Wedding photography Wiltshire Archives

Jun

Kim and Prue at Windsor Guildhall

Eight years ago I was commissioned by Mike Bussey to photograph his family on location in Cornwall for his wife Connie’s 50th birthday. I’ve since photographed the family together at home and have formed a lovely client friendship that I value enormously. They are a very special family.When Kim Bussey announced she was marrying Prue at Windsor Guildhall this year, I was more than delighted that they invited me to be a part of the day to photograph the wedding.

Bella West

Having been childhood friends, spending their early years at Primary School together, they lost touch during secondary school and on in to their careers. It was earlyJanuary 15 that Prue got back in touch with Kim and it transpired they were both living close to each other – Prue’s brilliant wedding speech also elaborated on their early dating days. Both girls’ mums gave heart warming and humorous speeches and the seismic feeling of love within the family and friends of these two was prevalaent through the day – it really was a day to be a part of.

Bella West

Kim and Prue’s amazing suits (and Prue’s shirt) were the cut of ThomasThomas – do check them out for sharp adrogynous style. SJ Weston who heads up ThomasThomas also made alternations to Kim’s shirt.

After their emotional ceremony at Windsor Guidlhall, the girls hot footed to quite probably the most relaxed reception I’ve been to in 25 years of shooting weddings. I mean what more do you need than a gin bar, a landcover pizza oven, champagne and people you love..?

Bella West

To view more of my wedding work, head over to my gallery page or instagram for a variety of work

Jan

Wedding Photography Stourhead

Just when you think you are over the celebrations of Christmas, a post festive wedding happens and reignites the momentum. Katie and James selected the beautiful Temple of Apollo at Stourhead gardens as their venue to be married on 29th December. For a photographer, this is a dream location – even in the rain, Stourhead holds its presence in the Wiltshire landscape as being one of the National Trusts most popular wedding venues. The lake being the heart of the gardens, surrounded by temples, and mystical grottos. Situated away from the main house, Stourhead gardens hold court for any wedding photographer.

There’s sometimes an apprehension amongst bride and grooms when they book a winter wedding as to what the weather is going to be doing. To reassure any of you, I have photographed weddings in mid August with torrential rain and taking everyone off guard. This is England, of which it’s climate continually keeps us on our toes. If you book a December wedding, at least you can work backwards – expect it to be a bit parky and dress accordingly. More often, December and winter weddings offer glorious sunshine, etched with mist or ice and the light is more sympathetic. So from a wedding photographers view, this is perfect. As was the 29th December. Katie prepared with her bridesmaids at Charlton House, Shepton Mallett and the bedroom was flooded with sunlight with the lawn covered in a hoarfrost. I think this venue comes into it’s own in winter, with its beautiful colours of Mulberry, log fires and quirky atmosphere.

Bella West

Over at Stourhead, guests take the walk through the candlelit stone tunnel up to the Temple of Appollo. I’ve taken many images here, it lends itself to majestic nature framing from the outside and incredible directional light hits the inside wall, whatever the weather outside, the light in that building never fails to take my breath away.

Bella West

The Temple is perfect for small intimate weddings and offers a privacy for celebrations and wedding photography afterwards.

Taking a walk after the wedding, allowing Katie and James to have some time together – this is my favourite part of the day when I offer for couples to take some time away from their guests to catch up on the morning and have some precious time. We took the walk down to the bridge for a group photograph of all the guests and then hot footed back to Charlton House of more celebrations, feasting and dancing. Katie’s wedding planning skills didn’t go unnoticed and everything came together beautiful – more than anything the happiness of the day and the closeness of family and friends was clear, and that is what a wedding should be about..

Bella West

Bella West

Bella West

Apr

Four Seasons wedding photography

Four seasons wedding photography

What I love about both the English climate and wedding photography is it’s unpredictability, and for me, the unexpected is the key to a successful wedding photography coverage. Having certain things in place – timings, family, locations is the foundation, but everything else should just happen and a wedding photographer should be there to grasp that. To work around the weather, to be unflappable, expect the unexpected and to see fun and opportunity in situations that arise. A good downpour never dampens spirits and when you add to this, sleet, hail & bright sunshine, it heightens the creative mind as to what can be done with it.

