Kirsty and Jamie pre wedding shoot in Manchester city centre

A couple of weeks ago I met with Kirsty and Jamie for their pre wedding shoot ahead of their wedding later this year. Having lived in the city centre and loving the architecture and history of the buildings they decided to walk around some iconic Manchester sites for their pre wedding shoot images.

After meeting at their flat and being infatuated with cat their Jurgen we headed out around Castlefield before heading over to Albert Square for some photos around the town hall and St Peters Square. It was great to meet up with Kirsty and Jamie once again ahead of their big day and squeeze in a few photos before heading for a drink and chatting over all things weddings.

If you would like a relaxed couples shoot and want to hear about what I can do for you drop me a message here.

What real couples have to say...

So by now I’m sure everyone will have seen I made regional finals for photographer of the year in The Wedding Industry Awards, something I was immensely proud of and as such plastered all over my social media- sorry not sorry!

The North West is full to the brim of AMAZING photographers so to be named amongst some of these was incredible. As part of the judging process couples from the previous year are asked to leave feedback and overall score of their service (with an overall score of 69.4 out of 70 I was over the moon!) Last night I read through all the lovely comments left by my couples on what really was the best year of weddings!

From the bottom of my heart I want to say a huge thank you to each and every couple that chooses me to document their day and for each couple who took the time out of their busy days to vote for me- THANK YOU, you’re the best!

So without further ado here’s what some previous couples have to say.

“I took a while choosing a photographer as I knew exactly what I wanted; someone to capture the love and happiness on the day without needing to pose for any photos! I knew Olivia was the right person straight away when she responded so positively to my email and I felt her enthusiasm. The photos we received were exactly what we wanted; natural, fun, expressive, colourful, emotive and just full of love. There wasn't an image that didn't make me smile and/or cry and relive every perfect moment!” 

Mr & Mrs Bristowe

“Olivia was absolutely amazing, she made us feel very at ease throughout the day and fitted in perfectly to our wedding. Olivia took some amazing natural photos which was exactly what we were looking for in a photography. I would recommend Olivia to anyone looking for a photographer.”

Mr & Mrs Mapp

“Olivia was incredible from the day we met her! Our pre-wedding photo shoot was a beautiful day we will always treasure. Olivia took the time to get to know us, and teach us photography techniques that made our actual wedding day shoot fun and easy. Every single photo that Olivia took was flawless and she captured every element of our wedding. She went above and beyond to make sure we got exactly what we wanted, and was always available on the phone or by email in the lead up to our big day. 5*! “

Mr & Mrs Latchayya

“Olivia was amazing from the onset. We didn’t want traditional line up wedding photos, we wanted her to capture our theme and the enjoyment of our guests in a very informal way. Olivia delivered this perfectly! Our wedding was Christmas themed including a surprise real life reindeer, even this didn’t phase her. We had some specific shots we also wanted her to capture and being the ultimate professional she didn’t disappoint. At time we forgot she was there, but have the photos to prove it”

Mrs & Mrs Fletcher Wilde

“Olivia was the most down-to-earth and relatable photographer!. We visited many wedding fayres and searched many social media accounts. Olivia visited us in our home, made us feel at ease chatting about herself, her cats and her career and discussed what we wanted from her on our big day. Olivia took on board what we wanted and advised what she thought would look/work well. It genuinely felt like we had a friend taking the photos, we laughed and shivered together in the cold December weather! “

Mr & Mrs Bennett

“Olivia felt like one of our wedding guests rather than our photographer on our special day. She instantly put us both at ease and created a bond from our pre-wedding photo shoot. Our guests commented on how hard she worked during our wedding and her professional mannerism. We were overwhelmed with the quality of our photographs when we received them”

Mr & Mrs Tobias Reid

“We choose Olivia because of her unobtrusive style and friendly laid back personality. We didn't want super formal pictures but we did want to capture the atmosphere and spirit of the day which Olivia did perfectly. Olivia put us completely at ease and was a reassuring sight at all times, snapping her way through our day and our evening - we couldn't believe she managed to capture as many happy moments as she did. “

Mr & Mrs Lawton

“I approached Olivia regarding our wedding photography after following her page for a number of years. I loved her documentary style and how she managed to capture all the individual points of our day. My husband and I felt anxious about having our photos taken but as soon as we met Olivia all nerves were gone. She made us and all of our guests feel at ease. Our photographs are absolutely amazing and there isn’t anything that I would change. Olivia’s true passion for her work really shows.”

