One of the reasons I was drawn to wedding photography in the first place was because I loved being around people and I loved reliving the memories from my own wedding day (almost eight years ago).
I draw a lot of inspiration from my own wedding day. So I always ask myself ‘what would I like to see if this was my wedding?’ And from there I tend to develop a real interest in all of the people at the wedding (even though I barely know them).

After the bride and groom had signed the register at this wedding I had walked back down the aisle to take up my next position when I noticed this little girl in one of the front pews.

I had a feeling she might give me an interesting picture so I sneaked in beside one of the guests and waited for the right moment. Just as everyone bowed their heads for the prayer she looked around and I took this picture. Just one frame with a silent shutter on the camera (so as not to disturb the moment).

Now that I’m a parent, eight years after my own wedding, I find I can appreciate these little people and their ‘innocent irreverence’ even more.

This image, to me, is what photographic storytelling on a wedding day is all about.

It’s about the beautiful expression on the bridesmaids face. It’s about how everyone else is straining to catch a glimpse of the bride as she enters the church with her Father. It’s about the love and affection held for the groom.

I find it’s a much more powerful photograph for all of that than if the photographer had just asked the bridesmaids to simply look into the lens (and heaven forbid, tilt the camera). :D

The challenge of course, is that these moments are so fleeting that there are no second chances.

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!

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):

I love this photograph. Away from the crowd outside the church I noticed these three discussing who would chase who. And as all good boys know – it’s best when you have two girls chasing! :D

I shot four frames of this situation and this one is my favourite. Like all great moments of magic it’s unposed and I had no hand in orchestrating this scene at all. The picture came together just as the little girl outstretched her hand confident that she would ‘get’ him. In fact, she didn’t – he was too quick!

Unobtrusive. It’s a popular word used by many wedding photographers at the moment – but what does it actually mean? I prefer the dictionary definition:

un·ob·tru·sive
adjective / 

Not conspicuous or attracting attention

A photographer can’t truthfully claim to be unobtrusive if a sizeable proportion of their images have people looking straight into the camera. That’s called ‘attracting attention’. And it’s the easiest thing in the world to prompt someone to look at the camera.

For me, the imagination lies in catching moments without the subjects being aware.

So next time you see the words “relaxed, unobtrusive” – have a look at the photographs in question and see for yourself if the second part of that is really true.

For last weekends wedding I was in the Mount Falcon Hotel in Ballina to photograph Joanne and Colm’s County Mayo wedding.

It seems a growing trend for couples to take their friends and family away for the wedding weekend. Sometimes I find it’s outside Ireland (as with my Barcelona and Cyprus weddings last year) and other times it’s within Ireland itself.

The common element between all destination weddings is that the atmosphere is just really lovely. Everyone is in ‘holiday mode’ and that is just fantastic to be a part of. Thankfully the weather also held out and we were all treated to some beautiful Mayo sunshine.

My day started at Mount Falcon itself with the bridal preparations and it was lovely to meet Noelle again whose wedding I’ll be photographing next year.

The three best moments for me during the day were:
- seconds before leaving for the church and as Noelle was fixing the veil, when Joanne and her Mum had an emotional moment,
- in the church when Colm said “I Joanne, take you Colm…” and the whole place erupted,
- and when during the speeches, Joanne kissed the little bicycle figure and said “my wee Colm…”

As ever, here are just some of my favourite photographs from the day: