Emerson Photography Blog

Memories of a Sunny, Sunflowery, Barnard Castle Wedding

2016-04-27T11:48:00.000+00:00

As I sit here, watching the hailstones gradually turning to floaty snow, then finally to freezing rain, I can't help remembering a beautiful, sunny wedding from last Summer.

Held in the picturesque village of Romaldkirk, not far from Barnard Castle, Paul and Ali had chosen sunflowers to decorate the kirk, their buttonholes, their venue and even their hair. Fair to say there was a theme going on... That lovely, sun-filled, colourful day couldn't be further from the view from my window right now! I needed cheering up, so I looked out the wedding photographs and if you'd like a wee boost too, feel free to scroll down and see the pictures. Sunshine eh? Remember that?!

The village was Ali's childhood home and Ali got herself and her bridesmaids ready at the Rose and Crown Hotel. The couple decided to host the reception at their own, amazing house in Burdon Village. It's a good reminder that it really doesn't matter where you get married if it means something to you. And also that it's the people that make the day, not the venue. I've photographed weddings all over the UK (and beyond), some of them in pretty weird and wonderful places. The best ones always, always have the best people. I've shot weddings in jaw-dropping venues, dripping with history and antiquity, only to despair as all the guests proceed to sit down and stare at the walls.

All that said, a wee bit of sunshine always helps :-)

To see more wedding photography from around Sunderland, Durham and Newcastle, do take a second to visit my website, or look at some other blog posts, thank you!

Wedding Speeches and Documentary Photography

2015-03-07T16:23:00.001+00:00

Or, why reportage photography is easy during speeches.

Over the course of photographing literally hundreds of weddings here in the north east, it's fair to say I've heard an amazing variety of speeches. From the mundane to the spectacular, the humdrum to the totally unexpected, they have all had one thing in common. It doesn't really matter too much what is being said, almost everyone in the room will be giving the speaker their undivided attention.

Which makes my job as a documentary photographer that bit easier. It struck me as I was reviewing some of my images from a recent wedding at The Hotel du Vin in Harrogate ( I was second shooting for my good friend Mandy Charlton ) that it's one of the few times in a wedding day that everyone is sitting still, laughing and smiling and paying absolutely no attention to the camera. Obviously, I strive to be almost invisible all day - I hope people think I'm one of the guests - but the wedding speeches are a unique opportunity and I always make full use of it.

This goes as much for the guests as for the top table. Anyone can stand at the back of the room with a long lens and come away with a decent set of photos of the top table but it does take a bit more experience to anticipate where to stand for the guests' reactions to the speeches. Who is important to the bride and groom? Who has a characterful face? Who is sitting in a nice shaft of window light? Which table is filled with people likely to find everything hilarious (there's always at least one table like this!)?
Almost all the following images have been shot at venues in the north east and include some of my favourites; Hallgarth Hall Hotel, Radison Blu in Durham, Langley Castle near Hexham, The South Causey Inn and Whitworth Hall to name but a few. But a few are from further afield including a notable wedding on Skye and a lovely wedding at Storrs Hall, Windermere.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a blog wholly dedicated to wedding day speeches before - it's certainly the first time I've put one together. I'll try and say something about the images as I post them - the thinking behind the composition and the reasons for taking the shot but I'll also try not to bore the pants off you :-)

Above and below are photos from Langley Castle, Hexham. You'll notice I move around a fair bit to give different viewpoints. But I can guarantee no-one noticed me... I'm using a standard lens rather than a telephoto monster. This keeps me unobtrusive and allows for these candid shots.

Again, getting in close with a wide lens is often the best approach. It does require a degree of subtlety but also means you don't have lots of other people in the way of the shot, as you would with a long lens. When I say subtlety, I probably mean ballsiness.

I did say, "almost everyone" would be listening... One from a Jesmond wedding in Newcastle.

It's all about timing - catching those fleeting expressions and lingering looks...

It's not all about laughter and embarrassing the groom. The speeches are an opportunity for highly emotionally charged words dealing with love and loss.

Keeping your reflection out of the mirrors is a skill all by itself!

Strong backlight and candles on the table allow for a good variety of different lighting decisions. In the image above, I allowed the window light to almost silhouette the subjects - the light from the candles is just enough to show some detail in their faces.

Once again, I'm creeping around with a smallish camera and lens combo and keeping mobile to give a good selection of images. It's important to capture all the sides of the story, including the guests.

"He did NOT just say that!" Yes. Yes, he did.

Very, very strong backlight here. I used exposure compensation here but the manual setting on the camera would have worked just as well. Left to its own devices, the camera would have completely silhouetted this wedding guest.

It was emotional!

Compositionally, I'm always looking for bookends. Objects or people to hold the image together. In the photo above, the bottles and glasses on the right, and the painting on the left provide this service. It's not something I actively think about - without getting all arty about it, it's an intuitive thing these days.

So, there we have it. A whole blog post dedicated solely to documentary photographs of wedding speeches at venues in the north east. If you'd like to see more of my work, or have a chat about a documentary wedding photographer for your day, please feel free to click through to my website - north east documentary wedding photographer and go to the contact page.

A Week with Dogs and Kids in Aberdeen

2014-10-05T13:18:00.001+00:00

A week in Aberdeen with Finlay and dogs various...

Based as we are in north east England, it's a fairly easy drive either north or south to visit friends and relatives. What's more, the scenery tends to get better the further we go in any direction. This last week saw us tootling up the road to Aberdeen to visit Finlay's grandparents. We also stopped off near Edinburgh on the way home to visit my Dad. All of the above have dogs too, so plenty opportunities to practise kids' / dog photography.

It's many years since I grew up in Aberdeen, where much of my time was spent cycling and walking in Royal Deeside. I had honestly forgotten how jaw-droppingly, achingly beautiful the local countryside could look with a splash of sunshine on the Autumn colours. Needless to say, I hadn't taken so much as a tripod, let alone the filter kit, so landscapes are sadly lacking in the following set of photos. Family stuff also tends not to mix well with landscape photography but I will be back!

Anyway, as mentioned above, there were plenty other subjects worthy of attention from the camera so as always, it came everywhere. Having a two year old in need of constant entertainment means you do tend to get out and about more than you might otherwise. We visited the beach, various parks, went on long dog walks, had lots of sessions at the swings and spent a fair bit of time at tearooms and even a petting zoo.

All these places and situations are lots of fun in themselves but they're also photo opportunities in my mind at least. Working with a really minimal kit (one camera, one lens, one flashgun) is obviously a bit limiting but it's the only practical way to work when out on toddler-focussed expeditions. All these photos were taken using a D600 and 35mm lens - some involved a spot of flash from my venerable SB-800.

Huge discount on your North East Winter Wedding

2014-09-18T12:57:00.000+00:00

25% Discount on North East Winter Weddings!

