Catherine & Andy's wedding at York House, Twickenham

Let’s rewind to May last year when Catherine and Andy were married at York House. It was my first time visiting York House and fingers crossed not the last. A historic stately home in Twickenham surrounded by the most beautiful gardens along the edge of the river Thames it’s the perfect backdrop for beautiful portraits.

Their day was full of so many wonderful personal touches. Catherine is Australian and her bouquet, that was organised by friend Alyson, featured flowers native to Australia wrapped in lace from her grandmothers wedding dress. Alongside this she wore a beautiful opal necklace belonging to her mother.

Due to covid Catherine’s family dialled in via zoom to watch her brother walk her down the aisle before a gorgeous intimate ceremony.

Heading out into the glorious southern sun for a showering of confetti we made the most out of gardens and backdrop of the Thames with some family photos and portraits before everyone headed to the pub for a celebratory drink.

I absolutely LOVE sharing peoples intimate days. If you are getting married at York house or having your own intimate wedding drop me a message here. For now here is some highlights from Catherine and Andy’s gorgeous sunny day,

Olivia x

Rachel and Lee's intimate Oxwich bay wedding

I absolutely ADORE intimate weddings that break tradition and this is what perfectly describes Rachel and Lee’s day. Starting the day at the most beautiful holiday cottage tucked away in beautiful Swansea with a gorgeous coastal view it was the perfect backdrop for Rachel’s lace with grace dress.

Rachel and her bridal party spent the morning relaxing and getting ready before heading to The Beach house (the most beautiful restaurant sat right on the beach) for a personalised ceremony lead by bridesmaid Angharad. Post ceremony everyone headed outside for some champagne on the terrace overlooking the beach before heading in for an INCREDIBLE 5 course taster menu. A couple of hours and very full tummies later it was time for round one of speeches (the family friendly versions) before heading off to some of the most incredible views around the bay. I always love when couples take me to spaces they love and hidden gems and these were spots that made me so excited to have my camera in hand.

After spending time getting some portraits overlooking Oxwich bay we headed back to the holiday cottage for more food, champagne, round 2 of speeches (the x-rated versions) , a quick dress change and some dancing by the light of sparklers.

I’m such a firm believer in doing your day exactly as you want and ditching traditions and expectations you don’t want for your day and Rachel and Lee absolutely nailed this with their beautiful relaxed day by the sea.

Big thanks to Emily for coming along to second shoot with me and have a big sing along on the drive back north.

Frankie and Brad's West Tower wedding

I absolutely love shooting at West Tower in Ormskirk and was so excited to shoot there again for Frankie and Brad’s wedding.

Back when the weather was a lot warmer Frankie and Brad had a beautiful outdoor ceremony which was complemented perfectly by their pastel blue colour scheme. A confetti shower later everyone headed for a drinks reception on the lawn where guests were entertained with a magician- such an amazing addition to any wedding!

Following speeches and a yummy wedding breakfast we were treated to the most gorgeous sunset before heading in for an epic dancefloor

Lauren & Chris' Mitton Hall wedding

Mitton Hall is defnitiely one of my favourite venues to shoot at filled with beautiful interiors and surrounded by masses of beautiful grounds in the heart of Ribble Valley- what’s not to love?! So I was really excited to return for Lauren and Chris’ big day.

After getting ready at their home Lauren and the girls set off to Mitton Hall in a beautiful campervan- swoon!

Lauren and Chris’ ceremony took place at Mitton Hall and was full of the biggest smiles and so much joy. Followed by a showering of confetti and some mingling on the terrace it was time to get the party started with DFC. Queue dance entrances, mid course sing alongs with napkins flying around above everyones heads and a round of Mr and Mrs… if you’re looking to get the party started and have a fun wedding breakfast then look no further than these guys!

Lauren, Chris and I slipped away to take in some of the breath taking gardens and views surrounding Mitton hall before heading back for drinking games, sunglasses and much more dancing.

What a day… take a look at a few highlights below.

Shellby & Ryan pre wedding shoot

Tomorrow is Shellby and Ryan’s wedding day at the beautiful White hart inn, Lydgate. Its such a gorgeous venue and one that I absolutely love returning to.

A couple of months ago we met for a walk, chat and a squeezed in some photos along the way. I love getting to know my couples throughout their wedding planning and getting to know all about their back story and plans for their big day on the pre wedding shoot.

Here’s a little bit of what we got up to…

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 !

Best of 2018

2018 was bloody fabulous ! So many incredible weddings and couples who did their day their way!

Working in Lancashire and up and down the country heading down to Cornwall and up to Scotland I really did cover the lengths of the UK photographing weddings over the past 12 months. Over 50 weddings later and I’m itching for 2019 weddings to start so I can dive into more unique days.

