“Your pictures were more than we ever hoped they would be – beautiful and stunning”

I love my job. I love the diversity – the people I get to meet and the places I get to visit. When I first met Danny and Bryony I honestly felt like I had known them for years. They are such an impossibly cute couple and absolutely head over heels in love with each other.

When they first approached me about their Cannon Bridge Roof Gardens wedding I knew straight away that I had to shoot this. As I said, I love shooting at new venues and since Canon Bridge Roof Gardens is one that doesn’t normally host weddings, this wedding in particular really appealed to me. Their ceremony took place at St George’s Cathedral in Southwark and whilst guests made their way over to Cannon Street via London Routemaster buses, we took a stroll around the grounds of the Imperial War Museum before hopping in cab to Cannon Bridge Roof Gardens. From the roof, the sweeping views across London include iconic London landmarks such as St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard – a perfect backdrop for a London wedding reception.

Some of the most honest, heartfelt and emotional speeches followed later that evening. I’m pretty good at keeping my composure – even through the most tear-jerking of moments – but I have to say, I had to hide behind my camera on more than one occasion that day.

Danny. Bryony. Thank you so much for having me along on your wedding day. You guys are one in a million and I’m proud to have been there.

“We love the pictures”

FUN! That was pretty much the theme of Jean and Dan’s Hawksmoor wedding in London. If ever there was a recipe for how a wedding should flow, these guys threw it out and started from scratch. This Urban wedding was a fusion of Chinese and Western cultures with a few unique touches thrown in and was without doubt one of my favourite weddings to date (and also one of my longest with nearly 15 hours of continuous documentary coverage).

The day started calmly with bridal preparations at The Zetter Townhouse in Clerkenwell. After a couple of hours I witnessed the first of many touches added to inject a playful mood to this couple’s unique wedding day; door games. To anyone unfamiliar with door games, it’s a light-hearted chinese tradition whereby the groom and his ushers (or Hing Dai’s) arrive at the bride’s hotel to be greeted at the door by the bridesmaids (Tze Mui’s). The boys will then be set a series of challenges which they will have to pass (with forfeits for the losers) in order for the groom to be able to see his beautiful bride. This was hilarious to watch and I have to say, the boys took it well.

It was then onto the wedding ceremony at the Old Finsbury Town Hall, a wedding venue I know well. One of the readings during the ceremony was the story ‘Oh the places you’ll go’ by Dr. Seuss and Jean and Dan had another little surprise in store. Guests from all around the room began standing up to read their own given paragraph which really involved the whole wedding party in the ceremony. This was a brilliant touch!

The next instalment in Jean and Dan’s London wedding was the pub crawl. I took a stroll through Exmouth Market with the couple whilst their guests made the short trip over to The Eagle on City Road for Pimms in the outdoor beer garden. It was then another short stroll over to The Rising Sun in Smithfield’s Market. The final destination of the day was to be The Hawksmoor Guildhall, one of London’s best steak restaurants, and the fun and entertainment didn’t stop here. Jean and Dan laid on a caricaturist to capture pictures of every guest and there was also one final challenge of the day! Each table had to nominate one person to come and sit at the front of the room to take part. When the host requested various items such as cuff links or oyster cards, the players then had to run into the audience to collect them. The last person to return each time would find their chair missing and be sent back to their table with their head hanging low. The challenges became harder as the items grew more obscure and it wasn’t long before things got a little competitive. Chairs went flying, as did bodies. The Hawksmoor’s killer cocktails and tunes by DJ Melz rounded off the evening nicely and I left the couple to party the night away.

Here are a selection of my favourite photos from Jean and Dan’s Hawksmoor wedding. Please do comment below and feel free to pin pictures to Pinterest and share this wedding on your favourite social sites. If you’re planning a wedding at The Hawksmoor in London and like my unique documentary approach please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

“Thank you so much for the part you played – you were perfect!”