If you're looking to book a top end, documentary wedding photographer for your wedding in the very near future, do take a look at Emerson Photography. Any weddings booked in for dates between now and April 2015 can enjoy a £300 reduction (over 25%!) on an eight hour package with all the beautifully finished photographs on a disc. Incredibly simple, incredibly priced and you'll be working with a friendly, professional photographer who has been shooting weddings in the north east for almost ten years!

This offer is limited to the north east region of England, including Durham, Newcastle, Darlington, Middlesbrough and Northumberland. Total price after discount will be just £880, which includes eight hours coverage (enough for a full day wedding) and all the full size images on disc, ready to print, copy and share. Lots of weekday dates still available and some weekends too.

It's definitely that time of the year again - waking in the morning to atmospheric mistiness and fabulous colours just threatening to break out in the trees... I do love Winter weddings in the north east - the very thought conjures up images of fur stoles and jackets, log fires, seasonal bouquets, warm inviting venues, ivy and berries, maybe even a touch of decorative snow!
Whatever the weather on your wedding day, it's still one of the most memorable days of your life and capturing it in a friendly, candid fashion is what I do best. Enough waffle - here's a fairly random selection of wintery wedding images to get you in the mood. All taken in the north east, bar one Scottish jaunt.
To hear more about this frankly, huge discount, please feel free to call Jamie on 07866127732 or email me at info@emersonphotography.co.uk You can also get in touch through my wedding photography website or start by reading about what my clients have to say.

Candles really help add atmosphere to a winter wedding!

Warm, inviting colours at a north east wedding

Note the fur stole - no need to freeze!

Again, even little jackets keep you that much warmer!

Raining / sleeting outside? Have your ceremony in a huge greenhouse - you even get flowers!

Hailstones again - we'll make this swift!

Even the dogs get a seasonal buttonhole...

Evergreens and berries make a beautiful bouquet at this time of year.

Rockliffe Hall, Darlington on a winter's evening

Less light often means more drama!

Seasonal sweet stuff for your guests always goes down well!

There's always a splash of colour if you look in the right place.

If we're lucky, we'll get some beautiful, low, winter sunshine.

Once it gets too cold, come inside, warm up and use the last of the winter sunshine.

Getting every last ounce of light from the watery winter sunshine...

Sparklers add a bit of welcome light and love on a dark winter's evening!

A Career in Photography

2014-07-29T23:29:00.000+00:00

... Is it a good idea to plan a career as a photographer, or more specifically as a wedding photographer?

Newcastle wedding photographer in Tuscany!

This question has been running round my head for a few days. One of my wife's friends is a career adviser. I met him once in an Edinburgh pub and must have waxed lyrical about the ups and downs of being a full time professional photographer as he remembered me two years later and got in touch to ask what he should be telling his students about training as a photographer. He tells me that there are increasing numbers of kids drawn to the idea of pursuing a photography career - no great surprise - if you keep half an eye on social media or follow any wedding blogs, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the job is SUPER EXCITING AWESOME UNICORNS RAINBOWS!!!!!1!!!11!!

And actually, it mostly is, once you've served your time; put in the hard work, developed your site and your blog, built up a solid client base, made your mistakes and learnt from them, carried on regardless, learning from the best and taking every opportunity to learn some more - I started with 'A' levels, went on to a degree course and continued with workshops and carrying bags for some of the best in the business - that was almost a decade ago now and I'm still learning.

Anyway, when the email from my career adviser friend pinged into my inbox, it had been a long day - I was tired after a very long drive and I bashed out this response in about ten minutes. I may have been in a slightly jaded frame of mind but would be interested to read any comments from my photographer friends ( or anyone else! ).

"Hi Chris and please excuse my tardiness in replying - we have been enjoying a break at my parents' house on Skye.

I do remember most of that conversation, despite having had a few ales... I fear I can only really talk about wedding photography with any degree of accuracy and these days, there really aren't any bars to entrance into the profession. Were I to start again, I might consider an HND rather than a degree (shorter and more practical). Most of the photographers local to me just picked up a camera and got on with it, for better or for worse! I would most definitely consider a joint honours with some business admin content - it's about a 90% business to 10% taking photos ratio.

The advice I was given was to find a very specialist niche and become the go to person for that specialism. I suspect this still rings true and I suspect the more boring the niche, the more work is available. Wedding photography is seen as a 'soft' option sadly, as is portraiture. That is, anyone can do it but not that many stick with it long enough to do it well. For those who do, it really is a daily battle to stay under the noses of the target market - the competition are all doing exactly the same so taking time off from self-promotion (yuck!) is just not an option. My specialism (other than weddings) was wind farm visual impact assessment photography but even this curious corner of the photography world is now over-run with those willing to work for expenses. It's now dog photography ( www.hairydogphotography.co.uk ) which runs as a sideline to the wedding business but since starting that three years ago, at least four other clone businesses have sprung up within a 20 mile radius.

So, business skills, excellent social media skills, a willingness to adapt and where necessary, do the boring work and being a bit of a character are all helpful. Being a good photographer helps but is genuinely less important.

All other areas of photography are seeing a similar decline - there are very, very few press photographers on the payroll as the major papers lay off staff and encourage the public to send in i-Phone photos. There is most certainly still a demand for high quality imagery but numerous stock libraries are happy to sell contributors' images for a few dollars, whilst new photographers are often willing to work for free (in all disciplines) in order to build a portfolio. Add to this the willingness of major brands to just pinch the photos they like from the internet and it all looks a bit bleak!

Crumbs, sorry, how depressing! I suppose I would be very unwilling to suggest photography as a career, unless it was a very specialised skillset or a pre-defined career path, such as forensic photography. It is still very possible to make a good living from photography but more than ever, it's not a career for those looking for wealth or glamour!

Must run as the wee fellow needs put to bed - hope that isn't all too depressing for words and at the end of the day, it's still a fantastic, rewarding job.

Jamie."

Since writing this email, I can't help feeling that it was perhaps a little negative. Despite the slow times, the panicky times when the enquiries dry up, the months when bills are paid late, it's all worth it for the joy of sharing a couples' unique day - working so hard to produce the best possible set of photographs. Pouring them into the computer and polishing them over the next few weeks - there are few better feelings in the world than looking at a set of wedding images which you just know the couple will love. Not to mention their family and friends, for decades to come.

Do take two minutes to have a look through Emerson Photography's portfolio of north east wedding photography :-)

A change from Newcastle Wedding Photography.

2014-07-29T13:12:00.002+00:00

For Emerson Photography - a week visiting parents on the Isle of Skye - lovely!

Summer holidays are usually off the menu for wedding photographers but this year our little family managed to squeeze in a week on Skye, staying with my parents in Struan, where they run three cosy, self catering cottages above Loch Beag, bang in the middle of the island.

