Drone Photography by Matt Rock AND THE DJI MINI 2

Have you ever thought what your wedding or event venue looks like from above?

I use the little power house that is the DJI Mini 2 - photo of the drone I use below

Drone - dji Mini 2

The dji Mini 2 is an amazing little drone to fly and it’s been one of the best investments I’ve made in recent years.

To be honest it’s my first proper drone so I can’t really compare it to others but it works well for me and my business. The Mini 2 is small, relatively quiet, lightweight and can fly in quite heavy winds, which is handy when working in the UK.

I have only flown one other, smaller ‘toy’ drone before which was a great little drone to practice with as there were no automated flying aids; which help it stay in the air - the first time I took off I almost lost it and I had to retrieve it many times from neighbours houses and the top of my bathroom roof!

I bought it to learn how to fly a drone on the advise from a model shop in Dartford, Kent. It was a good investment to teach me how to fly and makes the dji Mini 2 so easy and lets me just concentrate on getting the image or video I need and so far i’ve not had any need to climb a tree to get it back.

The stabilised, 4K camera really does a great job at keeping the footage still when filming or shooting stills at a wedding venue or event space. I just pop my phone onto the controller, link it up and away you go…

Below are more drone shots from weddings and corporate events i’ve been lucky enough to work at.

Having drone shots of your big day or event will give you that different perspective that sets it apart from others.

It will set the scene of the day and elevate your cherished wedding album.

Are you getting married at your favourite church and want to get a birds eye view of the historic building?

Is your big day at a lovely Castle, a manor house or a golf course? if the answer is yes, you will absolutely love the views you get from the sky above and it really does give you a sense of where you said ‘I do’.

I made the cash investment into a drone and all the insurances that come with it a few years ago as I wanted to set myself apart and have a little something unique that will make your gallery that bit more special.

Drone photography or video won’t cost you any extra as I include it in all my wedding and commercial work and you can enjoy these photos (weather permitting of course) of your big day along with the more traditional ground floor view - approximately 5’’ 8’ high from the ground :)

Check out my other BLOG about ‘Beautiful Colour and Timeless Black & White’ A blog about how I now offer every wedding image in both formats - always….

Venues included in this bloag:

Hever Castle

Lympne Castle

The Darenth

Salomons Estate

Dartford Football Club

The Boathouse, Danosn Park

Detling Show Ground

The Castle, Westenhanger

Squerryes

Allington Castle

Chilston Park Hotel

The Oak Barn Frame Farm Wedding Photographer

A Hot Summers Day Wedding at The Oak Barn - August 2022

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The Bride, Naomi getting down on the dance floor at The Oak Barn

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Soon after the wedding my clients receive a sneak peek selection of photographs to see. I know how exciting it is to get your main gallery sent through so it’s lovely to be able to send an initial selection over.

It was about 34 degrees when I arrived at The Tickled Trout in Maidstone, Kent to see Sam and his ushers before heading off to see Naomi, his bride to be. The boys were in good spirits and all ready for the day ahead. Some were a little delicate, two were nervous and the rest were full of banter.

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Their Ceremony was held at their local Church, All Saints, West Farleigh.

“All Saints is a small Norman church, built around 1100 AD and situated in a beautiful open position near the river. It has several architectural features such as two tufa arches thought to have been removed from a nearby Roman settlement….”

Naomi & Sam’s wedding at The oak Barn, Frame Farm was so much fun to work at and it makes my job an absolute joy to do when you have a friendly group of people. The couple were so relaxed on the day and they seemed to enjoy every minute which is what it is all about.

So when the first dance started it wasn’t long before the party was in full swing!

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Deana & Tim started their vision to make Frame Farm into a wedding venue in September 2017 and it took 16 months to make it a reality. It is nestled in a peaceful valley below the village of Benenden. The grade 2 listed barns provide a stunning setting for weddings, parties, events and holiday lets with every convenience for private or corporate clients alike.

Deana, Tim and their team at The Oak Barn really make everyone feel welcome and it is a venue that you should consider for your wedding - for more information visit their website HERE.

Ceremony: All Saints Church

Venue: The Oak Barn, Frame Farm

County: Kent

Suppliers - Instagram:

Photography: @mattrockprophoto

Venue: @theoakbarnff

Make up: @gemmatutt_mua

Hair: @laurensimpsonhair

Suits: @slatermenswear

Rings: @goldsmiths

Flowers: @wanderlust_floristry

Music: @entertainmentnationuk - Krazykeys

You can see my other blog from The Oak BarN - HERE

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The Oak Barn Frame Farm Wedding Photographer

I WORK QUICKLY, QUIETLY & UNOBTRUSIVELY;

CAPTURING THOSE CANDID MOMENTS YOU NEVER KNEW HAPPENED.

A KENT WEDDING VENUE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH

“Matt,
You were an absolute legend! Thank you so much, I had so many comments about how nice you were and that you fitted in perfectly to the day. I can’t recommend you highly enough.”

— Mrs & Mrs Ellis

When Emma & Bradley first contacted me and asked me to be their wedding photographer, back in January 2021, I asked the same question as always; “where are you getting married?” Often the answer is one i’m familiar with or at a venue I have already worked at.

However, The Oak Barn, Frame Farm in Kent was not one of those venues. Actually I’d never heard of it, let alone worked there before. So the first thing I did was look at their website and it looked lovely. So I was very excited when they booked me as I knew it would be a special place for me to work.

I was not disappointed...

The wedding day itself went really well; lovely guests and great weather, which is always a bonus when it comes to the unpredictable English climate & even more lucky for the helicopter pilot!

I started the day as I normally do - candid photos of the the bride getting ready and then it was a quick 25 minute dash through the countryside to the church for their ceremony. I say a quick dash, it was more like a hair raising race through lots of twisty small country lanes trying to follow the brides wedding car…

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After some light refreshments it was the Bride & Grooms time to go and catch the helicopter and meet us all back at the venue.

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Play the music photo-film below and turn up the volume…

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If you would like to book your Award Winning Wedding Photography contact me HERE for more information

Suppliers below:

Venue: @theoakbarnff - Website here

Hair & Make up: @makeupangelcouk

Ice Cream van: @indulgent_ice_creams

Dress Alterations: @bridalalterationsmaidstone

Sax Player: @davebraziersax

Photography - Me! @mattrockprophoto

Follow me on social media:

The Darenth Wedding Photographer - Matt Rock

The Darenth, Shoreham

Kent Wedding at The Darenth

Rebecca & Xavier during their portraits

“Thank you SO much. All our family and friends said how much they loved you!
These are AMAZING thankyou so much, you do such fantastic work!
You have made our week!”

— Mr & Mrs Tinto; Bride & Groom

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Photo-film - Press play and turn up the volume - 3 minutes 45 seconds

Rebecca & Xavier received there complimentary wedding photo-film as part of my SPECIAL OFFER to our NHS & Emergency Services staff - See this offer HERE

A beautiful September wedding photographed last year at The Darenth, Shoreham.

This was a beautiful day in September, the weather was great and after meeting them at the venue for their complimentary wedding pre-shoot (part of my Emergency Services special offer) a few weeks before I knew straight away they were a lovely couple - Being a wedding photographer is even better when you work with friendly, happy couples.

My day started as it often does, by heading over to their home to meet Rebecca & her bridesmaids as they were getting ready for the big day.

Bridal prep is a good place to start your wedding photos and I love capturing everyones excitement, nerves and anticipation for what the day will have in store for us all.

Rebecca & Xavier found me via The Darenth in Shoreham; and booked me back in January 2021 - I’m lucky that Kerry & Jason who run The Darenth recommend me to their couples; which means I work there a lot and it’s a perfect place to tie the knot with many options to have your ceremony indoors or out on the lawn.

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After the ceremony they had a chance to chat with all their friends and family and have some celebration bubbles before going outside. This is a good opportunity for some group photos; which I feel is a small but very important part of the day.

I shoot in a documentary style throughout the day and I candidly capture the moments that happen at a wedding by observing what happens without getting in the way. However I believe it is important to have a small amount of group portraits made of your closest family and friends. I love to get these where ever possible before the wedding breakfast.

There was even a bit of time for Xavier to see the wedding car on the way…

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As soon as we were back inside, the wedding breakfast was ready to begin and the food was served. This means only one thing.

The speeches were not far behind.

Followed closely by the party and first dance.

Whilst everyone is having fun and eating their meal I am still busy saving and backing up all the images i’ve made up to that point before getting to work again after the meal to capture the wedding party and first dance - we can’t be too careful with these precious images and by the time I go to bed they will have been backed up 4 times in 4 separate places.

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If you would like to book your Award Winning Wedding Photography contact me HERE for more information

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Award Winning Photography: Matt Rock - @mattrockprophoto

Venue: The Darenth - @weddingvenuekent

Location: Shoreham, Kent

Videographer: @mooncastfilms

DJ: @devotedeventsuk

Other blogs featuring The Darenth

• Emma & Luke 2020

• Lucy & Peter’s wedding 2019

• Being a recommended Kent wedding photographer

• How to choose your wedding photographer

• The Beauty and power of one image

Make sure you follow me on social media - below - to see some more up to date content

BEAUTIFUL - CREATIVE - TIMELESS

The Castle, Westenhanger, Wedding Photographer - Matt Rock

The wedding of Denise & Joe - Westenhanger Castle, Kent - August, 2019

“Hi Matt,

The photos are amazing! We love them all. We have been recommending you left right and centre to everyone who’s looking for a photographer too.

We are glad you had a good day and we have heard nothing but praise for your work from our guests since the wedding.

Thank you and we hope to work with you again in the future.

Joe & Denise ”

— Bride & Groom, Joe and Denise

You may know by now that I am a Kent Wedding Photographer and I love photographing castle weddings. So having been on there preferred supplier list for a few years and having my images featured on their website shows I know this Kent wedding venue well. This is one of my favourite wedding venues in Kent - and maybe the only Kent wedding venue to have a ship in it’s grounds...

The wedding of Denise & Joe was much anticipated and I was looking forward to it ever since they booked me - quite a long time in advance. We first met at an open day they attended at Westenhanger Castle and as the recommended wedding photographer I was there and able to speak with them. We ended up making some portraits that day and got on really well too which is always a good start. I think having a pre-shoot lets you gain a bit more experience being in front of the camera and these portraits can help many couples get used to their photographer too. A lot of us aren’t too keen on having portraits made of us, however couples have always given good feedback and said their pre-shoot helped reduce their nerves and anxiety on the day.

I am a documentary & candid wedding photographer throughout the wedding which is achieved by observing what happens; almost from another wedding guests point of view. I blend in with the wedding rather than controlling it. So this does not involve me telling anyone where to stand, what to do or anything else that interrupts the natural feel and pace of a wedding day. These photos will make up 85% - 90% of my work during the wedding but most couples are still keen to spend 15 minutes or so making some beautiful, natural looking portraits to compliment the candid style for their wedding album. Plus the fact that I am a portrait photographer means I’m a bit biased when it comes to shooting these, as I love to make portraits.

The day started as many weddings at the Castle, Westenhanger do.

With Champagne!

The weather was perfect too and since the day before was very wet, I wasn’t expecting the sun to shine.

But not a spot of rain was seem.

Bride preparations always seem to start with something fizzy. At Westenhanger Castle the prep is held within the large room upstairs in the main building. I say large room but I really mean 3 large rooms. Denise and her girls had use of all 3 rooms so her and her bridesmaids could have their hair & make up done in one room, the food was laid out in another and the 3rd room can be used as the dressing room or you can relax on the large double bed whilst you wait for your turn.

This all happens upstairs whilst downstairs is another of the great castle rooms which is often used for when the boys turn up. They can make themselves look as beautiful as the girls do - and never the two will meet - until it’s time to get married of course! Wedding photographs of the boys getting ready is often missed but when your wedding venue is set up like this one it means I can move from one room to the other quite easily to get those candid moments no-one else notices - but the ones we love to look back on. Oh and if you make sure you ask a barber to be one of your ushers you can pick up some good deals on the perfect hair do too.

Now the bride is almost ready, it’s time for the father-of-the-bride to come and see his little girl in her wedding dress for the first time… This can be a great time for those candid photos with lots of emotion.

Portrait - Bride with Flowers

After her Dad has had a moment with his daughter it’s time to walk her down the aisle and get married, so it’s off to the ceremony where all her guests are waiting. Westenhanger Castle has different options when it comes to ceremony rooms and an outside space too. Denise & Joe’s wedding ceremony was inside the main building. Which has a dark, atmospheric vibe with light pouring in through the windows to give us some beautiful photos.

After they had their ceremony, the confetti was thrown high in the air and the congratulations, hugs and kisses had started, there was a little spare time for the couple and their guests to have a drink, a little catch up and for the best men to go over their speeches for the 10th time. Before the wedding breakfast couples often want to spend a short time making some portraits. This can give them a little time together and a little chill time - Portraits are only about 15 minutes or so and before they know it we are heading back in for the speeches.

For me as soon as the couples portraits are done, I go back to candidly capturing the wedding again. It’s also the time of the day when everyone eats, drinks, gets entertained by the the speeches and the cake cutting.

There was also an impromptu game of Mr & Mrs! It’s funny what you find out about your clients…

   P  A  R  T  Y    

T  I  M  E

What a lovely Kent wedding, spent with friendly guests in a beautiful Kent wedding venue with perfect weather too.

PHOTO-FILM

Hit the play button in the middle to watch Denise & Joe’s - Photo-Film below.

Photo-films below - To see another wedding at The Castle, Westenhanger press play on this images below and turn the music up.

Wedding below was in 2017

Another photo-film from 2018 below - press the play icon and turn the music up.

Hit the play button in the middle to watch another wedding from Westenhanger Castle - August 2018

View the wedding blog of Kayleigh & Jack - Westenhanger Castle - September 2017 BLOG

If you would like to book me to photograph your wedding with creatively candid, natural, photographs that document your big day and maybe some beautiful couple portraits too, please get in touch HERE. I am a Kent wedding photographer however I am available to work all over the UK and I’d love to work on my first European wedding in the near future too.

Are you looking to book your wedding?

VENUE: The Castle, Westenhanger a call - details HERE

CATERING: NOSH mobile catering - details HERE - I tried the SPICY LAMB BURGER which was very - very - tasty…

IF YOU RECOGNISE ANY SUPPLIERS INVOLVED THAT I HAVE NOT MENTIONED, PLEASE DO CONTACT ME SO I CAN INCLUDE THEIR LINK ABOVE. 

The Castle Westenhanger - Kent Wedding Photographer - Matt Rock

A look back to September, 2017 - The wedding of Kayleigh & Jack - The Castle, Westenhanger, Kent.