Farnaz and Paul’s London wedding took place at some of my favourite venues in London. The day started with bridal preparations at The Rookery in Clerkenwell and the morning was calm and relaxed, as was Farnaz for that matter. Once ready, Farnaz nipped to Smithfield Market to hail a London taxi to take her and her bridesmaids (and me) to Islington Town Hall for the wedding ceremony. The Council Chamber at Islington Town Hall is a fantastic room for a wedding, with seating that sweeps around the entire room. This allows all the guests to really feel a part of the ceremony. As a wedding photojournalist it also allows me to move about freely without ever feeling intrusive.

Following a lovely ceremony it was just a short ride to The Refinery on a couple of London Routemaster buses. This London wedding took place right in the middle of summer and to say it was warm would be an understatement. Outside The Refinery a special screen was set up to show the tennis. The women’s finals were playing and as the deck chairs filled up with Wimbledon fans, it made for a great back drop to the wedding celebrations. The guests even partook in a little table tennis themselves.

I’ve said before that I love a London wedding. Every wedding venue is truly unique and as a London wedding photographer I love the diversity that this brings to the wedding days themselves. If you’re planning a wedding at The Refinery restaurant in London or a wedding at Islington Town Hall please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Here is the story of Farnaz and Paul’s London wedding at The Refinery and Islington Town Hall.

It’s always great when couples get ready in close proximity because it usually means I get to cover both bride and groom preparations. This fabulous London wedding started with groom preparations at The Zetter Hotel in Clerkenwell followed by bridal preparations at The Zetter Townhouse just a stones throw away. Whilst photographing Matt with his best man and the bride’s brother, it became apparent that they hadn’t yet worked out how to fold the handkerchiefs for their jacket pockets. Following a quick search on the internet, I watched on as the three men leant over the tiny mobile phone screen trying to follow the instructions of an American girl with her own YouTube video. I took a few pictures before finally stepping in to help them. It was then onto the Zetter Townhouse to meet Kavita and spend some time photographing the ladies (and a slightly nervous looking father) as they casually and calmly enjoyed the moments before the wedding.

I loved that fact that Kavita hadn’t yet arranged transport to Islington Town Hall, preferring to hail a London cab on the streets of Clerkenwell. It was touch and go for a moment but thankfully a cabbie came to the rescue and we were on our way. On arrival I popped inside to see Matt, meet the registrars and capture some of the anticipation of the guests before the bride’s arrival. The whole ceremony was beautiful, with some really lovely readings. Then following a brief pitstop for a walk through the tranquil Wilmington Square, the couple joined their guests at Old Finsbury Town Hall for the wedding reception.

Old Finsbury Town Hall is a venue I’m extremely familiar with having photographed many weddings there in my time. Not only did I photograph the wedding of a very good friend on mine there, Old Finsbury Town Hall was also the venue of my first ever professional wedding and so it holds a very dear place in my heart. With the drinks reception in full swing I was able to mingle with the guests capturing some lovely real moments but my favourite pictures from this part of the day came when Kavita and Maya (the couple’s one year old daughter) spent some time hugging, kissing, walking and playing in the corridors just outside the main room.

This was short wedding day for me with no speeches or first dance to photograph so as the couple sat down to enjoy their meal, I bid them farewell and hopped in a cab to meet my wife for dinner to celebrate our own one year wedding anniversary.

Here are a few of my favourite photographs from Kavita and Matt’s Islington Town Hall wedding. If you’re planning a London wedding at Islington Town Hall and would like to discuss your own wedding photography, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

I first met Rebecca and Julian at a lovely little pub about 30 seconds from Burgh House in Hampstead. They were visiting Burgh House to sample their wedding menu and it seemed the perfect opportunity for me to pop along afterwards and discuss their photography. Fast forward a few months to Easter and we were back at Burgh House and Rebecca and Julian were getting married. I’ve shot weddings at Burgh House before and I love this little venue in the heart of Hampstead. It offers a really intimate setting for a couple’s special day.

