Wedding photography has evolved. It’s not the same as it once was. Sure, there are still plenty of more traditional wedding photographers providing a more formal service. But a whole new style of wedding photography has emerged. This documentary style wedding photography seeks to do more than just record who was there and what they were wearing. It seeks to capture the very fabric of the day. The emotions, the love, the laughter, the big moments and the little moments in between.

When photographing weddings I like to push myself to deliver something unique. Unconventional wedding photography. Things that perhaps another photographer wouldn’t see or capture. Little snapshots of the day that could easily get forgotten if they weren’t preserved in print. I’m not talking about irrelevant details, but little things that played a part in the day.

This picture doesn’t look much like a wedding photograph. It’s pretty unconventional in that it doesn’t include the bride, groom or any guests at all. It’s not a detail shot and it doesn’t even include the venue per se. But there’s something I really like about this photograph taken at Notley Abbey in Buckinghamshire. The horse in question overlooked the entire wedding day, albeit somewhere off in the distance. Since he was witness to the couple’s beautiful outdoor ceremony I came back to revisit him later that day. Whilst guests were celebrating, our horse was grazing. Not a care in the world. A bit like the happy couple that evening.

This picture will make a wonderful scene setting image within the couple’s album as we move from the afternoon celebrations into the evening shenanigans. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

For photographers: Taken using a Canon 5D Mark III with the Canon 135mm f/2L.