I've mentioned the importance of keeping fresh with photography skills on this blog before. It's easy for wedding photographers to get in a rut, especially after a full season of busy north east weddings and portraiture sessions. I see it every day on social media - photographers taking the same photos at the same venues, too busy to try a new angle. Too worn down to attempt a fresh approach. "If it's working, don't fix it" is all too often the mantra...

This is precisely why it's absolutely essential to be a photographer and artist first and foremost and a wedding / portrait / kids / dog photographer second. Getting out into a beautiful and fascinating landscape is an easy way to blow away the cobwebs, clear out the photographic routines, try heading out with just one prime lens... Whatever floats your boat! Lots of us rarely spend the same amount of time on our own family's photographs that we do on our clients' photos, so that's another great starting point for experimentation.

Trying new genres of photography, be it landscape, street, strobist or portraiture can only bring solid learning to your wedding photography work. It's something I've always done ( I was a photographer decades before I set up as a professional wedding photographer ) and it's stood me in good stead. I still love my cameras, my work and my hobby and this is bound to show in the work produced - every day really is a learning experience, even after all these years in business...

Mum has a new Siamese cat! He's still a kitten but very leggy! Normally, I just photograph dogs in the north east, so welcomed the opportunity to try a bit of feline photography!

That's our wee lad on the left with his cousins, enjoying a (very swift) sit down on the lawn of The Wee Tea Room and Photographic Gallery - well worth a visit for the cakes alone. Mmm...

This one ( above ) is taken from just above my parents' self catering cottages in Bracadale, Struan and shows Loch Beag and the slipway.

The landscape above, depicting The Cuillin Mountains taken near Sligichan, was actually the only trip I took purely for landscape work, complete with neutral density ( ND ) grads, polariser, tripod etc. All the rest were just taken whilst walking around with the family, or on days out.

Above is the wonderful beach right in front of Glen Brittle campsite, which has to be up there in the top ten best beach campsites in the UK. Also, the beach is perfect for toddlers as it is very long, the water is very shallow and it's easy to keep an eye on them! And yes, that's the original Hairy Dog Kasper :-)

The next two photos ( below ) use a technique called narrow flash, which involves direct, unmodified on camera flash, with the head of the unit zoomed in to give a 'spotlight' effect. I hadn't used it for years but given the brightness of the sun, it seemed like a good time to try it out again. Very glad I did!

Very, very early in the morning ^^^^ - a quick landscape back on the mainland on the way home. The two below were taken using my converted Nikon D70 infrared camera - I spent years shooting, processing and printing infrared film at home but the digital IR camera is just much easier to use...

And that was our trip to Skye - I don't doubt we'll be back soon - miss it again already! If you're looking for an extraordinary documentary wedding photographer to make you the most beautiful photos at your wedding, please don't hesitate to get in touch through my site - documentary wedding photographer newcastle or just give me a call on 07866127732.

Google+ Test

2014-07-14T20:43:00.000+00:00

Hoping against hope this will auto-import into Google+
Delete after reading ;-p

Marsden Grotto Wedding - Rave in a Cave!

2014-07-09T15:37:00.000+00:00

north east wedding photographer Emerson Photography's blog Please click here to view more photos taken at beautiful north east weddings.

Well, I say rave but this north east wedding was a very civilised and chilled out affair.

Having walked the dog at Marsden Grotto many times and enjoyed a refreshing pint at the beach bar, I was genuinely delighted to be asked to shoot Ian and Vicky's low key wedding reception. As a wedding photographer, it's always brilliant to try a new venue in the north east or beyond and especially one as unique as the Grotto. Our lovely couple had already tied the knot earlier in the day - as always, flexibility is my middle name and I was happy, as always to tailor a timescale to suit!

The grotto itself is at the bottom of a huge cliff and there are a few sea stacks just offshore. It's the perfect venue for a reception, or any other party come to that. Is it raining? No problem, use the surprisingly bright and airy bar built into the cliff face. Is it just too hot? Then retreat into the caves further into the cliff - lovely and cool. And for all the other times, your guests can just go wild and have a paddle in the sea. The history of the place is fascinating - do head over to Wiki if you get a moment... Linky.

On the day, the weather was pretty dull but the vibrancy of the couple and their guests more than made up for that. A good number of children livened everything up nicely and gave me something to point the camera at when the small wedding party were static. On that note, I really, really enjoy very compact weddings. Huge weddings supply endless photo opportunities but very cosy ones do force me to slow down a bit and have an end goal for each press of the shutter.

Anyway, I'll stop before I rattle on any more - here are the photos of the north east beach wedding at Marsden Grotto...

So, just a lovely, short cover wedding with some great characters and all round brilliant people. If you're on the lookout for a fabulous and very experienced north east documentary wedding photographer for your big day, do head over to the main website or feel free to call me on 07866127732. As mentioned above, I'm always happy to discuss short cover, especially on weekdays and through the Winter. And I'll be especially excited if you get married in a cave :-)

Whitworth Hall Hotel - A Fantastic, Summer, North East Wedding

2014-07-08T12:04:00.000+00:00

Emerson Photography at Whitworth Hall

Over the last eight years, I've only been lucky enough to end up photographing a Whitworth Hall wedding a handful of times. As north east wedding venues go, it's hard to beat. Some absolutely beautiful decor and furnishings inside, a brilliant outside area for guests if the weather is good (it was for this wedding!) and the icing on the cake is the beautifully kept sunken garden, complete with water wheel, pagoda and tropical plants.

Catherine and David had a really touching, traditional church service with some genuinely heartfelt readings. The ceremony had all the right ingredients - plenty laughter, a few tears and a stunning interior - the latter is always helpful but the first two are essential!

Then after a bit of champagne, our couple were swept off to Whitworth Hall Hotel near Spennymoor, Durham. I was absolutely determined to honour Catherine's wishes and get a photo of the pair of them in front of some deer (easier than it sounds as Whitworth has a large deer park surrounding it!).

After the speeches (there were a few and again, all the right ingredients were present in abundance) the guests sat down and happily started the celebrations. As mentioned earlier, the weather was just brilliant, so the guests were turfed outside straight after the meal, where they enjoyed a few drinks in the sunshine, in between a few choice formal photographs. Whilst I am primarily a reportage wedding photographer, I'm also not a snob about it and will happily set up and light some beautiful formals - often very important to the older generation. Same goes for all the little details - if you've made an effort to produce them, of course I'll photograph them.

But I digress. The guests had a blast with the caricaturist, whose business card I sadly, failed to get a hold of, and I sneaked off with our couple to get some photos in the beautiful sunken pleasure gardens.

And the day meandered pleasantly onward in a relaxed, sunny fashion until the first dance was over and the dance floor started to fill. Lovely day with lovely people!