The day actually started with bridal preparations at Home House in Portman Square. And what a room to get ready in. I could mention the colourful patterned walls, or the incredible light beaming through the window, but you’ll see all this for yourself in the pictures that follow. It was then onto Burgh House for ceremony, drinks, food and speeches. During the drinks reception Rebecca and Julian popped out for 15 minutes to visit Parliament Hill, the meeting place of their very first date, so I jumped in the Bentley with them and tagged along for the ride. This was a brave move on their part because just as we made our way from Burgh House the bright sunshine was swiftly replaced by strong winds and even a little bit of snow.

Home House played host to the evening celebrations where the couple and their guests were joined by even more friends and family, partying on into the night. Rebecca, Julian, it was an absolute pleasure to document your wedding day for you and I hope these pictures bring you many years of happiness.

Here’s a small selection of my favourites from the day along with a few words from the happy couple themselves.

If you’re looking for a London wedding photographer, I’d love to hear from you to discuss your wedding photography.

I’ve said it before, but I really do love a London wedding. Maybe it’s the diversity that they offer. The way I see it, London doesn’t have wedding venues per se, London has venues that also host weddings. This makes each and every one completely unique. Couples have total freedom to design the day their own way. On the morning of Helen and Vincent’s London wedding I made my way to meet Helen at Hotel Verta in Battersea, adjacent to the London Heliport and with panoramic views of the River Thames. The hotel has often been described as one of London’s most exclusive ‘Hidden Gems’.

Another of London’s hidden gems is St Mary’s Church in Battersea. Standing on the banks of the River Thames just off Battersea Church Road, this beautiful Grade 1 Georgian church is one you could easily miss were you not looking for it. Before photographing weddings here I actually never even knew this church existed. However, St Mary’s Church is a perfect host to any wedding ceremony with the balcony overlooking the main hall offering a rather unique vantage point. With some careful planning (and a couple of dry runs before) I was able to capture Helen arriving and stepping out of her car at ground level before making my way to the balcony for the sweeping aisle shot, showing off the train of her dress perfectly.

Following the beautiful ceremony it was back to Hotel Verta for drinks, dinner and dancing. And some fantastic Irish dancing at that. We even spotted the odd helicopter taking off from the nearby London Heliport. It was an absolute pleasure to document Helen and Vincent’s wedding and here is a small selection of my favourites telling the story of their day.

I love a London wedding, and this Kensington Roof Gardens wedding was no exception. Rebecca and Oli found me while searching for inspiration on one of the top UK wedding blogs and when I met up with Oli prior to the day I knew I was in for a treat. Both come from a theatrical background, as did many of their guests, which made for a very lively and entertaining day. I spent some time with both Oli and Rebecca prior to the ceremony, separately of course, and it was great being involved with both camps as the anticipation built. I even got to meet one of The Roof Gardens’ very own resident Flamingos.

Following a beautiful ceremony and some absolutely fantastic, emotional speeches, the evening celebrations arrived. Dancing erupted all over the floor, all generations there to join in the fun. It was a smashing day from start to finish and, like Rebecca and Oli, I just didn’t want it to end. Here’s a little taster of their day.

If you are planning a Kensington Roof Gardens wedding, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to discuss your photography.

I have been looking forward to sharing this Burgh House wedding for a while now. Claire and Craig are one of those couples who just exude love. It shows in every look and every touch. It was a pleasure watching them throughout the day and capturing the laughs, the smiles and the tender little moments of their day.

One of the things I love about being a reportage wedding photographer is travelling around the country visiting some of the best wedding venues in the UK. From barns to castles, grand halls to marquees, city centre registry offices to private members clubs, every wedding is unique and I love telling these stories. Having lived in London for over 10 years now I have a close affinity with this city so I am always pleased to be asked to photograph a London wedding, and this Burgh House wedding was no exception. The day started off with bridal preparations at the couples home in Hampstead before the bridal party made their way to St Marylebone Parish Church for the stunning wedding ceremony. Church weddings are great to photograph but it relies on having a good raport with the officiant in charge. Some will have their own rules about where the photographer can stand and which sections of the ceremony they can photograph. I talked Revd Evans through my documentary wedding photography style and he was fairly relaxed. He actually came up to me following the ceremony and informed me that I was “one of the most discreet photographers he had ever worked with”. This was a huge compliment to me, as this is always my aim on any wedding day.

