Kent Wedding Photographer, Matt Rock Photography - my 2023 review

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I thought i’d share a little insight to some of my wedding work and reviews from 2023 with some of my favourite images… I might have to produce another, blog part two as I hadn’t expected to include so many and there are lots of weddings not featured.

Wedding at South Lodge Hotel Brighton Road, Horsham, RH13 6PS, and then onto The Cider Trap, Wobblegate Farm

Black & White photo of the Bride and Groom walking back to their wedding car
Matt is amazing!! Our pictures have completely blown us away!
Matt was so easy to work with, his communication was spot on and we felt completely safe in his hands!
On the day, Matt was great! He made us and our wedding guests feel so at ease, and as a result got some brilliant candid pictures that really captured the spirit of our day! Can’t recommend matt highly enough!
— Sarah & Martin 20.12.23
Colour photo of the Bridesmaid helping the Bride get ready in window light
The best man helping the Groom with his suit

Photographing weddings at this time of year is a real joy; with all the lights, cosy warm rooms and the anticipation of Christmas just around the corner. This was a standout wedding in 2023 for me because the groom was a friend who i’ve know for a few years and also a great videographer / film maker himself. The lovely family and friends that attended this wedding always helps make my job that much more fun!


Wedding at Lympne Castle, The St, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4LQ

Matt was one of the first people we contacted when planning our wedding and he was so helpful and friendly when we had issues with our venue. He was so easy to talk to about what we wanted, helping us decide what to book.

On the day he was really good at helping us get some really lovely shots- they show the whole day and everyone that was there so well! Loads of our guests have said how friendly he was- very happy with everything!
— Katherine & Neil 28th October 2023
Drone shot showing the front of Lympne Castle with Autumnal colours
Bride & Groom walking through the court yeard into the confetti
Drone shot of Lympne Castle and surrounding countryside
Colour photo of the Bride & Groom portrait outside the castle door with a puddle reflection
Colour photo of Bride & Groom walking up Lympne Castle driveway
Colour photo of the Bride & Groom at Lympne Castle entrance gate
The Bride & Broom's first dance
First Dance

Autumn is an amazing time of year for weddings and the outcome is beautiful photographs to cherish forever - simple as that. The colours are beautiful, the weather is unpredictable and Lympne Castle really shines at this time of year. I’ve been on the recommended list of photographers at Lympne Castle for a few years now and always love coming back. The Bride & Groom were very welcoming and their gust were fun to work with. Really loved this one!


Wedding at 0ne Warick Park Hotel, 1 Warwick Park, Tunbridge Wells TN2 5TA

Matt was great to have as our photographer - we love the candid approach! He was very easy to work with, he took all the pictures we wanted and was great at getting shots of friends & family, the pictures turned out great and we couldn’t be happier. We received loads of great quality pictures, and what’s more he’s fun to have around on the day!
— Maisie & Jonny - 5th August 2023
Bridesmaids looking at a hotel sign that says 'Hello Gorgeous'
Colour photo of the Bridesmaid opening the hotel room door to the usher
Bride having her makeup added
oroid photo being taken by a guest
Pile of poloroid photos on a table with wine glasses
Bride looking in the mirror laughing with her bridesmaid crying
Bride portrait, standing with her flowers looking out of the window
Black & White photo of the Bride in the window
Black & White photo of the Bride looking at her two bridesmaids
Bridesmaids fanning the brides armpits while bride waves her arms and flowers in the air
Bride walking to the ceremony in the hotel coridor
Bride in the lift pushing the 0 floor button
Groom waiting for his bride
Bride in tears as she walks down the aisle
Bride and groom during wedding ceremony
Bride & Groom walking
Bride & Groom confetti walk

Bride and Groom photo walk
Couple clinking wine glasses
Bride & Groom messing around
Bride & Groom eating their wedding donuts
Bride and Groom fun first dance

The sun doesn’t always shine in August and this was one of the only wet weddings I shot in 2023. Despite this, it was the perfect venue for a rainy day. There was no outside space to use apart from a public footpath but it was enough to get some great outdoor photos and we had a break in the rain until after we’d finished the groups. So it may have rained but it didn’t disturb or intrude on the photos and the fun. Some of the wedding were Scottish so lots of Kilts on show and half of the family were from France and they performed a family tradition after the first dance and it was fantastic atmosphere. Wonderful day!


Wedding at The Oak Barn, Frame Farm, Iden Green Rd, Benenden, Cranbrook TN17 4EZ

We couldn’t be happier with all the photos we had taken on our wedding day by Matt Matt made us feel so relaxed and we hardly knew he was there. Matt captured so many lovely memories from throughout the day and we love how the pictures tell the story of our special day so perfectly. We have had so many lovely comments from the photos Matt took.
Would highly recommend :)
Thank you
— Liza and Dexter - 7th July 2023
Bride and bridesmaids walking up the stairs to the venue
Brides flowers with pendant
Groom looking in the mirror combing hair
Groom looking nervous and ushers fixing his cufflinks
Groom portriat
Bride in mirror reflection brides mum helping with dress
Brides reveals her dress to her dad and bridesmaids
Bride having a drink
Groom and ushers
Bridesmaids walking to the ceremony
Bride walking with her dad to the ceremony
Groom waiting for his bride
Bride walking down the aisle with her dad
Bride and groom during their outdoor ceremony
Bride and groom laughing during the ceremony
Exchange of the rings
Bride & grooms first kiss
Bride signing the wedding certificate
Confetti
Confetti walk
Brdesmaids and ushers
Bride and groom walking in the sun
Bride and groom walking black and white
Bride & Groom portrait holding hands
Bride and Groom portrait laughing
Silhouette of the Bride and Groom
Bride and Groom first dance

Hot hot hot! Lovely wedding and we all survived the heat. I’m lucky to be a recommended supplier here at The Oak Barn, Frame Farm and have been for a couple of years. The first time I was lucky enough to shoot here I knew it was going to be a popular venue. The guest were all very friendly and the couple were welcoming and it felt like I spent the day with a group of friends. Always my favorite way to enjoy a wedding.


Matt was a dream on our big day. He was efficient, funny and a great part of our wedding day. He worked candidly for the majority of the day, which is what we wanted, but he still got those ‘posed’ shots that were important to us.
He also turned around our final photos a lot quicker than we expected and we are so happy with the result and the photo film too - which made me cry happy tears! We currently have over 200 photos favourited for printing, which just tells you how happy we are! Thank you again Matt.
— Kelly & Oliver - 16th June 2023
Drone shot of Salomons Estate
Confetti walk
Bride and Groom confetti walk
Bride and groom with bridesmaids
Black and White photo of the Bride and Groom and brides mum
Cheers!
Bride and portrait on the bridge
Bride and Groom walking downstairs
Bride and groom portrait
Bridal party with coloured smoke cannons
Smoke Cannons
Bride and Groom first dance

Another hot day at this wonderful wedding. A gorgeous couple and really friendly too. I felt so welcome with their friends and family which helps me enjoy the day far better and I’m lucky that I get lots of weddings who’s guests are friendly and welcoming. Another fun bunch of people, great venue and a very hot and sunny day. Oh and I almost forgot; this was the first wedding i’ve shot smoke cannons. For some reason they have passed me by until now.

If you decide to use these cannons at your wedding you must be very careful and I would recommend sticking to just the bridal party. They are fun and can make for some lovely colourful photos but proceed with caution….

If you made it this far - THANK YOU! - Hope you enjoyed seeing a little window into my 2023 weddings if you or a friend would like to chat more about your wedding get in touch below.

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

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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