Due to COVID-19 there was not much work on in 2020 and early 2021, so I thought I would take a look back at ‘the old days’. To a wedding held at one of my favourite Kent wedding venues.

This wedding has some great memories for me and I can not wait to work there again this year. (all being well of course)

Kayleigh & Jack were recommended to me from both The Castle, Westenhanger and their friends; a couple I had worked with the year before. Recommendations is where most of my wedding work comes from.

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The weather was good, the couple were really lovely and everyone seemed to have a great day celebrating Kayleigh & Jack’s wedding. One word to describe this wedding was ‘FUN’.

It was 14th September 2017 and as is often the case, my day started at 11.30am.

When I turned up at Westenhanger Castle the bride prep was all going well and no-one seemed to be too stressed, which is a good start to any wedding day.

I normally work alone during a wedding and most of the time the day starts with bride prep. The first time I get to see the groom is often at the church or ceremony venue. However, The Castle, Westenhanger is a venue that i’m able to shoot the boys getting ready as well. This is because there is a dedicated brides room upstairs and the boys use downstairs. They never see each other before the ceremony starts but I can go between the two rooms getting both sides of the story.

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Candid, documentary wedding photography is best when it starts at the beginning.

Which is why my wedding collections offer full day coverage, starting at the bride prep. (and groom prep if possible) This helps to make your wedding album complete and when you look back on your wedding day in the years that follow it will give you the chance to re-live it all over again - from start to finish.

“Set in 14 acres of magnificent Kent countryside, The Castle Westenhanger has it all. A medieval castle steeped in history with a stunning manor house, castle turrets, and romantic ruins, it’s the perfect location for your dream wedding.

Dating back to 1343, The Castle Westenhanger enjoys a rich history and was once King Henry VIII’s preferred party palace. It has since been lovingly restored into a fully licensed, exclusive-use wedding and events venue with three stunning inside and outside ceremony options.”

— https://www.westenhangercastle.co.uk

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I try to fuse together my candid photos with some natural portraits where possible. I find this can give the couple some time to breath and think about what they are about to do.

This portrait above was made once the bride was ready and before she was about to walk outside to meet her groom.

The image below is of the groom and his best man just after he saw Kayleigh walking out of the Castle door for the first time - his best man can tell the emotions are now starting to get real.

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There isn’t long to wait until the wedding breakfast is served and the dreaded speeches to begin. This is always a great time for candid emotional photos. Nerves and the fear of public speaking is always on show here.

My advice would be to embrace the fear and enjoy it because as soon as it’s over you will probably want to say more.

Anyway it’s really the best man who needs to worry. There is a lot more expectation on him to be funny and of course interesting.

Tip for the best man:

Not everyone finds the best man stories appropriate to share with the rest of the guests...

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As soon as the wedding breakfast has been eaten and the speeches are finished, it’s time to welcome the evening guests, cut the cake, let your hair down and start the evening off with a bang.

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This was a wedding i’ll remember and the Castle Westenhanger is a great venue to hold your wedding day celebrations. See link here: https://www.westenhangercastle.co.uk/

If you would like to get in touch and find out what I can offer you for your big day, please contact me on 07970668592 or see the ‘contact me’ link below.

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Photo-Films from The Castle, Westenhanger

Photo-Film

Hit the play button in the middle to watch Kayleigh & Jacks Photo-Film below.

PHOTO-FILM

Hit the play button in the middle to watch another wedding from Westenhanger Castle - August 2019

Photo-Film

Hit the play button in the middle to watch another wedding from Westenhanger Castle - July 2018

Photo-Film

Hit the play button in the middle to watch another wedding from Westenhanger Castle - August 2018

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View the wedding blog of Denise & Joe, Westenhanger Castle - August 2019 - BLOG

BEAUTIFUL - CREATIVE - TIMELESS

Venue: Westenhanger Castle

Photography by: Matt Rock Photography

Tel: 07970 668592 - E: matt@mattrockphotography.com

Kent Wedding Photographer - Matt Rock

The Manor Gatehouse - Dartford Registry Office

The wedding of Jon & Andrew - 31 March 2021

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Like most weddings from last year Jon & Andrew had to re-book their wedding from the end of 2020 due to - YES you’ve guest it, more restrictions, lockdowns and all the other terms we have gotten used to in the last 15 months.

This meant it was going to be my first wedding of 2021 and what a lovely start to the year it was. Jon & Andrew are great. They have been together for over 27 years and in the UK gay marriage has been recognised since 2014. Which begs the question…. Why has it taken them this long? I guess life just gets in the way and then a little pandemic happened. But finally the 31st March 2021 was set. Their day was always going to be a small wedding; Mum, Sister, brother-in-law and of course me their wedding photographer.

I went to their house for a few candid photos of them first and then after a small detour to pick Mum up we met all at the Manor Gatehouse - the historic registry office in Dartford, Kent.

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The Manor Gatehouse

“Henry VIII chose the site to construct a Manor House between 1541 and 1544 for his personal use. Anne of Cleves was given the Manor House as part of her divorce settlement by Henry, and lived there between 1553 and 1557. Elizabeth I retained the use of the Manor House but only stayed there on two occasions. Today it is just the Gatehouse that remains, offering a choice of two rooms for ceremonies.”

— Quote https://www.akentishceremony.com/register-offices/056a7474/

After a short but lovely ceremony we headed outside for some photos before heading off home. I said it was a small ceremony but it was a very important one. We were meant to go to Eagle Heights afterwards for cream tea, however due to restrictions that was not allowed.

Although Jon & Andrew have asked me to photograph the event and we will be meeting again this afternoon - 19th May 2021 - the day I am writing this blog. So that’s something to look forward to later - We all love a bit of cake...

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Photo-film below - turn up the volume - 3 minutes long

To be continued….

BEAUTIFUL - CREATIVE -TIMELESS

Venue: The Manor Gatehouse, Dartford - Part of A Kentish Ceremony

Photography: Matt Rock Photography

Tudor Barn Wedding Photographer - Matt Rock

Wedding Photography at The Tudor Barn, Eltham, London.

“The Last remaining Tudor Barn in London”

— https://www.tudorbarneltham.com

Getting Married In a Pandemic

2020 was a year of cancelations and postponements and I was booked in to shoot a few weddings at this wonderful venue in 2020. Becky & Paul booked me to photograph their wedding a month or so before as they were originally due to be married in another country.

This was one of those surprise late booking wedding assignments…. I was recommended by a couple of different clients who’s weddings I photographed in the past and it was great to catch up with some familiar faces. Getting recommendations is a great confidence boost to any photographer - it shows that clients do really appreciate what you do. What I didn’t know until I arrived at The Tudor Barn was that two of the groom’s brother-in-laws were old friends of mine from senior school, over 30 years ago… It got even more weird when one of those friends is married to my sons teacher!

There is a lot of pressure on me at a wedding day because you only have one chance to get it right.

Everyone who runs their own business knows that reputation is VERY important and it doesn’t matter about how good you were for the last wedding. You will only be judged by the wedding you are working on that day for that couple.

So, I was recommended, which adds to the pressure, then you know two old friends are there watching you work and then you realise that your sons teacher is there too (the sister of Paul, the groom) So to say I felt a bit more pressure at this one was an understatement. Add to that the fact it was only my third and last wedding of the year due to COVID-19 meant (and I don’t mind saying this) I was a bit out of practice too.

Photographing the bride, her friends and her family getting ready is a fun part of the day and is important to capture. It is a time where I try to blend in and just be one of them. Observing the conversations, nerves, excitement and the amazing multi tasking that goes on too. I do love the candid fly on the wall nature of the images it’s possible to make at this time.

