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It’s Saturday 26th August and I’m back with one of my favourite families at their Farm in Hutton. We first did a shoot here in 2015 when they were just a family of three Rachel, Matt and Arthur. Albert was born last year months and is now ready to get going for his first photo shoot. It was great fun being back at the farm, we wanted to recreate some of the shots we did last time but also capture lots of natural family moments. The farm is such a wonderful location and with the sun just popping its head around the clouds we had such a fun time. I love seeing families I photographed before and it’s such an honour to see them grow. Here are some of my favourites from this shoot.

Jon and Nikki met at the church they attend. It was a moment that would change both their lives forever. Nikki is a professional trumpet player and music teacher and Jon loves playing the bass and they both play in the church worship team. There seemed to be a spark that flew over the instruments and made them unable to ignore it. And so in a typical Lancashire way, even though Jon is a southerner, they met for a brew. It was a difficult time in both their lives but there was something between them, a spark, a pull that they couldn’t ignore even if their brains told them it was not the right time their hearts knew different and I am so glad they followed their heart. That first brew date they couldn’t stop talking even as the chairs and tables where tidied around them, the staff waited patiently to go home but time for Jon and Nikki had stopped still. They could have stayed and talked for hours like a movie storyline you remember from the age when love really meant love in movies. The brews didn't stop nor did the talking and their love blossomed as they got to know each other over time. Sneakily Jon had picked the perfect engagement ring for Nikki, it was a vintage ring from a little jewellery store in Brighton Lanes. He had hand carved a jewellery box from a piece of wood he had salvage on a holiday in Wales. They decided one day to take their dog Jake on a walk along one of their favourite beaches in St Annes, Lytham and now was the time for Jon to ask the question. Most Men get scared but excited to ask but Jon plucked up the courage and Nikki said yes. It was the perfect moment for this outdoor loving couple. I have been given the honour of photographing their wedding but first, we did a little engagement shoot with them in a local woodland. Here are a few of my favourite photos from the day.

Rachel and Jonathan’s friends are both crafty and great matchmakers. They first met when Rachels’ friend Jenna invited her out for drinks and her brother in law invited Jonathan out as “she’s bringing a friend”. Jonny was intrigued so he went along, Rachel none the wiser went out for a drink too. They chatted over some Pernod’s and Black and he managed to get her to agree to go to a PNE match with him so it must have been love at first sight. Their first official date wasn’t the football but a walk up Tockholes with Rachels dog, who decided to test  Jonny to see if he was a good match and get stuck in the Stream where Jonny had to rescue him from. Passing the woof test they went out for a meal. A little while later and Jonny, having bought Rachel a helicopter ride for her 30th, was taking her to her first helicopter ride in Yorkshire. Waiting patiently for them to pass over the Emmerdale set in the helicopter Jonny plucked up the courage and proposed. Rachel, of course, said ‘Yes!’. I met them both about a year before they got married. We decided a coffee at Starbucks would be the best way to meet. I’d photographed a good friend of Rachels wedding back in 2015, Helen and Adam when she was a bridesmaid. They loved my photos and wanted me to cover their special day which I was more than happy to do. Their wedding was at Stirk House, a lovely 400-year-old house in Clitheroe. It’s one of those venues which has lots of nooks and crannies in where you can turn a corner from modern luxury to old-world beauty, luscious gardens and rustic charm. Rachel was getting ready in a large Suite upstairs perfect for Brides and all their bridesmaids to get ready in. The atmosphere was very calm, Rachel was just taking one thing at a time, the bridesmaids where very excited especially as the day was clear and dry (always a bonus in Lancashire). Jonny and his best men were the opposite, he was nervous so the boys decided to calm down with a quick beer, as most grooms do. A pint later everyone was relaxed and ready for the day ahead. The ceremony was beautiful, a white room filled with friends and family all very excited about these two getting married. It was such a lovely day, such a great couple and such a wonderful wedding. It was hard to pick which photos to go in the blog as there are so many lovely ones of special moments but I hope you have enjoy a few of my favourites.

I first met Becky and Robert at their first gorgeous little boy Arthur’s newborn shoot. He was six weeks old at the time and thick locks of black hair and stunning blue eyes. They emailed and asked me to come and do a family shoot with their newest addition Alexander, of course, I said yes! Arthur has grown into a wonderful little boy and Alexander had all those wonderful eyes and hair just like his older brother had as a baby. Arthur was busy running around, playing football and practising his Judo moves on dad. Alexander was hungry and having a little feed. I decided to take some photos of Arthur as he showed me his moves. Once Alexander had had his brunch I got the family together to take some photos, Arthur suddenly became shy but we managed to get some wonderful memories captured for them. Here are a few of my favourites.

I remember the very first time I met Helen and Ben. It was in the Starbucks at Middlebrook and it was cold enough to have a hot chocolate, although when is it ever warm enough to not have one? They’d found me online and wanted to meet up and chat through a few things which is absolutely fine. I always like to meet people before they decide to work with e. I love getting to know people's stories and personalities. Helen and Ben first met at work where at first they were just colleagues then one Christmas party with a few drinks and an evening of talking and getting to know each other something changed and the rest, as they say, is history! Ben proposed on a family holiday to Barbados, he’d sneakily asked his dad to bring the ring out so Helen wouldn’t find it. They decided to go for a walk along the beach at sunset and he got down on one knee and popped the question and of course she said yes! The morning after wasn’t as great as after a few too many drinks the night before a bit of sickness filled the air. The ceremony was at Mitton Hall a lovely little country house in Clitheroe. One of those buildings that is packed to the rafters with old world charm and modern chic. Helen and her bridesmaids were excitedly getting ready for the day, while the boys did what all boys do and get ready slowly and carefully with a beer. Helen’s dad, however, was getting very lost on his way to where everyone was getting ready and only just made it in time but when he saw his daughter in her dress all his stress and worry evaporated. It was so lovely to see so many of Helen and Ben’s family and friends there, there was even one Grandma who was watching via Skype! The ceremony was so full of joy and laughter, they just didn’t seem nervous at all the second they saw each other. Ben surprised Helen with some giant Mr & Mrs lettering that she really wanted but decided they couldn't afford. She was so excited and surprised when she walked into the room to see them there. Helen and Ben's wedding was just filled with joy and laughter. It was the perfect day for such a wonderful couple.

Matt and Helen are one of those couples that people just don’t remember a time they weren’t together. Having been together for years before they got engaged family and friends were really excited about the day. It was a glorious sunny day in Lancashire. Matt was getting ready at his parents in Lytham and Helen and her girls where at her parents in Blackpool. The Ceremony was held at Bartle Hall, a lovely bright and light venue especially on such a gorgeous day. The sun was shining through the windows as Helen made her way to a very nervous looking Matt. There was no need to worry the ceremony went without a hitch and it was a perfect celebration for this lovely couple.

I’ve known Anna for over 10 years and we’ve been close friends for about the same amount of time. She’s been there for all the good times and bad times and I for her so when she asked me to photograph her wedding I jumped at the chance. There was one little snag though as I would be 9 months pregnant (and 2 weeks off my due date) on the date of her wedding not something I would normally agree too but this was no normal wedding or any other client so I said yes! Being the responsible photographer I am I chatted with my friend and colleague Janet from Janet Wareing photography she agreed to come onboard and bring her second Conny to help (as my usual second is Anna’s brother so he was a little busy that day being best man). I’ve worked with Janet many times and it was great to work with her again and to try and understand Connys thick Yorkshire accent as a Lancashire gal. The ceremony took place at Fulwood Free Methodist a church I have photographed at many times. Such a lovely venue with the wooden ceilings and stained glass inserts makes it very dramatic. Nigel and Anna love walking around the lake district, in fact anywhere, they are always posting photos of the grand and beautiful places they end up walking to over the weekend and they had included this shared love in the little touches in the reception. The cake looked like they had taken it straight from the surrounding of their latest walk. My usual second photographer at weddings was the best man and he along with Nigel and Anna's dad John did a great job of the speeches even though he was incredibly nervous!. I always hear great stories about the couple during the speeches although I can't spill any beans on this one Anna would kill me haha. Congratulations Anna and Nigel! You are a lovely couple and wonderful people.

I first worked with the Maddocks family at their wedding in 2012. I have had the privilege of photographing their little boy, Benjamin, for his newborn session and today I got to meet their latest addition a little girl called Tabitha and do her newborn shoot. Benjamin, who is now almost two, is running around as we arrive playing games with his dad as mum is feeding Tabitha. I set up and give mum the choice of what outfits she would lie Tabitha to wear and once she has finished her breakie we get started. I always find newborn shoots really interesting, generally poo filled as well but it is always an adventure. You never know what will happen. I have an idea of what generally will happen, at some point someone will wee on or near me, occasionally poo too, someone will be sick and someone will cry. Usually that someone is always the baby and today that is still true (thankfully). I find new babies really interesting because you are meeting this new person, who a lot of friends haven't met yet, someone who is discovering everything for the first time. They haven’t developed their personality yet and it's a time no one remembers. I always wonder what they are thinking about and what they see. Anyway the shoot goes really well and we get some great photos here are a few of my favourites from when I met little Tabitha..

