Whitworth Hall Hotel - A Fantastic, Summer, North East Wedding

Emerson Photography at Whitworth Hall

Over the last eight years, I've only been lucky enough to end up photographing a Whitworth Hall wedding a handful of times.  As north east wedding venues go, it's hard to beat.  Some absolutely beautiful decor and furnishings inside, a brilliant outside area for guests if the weather is good (it was for this wedding!) and the icing on the cake is the beautifully kept sunken garden, complete with water wheel, pagoda and tropical plants.

Catherine and David had a really touching, traditional church service with some genuinely heartfelt readings.  The ceremony had all the right ingredients - plenty laughter, a few tears and a stunning interior - the latter is always helpful but the first two are essential!

Then after a bit of champagne, our couple were swept off to Whitworth Hall Hotel near Spennymoor, Durham.  I was absolutely determined to honour Catherine's wishes and get a photo of the pair of them in front of some deer (easier than it sounds as Whitworth has a large deer park surrounding it!).

After the speeches (there were a few and again, all the right ingredients were present in abundance) the guests sat down and happily started the celebrations.  As mentioned earlier, the weather was just brilliant, so the guests were turfed outside straight after the meal, where they enjoyed a few drinks in the sunshine, in between a few choice formal photographs.  Whilst I am primarily a reportage wedding photographer, I'm also not a snob about it and will happily set up and light some beautiful formals - often very important to the older generation.  Same goes for all the little details - if you've made an effort to produce them, of course I'll photograph them.

But I digress.  The guests had a blast with the caricaturist, whose business card I sadly, failed to get a hold of, and I sneaked off with our couple to get some photos in the beautiful sunken pleasure gardens.

And the day meandered pleasantly onward in a relaxed, sunny fashion until the first dance was over and the dance floor started to fill.  Lovely day with lovely people!

Dogs at weddings.  Love it.

This ray of light cutting through the darkness came in handy later too, when Catherine walked down the aisle.

Wedding reflections!

Detail photography at a Whitworth Hall Wedding.

That joke wasn't risque at all then...

 The pagoda at Whitworth Hall's sunken pleasure gardens.  They are just beautiful.

Deer shot at Whitworth.  Nailed it!

If you're looking for a very experienced photographer to take photos like these at your wedding in the north east or beyond, please do visit the website - North east reportage wedding photography or feel free to get in touch - contact documentary wedding photographer north east.

A year of documentary wedding photography in the North East

2012 was just a brilliant year for Emerson Photography.  I hear all the stories of bridezillas, awkward guests, broken cameras, torrential rain, etc, and just feel incredibly lucky!  It is 2013 this year though, so perhaps I shouldn't tempt fate!

Emerson Photography's brand of documentary wedding photography combined with dramatically lit wedding day portraiture seems to be going down well - fashion may finally have caught up with me (arrogant?  Moi?)!  There are plenty of photographers who are happy to take up a huge chunk of your day making your guests run around with bubbles / moustaches / wooden signs with cutesy messages, but it's just not for me, sorry.

I'd far rather record the event with a heartfelt and sympathetic eye, using experience to anticipate mini-stories and 'reading' the light to carefully position myself for the best possible photographs.  That's not to say I can't do a spot of guest arranging where required (I have a loud voice!) and I almost always try to take my brides and grooms away for a few posed shots.  It's often the first chance they've had to properly speak to each other on the day!

Natural light photographers have been very fashionable for the last few years; the idea being that refusing to use flash is somehow more pure.  It's certainly less obtrusive - as soon as a flash starts going off, everyone turns to look and starts smiling at the camera and giving it Fonzy thumbs-up.  The reality though, is that we live in the UK.  I shoot a lot of Winter weddings, often in castles or venues which are like coal cellars as soon as the sun starts sinking.  Until very recently, flash has been invaluable for the way I shoot.

Recent advances in technology though, have allowed us photographers to shoot in extremely low light, so the whole 'natural light' thing is finally becoming a reality.  My kit was upgraded at the end of 2012 - a brand new Nikon D600 along with a few new lenses.  I have never in my life been so astounded by new kit - almost literally like night and day.  I genuinely can't wait for this year's crop of weddings.  I'll still be using my flashguns, but it'll be for artistic effect rather than it being a necessity.

Anyway, here's a swift roundup of some of my favourite weddings of the year in slideshow form - enjoy, and all the best for the New Year!

Oh, and please, please press the HD button, bottom right or it'll look awful, thanks!

A year in documentary photography. from Jamie Emerson, Photographer. on Vimeo.

Winter wedding photography at The Morritt by Emerson Photography

Do visit the wedding photography north east website! Or just get in touch directly...

Emerson Photography at The Morritt, Barnard Castle

For some reason, I seem to end up shooting a lot of winter weddings.  This year has been no exception and last month found me near Barnard Castle at The Morritt, a cosy but classy wedding venue set in lovely countryside.  Louise and Andy's wedding photographs were a breeze to shoot given the great location, the lovely couple and the cheery guests!

The day started out cold and clear, with some cracking winter sunshine.  Damn it was cold outside, but inside was all warmth and happiness as I arrived to get the bridal prep photos!


Wedding photography at The Morritt, Barnard Castle

Beautiful bride hugging bridesmaid at The Morritt Country House Hotel, Barnard Castle

The ceremony itself was heartfelt and emotional - a few tears here and there and some symbolic candles.

Wedding ceremony photography at The Morritt Hotel, North East England



The kiss, wedding photography by Jamie Emerson in the North East


I couldn't wait to get out into the surrounds of The Morritt with the happy couple.  Louise was very keen to have some photos taken on Greta Bridge.  Using a strobist style single speedlight on a light stand, I tried to balance the flashlight with the the low winter sun, which was just beginning to set behind the treeline.  The mist settling into the fields beyond created a beautiful setting!


Wedding photographs at Greta Bridge, County Durham, near Barnard Castle



Slow synch wedding photography with sparklers at North East wedding venue in Durham.

 What a game couple!  Andy and Louise had brought sparklers with them and were keen to try writing 'Love' with the light trails.  After several abortive attempts, I suggested that a heart might be easier!  Eventually we managed the photo above, which I feel works very well.  Lots of fun!

The first dance, and indeed the whole day was made to feel very special due to the skills of Colin Cook, wedding dj north east, toastmaster and generally really top bloke.  I had a good long chat with Colin and his partner as we enjoyed The Morritt's fantastic catering.  Colin provides genuinely brilliant, tasteful mood lighting as part of his repertoire too.

Strobist style first dance wedding photographs by Emerson Photography at The Morritt.

So all in all, what a fantastic wedding.  Lovely guests, great couple, cosy venue and picturesque scenery.

Biker Chic at Middleton Lodge.

Penny and Nik's wedding at Middleton Lodge was an absolute blast!  Huge scope for dramatic wedding photography and so many well thought out details!  Great people, amazing motorbikes, fabulous dress, food and entertainment.  Cake by Choccywoccydoodah.  A great recipe for an inspired wedding day!

This one has been featured on Brides up North, the North East's premier bridal blog - very proud!  Please do pop over and have a look at their wedding photographs and write up.....

Biker wedding at Middleton Lodge