Norton House Hotel wedding reception and St Mary’s ceremony

With the Norton House Hotel wedding fair on this weekend I thought I’d post some pictures from Eleanor and Malcolm’s beautiful summer wedding at the venue in Ingliston near Edinburgh. The wedding has brought to mind a theme that I wanted to write about: the often heard commandment that all wedding photographers dread to hear…. “no photos during the ceremony”!

Thoughts on photography during the church service

I had just arrived at the church and was contemplating the rare summer scene before me – the beautiful ancient church, the wonderful shafts of light illuminating the aisle, the handsome guests…. you get the idea, when the Minister approached. The ceremony at St Mary’s Dalmahoy was as wonderful as I had expected but unfortunately I had been asked to remain at the back and not take pictures during the service. It is always a great shame when this happens and is usually the result of previous photographers causing a distraction during the quiet parts of the service. They move around too much or use a loud motordrive and a flash. After a couple of bad experiences like that it’s easy to understand why a minister might lay down a blanket ban.

Discuss it with the Minister during the planning stages

However, not all photographers are the same and I have had many comments from Ministers over the years on how discrete I have been and how they didn’t even notice me! I never use flash, my camera shutter is almost silent and I never move around during the quiet parts of the ceremony.

Being at the front of the church is not necessarily the best position but if there is enough space in the church, it’s well worth keeping the option open and speaking to your Minister about it ahead of time. This will give you the chance to reassure them of my sensitivity and discretion and hopefully persuade them to make an exception for you!

It will be well worth it because the images I can capture during the ceremony will often be the ones that bring back all the emotion of the day for the rest of your life. The exchanged glances, the shared laughter, the unexpected tears – they are pictures I can take without disturbing the moment or drawing any of the guests’ attention from you.

All’s well for Eleanor and Malcolm

Having said all that I wouldn’t want you to think that your wedding photos will be ruined if your Minister won’t relent. There will be plenty of other opportunities for authentic emotive photography but if there are arbitrary restriction it’s good to know beforehand and be able to discuss the situation with your Minister.

For Eleanor and Malcolm I was able to capture some wonderful moments in the church as Eleanor arrived and Malcolm looked back up the aisle to watch her walking towards him. Also as they signed the register.

Look through the photos below – I hope you like them!

KIND WORDS FROM ELEANOR & MALCOLM

The pictures are absolutely amazing and Mal and I are both so happy with them! We love the mix of formal pictures and pictures capturing all the fun of the day. Thank you so much!

Eleanor and MalcolmNorton House Hotel10 January 2017

PICTURES FROM ELEANOR & MALCOM’S NORTON HOUSE HOTEL WEDDING

St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding

If you are thinking of booking me for your NORTON HOUSE HOTEL wedding or anywhere else for that matter, please get in touch to chat through your plans and see if I have your date free.

St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding
St Marys Dalmahoy wedding Norton House Hotel wedding

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DOCUMENTARY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY?

It’s all about authentic storytelling…… genuine emotive photography not standing and posing all day.

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