Salomons Estate Wedding Photographer

Wedding of Kelly & Oliver at Salomons Estate - Matt Rock Photography

A summer wedding at Salomons Estate in the idyllic county of Kent, UK, is a perfect blend of romance, natural beauty, and timeless charm. From the enchanting gardens to historic buildings Salomons offers an exquisite backdrop for couples to tie the knot. As a wedding photographer, I had the pleasure of documenting the magic of Kelly & Oliver’s recent summer wedding and I am excited to share the unforgettable moments and stunning images from this beautiful celebration.

The possibilities for making stunning outdoor photographs are endless here. The bride and groom, surrounded by beautiful flowers and lush greenery, radiated love as they exchanged vows against the backdrop of the venues grounds.

Salomons Estate boasts a rich historical heritage, and many couples choose to tie the knot here. Situated just two miles outside the spa town of Royal Tunbridge Wells, Salomons Estate is a stunning Victorian mansion, designed by the acclaimed architect Decimus Burton. Set in 36 acres of rolling gardens, parkland and woods, it enjoys an enviable location in the heart of England’s garden, yet within an hour’s travel of Central London. The grandeur of this mansion adds a touch of timeless elegance to any wedding.

Incorporating drone photography of Salomons Estate made on the day of the wedding

Weddings are not just about picturesque settings and beautiful details; they are about the emotions, connections, and joy that fill the air. Throughout the day, I focused on capturing candid moments of laughter, tears of joy, and embraces. From getting ready to the couple's first dance and the heartfelt speeches these images tell the story of the love and happiness shared by all.

With the opportunity to have both your wedding ceremony and reception at the Manor House, we pride ourselves in offering a personalised and bespoke service, working to the very highest of standards. We guarantee you will be the only wedding party at the Estate, enjoying our picturesque grounds and charming views.

Couples also benefit from the services of a dedicated wedding host, who will assist in the coordination and delivery of your wedding celebration. Your wedding host will assist in offering supplier recommendations, from florists, photographers and entertainment options.

Our food and drink is locally sourced by our in house kitchen team. Able to accommodate any special requests, we offer a complimentary food and wine tasting ahead of your celebrations.
— Quotehttps://www.salomons-estate.com/weddings/

With the sun shining brightly overhead, the couple and their loved ones gather in Salomons beautiful terrace gardens. The gentle breeze cooled us down a little as they exchanged their vows beneath a beautifully adorned arch. Each embrace and smile is captured, immortalising the cherished connections formed on this special day.


As a wedding photographer, my goal is to immortalise the essence of your special day through beautiful, creative, and timeless photos and portraits. I believe that every couple deserves to have their love story documented in a way that reflects their unique style and personality. With an artistic eye and a passion for storytelling, I strive to create images that will be cherished for generations to come.

In addition to seeing the candid moments, I love to incorporate artistic composition and creative techniques into my work. I use various elements such as lighting, framing, and perspectives to create visually stunning images that evoke a sense of beauty and intrigue. From unique angles to creative use of natural light and the surroundings, I strive to add an artistic touch to your wedding photos and portraits.

While trends come and go, timeless photography never goes out of style. I aim to create images that will stand the test of time, allowing you to relive your special day with the same emotions and excitement years down the line. By focusing on classic poses, elegant details, and a clean editing style, I ensure that your photos will remain timeless and cherished for years to come.


One of the most anticipated and memorable moments of any wedding celebration are the speeches.

The speeches are an opportunity for loved ones to express their love, admiration, and well wishes for the newlyweds. As a wedding photographer, I understand the significance of these speeches and aim to capture the essence of these heartfelt moments through my lens, always looking for the emotion & storytelling aspect of wedding photography.

The first dance is a romantic and intimate moment where the couple becomes lost in each other's arms, surrounded by the love of their guests. I discreetly document the tenderness and emotion displayed as they sway together.


If you're looking for a wedding photographer, contact me to discuss my availability and lets chat about how I can help make your wedding special.

Wishing you a beautiful and unforgettable wedding day filled with love and laughter!

Watch their photo-film below - 4 minutes 46 seconds.

Photographer - Matt Rock

Venue - Salomons website

Dress - Dress Dreams

Suits - Moss Bros & Studio Suits

Flowers - Miranda Jayre Andrews

Hair - Bridal Hair By Kerrie

Make up - Avril Jarrett

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…




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







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


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

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.



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…


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.



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


Award Winning Photography: Matt Rock - @mattrockprophoto

Venue: The Darenth - @weddingvenuekent

Location: Shoreham, Kent

Videographer: @mooncastfilms

DJ: @devotedeventsuk

Other blogs featuring The Darenth


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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Portrait - Bride with Flowers

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.

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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.

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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…

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   P  A  R  T  Y    
T  I  M  E
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What a lovely Kent wedding, spent with friendly guests in a beautiful Kent wedding venue with perfect weather too.

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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. 

