Natural posing – what to expect from your couple portraits

Is ‘Natural Posing' even a thing? I have put together a few tips in this short blog post how to get the best out of your couple portrait session and engagement shoots and to put your mind at ease. 

A lot of couples bring this topic up at our first initial meeting: “We don’t like our photo taken” …Well, most people, including me don’t like having their photo taken. So I worked on my approach to make the couple portrait session as comfortable and fun as possible. “Posing” doesn’t need to be cheesy or unnatural. First of all, my top tips for couple photos and feeling like a natural in front of the camera: 

• Trust me/your photographer and let them direct you 

• It’s a chance to have some alone time on your wedding day (apart from me following you around!) – embrace it 

• It’s okay to be nervous, but I will tell you what to do and will be with you all the way. Plus you don’t need to look at the camera most of the time 

• Always be touching or giving each other attention! This is soooooo important – you need to connect with each other. Without connection there is no magic in the photos! 

• Keep moving, dance, paddle in the shore or just be be silly – it makes for beautiful natural images if you’re moving around 

• Don’t look at the camera (unless told!). We will take a full length portrait with you looking at me towards the end of the session. So we can see your outfits and makeup etc.

• Try and keep hands occupied – ideally touching and connecting with your partner. Believe me, hands are so important in an image 

• Get close, and be in the moment, you have just got married and it is fine to hug, kiss and get close 

• Schedule in your couple shots after dinner when you have had a few drinks or a second session

• Try to forget you are being photographed  

• Book an engagement shoot before your big day to learn how it feels to be in front of the camera and work with your photographer

• Have a laugh! 
  

It feels like a lot to take in right now, but believe me it will be easy. Here are a few of my ‘go to shots’ to give you an idea:

Walking towards me / Walking away

Heads together

Dance and Swirl, Pick Up

Sitting

Close Up of Details

Standing together looking away

Getting Close

Generally being silly - one of my favourites!

The landscape - aka tiny people

Classic Standing Together

Candid Shots during the day- definitely my favourite!

If you want to practise ‘natural posing’ please contact me for availability of a portrait session or engagement / pre wedding shoot. Let’s go and have some fun!

Beautiful Cornwall and Devon Beach Wedding Vibes

There are so many things to love about beach weddings! Just imagine saying ‘I do’ under the warm sun with a backdrop of turquoise sea and beautiful blue sky listening to wavs crashing on the shore. Then paddling romantically in the sea, stroll around the beach, watch the sunset with a cocktail in your hand and dance the night away, maybe even outdoors under the stars, festival style. If that sounds like your idea of a perfect wedding day, then beach weddings are for you. I have made a collection of some of my favourite coastal weddings around Cornwall and Devon from the last couple of years to get you inspired.

I have also put together a few planning tips for your wedding by the sea. Collected from feedback of past couples and my observations to help you plan your dream beach wedding.

Why choose a beach wedding…

If you want a relaxed, informal do, especially one that stretches over a few days, beach weddings are great. There can also be less planning involved for your decoration as the stunning backdrop often needs little to add. And they're easy to keep small and intimate. Couples often keep their beach weddings relatively small and intimate to give you the option to stay for a bit longer and you can have your wedding and honeymoon all rolled into one! Just make sure you send your Save The Dates out early so people have time to plan.

They are also perfect if you don’t want any guests at all. Many of my real brides opted for elopement weddings, a little romantic get away for just the two of you. There are some stunning elopement and small wedding venues here in Cornwall which also offer boutique accommodation for a truly romantic runaway wedding.

Dream Dresses for Beach Weddings

The bride’s dress should reflect the beach wedding’s relaxed and casual atmosphere. Lightweight and flowing fabrics like chiffon or tulle create a stunning beachy effect. Beach Weddings also lend themselves perfectly to an effortless boho look. Mos importantly a beach wedding dress should be relaxed and super easy to wear, especially if you're splashing in the sea or playing games on the sand.

For your accessories, an effortless ‘just pulled together’ look is amazing for a day on the beach. Accessories that work well can include a delicate headpiece, bohemian-styled jewelry, and a bouquet made of loosely arranged tropical flowers and greens.

