Liz and Luke chose me as their Norwood Park wedding photographer at the height of summer. I loved that they got married outside under the bandstand, they certainly made the most of the summer heat, and I made the most of taking wedding photos in Nottingham around Norwood Park and its stunning setting!
This post will highlight how I created original photos at this gorgeous wedding venue.
I always arrive well in advance of the ceremony to find inspiration for the day and pre-visualise photos. It’s a mission of mine at every wedding to go beyond capturing the ‘safe’ expected shots. I always aim to exceed expectations and get the ‘how did he get that?’ photo, and this Norwood Park wedding was no exception.
While observing the groomsmen making last-minute wedding ceremony plans together under Norwood Park’s bandstand, I thought it would be cool if I could use the arches of the structure to frame the bride as she made her way down the aisle
So I practised a few compositions in readiness for the bride’s arrival. The best option was to lift my camera above my head to capture as much of the setting as possible. Good shots don’t just happen; they take a little forethought. Here’s the resulting photo
Staying with the groomsmen for a moment, they got ready in one of the many suites at Norwood Park, accessible via a grand staircase, and this is where I captured a photo that won an award from the Wedding Photojournalist Association.
Photographing groom prep is always a challenge because the guys get suited and booted in a flash, and a lot of things happen at once with shirts and ties flying everywhere. So, as a photographer, you don’t have much time to work with, and it’s not an aspect of the day that can be photographed at every wedding (unless the bride and groom are getting ready on the same site).
But I apply the same approach to documenting this part of the day as I do to any other. I pre-visualise the shot I want, compose the frame, and patiently wait for everything to come together while shooting through the moment until I capture the idea that I have in mind. Where I can, I try to fill the frame with as much as possible, and I aim to create depth by using guests to frame other guests.
I won’t at any point in a wedding say – ‘Oh, could you repeat that for me?’ or ‘Could we move over to the other side of the room to do what you’re about to do?’ I don’t direct or reposition people, I just want guests to crack on without thinking about what they ‘should’ be doing to help me. This was one of the reasons Liz and Luke booked me as their Norwood Park wedding photographer.
Wedding Ceremony at Norwood Park
A string duo entertained guests on arrival for the ceremony, and this provided an opportunity to capture the bridesmaids making their entrance from a different perspective. Rather than getting the standard (boring) shot taken bottom of the aisle, I thought it would be cool to get a photo of them walking past the string duo as they made their entrance.
I hope this has given you a little insight into what makes me think as a documentary wedding photographer. Feel free to flick through the rest of my Norwood Park wedding photos.
If you don’t want a run-of-the-mill photographer for your Norwood Park wedding, you have come to the right place because taking bland and uninspired photos is not something I do.
Couples love my relaxed approach to photography that allows me to document your day completely un-staged. If that sounds like the experience you want to have on your wedding day, get in touch. I would love to hear from you.
Cheers, Nathan
About Norwood Park Weddings
As soon as you arrive at Norwood Park, you realise just how immense this exclusive-use Nottinghamshire wedding venue is! It has over 175 acres of parkland, a lake and an apple orchard! So there are plenty of options if you want some relaxed photos of just the two of you.
One of the things that I like is that the bride and groom can get ready on-site, allowing your photographer to photograph both sides of the pre-wedding moments.
The Long Gallery, situated in what used to be a stable and a Coach House, has a 160-guest capacity. As for the evening celebrations, there’s a Marquee with a permanent bar, dancefloor, and stage, together with access via several French doors to the private courtyard.