Hi, I’m sam
north yorkshire wedding photographer
capture the memories of your wedding day
north yorkshire wedding photography
Covering North Yorkshire and beyond, including; York, yorkshire dales, Harrogate, Skipton, Wetherby, Knaresborough, Ilkley, Otley, Bolton Abbey, ripon, Thirsk, Richmond, northallerton, scarborough, whitby, and more.
More than usual words, more than just images.
As a professional wedding photographer, I am very fortunate to have covered weddings at some incredible venues throughout North Yorkshire. Having been born on the border between North & West Yorkshire, I’ve grown up surrounded by the gorgeous scenery of the Yorkshire Dales, and North York Moors – including the gorgeous Malham Cove which you see in the image above.
I spent a couple of years living out on the Yorkshire coast, so know the North Yorkshire coastline well too.
It truly is God’s own country, and there is no finer place to get married. You’re spoiled for choice with venues, from rustic barns to country houses. From York, to Harrogate, to the Yorkshire coast, and up into the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors.
It really is a privilege to be a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, and be able to capture amazing memories across this wonderful county.
PLANNING YOUR NORTH YORKSHIRE WEDDING
Write a long list of everything that you want to include in your wedding. Then reorganise the list putting everything in priority order. For most couples, the venue is the most important thing on the list. I’d like to think that your wedding photographer is in second position – but perhaps I’m somewhat biased.
Project management platforms like Trello can be a great tool to help you organise your thoughts and keep track of what is left to do. Here’s their Ultimate Guide To Planning A Wedding With Trello to help you get started.
So, you’ve finally got that ring on your finger? Or put the ring on that finger? Now for the planning.
And if you’ve already started planning your North Yorkshire wedding you’ll know just how long the to-do list is. From choosing your venue, your wedding photographer, the entertainment, and music – the list might seem overwhelming. But breathe, you’ve got this. Here are a few tips to help you get organised.
You should reach out to me for a chat and a brew 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 the hairs on your arms tingle like it does mine, then hit the button below.
testimonials
york, north yorkshire
Sam captured our day perfectly, we could not be happier with all our photos, each time we look at them we notice something different. He managed to snap at all the right moments that show who we are as a couple and the love we have for all our friends and family that were there. There were even moments where we asked ‘where is Sam!?’ But he was always there, often unnoticed, taking magical shots of all of us. He is an expert in understanding you as a couple beforehand and that influences all the shots he takes.
- Caroline & George
NORTH YORKSHIRE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE
Choosing a wedding photography style can be a minefield, with so many to choose from. Do you go for light & airy, dark and moody, a modern or vintage feel, posed or candid?
My style as a North Yorkshire wedding photographer is mostly candid, leaning towards photo-journalistic. I like to keep things as relaxed and natural as possible, not using the same old poses that you see all the time on Pinterest. My aim is to create images that are special and unique to you. Capturing the story of your day. I know most people are not used to being in front of a camera, and can be apprehensive, so I won’t ask you to carry out pose after pose. Think of me like an extended member of your wedding party.
I take a lot of time and effort editing your images, going through and individually tidying, correcting, and choosing between colour and black & white. I edit in a natural way, with a slight cinematic finish to make your images look timeless – my signature look.
Because over time, memories fade. Wedding photography captures a moment in time, and helps you relive the most amazing day of your life for years to come. At the end of your wedding day, the flowers will wilt, the cake will get eaten, but your wedding photographs are forever.
That is why, as a professional wedding photographer, I feel so privileged to do what I do. I gift people memories that they will cherish throughout their lives.
WHY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY IS SO IMPORTANT
HOW MUCH DOES NORTH YORKSHIRE WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY COST?
How long is a piece of string? There is no shortage of wedding photographers out there, and some seem willing to provide wedding photography for little more than a can of pop and a bag of crisps. So, How Much Should You Spend On Your Wedding Photographer?
