Beautiful Derby, Nottingham and Sheffield Church Wedding Photography Ideas
Beautiful Derby, Nottingham & Sheffield Church Wedding Photography Ideas
I’m very lucky to be based right on the boarder of Nottingham, Sheffield and Derby so get to photograph some truly beautiful church weddings spanning all three counties of South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
As an experienced Derby wedding photographer I thought I would put together some top tips I have picked up which should come in handy if you are planning the photography for your beautiful church wedding.
Stunning Derbyshire and Derby Church Wedding Photography
Whether you have chosen a beautiful intimate local church in the heart of the Nottingham countryside with family connections and a rural setting or a big grand church in Derby city centre with the buzz of the streets outside they are some of the nation’s most stunning wedding venues, with centuries of history.
Whenever I photograph a church wedding ceremony and arrive from the excitement of bridal or groom prep to the serenity of the alter I can’t help but imagine all the couples who have said their vows stood in that exact spot my couples will now find themselves, there’s a real feeling that you’re becoming part of history itself.
Derbyshire has some of the most unique church buildings, especially the iconic Crooked Spire in Chesterfield and I have had the pleasure of photographing weddings at many of them as well as working with some amazing vicars too.
I go out of my way to be as discreet as possible throughout the ceremony, I spend time chatting to your vicar before the ceremony to to put them at ease, I wear my none squeaky shoes and never use camera flash… more than any other ceremony I think church weddings are about the bride and groom being together, in the moment as you make your vows with no distractions to you or your family and friends.
Table of contents:
Top Ideas For Perfect Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield Church Wedding Photography
Find a church you love the look of and go for an explore
You may already have a Church of England or catholic church in mind with family connections but if not I recommend going to have a look around your shortlisted sites during the day without making an appointment.
Most Sheffield, Derby and Nottingham churches are open to the public so you can go and have a stroll around at your own pace and without any pressure, have a look how the light works inside for your wedding photography, see if the space works for your guest numbers and see if there are areas which will make a nice location for group photographs after the wedding ceremony if you would like to do them at the church.
It’s rarely possible to use flash in churches so if its extremely dark inside or the lighting has a really strong yellow cast that may impact your wedding photographs accordingly.
What are the rules for wedding photography in church?
Once you find your perfect church it’s time to make an appointment to meet with the vicar.
You will have lots of questions but for your wedding photography a key one is can photographs be taken during the ceremony.
Some vicars allow the photographer free reign of the church, some request that the photographer remains at the rear of the church and some do not allow photographs at all. Its important you understand the restrictions as I will have to comply with them, if I have to photograph from a single spot for the duration of the ceremony then variation of different angles will be limited, if I have to remain at the very back then detailed ring exchange photographs may not be possible. It’s very helpful to know in advance so I can bring along extra equipment that can help in these circumstances.
The church wedding rehearsal
Near your wedding day you will usually have the opportunity to rehearse the ceremony with your vicar and those who are involved.
This is a great opportunity to think about the logistics of the ceremony, if your wedding photographer is required by the vicar to remain at the rear of the church the rehearsal will give you a feel for which way you will be facing at key points of the ceremony and thus what can be captured by your photographer.
Remember to smile!
All eyes will be on the bride and groom when your big day finally arrives and the pressure of the day can sometimes raise nerves and stress levels.
It’s easier said than done but try and relax, as you come down the aisle you may feel a little overwhelmed with emotion but remember to smile, it makes for beautiful photographs. Your vicar will do everything he or she can to make the day a beautiful, personal and meaningful experience for you, your family and your friends… it will be incredible… enjoy every minute.
Group photographs after the church wedding ceremony
It’s often a great idea to do some of the main family group photos in the grounds of the church, there’s usually lots of lovely trees and greenery and we can include some of your church in the background.
The other benefit of doing this is everyone is in one place, as soon as you get back to your venue your guests will want to relax, grab a drink and perhaps remove jackets, wedding hats and ties.
Once guests start to relax, motivating them to get back up for group photos can be a little like herding cats!
How to start arranging a church wedding in Nottingham, Derby or Sheffield
The best resource is the Chruch of England website www.yourchurchwedding.org
Here you can find details of your local churches, make contact with the vicar and even draft your order of service.
As well as your wedding photography there will be lot of things to think about as your big day gets ever nearer and through the Church of England website you can put together everything from your hymn list, readings and vows.
If you choose me to capture your amazing day I’ll be with you every step of the way, feel free to fire over any questions and we can work out the detail at our face to face consultation.
If you are looking for a creative wedding photographer to capture every detail of you beautiful church ceremony in an unobtrusive relaxed manor I would love to hear all about your plans.
Drop me a message, no obligations at all, just a chance to ask away with any questions and hear more about how I work.
View my full wedding gallery here