The couple and their guests then waited (sheltered from the lashing rain) for the London Routemaster bus to collect them and take them to Burgh House in Hampstead for the wedding reception. There was a real mix of nationalities at this Burgh House wedding, with Claire being American and Craig from South Africa, which made for an exciting day that I was honoured to be a part of. A big thank you to Claire and Craig for having me along on their special day.

If you are planning your wedding at Burgh House in London, just get in touch to talk about your photography.

One of the great things about being a documentary wedding photographer is the diverse range of venues I find myself working at. From Georgian mansions to garden marquees, every wedding is unique and every venue an opportunity. Whilst some of my favourite ceremonies have taken place in registry offices and licensed venues, there is something special about a church wedding. Is it the traditional in me? Perhaps, although my own wedding took place in a house on the beach, so perhaps not.

When Hannah and Richard asked me to take their wedding photography at St Etheldreda’s and then afterwards at The Crypt underneath, I knew this was going to be a great wedding. Whilst some photographers run a mile (or reach for their flashgun) when faced with dark churches and candle lit receptions, I thrive on these conditions. I am all about ‘available light’ and so I use the light sources present on the day to translate the true mood and ambience of the day into pictures.

After a short visit to photograph Hannah getting ready at The Royal Society of Medicine, I made my way to meet Richard and his guests at St Etheldreda’s church in Holborn to photograph the last minute preparations and choir rehearsals. St Etheldreda’s has a wonderful balcony overlooking the main hall, on which Hannah and Richard had placed the musicians and singer. I was still able to squeeze up there and use this vantage point to get a couple of overhead shots of all the guests in church. Following the beautiful ceremony everyone made their way outside for champagne. Guests laughed, chatted and blew bubbles from mini champagne bottles.

Then it was down to The Crypt for the afternoon and evening reception. The Crypt is dark. Very dark. I was working close to the extremes of my equipment at several points of the reception but using the wonderful lighting coming from the alcoves, various spotlights and the candles all around I was able to create pictures that are a real reflection of the day itself.

 If you are planning a wedding at St Etheldreda’s and The Crypt just get in touch to talk about your photography.

When Louise and Ben asked me to take their wedding photography at The Savoy I was filled with excitement. Well, who wouldn’t be? It is The Savoy after all. Of all the fine venues I have had the privilege of photographing weddings at, The Savoy in London is right up there with the best of them. I made sure I was suitably dressed for the occasion. In fact, I was probably more smartly dressed for this wedding than I was for my own wedding the following week. But I digress…

With all weddings, I try to capture the ambience of the day, giving the couple a timeless collection of photographs telling the story of their special day. As a documentary wedding photographer I am always respectful of the wedding itself. I never interfere or instigate any kind of action, I record what happens naturally in front of me. The whole of Louise and Ben’s day was beautiful and classy; from the bridal preparations at O’Sullivan’s, the ceremony and drinks reception in the Pinafore room, to the evening meal in the Savoy Grill overlooking Savoy Court. And so my photography style was a perfect fit for their day.

Although I was told by Louise and Ben that this would be a slightly quieter affair with around 35 guests and no dancing in the evening, the extremely entertaining swing singer they hired did manage to get everyone up for a twirl or two in the afternoon. This was great fun to observe, and to photograph.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking Louise and Ben’s wedding photography at The Savoy and here are a few of my favourites from their special day. Oh, and if you look very closely you’ll even see me in one of them.

If you are getting married at The Savoy London why not get in touch to chat about your photography.

