Venue: Dumbleton Hall
Dumbleton Hall wedding photography | Jamie and Jennie
Look, from the outset, I’m a softy. My eldest little boy this week told me that I was; “The best daddy in the World,” for the first time. I cried. The Green Mile, Schindler’s List, Meet Joe Black; three films that you shouldn’t watch with me if the sight of a grown man shedding a tear embarrasses you. Unashamedly, I’m soft centered. For me, an observational emotional connect with my clients is important in documentary wedding photography terms. If you follow this blog and indeed the stories within my 365 project or main gallery images, it’s clear that I work stylistically cheek by jowl. I photograph primarily using short focal length lenses, that requires a closeness to the story unfolding before me. I hope the images in this blog piece demonstrate how in wedding story telling, it’s an approach and philosophy that can work well. You’ll be the judge and as ever I’d welcome your comments, either on the blog or by mail. Before you look further though, a further dimension to this story is that the couple concerned I count as friends, our bride Jennie having been a former work colleague when I frequented the radio airwaves. Jennie, I’m so incredibly proud of you for your accomplishments personally and of course latterly professionally, and look forward to hearing your reports as you jet the globe covering F1 2012. (I’m also a little bit envious, but shhhh, don’t tell anyone.) What an emotional day too. You underline why documenting these days has become a vocational life choice. And Jamie, thanks for letting Jen talk you in to allowing her softy friend to be present as photographer on your special day. Lots of love and I hope you enjoy this sneak preview.
Dumbleton Hall wedding photography | Alex and Jill
Few briefs make me happier than the one received from Alex and Jill; ‘Follow the day Neale, the way you see, as a story.’ Marvelous. And so, armed with a short list of group portraits we’d agreed pre-wedding, I was Cotswolds bound to Dumbleton Hall Hotel near Evesham. A brief so open gives me an opportunity to stand back, think composition and really watch the day unfold around me.
