My Dorset Wedding Photographer Review of 2016 continues with Amanda and Justin’s big day which was my second wedding of 2016. Five photos selected as my top favourite from this wedding with critique starts with one of the final shots from bridal prep that takes place at Athelhampton House in the cottage in the grounds. This Shot has been picked as a top photo as the bride is surrounded by bridesmaids and hair and makeup all helping with those final alterations, this photo sums up all that is awesome about a bridal prep, everyone helping to make the fairy tale bride a reality. The lighting is all important here to highlight mainly the bride’s face and hand but the focus is based on the face of the bride in thought about the upcoming ceremony. I always feel it for brides on their big day at these last moments, their minds racing away with all the plans and details, but at the same time trying to relax and enjoy the moment with all the last-minute activity. This image sums all that up and that’s why I have picked it as a top photo.

Wedding photographers mainly get asked to photo the day as it happens and to keep the images as natural as possible. This shot is posed, but I have picked it out from this wedding as a great shot as the joy on their faces is obviously very natural and spontaneous. So this image crosses over from posed to natural. The lighting is flat and the colours are muted enabling us to concentrate just on the raw fun emotion of just so chuffed to be married and have those rings on their fingers!

This next picture is heavily posed and thought out and premeditated as Amanda had seen something like this shot on Pinterest and had included it on her board for me to also include on their big day as part of the shot list. I gave the kids some loose instruction of what to do, but in the end kids being kids did their own thing, and as always that works out far better in the end anyway. I love a few of the kids with their hands over their eyes and the little girl sniggering with hand over mouth which was very natural and spontaneous and so was the little lad peeking over his shoulder. The dull downed lighting here almost does the same job as black and white would do, concentrating the eye on the emotion and form and not distracting the eye with any bright colours.

Speeches can often be my favourite time for natural shots of guests laughing and this shot is one of the best with father of the bride hugging his bride daughter enjoying the groom’s speech. You can’t get more natural and reportage than this. The lighting is pretty good in this room at Athelhampton House, but I also added to it slightly with some off-camera lighting to increase the quality and strength as the day was cloudy and not the brightest day.

Often the last photo of the day is required from me to be a night time shot, and this is one of the best of 2016. The love sign was inside but we moved it outside with an extension lead and I set one of my off-camera lights in the background to light up the house and another light to light the bride and groom. I love the sky in this shot which adds to the obvious drama and passion.