Dogs at weddings. Love it.

This ray of light cutting through the darkness came in handy later too, when Catherine walked down the aisle.

Wedding reflections!

Detail photography at a Whitworth Hall Wedding.

That joke wasn't risque at all then...

The pagoda at Whitworth Hall's sunken pleasure gardens. They are just beautiful.

Deer shot at Whitworth. Nailed it!

If you're looking for a very experienced photographer to take photos like these at your wedding in the north east or beyond, please do visit the website - North east reportage wedding photography or feel free to get in touch - contact documentary wedding photographer north east.

Mini-Sessions are GO!

2014-04-12T11:44:00.001+00:00

I do love weddings. It's a genuine rush, a thrill, waiting to go into action on the morning of a wedding. I've been at it for nigh on 10 years and the feeling has never faded. It's like walking into the first day at a new job, or standing over your mountain bike or skis at the top of an exposed black run. The adrenaline kicks in and only the fact that you've done this hundreds of times before calms the nerves and stops shaky hands!

And this is also why I really, really enjoy making family portraits - the experience is almost the polar opposite of shooting a wedding. I can turn up and spend time with a happy family with absolutely no pressure. It's still exhilarating but in a very fun way. Whilst great wedding photos are sometimes forged in the heat of the moment, forced to the surface like furious spouts of beautiful lava ( I know, sorry), portrait sessions allow a completely different way of working - more meandering river than pyroclastic flow . This is obviously a completely over the top way to describe the different working methods but it's true in my mind :-)

Anyway, the more I move into family and childrens' portraiture, the more I find my little niche. A good friend of mine and all round brilliant photographer, Mandy Charlton, recently looked over some of my work and declared, "You photograph children the same way you photograph dogs!" (She meant it in a good way - I also have a specialist dog photography business). And she was quite right - I do! Children love to run around, jump off stuff and generally let off steam. So whilst I always get some heartfelt and reasonably static portraits, I also get plenty of photos of children being, well, children - being themselves.

To keep the outdoor family portraits ticking over, I recently started offering mini-sessions - these are basically 20 minute portrait sittings (runnings and jumpings really!) in the great outdoors. I'm able to offer them at half my usual price because everyone comes to me, rather than me rushing all over the north east with bags full of photography gear. Here's a link to my north east outdoor portrait info page. It has all the dates of the upcoming mini-session days. Big people are positively encouraged to step up for a few photos too - for me, family photographs in beautiful locations are always better than very staged studio shots. Just far more relaxed and happy :-)

Do feel free to get in touch through my website or just drop me an email at info@emersonphotography.co.uk or just call me on 07866127732.

Emerson Photography reviews

And... I'm back in the room.

2014-01-17T18:35:00.000+00:00

Never too late to say happy new year.

So, a heartfelt, "Happy new year" to all and all the very best to you. January always sees a spate of wedding photography blogs. They are usually a collection of images from the past year - a round-up of favourite photographs. It's a great idea. Many photographers are pretty quiet at this time of year. Weddings and portraits are thin on the ground and lots of us are procrastinating about the looming self assessment deadline on the 31st of January (obviously, myself included). I've done this myself a few times but this year has seen hardly any weddings so I have very little to show off!

As I may have mentioned ( a bazillion times ) our son, Finlay William Emerson was born in November, 2012. In anticipation of this, I began to wind everything in a little. The Google ads stopped, the Facebook page had tumbleweed blowing around, I stopped blogging and my SEO campaign ( such as it was ) ground to a standstill. I have had a great year getting to know my son. It hasn't been easy but it has been, in turns, humbling, joyous, frustrating and heart-wrenching.

As desired, the bookings and enquiries dried up and Emerson Photography had a hiatus. Now begins the somewhat daunting task of kickstarting a semi-dormant business. I didn't stop altogether though, working at some beautiful weddings from Darlington, through Durham, the Lake District and even on the Isle of Skye. Towards the end of the year, I introduced "mini-sessions" to my portfolio - 20 minute family / kids portrait sessions. These have gone down a storm and as soon as all this mud disappears, they'll be firmly back on the menu. The north east dog photography revolution has been incredibly busy this last year too.

Deciding to upgrade all my cameras and lenses in a year with very little work might seem to be a very bad idea. It probably was but I did it anyway! And not a moment too soon - going to full frame Nikon cameras has been a revelation. Having the ability to shoot in semi-darkness without a flashgun brighter than the sun means I can finally work in the way I've always wanted to. As I've mentioned before, I do still use flash but for effect, rather than through necessity.

The upshot of all this is that I hope you'll see a fair bit more of Emerson Photography over the coming months - I've never had a forceful marketing strategy and that won't change but I am now back in the room and looking forward to getting back to the fray :-)

Without further ramblings, here are a few photos of the source of my distraction!

Fairground Photography!

2013-06-30T20:11:00.000+00:00

Emerson Photography, reportage wedding photographer north east. Contact Jamie Emerson.

Emerson Photography gets paid to go to the fair. Brilliant!

As a wedding photographer, it's completely necessary to keep learning. I do this in various ways including workshops, second shooting for other photographers, arguing on internet forums and occasionally, by taking on work outside my usual sphere.

I do like a challenge now and again - a leap into an area of photography I haven't done much of. So when the owner of a travelling fairground asked me to capture people having fun at his fair, I was delighted to oblige. Most weddings throw up a technical challenge of one kind or another; mixed lighting is a common problem to overcome, guests' flashes going off can cause issues, very strong sunlight is less than ideal - the list is endless.

But nine times out of ten, I'll have dealt with whatever obstacles are sent to plague me before and I'll know exactly how to deal with them. A fairground, at night, with very, very fast rides is a very different kettle of fish and exactly the sort of challenge mentioned earlier.

The daytime shots were challenging for other reasons - given the prevailing paranoia concerning cameras and kids, I was slightly concerned about wandering around taking photos of other peoples' children. So I borrowed a hi-viz waistcoat from the security guys and just got on with it. I needn't have worried - within a few minutes I was being repeatedly pestered by 12 year olds high on candy floss and adrenaline, all wanting their photo taken. When it came to smaller kids on rides, I simply asked mum and dad and all were more than happy. Phew.

Here are some of the photos...

Oh, did I mention that a couple of the crew from Geordie Shore turned up to film for the show? No? Well they did. The poor guys were immediately surrounded by a shoal of teeny-boppers. They actually got a wee bit intimidating and we had to retreat to the car park and come back in stealth mode!

Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Screeeeeeaaaaaaaam! Screech!

And on to random people looking terrified. All the night time people shots were taken using slow-sync flash -my wee SB-600 proved more than adequate, mostly zoomed in to 70mm which pretty much turns it into a flash 'spotlight'.

Rather you than me - this thing looked pretty terrifying...

Below, I bring you the owners of the Big Balls. No, honestly - that really is the name of the ride. Less sniggering at the back!

This one, well, what to say, other than 'Why?'

The waltzers (below) really were a challenge. Lasers and flashing lights all over the place, dry ice and phenomenal speeds coupled with noise levels designed to disorientate combined to create a photographic nightmare...

This poor lady (below) floated away shortly after the photograph was taken.

We do this for fun?!

At this juncture, I got the tripod out and went for some long exposure, light trail type stuff...

And finished up at Penshaw Monument looking down onto the site. Good times :-)

Hallgarth Manor Hotel Wedding Day - documentary style...

2013-05-29T12:32:00.005+00:00

Jamie Emerson, reportage wedding photography, north east, wedding photography hallgarth manor. Emerson Photography - Europe wide wedding coverage, based in the north east, between Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland, Northumberland and Darlington.

It's always a bonus when you wake up on the morning of a wedding and find endless blue sky and sunshine - especially when it's a north east wedding! Daz and Andrea's wedding at Hallgarth Manor was just such a day. To be quite candid, I don't even look at a weather forecast these days. I used to spend weeks poring over long term forecasts and worrying. Eventually it occurred to me that this was utterly pointless - there's nothing I can do to change the weather, so now I just turn up prepared for any eventuality!

The day started at the couples' house, which is conveniently situated about 30 seconds' walk from the church !

This was only the third wedding I'd shot with the brace of new Nikon kit. The two new cameras' low light performance is mind-blowingly good and has freed me top work in the way I've always wanted to. Flashguns are fantastic, versatile tools but I've always hated being 'forced' to use them. Big bursts of flash are not conducive to working in an extremely unobtrusive way. Everyone turns to the camera and gives it the big thumbs up - not what I'm looking for. Being able to pretty much shoot in the dark, with no flash makes the candid captures much, much more appealing. Working with the light in the room, rather than introducing it is a far more intuitive way to work, not to mention much quicker.

Anyway, enough waffle, here are the photographs. Enjoy and feel free to leave any comments or thoughts.

Creative wedding photography with mirrors

Little people at weddings - always fun!

Just caught this reflection in the table top. I'm always on the lookout for creative angles - just enough to lift an image from plain documentary to interesting and elegant, without going overboard!

Dress on, still calm, almost ready to go!

Our groom and best man seem to have scrubbed up well too!

Much as I love to work in black and white, sometimes you've just got to love a blast of colour!

Even a documentary / reportage wedding photographer should be able to put together an elegant group shot - it's often a part of the job. Fortunately for me, these lovely ladies practically organised themselves!

Infrared wedding photography - use sparingly!

My coverted infrared Nikon D70 DSLR made its first appearance ever at this wedding. Used here with the Samyang 14mm lens to produce something a little different!

Someone was over the moon to have caught the bouqet!

Quite honestly, some of the best speeches I've heard at a wedding. Genuinely heartfelt and hilariously funny in turns.

The best fun at a wedding is usually to be found up a tree, under a table or in a revolving door. According to wee lads.

As a documentary photographer, I'm not looking to capture lots of dull headshots of every single guests - I'm looking for interaction, laughter, the little sub-plots and side-stories.

If you're looking for a wedding photographer working in a true documentary style, please do feel free to call for a chat - I love hearing about wedding plans! I'm on 07866127732, or you can reach me through the Emerson Photography Contact page if you'd rather email.

Jamie Emerson, reportage wedding photography, north east, wedding photography hallgarth manor. Emerson Photography - Europe wide wedding coverage, based in the north east, between Newcastle, Durham, Sunderland, Northumberland and Darlington.

Rockliffe Hall Wedding Day.

2013-03-24T17:47:00.003+00:00

Emerson Photography, working throughout the north east, providing heartfelt, reportage and documentary wedding photography. Sunderland, Durham, Newcastle and Darlington are my usual haunts, but I happily travel quite literally worldwide covering weddings.

Last Friday found me at the rather fabulous Rockliffe Hall, near Darlington for the wedding of Geraldine and Paul. Happy to wake up to an almost rain-free day, I shot down the road to get some photographs of Geraldine getting ready for the day ahead.

Then it was off to the very picturesque town of Richmond, and specifically, the St Joseph and St Francis Xavier church. The priest could not have been more helpful and accommodating - really lovely chap.

After the lovely service at which Geraldine's bridesmaid sang a beautiful solo, it was back to Rockliffe and the celebrations commenced.

Just as an aside, for any photographers who read this, this was my first full day using my two new full frame DSLRs - a D600 and a D700. All I'll say about going full frame is, if you haven't already, do it now! The difference is like night and day...

Anyway, that's enough chat from me - here is a small selection of the photographs from a memorable and enjoyable day!

Bridal preparations at Rockliffe Hall

If you're looking for a north east wedding photographer with a very candid, unobtrusive style, why not visit the gallery in my documentary wedding photographer's website? I'm still taking bookings for this year, especially if your wedding is on a weekday and some weekends remain free. You can get in touch through my website, or just call me on 07866127732 to have a chat about your wedding day.

A year of documentary wedding photography in the North East

2013-01-05T18:08:00.001+00:00

2012 was just a brilliant year for Emerson Photography. I hear all the stories of bridezillas, awkward guests, broken cameras, torrential rain, etc, and just feel incredibly lucky! It is 2013 this year though, so perhaps I shouldn't tempt fate!

Emerson Photography's brand of documentary wedding photography combined with dramatically lit wedding day portraiture seems to be going down well - fashion may finally have caught up with me (arrogant? Moi?)! There are plenty of photographers who are happy to take up a huge chunk of your day making your guests run around with bubbles / moustaches / wooden signs with cutesy messages, but it's just not for me, sorry.

I'd far rather record the event with a heartfelt and sympathetic eye, using experience to anticipate mini-stories and 'reading' the light to carefully position myself for the best possible photographs. That's not to say I can't do a spot of guest arranging where required (I have a loud voice!) and I almost always try to take my brides and grooms away for a few posed shots. It's often the first chance they've had to properly speak to each other on the day!

Natural light photographers have been very fashionable for the last few years; the idea being that refusing to use flash is somehow more pure. It's certainly less obtrusive - as soon as a flash starts going off, everyone turns to look and starts smiling at the camera and giving it Fonzy thumbs-up. The reality though, is that we live in the UK. I shoot a lot of Winter weddings, often in castles or venues which are like coal cellars as soon as the sun starts sinking. Until very recently, flash has been invaluable for the way I shoot.

