“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.

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.

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:

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

Thanks for your email and link to the gallery.

Mark and I absolutley LOVE the photos, they are even better than we imagined, thank you so much!

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.

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:

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:

Maeve and Gavin had a fantastic summer wedding at Larchfield Estate with the ceremony taking place at St Brigids in Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast. Again the weather was a bit unpredictable but it stayed dry for most of the day at least. Inside, at all of the venues, the atmosphere was just amazing with lots of emotion and great light throughout.

Maeve’s Mum Maura sent me a lovely email after the wedding.

I am just writing to thank you for all your hard work on Saturday at Maeve’s wedding. I imagine it is always more difficult for a photographer to get the best photos when the weather is so unpredictable but I’m sure we’ll be delighted with the results. Everyone commented on how unobtrusive you were and we certainly wouldn’t have known you were even in the house on the morning of the wedding.
Regards,
Maura

Maeve and Gavin then sent me a lovely email yesterday after seeing their pictures online on returning from honeymoon.

Hi Dylan!

Gavin and I just had a look at the slideshow and every single photo is amazing!!! You really captured so many beautiful and funny moments throughout the day! can’t wait to see the photos in person!!Thanks so much, talk to you soon,

Maeve and Gavin

These are my personal favourites from the wedding:

My goodness it’s almost June – where has the time gone this month? Caroline and I have been really busy recently with the construction of a new studio (more on that later) and the great news that we’re expecting our second baby! (definitely more on that later!!)

It’s not always possible to blog every wedding but we will always try!! For the first of my May weddings I had the pleasure of shooting Judith and Felim’s wedding down in Ballykinler with reception at the Downpatrick cricket club. I seem to be really blessed with lovely clients this year and the people at this wedding were fantastic – really, really friendly and the day was just full of lovely real life moments.

With March and April being amongst the driest on record I suppose we were due a little rain for May. Thankfully it managed to stay dry for the arrivals and exits at St Patrick and St Joseph’s church in Ballykinler. The rain was a concern for some of the guests and the couple but for the most part the weather conditions were perfect for photography.

Irrespective of the weather, I always find that a wedding day presents a whole series of beautiful little moments. Here’s a few more of my favourites (with more of the wee boy and his two chasers):

Last Saturday saw me back in North Down for Pete and Danielle’s wedding at Saint Colmcilles in Holywood with reception at the Old Inn in Crawfordsburn.

This wedding was just fantastic with the warmth of Pete and Danielle’s friends and family really adding to the wonderful moments I had the pleasure of seeing on Saturday.

I first met Pete and Danielle back at Catherine and Jonathan’s wedding in 2008 and I just had a feeling they’d marry one day…

They are currently on honeymoon and I’ve just received a lovely message from them
“Hey Dylan thank you for photos – we all love them, you really have captured the day and emotions… We are on our way to NYC – see you when we come home, love to Caroline and Corrina xo”

Here are some of my personal favourites from their day.