Seeking The Light
Seeking The Light
When I look for images to capture, I always look for the light first and foremost. Using light in this way enables me to capture images that are both authentic, but also uniquely creative too. This I believe is but one of the many things that tends to separate my work from that of others, especially in my home county of Shropshire. This comes about from my past as an illustrator and artist. I didn't move over to photography from another field of expertise, it has always been a part of what I do, an extension to my illustrations and drawings. It was only when I finally setup PbArtWorks that my more creative photography came to prominence. Now I love taking my camera, my creative eye, and capturing what I hope are images that will inspire and be loved, for years to come.
Above we have a simple scene, bathed in glorious light, Matthew and Natalie are one of life's most gorgeous of couples. They booked me an absolute eternity ago...I have only just finished editing their wedding, here are a few more from their stunning wedding at The Wroxeter Hotel.
I truly live my life around my images...drawing, painting...capturing beautiful people on their most special of days. Life is truly blessed. Here is more of that sumptuous light...as Natalie reaches down to collect her bouquet I spied that light...this is just so heavenly.
Light, The Light...It's All About The Light
This is so true, but it's also about you...my couples, these images are for you, and create something special I will. Those perfect moments that make up a wedding day are so important to me that I honestly will not rest...this is true come rain, come shine.
Heidi and Dan taking a stroll at their recent wedding. This is so beautiful as the light was perfect, but so too was the setting on Dan's parents farm over in North Wales.
Another recent image, again over in North Wales, this time for Matthew and Jennifer's big day. I always ask permission prior to the wedding, explaining to the officiator how I work, how unobtrusive I am. They nearly, though not always, allow me to work my magic. Signing the register can be a bit of an issue. But as you can clearly see, this is a picture of a beautiful bride on her wedding day...no registers were harmed in the making of this image!!
I have often been told my images have a beauty about them, a sense of time and authenticity. This is who I am, I capture natural, unforced, moments of joy.
Sadness too...but also pride:
Genuine and honest wedding photography is the order of the day, zero interference just candid and natural with any eye for light. Here is a tender moment between Father and daughter. Each time I capture this it is with a sense of empathy, empathy with the Father. who's love knows no bounds, and with the daughter who's love is, like her Father's, one that is given unconditionally.
Read more about Natalie's Story here, with even more beautifully lit images from just one section of her gorgeous wedding day > NATALIE'S STORY
What! No Light?
What if it rains, what if the light is flat and boring?
Simples, I bring my own light.
Emily + Chris enjoying a quiet moment at the amazing Tyn Dwr Hall, for more on their wedding please check out their blog here > CHRIS + EMILY
Caeley + Jack at the formidable Mill Barn's, for more about their beautiful wedding please check this out > CAELEY + JACK
Sensitive and beautiful, the mists after rain storms....using a passing car's headlights helped me to create something rather magical. Check out Alastair's and Sarah's big day here > ALASTAIR + SARAH
As you can see, I love light, I love using it to create something so special for all my couples. It is something I have used for many years as a tool to create drama, atmosphere and ambience. I hope you have enjoyed this brief look at my more creative work. If you have any questions please do leave them below in the comments and I will get back to you.
Now go find that light!!
Natalie's Story
A Wedding Day Story
No flash please
I love nothing more than telling a story, for me a wedding day is a book...it has a beginning, a middle, and an end....and within those chapters are the pages.
Candid Photography is about stepping out....taking a look back, anticipating and being ready, seeing the image before the image happens is key.
Observational moments.
Here Natalie is creating her own moment as she spies on her Husband to be and all their guests. I am sure over the years Natalie will look back at this image, recall how she felt...and remember it exactly as it was. That is the true power of photography....and the beauty of natural, unforced, story telling. Flash would kill the ambience, the atmosphere, the love, it would...trust me.
As the story progresses we move to the preparations for what is undoubtedly one of my own personal favourite parts of the day....the reveal. Wether this is to your Dad, Brother, Mother...best friend. Whomever...those first moments are always beautiful.