Recent advances in technology though, have allowed us photographers to shoot in extremely low light, so the whole 'natural light' thing is finally becoming a reality. My kit was upgraded at the end of 2012 - a brand new Nikon D600 along with a few new lenses. I have never in my life been so astounded by new kit - almost literally like night and day. I genuinely can't wait for this year's crop of weddings. I'll still be using my flashguns, but it'll be for artistic effect rather than it being a necessity.

Anyway, here's a swift roundup of some of my favourite weddings of the year in slideshow form - enjoy, and all the best for the New Year!

Oh, and please, please press the HD button, bottom right or it'll look awful, thanks!

A year in documentary photography. from Jamie Emerson, Photographer. on Vimeo.

New Photography Studio in Newcastle

2012-10-08T19:47:00.001+00:00

Just picked up the keys for my new studio in Heaton, Newcastle today. Portraiture is about to become a much larger part of Emerson Photography. It just seems to be a natural progression - I just can't wait to have a permanently set up lighting kit and backdrops!! I will still be offering the whole, portable-studio-in-your-living-room experience, but I expect to be in the studio more often than not.

After a quick chat with the two photographers I'm sharing with (the always fabulous Mandy Charlton and Thomas Jackson who I've just met but who seems to be an all round decent chap!), I took off up the coast in high spirits and positively bounced up Druridge Bay with Kasper the hairy dog (and also the inspiration behind my bespoke dog portraiture business, Hairy Dog Photography). A fantastic day for a dog walk - blowy, crisp, sunny. The light was perfect too, and I was glad I'd taken a camera and a few prime lenses. Taking photos of Kasper is the best kind of practice because he's fast, erratic and never does what he's expected to...

Here are a few photos...

Lurcher running on Druridge Bay

Hairy Dog Photography near Newcastle

Photography of a white dog near Newcastle

Professional, specialist dog photographer, Newcastle

Photography by Jamie Emerson

Newcastle wedding photographer Jamie Emerson on a dog walk!

Emerson Photography in Italy.

2012-09-24T18:37:00.000+00:00

Revisiting Tuscany - a Cortona Wedding.

Emerson Photography, based between Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland. Documentary, story-telling wedding photography of the highest quality in the north east.

Every time I'm asked to photograph a wedding, I feel honoured - there's also a weight of responsibility to do the best possible job, every time. So when a friend gets in touch, it's a double honour. And when that friend is also a photographer, the sense of responsibility doubles!

So it was with some trepidation that I agreed to fly out to Tuscany and cover the wedding of Kevin and Clare. I studied photography at university with Kevin and have his documentary art book on the shelf beside me as I type.

Kevin and Clare had around 30 family and close friends staying at the villa above and attending the wedding. The villa is jaw-droppingly beautiful with amazing views out over the lake at the foot of the hills. The day started with a visit to Clare's appartment for some prep shots...

Please click on the first image to view the photos as a scrolling slideshow.

What a dress! What a place!

It's not often I get excited about shoes, but Christian Louboutin is worth shouting about...

Clare hand made the brooch bouquets. That's some talent, right there!

I travelled from the villa to Cortona Town Hall with the groom and a few family and friends. The journey was somewhat 'fraught' as the sat-nav took us down a dirt track in the middle of nowhere before announcing that we had reached our destination. After a few further circuits of the Tuscan countryside, we finally arrived after Clare!

No idea what was said here, but it merited a smile :-)

The competition...

What better way to celebrate being a married man than a large gelato.

And then back to the villa for a sumptuous feast and sunset.

Sat-Nav not required...

What a fantastic day - lovely guests, astounding locations, great food and to cap it all, I got thanked during the brief, informal speeches and given a bottle of one of my favourite malt whiskies. All the images will soon be available to view on the Emerson Photography website.

Roker Hotel Wedding Photographer, Emerson Photography

2012-09-12T20:50:00.002+00:00

Emerson Photography at the Roker Hotel in Sunderland

Jamie Emerson, reportage and documentary wedding photography throughout the north east, including Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle and Northumberland.

Newcastle and Sunderland story telling wedding photographer - click here to visit the website

I'd seen wedding photos in St. Andrews Church before, and had always been keen to get inside for a look around - the interior of the church is astounding - just very beautiful. So I was delighted to be asked to shoot the wedding of Lindsay and Neil, who had their ceremony at St. Andrews, followed by a fantastic reception at the Roker Hotel on the seafront in Sunderland.

We were lucky with the weather - our bride and groom were keen to get a few photos down on the beach. The sun shone, the brilliant family and guests ate, drank and made merry.

The only cloud on the horizon was yours truly nearly destroying the wedding cake. The venue had done the usual trick of putting the cake in the darkest corner of the room, in front of neon green signage, fire extinguishers and sad looking pot plants. I asked Neil to help me rotate the cake table so we could use the room and their guests as a backdrop instead. As we spun it round, the top tier of the cake tumbled off. There was an audible gasp from the crowd...

I desperately tried to 'catch' it with my knee, and then my foot (why do we do this?!). Amazingly, it was fine, the three second rule applied and everyone ate cake.

Enough ramblings - here are the photos - I LOVED their first dance photos - hope you like them too...

Sixpences in the shoes!

I just can't resist mirrors...

Yes, she's coming... Hold on...

How cute?! Our wee flowergirl performed AMAZINGLY well, all day - no fear!

Anyone know of a good reason why not? No? Good!

Nana, nana! Look at the big, strong men behind us trying not to cry!

Grumph. We're fine. Not crying at all.

Wedding photography in St Andrews Church in Roker Sunderland

If you don't know it by now, it's probably to late ;-)

Yesssssssss!

Wedding day portraits by the seaside, Roker Sunderland, by Emerson Photography

Gasp!

Wheee!

It's a terrifying moment, but Neil and Lindsay took to the floor confidently and danced with panache!

Beautiful!

Just a lovely day with a great bunch of people. I got chatting with a good number of guests over the course of the day and genuinely enjoyed the company of all of them. The weather held out, the cake stayed edible despite my best efforts and our happy couple did everything to make my job an easy one.

If you're getting married anywhere in the UK or beyond, and would like photos like these, why not get in touch, over at my reportage photography north east website.

Keep an eye on this blog for more weddings in Newcastle, Durham and Sunderland, or head over to my website to see my new north east wedding video.

Langley Castle Wedding Photography

2012-09-10T13:29:00.000+00:00

Wedding photography at Langley Castle, Northumberland near Hexham, by Emerson Photography.

Wedding photography in a medieval castle is always a challenge, even when there's plenty of light in the middle of Summer. Castles make amazing wedding venues, but they do tend to be a little on the dark side due to six foot thick walls and (often) very small windows. Langley Castle however, has an abundance of natural light - the windows are a good size and it really does feel pretty airy compared to some other castle venues I've shot at.

