Category Archive: Dumbleton Hall

What a difference a registrar can make. I’m treading slightly on eggshells as I venture forth to embrace this subject, but there are moments, just a few mind, when I think the officiant at a wedding is rather more officious, than warm and embracing. I get to witness this first usually, since ‘my kind’ are often read some kind of riot act before we even manage to profer a welcome. There is even one county close to home where photography is not even permitted during the ceremony at all! May my lens freeze on wastelands if I even raise the camera body to clean the glass. Where in the rule books except their own this appears I do not know, but I have watched from the wings as guests snap away on their own DSLRs and iPhones, whilst my compositions are denied. Still, “rules is rules” as they say downtown, and it’s not my place to argue with those in charge of this part of the day. But this registrar you see before you, well, he, is simply gold. He even asked me, how I would like to photograph the ceremony!!! I had to pinch myself. And to be fair, I was even more aware of the need to be subtle due to the mutual respect we had found. This photograph for me sums this registrar up to a tee. Not only was he humourous at the appropriate moments, solemn when required and utterly professional in his duties, he was downright celebratory and inviting. I have not seen a room of adults warm to a registrar in quite the same fashion. Magical, simply magical. I probably don’t need to talk ethos of image, because having read the above, I am sure you can piece together the story for yourself.

COTSWOLDS WEDDING VENUE: Dumbleton Hall Hotel

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5D Mk2, 24mm lens, F1.4, 1/1250, ISO 2500, overexposed by two stops (to counter the harsh back-light).