The Wedding that got me shooting weddings

Early last year I was primarily a newborn and baby photographer, I had just built my little photography studio and I was ready to photograph all of the precious little bundles of 2017. 
I had dabbled in wedding photography but had always found it quite daunting, looking back it was probably a mixture of not having enough confidence and also not being fully equipped and prepared for the curveballs wedding days can throw at you.
It had been a couple of years since my last wedding and they were becoming a faded memory. Until this day. 
The day of Sally + Pete's wedding.

So, I'll set the scene. It's Saturday morning and I am at home with my two and five year old, surrounded by the usual Mum-chaos that fills the weekend; when I get a call from my cousin, Claire. 
"Sophie, are you free? I am a bridesmaid at Sally's wedding and her photographer has arrived and he is so ill, he's being sick and can't photograph her day! Can you help?!"

I looked around the room, the kid chaos, my mind quickly thinking about my camera batteries and if they were charged, how was I going to get to Harrogate? Who would watch my children? Whatever the answers were to my quick thoughts I knew I was going to photograph the day, I couldn't possibly not do it knowing they didn't have a photographer to capture their memories. 

Within half an hour I was driving down the A59 heading to Rudding Park in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, to photograph the wedding of a couple I had never met before. I was so nervous. 
When I arrived I was filled in on all of the morning's events and quickly got to work, as most of her bridal preparations had already taken place. I was quickly reminded how much I love capturing details and all things pretty . . .

(click on each individual image for the full image)

Little did I know at the time, that the images I was about to take were going to be shared, viewed and liked over 30,000 times. It was the moment that Sally put her dress on and showed her bridesmaids for the first time. It was their reaction that was shared and loved, still to this day it is one of my favourite images I have ever taken. 

The moment was followed by another one of my favourites, Sally's Dad entering the gardens to see her. So many emotions!

And with that, the one hour so far photographing this beautiful wedding, my LOVE for wedding photography began. 
Capturing moments like this, capturing the details and telling the story of the day through photography to me is AMAZING!
After the bridal party wiped all their happy tears away they headed to the beautiful church at Rudding Park. The ceremony was filled with joy, laughter and a whole lot of love. 

After the ceremony the guests headed outside to catch up with one another and also to get some portraits together. The grounds of the venue were beautiful, there was lots of little spots for photography. I loved capturing Sally with each of her bridesmaids and capturing the joy and laughter as the day unfolded. 

We went for a little wander around the building for some Bride + Groom portraits. 

So thank you fate for leading me here on this gorgeous day. Thank you Sally + Pete for giving me the opportunity to capture something so life and career changing for me. 
If this day hadn't have happened I honestly know I wouldn't be a wedding photographer now, as I believed before that it wasn't 'for me'. Now I know, it totally is for me. Capturing emotions, details, love, pretty dresses and decor, candid moments, it makes my heart happy and it's where my passion lies.  

This is where my journey began and since this wedding I have had many more each of which I will blog here over the next few months. Ive photographed weddings in some of the world's most beautiful destinations and had my work published in magazines and newspapers. It's been a crazy journey so far and I love it. 

If you are interested in your own wedding photography, feel free to contact me and we can have a chat about your day and I can send you a wedding guide x