Adam and Nicola got married in Derbyshire and had their reception at the amazing Hassop Hall. The great thing about having 2 of us there on the day, is that one of us can be with the Bride and the other with the Groom. Meaning we don't miss a moment! We know not all Groom's like to have a photographer there in the morning, but it's definitely getting more popular.
Their day was beautiful - here are some of our favourites from their day...
Having known Phillippa since I (Jade) was young, it was a joy to photograph her Engagement session! The light was just perfect and was a great shoot to end the summer. We asked Phillippa and Dan to write a letter to each other before the shoot, and then we gave them some time to read it out. Such a nice moment together - allowing us to capture something genuine and heartfelt is so important to us.
Catching the last few sunny evenings this year, we met with Lucy and Steve at Irchester Country Park for their engagement shoot. Love the warm glow of the sun! Was great to meet these two and we're really forward to their wedding next year at The Old Vicarage Boutique in Nottingham.
A friend of mine asked the question - so why are you doing this? Relating to our earlier conversation about documenting weddings and capturing an important day like this...
Seemed like such a simple question, but somehow, I was lost for words. I couldn't quite put into words what I wanted to say or how I felt.
A month or so earlier, myself and Emma had arranged a shoot - just for fun. No one was getting paid, we just wanted to create some images that were different from what we normally get to shoot. Something for us. Well, after planning and planning, things happened on the day that were out of our control. Nothing to do with photography, but just silly practicalities that seemed to trip us up along the way. We walked away feeling disheartened and a little weary. The whole shoot made us reevaluate a few things, which actually, wasn't a bad thing.
In December, my Nan passed away. During her funeral, we looked over old photos, shared stories and remembered the good times. It was in these moments of looking at a photo of my grandparents on their honeymoon, that I found the answer to this earlier question. My grandparents were about to embark on a new journey, together. They didn't know what that looked like, they had no where to live and no job to pay the bills. They didn't realise that the future would include a son, 4 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. But they knew one thing. They had each other. No matter where they were, how they would provide for their family, the tough times they would face, they were in it together, "until death do us part".
And that's why I'm in this. No matter the scene, no matter the location, this day is about making that decision. To have and to hold each other through it all, come what may. The adventures that lay ahead are unknown, and the legacy that will be left behind you is now richer as you come together. With everything stripped away, the fuss, the details, the lavish or the low key, this is all about the next chapter in a couple's life together. So when we get a chance to capture your day, we are privileged to be able to document a time in your lives that is full of possibility and excitement. In 100 years time, who will be looking at these joyful images of you all and talking about your story? We don't know, but we know that's pretty exciting and we want in.
I don't know about you, but for me (Jade), I often find the prospect of a new year quite daunting. There's the guilt you feel for over-indulging in the festive period, the heightened mission to get back on track and start new fitness regimes, the pressure of setting new goals, resolutions, talking about hopes and dreams. The pressure to meet all these new goals can sometimes seem overwhelming.
For a while now, myself and Emma have been working away on a new website. We've known for such a long while that we wanted to get something new out there, something that more reflects who we are as photographers. The longer we have left it, the more time we've had to compare ourselves to others - which we whole-heartedly know is futile. If we allow it to, comparison will steal our joy and stifle our creativity. So, we are making the decision to put this out there. To be vulnerable. To showcase some of the amazing weddings and couples we've had the pleasure of working with in 2015. We know our journey looks different to some people's - working and being full-time mums (or maybe it's very similar!), but this is our journey. We have loads still to learn and goals to reach, but "here's to living out the unspoken dreams of our hearts" this year and living out our unique journey! To being fully present in all areas of our lives, and enjoying it as we go - even if at times we find it tough. To letting go of 'perfect' and seeing the beauty in the imperfection.
We hope you enjoy our new site!
Jade & Em x
