Lake District Wedding Photographer
Natural and Relaxed Wedding Photography in the Lake District
The Lake District is rightly heralded as one of the best locations for a short break in the United Kingdom. And with its beautiful backdrop and scenery, it can make for the perfect place to get married - especially for stunning wedding photographs from your Lake District Wedding Photographer.
Famous for its lakes, forests, and mountains (or fells). The Lake District National Park was established in 1951 and covers an area of 2,362 square kilometers. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2017. All the land in England higher than 3,000 feet (914 m) above sea level lies within the National Park. It also contains the deepest and largest natural lakes in England, Wast Water, and Windermere.
The Lake District really is a dream for a professional wedding photographer. I consider myself so fortunate to have the Lakes only a short drive away from where I'm located on the border between West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire and to have a base in Whitehaven, Cumbria when I need it.
Planning Your Lake District Wedding
So, you're starting to plan your wedding.
If you've already started making a list, you'll know just how much there is to do. From choosing your venue, to your wedding photographer, catering options, and all the other little things - it can all seem pretty overwhelming. But breathe, you've got this. Here's a little tip to help you get on top of your wedding planning.
Write a list of everything you want to include in your wedding. Then re-write this list and put them in order of priority, for example:
1. Venue
2. Wedding Photographer
3. Wedding dress
4. Entertainment
And so on...
Project management platforms like Trello can be great for organising all your thoughts and tracking your wedding planning progress. In fact, here's a nifty The Ultimate Guide To Planning A Wedding With Trello to help you.
Lake District Wedding Photographer Style
There are so many different types of wedding photography style. Do you go for a light & airy or dark & moody look? Or more of a natural style. A vintage feel, or a more contemporary photography style? Would you prefer a photographer who takes those beautiful posed images that look like a magazine cover, or someone who works in a more candid and photo-journalistic way?
My style as a Lake District wedding photographer is to keep things as natural and relaxed as I can, whilst still making sure we get stunning wedding images that you'll want to hang on your wall or proudly display on your manetelpiece. I won't spend hours using the same old poses. Instead, I'll capture images that are special to you, and capture the unique nature of your relationship.
I spend as much time editing your wedding photographs as I do shooting them on your wedding day. I spend hours going through your images individually, picking the best images, colour correcting, and generally tidying. All your wedding photographs will have my signature editing style that will make all your friends swoon.
Why Wedding Photography Is So Important
It's a fact of life, memories fade with time.
Wedding photography has the ability to capture a moment in time, and help keep those memories alive. You're not just investing in wedding photography, you're investing in memories.
A photograph never changes, even when the people in it do. At the end of your wedding day, the cake will have been eaten, the flowers will begin to wilt, and the wedding dress will likely never be worn again - but you'll have your wedding photographs every day throughout the rest of your lives.
That is why I feel so blessed and honoured to be a professional wedding photographer. The idea that my images can bring a smile to faces for years to come. I gift people images that they will cherish for the rest of their lives.
How Much Does A Lake District Wedding Photographer Cost?
How much does a house cost? The answer to the question is, there is no one answer. Like many things in life, you tend to get what you pay for. If a deal seems too good to be true, there's usually a catch.
An experienced professional wedding photographer is not going to come cheap. Professional camera equipment is expensive, we have to have top-end computers to handle the editing, we've spent years training and honing our craft. Not to mention we have to have backups of all our equipment in case anything were to go wrong. Business insurance, websites, and all the other tools and services we need to do our jobs - it all adds up.
I'm very transparent with all my couples about just how much work and expense goes into creating their beautiful wedding photographs, I've mapped out how many hours I spend on a typical wedding, and my business costs in this article - Why Is Wedding Photography So Expensive?
Many a time I have heard people say that they regret not hiring a professional photographer, or simply picking the cheapest option, or just asking their uncle to be their wedding photographer. It's not worth the risk. We're lucky enough to have the NHS, but say you had to pay for a heart surgeon, would you pick the cheapest one? Likely not.
