The Ashes Barn Wedding Photography | A Fun & Relaxed Staffordshire Wedding
There are some wedding venues that are just made for documentary wedding photography, and The Ashes Barn near Leek in Staffordshire is definitely one of them.
With its beautiful rustic setting and lovely outdoor spaces, it has everything you need for a relaxed countryside wedding, particularly when the sun decides to make an appearance.
And on this particular day, it did just that.
I was back working alongside my good friend and fellow photographer Deb Stott, which is always a pleasure. We work together really well and, as usual, there was plenty of laughter behind the cameras as we captured the day.
A wedding full of personality
One of my favourite things about this wedding was the bridal party.
They were brilliant.
There was such a fun atmosphere amongst the girls, and they brought plenty of personality to the photographs. There was definitely a bit of girl power going on, and they looked fantastic.
And then the groomsmen decided to get involved too.
At one point they ended up posing with the bridesmaids' bouquets, which resulted in some wonderfully ridiculous photographs and had everyone laughing.
These are the moments I love.
Not because they are perfectly posed, but because they're completely them.
Give people permission to have a bit of fun and you often get far better photographs than when everyone is desperately trying to look serious for the camera.
Letting the day unfold naturally
Most of my coverage of this wedding was documentary.
Rather than constantly directing people or interrupting what was happening, I was looking for those little moments that happened naturally throughout the day.
The laughter.
The reactions.
The conversations.
The hugs.
The looks between people.
And all those little interactions that you might not even notice yourself because you're too busy enjoying your wedding.
While Deb concentrated on the formal photographs, I had the freedom to concentrate on documenting the atmosphere and having a bit of fun with the bridal party.
It's a combination I really enjoy because you get the important photographs your family will want, while still telling the much bigger story of the day.
The Ashes Barn, Staffordshire
The Ashes Barn is such a lovely setting for this style of photography.
The rustic character of the venue works beautifully alongside the countryside surroundings, and when the weather plays ball, guests can make the most of the outdoor space too.
For me, the setting is important, but it's never the whole story.
The photographs are really about the people who fill the space.
A beautiful venue gives me somewhere gorgeous to work, but it's the personalities, relationships and atmosphere that make the resulting photographs mean something.
And this wedding certainly had plenty of all three.
A day I didn't want to leave
My coverage finished after the father of the bride's speech, so I didn't stay for the evening reception.
But by that point, I'd already photographed so much of the personality and emotion of the day that I went home with a huge smile on my face.
It really was one of those weddings where you come away thinking, that was good fun.
And I think that's something that comes through in the photographs.
They aren't overly formal.
They aren't filled with awkward posing.
They're full of people being themselves, enjoying themselves and celebrating together.
That's what I want your wedding photographs to do.
Documentary wedding photography at The Ashes Barn
If you're getting married at The Ashes Barn, you have a beautiful backdrop for your wedding, but you don't need to spend your day posing in front of it.
My approach is relaxed and documentary, with the emphasis on photographing your wedding as it actually happens.
I'll still organise the family groups if you'd like them, and I'll make sure the important photographs are captured, but the rest of the day is yours.
You can spend time with your friends.
You can laugh until your stomach hurts.
You can get emotional during the speeches.
You can let your bridal party be completely ridiculous with the bouquets.
And I'll be there capturing it all.
Getting married at The Ashes Barn?
I'd genuinely love to photograph another wedding at The Ashes Barn.
If you're planning your wedding here and you're looking for relaxed, documentary wedding photography with plenty of personality and no endless awkward posing, I'd love to hear about your plans.
Whether you want a little direction when you need it or prefer me to simply blend into the background and document what's happening, we can make the photography work around you.
If The Ashes Barn is your wedding venue, get in touch and tell me all about your plans. I'd love the chance to photograph your day here and create a collection of photographs that brings back not just what your wedding looked like, but what it actually felt like to be there.