I have taken reportage wedding photography at Old Finsbury Town Hall before, right at the start of my career in fact. So I was delighted when Sara and Nick asked me to document their day, not only because it gave me the chance to return to such a stunning wedding venue and document the wedding of a wonderful couple, but also because Nick is both a friend and a wedding photographer himself. And a mighty fine wedding photographer he is too. It actually came up in the speeches that he owes this in part to Sara as before they met, Nick expressed his creativity as a writer. It was only when Sara mentioned that photography was her favourite form of art that Nick picked up the camera. Scuttle forward a few years and look at him now. I have worked with Nick in the past and although our styles are somewhat different, we share a similar ethos and photojournalistic approach. Being asked to photograph his wedding was both a compliment and an honour.

The day started at The Rookery Hotel in Clerkenwell where Sara’s bridal preparations took place. Being a makeup artist herself she had chosen to apply her own wedding makeup and this made a really interesting change for me. Once ready, Sara left The Rookery and walked the streets by Smithfields Market to hail herself a Licensed London Taxi to take her to her wedding ceremony. This humanist ceremony at The Round Chapel in Clapton, East London was one of the most relaxed and fun services I have attended, complete with a rendition of 80s classic ‘Islands in the Stream’. From there it was on to the reception for some more reportage wedding photography at Old Finsbury Town Hall. Following a short drinks reception, Sara and Nick went for a walk around the local streets by Old Finsbury Town Hall and they asked me to join them. This was a chance for them to spend some quiet alone time as husband and wife, but also proved a great opportunity for me to get some lovely relaxed photographs with Exmouth Market as the backdrop. It’s quite surreal watching a couple walking along the High Street in suit and wedding dress, but Sara and Nick didn’t bat an eyelid. They were ‘in the moment’ and loving every minute. Once back with their guests at Old Finsbury Town Hall cue speeches, tears, laughter, an incredible Indian wedding breakfast, live music and tap dancing, a broken smoke machine, a whole load of dancing and even more laughter. All in all a simply wonderful day. Congratulations Sara and Nick, you are perfect together.

“Thank you Steven for our wonderful, beautiful (pure reportage – not one single posed shot) photos – you gave us the best lasting memory ever”

As ever, here are some of my favourite photographs from the day. I say ‘some’, there are actually around 100 or so images here which is much more than I have ever blogged before. But this wasn’t your ordinary wedding for me.

If you are planning your wedding at Old Finsbury Town Hall just get in touch to discuss your photography.

After looking through all my pictures from last year, I came across a few weddings which stood out to me as being incredible fun but also highly challenging to document. So I would like to share a few of them here on my blog.

First up is the Civil Partnership of Anthony and George which took place at Old Finsbury Town Hall in London, my first time as a London Wedding Photographer. Originally Anthony and George had decided against having a wedding photographer as George doesn’t particularly like having his picture taken and the thought of being asked to ‘pose here’ and ‘smile there’ filled him with dread. However, I reassured the couple they wouldn’t spend a single second posing for the camera, leaving them free to enjoy their day with each other and their guests.

George is Scottish. And for their big day, he and Anthony had organised a Ceilidh, which for those who don’t know is an evening of traditional Highland dancing. Tremendous fun, but as light levels dropped, my reactions and my camera system were tested to their limits as I bopped, weaved and circled the dancers, desperately trying to avoid too much subject movement. I don’t use flash, preferring instead to shoot by available light. This helps me remain discreet, but also helps capture the true mood and ambience of a situation.

The final part of the evening entertainment was Anthony and George’s favourite Drag Act, the wonderful Rose Garden. She wasted no time in embarrassing the guests with cheeky remarks and playful banter, and even had a few of them showcasing their not so amazing hula-hoop skills. Hilarious stuff, well done Rose.

Here is some of my favourite Old Finsbury Town Hall Civil Partnership Photography from the day, all taken with my discreet, documentary photography style.

See more more another wedding at Old Finsbury Town Hall here.