documentary wedding photography

What real couples have to say...

So by now I’m sure everyone will have seen I made regional finals for photographer of the year in The Wedding Industry Awards, something I was immensely proud of and as such plastered all over my social media- sorry not sorry!

The North West is full to the brim of AMAZING photographers so to be named amongst some of these was incredible. As part of the judging process couples from the previous year are asked to leave feedback and overall score of their service (with an overall score of 69.4 out of 70 I was over the moon!) Last night I read through all the lovely comments left by my couples on what really was the best year of weddings!

From the bottom of my heart I want to say a huge thank you to each and every couple that chooses me to document their day and for each couple who took the time out of their busy days to vote for me- THANK YOU, you’re the best!

So without further ado here’s what some previous couples have to say.

heaton park wedding phtoography

“I took a while choosing a photographer as I knew exactly what I wanted; someone to capture the love and happiness on the day without needing to pose for any photos! I knew Olivia was the right person straight away when she responded so positively to my email and I felt her enthusiasm. The photos we received were exactly what we wanted; natural, fun, expressive, colourful, emotive and just full of love. There wasn't an image that didn't make me smile and/or cry and relive every perfect moment!” 

Mr & Mrs Bristowe

The Plough Inn Wedding Photography

“Olivia was absolutely amazing, she made us feel very at ease throughout the day and fitted in perfectly to our wedding. Olivia took some amazing natural photos which was exactly what we were looking for in a photography. I would recommend Olivia to anyone looking for a photographer.”

Mr & Mrs Mapp

carlton towers wedding photography

“Olivia was incredible from the day we met her! Our pre-wedding photo shoot was a beautiful day we will always treasure. Olivia took the time to get to know us, and teach us photography techniques that made our actual wedding day shoot fun and easy. Every single photo that Olivia took was flawless and she captured every element of our wedding. She went above and beyond to make sure we got exactly what we wanted, and was always available on the phone or by email in the lead up to our big day. 5*! “

Mr & Mrs Latchayya

Worsley court house wedding photography

“Olivia was amazing from the onset. We didn’t want traditional line up wedding photos, we wanted her to capture our theme and the enjoyment of our guests in a very informal way. Olivia delivered this perfectly! Our wedding was Christmas themed including a surprise real life reindeer, even this didn’t phase her. We had some specific shots we also wanted her to capture and being the ultimate professional she didn’t disappoint. At time we forgot she was there, but have the photos to prove it”

Mrs & Mrs Fletcher Wilde

The stables wedding photography

“Olivia was the most down-to-earth and relatable photographer!. We visited many wedding fayres and searched many social media accounts. Olivia visited us in our home, made us feel at ease chatting about herself, her cats and her career and discussed what we wanted from her on our big day. Olivia took on board what we wanted and advised what she thought would look/work well. It genuinely felt like we had a friend taking the photos, we laughed and shivered together in the cold December weather! “

Mr & Mrs Bennett

White hart inn wedding photography

“Olivia felt like one of our wedding guests rather than our photographer on our special day. She instantly put us both at ease and created a bond from our pre-wedding photo shoot. Our guests commented on how hard she worked during our wedding and her professional mannerism. We were overwhelmed with the quality of our photographs when we received them”

Mr & Mrs Tobias Reid

ramsbottom train station wedding photography

“We choose Olivia because of her unobtrusive style and friendly laid back personality. We didn't want super formal pictures but we did want to capture the atmosphere and spirit of the day which Olivia did perfectly. Olivia put us completely at ease and was a reassuring sight at all times, snapping her way through our day and our evening - we couldn't believe she managed to capture as many happy moments as she did. “

Mr & Mrs Lawton

low wood bay wedding photography

“I approached Olivia regarding our wedding photography after following her page for a number of years. I loved her documentary style and how she managed to capture all the individual points of our day. My husband and I felt anxious about having our photos taken but as soon as we met Olivia all nerves were gone. She made us and all of our guests feel at ease. Our photographs are absolutely amazing and there isn’t anything that I would change. Olivia’s true passion for her work really shows.”