Mr & Mrs Norman

“Olivia was discreet and charming. She captured our personalities as a couple and of the feel of the whole event. I couldn’t have wished for a better photographer. “

Mr & Mrs Whitworth-Foster

“Olivia was perfect from start to finish. She was so helpful in the run up to our big day, providing plenty of ideas when we weren’t sure about what we wanted. She helped us to feel so comfortable in front of the camera and all of our guests commented on how amazing she was on the day. Our photos are absolutely beautiful, we couldn’t have asked for anything more and they were presented in a beautiful glass box full of dried petals! We would definitely recommend Olivia to future couples. “

Mr & Mrs Reid

“Olivia is a fantastic photographer she is so friendly and professional. She made us feel at ease. We have just received are wedding photos and we both couldn’t be happier with them. Anything I asked Olivia was no trouble for her I would recommend her to anyone”

Mr & Mrs Taylor

“Olivia was amazing through our whole wedding experience, from the pre wedding shoot and on the big day! She was so approachable, always quick to respond to any queries and super supportive on the big day, helping to calm my nerves! We will cherish our wedding photo's forever, Olivia is an incredible photographer, we would highly recommend her! “

Mr & Mrs Lee

“We where so impressed with Olivia’s Photography Skills. She made us feel at ease and she was great with the guests. Our photos are perfect and help us to relive our day over and over again. We had a pre shoot and she made us feel comfortable and guided us through the whole thing from booking to receiving the photos. Our guests all commented on how they didn’t feel like they where constantly being disturbed for photos as all the photos where so natural! We recommend her to everyone. “

Mr & Mrs Makinson

“Absolutely incredible! Recommended to everyone we know.. my sister has booked Olivia for her wedding next year. Such a perfect day & the memories of it are even more amazing by having such incredible & beautiful photos to treasure”

Mr & Mrs Green

“Olivia captured our day perfectly! Her style fitted in with our festival wedding completely (she even brought along coloured smoke flares, which produced the most AMAZING photos). “

Mr & Mrs Cornell

“We were worried about picking the right photographer, as neither myself nor my husband like being in front of a camera. This wasn't a problem working with Olivia. An engagement shoot was included with the package so we could get to know each other before the day. She was incredibly personable, friendly and put us at ease. On the day Olivia was amazing! She was great with our guests and her style of photography meant she almost blended into the background. Our final photos are beautiful! “

Mr & Mrs White

“After seeing her work at my brother’s wedding, I knew that Olivia had to photograph our big day too. Olivia has been brilliant from the beginning. Everyone commented on the day how brilliant she was, Olivia was never in anyone’s face and photographs didn’t seem laborious as they often can at weddings. The photos are absolutely stunning, we are thrilled! “

Mr & Mrs Watkins

“We are over the moon with our photos that we have received from Olivia. She has completely blown us away with the finished product. We are extremely grateful to Olivia for capturing such special moments between our family and friends.”

Mr & Mrs Heritage

“Olivia was diligent in her work and constantly made me, my husband and guests feel comfortable on our big day. She listened to what we wanted and also suggested things that we may like that we hadn't thought about. The quality of her work is outstanding and we will be forever grateful for the special pictures we have to remember our special day. She always went above and beyond to make us feel comfortable including an engagement shoot so we all felt comfortable together on the day “

Mr & Mrs Clayton

“Olivia is phenomenal I can’t fathom the words to express how at ease she made me feel. Thank you so much! “

Mr & Mrs White

“From the offset Olivia was friendly and totally understood the style of photography Joe and I wanted for our wedding. Throughout the process Olivia was efficient and professional. Her attention to detail was excellent and all of the little touches was just perfect. She perfectly captured our day and we can't thank her enough for it"

Mr & Mrs Woolmer-Brennan

If this post got you wondering what I can offer for you on your day…. wonder no more you can contact me here !

