I always find time at the end of each year to look back on the weddings that I’ve had the privilege to be part of, take the opportunity to thank everyone that has supported me and look at what 2016 holds for this particular wedding photographer. Its also a great opportunity to look at the new and exciting things that I’ve done, that I hope will become part of how I work in the future.
It’s certainly been a year of ‘firsts’! There were so many great moments in 2015 that I’ve chosen to share just the key highlights that I hope you’ll enjoy and be inspired by for your own wedding photography. So here goes:
An Icon on the Water: Normanton Church Wedding, Rutland.
2015 started off with an amazing winter wedding in January, as Colleen and David said their vows in style at this stunning location. I just loved Colleen’s winter white elegance and the classic black tie style chosen for the guys, which made for some fantastic photos. A richly decorated George Hotel at Stamford was their reception venue followed by a party at the cool stylish Riverside in Stamford. I especially loved seeing Colleen arrive and I the ‘nightclub party’ vibe of the wedding party making their way from one venue to another is great fun. A fabulous way to start the year and in fact end the year, as their wedding was featured in the December issue of Rutland Life magazine with a five page spread about their day. Thank you Colleen and David for allowing me to be part of such a special day for you both. An amazingly stylish, and genuinely lovely couple to work with.
A Pretty Outdoor Summer Ceremony at Tower Hill Barns, Wales.
I absolutely loved every minute of Sarah and Chris’s wedding. It was a day full of true love and joy with their wedding taking place on Sarah’s grandparents wedding anniversary, with them both in attendance for the the big day. So special. It was also the first time that Tower Hill Barns held an outdoor ceremony, perfectly complementing the vintage tea party theme of the whole day (the infamous Welsh rain stayed away that day – a minor miracle in itself).
Sarah looked beautiful and incredibly happy in her House of Mooshki tea length gown and it was a real family effort with the décor for their celebrations, with invites and table decorations crafted by Sarah and her family.A stunning wedding day full of love which I think shone through in their delightfully happy and romantic photos. Sarah and Chris’s day will be featured in Ultimate Wedding Magazine early in 2016 – it was a real delight to read Sarah’s account of her day that she provided as she shared some very special moments. Thank you Sarah and Chris for a glorious day in the Welsh countryside that I won’t ever forget.
A Grand Wedding at Bath Abbey.
With the sun beating down, peak summer arrived with a wedding at beautiful Bath Abbey. It was an amazing experience and perhaps the toughest part of the day was getting the ‘big’ group shot outside the abbey – sorting out tourists from guests whilst not losing the Bride and Groom. An elevated position from above helped! If you are privileged to have the opportunity to marry in an Abbey (not many people are) it will no doubt be daunting but incredibly beautiful. Thank you Chris and Emma for allowing me into and experiencing such a different world. Stunning.
Quintessentially English at Chippenham Park Lodge Cambridgeshire.
Another first at a venue that I know well but had never photographed a wedding at. This year Gabrielle and Tony held their wedding there with an outdoor ceremony (spotting a trend here?) and, yet again the gods smiled down and gave us sunshine. A perfect English summer day full of the scents of lavender, and the sound of laughter – with the occasional tears during the ceremony. The photos of Gabrielle with her baby daughter as she got ready were really special and, it could not have been more perfect as Gabrielle walked with her father and bridesmaids to the ceremony. Thank you Gabrielle and Tony for such a fun filled relaxed day.
From a personal point of view there were also a few other firsts. I was accepted as a Member of the prestigious International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP) in early spring and in summer I did my first styled shoot to explore more fashion led bridal and wedding photography. Taking place at Island Hall in Cambridgeshire we had a fabulous day. The shoot was reminiscent of ‘old world’ glamour and the photography of 20th Century legend Cecil Beaton. Our talented models Stacey, Katie and Jen made it all look effortless in dresses by Elbeth Gillis, Jesus Peiro and Lara B, whilst the beautiful hair and make up by Boe at Botias brought the look together. Our stylist Rowena, pulled together an amazing scene for our key shot and of course our hosts Christopher and Lady Vane-Percy and Grace Vane Percy were amazing and gracious in letting us use their home. It was a resounding success and was featured in the GB Wedding Blog and the front Cover of Ultimate Wedding Magazine.
There were also one or two special features. First was Tom and Ellen’s Cambridge wedding from 2014 being featured in uber stylish wedding blog, Style and the Bride. Bride Ellen was overjoyed to be featured in such a stylish blog and I’m forever thankful that she agreed for their lovely wedding to be shared with other brides seeking inspiration. Next up was a feature on another amazing blog, Nu Bride. Nova the editor put a call out to feature multi-cultural weddings and I was so pleased that Japanese bride Hanako and her husband, English gentleman Roger who married at Hengrave Hall, agreed to be featured. Hankao’s memories of her day were beautiful and poignant; my wife cried as she read them, and I was overwhelmed at how very special they said that their photos were to them.
So, that’s it for another year and we are already starting 2016 with exciting developments at Scott-Wood Photography. Watch this space and in the meantime I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the friendship, love and support that you’ve shown me. It helps to make me who I am as a photographer and helps me to continue to record and document incredible love stories. I look forward to photographing stunning weddings in 2016 and Wish you a wonderful, healthy, happy and prosperous 2016!