Mr & Mrs Norman

Grains bar hotel wedding photography

“Olivia was discreet and charming. She captured our personalities as a couple and of the feel of the whole event. I couldn’t have wished for a better photographer. “

Mr & Mrs Whitworth-Foster

royal toby wedding photgraphy

“Olivia was perfect from start to finish. She was so helpful in the run up to our big day, providing plenty of ideas when we weren’t sure about what we wanted. She helped us to feel so comfortable in front of the camera and all of our guests commented on how amazing she was on the day. Our photos are absolutely beautiful, we couldn’t have asked for anything more and they were presented in a beautiful glass box full of dried petals! We would definitely recommend Olivia to future couples. “

Mr & Mrs Reid

barton grange wedding photography

“Olivia is a fantastic photographer she is so friendly and professional. She made us feel at ease. We have just received are wedding photos and we both couldn’t be happier with them. Anything I asked Olivia was no trouble for her I would recommend her to anyone”

Mr & Mrs Taylor

Hyde bank farm wedding photography

“Olivia was amazing through our whole wedding experience, from the pre wedding shoot and on the big day! She was so approachable, always quick to respond to any queries and super supportive on the big day, helping to calm my nerves! We will cherish our wedding photo's forever, Olivia is an incredible photographer, we would highly recommend her! “

Mr & Mrs Lee

Meols hall wedding photography

“We where so impressed with Olivia’s Photography Skills. She made us feel at ease and she was great with the guests. Our photos are perfect and help us to relive our day over and over again. We had a pre shoot and she made us feel comfortable and guided us through the whole thing from booking to receiving the photos. Our guests all commented on how they didn’t feel like they where constantly being disturbed for photos as all the photos where so natural! We recommend her to everyone. “

Mr & Mrs Makinson

Mitton Hall wedding photography

“Absolutely incredible! Recommended to everyone we know.. my sister has booked Olivia for her wedding next year. Such a perfect day & the memories of it are even more amazing by having such incredible & beautiful photos to treasure”

Mr & Mrs Green

Tremorna farm festival wedding photography

“Olivia captured our day perfectly! Her style fitted in with our festival wedding completely (she even brought along coloured smoke flares, which produced the most AMAZING photos). “

Mr & Mrs Cornell

Blackpool wedding photography

“We were worried about picking the right photographer, as neither myself nor my husband like being in front of a camera. This wasn't a problem working with Olivia. An engagement shoot was included with the package so we could get to know each other before the day. She was incredibly personable, friendly and put us at ease. On the day Olivia was amazing! She was great with our guests and her style of photography meant she almost blended into the background. Our final photos are beautiful! “

Mr & Mrs White

The old grammar school wedding photography

“After seeing her work at my brother’s wedding, I knew that Olivia had to photograph our big day too. Olivia has been brilliant from the beginning. Everyone commented on the day how brilliant she was, Olivia was never in anyone’s face and photographs didn’t seem laborious as they often can at weddings. The photos are absolutely stunning, we are thrilled! “

Mr & Mrs Watkins

Judes Inn hotel wedding photography

“We are over the moon with our photos that we have received from Olivia. She has completely blown us away with the finished product. We are extremely grateful to Olivia for capturing such special moments between our family and friends.”

Mr & Mrs Heritage

Park Hall hotel wedding photography

“Olivia was diligent in her work and constantly made me, my husband and guests feel comfortable on our big day. She listened to what we wanted and also suggested things that we may like that we hadn't thought about. The quality of her work is outstanding and we will be forever grateful for the special pictures we have to remember our special day. She always went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable including an engagement shoot so we all felt comfortable together on the day “

Mr & Mrs Clayton

broadoaks country house hotel wedding photography

“Olivia is phenomenal I can’t fathom the words to express how at ease she made me feel. Thank you so much! “

Mr & Mrs White

rochdale town hall wedding photography

“From the offset Olivia was friendly and totally understood the style of photography Joe and I wanted for our wedding. Throughout the process Olivia was efficient and professional. Her attention to detail was excellent and all of the little touches was just perfect. She perfectly captured our day and we can't thank her enough for it"

Mr & Mrs Woolmer-Brennan

If this post got you wondering what I can offer for you on your day…. wonder no more you can contact me here !

Stevie and Simon's wedding at Hyde Bank Farm

After their rainy pre wedding shoot I was keeping everything crossed for a fine weathered day for Simon and Stevie’s big day…. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Stevie and Simon were married at the beautiful Hyde Bank Farm near Stockport, a gorgeous exclusive use countryside venue dating back to 1655.

A snowy drive to meet Stevie and her bridesmaids at Magpie cottages for morning preparations and receiving a beautiful gift from Simon the girls spent the morning getting ready while the snow continued to fall with friends helping with hair and make up.

Surrounded by their closest family and friends in an intimate ceremony in the Ann Hyde Suite it’s the perfect venue for a rustic relaxed wedding.

A brief spout of blue skies were the perfect time for a few portraits quickly interrupted by the beast from the east making a very cold arrival. These guys were amazing and braved the sun, wind, rain and snow whilst cuddling up for their photos.

After settling in for the speeches it was time to head to the dance floor and pull out all the moves after cutting the cake beautifully made by Simon’s mum- what a day! Thank you so much to Simon and Stevie for choosing me to document their day and for braving every weather element that mother nature pulled out.

Wedding suppliers:

Venue: Hyde bank farm

Dress: Blush Boutique

Shoes: Charlotte Mills

Florist/ Venue dresser: Classy blooms

DJ: WDC entertainment

Videographer: Amy Louise

A huge thank you to Sarah for coming along and second shooting and capturing some of the moments below.

Best of 2018

2018 was bloody fabulous ! So many incredible weddings and couples who did their day their way!

Working in Lancashire and up and down the country heading down to Cornwall and up to Scotland I really did cover the lengths of the UK photographing weddings over the past 12 months. Over 50 weddings later and I’m itching for 2019 weddings to start so I can dive into more unique days.

From 3 day long festivals to intimate elopements no two weddings have been the same which is exactly why this year has been so amazing! To each and every couple who chose me to document their day THANK YOU! I’ve absolutely loved documenting every laugh, tear, hug and epic dance off.

I’ve worked alongside some insanely talented photographers this year and to all of you who have second shot for myself or invited me to shoot alongside you I cannot thank you enough, I’ve had an absolute blast!

2019 is shaping up to equally epic with weddings in Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales and even Sorrento…. BRING IT ON !

Here’s a tiny snippet of what I got up to in 2018- enjoy!

Happy New Year !

Olivia x

Emily and Ed's colourful wedding at The Old Grammar School Middleton

The Old Grammar School in Middleton is such a hidden gem tucked away just out of the centre of Middleton. Standing over 600 years old its full of character and charm whilst being super close to Manchester city centre. As a Lancashire wedding photographer I love having the opportunity to explore venues for the first time.

I first met Emily when I photographed her brother and sister in laws wedding 2 years ago and was absolutely thrilled when she got in touch to see if I was available to shoot her big day. 

The day started off nice and relaxed with the girls getting ready together at Emily's mums home surrounded by bridesmaids, with flower girls Poppy and Ada excitedly waiting upstairs jumping on the bed. I was super excited to see Emily’s “light up” shoes and colourful bouquet that she had previously told me about and it did not disappoint! If you want to inject some colour and fun into your flowers then take note because this is how to do it!

After a drive in the appropriately named “Emily” wedding car Ed and Emily were married in a beautiful service at St Marie’s church in Bury surrounded by their closest family and friends.

A quick showering of rainbow confetti and time for some portraits of the pair outside of the church and it was time to head over to The Old Grammar School. The traditional stone and oak building looked incredible filled full of rainbow flowers and fairy lights – the brighter the better!

After an afternoon spent in the sunshine with family and friends Ed and Emily settled down for a BBQ and speeches before kicking off the dance floor to sound of The Midnight cats. Thanks so much for having me at your big day Emily and Ed it was beautiful !

Here’s a little preview of what the day looked like

Wedding Suppliers:

Venue: The Old Grammar School

Make up: Vicki Sillett

Hair: Alicia Davies

Flowers: Bealey’s florist

Cake: Julia’s icing on the cake

Band: The Midnight Cats

Carwen and Matt's family pre wedding shoot at Llangollen

Today I'm heading to the beautiful Sweeney Hall in Oswestry for Carwen and Matt's wedding. Coming from the North west and previously living in Wales for 3 years I love any opportunity to head back and explore the many beautiful towns, cities and villages Wales has to offer and last week was no different. I headed to the ridiculously stunning town of Llangollen situated in North East Wales to meet with Matt, Carwen and children Cai, Bella and Oscar. 