It’s not often I get to do maternity shoots, mainly because most people don’t think about capturing photos of themselves and their bumps, so it was a real treat to do a maternity photo session with Alisa and Jon. Alisa was 8 months along on the day of the shoot and ready to go on maternity leave but running a successful business she had lots of work still to do before she took a little break. After a lot of discussion we decided to do the shoot in a small studio with the weather being awful - it always seems to rain in Preston - as with this shoot we were definitely on a strict time limit with no idea of the deadline as babies seem to be the only ones who know when they want to come and meet people. Being pregnant myself at the time of this mini maternity shoot it was lovely to capture such an important moment in their lives and talk bumps and baby things. Here are a few of my favourites...

I've been waiting to photograph this wedding for months! After photographing their engagement I was really looking forward to photographing their special day. They had unintentionally picked a gorgeous sunny September day, just the right kind of weather for a wedding sunny and not too bright so everyone squints in photos (never a good look and one I always avoid). As Steph was getting ready at her parents there was a buzz about the place. A mix of excitement, unknowing and waiting, waiting for the most exciting day of their lives to start. The girls were all getting ready and were excitedly chatting about what was about to happen. Paul (Stephs Dad) had been banished while Steph got ready and after all the finishing touches were applied I called him back in, he walked to the living room door and just stopped as he saw Steph, a moment that took his breath away, his youngest daughter looked stunning there is nothing else happening but that moment. They went to hug and as they did the moment seemed to flow over to the bridesmaids and they welled up, a sister, sister to be, close friends all realised what that one look meant, what the hug meant. It was a moment you cannot truly explain or pass by as a thrown away comment, it is one that sticks with you. A moment that you tell your children and grandchildren and a photo you cherish - this is what I love about being a wedding photographer. Josh on the other hand had been getting ready at his parents with all his groomsmen and mum and dad. I always find men take a lot less time to get ready. The have a lot less pampering and preening to do but the little details like ties and suits always have a lot of time taken over them to make sure they are just right before they head of to the church to wait for what seems like an age for their bride to arrive. I do love the moment when the bride walks down the aisle, you never know what the groom's reaction will be - will he cry, laugh, or smile sweetly? Josh was a mixture of both as his beautiful bride walked down the aisle towards him, it was a day they had both waited years for. For the wright person, at the wright time, the wright one (see what I did there? - their surname is Wright - Sorry I'll stop now).

I first met Emma at my very first wedding fayre early last year. I hadn't ever done wedding fayres before as I have always worked from recommendations previously but I managed to get a slot, set up and met some lovely people. Emma came back to speak to me again and we arranged a little meeting so I could meet her Fiancé (Jonathan) and her amazing son (Joshua) and of course we could talk all things weddings. A few meetings and almost a year later the day had finally arrived there was a little rain in the air but that didn’t damper the mood of the bride and her bridesmaids. They had rented a lovely little house in Leyland which had a traditional farm cottage look to it. Such a nice place to take photos and not having to worry about tidying up before too! The boys on the other hand where in the land of superheroes as they got ready. The boys were getting ready as the best man finished his speech. I love the superhero cuff links and custom art. The special touch was the ring bag that was made out of a shirt from Emma's grandad who sadly passed away before the wedding. I love little touches like this. It makes the day even more special and significant. The Church was lovely, high ceilings and gorgeous stained glass. A wonderful location for this amazing couple to tie the knot. With their family and friends around them they read their vows and exchanged rings. I always enjoy the ceremony whether it is a civil or church ceremony. People are declaring their love for each other and how they will always be there no matter what. Emma and Jonathan are a very strong couple and a lot has happened to them just in the past year since they booked me and I don’t know of a couple who when they state their vows they look so determined to live them out. The reception was at Charnock farm, a location I have photographed before, the staff are still as friendly and welcoming to all the guests and us too. The speeches go of without a hitch although at one point Joshua declares “when are these going to end?!?” I think hunger has set in :). He doesn’t have to wait to much longer to which he is very happy.

It’s a sunny Saturday in late July and I’m waiting at a lovely cafe in Dunsop Bridge for a lovely newly engaged couple to arrive for their engagement shoot. I’ve never photographed here before but it is a gorgeous location, the kind you imagine in a small Lancashire village, green leafy trees, a slowly flowing stream, old brick built buildings with cyclists and walkers enjoying their day. Anna and Nigel arrive slightly nervous just like most couples not sure what to expect as it’s not every day you get your photos taken. We head to the first location and talk about their wedding plans. I love hearing about different couples day’s, that every wedding isn’t the same. Dunsop Bridge has a beautiful stream and fields the perfect location to do a couples shoot. Romantic scenery and a wonderful couple always help. Anna and Nigel relax into the shoot and we get some great photos. It’s so exciting to mark a part of someone's lives with photos, to remember and to share with their family and future generations it’s one of my favourite, if not my favourite part of taking photos. I can’t wait to photograph their wedding in February, but for now here are some of my favourite photos from the day.