August - Wedding Inspiration Blog

2011-08-05T13:11:00.000+01:00

The lovely Clair at Wedding Inspirations has featured one of my recent weddings - Hannah & Dan at The Palm House in Liverpool. To see the full article, and Clair's lovely blog, just click here...

Personal Work - 'Two Ladies'

2011-07-29T18:03:00.000+01:00

On a recent trip back home, I spent a couple of hours on the promenade. These two ladies caught my eye, with their colours contrasting beautifully against the summer sky. I had in mind a retro feel to shooting this image, combining low contrast, washed-out colours with a focus blur. I think it works well, but I'm biased I suppose...

For the photographers out there, the image was shot with a 24-70mm zoom on a Nikon D700.

July Weddings - Vicki & Danny at MCFC

2011-07-29T16:55:00.003+01:00

Vicki & Danny were married in Cyprus (why didn't they ask me to go with them?), but Danny phoned me to shoot their wedding reception back in England. I'd been recommended by a recent wedding - Maureen & Scott, but Danny was especially wanting to book since I am a City fan and the party was at Eastlands. How could I resist? Being an ex-season ticket holder (bit busy at weekends these days), it was great working there and seeing the stadium from inside.

Here's a few of my favourites from the evening...