It was now time for me to leave Becky to finish getting ready and join the Groom for some photos of him and the other guests before the bride arrives for the ceremony.

I have found over the last 14 years or so that EVERY wedding is different but most of them follow a similar structure and timeline. So until this point the wedding day felt quite normal - as normal as it’s been up to 2020 at least. But the new 2020 COVID wedding format was going to appear again as soon as I arrived at The Tudor Barn for the ceremony and celebrations - A smaller than normal guest list and a bit less freedom to roam and of course Face masks…

With the ceremony over it was time for the Bride and Groom to say hi to their guests and then go outside for some more photos. Some candid photos, groups, couple portraits and most couples like to have some confetti thrown over them too.

Then it was onto the speeches - where I always find out some embarrassing info on the groom!

I do love to photograph weddings and this one was great to be apart of too. I am looking forward to what 2021 brings and I hope we can get a little more normality back in the wedding industry soon. Seeing old friends and past clients was a bonus too!

Music Photo-Film below:

Thanks for reading and as we look to March / April and the summer of 2021, let us hope it will be a bit more ‘back to normal’ and weddings can once again be a regular occurrence in our diaries.

Suppliers:

Ceremony: The Tudor Barn, Eltham, London

Dress: Together Forever Brides Crayford, Kent

Suits: Reiss

Rings: RPS Jeweller Hatton Garden

Flowers: Highflying Balloons & Flowers Welling, Kent

Need help deciding on your wedding photographer? See my BLOG below for some more inspiration.

““pandemic noun
plural pandemics
Definition of pandemic
1 : an outbreak of a disease that occurs over a wide geographic area (such as multiple countries or continents) and typically affects a significant proportion of the population : a pandemic outbreak of a disease
a global pandemic
Influenza pandemics seem to strike every few decades and to kill by the million—at least 1m in 1968; perhaps 100m in the “Spanish” flu of 1918-19.
— The Economist””

— — https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pandemic

Make better family photos - 3 simple rules & a bit of luck

Matt Rock shares 3 simple ideas to help you make better family photos.

Life can be all about chances, luck and seeing opportunities when they arise - but the more you put yourself out there, the more luck and opportunity you will get.

This BLOG and the video below came from meeting a lovely lady whilst on a very wet camping trip with friends in Norfolk. So the moral of this story is to chase your dreams, take every opportunity when it comes your way & go for it!

A few weeks ago I was asked to make a short video for the NHS as part of their Christmas party / online get together. They were looking for some tips and tricks on how to improve their family photos over the 2020 Christmas period and I was happy to help.

DISCLAIMER:

It says ‘Photography Masterclass’ which is a little hard to get my head around as I will never consider myself as a master photographer … or a master of anything!! But i’ll go with it for now as that is what they called it.

• So, for the record, I did not name the video myself - Smiley face / wink emoji....

The other point I would like to quickly make is that this is my FIRST EVER attempt at making a You Tube video. It’s very weird seeing and listening to yourself on a video & I cringe when I watch it. - So be kind… :)

All the views are my own and the elements within the video are just some things I look for when I make my own photos; either Professionally or personally.

So push play, enjoy & hopefully learn something new too.

Don’t forget to read the rest of the BLOG below the video.

Video below - just over 10 minuets long.

So let’s get into my top 3…

There are 3 main areas you should look out for when making photos of your family and friends:

• LIGHT

• MOMENT

• COMPOSITION

My style for weddings and events is often candid and natural, although as a portrait photographer I do like to mix it up a bit & make directed portraits where possible without controlling the whole event or wedding.  

LIGHT

Firstly, I consider this to be the one of the most important things you will need to look for when it comes to making good photos…  Light.

If the light isn’t great the image can look flat or too dark, too bright & washed out.  So when I’m working I am always looking for the quality of light  - not how bright it is.  So, I either need to create the light myself with flash or another external light source like LED or if it’s at a wedding or an event I will often need to look for best the Ambient light.  

Now, good light doesn’t always mean bright or lots of it.  But you do need to look for the quality of it. This can be the position or direction of light, the colour and the strength of light. Being aware of the quality is very important and something you will get used to seeing the more you look and practice. 

At weddings or events I’m often there to candidly document the day - to tell the story of how the wedding went from the eyes of a guest or to showcase the business, clients and employees. I’m not there to tell everyone where to stand or who to talk to.

For 99% of a Wedding and Event work I use ambient light (light that is already there) like the sun for example. Therefore windows and doors are often a good place to be.  Especially if you are working in a dark castle or an old building. 

My image style if often quite contrasty and has been described as cinematic.  I love shadow & I love black and white images.   

Here are three examples of having window light and using it to my advantage.  

Ambient Light - Leez Priory, Chelmsford - 2017

Ambient Light - Lympne Castle - Kent - 2017

Ambient Light - at home - 2019

All of these photographs are using sunlight, either from a window or an open door and because the sun isn’t facing them it’s not too harsh. Using good quality, soft window light can really help with the overall feel of an image.

Below is another example of window light - an image of my two on an old steam train ride, Halloween - 2018.  The window is behind them this time and just wraps around their faces without being too harsh. 

Window light - old steam train - 2018

Our friends baby playing

So when you are at home look at the windows you have in your home, look at the direction the window is facing.  You might have a beautiful window which has the sun beaming through it in the morning that is far too strong but when the afternoon comes, it turns into this beautiful soft light which would be perfect for a portrait. 

MOMENT

At home on the swing

This can often be the split second of time that you see happening in front of you.  That moment that tells a story.  

The light might not be perfect, the composition might not be the best but the moment really brings back memories and emotions. 

The ‘moment’ for me is the hardest one to capture - because often we need to keep looking for it and anticipate it if we can.  You need to watch what is happening and anticipate what will happen next.  

Watch a scene unfold, then wait a bit longer. 

• The look on the brides face watching her nervous husband speak at their wedding.   

The Kennels at Goodwood - 2017

• The proud little glance from the grooms Nan. 

Wedding - 2015

• The tight loving squeeze from the bride and the squashed face of her grandad.

Westenhanger Castle, Kent - 2017

• A fun photo opportunity on the dance floor. 

Westenhanger Castle, Kent - 2017

Waiting for the moment can be fun but you need to be ready for it - and yes, that sign was meant for me…

Wedding, Southend Barns, Chichester - 2018

Some moments can be very historical too. Especially during difficult or challenging times. But they will still be interesting to look back on in the future.

Facetime & Face-masks during the first Lockdown - 2020

You could try this with your family too.   Watch and listen to what is happening and try to anticipate what is likely to happen next.   You will often have a better idea with your own family, so give it a go.  

I would probably suggest getting the Christmas dinner on first though.  Or give the camera to someone who is not in-charge of the food.

One more thing I would add when trying to capture the moment over Christmas is try not to say ‘SMILE’ or ‘CHEEEEEEESE’ All you will get is a false, awkward look and the natural moment will be lost.  

Wait for when the time is right

My kids love it when I make portraits of them - 2020

Trip to the woods - 2020

 Right, onto the last one now:

COMPOSITION

So, you have seen the light you want to use, you’ve been waiting patiently for something interesting to happen, now is the time to compose the image correctly.

Composition is one of those things that can make a good photo great and there are some rules that you can follow - or at least think about.

