This photograph was taken at Elizabeth and Austin’s wedding at Liverpool Town Hall in August 2008. I really enjoyed this wedding and took quite a few photographs which I was particularly proud of, but this one is definitely my favourite.

It was taken in Liverpool Town Hall’s large ballroom during the couple’s first dance.  It is one of those unposed emotional moments that would be almost impossible to set up. Elizabeth and Austin look so happy and everything in the shot, from the emotion of the bride and groom’s faces to the candles in the background, just fell right at that moment.

As well as myself, Elizabeth & Austin also hired a videographer to capture their wedding and whilst I was talking photographs the videographer was also on the dance floor filming.  The videographer was using a video light on his video camera and it is this light which is lighting up Elizabeth’s veil and giving the rim of light around the couple’s faces.  I think this really makes the image and it is an effort I have recreated at many weddings since by using off-camera flash.

To get an unposed photograph as strong as this also requires quite a bit of luck.  For example I wasn’t consciously trying to position myself so that the candles in the background were just in the frame – but I’m thankful they were as they give the image depth and warmth.

This photograph was awarded a Gold Award in the wedding traditional category in the SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers) monthly competition and was also featured in the SWPP’s ‘Annual Collection 2008′ publication which contained the top 3 images per category submitted to the SWPP’s monthly competition in 2008.  To have one of my wedding photographs included in the collection was a real honour.

In my opinion, this is certainly the best first dance shot I have ever taken but I will being doing my very best to beat it in the future!

Earlier this month I photographed Jane & Ged’s wedding at Liverpool Town Hall.

Liverpool Town Hall is one of my favourite wedding venues. It is absolutely beautiful inside and the staff there are always very helpful and friendly so I had been looking forward to this wedding for a while.

The day started with some wedding photographs of Jane and her bridesmaids getting ready at the nearby Atlantic Hotel. Jane, who looked stunning, had been quite nervous about having her photograph taken but within a few minutes I think she had forgotten I was there, which was great

After the ceremony in the Town Hall we went to St. George’s Hall in Liverpool city centre for photographs of Jane, Ged and the bridesmaids. St. George’s Hall is a fantastic venue for wedding photographs and we got some really nice shots on the stairs and in the gardens.

To Jane and Ged – Congratulations to you both again! I really enjoyed working with you on your wedding day, thank you for making me feel so welcome. I know that Jane had some reservations about havnig her photograph taken so I hope I made the day as fun as possible for you and I’m really pleased you like your wedding photographs – I told you there was nothing to worry about! I wish you a very long and happy marriage together.

As a Manchester wedding photographer, I was pleased to learn today that I have been awarded a Gold award in the SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers) monthly competition.

The wedding photograph which received the award was a reworked version of a photograph I took at a Liverpool Town Hall wedding earlier in the year.

This is the second gold award I have received since I started entering the competition in April this year but it is my first in a wedding photography category so I’m very pleased.

My aim for 2009 will be to get more golds within the wedding photography categories, it won’t be easier but I will be covering weddings at some lovely venues next year so I’m confident I can do it!

In August this year I photographed Elizabeth & Austin’s wedding at Liverpool Town Hall.

Shortly before the wedding Elizabeth had been named the Liverpool Town Hall Bride of the Year 2008 and whilst we were taking the formal group photographs the Mayor of Liverpool made time to say hello to Elizabeth and Austin in person and, much to everybody’s surprise, present them each with a personalised bride and groom “superlambanana”. The Superlambanana has become the unofficial symbol of Liverpool during the Capital of Culture and Elizabeth loved them so she was obviously delighted with the gift!

I recently received this lovely note from Elizabeth and Austin thanking me for their photographs:

To Neil,

Thank you so much for the amazing job you did at our wedding. We love the photos so much that our only problem was choosing our favourites! Everyone has commented on how lovely you were and how fantastic the photos are. We can’t wait to see the album.

With thanks and best wishes, Elizabeth & Austin

As a Manchester wedding photographer it was a pleasure to work with Elizabeth and Austin, they really are a lovely couple and I wish them all the very best for their future together. I have posted below some photographs from their Liverpool Town Hall wedding – including the Mayor of Liverpool presenting them with their Superlambananas!