Kent Wedding Photographer - Matt Rock

The Manor Gatehouse - Dartford Registry Office

The wedding of Jon & Andrew - 31 March 2021

The wedding of Jon & Andrew - 31 March 2021



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

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/
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

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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.

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

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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
Source: https://www.mattrockphotography.com

Getting married in a pandemic - Kent Wedding Photographer - Matt Rock

Wedding Photography at The Manor Gatehouse, Dartford - 2020

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2020 was a bit of a curve ball for us all.

I was all set for my busiest year of shooting weddings since starting my business way back in 2006.

It was 2019, and I had a busy year after winning the Kent Wedding Photographer of the Year - 2019. I was all prepared for a busy year ahead; I had a minor operation booked in for the start January 2020 (which went well thanks to our amazing NHS) and my first wedding of the year was booked in for late March. So plenty of time to rest and recover before the hard work and fun started.

Then came COVID-19…

Fast forward a year to December 2020 and out of the 32 weddings I had booked in, only 3 of them were able to go ahead due to government restrictions.

To say it was a stressful year professionally is an understatement. However, I still count myself very lucky. Receiving the government grants, having some great clients who were still prepared to stick with me and some who paid their fees upfront. This meant I was able to keep my business going and look forward to a busier 2021.

We are still not out of the woods just yet, but with the vaccine being rolled out and an amazing NHS - it’s got to a positive move forward.

2020 will be a year to remember - or maybe forget.

2020 will be a year to remember - or maybe forget.

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Amy and John were great throughout all of this. They had originally booked me almost 2 years before, in 2018 and their original date was set for 10th April 2020. They even recommended me to John’s sister and I shot her wedding in 2019. But as soon as the lockdown was looking like a possibility their date was soon changed to later in the year and we postponed it to 14th November 2020. At this point we were all hopeful this virus would be under control by the summer of 2020.

As this new date approached however it was clear that things were getting worse - not better. So they made the difficult decision to move their wedding date for a second time and bring it forward to 30th September 2020. Which as it turned out was a great move on their part as another venue lockdown was just around the corner…

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Below are some of my favourite memories from their wedding day - 30th September 2020

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So that was the moment it all happened - all the years of planning a wedding, postponing it twice, a pandemic and the compulsory wearing of face masks.

It all came down to the fact that two people just wanted to get married!

That’s it!

There was not going to be any lavish after party with 150 guests, no big embarrassing speech from the best man, no DJ, no first dance and no honeymoon.

Just two young people who were desperate to get married and start a new life together as Mr & Mrs.

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Then it was all down to the local pub for burger & chips & few drinks.

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It was great to be part of Amy & John’s special day and although it was not as they would have chosen, I felt they still had the best day, spent with close friends and family. I mentioned before that i’d photographed John’s sisters wedding back in 2019, so for me it was good to catch up with the family again too.

I made a music photo-film from their wedding and you can see this 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: Manor Gatehouse, Dartford Registry Office, Dartford, Kent - A Kentish Ceremony @kentishceremony

Pub: The Malt Shovel, Dartford, Kent @maltshoveldartf

If you know any suppliers that I have missed, please contact me me as I would love to include their details here.


Need help deciding? 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



Source: https://www.mattrockphotography.com

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

Early morning fly-by - Goodwood Revival - September 2019

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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

The Ford GT

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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...

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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!!

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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.

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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

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.

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.

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.

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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!

The Darenth Wedding Photographer - Kent Wedding Photographer

Lucy & Peters’ wedding of December 2019 was my last wedding of 2019 held at The Darenth in Shoreham, Sevenoaks, Kent, UK.

This is one of the venues I am recommended at - The Darenth - I love to work here and know it well.

** See my NHS & Emergency Services special offer here **

  • Watch Lucy & Peter’s photo film below - turn the volume up.

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Lucy & Peter arriving at The Darenth

This wedding feels like a long time ago now due to the lockdown we are currently experiencing.

Strange times!

Lucy’s wedding day started at Tabsfield B&B in Eynsford, Kent, where Lucy, all her bridesmaids and close family were getting ready for her big day. Tabsfield B&B is a great place to start your wedding celebrations. There are lots of rooms with lots of space and beautiful grounds to use and it was close to their Church in Otford and their reception venue - The Darenth.

Below are some of my favourite story telling photographs of them all getting ready.

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More candid photographs below from some of my favourite images during the Church service

Documentary, Candid Wedding Photography

All the photographs above were made in a candid, documentary style, telling the story of the wedding day without influencing what they did or when they did it, just watching & anticipating what I thought would happen.

I don’t interfere with how a wedding looks - I try to capture the natural flow and beauty of the day - Nobody likes a bossy photographer!

After the ceremony there is a bit of time for a few group photos of the couples nearest & dearest - which aren’t candid but I do feel they are very important images of people to document during a wedding and should be made in a friendly, happy way to really bring out the personalities of the people in them - some confetti too of course - if allowed - always check with the venue first.