A lot of them you probably learnt in art class at school - all those years ago.…

Some of these ‘rules’ are:

• Rule of thirds

• Viewpoint

• Framing

• Repetition

• Pattern

• Leading lines

• Negative space

• Focus point

• Depth of field

• Rule of odds

There are lots of ‘rules’ to think about, but you need to remember photography is very subjective - what I like, you might not like. So it really is personal taste.  

Here are just a few to think about over the holidays.

Rule of thirds.

Minis Bay, Kent

You can see in this image the subject (my little girl) is in the lower left third of the frame, the horizon is in the top third and there is some negative space to the right of the image and her legs are leading your gaze to that space.

Goodwood - Revival Festival - 2019

You will see another example above, the subject (the camera operator) is off to the right third and there is some negative space to the left of the image.

Another portrait example below, shot through the car window which has beautiful soft light and is naturally framed by dark the areas from reflections of the trees (framing is explained more below). It also shows the rule of thirds and some negative space to the right.

Camping - 2020

Viewpoint

Minis Bay

When making photos of children, try to get down to their level. Most photos of kids are from your view point - looking down at them. Try to get to their level. It can make a more interesting viewpoint and show the world through their eyes.

Framing your image

Corporate event - Museum of London - 2018

Look for natural frames to focus the viewers eye. It can take them to the area of the image you want them to look at. This can be light patterns as seen above, shadows, other objects in the room and many more.

The image below has a few different aspects which I used to isolate the speaker, the light on top of the audiences faces, the viewing platform above and the great ambient lighting thanks to the museum.

Corporate Event - Museum of London - 2018

You can use other people in the image too… The image below was shot through the best mans arm, framing the bride and groom.

Wedding - 2020

This is the same wedding - below - and this is the best man I used to frame the bride & groom in the image above - shot just a few minutes apart.

I used the venue to frame the best man. The curtains were a natural frame for the image below.

Wedding - 2020

Environmental objects can almost want you to use them. Using this mirror to frame the bride.

Wedding - 2020

The doorway at Lympne Castle is another example of a natural frame. I just needed to put the couple in-between the castle doors to frame them in this directed portrait - below.

Pattern and focus point

You can incorporate pattern into your family photos too which can make an image interesting and be used to bring back memories. The image below will remind me of my time in Turkey, having a beer at the beach bar overlooking the sea.

Turkey - 2019

Pattern along with good light can be used with all photos, like the one below. The pattern of the blurred area (known as Bokeh) can make an image interesting to look at.

My garden

“bokeh (/ˈboʊkə/ BOH-kə or /ˈboʊkeɪ/ BOH-kay; Japanese: [boke]) is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in out-of-focus parts of an image. Bokeh has also been defined as “the way the lens renders out-of-focus points of light.”

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh

The image below shows how focus point as with framing can draw your eye to the part of the image you want to be seen. However the out of focus area still shows a dinner party kind of scene.

Christmas time at home

Another example of how focus point (and framing) can help you take the viewer of your image to where you want them to look is below. I wanted to make a photo of this fly-by during the historical Goodwood Revival Festival last year however I also wanted to incorporate the people and their old fashioned clothes that were at the event.

This image shows two men (out of focus) looking at the aeroplanes I wanted to capture and I think it makes the image more interesting with them included.

Goodwood Revival - 2019

One more thing to think about is details. When you are making your next family album, little details can bring your photos together. These images - below - clearly show the time of year. These might not be photos that you would print out and put into a frame and hang up but in an album they can work really well.

I hope this BLOG has been helpful and given you something to think about when making your own family memories with your camera.

TUITION

NEED HELP WITH YOUR PHOTOS?

If you want to chat more about improving your photos I am happy to arrange a one to one session or book small groups of like-minded people to take their camera skills to the next level.

I would like to thank our NHS and Emergency Services for the work they do and especially this year when we have all realised the work they do for us every day.

Please use the ink below to see my SPECIAL OFFER for our key workers.

Are you looking to hire a photographer for Your Wedding, next Corporate Event / Headshot Portrait?

© All photographs are the property of Matt Rock Photography 2020

Darenth Valley Wedding Photography - Emma & Luke 2020

The Darenth Wedding Photographer

Recommended Wedding Photographer

Emma & Luke booked me for their wedding back in March 2019 and were meant to be married in June 2020 at The Darenth, a lovely wedding venue in Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent. This venue has changed so much over the last 4 years and it should be a venue you look at too. One of the great features at The Darenth is that you have the option to get married inside or outside.

So with the date set it was all go go go and looking forward to the wedding… Then 2020 happened! Being the year it is, over 95% of weddings were postponed to later in the year or into 2021. Emma & Luke wanted to move the date back to August 2020 and of course I still wanted to be involved and lucky enough I had the date available too.

We managed to get the new date booked in a couple of months later for August and they had a lovely outside wedding planned. Lots of couples book a pre-shoot to get used to the camera before the big day but due to COVID-19 and lockdown, we didn’t have many dates free for theirs so we met just a couple of days before the wedding for some photos and then it was wedding time soon after.

Pre-shoot at The Darenth

Planning a wedding can be one of the most stressful times for some of us; making sure all the people you love are there, the dress is perfect, the venue knows what you want, the groom arrives sober and the best man doesn’t ruin the day with the worst speech in history! Alongside that there are all the other little details that need to be planned, booked and paid for. Then add a little virus into the mix - COVID-19 - and it can take on a whole new level of stress.

But Emma & Luke seemed to be so relaxed and calm about it and the day went perfectly. Ok, it wasn’t exactly how they planned it to be but they got their outdoor wedding they wanted and all their close family and friends were there to celebrate with them too.

As with most weddings I shoot, coverage starts with the Bride getting ready. I love to blend in & capture these images of the excitement and sometimes chaos.

Watch their Photo-film below - just hit the PLAY button

As I said, I love starting the day shooting bride preparations. It’s a time that is full of expectations, nerves and excitement. I can really get the natural photos that I like to get which tell the story of the day. It also gives me the chance, if time allows, to get some beautiful portraits of the bride too.

As Emma came out of the house it started to rain very lightly - This was not a good start as she was all set for an outside ceremony at The Darenth and we were all a bit concerned about it getting worse...

However, by the time we’d arrived at The Darenth the rain had stopped and it was back to the original plan of having an outside ceremony - although it was very windy - terrible for my hair!

But I don’t think Luke the groom was too worried.

After a few reception drinks & the cake was cut, we were off out for some portraits & group photos. Then onto the Kings Arms, Shoreham for some food and more drinks. We took the short walk, just down the road & over the beautiful bridge.

The Darenth is situated near to the lovely little village of Shoreham, Sevenoaks. About a 5 - 10 minutes walk away and a great place to go for some couple portraits after your ceremony.

With all that has happened in 2020 with COVID, this wedding still went ahead and it was a great wedding day. Although it was a bit different to a wedding in a normal year, due to you know what but the wedding was a big success and from an outsiders point of view it went very very well and everyone seemed to love being there to celebrate it with Emma & Luke - I know I did! Yes it was different but every wedding I have ever photographed since 2006 has been different.

The one thing I try to do with every wedding is tell a story of the day and this wedding will be one of only a very small number of weddings that took place in 2020 (this was my first 2020 wedding & I’ve photographed just 3 up to this point - November 2020) and that will be the story these two lovely people will tell their grandchildren many years from now…

“What year did you get married Nan?”

