This summer I had the most amazing opportunity to be the second wedding photographer for my mentor Kate Hopewell-Smith at Blenheim Palace.
I have taken part in various training sessions with Kate, one of Britain’s leading wedding and lifestyle location photographers to help me keep up to date with all the latest techniques and software.
Even though raw talent and an artistic eye is essential, training is so important, if you are considering any courses in photography, do take a look at Kate and Brent’s website Training by Lumiere. I cannot recommend them highly enough. Kate is so generous with her expertise and she inspired me to develop my brand and business further.
Working alongside artists as talented as Kate and Brent, certainly helped me to see things from a fresh perspective and pick up so many tips, especially how to find the perfect light, to make each shot that little bit more special.
Kate asked a group of photographer’s she had trained with in the past to see if someone wanted the opportunity to shoot alongside her at Magdalen College part of the University of Oxford and then afterwards at Blenheim Palace, and she chose me! I was thrilled and very excited at this wonderful opportunity.
It was amazing just to have the chance to shoot at these stunning locations, as even though I have been a successful Shropshire Wedding Photographer and had the chance to work at some stunning locations, this one was really something else! It gave me the chance to be really creative and take some stunning photos.
The couple were radiant on their special day, John is a doctor and Sasha a fashion blogger with over 40k followers on Instagram – so you can imagine how splendid the wedding dress from The wedding Club was and how beautifully styled the wedding was.
Magdalen College set in stunning grounds, dates back to the 15th century, and was built as a College ‘on the grandest scale’ by the Bishop of Winchester and Lord Chancellor. C.S Lewis even studied there – so you can tell it is a magical place! This is where John studied to be a doctor.
Blenheim Palace is a monumental, baroque English country house situated in Woodstock, Oxfordshire. It’s the principal residence of the Dukes of Marlborough, and the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of palace! It was built between 1705 and 1722 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site– so it was also a pretty formidable experience being able to take photos there!
Weddings at Blenheim Palace offer the opportunity to get married at one of the most historic buildings in the country with access to its beautiful grounds and superb food. At 6pm the grounds closed to the public and John and Sasha had Blenheim to themselves and their guests. It was spectacular from start to finish. The entertainment was amazing throughout the day with Zaffa dancers/drummers (a traditional Arabic entrance) and a belly dancer after dinner. It was a photographer’s dream! You can see some of the photos here.








































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