Emily & Mike’s wedding at The White Hart, Great Yeldham, Essex was one of the most convenient for me, only a few minutes from home! Being situated here, close to the Essex & Suffolk border I’m in a good spot for gorgeous rural weddings like this. And I’m very local to be your White Hart wedding photographer! Between The White Hart, Hedingham Castle and Gosfield Hall, I’m pretty much exactly between them, about 2 miles each way! The Tudor beams of the White Hart give a great character and the barn at the rear giving all the room the wedding guests could need.
With Emily’s bridal preparations taking place on the upper floor of the main building, and Mike and his groomsmen in one of the accommodation rooms it was easy for me to photograph elements of both the guys and girls’ wedding preparations. My first call is always to the girls, to see what stage they are at. I’m always hoping to take a few photographs showing the final tweaks to hair or makeup. Details such as the dresses hanging, shoes and flowers need to be photographed early.
The storytelling approach to my wedding photography means I know when to arrange or setting something that I know works well. However my aim is to make every single element look relaxed and natural. Nothing so posey that it makes the client uncomfortable. I find a huge satisfaction in creating wedding photographs that look relaxed. You’d be amazed how many people tell me how uncomfortable they thought they’d be, yet to see themselves in the photos are extremely pleased to see themselves looking happy and relaxed enjoying their wedding.
Photography on Arrival at The White Hart
The Groomsmen Photographed Before the Wedding
If I am about to arrange (or ‘pose’ if you like) a photograph, then I always do so after I’ve photographed the same shot in it’s most relaxed setup. Here, with photos of Mike and his groomsmen, I start by photographing them exactly as they are, not asking anyone to do anything they aren’t already doing. I’ve made sure Mike is in the middle, yes. And I’ve made sure his best man is by his side. And I’ve selected the backdrop. But I’m not pushing for anything posey.
The Bride’s Preparations Before the Wedding Ceremony
Photography of the Wedding Ceremony at The White Hart in Great Yeldham
Once that’s done, I often arrange the photograph slightly more, asking the groom to stand ahead of the other, asking for hands in pockets, people to turn slightly to one side. Things I know work well. It’s the same with the photos of the bride and groom – before I rearrange them in any way I first take simple walking shots
Group Photographs After the Wedding Ceremony
I love the natural light that was coming in during the ceremony. Not the biggest window, but it really makes the bride and groom stand out. Textures of the dress, and the feathers really stand out when lit from the side.
Romantic Photos of the Bride and Groom at The White Hart
The day was quite bright and the sun falling across the group photos definitely added a little depth and texture. However the sun kept popping behind clouds Luckily I’d already set up a remote light at the same sort of angle which had the exact same effect on the photos.
All of the earlier group wedding photographs were taken on the steps, as the grass was slightly soft underfoot. We only moved onto the grass once the girls had got their wellies on!
More natural light here, shooting through the banisters of the staircase at the White Hart. Shooting through something like this, or perhaps through branches etc adds a feel of a candid photo, as if they’ve been caught unaware.
Winter Evening Light – Golden Hour at The White Hart
Without an upstairs window to photograph from, I use the camera on an automatic interval setting on the end of a monopod, hoisted in the air to take the classic overhead photo of the whole wedding
The sky had just the beginnings of a warm colour to it at this point, great timing for a few final wedding photos of Emily & mike in the garden at The White Hart. I choose my camera settings and lens choice wisely here to capture the exact look I want to go for – warm light through trees in the far distance turning to pleasing blobs (known as Bokeh) with the shorter depth of field. Again, starting with walking photos for the ultimate in relaxed wedding photos.
The light was really great here, backlighting the bride and groom, enough to highlight Mike’s shoulders here against the darker brown trees in the distance.
Wedding Cars – Lowriders – at The White Hart Great Yeldham
A little more cosyness here added to the classic walking-hand-in-hand shot. Simply asking them to look at each other instantly takes the feeling away from the posed look. Completely arranged, yet feeling like a candid moment.
I’m practically behind a planter here, I really like the soft green edge contrasting against the beams of the White Hart. Simply asking Emily & Mike to look at a particular point over my shoulder.
The Wedding Breakfast and Speeches Photographed at The White Hart
Night-time Wedding Photography Using Off-Camera Flash
After the wedding photos of the bride and groom in the grounds of the White Hart in Great Yeldham, Essex, my priority is rushing back indoors ahead of them to photograph the setup of the dining room set up for the wedding breakfast, before it’s full of people.
Photography of the First Dance at White Hart Wedding
Creative lighting is lots of fun in the Winter months, and I often carry my own sparklers to capture shots like this 10 second exposure. This sort of shot adds something unique to the wedding photographs.
What follows is a slightly larger set of highlights from Emily & Mike’s wedding. These 150 images are just a handful of the 800+ wedding photographs Emily & Mike received as coverage of their wedding day
Lavenham Photographic Studio started in the village of Lavenham in Suffolk, and is now primarily a wedding photography company. Ben Brown photographs weddings throughout Essex and Suffolk, being situated very close to the Suffolk/ Essex border. See more examples of his work throughout this site.
Please get in touch if you’re looking for a White Hart Wedding Photographer!
You can view entire weddings from the past three months here
For more information on The White Hart click here https://www.whitehartweddingvenue.co.uk/