It's all about empathy
Documentary Wedding Photography
Sarah + Alastair's Ellesmere Wedding
North Wales and Shropshire Wedding Photography
A Thundery Ellesmere Wedding
What a day of contrast this was, a perfect wedding with the most amazing thundery skies. All across the country people witnessed these storms, the likes of which I'm pretty sure we have not seen for a long time, and most likely won't see again for quite a while.
Given the heat of the Summer we all enjoyed, this was indeed on the more cooler side of things. Thankfully the wedding was simply just beautiful, the marquee was stunningly decorated and the service was to be held in my own hometown of Ellesmere, at the incredible, Ellesmere College.
All this was just perfect and rightly so, with Sarah making for an amazingly beautiful bride and a very sincerely gorgeous one too.
Alongside her was her equally wonderful partner, Alastair, and their lovely little daughter, Ottilie.
Here a massive thunderclap drew our short "couple" session to a close...we could see the dark ominous clouds gathering, and the distant rumbles...then suddenly it was overhead....BOOM!!!!
The Storm Passes
As the clouds and rain departed, we were left with the most amazing mists, as a car drove along the road behind them, this was the effect, pure magic!
This was one of the last images from this evening walk, and to this day remains one of my firm favourites too, Sarah and Alastair wanted their photography to be relaxed and informal but also slightly creative. I do hope you guys feel they got exactly what they longed for, I know they have some beautiful moments to treasure and to look back on in years to come.
I will leave you to enjoy the remaining images I have selected to show off this gorgeous couples amazing Shropshire wedding. If you are interested in chatting about your own special day, please do get in touch.
Phil x
Goldstone Hall Wedding
Kim + Ryan
A Goldstone Hall Wedding Day
One of my own personal favourites from Kim and Ryan's beautiful winter wedding at Goldstone Hall
A Winter Wedding
Most of my entries here are about weddings, and this is no exception, except this is an example of an album that I have just today finished. The wedding itself took place at Goldstone Hall, in Shropshire, way back in February of this year. Kim and Ryan booked me for just a few hours for their beautiful intimate winter's wedding. It was a bit wet, it snowed a little, but the images we created still are just wonderful. These are but a small selection of their images from the wedding , that made their way into the album.I always encourage couples to have something more permanent for their memories to be put into, albums are very affordable and always make for beautiful keepsakes. Just call me old fashioned, but I like nothing more than that tactile feel, the coolness of the photographic paper, the soft leather, the aroma as years go by, of the cover as the box is opened by eyes that have yet to see it, and by those who have seen it for many years.
I do hope you enjoy seeing these few images taken from a more comprehensive selection. It is always a joy to create an image that resonates with my couples, and will hopefully help you see that as well as being creative and artistic, the more natural images are aslo captured as well as some more "formal" ones too.
For more information on my approach please do check these out:
Phil
A Window In Time
Telling The Story
Let's talk influences....if you're a photographer or another creative, who are yours? Mine come from the little dutch masters, Rembrandt being an obvious one..but also Vermeer alongside such notable great Brits like Hogarth.
As far as photographers go....I really don't have any whom I really look to apart from a few obvious ones.
Here's a very recent edit that shows my love of Chiaroscuro which features heavily in my work.
This gorgeous light was typical of this past summers weddings. I was so pleased when I spotted the signing table, it’s perfectly positioned for my creation to happen. Being in the right place just as the beautiful Jenny reached down to sign was my decisive moment. Asking permission and explaining to the wonderful vicar how I would work in the church that day, allowed me the freedom to take this...discreet and respectful at all times 
👌
For the technical people out there this image was taken using a new Sony A73....a mirrorless camera that really has taken my approach to wedding documentary and turned it upside down. More on this beautiful little camera later. In the meantime please do let me know your thoughts in the comments below 
👍
P