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After the vows have been said and the confetti has been left for someone else to clean up we all traveled onto The Darenth for the reception drinks and evening party.

I don’t think the driver liked me or my joke.  :)

I don’t think the driver liked me or my joke. :)

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Before the meal we went outside to shoot some beautiful couple portraits of the Lucy & Peter.

Making candid, documentary photos really makes me happy. But as an experienced portrait photographer I love to make some portraits too - fusing these two styles together in a way that really compliments the candid images. Although these portraits are directed by me I still try to make them as natural as possible and they will blend in perfectly with your wedding album.

Of course there are many couples who do not want to have their portraits made in this way and the whole day can be candid; which for me as an award winning documentary photographer is great too.

To be honest, as long as i’m making portraits I don’t mind if they are candid or directed… I just love photographing weddings and people.


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Time for the wedding breakfast and time for me to stop making photos for a while… Well sometimes!

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Chef above & waitress below both hard at work during food service

Chef above & waitress below both hard at work during food service

Photographing the speeches can be tricky but enjoyable. You have spent all day with the Best Man and the Father of the Bride and one thing that is always on their mind are their speeches. They can’t think about anything else sometimes which is really interesting and funny to watch.

I get to know a bit more about the couple too with some great stories that are told; positive words of advice, funny stories & some sad ones too.

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P - A - R - T - Y…..

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If you got to the end of this wedding blog - thanks for reading!

As a thank you for getting to the bottom, if you like and follow me on social media (see links below) book me to photograph your wedding and pass my information on to a friend or relative that you know who may need a wedding photographer too. I will make your very own music slideshow of your wedding as a complimentary gift - like the one of Lucy & Peter’s at the top of this BLOG post - with the code: LUCY&PETERBLOG-MRP - you can see the cost & value of my wedding work using the link HERE.

Fill in the form below inc. the offer code and I’ll look forward to speaking to you about your wedding soon.

Source: https://www.mattrockphotography.com

Wedding Photographer - Special offer - NHS or Emergency Services?

Are you part of our NHS or Emergency Services?

MULTI AWARD WINNING WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

** Offer extended until 2025 **

Portrait Photography - Retired Firefighter

Portrait Photography - Retired Firefighter

Matt is an amazing photographer, from the moment I saw his work I wanted him to photograph our wedding and he didn’t disappoint! Everybody commented how polite, funny and professional he is!
I normally hate having my photos taken but with Matt I couldn’t feel more comfortable! Thank you so much Matt, I’ll say it again you are a legend ❤️. Love Mr & Mrs Freeman xx Ps: Izabella our daughter (6 years) says The Photos are sooo pretty ❤️ Xx
— Chloe Freeman - 2021 Bride

** SPECIAL OFFER **

As a thank you from me to all our NHS & Emergency Services staff; including both the frontline staff & back office workers, I am offering as part of my Multi Award Winning Wedding Photography Service, some great complimentary products that will help make your wedding even more memorable.

If you are getting married in 2021, 2022 & 2023, now extended to 2024 & 2025 weddings - I am offering you some great complimentary goodies that will go perfectly with your wedding photographs & album.

  • I AM NOW EXTENDING THIS OFFER UNTIL 2025!!

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Documentary Wedding Photography

Leave your details below and we can chat more about your wedding plans.

Be sure to ask me about the special offer - EXTRA’S PACK.

Many members of my family and all of my immediate family have worked for the NHS and Emergency Services. My dad is a retired firefighter and my mum (now retired) worked for the NHS. So I do understand and know first hand what it is like to have family on the frontline.

  • Irregular working hours

  • Night shifts

  • Interrupted sleep patterns

  • Emergency overtime when you have booked a table at your favourite restaurant.

None of these things make it into the news & not many people think twice about it.

Until now…

It is apparent now - more than ever in my life time, due to the COVID-19 virus how much we all rely on these services and the people that are working in them. Without whom we would be in a worse situation right now.

Wedding Portrait - 2019

Wedding Portrait - 2019

It is because of our NHS, Emergency Services and lots of other key workers that are keeping this country going that I am able to try and keep my own business ticking along during these hards times.

Pre-shoot

Pre-shoot at Allington Castle, Kent 2019

So with that in mind I want to do my little bit and say THANK YOU to our NHS & EMERGENCY SERVICES.

I am offering all our NHS & Emergency Services staff; including both the frontline staff & back office workers, a complimentary EXTRAS PACK with every full day wedding coverage;

This includes:

  • A beautiful music photo-film

  • A wedding Pre-shoot,

  • A discounted print box

total value =

£590.00

If you are getting married in the near future and you qualify for this fantastic offer, or you have a colleague that is getting married, please get in touch and you will be able to get Award Winning Wedding Photography with even more value included. Proof of your employment will be needed at booking.

Spectacular view from Guys Hospital, London Bridge, looking over London from the 25th floor - 2019

Spectacular view from Guys Hospital, London Bridge, looking over London from the 25th floor - 2019

Source: https://www.mattrockphotography.com