“I think about photographs as being full, or empty. You picture something in a frame and it’s got lots of accounting going on in it–stones and buildings and trees and air–but that’s not what fills up a frame. You fill up the frame with feelings, energy, discovery, and risk, and leave room enough for someone else to get in there.” – Joel Meyerowitz

Here’s a few of my personal favourites from Tori and Steven’s wedding.

Victoria and Steven sent me these lovely words last week while I was in France:
“Hi Dylan,
Photos are amazing!!! We came in off the beach today in the off chance you’d have them ready, and hey presto, they are there! Absolutely stunning shots, some real special moments eternalised in film! We are both so so happy, you definitely were the best decision we made for the wedding as we now will have the most beautiful photo archive to enrich our nostalgia and memories of an amazing day!
Hope all’s well.
Tori and Steve”

What a pleasure it was for me to cover this one having photographed Kathryn’s sister’s wedding at Larchfield Estate back in September. It was wonderful to see so many friendly faces once again.

Although people and relationships are the focus of my photojournalistic approach to wedding photography, I consider light, colour and form to be equal ingredients. So with the guests enjoying the beautiful summer weather during the reception it was fantastic to have the challenge of taking pictures in the strong directional light at the front of the Museum.

It was great to be able to document this important part of the day rather than going off into Botanic Gardens for some posed pictures. With Kathryn and Brian deciding to forego posed photos altogether, my role, as ever, was to seek out the real gestures, expressions, glances, whispers, and colour and form that make a wedding day so special.

These are my favourite photographs from the day.

Kathryn sent me these lovely words after seeing her pictures:

“Hi Dylan,
We just wanted to take a moment out of honeymooning to thank you. Already friends and family have been in touch & there is a lot of talk about ‘beautiful moments’
You captured the feel of the museum and how special it was as a wedding venue.
We can’t wait to see them all, thanks so much,

K&B”

One of the great things about shooting wedding photographs for a living is the people you meet. And sometimes you discover that you may have actually met them before in a previous life! As it turns out Ricky and I traced the same path through primary school, grammar school and university. We grew up together just streets apart. Yet, as he was four years my junior our paths didn’t actually cross until Laura and Ricky booked me for their wedding.

So it was a real pleasure for me to photograph the wedding for them. As I looked around the room later in the day I saw some familiar faces. Their ceremony took place at St Comgalls in Antrim followed by a reception at the Old Inn in Crawfordsburn, County Down.

Here’s a few of my personal favourites:

Laura sent me these lovely words after coming back to Northern Ireland and seeing the images:
Hi Dylan
Ricky and I are just back from honeymoon this evening and I can’t stop looking at the pictures!!! I’m going to sound like all the other brides when I say that your black suit must become your Harry Potter invisibility cloak after a few minutes as I just don’t remember you being where you were! And again when I say we are reliving it all (and the stuff we missed) when poring over the pictures. There are some real gems in there. The ones with my Granny are just beautiful and bring tears to my eyes. I will treasure them forever. Thanks again for your expert eye and sense of anticipation.

Speak soon,
Laura & Ricky

I love photographing weddings at Belfast Castle. My sister married here in 2007 and the earliest photograph we have of my Mum is from a wedding here in the early 1960′s where she was a little flowergirl – so it’s a place that holds great memories for me.

Tara and Mark had their wedding ceremony at the Castle and then relaxed in the gardens with guests before heading down to La Mon Country Club for the evening reception.

Tara sent me a lovely email after seeing her pictures online:
“Hi Dylan

We sat down together to look through the slideshow and the photos brought back so many memories from moments we had forgotten (or missed on the day!), every time we look at the photos of the speeches we remember what was being said and laugh all over again.
You really captured the story of our day, we cant thank you enough.
Many thanks again,
Tara & Mark”

Here’s just a few of my own favourites from the first part of their day:

It was another fabulous marquee wedding in Northern Ireland for me a few weeks back as I photographed Joanne and David’s wedding.

I always like photographing weddings where the location has a strong personal connection to the family. Joanne and David married less than a mile away from where Joanne grew up at Grange Chapel near Cranfield whilst the reception was held at David’s family home near Aghagallon in County Antrim. Both venues provided stunning backdrops for the days events.

Here are just a few of my favourite images from the day.

Joanne and David sent me these lovely words after seeing their pictures online:
“Hi Dylan
The photos are fantastic we are absolutely delighted with them!! We love the slideshow! I think we have watched it about 30 times at this stage!

Also thank you for getting the photos to us so quickly.
David and Joanne”

On returning from France I had the pleasure of photographing Jennifer and Jonathan’s wedding at First Presbyterian Ballymena with reception at Galgorm Resort and Spa.

As a documentary wedding photographer, when I cover a wedding day I set out to tell the story of the day without directing anyone. Save for a couple of family shots, for the majority of the day I direct myself instead. I see my role as being there to record the news, not make it – almost to be like a guest with a camera (albeit a pretty expensive one)!

One of the challenges and indeed pleasures of taking a documentary approach is that you get to discover the story (and sub-stories) running through the wedding day with all of the different characters within the group of friends and family.

Now, I don’t know why, and it could be that with Father’s day having just passed (and with it also being Jennifer’s Mum and Dad’s wedding anniversary just the other day) that when it came to selecting the images for this particular blog post I really loved the pictures showing Jennifer’s Dad.
One day I’m sure my own daughter will be all grown up and will be marrying someone perhaps in 20 or 30 years time. I’m sure it’ll be pretty emotional!

Speaking of directing – Jennifer’s Grandfather also had an important role on the day as he directed his choir which sang both in the church and also a little later in the church hall. He certainly looked pleased as punch when he managed to grab a kiss with Jenny on their way out of the church!

I have to say that it was such a pleasure for me to cover this wedding and all of the guests that I spoke with during my blending in during ‘guest with camera’ mode made me feel very welcome.

Here’s just a few of my favourite photographs from the day:

Jennifer sent me a lovely email after seeing her pictures for the first time:
Dylan,
The photographs are amazing!!! We love them. We must have watched the
slideshow
a zillion times!! thank you so much! I can’t even pick a favourite!

Thanks,
Jennifer

Before heading to France a couple of weeks back I had the pleasure of photographing Pauline and Paul’s wedding day at the Ulster Folk Museum in Cultra, North Down.

I have to say that I really enjoyed photographing the people at this wedding. The warmth and love on the day was fantastic to be a part of. Lots of quirky little details also, like the little ‘Up’ poster that everyone had to fingerprint and sign on their way into the Ballycultra tea Rooms for the dinner. The whole location was a wonderful backdrop to the (non-directed) action.

Thankfully the weather held out too and we had wall to wall sunshine. :D

Here’s a few photographs that show what happened: