Knighton House in Dorset is one of the newest arrivals on the Dorset wedding venue scene. It is a school so it is only available during the school holidays, but as a public school it has very long holidays. The grounds are extensive and over looking lots and lots of Dorset countryside! These images on this blog are a small example of what can be achieved in and around Knighton school. The above image I only spotted after being at the venue for some time and had not noticed before due to this location only becoming an option for a stunning Shot as the sun worked its way around to create the awesome warm back lighting. Even the normal natural colour shot I have shared before of Knighton House Dorset wedding photography needed no high art extra light editing, but when it came to the high art extra editing I was really spoiled for choice in the amount of post editing I could do as everything I chose just seemed to add another dimension to the image. This avenue of Yew trees could be utilized with off camera back lighting, but when the sun is out, why bother. Regarding the pose of Ben and Stacey I did give slight suggestions on how to stand etc, but as much as possible left them both to it to be as natural as possible. I made sure the dress was laying on the ground as neatly as possible and I like that there is a large tree root that the dress is lifted over so as to give a bit more shape. Stacey engaging the camera while Ben locking heads fully in love! The over hanging branches are one of the aspects that make this picture, as the leaves are beautifully back lit and wonderfully frame Ben and Stacey.

TOP Ten Tips FOR A STRESS FREE WEDDING DAY As with the first image this image is made magical by the back lighting again! No distracting details in the background just lots of light. This shot was taken in the Orchard at Knighton House and I had kicked a few ugly apples away from the foreground which looked a bit rotten, always important to eye up these small details, also helps save me any later air brushing. A classic pose here with bride and groom looking lovingly at each other, and I asked Stacey to lower her flowers so we can see the dress in a bit more detail, and also her arm and posture looks far more relaxed that it did in the first image.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR A STRESS FREE WEDDING DAYThis shot was taken just as bride and groom had arrived, but once again more back lighting. There are many opportunities at Knighton House for awesome images and on my next visit that is already booked in I will be taking full advantage. This hallway definitely has more possibilities with maybe more dramatic contrast of black and white.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR A STRESS FREE WEDDING DAYI mentioned off camera lighting earlier, and I couldn’t resist using them for this shot, just one light of to the right. This courtyard a minutes walk from the main house and has loads of character and once again lots of various opportunities for other shots. We ditched the flowers for this shot and this shots was far more of the natural kind and the smile on Stacey’s face was probably more due to me laying on the floor to get the low viewpoint I wanted to emphasize the  cobbles to draw the eye into them both. The exposure was set at least 3 stops below what the ambient light required as I wanted the off camera light to pick bride and groom out from the background, so as to render the background dark.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR A STRESS FREE WEDDING DAYThis shot isn’t from Knighton House but is in the little Dorset church where Stacey and Ben had their ceremony. You can have your ceremony at Knighton House, but this church was just around the corner of Stacey’s parents and so would of had sentimental reasons for using. Back lighting is the theme of this 2016 review as again light from outside the church with bride and groom kissing straight after the ceremony, always a big favorite for me.

TOP TEN TIPS FOR A STRESS FREE WEDDING DAY

You can view Ben & Stacey’s full story of the day here.

Creative and unique Dorset wedding photographer Nigel R Ware LRPS