Rachael and Jimmy's pre wedding shoot at The Plunge Edenfield

A couple of weeks ago I met with Rachael and Jimmy at The Plunge in Edenfield ahead of their Last drop village hotel wedding. I was extra excited for this one as they were bringing along their two dachshunds YAS! As the biggest dog lover and someone who grew up with dachshunds I was super excited.

We walked down by the water and through the trees chatting planning and all things weddings. I love meeting couples prior to the wedding for a chance to get to know one another and squeeze in some photos.

If you’d like a relaxed pre wedding shoot drop me a message to see what I can do for you :)

Sarah and Glen's arcade couple's shoot in Blackpool

A couple of weeks ago I asked good friend and fellow wedding photographer Sarah to come along to Blackpool for some fun on the beach at sunset. As a first timer to Blackpool and *hold your breath* first time in an arcade I loved being able to show Sarah exactly what it is I love about Blackpool- the colour, the fun and the care free nature. 

I met Sarah and Glen outside of Coral Island on the beach front at Blackpool and we headed into the came to play on some classic arcade games- who doesn't love a 2p slot machine!? A quick round on Mario and the obligatory failed attempt to bag a teddy on the grabber machines we headed out onto the beach as the tide came in and the sun came down.  

It was so much fun dodging the water and going for a walk/ run across the sand. I can't wait to shoot more couples here and get planning more fun couples shoots. If you're interested in a natural couples shoot drop me a message or keep an eye on my social media for dates and locations I'd like to shoot at.

Laura and Sam's seaside wedding in Blackpool

Pets at bridal prep- check, the seaside- check, arcades- check, Elvis- check! Laura and Sam's wedding was SO much fun and was full of things I love. 

The day started at Laura and Sam's house for bridal prep which to my delight featured Lily the dog! After prep we heading to The wedding chapel which is situated right on the front of Blackpool promenade and perfectly frames the Blackpool tower. 

After taking a stroll along the promenade and onto North pier and taking a few photos of Laura and Sam we made a quick stop in the arcades *yay* The wedding party then headed to local Italian Nunzio's for the wedding meal and the all important speeches which included a lovely poem from Sam's mum. 

After being refuelled it was time for everyone to take a stroll down to The talk of the town for Laura and Sam's evening reception. Including some wedding crashers, a cake made of cheese and an extra special VIP .... ELVIS!! And to top it all off I managed to take Laura and Sam onto the beach (or as close to it as we could get in high tide) for some evening portraits...here's a brief glance of what their day looked like.

Ben and Lizzie's pre wedding shoot at Heaton Park

A couple of weeks back I headed to lovely Heaton park in Manchester for Ben and Lizzie's pre wedding shoot ahead of their Heaton park wedding in a few weeks. We walked around the park chatting wedding plans and travel (my 2 favourite subjects) while squeezing in some photos of the pair and their beautiful daughter Eleanor. 

Having spent lots of time in Heaton park with friends and family growing up I was really looking forward to heading there for the shoot and scouting locations for their wedding photos. Lizzie and Ben chose to hold their wedding in the park after both meeting and getting engaged here so it felt pretty special to be taking photos of their family here ahead of their wedding. 

I'm can't wait to be heading back in a few weeks for their wedding and hopefully we'll be treated to a little bit more of the very rare Manchester sunshine we've been having recently. 

Here's a little bit of what we got up to ... 

If you're interested in a relaxed couples or family shoot in or around Manchester/ Lancashire/ Yorkshire/ Cheshire drop me a message to see what I can offer for you :) 

Olivia x 

Danielle and Ian's pre wedding shoot at Meols Hall

I loved meeting with Danielle and Ian ahead of their Meols Hall wedding later this month. We were lucky to get one of those rare sunny days that seem the norm recently (Crossing everything that it stays that way) We walked around the insanely gorgeous surroundings of Meols hall and the many grounds it boasts- we even got to see a little hedgehog!

Here's a little bit of what we got up to!

