I’ve heard that as you get older the years whizz by at an increasing speed but bloody hell.. where did 2019 go?!

I know where I spent some of the best days though.. As much as wedding season can feel like a real whirlwind, every single wedding day is so memorable for a million different reasons and I loved being part of every celebration. Different couples, different stories, different people.. no two days are the same. They are a wonderful mix of joy, emotion, magic, both big and small moments.. they never stop being incredible to capture because you never know exactly how the day is going to be. It’s impossible to anticipate the hundreds of little stories within the day that the photographs and films will tell.

I’m about to blow my own trumpet and I’m not sorry about it.. here goes..
2019 was my busiest ever year.

For new readers/followers; I shot my first wedding in 2011, went full time in 2013, and I’ve been building and building my business ever since. I had my second daughter in 2017 and my business slowed down slightly the following year (the juggle is real) and I vowed to really focus on making 2019 a success. I got my shit together and focused on being proactive and organised, and it ended up being my busiest year by a long way. I know as careers go, wedding photography isn’t high on the stress scale but It’s been really tough at times and it’s taken a lot of planning, extra hours and late nights.. but it’s been amazing too. Turns out being witness to a tonne of emotion, joy and love every week is good for the soul - who knew? It’s magic.

In summary:
35 WEDDINGS // 22 FAMILY + COMMERCIAL SHOOTS // 15 STOP MOTION WEDDING FILMS MADE // 11 ALBUMS DESIGNED // 1000s MILES TRAVELLED // 27,000+ INDIVIDUALLY EDITED PHOTOS DELIVERED

I’m so happy to say that 2020 is almost fully booked and 2021 is looking like it’s going to be a brilliantly busy year too. I never stop feeling hugely grateful for the support that people show my work and my business, so ‘thank you’ to you all, whether you are past, recent or future couples, other suppliers, general cheerleaders and of course everyone at the home end for personal support and, often most importantly, childcare! Big love to you all - support like this helps keep small local businesses like mine going strong and I’ll never stop appreciating it.

I’ve broken my favourites down into categories to make it all a bit more digestible (I’m terrible at choosing favourites.. there were over 1,000 first selections that I had to narrow down!) so here goes!

Lots of love to you all and happy 2020!

This is my biggest ever set of highlights in an end-of-year review post so I thought I’d pick out a few ultimate favourites from each category.. a mix of couple portraits, dance floor and evening photos, ceremony shots and everything in-between (that’s where the real magic happens..)

One of my favourite parts of the day.. Those precious few hours before the wedding; anticipation is building, items of clothing are being ironed, glasses are clinked, hair is being tamed and make-up applied, music is playing.. for me it's one of the most wonderful parts of the day to photograph. I love being witness to that heady mix of nerves, excitement and (usually organised) chaos..

The ceremony anchors the day.. it's why you're all there, after all. It's quiet and weighted by importance when it begins, and full of release and celebration when it finishes. I love seeing eyes meet and deep breaths being taken, quiet tears being shed, the squeeze of a hand and children misbehaving at the back.. it's often not the easiest thing to photograph, but the atmosphere during this time and feeling it lift is wonderful and is the start of celebrations to come..

For me, the details don't just include what's on your tables or part of your stationery; it's the touch of a hand, how the light falls on a dress, noticing magic that some may not spot.. a wedding day is full of little details and tiny moments - I'm there to try and seek them out.

I always find myself drawn to children at weddings.. they are such a joy to photograph; often up to mischief, never behaving exactly how you'd expect them too, muddy knees, asking for snacks and usually first on the dance floor..

Portraits of couples are one of my favourite parts of the day - it's an opportunity to be creative and also for you both to have a little time away and steal some moments together. Finding a beautiful backdrop for portraits can be a wonderful thing.. but it's bettered by seeing your personalities and the reality of how you both are together come through. I try and keep it relaxed and my aim is to make you feel and look like yourselves.

Typically this is the part of the day that no-one is particularly excited about.. often couples would rather be celebrating with guests and taking the day in. Saying that, group shots tend to be the photos that couples frame or give as gifts - it's absolutely worth grabbing a few and they don't have to be stiff and formal.. I try to be creative and relaxed with them, and we speed through them in good time for you to get back chatting to friends and family, eating canapés and clinking glasses..

Another new category for this year's round up post.. and it's quite self explanatory. What is a wedding day without a huge spectrum of emotions? This is what it's all about, and this is why I love to capture everything from the sidelines rather than direct the day too much. The magic is there already..

Hands-down my favourite set of images.. I struggled to work out what to call it, it's everything 'in-between'. It's emotions, reactions, laughter, unscripted and unexpected moments, it's reality and humanity, it's personalities coming through.. all these smaller moments become the realstory of your day.

If you were looking for real magic.. it's everywhere in-between.

The speeches have been made, the meal has been eaten, vows have been said, the day may be over but the night is still young.. I sometimes steal couples for a few twilight photographs, and sometimes I just people-watch before the dance floor heats up..

I love the party people.. there’s not much more to say! Get on the dance floor, sing along, throw shapes and party HARD.

SUPPLIER LOVE
PEOPLE I’D BE HAPPY TO RECOMMEND FROM 2019

Huge thanks to amazing second shooters Carla Whittingham and Natalie Pluck for their amazing support this year.

HELLO THERE FILMS, UK-WIDE - VIDEOGRAPHY
BEAT BOUTIQUE, NORTH EAST - DJ
THE NORTHERN HOUSE BAND, WEST YORKS - BAND
THE WILDE, NORTH YORKS - FLORIST
WILD & CO, GLOUCS - FLORIST
ELIZA BLOOMS, TEESSIDE - FLORIST
COCO LUMINAIRE, NORTH EAST - DECOR/LIGHTS
THE YORKSHIRE BAR TENDER - BAR HIRE
INSPIRED EVENT STRUCTURES, YORKSHIRE - MARQUEE HIRE
CARA DAVISON, TEESSIDE - MAKE UP
JESSICA AVISON, NORTH EAST - SINGER
REWRITTEN - BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES
TIM LICHFIELD, TEESSIDE - MAGICIAN
ANDY LARMOUTH, TEESSIDE - MAGICIAN
LUKE HOWELLS, TEESSIDE - MAGICIAN