Making a picture - flowers provide the calm

As a UK documentary wedding photographer my focus is on creating a gallery for couples that shows the story of the day. Primarily the focus of my work centres around creating beautiful pictures that engage with emotions and reactions.

This was one of my favourite photos from a wonderful wedding at Stirk House wedding venue in Clitheroe. This photo was taken just after the bride had put on her dress. The clock was ticking and the ceremony was due to start shortly. It was at this time that the bride stated she was feeling nervous. Who doesn't? You're shortly going to begin one of the biggest days of your lives and all eyes are on you.

The photo works due to the different emotions it conveys. The elements of the photo are divided into three columns which represent; calm, chaos (the nervousness of the bride) and calm. From the left the photo shows the calm of the brides daughter as she looks up at her mum. The calmness is empahsised by the long flow of her veil. In the centre of the photo the figure of the bride is shade. The brides hands, splayed as she nervously looks around and asks for her flowers demonstrate the opposite of tranquility. Finally, the photo displays the serene moment we see the silhouette as the flowergirl holding her flowers out to the bride. A beautiful story within a photo.