30 days of Wedding Photography | Day 7 | Golden Hour

There are various pieces to the puzzle that make up a breathtaking image; composition, emotion, pose, the moment, but by far the most important part is light.

In the photography game, 'golden hour' is the holy grail of photography. Golden light is softer and adds a warm tone, which for a wedding images it is the mood you want to convey. It's magical, mystical and romantic and the results are striking.

Throughout any day, the sun moves in a semi-circle movement, starting low below the horizon from the east, makes its way up to its highest point, then makes its way back down to the west toward the horizon once again.

If all of the conditions allow, we get a clearly visible sunrise, and sunset when the sun is at its lowest point over the horizon. Photographers call these times the golden hours.

In my experience, the sunsets in Winter tend to be more dramatic, but the light goes earlier in the day so this can sometimes be a challenge with timings.

In Summer, it's easier to capture. Especially those weddings held around Midsummer in June. Obviously, as long as it's not a wet one!

Photographers don't always get the chance to use golden light. If it's cloudy or too late in winter, with it going dark early, your chance to use golden light diminishes. Weddings are planned to the minor meticulous detail and often they overrun so it's not always possible to pull a couple out of their wedding breakfast just as the speeches are rounding up! 

As the golden light isn’t as harsh as the mid-day sunlight, it makes for much softer, cleaner portraits, with a warm and enlightening feel around the couple. This makes for some stunning photographs. 

I usually have completed the bride and groom portraits section of the day before the wedding breakfast, and have the shots “in the bag” at this point. I usually ask my couples if they wouldn’t mind doing some more portraits again at sunset if we get a visible “golden hour” as the light is so much better for photographing couples in.

Some of my favourite images have been captured in the golden hour. I always get a rush of excitement when we get an awesome sunset to work with!

Golden Light Wedding Photography

If you'd like to chat about your own upcoming wedding and you're looking for a wedding photographer who specialises in natural light, relaxed and reportage style photos then get in touch.

Email me matt@mattherrington.co.uk or text/call 07872 177736

Matt
Matt Herrington
North West Wedding Photographer

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 6 | Reflections

As a photographer, I'm a naturally creative person. I'm always looking for quirky backgrounds, angles and perspectives that will make my images stand out.

When looking through my archives for the 30 Days of Wedding Photography challenge, I noticed just how much I use reflection as a tool in my wedding photography.

I use lakes, puddles, mirrors, windows or even my phone screen positioned underneath the camera to create a reflection.

Adding another element into a photograph like this adds more depth and style to a moment of the day.

During the bridal preparation part of the day, reflections are a great place to start for one reason.

Often, the Bride and her Bridesmaids are fairly nervous and stressed in the build up to the ceremony, and don’t necessarily want a huge camera in front of their faces.

With reflections in mirrors and other surfaces, I can capture plenty of key wedding moments without ever pointing the camera in the same direction.

This is a massive creative win.

Some moments present themselves in reflections but most of the time I will add a reflection to a bride and groom portrait, when I have a little more time to think and curate my shot.

Reflections can be subtle or majorly obvious, but either way they add further interest to the images. They're usually the shots where people go "wow!".

Indoors, outdoors, rain or shine I love to reflect my images as much as possible, as I'm sure you'll agree the effect is stunning.

Natural Wedding Photography in North West 

I am a relaxed wedding photographer, specialising in natural portrait and reportage photography. I meet couples each Tuesday at locations across the North West to talk weddings and find out a little more about their plans.

If you'd like to chat through your wedding and your vision for your wedding photography, get in touch by emailing matt@mattherrington.co.uk or text/call 07872 177736

Matt
Matt Herrington
North West Wedding Photographer

30 Days of Wedding Photography | Day 4 | Bridesmaids

"It's not what we have in our life, but who we have in our lives that matters."

Bridesmaids!

I overheard someone once describe bridesmaids as human glitter balls that the bride has by her side, sparkling all day. How cool?

Being a bridesmaid is an important job. In a world where friendship knows no bounds thanks to the digital age, picking your bridesmaids is a huge task! You're there for every moment of planning, hen partying and the wedding day itself.

The squad you select share and revel in your day as much as you. They're as excited, as giddy and can't wait firstly for the hen party and then secondly for the wedding - especially the party!

Being a bridesmaid is a chance to come together and look sensational, as one strong team, bound by friendship, at the side of the bride for the day.

As a photographer, I hear some true revelations that have me in stitches and make me feel like I'm one of the girls whether I like it or not! Especially on the morning of the wedding when the fizz is flowing and the girls are giddy. Their energy, fun, quirks and private jokes are exciting to be around and there are always hilarious moments.

From getting ready in the morning, to guiding their bestie down the aisle, the toasts to their beauty, the bouquet tossing and then the crazy dancing - you can guarantee the bridesmaids will keep the smiles, laughter and moves going all night long.

So here's to all those beautiful bridesmaids I've had the honour of photographing. 

Wedding Photography | Natural and Relaxed

If you're looking for a wedding photographer who specialises in natural, relaxed and fun wedding photography, get in touch and let's have a chat about you and your wedding day.

I meet couples each Tuesday across locations in Lancashire where we natter over posh coffee and you get to decide whether I'm the best wedding photographer for your big day.

Arrange a get together by emailing me matt@mattherrington.co.uk or text/call 07872 177736

Matt
Matt Herrington
Wedding Photographer