“Let me tell you about COVID 2020…. “

The Darenth - Contact the team:

Station Road, Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent, TN14 7SA

info@thedarenth.com - 01959 522944 - www.thedarenth.com

DARENTH VALLEY PHOTO-FILMS - BELOW - PRESS PLAY & TURN UP THE VOLUME

SUPPLIERS:

Venue: The Darenth

Pub: The Kings Arms, Church St, Shoreham, Sevenoaks TN14 7SJ

Flowers: Mr Flower Ltd - https://mrflower.co.uk

Dress: Wed2b - https://www.wed2b.co.uk/bridal-shops/london/kent/wed2b-bromley

Rings: Beverbrooks - http://beaverbrooks.co.uk

Photographer: Matt Rock Photography

Other supplier information will be added as soon as possible.

Kent Wedding and Portrait Photographer Matt Rock - Black and White Photographs

If you are like me, you love seeing beautiful, creative & timeless black and white photography.

Wedding Photography - Candid photograph of a bride - Allington Castle - Kent - 2019

When I make an image during a wedding, portrait shoot or a big corporate event, I always like to make it look as natural as possible - so it doesn’t look stiff, posed or forced. Working in a documentary style means these will often be candid images, during corporate events or weddings and sometimes they will be a directed portrait where I am in complete control of how the image will look; with lighting and expression etc - often during a Wedding portrait shoot or a studio portrait session. These photographs can then be processed to black and white or kept in colour during the editing stage.

Below are some black & white images of my work during portrait sessions and inc. weddings, corporate events and portrait shoots.

Black and white images will give you that timeless look which feels unique to this style and look as good in the future as they do now.

Corporate Events - Museum of London

Studio Portrait

Corporate sports events - QPR - 2018

Candid Portrait

Natural / directed Portrait

Family Portrait session - Kent

It is my job as a portrait photographer to look for the best light or create it and then to get the best expression from the people in front of the camera - without directly asking them for it.

Black and white photos seem to be less complicated and more future-proof, without splashes of colour to distract you the viewer from the subject matter or overall scene.

As I said, I am always looking for the best quality of light for my photographs. Whether it’s available light from a window in a room, the sunlight and shade outside or the studio lights I have set up. Quality of light or interestingly the shadow is even more important with black & white as the tone can set the mood of an image and when you add to that, the moment and composition it can be very powerful.

Do they look nervous before the wedding? - Are they happy that the pressure is now off of them? - Or are they in love during a bit of quiet time together?

Wedding Portrait of Groom - window light

Event Photography - Goodwood Revival - September 2019

Corporate Events - London

Corporate golf days are always interesting to photograph - The London Golf Club

My love of black and white images does not mean I only shoot this way.

There are often different reasons for shooting in colour and or black & white - my clients wants and needs will affect this for the most part and often the client needs a colour image for what they are using the images for. But sometimes they let me make them how I want to as well.

Firstly, thank you for reading this far down, I hope you enjoyed what you have seen.

If you are looking to hire a multi skilled photographer to capture your corporate event, wedding, portrait or headshot, please get in touch.

Equipment used: Fujifilm XPRO 2 & XH1 with 16mm f1.4 - 23mm f2 - 50mm f2 - 90mm f2

Other useful links: Documentary event Photography - Headshot Photography - How to choose a wedding photographer

All Images and copyright belongs to Matt Rock Photography.

DOCUMENTARY EVENT PHOTOGRAPHER - GOODWOOD REVIVAL

Watching people - seeing how they act, react & interact… & in the case of The Goodwood Revival - how they dress up!

“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything”

— Aaron Siskind

Early morning fly-by - Goodwood Revival - September 2019

When I left my house in the early hours of a beautiful September morning I knew the day would be a good one. Having an early start meant the drive to Goodwood was traffic free. I turned up in the field and was greeted by the happy & smiling parking attendant, he showed me where to go and I knew it was going to be a good day at Goodwood.

I was one of the first people there that morning and couldn’t wait to get my cameras out and start shooting.

Whilst walking across the field to the entrance, there was an old fashioned kind of feel. It made me think of my grandparents going out for the day on their motorbike - he had a Brough Superior - I imagined my Nan & Grandad, a sidecar & matching goggles setting off with a hearty picnic of roughly cut bread and lumps of mature cheddar, all stuffed in the panier.

Goodwood has many events throughout the year and the Goodwood Revival is one to remember and to look forward too. It’s like stepping back in time watching all the people dressed up in vintage clothes, smoking pipes and wearing neck scarves and cheese cutter hats.

This iconic motorsport event first appeared in the calendar back in 1998 and is now regarded as one of the biggest historic motorsport events in the world and apparently the only one to be staged entirely in period dress.

The Ford GT

Trackside was an exciting place to be. Not just watching these cars on their test laps but the whole experience and sensory overload of the familiar yet overpowering racetrack smells and the sounds of the tannoy systems - They are often a little too loud or just that little too muffled as the cars roar past...

It’s one of those experiences that takes you back to when you were younger. For me it would be back to the memories of Brands Hatch in Kent, sitting uncomfortably on the often wet grass bank watching cars or motorbikes going round and round the track and then the sudden excitement and noise of the crowd as one of them spins off the track.

The cameras were all rolling too, trying to catch the action, the noise and maybe the crashes...

There was lots to see and do at The Goodwood Revival and I walked all day, all over the place, looking for weird and sometimes bizarre things I wanted to photograph.

Documentary wedding photography and portrait photography are my main income alongside being a documentary event photographer, so observing the normal stuff and trying to make it interesting to view is fun and challenging. Especially somewhere like The Revival as there is so much going on and it’s like going back in time, a different kind of normal. Seeing things that we just don’t see now-a-days in our modern, everyday life. The old fashioned clothes, singers, dancers, oh, and there are the amazing cars and motorbikes too of course. The thing is, I knew all that stuff was going to be there, the cars, the motorbikes, the people dressed up in their old fashioned clothes, the racetrack, I knew most of it beforehand.

But I didn’t expect there to be such a great atmosphere, the feeling of almost seeing my grandparents, and my parents (metaphorically speaking of course) walking around this time-warp of a place - Being able to get a tiny glimpse of seeing the world how they would have seen it when they were young. That was the thing that brought it all together for me, to create one amazing experience!

Apart from the price of beer that is! That was a very modern experience - you could say almost futuristic!!

As a portrait photographer who loves to work in a documentary, candid style, I wanted to go to The Goodwood Revival mainly to photograph the people who attended it. To soak up the atmosphere of this event. See what people do, how they dress and to see the amazing cars too of course.

Within the last couple of years I have switched camera brands & started to use the Fujifilm X system full time. I love the way they feel in my hand, their size & simple looks really helps you blend in for this kind of work. The image quality is beautiful too and after 18 months of testing I finally added another body and a couple of lenses to my kit bag and now use them for all my work since the end of 2018.

I hope you enjoyed a little taster into this great event from goodwood.

if you are planning an event or team building day out for your company and need to document it with a dedicated, professional photographer, get in touch with me and we can see how I can help you.

If you are interested in this event see the official website here: The Goodwood Revival 2021

Twilight Wedding by Rowhill Grange Wedding Photographer

Natalie & Jason’s beautiful late November wedding day at Rowhill Grange - November 2019 - Wedding photos by: Matt Rock Photography

The Clockhouse & Thatchers Loft, Rowhill Grange, Dartford, Kent

With lots of Autumn colours still falling from the trees, Natalie & Jason’s twilight Kent wedding in late November was a beautifully sunny & dry day. I love days like this when it’s cold with bright blue sky. I knew this was going to be a very relaxed day without any fuss. Because, when we met up to discuss the details of their day Natalie & Jason had already said they wanted a relaxed wedding day with natural, candid photos to look back on in their wedding album - No posing required here...