Think a relaxed up do or a twisting hair vine with shell hair pins. Or go for the wavy beach hair look. If your ceremony is actually on the beach, a short and simple veil that won't trail in the sand is a good idea. Or skip the veil altogether. Regarding shoes, keep it comfortable and ditch the high heels, they are not the most practical shoes to wear on a sandy beach! Sandals, glamorous flip flops or even barefoot is the way to go. To be honest most of my brides ditched their shoes soon after the ceremony and ended up barefoot the rest of the day. Also tell your guests as sometimes people don’t plan their outfit accordingly.

For the guys, think relaxed linen suits or even just linen trousers or shorts with casual short sleeve shirts. It can be quite hot when it’s a sunny day, so avoid thick tweed suits etc. , the linen or any light fabrics will keep you cool in the summer breeze.

Tell your guests to keep it casual too and to bring sunscreen, hats and comfortable shoes with them

Sea inspired Decor

Another bonus of beach weddings is that your surroundings are so beautiful, you won’t need much decor. A colour theme incorporating the whites and blues of the scenery is lovely and add some loosely arranged local Cornish plants or integrate some tropical flowers and greens. You can so easily create your own DIY beach-themed wedding decor, such as driftwood centerpieces, conch-shell candle holders, and starfish garlands and sprinkle some shells on the tables.

Beach themed Cake

No wedding reception is complete without a cake, and for a beach wedding, the cake should reflect the seaside setting. Opt for a beach-themed cake, such seashells or or beach themed cake topping. You can even customize it to fit your colour palette.

Beach Games

Entertain your guests with beach games, like a game of Rounders, Giant Jenga, Limbo dancing, Pétanque…and think about the little ones, get some buckets and spates, so they can build sand castles.

Choose the right Photographer

When searching for a photographer, it’s crucial to find one who has a candid, natural style and experience in shooting beach weddings. Look through their portfolio and be sure to inquire about their experience with relaxed style weddings. This will give you confidence in their ability to capture your special day in the best possible light.

With your couple portraits, have fun with it and be playful! Walk hand-in-hand along the shoreline, take a dip in the ocean, or include a candid moment with your guests. Whatever you choose, your pictures will be sure to bring a smile to your face each time you look at them.

If you hate your photo taken, which most of my couples do to be honest. Consider adding an engagement shoot to your wedding photography package. This way you can get comfortable with your photographer and practice ahead of your big day. This will also help you get to know your photographer better and develop a relationship and trust, which can help you feel more at ease on the day of your wedding. Plus you get some extra shots you can use as invitations or integrate in your decoration.

If you would like to get some more inspiration from a Boho DIY details wedding at Pohawnfort, please visit RockMyWedding to view a feature of Katie & Alex beautiful relaxed day there, also featured on my blog

And if you are planning a coastal wedding any time soon, please don’t hesitate to contact me for availability. I get booked up very fast for the summer months, so be quick!

Best of 2024 - some of my favourite moments

Finally! Here it is, some of my favourite moments of 2024! It is a bit of a funny one for me, capturing love everywhere and losing my own long term relationship at the start of the year. But hey, I’m staying positive and looking ahead excited what the future will bring…

I want to take this as an opportunity to thank all my amazing couples to put their trust in me to capture one of their most important days in their life, I truly feel honoured to have the privilege. And to all the suppliers I worked with this year, we have such a great community in the Southwest, what a beautiful industry to work in. Thanks for your support! I can’t wait what 2025 brings, some well known places and also exciting new ones on the list so far And to all my 2025 couples, I can’t wait to meet you soon!

If you’re still looking for a wedding photographer for 2024, I have a couple of spaces left. 2026 is filling up super fast, so please don’t hesitate to reserve your favourite suppliers and contact me for availability.

Why Autumn is a great season to plan your Wedding

There's something about the cooler season that makes things more intimate and romantic. I love autumn, the colours, the light, the ambience. It is certainly the season which brings a certain creative flair to weddings and out of a photographer’s perspective it is a great season to plan your wedding, I have listed a few reasons why …

Autumn Colors: Is there anything more beautiful than nature at its best? The colours of autumn never fail to make us feel inspired. Autumn leaves provide a natural backdrop for photos, and the season's colors can be used in flowers and decor. I personally love the warm, earthy autumnal colours, bright reds, vibrant oranges, rustic browns and warm yellows create the perfect backdrop for weddings.

