Joe

Bickerton

This couple celebrated their English / Indian fusion wedding at Delamere Manor in Cheshire with colourful smoke flares as golden hour started in June 2022. Rather than shoot tightly, I used a wider 28mm lens to capture the sky and gardens at the Manor which added the the drama of the image!

This couple shot was taken at the West Tower in Lancashire. It was one of those summer evenings in June 2022 where the sun emerged from the clouds and hit the horizon well after the first dance - and gave us about 7-8 minutes before it disappeared! Using a simple OCF at 1/2 power to light the couple, shooting at F16, 200s.

Laura & Craig’s pre wedding shoot at golden hour. As the sun set over Liverpool bay, I caught this intimate moment on an 85mm at around f5.6 to catch the flare.

This shot at the Grosvenor Pulford in Chester, UK was taken at sunset, although as the sun had just disappeared, I used a Magmod OCF with a 1/4CTO gel to create the sun flare to the left of the couple. I also keep the camera low to the water to create the reflection.

I love using smoke flares and this shot, taken at Tyn Dwr Hall in Wales, UK was full of colour and love. I like the way my couple are in a moment, whilst all around them is vibrancy, happiness and fun!

Amy & Tom's pre-wedding shoot. This beach on the Wirral, England has incredible sunsets. Amy & Tom are lit by an OCF flash - probably on 1/128 power with a mag-grid, allowing me to lower the exposure of the overall image to try and preserve some of the sun's highlights.

Shane & Tanya enjoying a sunset walk at their wedding venue in Powys, Wales. I spotted this opportunity at the foot of the hill and particularly like the peak of their wedding tipi just to the left of the couple too.

A simple OCF behind this couple at Colshaw Hall in Cheshire, England really enabled me to shoot at a low exposure revealing the intimacy of the candlelight and symmetry of the beautiful wedding barn lighting.

This staircase at Thornton Hall always lends itself to a 15mm wide shot. Rachel was lit with an OCF light set at 1/64 in front of her, with a second OCF to my right at 1/128 lighting the back of the dress. The 15mm lens was used to capture the ornate skylight and capture the flowing lines of the staircase too. Thanks for the award Wedisson!

This shot was taken at Eaves Hall in Lancashire and suggested by my friend and incredible photographer Neil Redfern as part of his workshop. Shot through some glasswear, Demi & James are lit by one OCF with a 1/4 CTO gel, with the glasses lit by a purple OCF gel to create the colourful bokeh.

Delamere Manor in Cheshire has a beautiful fairy light ceiling curtain and I used this and an OCF with a red gel to create this silhouette of Charlotte & John - shooting through some candles to create the foreground bokeh.

Katherine's elegant dress just lent itself to being displayed on the staircase at Tyn Dwr Hall in North Wales. This shot was taken with an OCF light at 1/64 power just in front of the bride.

This is Laura & Craig on their pre-weddings hoot on Formby beach, Merseyside, UK/. I shot this on a 35mm across some water left behind by the tide on the beach - I really love the connection between them both and the reflection of the dramatic sky.

This is Lauren & Shaun - taken on their wedding day at Tyn Dwr Hall in North Wales, UK. For the last shot of the evening, I always try and take a backlit portrait. Despite the heavy rain - Lauren was really up for this and with a flash set to half power placed behind the couple, we achieved this shot with the raindrops illuminated against the colourful up lights of the hall.

This is Laura & Craig on their pre-wedding shoot at Formby Beach, Merseyside, UK. We were lucky to get such a great sunset on the evening - and after the low tide receded, I placed them directly in front of the sun to achieve this silhouette. It also just happened that a passing dog got in on the act - but I think this adds a touch of interest to the image!