It is recommended that you spend approximately 10-15% of your wedding budget on your wedding photographer, more for elopements and smaller weddings. You're investing in your memories. You should consider your wedding photographer one of the best investments you will ever make. Your wedding photographs are something you will have, and truly value and enjoy, for life.
How I Started Out As A Wedding Photographer
Let me start by saying that I never intended to, or saw myself, becoming a wedding photographer.
It just happened. As many things in life do.
I spent three years at drama school training as an actor. During the long summer break between my first and second year I got bored. So I picked up a cheap camera to play around with and kill some time. When I arrived back at drama school, I had friends asking me to take headshots, and take photographs of the pay they were doing. I got hooked. After graduating I work as an actor and a musician over the country, and even abroad. I continued improving my photography skills and taking actor headshots alongside my work.
In 2019 a couple of performer friends asked me to be their wedding photographer. At first, I was hesitant, but I went away and took workshops to learn more about wedding photography and improve my skills. Seeing the smiles on their faces when I showed them their wedding photographs, I was hooked.
Kind Words For Previous Couples
"From beginning to end Sam was fantastic. A true professional with a real eye for photography. The photos document our big day perfectly, we've seen things we wouldn't have seen if it wasn't for Sam"
- Stevey & Dani
"Sam captured images of us looking happy and enjoying our day - which is exactly what we wanted our day to be out" - Alex & Brandon
"We're so glad you were able to capture our special day and make it even more memorable"
- Katy & Sam
What Are The Best Lake District Wedding Venues For Photography?
The Lake District is blessed with some incredible wedding venues, and its incredible backdrop also makes a great venue for elopements or those wanting to take some time out to get some stunning bridal portraits.
For Windermere, take a look at Merewood Country House Hotel or Cragwood Country House Hotel.For Grassmere, The Daffodil Hotel & Spa is a beautiful spot - and check out the Grassmere gingerbread, you can thank me later. For stunning wedding portraits in the mountains, The Coppermines Mountain Cottages would be my go-to. Town Head Estate is a very pretty rustic venue. And my absolute favourite Lake District wedding venues are Askham Hallin Penrith, and Eden Barn in Cumbria's Upper Eden Valley.
I can't wait to explore more of the Lake District wedding venues. If you have a few ideas about making the most of your Lake District wedding photographs, give me a shout and I'll happily lend advice about how to make it happen.
Wedding Hints & Tips
Here are some useful article's and resources to help you as you begin to plan your dream wedding:
Are Elopements & Micro-Weddings Here To Stay?
How Much Should You Spend On Your Wedding Photographer?
Have you found any more useful resources that could help other couples planning their West Yorkshire wedding, or picking their dream West Yorkshire wedding photographer? Drop me an email at info@samchipmanphotography.com
Finding The Best Lake District Wedding Photographer
There are lots of brilliant Lake District wedding photographer's to choose from. How do you begin to find the one that is perfect for you.
What it boils down to, for me at least, is three things. Price, style, and personality. See here my article on How To Choose Your Wedding Photographer where I explain what I mean, and what I think are the best steps to pick your wedding photographer.
Weddings can be expensive. So start with an overall budget, and then assign 10-15% of your budget to your wedding photographer. Set up a Pinterest board and save some of the wedding images that make your heart flutter, as the board builds up you'll have a good idea of what style you prefer. Once you've found a wedding photographer that makes you excited, ask them to have a chat to get a feel of their personality, after all they are going to be with you throughout your wedding day so its important you get on and feel comfortable around them.
Storytelling Wedding Photography
You should get in touch with me for a cuppa and a chat if:
- Wedding photography is one of your top priorities
- You want photographs that tell the story of your wedding day, to keep those memories alive forever.
- You like my style of photography and the way I work, relaxed photographs without having to worry about posing.
- You like puns and the occasional dad joke (optional extra)
I'm all about storytelling, capturing those candid and real moments. The tears, the laughter, the joy, the tenderness. The little moments that you do not see in what can be a whirlwind of a day. Your story captured in that moment and preserved forever for you to look back on.
If that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as it does to me, then hit the button below