The Atmosphere: Autumn and Winter evenings are longer and you can create atmospheric settings with candles, lanterns and fairy lights. Also you can have a sparkler exit leading into your evening entertainment instead of having to wait for it to get dark enough. And why not add some fire pits to your outdoor space, everyone loves a roasted marshmallow for some extra treats. There is something raw and natural sitting by the warmth of a fire. Roll on Log Burner Season!

Autumnal Decor: Autumnal décor is one of the main draws of people to get married at this time of year. Think rustic wood signs, pumpkins, hand dream stationary with leaves ornaments, mushrooms, twigs and colourful leaves, scented candles and fairy lights plus plenty more nature inspired items to create a truly whimsical autumn wonderland wedding. A feast for your photographer’s detail shots.

The Best Natural Lighting: We all heard of golden hour, the magical light just before sunset. This is at its most beautiful in autumn and it’s just at the right time in the afternoon. Mix the golden light with golden autumn leaves and your photographer can create magical photos.

Fresh produce: Autumn is harvest season for many fruits and vegetables, which can be used in your wedding food. From mulled wine and cider, a smokey whisky to delicious meals incorporating tastes of cinnamon, apple and nutmeg, autumn weddings really give couples the opportunity to offer a unique dining experience. And to be honest - it’s quite often all about the food!

Wedding Attire:
Autumn, it is truly the time to go bold and beautiful! Embrace the colors of the season and make it a running theme for your decor and clothes choice. Think gorgeous earthy tones for your bridesmaid dresses and embrace rustic reds, burnt oranges or deep burgundy’s. Seasonal flowers in the autumn are also stunning and it’s easy pairing them with similar tone gowns and décor to bring it all together into your autumnal wedding vision.

Empty Beaches:
We all love a beach wedding, but the reality is Devon and Cornwall’s beaches can be super busy in Spring and Summer and it’s hard to find a quiet corner for some great portrait photos sometimes. When the season draws to a close and the days get colder the beaches get quieter, which means you can have a whole beach by yourselves without an expensive exclusive hire of a beach wedding venue with a private beach. The opportunities for photos are plenty which results in better imagery. Let’s face it, who wants a whole town of wind breakers in the background or men in speedos running past their wedding photos!

Better Deals:

Another huge benefit is the cost factor. If you choose an autumn date rather than a peak season summer date for your wedding you might be able to secure better rates on your hotel, band, car hire and photographer etc. Weddings are expensive and every little saving helps to plan the wedding of your dreams.

So if you’re planning an autumn wedding the next 2 years, please contact me for availability and prices. 2025 is filling up fast but I have also opened my 2026 diary. I have a huge list of suppliers if you need any help with your planning.

Why do I need Engagement Photos

Are you still wondering why you need engagement photos or if you should add an engagement shoot to your package? As a documentary /reportage style wedding photographer a pre wedding photoshoot creates a conflict as it obviously doesn’t fall in the ‘documentary/reportage photography’ category. It is more a planned photoshoot. Well, the couple portrait session and your family photos are the only part of the day which don’t fall under the documentary category. And I guess the couple portrait session is the most ‘feared’ part by people who don’t like their photos taken. However, I approach this shoot slightly different and you will soon see it’s nothing to be afraid of but rather to enjoy.

Most of my couples never had their photos taken by a professional photographer or hate their photos taken by anyone. Don’t worry, we keep the photos as natural as possible and you can get to see how to create beautiful portraits without posing. A great way to ease your nerves before the big day! It will be a fun and relaxing experience. One of the most important things to create stunning natural portraits is to be able to relax and be yourself. After all, engagement photos are meant to capture who you are as a couple, not just what you look like. During the shoot you will get more comfortable and relaxed at getting your photos taken. And the more relaxed you feel on the big day, the better your wedding photos will be!

You will also get to know your photographer and I get a chance to get to know you. In some cases there will be bit of guidance by me such as “hey guys, having a hug over there would be great” or “ run down the dunes holding hands’ or some general guidance on how or where best to stand for a good photo. Or some nonsense which usually comes out of me and hopefully makes you laugh! You will see the way I work ‘posing’ will be fun.