Right on the edge of the Berwyn mountains situated on the River Dee Llangollen was full of idyllic spots for photos. Bright and early on Saturday morning after meeting outside the Corn Mill, where Matt and Carwen had their first date, we headed down beside the river to get some family photos and images of the two of them together in preparation for their wedding. Prior to the shoot Carwen had told me she was nervous but she didn't need to be as the whole family were naturals and I absolutely loved having the opportunity to spend the morning with them all. 

Following a morning walking along the river taking photos we headed to a local cafe to chat all things weddings, I absolutely loved hearing all about their upcoming wedding. And just as we did the typical British weather arrived and the rain came down!

Here's a small snippet of what we got up to...

Pre wedding shoots are not only a fab opportunity for you to get a selection of photos together other than the selfies on your phone its a brilliant opportunity for us to meet. I love meeting couples before the wedding and often couples agree experiencing having their photo taken before the wedding puts their mind at ease on the day. If you would like to book in for a meeting or couples shoot drop me a message :) 

 

Olivia x  

Sam and Pranesh's autumnal pre wedding shoot at Carlton Towers

Next week I will be heading back to the incredibly beautiful and grand Carlton Towers in Yorkshire to document Sam and Pranesh's big day. Back in the autumn I headed up crossing the Lancashire to Yorkshire border to meet the pair for a pre wedding shoot. We had a relaxed walk round the venue and discussed all things weddings and wedding plans. 

The building was covered in the most amazing red ivy and we had the whole place to ourselves to explore! A beautiful mix of large state rooms dressed in gold and ornate fireplaces and intimate cosy rooms perfect to snuggle on the sofa in and surrounded by 250 acres of estate parkland there was plenty to explore. 

We had such a lovely morning full of love and laughter and it made me so so excited for their big day! After a quick tour of the venue we started in the state rooms and worked our way through the house and into the gardens for some pictures.

Pre wedding shoots are not only a great opportunity to get some photos of you as a couple but they are a fab opportunity to chat all about your big day, not to mention understand a little bit about how I work and what you’ll be doing on your wedding. Aside from this I LOVE shooting couples, if you’d like some photos of you and your partner (engaged or not) pop me a message and see what I can do for you!

Michaela & Ken's Chester Zoo pre wedding shoot

Last month on a very sunny Saturday I headed to Chester Zoo (yay!) to meet up with Michaela, Ken and daughters Annabelle & Taliah to chat all about their wedding plans, stroll around the zoo and sneak in a few pictures ahead of their wedding day. 

I am so excited for this one and know its going to be an absolutely amazing wedding full of fun, love and incredible animals. 

Here's a little look at what we got up to when we met. 

 

 

Wedding Photography Workshop at Owen House Wedding Barn

Last week I was lucky enough to bag myself a place on Jonny Draper's latest workshop at Owen House Wedding Barn in Cheshire. All I can say is what a venue, what a photographer, what a day!

Being self employed can be a bit lonely at times so I absolutely love having the opportunity to meet and catch up with other photographers from not only the North West but around the country whilst taking the time to learn new skills and gain inspiration. 

I feel so lucky to be able to say this is my second course with Jonny (an immense achievement as his courses seem to sell out in under 30 minutes every time!) and just like the previous course this one did not disappoint. Teamed with a whole host of incredible suppliers, the venue and models looked AMAZING! 

We spent the morning shooting in the barn with models Sarah, Suzy and Ollie creating beautiful couples shots and bridal portraits against the hay bales and beautiful exterior. 

Following this we stopped for pizza (my favourite) created by Smith Street Kitchen (a horse box converted into pizza oven). With each pizza cooked in around 90 seconds, and tasting unreal, these guys are a definite must for anyone looking for a relaxed, alternative/ fun option for catering their wedding. 

In the afternoon after a quick dress change we headed round the back to play with smoke bombs, some inquisitive cows and beautiful country views. I even had a chance to pull out my prisms to create some beautiful lighting effects. 

Thank you so much to Jonny and the team who helped put together this INCREDIBLE day! 

Here's a few pictures from the day.

 

Special thanks go out to 

Venue: Owen House Wedding Barn

Workshop host: Jonny Draper

Dress: Love Bridal Boutique

Suit: Whitfield & Ward

Bouquet: Red Floral

Catering: Smith Street Kitchen

Model: Sarah Rowlands

Couple & Light up letters: Ollie and Suzy from The word is love

Olivia x