If you're planning your wedding or even just want some photos of yourself and your partner together in a relaxed style at a location of your choice drop me a message  to see what I can do for you :D 

Laura and Sam's pre wedding shoot in Blackpool

Back on Easter Sunday I met with Laura and Sam for their pre wedding shoot ahead of their wedding in Blackpool this June. We met early on, in the unexpected sunshine, with the hope to beat the high tide and have a walk along the beach. Unfortunately, along with the sun, mother nature had other ideas and washed out the beach entirely! But that didn't matter as we walked across to the local gardens with Lily the dog for some pictures. 

It was a great opportunity to chat through plans for their relaxed wedding and of course get in some photos of the pair and Lily- just look at that smile! 

Casey and Liam's wedding at The Peacock Room

I've known Casey since high school after being in the same form class so I was extra excited when she asked me to document her and Liam's big day. 

After meeting in Lourdes and later becoming engaged there while on pilgrimage Liam and Casey's day was extra special in paying homage to this in a day surrounded by their family and friends. Bridal preparations were enjoyed over a glass of bubbly and some throwback music supplied by Steps and beautiful makeup by Briony Jayne

The beautiful ceremony was held in Liam's family church at Our Immaculate Mother & ST Anselm's with the service delivered from both Casey and Liam's parish priests making it extra special and personal to the pair. 

After a hefty showering of confetti and the formal group shots the heavens opened just in time for us to make our way over to The Peacock Room. Luckily we dodged the rain for the most part and made use out of the beautiful grounds at the peacock room for some bridal portraits. 

Some emotional speeches recounting of long friendships, and fate bringing Casey and Liam together 

Huge thank you to Sarah for coming along and second shooting with me for the day and capturing some of these moments! 

Sam and Pranesh's autumnal pre wedding shoot at Carlton Towers

Next week I will be heading back to the incredibly beautiful and grand Carlton Towers in Yorkshire to document Sam and Pranesh's big day. Back in the autumn I headed up crossing the Lancashire to Yorkshire border to meet the pair for a pre wedding shoot. We had a relaxed walk round the venue and discussed all things weddings and wedding plans. 

The building was covered in the most amazing red ivy and we had the whole place to ourselves to explore! A beautiful mix of large state rooms dressed in gold and ornate fireplaces and intimate cosy rooms perfect to snuggle on the sofa in and surrounded by 250 acres of estate parkland there was plenty to explore. 

We had such a lovely morning full of love and laughter and it made me so so excited for their big day! After a quick tour of the venue we started in the state rooms and worked our way through the house and into the gardens for some pictures.

Pre wedding shoots are not only a great opportunity to get some photos of you as a couple but they are a fab opportunity to chat all about your big day, not to mention understand a little bit about how I work and what you’ll be doing on your wedding. Aside from this I LOVE shooting couples, if you’d like some photos of you and your partner (engaged or not) pop me a message and see what I can do for you!

A very special couples shoot in the Lancashire hills

I love each and every shoot that I get the chance to do and I especially love working alongside couples to capture their personality in beautiful settings. And this shoot above any other stands out because its my very own lovely mum and dad. Right on the door step of my childhood family home is the beautiful setting of Ashworth Moor in Lancashire just on the outskirts of Rochdale, growing up we would head up the lane to this beautiful setting of rolling hills, waterfalls and reservoirs to walks our two dachshunds and now I love to spend weekends up in the hills. 

Seeing heather in bloom on impulse I quickly grabbed my mum and dad and took them up to the moors for a walk in the hills and a few photos. It was extra special to see how they reacted with one another especially after 33 years of marriage, my mum and dad have always been a massive inspiration and shown me exactly what a relationship should be like. 

This was the first time since their own wedding they had the opportunity to have some photos with one another (which is crazy considering they had a photographer in the family). Unlike the traditional photos taken on their wedding I wanted to be able to inject some fun and personality into these photos are really show off the amazing relationship they have. These pictures will always be super special to me and I am so excited to finally be showing them off. 

I love exploring the great outdoors and especially love going for adventures in new places so if you’re planning your wedding and would like a pre wedding shoot or know someone who would love some new portraits drop and message and get in touch and lets plan something awesome!