Emma and Stephen's day started a little late due to an accident on the A1. I always allow an extra 40 minutes or so travel time on a wedding day, but this time I gave myself nearly two hours extra time so I could have a good nose around the castle before starting. Which turned out to be a very good thing - gridlock is the word. I eventually arrived 10 minutes after my start time, but was relieved to see that I wasn't alone in having been caught up in the traffic chaos!

I just have to say - I absolutely love my job. I take it incredibly seriously, but just can't help enjoying pretty much every second of it (traffic jams apart). The formal training at uni and college were a huge help but I really have not stopped learning since that first solo wedding nearly eight years ago! I hope all the dedication and hard work shows in the images.

Anyway, enough chat and onto the photographs!

So all in all, a fantastic day, despite the traffic. If you're looking for a documentary wedding photographer with many years of experience and formal training, please do just get in touch for an informal, friendly chat.

You can see more work over at my reportage wedding photographer north east website and use the contact button at the top of the page.

Special Offer on Family Photography!

2012-06-19T13:33:00.000+00:00

HALF PRICE FAMILY PORTRAIT SESSIONS WITH A FREE A4 PRINT!

Usually £40, now just £20 when booked before August 31st

If you were considering having some family portraits taken in the north east, now is a very good time. Why? Emerson Photography is running a half price promotion for all family photography sessions booked before the end of August. I do specialise in childrens' portraits, from newborns and baby photos right through to school age, but I will also quite happily do graduation photos, pregnancy sessions or large family groups.

Spaces genuinely are limited, so please don't delay. The offer also includes an A4 print!

Best of all, I am happy to come to you with my portable professional studio which gives perfect results every time. It fits into surprisingly small spaces and only takes 10 minutes to set up, complete with a backdrop, so you don't even need to tidy up! ( although I'm sure all my clients live in lovely, tidy houses, just like me ;-) ).

If you'd prefer an outdoorsy, Summery photoshoot, that's fine too - perhaps at the beach or on a walk - just let me know.

Don't settle for a shaky i-Phone photo this Summer - if you want professional results and timeless, beautiful photography, just call me today.

I can only squeeze in two family portrait sessions a day, due to travel time and for obvious quality control reasons, so please do get in touch as soon as possible to take advantage of the half price photography session. You can reach me on 07866127732, by using the CONTACT PAGE on the Emerson Photography website.

So just what is reportage wedding photography?!

2012-06-01T11:00:00.000+00:00

And, is there a place for documentary art in wedding photography?

Storytelling, documentary, photo-journalistic, reportage, candid, unobtrusive, fly-on-the-wall.....

This week has seen a bit of a furore over an image chosen by Emma Case, of a flight of stairs which she felt was representative of her style of wedding photography. It depicts a very ordinary flight of stairs with the sort of carpet you only ever find in old folks' homes. The idea behind the photo was that the staircase and carpet had seen a lot of family life over the years and should therefore be included in the wedding day photos. The resulting discussions were actually pretty interesting and really got me thinking about what it is to be a documentary photographer of weddings. After seeing the full series of images which accompany the stair carpet image, I kind of understood what Case had been trying to achieve. In my very humble opinion though, it was an odd image to choose as a stand-alone example.

Story-telling wedding photography by Jamie Emerson

The last few days have had me firing up ancient neural pathways to try and remember where I've seen similar work before and it finally came to me this morning. Way back in 2005, I made a trip through to the Baltic Mill in Gateshead to see Julian Germain's exhibition which concerned itself with an old chap called Charlie and the minutiae of his life.

Julian Germain at the Baltic

Like Case's photos, there were lots of images which when viewed alone would make little sense, but when seen as a body of work, began telling a story. There are loads of similar photographic documentaries out there - one of my tutors at uni did this sort of thing very well; Marjolaine Ryley, documentary photographer.

After revisiting some of this true documentary photography, I have to say that really, it's an entirely different genre and for me, has no place in the world of wedding photography. Yes, it's all about memories, but trying to imagine what another person's experience of a place might be, and then imposing ones' own interpretation on it seems a little odd. We, as documentary wedding photographers, are there to document the forming of new memories, not get all slushy about what may or may not have gone before, or pretend to understand every detail of our clients' past lives. For all we know, that stair carpet might only be thought of as an embarrassing eyesore which will be replaced as soon as the money becomes available...

Really, really bad wedding photography...

2012-03-28T12:16:00.002+00:00

Emerson Photography. Documentary and reportage wedding photography in Durham, Sunderland, Newcastle and the whole of the North East.

Do feel free to contact me through my website, or just call me on ZERO7866127732.

Really, really bad wedding photography!

This week has seen the whole of the wedding photography community up in arms about David Jay's advice to new wedding photographers. If you really care, you can see it on David Jay's blog, here.

If you can't be bothered looking, it's basically a 10 step system offering very suspect advice to wannabe wedding photographers. Suggestions include sticking your camera on auto mode when you get flustered, and buying David's software to make everything OK. It's the kind of advice which makes seasoned photographers double-facepalm.

One interesting by-product of the furore has been one of David's clients coming forward to share a small selection of her wedding photos with the Facebook community. The 30 or so photos she displayed really were truly, deeply awful. David has since defended himself by saying he shot 3000 images that day, and that the bride herself has (re?)-processed them to make them look even worse (I have no idea why he would give RAW files to a client, but he may have had his reasons).

As I looked at the images, I was reminded of Clayton Bennett, the Sunderland wedding photographer who was chased through the courts after a series of disasterous weddings - the case was widely reported in the national press last year. This musing, in turn, led me to remember various other recent cases of really, very bad photographers being called out and made to account for their disasterous business practices.

The point of all this though, is not to put down other photographers.

Rather, I started to think, "Well everyone has off days don't they? Everyone, no matter what their profession is has the odd day where nothing seems to go right surely?". And the more I thought about it, the more I realised that in some professions, an 'off day' is not an option. There are times whilst shooting a wedding where I'll realise that for whatever reason, a shoot isn't going quite as planned. Maybe the background is cluttered, maybe the bride is worried about getting mud on her dress, maybe the groom is keen to go and mingle with his guests. My job is to pick up on these minor niggles, usually without even consciously realising it and take steps to rectify the situation.

Like all wedding photographers, I've come home with photographs which don't reflect the very high quality that clients rightly expect, so my clients never see them. I put in long, hard hours of editing and processing to ensure that every single image is one I'm proud to show my customers.

To finish this ramble, I firmly believe that there is no place in this very crowded industry for those taking short cuts, doing things by halves or for the plain lazy! It's hard work! And I absolutely love it and embrace it.

Wedding photography at The South Causey Inn, County Durham

2012-03-18T11:33:00.001+00:00

North east wedding photographer Jamie Emerson of Emerson Photography - documentary north east wedding photographer at the South Causey Inn, Stanley, Durham.