Hiring an experienced professional wedding photographer is not going to be cheap. If a photographer is inexpensive it should to a certain extent act as a red flag – consider the years of training, the business insurances, all the expensive camera equipment, backups of everything should something go wrong – being a photographer comes with significant overhead expenses.
Want to know more? I wrote an article about my typical wedding process, including how many hours work and what the breakdown of my expenses is so you can see exactly what goes into a wedding – Why Is Wedding Photography So Expensive?
Too many times I’ve heard people say that they regret not hiring a professional wedding photographer for their wedding day. Perhaps they thought it too expensive, or not a priority. Or there’s always the horror stories of those who asked an amateur or their uncle to take the photographs, only for them all to end up blurry. Simply put, it’s not worth the risk.
It is recommended that you spend around 10-15% of your overall budget on your wedding photographer, more for small weddings and elopements. Consider your wedding photographer as one of the best investments you will make in your life, after all these images will last and be passed on down the generations.
HOW I BECAME A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
By accident.
I trained as an actor, and spent a number of years performing throughout the UK and across the globe. I first picked up a camera during my first summer break at drama school, I was bored and looking for a new project to kill some time – little did I know that it would turn into something more serious.
Back in 2019 friends that I had recently worked with asked me if I would be their wedding photographer. After seeing their joy when they first saw their wedding photographs I knew that I wanted to continue doing that – giving the gift of memories.
Much like shooting a theatrical production, being a wedding photographer is about anticipating those storytelling moments – making sure the memories and essence of the day are captured.
North Yorkshire is stunning, and it has some gorgeous wedding venues. Whether you’re thinking of York, Harrogate, Ilkley, Wetherby, or elsewhere, there is plenty to choose from.
For castles, peruse Hazelwood Castle and Allerton Castle. For grand old stately homes, take a look at Thicket Priory or Rudding Park. For rustic barns, The Tithe Barn or Thief Hall. For something more intimate and old-worldly, why not take a look at The Priests House or The Manor House in Ilkley. The Engine Shed in Wetherby and The Coniston Hotel in Skipton are also deserving of a mention.
There are so, so many more brilliant venues that I couldn’t possibly name all of them. If you want advice on how good wedding venues on your shortlist are for photography feel free to reach out and I’ll happily lend my opinion.
THE BEST NORTH YORKSHIRE WEDDING VENUES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY?
WEDDING HINTS & TIPS
Here are some useful article’s and resources to help you as you begin to plan your dream wedding:
How To Plan The Best Micro Wedding In Yorkshire
Are Elopements & Micro-Weddings Here To Stay?
Why Is Wedding Photography So Expensive?
Elopement Wedding Venues in Yorkshire
Your Yorkshire Wedding and everything you need to plan your big day
Have you found any more useful resources that could help other couples planning their North Yorkshire wedding, or picking their dream North Yorkshire wedding photographer? Drop me an email at info@samchipmanphotography.com
Am I the best North Yorkshire Wedding photographer? That is not a claim I would feel comfortable making.
There are so many talented wedding photographers in the North Yorkshire region. And I know that trying to pick the perfect wedding photographer for you can seem like a mammoth task. Why not read my article, How To Choose Your Wedding Photographer to give you an idea of what to consider to make your mind up?
At the end of the day, it comes down to three things – for me at least. Price, style, and personality.
Weddings can be expensive, and nobody has a limitless budget. Sit down and work out how much of your budget you want to spend on your wedding photographer. Remember, use 15% as a rough guide. Secondly, choose a style that you fall in love with. Set up a Pinterest board and save images that make you swoon, this should give you an idea of what type of images you are naturally drawn to. And finally, this is an underrated thing, in my opinion, pick a photographer whom you can get on with as a person. You’ll see more of your wedding photographer on your big day than you will anyone else, they are going to be there with you through the entire day, smiles and tears, the lot. It’s so important that you get on with them and can feel relaxed around them. My advice would be to have a good old chat with them on a Zoom call in the first instance and make sure you vibe.