Hazel & Pete's Post Wedding shoot - Lake District

Hazel originally from the Lake District & Pete from Carlisle, what better place to head for their post shoot than west!

We left sunny Newcastle & headed west to the Lake District. A couple of hours later arrived along with heavy storm clouds & rain! After some lunch & a bit scout about for ideal locations to shoot, the sun came out but we could see this wasn't going to last very long & so quickly got to the first location when the rain came down. Thankfully it was very windy & the rain passed quite quickly.

With the shots captured we headed off to the next location & again it rained & we had to sit it out! The entire day was heavy rain then glorious sun on & off.

We headed down to the pier at sunset which was the real shot I wanted, however due to the clouds there was no sunset, although there were some great stormy clouds with some light. Personally I now think the stormy sky makes for a better image than the sunset would have been.

Here are some of the images from their shoot.

Hazel & Pete's Wedding - Chillingham Castle

I first met Hazel & Pete last year & found them to be a great couple to get along with. I have been quite excited about this wedding all year as Chillingham castle is such a fabulous place & of course said to be the UK's most haunted castle. Hazel showed me some of her images taken of inside the apartment she would be staying at, the pics where full of orbs which are said to be spirits. This really intrigued me & I couldnt wait to capture some uninvited guests on camera!!

This castle really is superb & you can really feel what it must have been like back in its day.

Hazel, Pete & their guests stayed at the castle the evening before & were all part of the ghost tour (I certainly would have liked to have joined them for that). I arrived early the next day ready to photograph the bridal preparations. Hazel was very calm & just went with the flow while the make up artists & hair stylists fussed with the bridesmaids. When I went over to see Pete he was slightly hungover sat over a fried breakfast.

More guests arrived just before the ceremony & after some final touches, Hazel was ready. The ceremony was in the main hall which looks out onto the front lawned gardens. Hazel looked beautiful & I deliberately looked to Pete when she turned & walked down the aisle to see his smile. That smile melted my heart.

After the ceremony everyone gathered on the lawn for drinks & to congratulate the happy couple. Some gathered over by the summer house & played croquet while others just sat & relaxed in the red hot sun. The usual group shots were done then it was time for the wedding breakfast. After shooting the speeches I decided to go into the Italian gardens & shoot some details.

We later headed up to the lake a short walk from the castle & well worth it for its beauty. After half an hour with the bride & groom we headed back to the castle ready for the evening guests & the band to arrive (the drummer being Brett the Bestman).

After shooting the first dance & some shots of the band it was time for me to go. All day (while it was light) I had forgotten all about the fact that this castle is said to be haunted but my God, how different you feel when it's dark. I stood at the front of the castle with the woods behind me taking a picture at night with a long exposure & felt quite worried & scared as it was pitch black & some of the noises coming from them woods were rather strange. When I got my shot I dont think I've ever ran so fast with all my kit slumped over my shoulders & continuously pressing the key for my car lights to flash so I could see where I'd parked it! I've never seen it so dark.

I'm looking forward to taking Hazel & Pete over to the lake district at the end of the month for their post shoot!

Hazel & Pete

Another early start! I find for beach shots an early start is best as there are very few if at all any dog walkers about & the light at this time of day is great. We started the shoot on the rocks at Tynemouth, waiting for the sun to rise while the tide was coming in fast!!!! After the sunrise shots & almost breaking our necks on the slippery rocks we headed to the next location. We stopped for coffee & a chat about the wedding schedule & generally just to get to know each other better. Hazel & Pete will be married at Chillingham castle in August. Chillingham castle is renowned for its ghosts & famous for being the Uk's most haunted place! When I first met Hazel & Pete they told me stories of orbs & faces in windows that others including Hazel herself had caught on camera. I didn't really believe at first until recently viewing one of Hazel's images taken from a room inside the castle were an orb has appeared. After a little research into Chillingham, I have since come across more of these orbs! I"m quite excited to see if we manage to capture these orbs in some of the wedding pictures or even better a face in a window. I have been warned that the spooks at Chillingham have a tendency to drain camera batteries so I will be taking plenty of spares just incase!!!!! Below are just some of the images from Hazel & Pete's pre-wedding shoot.