The 9th April took me to Martock in Somerset for the wedding of Lucy and Jamie – a beautiful, traditional church wedding with a marquee on the lawn of the family home for the reception. I always photograph a few family groups if my clients would like and our plan was to do some of these outside the church. When Lucy arrived with her brother we had sunshine and rain, when we left we had sunshine, as we made our way home to the reception, sleet, then hail as everyone hot footed it into the marquee. Then sharp sunshine, then rain again.

As with all weddings, the day is about the people and come rain or shine, spirits can’t be dampened. Jamie and Lucy’s wedding was a true English celebration, a wonderful village wedding. It was also a real pleasure to work with professionals who know their job and make help the day run smoothly. Thanks to videographer Will Warr who worked around me with professionalism and humour and was great company, I’m looking forward to seeing his results. Lucy’s beautifully simple dress was from Stephanie Allin, flowers from somerset based Helen Crang, Emma Hunt at Kingston Kitchens provide the spectacular food and Cheesecake filled the floor within seconds of kicking off their evening set.

Jan

Wedding Photography

I’m currently in cahoots with the brilliant Lisa Standerwick of Sloanes. Every once in a while she gives me a little push in the direction of a new project. The beginning of a new year is a great time to reflect on my style and the possibilities of what I can do for my wedding clients. So having a project where I have creative carte blanche, reignites the creative flow, so watch out all my wedding photography clients this year, I am looking to push the few boundaries I have and also to pull back a little and simplify everything.

Working with creatives such as Hannah Tidbury, Lisa and Tara Jane Hull, invites us all to inspire each other, quietly developing. Always my inspiration has come not so much from the industry of wedding photography itself (though I’m surrounded by amazing photographers), more from what I see in front of me either in life or more so, actually on the day and what others have put together. Thats when pennys drop..

So watch this space for some new work from us in April from a very unconventional venue..

Dec

Portraits of Tattie Rose

My business was born as a wedding photographer in Dorset, but 20 odd years on and now established as a Portrait Photographer, I’ve seen how the work directs me into new arenas. Childrens portraits, wedding photography, commercial and editorial work, this isn’t something I consciously planned but is how things organically develop through the incredible people that I meet and work with. I’ve no particular favourite genre, I just like to work with like minded people and be given a free rein with regards creativity, allowing me to work with my clients yet retaining my style of photography for them.

Portrait Photographer Dorset

Bella West Portrait Photographer Dorset

Bella West

Similarly, working as a florist invites a whole spectrum of commissions. This I realised when I did some background research on Tattie Rose when she commissioned me to make some portraits of her to use within her floristry business in Dorset a couple of weeks ago. What struck me was that Tattie has the reputation of someone who’s taken a few years to build up a high profile clientele and established business (Linley, Blair Horse Trials being past clients) – in fact, she launched Tattie Rose just four years ago and its seems, through such natural flair, strong style and vision, she has become one of the most sought after florists in the country. Beautiful rambling creations, unstructured, bursting with elegance. The work looks so fresh, you feel its still connected to its source, when in fact there has been a creative mind working with an initial vision playing a hand in all of this. Another way of saying, she makes it looks easy..

Bella West

So when Tattie commissioned me, it was fundamental for me to retain this wonderful natural wildness to both Tattie and her craft, with a little Bella West styling and structure to accent the work. A true professional and a lover of all things natural and wild and as you can see, Tatties love of the horse and all things out of the house I feel contribute to where she gets her inspiration and talent.

I am available for private and corporate commissions, do get in touch for more info.

Bella x

Nov

Wedding Photography Dorset

I’ve been photographing Dorset weddings, in fact weddings all over Europe, for almost 22 years now – I still remember my first wedding, I think I was at the church two hours before the ceremony, preparing and checking – and of course, goal posts got moved and I soon learnt that a cool head and thinking on my feet was a key skill to take on….

My work is now so diverse, but there is nothing like a wedding to really concentrate the mind and eye. There is more going on at a wedding than any other job that I do. I love being around people, especially when they’re in celebratory mood and for me it is not so much about wedding photography itself, but about people who are a part of my clients lives. With the experience I’ve gained, I’m now adept at anticipating how people react and how a wedding unfolds along with all the emotions that go with it – so essentially, I’m an observer with a keen eye for light and design that surrounds people. I prefer to work, quietly and in a world of challenging myself to photograph the essence of a wedding within my own style rather than adhering to a formula.

Some new work is on my gallery here, do get in touch if you would like more information, I’d love to hear your plans!