From 3 day long festivals to intimate elopements no two weddings have been the same which is exactly why this year has been so amazing! To each and every couple who chose me to document their day THANK YOU! I’ve absolutely loved documenting every laugh, tear, hug and epic dance off.

I’ve worked alongside some insanely talented photographers this year and to all of you who have second shot for myself or invited me to shoot alongside you I cannot thank you enough, I’ve had an absolute blast!

2019 is shaping up to equally epic with weddings in Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales and even Sorrento…. BRING IT ON !

Here’s a tiny snippet of what I got up to in 2018- enjoy!

Happy New Year !

Olivia x

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 :)

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.

Joseph and Ninoshka's pre wedding shoot at Dunham Massey

From the first time I met Joseph and Ninoshka I've been excited for their wedding and with it now only a couple of weeks away I cannot wait! When Joseph suggested Dunham Massey for their pre wedding shoot ahead of their big day I was so happy I LOVE Dunham Massey and have visited many times before to walk around the house and gardens and spot the deer. When the day arrived and the sun was beaming I was practically jumping for joy- I couldn't have wished for anything more after a very wet and cold start to the year! 

The love shared between these guys is incredible and shines out of them, I absolutely adored photographing them and chatting through their wedding plans in the most beautiful setting. Here's a little bit of what we got up to... 

I absolutely LOVE couples shoots, getting to hear all about their love story and documenting them together. If you'd like to book in for a relaxed couples shoot or to enquire about prices and packages pop me a message.

Sam and Pranesh's rustic wedding at Carlton Towers

I was so excited to be back at Carlton Towers for Sam and Pranesh's wedding after visiting with them in the autumn for their pre wedding shoot. Luckily the February weather was kind to us and the rain held off! It was such a beautiful day and I am so excited to be able to share this beautiful Yorkshire wedding. 

Starting in the morning with Sam getting ready with her bridesmaids and mums while the boys prepped the downstairs there was a really buzz as all the girls had their hair and makeup done and Sam handed out gifts. With a little spare time Sam and Pranesh decided to have a 'first touch'. This was the first time I had the opportunity to photograph a first touch and I absolutely loved it! If you have the time to schedule it in to your day I highly recommend to do so it was a really lovely emotional moment and I felt incredibly lucky to be able to document it. 

Walking down the aisle to the beautiful voice of Rosanna O'Brien Sam and Pranesh's ceremony was perfect, full of little glances and smiles to one another. 

After the ceremony we headed outside for a showering of confetti as they walked down the grand steps outside the venue before taking some time to explore the grounds and get some photos as the two spend a little time together as husband and wife. 

I love taking time to photograph the little details at a wedding- after all so much time has been spent planning it out to be perfect! and Sam and Pranesh's did not disappoint. It was so lovely to see their centre pieces for each table included images from their pre wedding shoot and my favourite touch was their "You are my lobster" cake topper- as a HUGE Friends fan this was much appreciated.

Undoubtably one of my favourite parts of Sam and Pranesh's big day was the dance floor! It was INCREDIBLE! After a game of Mr and Mrs it was dancing shoes back on a go go go. With Pranesh's family coming from Mauritius I had been warned the dance floor would be busy and that was no word of a lie, it was such an amazing atmosphere and I loved getting stuck in the middle of all the action. 

Massive thanks to Emily for coming along to second shoot and capturing some of these images.

Massive thanks to all suppliers involved in making this wedding BEAUTIFUL and of course to Sam and Pranesh for allowing me to share and document their big day !

Venue: Carlton Towers

Singer: Rosanna O'brien 

Second shooter: Emily Bailey

Decorations: As you wish events

Cake: Betty's 

Duane and Ellie's pre wedding shoot in New Mills

I met Duane and Ellie last week at their home before heading to one of their favourite spots for a walk with dog Trevor. We were lucky to dodge the thunderstorms and be graced with some very rare but welcomed sunshine! I always love heading to places that are personal to a couple for pre wedding shoots. 

When we reached the top there was the most amazing view out to Manchester and I was so glad we had a clear day to see the view. Not wanting to be left out Trevor did a quick lap to be centre frame in some of Duane and Ellie's images.

After our walk we headed back to Duane and Ellie's house to chat through plans for their wedding and I CANNOT WAIT! In August I'll be heading down to Cornwall for the pairs festival themed wedding! Every single thing about this wedding sounds incredible and I am so so excited to be photographing their big day.

If you'd like to meet to discuss booking me for your own wedding or booking in a couples shoot drop me a message to see what I can do for you.

Olivia x 

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!