Wedding day shoes at South Causey Inn by Emerson Photography

Yesterday found me at South Causey Inn, Stanley, Co. Durham for the Spring wedding of Joanne and Graham. Wedding photography is a funny old game, never more so than when it comes to weddings which are slightly out of season. I gave up checking the long term weather forecast years ago - if it rains, it rains, if it's sunny and bright, great! There's always a way of getting stunning photos, even when driving sleet does its best to spoil everything.

Kir Royale - a great pre-wedding drink for brides at Soth Causey Inn, shot by Jamie Emerson

Joanne and Graham's wedding day started off a bit chilly but with plenty of sunshine. South Causey Inn has changed dramatically since my last wedding there, nearly two years ago. Gone is the big, old, spidery barn at the back of the premises. It's been replaced by a set of smart terraced bungalows - a kind of wedding village if you will - it reminded me a little of the conveyor belt that is Gretna Green, but that, thankfully is where the comparison ends.

Bridesmaid preparing at South Causey Inn, Stanley.

Bridal preparation photograph taken at South Causey Inn near Beamish, by Emerson Photography

Another new addition is a huge, airy function room with a great mix of a traditional looking timbered ceiling and large modern windows and skylights. The light comes flooding in here and creates a fantastic atmosphere. At the risk of getting all 'Grand Designs' about it, there is also now a long, tunnel shaped ceremony room which easily held all of Joanne and Graham's guests. This room was lit by a plethora of candles and dressed beautifully. Very cosy indeed!

Candles in the new ceremony room at South Causey Inn by Emerson photography

The bokeh effect from a Nikon 50mm f1.4 lens at a North East wedding

North East wedding venue, South Causey Inn, by Emerson Photography

Joanne hadn't been sure about having bridal preparation shots. I never push my clients into having them, but I do perhaps, gently nudge them! My take on it is; I'm there anyway - let me take the photos and if you hate them, you never need to look at them - and I promise not to get in the way! I've yet to encounter a bride who's had anything bad to say about her photos of that excited, nervous, fun hour or so before the ceremony.

Reportage North east wedding photographer Jamie Emerson at the South Causey Inn

The ceremony was heartfelt, but not without its share of laughs, not least when Joanne muddled up her vows a little and had to start again!

Bride laughing at North East wedding venue by Emerson Photography

The readings were amongst the best I've heard, especially Edward Monkton's

Dinosaur Poem;

"I like this Dinosaur thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur.

Although he is fierce he is also tender and he is funny.

He is also quite clever though I will not tell him this for now.

I like this Lovely Other Dinosaur, thought the Dinosaur.

She is beautiful and she is different and she smells so nice.

She is also a free spirit which is a quality I much admire in a dinosaur."

Wedding confetti photograph outside the South Causey Inn near sunderland

After the ceremony, we ushered everyone outside for a confetti shot, followed by a few posed formals at the front of the Causey Inn, before settling into the big, new hall for some well deserved food and drink (alas, not for me though - my job was done and I left to enjoy walking Kasper the dog in the Spring sunshine)!

The new hall with its huge skylights at the South Causey Inn, Beamish, by Jamie Emerson

Winter wedding photography at The Morritt by Emerson Photography

2012-03-07T01:06:00.001+00:00

Do visit the wedding photography north east website! Or just get in touch directly...

Emerson Photography at The Morritt, Barnard Castle

For some reason, I seem to end up shooting a lot of winter weddings. This year has been no exception and last month found me near Barnard Castle at The Morritt, a cosy but classy wedding venue set in lovely countryside. Louise and Andy's wedding photographs were a breeze to shoot given the great location, the lovely couple and the cheery guests!

The day started out cold and clear, with some cracking winter sunshine. Damn it was cold outside, but inside was all warmth and happiness as I arrived to get the bridal prep photos!

Wedding photography at The Morritt, Barnard Castle

Beautiful bride hugging bridesmaid at The Morritt Country House Hotel, Barnard Castle

The ceremony itself was heartfelt and emotional - a few tears here and there and some symbolic candles.

Wedding ceremony photography at The Morritt Hotel, North East England

The kiss, wedding photography by Jamie Emerson in the North East

I couldn't wait to get out into the surrounds of The Morritt with the happy couple. Louise was very keen to have some photos taken on Greta Bridge. Using a strobist style single speedlight on a light stand, I tried to balance the flashlight with the the low winter sun, which was just beginning to set behind the treeline. The mist settling into the fields beyond created a beautiful setting!

Wedding photographs at Greta Bridge, County Durham, near Barnard Castle

Slow synch wedding photography with sparklers at North East wedding venue in Durham.

What a game couple! Andy and Louise had brought sparklers with them and were keen to try writing 'Love' with the light trails. After several abortive attempts, I suggested that a heart might be easier! Eventually we managed the photo above, which I feel works very well. Lots of fun!

The first dance, and indeed the whole day was made to feel very special due to the skills of Colin Cook, wedding dj north east, toastmaster and generally really top bloke. I had a good long chat with Colin and his partner as we enjoyed The Morritt's fantastic catering. Colin provides genuinely brilliant, tasteful mood lighting as part of his repertoire too.

Strobist style first dance wedding photographs by Emerson Photography at The Morritt.

So all in all, what a fantastic wedding. Lovely guests, great couple, cosy venue and picturesque scenery.

Incredible Winter Wedding Photography Offer!

2011-11-02T17:03:00.000+00:00

Emerson Photography, providing tip-top reportage wedding photography and dramatic wedding portraiture to the good folk of the North East for the last seven years. Covering Durham, Newcastle, Sunderland and further afield.

Well, Winter is often a quiet time in a wedding photographer's life, and I suspect many of us in the North East are feeling the pinch (and the cold) a little! So I've thrown together a few warm and cosy discounted packages to guard against rising fuel bills and frosty weather :-) We could all do with some happy news as the nights start drawing in!

First up is the news that between the 5th of November and the 30th of April, I'll be offering four hours of professional wedding photography for just £400 (usual price £580). Details here.

Please note, this isn't just another budget photographer offering a tacky shoot 'n' burn with a CD of mediocre images. Clients partaking of this offer will still absolutely get the same beautiful, individually processed photographs as those paying regular Summer prices. You will receive all your full size, print ready images on a disc, as well as a web gallery to show off your big day.

So it's a bit like a wedding photography Groupon discount voucher (!), but it's limited by the number of weekends between now and the 30th of April and unlike many Groupon deals, it most certainly won't leave a nasty taste in your mouth. Neither will your feet be nibbled by Rufa Fish. Sorry, but that's the way it is.

If that all sounds interesting to you, why not get in touch, or do feel free to just call me on 07866 12 77 32 or 0191 584 5442. Please also feel free to spread the word if you know any last-minute-couples! You can also take a look at my Facebook Page to see some more weddingy photos.