Because we can be flexible on a date, we can choose the right weather and location. You can add some beach photos to your woodland wedding and vice versa or we can get some sunset photos which might not happen on your wedding day as you can’t plan the weather ahead. I don’t know how many times I get asked about including sunset photos for beach weddings and I’m always worried for the couple that the sunset might not be as great as imagined or non existing on their wedding day. Maybe you want to visit the place you got engaged, even better, I love it if the location has a special meaning for you. You can also bring your dog(s) along, or are you more of a cat person, they are welcome too. I haven’t photographed a horse during an engagement shoot yet, if I could, this would make my day! Or bring your children along and make it into a mini family session. So many options, just give me a shout and we can discuss ideas.

With a relaxed, enjoyable engagement shoot you can create a series of gorgeous images to last a lifetime.

They also make great invitation cards or you might want to integrate them in your wedding decoration.

I believe so strongly in the benefits of engagement photoshoots that I include them as standard in my top full day wedding package.

And for any other full day packages you get a massive discount!

Oh and you can of course book a pre wedding shoot with me if you haven’t booked a wedding package. Maybe you’re visiting Cornwall and want some awesome photos of the two of you but your wedding is already booked elsewhere with another photographer. Not a problem, you can still book with me for some pre pre wedding photos. There are some stunning locations here in Cornwall, beautiful beaches, little rocky coves, cliff tops, ancient woodland and old mine buildings…the list goes on, I have a list of stunning locations for you to choose from.

Please contact me for availability and pricing

Best of 2023 Wedding Photography

What a year, 2023 you were amazing! I feel truly privileged to do a job I love so much. The people I meet, the places I visit, the laughter, joy and love I witness and memories I capture put a big smile in my face. Thanks to all my couples for choosing me as your wedding photographer, you were amazing and I feel so honoured to have played a part in your very special day. Thanks a million for having me. Here is a look back at some of my favourite moments…to be honest there were hundreds and it was really hard to make this collection.

Roll on 2024, I know it will be a cracker!

Cornwall Wedding Photographer at St Ives Harbour Hotel // Rachel & Dan

Flying through my previews at the moment! Here is a sneak peek of Rachel and Dan’s Cornwall wedding at St Ives Harbour Hotel last month. They were blessed with a gorgeous sunny day and had an outdoor ceremony overlooking the Cornish Coast including an epic entertainment by the fab Daniel Costin sax player. What a day!

Rachel and Dan actually been together almost 23years! They started dating with 18 after meeting at work in Dan’s pub in Worcestershire, Rachel’s home town.

It took moving house, Dan turning 40 and a world pandemic for Dan to pop the question on Christmas Day in 2020. 

Rachel and Dan have always loved spending their holidays in St Ives, following Dans family tradition, so when they were looking at venues they both knew St Ives would be the perfect place to celebrate with friends and family. Here is what Rachel had to say about their day:

‘It's been lovely seeing our loved ones enjoying st ives and seeing it in all its beauty as we have done for the last 20years... we were delighted that 40 of our closest friends and family made the 300 mile trip down to St Ives (on Easter weekend!) to celebrate with us, and the sun shone for them! It was a perfect day! ‘

I’m so pleased they had their dream wedding, good things come to the who wait!

Venue: St Ives Harbour Hotel // Makeup: Hannah Symons // Flowers: Charlie Blewett // Music: Daniel Costin Sax Player // Dress: Sophia Tolli dress by Caroline Bailey Bridal // Suit: Peter Posh // Stationary: FancypostUK on Etsy

Top wedding tips for 2021

The global Covid pandemic has meant that 2021 started out as anything but a normal year. However, many people are still hoping to get married before 2022 begins. As Britain prepares to emerge from Covid restrictions and rules and regulations about holding events change, here are our top tips for wedding planning during the strangest of years.

Keep informed

As we have all found out over recent months, the Covid situation is constantly changing and so are rules regarding how events, such as weddings, can be held. Hopefully, the second half of the year will see all restrictions lifted, but it will still be necessary to keep abreast of the current conditions or the foreseeable future. Major news outlets such as the BBC are always a good source of information, or keep up with the latest government coronavirus advice and information online.