Best of 2017

2017 was such an amazing year for me. I met the most amazing couples sharing their big days documenting the tears, the laughter and the incredible parties that followed! I am so grateful to each and every couple that chose me to document their day. 

I've been lucky enough to work at some amazing new venues, tick some off my bucket list and return to some favourites from previous years. I've travelled up and down the country working with the BEST couples. I have second shot for some incredible photographers and undergone training from some of the best. 

The year kicked off at The Victoria hotel in Oldham and ended at beautiful Mitton Hall. In between I travelled to Kinross, Scotland, Swansea, Fawley Hill and Bristol and so many other incredible places.

I can't wait to see what 2018 holds, I'm nearly fully booked with just a couple of dates remaining and now taking bookings for 2019. I'll be travelling across Manchester, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Wales and further afield. If you're still looking for your photographer drop me a message to see what I can do for you. 

Happy New Year!

Olivia 

Shai & James' autumnal couples shoot at Heaton Park

This weekend is a little throwback to my favourite time of year when the leaves have fallen and the ground is scattered with the perfect shade of orange. I met Shai and James down by the boating lake in beautiful Heaton Park in Manchester. Full of beautiful spots spanning over 600 acres in the grounds of an 18th century country house there was plenty of amazing photo spots. 

We walked around chatting about all my favourite things- weddings and animals! We even befriended some of the squirrels that occupy the park. 

There was plenty of laughs, cuddles and pictures to show off how perfect these two are for each other! 

Heaton park made the perfect setting for photos. With a stunning backdrop of autumnal colours and animals it is an idyllic haven from the busy centre of Manchester.

Hayley & Daniels spring wedding at Hazlewood Castle

Hayley and Daniels wedding was like something straight out of a fairytale set in Hazlewood castle in Yorkshire, a historic beauty dating all the way back to 1086. Hayley and Daniel's wedding was bursting full of love, emotion and hand made touches that made the day so sentimental. From the moment Hayley entered the room it was clear to see the love between these two and that they were meant to be. 

The day started with an intimate ceremony within the castle shared with their closest friends and family before heading to the chapel in the grounds for a beautiful service shared with their full wedding party.

After a foggy start to the day the sun came out just in time for lots of confetti and photos in the beautiful Yorkshire grounds.

We later progressed into the Great Hall for an evening meal, speeches before a night full of dancing including an extra special dance medley between Hayley and her father- if you're wondering what makes a great dance floor, this is it!

Sarah & Dave's rainy pre wedding shoot at Southport Botanic Gardens

One of the things I get asked most is "What do we do if it rain's on our day?" The short answer is we grab an umbrella and carry on. Don't be afraid of a little (or a lot) rain and never underestimate how beautiful the rain can and will look on your pictures. 

I kicked off what is turning out to be a very wet April here in Lancashire meeting with Sarah and Dave on one of the wettest days of the year, for what was undoubtedly the soggiest shoot I have ever done. But lucky for us that also meant the Botanic gardens in Southport were empty for us to get some lovely pictures in the spot Sarah's parents had their own wedding photographs. 

We sheltered from the rain with Charlie the puppy before digging out the umbrellas and heading out and walking round the botanical gardens talking about their wedding and getting some snaps. These guys were awesome full of love and laughter and I cannot wait for their wedding!

Styled bridal shoot

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to collaborate on a beautiful styled bridal shoot in Leeds. Working alongside the wonderfully talented Emma Louise Bartlam whose make up studio is based in Leeds city centre we created 3 bridal looks. 

In true Yorkshire style the temperamental weather restricted us from having the opportunity to head outside as originally planned but that didn't stop us from being able to create some bridal portraits within the studio.

If you're looking for a makeup artist for your wedding or even just fancy a pamper I cannot recommend Emma enough so drop her a message or pop into her studio.  

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

Pippa & Ben's Victoria Hotel wedding with a Mexican twist

Pippa and Ben's wedding was one I couldn't wait for. A beautiful wedding with a fun twist! 

Marking their 11th anniversary Pippa and Ben shared their special day with their friends family and beautiful daughter Pearl. The day kicked off at The Victoria Hotel in Oldham for bridal prep before heading to St James's Church for a beautiful ceremony. We sheltered from the February rain inside the church before braving the cold for a confetti filled get a way.

When we arrived back to The Victoria Hotel we were greeted by a Mariachi band and nacho stand- how AMAZING!

If this didn't make the day unique enough alongside their wedding cake Pippa and ben also opted for a 3 tier pork pie. 

I absolutely loved documenting this relaxed, fun wedding from the stag party's party piece during the speeches to the full dance floor full of love. 

A massive thank you to Emily for second shooting this wedding with me and getting some of these shots 

Venue: The Victoria Hotel