Long evenings, outdoor drinks and plenty of opportunities for photographs
Summer is probably the first season most people think about when they imagine a wedding.
Longer days. Warmer weather. Drinks outside. Gardens full of colour. And the possibility of sitting outside with your guests long after the ceremony has finished.
From a wedding photographer's point of view, summer gives us loads of opportunities.
The days are long, the evenings are light and there is often plenty going on outside for me to photograph naturally.
Why choose a summer wedding?
The obvious advantage is the daylight.
In June and July especially, we can have daylight well into the evening, which means there is much more flexibility when it comes to photographs.
You don't necessarily need to disappear for an hour after your ceremony. We can take a few photographs when it suits the day and then, later on, if the light is particularly good, sneak outside again for a few minutes.
It means you get the best of both worlds: photographs of the two of you and plenty of time enjoying the wedding with everyone else.
Summer wedding photography outdoors
Summer is brilliant for natural photographs outside.
Depending on your venue, we might have:
Gardens
Countryside
Woodland
Beaches
Terraces
Courtyards
Outdoor drinks receptions
Beautiful views and landscapes
The North East and North Yorkshire have some fantastic wedding venues with outdoor spaces, and summer gives us the chance to make the most of them.
Golden hour
One of my favourite things about summer weddings is the evening light.
When the sun starts getting lower, the light can become warm and soft and absolutely gorgeous.
Rather than disappearing for ages, I'll usually suggest taking a few minutes together.
It's a chance to get some lovely photographs of the two of you, but it's also often a nice excuse to escape the madness for five minutes!
Then it's back to the party.
But what if it's REALLY sunny?
Believe it or not, blazing sunshine isn't always a photographer's best friend.
The middle of a bright summer day can produce very harsh light and strong shadows.
That's where experience comes in.
I'll look for shade, interesting backgrounds, indoor light and softer areas rather than simply standing you in the middle of the midday sun.
And if we get some clouds?
Even better sometimes.
Summer weddings aren't just about posed photographs
My approach is relaxed.
I'll photograph the important things, of course, but I'm also looking for the moments that happen in between.
Your dad trying not to cry.
Your mates making idiots of themselves.
Your nan dancing.
The kids running around.
The look on someone's face during the speeches.
The stuff you didn't even notice was happening.
Those photographs often become some of the most important ones.
Summer weddings in the North East
I photograph summer weddings throughout County Durham, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and North Yorkshire, as well as further afield across the UK.
Whether you're planning a huge summer celebration or a small and relaxed wedding, I'll work around your day rather than trying to make your day fit around the photography.
Planning a summer wedding?
If you're looking for relaxed, natural wedding photography with a mixture of real moments, family photographs and some beautiful portraits of the two of you, get in touch.
And if you're still deciding when to get married, have a look at my spring, autumn and winter wedding photography pages too.