There was lots going on when I arrived at Rowhill Grange that afternoon. I was greeted with big smiles from the bride and her mum at the Thatchers loft suite in The Clockhouse.

Bride prep for a twilight wedding is always much later than normal and it felt like everyone was ready for a great afternoon wedding and a big party in the evening.

The champagne had already been popped a few times I think - the shots weren’t going to be far behind! It was the afternoon after-all.

By now, Jason and his sons had arrived downstairs, ready to welcome more guests to the The Clockhouse bar. Having the two areas close by I can move easily and quickly from the Bride to the Groom to capture both the girls getting ready and the boys greeting guests arriving and getting the last minute plans finalised.

After a few more drinks all the girls start to get ready and that is normally my time to go elsewhere for a few moments. Although sometimes venues, like at Rowhill Grange have a good area for changing, so I don’t need to go far and can still document the wedding as though I am one of the guests, and not be that ‘official’ photographer who gets in the way and barks orders at everyone... Nobody likes those photographers.

One for the road - what’s the worst that can happen?

She didn’t like that!

You can watch a short photo-film below - just press the PLAY tab in the middle & turn the volume up - there’s music too!

Once Natalie, was ready to come down, Jason & all the guests were safely ushered into the ceremony room.

- It was time for the Father-of-the-Bride to see his little girl -

This is the point at which I always imagine seeing my own little girl - who is currently only 4 years old, so plenty of time to save - in her wedding dress on her special day. So I can understand how this guy must be feeling at this point - you can even see a tear in his eye when I made this portrait, just moments before Natalie came down the stairs to see him. When I spoke to him, he seemed a little nervous but very excited to be walking his daughter down the aisle.

Once the ceremony was over and being a twilight wedding in late November, it was already dark outside which meant everyone stayed indoors to greet Natalie & Jason and congratulate them on getting married. There were lots of guests and lots of cuddles! This part of the wedding is all about capturing the guests, the laughter, the conversations, the hugs, the fights!?

No, not really. I’ve never had any fights break out at one of my weddings - yet.

Almost time for the Speeches - I love the build up to the wedding speeches and it tends to start early in the day when the best man and Groom are having lots of banter with each other trying to make the other one more nervous as the day goes on. Listening to the speeches often brings out some funny one-liners which make me laugh or an emotional story or two which can often make for great candid photos of the guests reacting to the stories. There weren’t any speeches planned for Natalie & Jason, just a few words of thanks, so I knew these speeches were going to be less formal than others. But in the end they were longer than expected and quite emotional for the people involved - as an experienced wedding photographer I am used to not having too much of a plan because weddings can and often do change throughout the day. With friends, family and a microphone the combination often brings out the emotional side to people and at times like this, if things need to be said to close loved ones - say them.

Images wise, I like to get in close for these shots - almost like a guest at the table - you can get a sense that you, as the viewer, are there in the room and even sitting at the table all over again.

Remember that at a wedding you will only get to see what happens from your perspective. So getting candid, documentary style photos from an experienced photographer can mean you see your wedding day in a totally different way from a totally different angle and these will be memories you will share for a long time, way into the future.

With all the speeches finished, the tears dried and the cake cut, the room has to have a quick tidy-up & turn around. So there’s time for a few more drinks at the bar and the kids can play outside whilst the band and the DJ’s; The Award Winning Discologic can set up their equipment. Then, it’s time for the the newly married couple to have their first dance as husband and wife.

Then the time that everyone has been waiting for…

P - A - R - T - Y

T - I - M - E

The Clockhouse & Thatchers Loft, Rowhill Grange, Dartford, Kent

If you would like to book me to photograph your wedding with creatively candid, natural, photographs that document your big day and maybe some beautiful couple portraits too, please get in touch HERE. I am a Kent wedding photographer however I am available to work all over the UK and I’d love to work on my first European wedding in the near future too.

Useful supplier links below:

Venue: Rowhill Grange - Wedding Dress: Ring O Roses - Suits: Bespoke & Tailoring -

Bridesmaids Dresses: Lipsy - Singer & Band: Jayne Snow - Flowers: Forever Flowers By Em -

DJ: The Award Winning Discologic - Cake: Belles Bakery - Wedding photos: Matt Rock Photography

To see more of my work please take a click HERE - To see more information about prices, my style and some of your questions answered - click HERE

BEAUTIFUL - CREATIVE - TIMELESS

English Castle - Lympne Castle Wedding Photographer - Kent - UK

As a Kent wedding photographer I was lucky to be asked if I would be part of Lympne Castle as a recommended photographer. I’m proud to be part of this wonderful Kent wedding venue. From a photographers perspective there are so many opportunities to photograph a wedding here. Candidly capturing those otherwise unseen moments between you and your guests. It really is a pleasure to work here as a photographer. Aimee and the team will look after you from start to finish.

Are you part of our NHS or Emergency Services? Special Offer - see more information here

Lympne Castle, Kent, UK

English Castle Weddings

Aimee - 01303 261666 / 01303 267571
aimee@lympnecastle.com

Lympne Castle has been providing hospitality to nobles since the 12th century and Situated in the beautiful village of Lympne, Kent.

This Medieval castle should be considered for your Kent wedding. It’s somewhere that I’m very comfortable working at. There are so many great photo opportunities and lots of space for you to explore. Plus if the weather is not on your side the light coming into the dark panelled rooms works so well for the candid, natural images I like to make.

• Press PLAY below to see a short photo film to music - turn the sound up too.

From the first time you walk down the drive to the castle entrance you get the feel of being in another time in British history.

If you prefer a Church service there is a beautiful one next door to Lympne Castle

• Another Beautiful Photo Film below - PLAY & turn the music up…

If the weather is on your side the courtyard and gardens are a great place to have a glass of fizz whilst chatting to your guests and enjoying the views that many wedding venues can only dream of. Aimee & the team will always be there to help.

For the bride who wants to keep it all in one place; getting ready, wedding ceremony, champagne reception, wedding breakfast and the party, this could be perfect.

For your bridal preparations, do you use the cottages or the castle? The choice is yours…

These rooms are perfect for those natural, candid photos that you will look back on whilst you show your children and grandchildren.

Lympne Castle has lots of space and could cater for those large weddings but just as easily for the smaller ones too.

• You REALLY should consider this Medieval castle for your wedding

Since lockdown started on 23rd March 2020 - COVID-19 - has been disrupting our industry and we may be seeing more & more smaller weddings in the future. I can imagine a more intimate wedding at Lympne Castle would be just as beautiful and really bring together the most important people in your life along with a cosy fire place and maybe a wedding singalong or two. I have photographed many weddings at Lympne Castle and I can’t wait to get back there once we have all settled down to some kind of normal again and the wedding industry is back on track.

I personally feel this beautiful, old English Castle in Kent, UK has so much character and will bring the wow factor to your wedding. I have so much fun working here and you will not regret adding this to your list of wedding venues. Contact Aimee to make your appointment.

• Hit the PLAY button to see this photo film below - turn the sound up too.

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Kent Wedding Photographer - The beauty & power of one image

Are you part of our NHS or Emergency Services? Special Offer - see more information here

I made this wedding portrait a few years ago. 1st August 2015 to be precise.

It is a beautiful yet simple image of the Grooms Nan looking up at her grandson on his wedding day. It’s an image that can not easily be recreated or posed. It’s a powerful candid image that started out as a standard group photo.

This one image has had more than a dozen people in tears in front of me when viewing it at wedding shows.

(I have a very large framed print of it)

It’s normally the mother of the ‘groom to be’. Not because they know the lady in the photograph but because they see their own mother in the image and wish that she could be at her sons wedding.

Images can be powerful for all sorts of reasons. Some beautiful and some not so beautiful. But when you can see & feel the emotion in a photograph it can be a magical thing.

When I made this image, there were others too of course that were very similar. I’d call them a series of images which led to this one standing out as ‘the one’ for me to use.

Here are some of the other images that lead to this beautiful moment…

Although I consider myself a candid, documentary wedding photographer, (which is why I believe I was able to see this happening and then record the image) and I do still shoot group photos. As the first image shows, they are an important part of the day and who knew that I would get the result I did if I hadn’t started with this image below.

So, it started off as a typical group photo of the bride & Groom with his Nan and just evolved from there. I had stopped talking long before i’d stop shooting.

And this is the last in the series that I made.

I think that there is a kind of cheekiness to this lady and a look of pure delight and love on her face and I believe she approved of her grandson getting married that day!

Below are some other candid photographs that make me smile from this wedding back in August, 2015…

How will Wedding Photography change after 2020? #COVID-19 #stayathome #livethedream #2020

Are you part of our NHS or Emergency Services? Special Offer - see more information here

This might sound like a tough question to answer - because it is - I hope it doesn’t change too much and for too long as I quite liked it as it was. I hope that wedding couples still see the benefit of having good quality wedding photography to look back at in years to come.

“Is having lots of experience and being good at what you do going to be good enough?“

Maybe...

“Do the awards you’ve got help you survive and attract new clients that love your work in the future?”

I hope so…

“Does positivity and belief in yourself help you keep going when it all seems to be for nothing?”

Yes, absolutely… I’ve been coming into the office almost every day since lockdown so that I can stay as focused & keep as positive as possible for when it starts to return back to some normality. Take a look at some lockdown photos i’ve made on my INSTAGRAM page - Macro photography is very interesting and makes you appreciate the little things.

Capturing the humour of a church service with candid moments like this is fun.

So, you have been wanting to get married for a couple of years and finally you book a date with your dream venue, you’ve tried on some beautiful dresses & cool looking suits and chosen your favourite wedding photographer. :) Now it’s time to get all the other pieces of this big wedding jigsaw puzzle in place and try to encourage your Fiance to look a little more interested in the colour of your seat covers you’ve spent £400.00 on.

All the invitations have been sent to your guests and the reliable 80% of them have RSVP’d - YES! Great! - you are now ready to come together for a massive celebration of two people, two families and hundreds of friends, all looking forward to meeting up at the same place on the same day to help celebrate this wonderful couple and special occasion.

Then…

#2020 #COVID-19 #STAYATHOME #NHS #EMERGENCYSERVICES #KEYWORKERS #GOV #FURLOUGH

I mean, who had ever heard of the word ‘Furlough’ before 2020?

Vicar waiting for the bride to get to church for her ceremony.

He will be waiting there a long time I think.

Lets just hope he can have a quiet word with his boss and sort this mess out soon!

It is easy to see how this affects people and our lifestyle. This really has affected everyone in some way. Some people will lose a little and some will lose a lot. Some people and businesses have gained out of it, with the way online usage has changed. Some have helped a little some have helped a lot. There are even those that have tried to gain out of others misery by preying on the weak and vulnerable.

But generally it’s times like these that people shine and stand up & help others. Especially the NHS and Emergency Services. We are all lucky there are people out there like this. I am sure you, like me know someone that works for the NHS or Emergency Services.

A Special Offer to say thank you to them is here.

I have friends and family who work with these great - yet under respected public services.

The Portraits above are some images from my Fire Brigade Project which I started in December, 2018 - I’d love to extend this to all Emergency Services and NHS staff in the future too if I can get access.

Stay focused… now back to weddings

If you are planning a small wedding or even looking to elope; just the two of you - and a photographer, I think going to be able to get married sooner than if you have a large wedding day planned with hundreds of guests. So maybe that is one way that the wedding industry will change in the short term. More people will have smaller weddings I think. Back in 2012, I was asked to photograph a small wedding with only 8 people and although it was very different to what I am used to it was still a lovely day with many opportunities to get some great photographs.

So why not contact me to find out if I am available to photograph your small wedding or elopement.

It will be different, but great fun.

So yes,

Weddings will change.

How?

For how long?

Who knows?

But as a photographer who shoots mainly in a candid, documentary style with the added bonus of some beautiful couple portraits, it’s really about you and your special day more than how many people are there.

Just let them enjoy the photographs!

Being a recommended Kent Wedding Photographer...

In this BLOG I take a closer look at two great wedding venues that I am lucky enough to be recommended by. I will showcase another two soon. Most of my wedding couples find me through their friends recommendations. Another way I get clients is being recommended by many Kent wedding venues, which is a real honour to be trusted by them. These venues are places I like to work at as they all have their own look and style. Here’s a look at the first two on the list - venues who recommend me: The Boathouse, Bexley and The Darenth, Sevenoaks. - Alphabetical order.

Are you part of our NHS or Emergency Services? Special Offer - see more information here

“Have you worked at my venue before?”

Being recommended by a venue is great and if you are getting married in Kent, Essex and London, the chances are I have worked at your venue.

But there are so many I haven’t yet had the opportunity to see. Which is why I love wedding photography; because shooting at a new venue is very exciting too and as an experienced photographer, working somewhere new is a great opportunity to make photos that no one else has in their wedding album. So I am always looking to work with other venues in Kent, Essex, London too.

In fact I can work all over the UK! So get in touch and we can chat about your plans

Danson House, &

The Boathouse - Bexley, Kent

They make the perfect combination…

The Boathouse is the closest wedding venue to me and I grew up only a couple of miles away, so I know it well. Set in the beautiful Danson Park in the Borough of Bexley, Kent gives you and your wedding guests lots of outside space with lake views & lots of photo opportunities. There is a terrace out the back of The Boathouse too, which offers a great space to relax after the wedding breakfast and the speeches are all over. You do have the option to hold your wedding ceremony at The Boathouse too. However, lots of wedding ceremonies are held at the nearby Danson House, which is a beautiful Grade 1 listed Palladian villa built in 1766 by Sir John Boyd and is a historic landmark in Bexley.

You can learn more about Danson House - here.

It’s just a short walk from The Boathouse too, which is why they make the perfect combination.

** Look at this BLOG about my NHS & Emergency Services - SPECIAL OFFER **

The Darenth, Shoreham, Kent

You can hold your ceremony inside or outside at The Darenth

Attention to detail… This venue has been constantly improving and changing over the last 4 years and is almost unrecognisable. Kerry & Jason have really made this Kent wedding venue one to see. This should, without doubt be one to consider for your wedding. Every time I go there, something else has been improved, changed or been tweaked. The Darenth is just a short country walk from Shoreham, so when the time is right, you can take a few moments away from the party. It’s a lovely walk down to Shoreham & so we can make those special couple portraits I love to make - the best bit is, I work fast and discreet, so you won’t be away from your guests for long.

So if you haven’t seen this Kent wedding venue for a while speak to Kerry on 01959 522944 and take a look around.

You can see my last BLOG here from a wedding at The Darenth last December - 2019.