Ever had a set of photographs back and you’re not completely happy with them? Imagine if these were your wedding photographs?!

I’ve been there, don’t get me wrong I love my wedding photographs, but I didn’t experience that wow factor I was looking for. A photography friend of mine, Emma (Purple Rose Photography), and her husband Grant had a similar experience, they just weren’t ‘wowed’ by their wedding photographs from 5 years ago. With both Emma and myself being wedding photographers, we decided to do something about it; 

We contacted a stunning wedding venue in Yorkshire, an amazingly talented pair of florists, a fabulous hair salon and make up artist, and Emma wore her same wedding dress. 

Emma and Grant are based in Milton Keynes, but as we have both taken part in wedding photography training days in York, they decided to come up to York for the photoshoots. I photographed Emma and Grant at the gorgeous Hazlewood Castle just outside York on a glorious sunny summers day in July, with temperatures souring into the 20Cs. Emma’s bouquet was dropped off in the morning by the fabulous ladies at iBloom florists, had her hair done up by the very talented Rach at Westgate Hair Lounge in York, and her masterpiece make up done by Jade of The Make Up Works, York (links to these suppliers are at the end). 

The staff at Hazlewood Castle are always so accommodating, and the castle itself is a wedding photographer’s dream with so many amazing spaces indoors and outdoors for wedding photograph opportunities with so many nooks and crannies that you wouldn’t necessarily notice unless you knew they were there. We started outdoors while the weather was on our side (let’s face it who knows when it will change), with some flower, dress and ring detail shots, and some romantic couple poses in front of one of the few grand entrances to the castle, and a walk down a country lane for some more natural shots, walking hand in hand. 

We then went inside to take advantage of the stunning interior designs of the castle, with distinctive chequered tiled flooring, an impressive fireplace and tall windows letting natural light spill in for a few more photographs before heading back out for golden hour, then home.

We had planned to go into York that evening to do some nighttime wedding photography, however those plans changed when we saw the gorgeous golden colours in the sky just as the sun was setting, so we jumped back in the car and drove to a nearby field and took advantage of the sunset. Those who have seen my instagram feed know how much I LOVE sunsets and golden hour!

All in all a fantastic day and we captured some stunning photographs which Emma and Grant are over the moon with! See some of our favourites below;