Bella West

Oct

Wedding Photography Salisbury

Cordelia and Richard Salisbury Cathedral Wedding

Bella West

Wedding Photography Wiltshire

I’ve photographed weddings in all sorts of locations over the years, village halls, hotels, the beach, tree houses, boats as well as the traditional English church. Two of my favourite venues are Wells and Salisbury Cathedral. Noone does a Cathedral wedding quite like the English, with a full choir accenting the incredible acoustic and architecture. There is also a calm pace to a Cathedral wedding, nothing is rushed and everyone involved is given opportunity to reflect and listen. Despite that, i know that when Cordelia and Richard were married at Salisbury Cathedral this year, it was a whirlwind of heightened emotions and excitement amidst the calmness. As with small English village weddings where you have that wonderful tradition of the locals all coming out to see the bride arrive (they may only see one wedding at that church) and perhaps a few curtain twitchers, Salisbury Cathedral is open to the public and so a treat for visitors to witness a traditional english service. I do sometimes have to question who are the guests and who are general public sometimes so apologies if there is the occasional camera donning, beaming chinese as part of the collection..!

So after Salisbury Cathedral, the sun shone for us after hot footing it to the wonderfully quirky, Jacobean Mansion that is New House. This venue is visually untouched by the commercial hand that can so often be seen at wedding venues – in fact, I half expect Miss Haversham to be sat waiting in the hall. What it gives me, is beautiful interior light, grounds which are reliant on natural growth rather than heavily manicured, pristine borders and nuggets of opportunity to create something special.

Wedding Photography Wiltshire

Aug

Alex & Henrietta at the Larmer Tree

So it was a while ago, April 25th to be exact, but I am at last getting around to some blogging and updating people on new work and ventures. Bear with me – its been an amazing year so far, of new ventures and opportunities for me.

The Larmer Tree, I have been making pictures at since they first started their weddings – I photographed many of my favourite events there and despite my familiarity with the gardens, each time I go there, I find new and inspiring locations. All credit to the team who are sympathetically nurturing and establishing the grounds, keeping the authentic, romantic essence.

And thanks to Gail Thomas, coordinator extraordinaire, for encouraging Henrietta to opt for a professional photographer. Henrietta was not enthused to have someone record the day visually but seems delighted that she did. In fact, I have found a lovely email from Henrietta which I’m sure she won’t mind me sharing.

Dear Bella,

We are now safely back from our honeymoon and finally (vaguely) on top of things enough to be able, finally, to get round to sending this email!

We wanted to say a huge, huge thank you for your work on our wedding. I was actually a little skeptical about having a photographer, having been at far too many weddings where there are endless group shots, and the bride and groom are constantly dragged off for posed shots. You, however, were so marvellously discreet, and I thoroughly enjoyed our tramp through the Larmer woods – it did indeed give Alex and I a moment to breathe and say hello to each other! I am now so converted to the idea of wedding photographers that a friend of mine who has just got engaged, and who asked for my opinion on the pros and cons of photographers, was subjected to a torrent of enthusiastic rambling from me.

A bit like this email!

Anyway, back to the original intention – our sincere thanks. We are so very happy we were able to work with you, and are positively silly with excitement at the prospect of seeing your shots!

Very best wishes

Henrietta

Jan

Tara Bradley-Birt

My thanks to Tara for this feature on my work.

I recently met an inspiring new designer who I’m very much looking forward to working with this year. Tara Bradley-Birts styling for wedding and fashion, along with her eye for using fabrics is second to none and my collaboration with her in the future should make for some interesting imagery. Tara will also be a part of the upcoming Designer Wedding Show to be held at the Grosvenor in Shaftesbury this coming March.

Jun

Rachel and Alex at Larmer Tree

A scattering of images from Rachel and Alex’s intimate Larmer Tree Wedding in Wiltshire last month.

[soliloquy id=”4223″]

12 3 4

Kim and Prue at Windsor Guildhall

Kim and Prue at Windsor Guildhall

Wedding Photography Stourhead

Four Seasons wedding photography

Wedding Photography

Portraits of Tattie Rose

Wedding Photography Dorset

Wedding Photography Salisbury

Alex & Henrietta at the Larmer Tree

Tara Bradley-Birt

Rachel and Alex at Larmer Tree

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Recent Posts

Tags

Archives

Categories

Recent Posts