Collection 11 winners
Tariq and Serien are one of my loyal clients. I've known Tariq since we were in high school and had the pleasure to meet his wife two years ago while shooting their engagement party. Serien is a detail oriented person and convincing her to lay down on the floor, with her beautiful red gown, few hours before their engagement party was a big challenge for me. However, her passion for art and her true belief in me made it a bit easier. I can still remember the smile on her face saying " It was totally worth it”.
As for the story of the second image of the tree. Towards the end of 2015 I was at a wedding near a golf course and spotted this large but lone tree. All day it was in my mind and I kept thinking of how I could use this tree in an image. But with the light fading, I decided the only way was to light it up and be creative. I had to use 3-speed lights behind the tree/couple on a tri-sync, to speed the light around and into the tree. A fourth light was placed in front of the couple to light them up. So after a little setup and some test shots, I got the couple out and well the rest is history! I love the challenge of creating something unique for each couple with light and so pleased the image became a reality.
This photo was taken at one of our favorite spots in the Netherlands. For the wedding shoot we decided to bring a typical Dutch bicycle. The combination of the beautiful light and the sweet and georgous couple Arjan and Anouk, resulted in this beautiful photo
Shooting my best friend's engagement was totally different.
I've know him since we were in Kindergarten, thus they could not stop laughing whenever they looked at me. The freezing cold weather outside made it more difficult for the three of us! However, knowing your clients well is the secret weapon that will make you stand out. Omar loves landscape images, so I thought he'd be very happy to be part of a landscape shot. Congrats my friend.
A classic shot of the brave couple facing the legendary British weather. No sun-drenched tropical destinations here! A single light behind the couple in the pitch-black darkness with a wide angle lens to capture as much rain as possible. I am a huge fan of negative space, as you can see. I kept them outside for only two minutes before we fled back indoors to safety, but very pleased we captured this result.
This beautiful couple tied the knot in front of their 2 best friends at The Kings Park Bluff, located on the North Shore of Long Island where the Nissequogue River meets with the Long Island Sound.
Sights of dunes amongst the thick woods and high cliffs were one of the things that inspired us to choose this site. This great views and the raw nature were the perfect backdrop for this adorable duo. Their intimate elopement was nothing short of romantic as it was filled with heartfelt vows to one another, tears of joy and uncontrollable bursts of laughter.
This wedding took place in the magical land of San Cristobal, in the Venezuelan Andes Mountain Range. The ceremony was held in a beautiful church in the colonial town of Peribeca, where family, friends and residents of this colourful village, witnessed the emblematic act of military ceremonies: The Arch of sables. After the ceremony, the colleagues chosen to form the arch, drew their swords crossing their tips to form a tunnel, and then the newlyweds walk under the arch toward the exit. This photograph was taken at that precise moment.
It was quite an spectacle to observe such emotional and flamboyant moment. I thank God for letting me know this wonderful couple, I´m grateful for my team of that day, Trino and Sebastian and specially my beautiful wife Oriana who´s always supported me and also performs this beautiful career behind a camera.
This photo was taken in a unique area in Pecs, called Zsolnay-negyed. We decided to take a walk around the church area, and stumbled upon this beautiful balcony. I asked them to go up there and just stay put for a picture, and that is when I saw the perfect composition. With the groom smiling naturally on the brides walk, with her big, heavy gown. Fortunately, I was able to capture this magnificent moment, even though initially I had something else in mind. Moreover, the picture also turned out to be the couple's favorite.
It was typical Finnish summer day: cold and rainy. When we arrived at the church the rain stopped.
We were lucky! There were a lot of tourists but we achieved to capture this peaceful moment.
The photo was taken at Casa Loma in Toronto. I really enjoy beautiful architecture which this location definitely has. I was trying to capture their intimate moment and showcase Casa Loma at the same time.
Shooting in the UK can be challenging. Our weather is very unpredictable. I always set off with the kit and belief that the weather will be a challenge. I visited the location 24 hours before the wedding and knew that I wanted to head to the poppy fields with Jess and Sam but what would the weather do? It was glorious. We went out in early evening after the meal and speeches as the sun was getting lower. I shot into the light to give the image a hazy and intimate feel. My images are always about the relationship between the subjects and not about the camera.