Stay flexible

Due to the unprecedented times we continue to live in, flexibility is key to so many things. It can be very difficult to maintain high levels of flexibility when it comes to planning large events, but it can be helpful to try to avoid being too rigid with your plans wherever possible. That might well mean celebrating what you can have on your wedding day, rather than focussing on things you might be missing out on. This can really help to adapt your mindset to suit the current climate, too. 

Celebrate simplicity

In a year when a simple hug would be considered by many to be more valuable than diamonds, it is more important than ever to celebrate the simple things in life. This may not be the easiest year for holding or arranging extravagant events, but there has never been a greater time to appreciate and celebrate life itself. What better way to do this than to focus on the value of true love and the optimism that a wedding can create? There is no doubt there has been lots of disappointment over the past year, with many couples unable to hold the weddings of their dreams. However, there has also been lots of cause to put things into perspective and look forward to a more positive future. You can simply enjoy spending time with the people you love most in the world and accept that however that happens is just fine for now.

Make memories

There is unlikely to be another year in your lifetime that resembles 2021. Add a marriage to this, and it’s easy to see why it is more important than ever to make memories and record them this year. Even if you can’t have every person you want there for your big day, make sure you have a great record of one of the most momentous occasions of your life. People will be talking about Covid for many years to come, and you will never forget your wedding day. Combining the two and having a permanent record of events, whether in the form of photographs, videos, or both, is the best investment you could make.

Micro Wedding Photography Cornwall // Best of 2020

Here is my yearly round up. I wasn’t sure if I was going to write one from 2020, a year a lot of you had so high expectations for and yet it turned out so different, we could have never imagined!

This year’s wedding bookings were reduced by 90%, festivals, social gatherings and parties were canceled. A lot of time was spent in isolation or with limited groups of friends under tight restrictions. Life was put on hold, wedding were postponed and we are still waiting for a sense of normality to return. 2020 was a huge shock for all of us and we had to learn to live with uncertainty.

I know it’s been a tough time for a lot of couples who had to change their wedding plans last minute. It was touch and go for some weddings if they go ahead up to a couple of days before the date. Some of you managed to get married last minute before new restrictions came in place, a real rollercoaster! Thanks again for confiding in me, it was an honour to capture the utter joy of finally being wed after such a journey!

The few weddings and elopements I photographed in 2020 were especially moving. A lot of couples had to reduce their guest numbers and opt for a micro wedding or elopement instead of their originally planned big wedding. I loved every moment I witnessed as a micro wedding/ elopemnet photographer: small moments of intimacy and togetherness in the midst of isolation, family gatherings cherished like none before and somehow more special than many weddings I have photographed before.

A year of downs and ups, a year of devastation and change.

Yet I managed to travel to Germany a couple of times to see my mum the very last time. I appreciate the little time I had left with her. She sadly passed away in September after a 3 year battle with cancer.

But not all was negative, I have some positive changes and memories to look back on. Despite social distancing guidelines and masks we found a way to be together in small groups or online.In the first lock down I have enrolled in an online tutorial with the amazing Erika and Lanny Mann from ‘Two Mann Studios’ helping me to continue finding new creative solutions for my photography journey. I have spent a lot of time in nature appreciating where I live, I have learned stillness, which is a challenge for me as I feel I have to always be productive and ‘do something’. I also adopted a dog from Spain which I love words can’t describe.

Let’s look forward with a sense of optimism and hope. Some things will have changed for the better. In the meantime, stay safe and enjoy the stillness and opportunities it presents to you.

If you are worried about your wedding this year, please tell me, together we can work this through. I’m always there for you to assist you. Please don’t just change dates without asking for my availability. If you are planning a wedding or elopement this year, I have just a few ‘fill in’ spaces left, so get in touch!

Happy New Year everyone! Sending you lots of love and positivity x

What to consider when choosing your Wedding Photographer

I recently got interviewed by the lovely Jane from Petite Weddings for some insights and tips when looking for your wedding photographer. It is a big deal and probably one of the biggest decisions to make for your wedding day. After all you want some great memories from one of the most important days of your lives. It’s all about you trusting your photographer’s skills and talent to tell your personal story.

To help you find the right photographer go and visit the fabulous Petite Weddings