Chris and Carolyn were wed in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside at the stunning Star Inn in Harome and this image was actually the final frame I took at their wedding.
They’d told me that photography was important to them both and during a pre-wedding meeting Carolyn had mentioned how much she loved the films of Darren Aronofsky - especially 'The Fountain’. Taking that as inspiration I set them both up in an amazing terrace covered in fairy lights and with a bit of help from a gelled flash managed to capture the guys enjoying a quiet moment together.
In the end of September 2015 we were allowed to accompany the wedding of Leni and Andreas in Lunz am See, Austria. Back then, we agreed to do an additional after wedding shoot at Lunzer See in the upcoming winter. Finally, at the beginning of January, the time was right. it had been snowing heavily the night before and even throughout the day it never even paused – ideal conditions. Thanks Leni & Andreas for persevering despite the tough conditions!
This beautiful couple decided to stop off at this wonderful beach in Kent before heading on to meet their family at the reception. As the sun was setting over the stunning white stone cliffs the newly married couple gazed lovingly at each other and this moment was captured.
This photo was taken at Eastington Park in the Cotswolds. Earlier on in the day I walked up the stairs and noticed the contrast between the yellow stairs and black carpet. Laura and Paul we're such a fun and relaxed couple, all I had to do was let symmetry do the rest. I lit couple lit with a small flash, which a member of the party held for me.
This was a lovely wedding on the end of the summer, on one of the islands in the north of the Netherlands, Texel. The weather was lovely, really sunny and still a nice temperature.
They preferred just a short shoot in the dunes after the ceremony in a little church, first with their little toddler (how cute he was!) and then together. We had like 10 minutes to shoot and the light was magical.
The groom was so in love, and so happy with his bride, they were just hugging and kissing and then he lifted her, a very precious moment.
This photo was actually the last photo from a 3 day shoot. The whole day was rainy and cloudy, which in Northern England is a fair day. Just after sunset, the sky lit up. It was incredible! The light was changing so fast that I barely could setup the tree flashes needed to light up the tower and door. The location, Fountains Abbey, was so breathtaking and the light at the end of that day was memorable. I have been told by the groom that he visited a print studio that teased him/me about the amount of photoshop used in this photo. We both have a laugh at that. I can’t wait to get back to England.
They have discovered the world together and lived in many different places around the globe. Laura and Mike said I Do along the Pacific Ocean and invited their closest friends and family to join to share a day full of joy, happiness, and love.
This is possibly one of my personal favourite images from last year. Although I had a lot of favourites, this one always stands out for me. Last Summer, Katie and Charlie, got married at The Knowle Country House, Higham, Kent. They wanted a very relaxed day with photos that were unobtrusive but yet captured the enjoyment and atmosphere of their day. <br />
When it came to doing the traditional confetti shot I knew I had to do something different once I had found out that the guests had party poppers! I decided I was going to take the picture in reverse and photograph the guests' reactions whilst they blast the couple with the party poppers and confetti.
In order to document a Wedding properly, I like to think of myself as a guest at a wedding, looking in on the action. That is how I go about capturing every Wedding I shoot, from a guest's point of view. For me I love this image, as it does just that; it sums up Katie and Charlie's special day from the perspective of their guests.
Every so often, as a wedding photographer, you will meet a couple who are so in love with each other, that you do not have to direct their actions or pose them at all. Liz and John was that couple for me. As an alumnus of Penn State University, this photo is very near and dear to my heart. Lizz and John's romantic first look was shot on Penn State campus, and it was a gorgeous, hot summer day, where we spent the morning searching for shade. When this photo was taken, the sun had went down just enough to make a shot in the garden possible. The best part about the photo is that the staff actually approached us and told us we weren't allowed to do photos there, but when I explained that we were all former students, they gave us a little leeway! I love looking at photos, but the story behind them is often the best part, and is often kept a secret, unintentionally, from everyone except the photographer and the subject in the photo. I am so blessed to share this story with the rest of the world.