Kirsty & Chris' Pilgrims Rest, Battle wedding

Where to begin with Kirsty and Chris’ stunner of a day! From the incredible venue heaped with history to the cosy decor and what to even say about the dress- GOALS!

Although based in Lancashire I am so lucky to have the opportunity to travel up and down the country and all over the world photographing beautiful weddings for amazing couples. I loved travelling down to Battle to photograph at this gorgeous venue.

I will forever be in love with Kirsty’s beautiful embroidered asos dress as well as not one but two pairs of irregular choice shoes… Wedding hack right there getting an awesome pair of heels and flats! With a morning of prep soundtracked to Disney I knew this wedding was going to be a bit of me and full of joy, love and happiness.

After an intimate ceremony surrounded by their nearest and dearest Kirsty, Chris and I headed into Battle to explore the village and get some beautiful portraits in the sunshine around Battle abbey.

Kirsty and Chris opted for a barbecue perfect for the sunny weather before kicking off the heels and starting their party as early as possible- my kind of wedding!

Here’s a little snippet of what their wedding looked like!

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…

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

Emily and Ed's colourful wedding at The Old Grammar School Middleton

The Old Grammar School in Middleton is such a hidden gem tucked away just out of the centre of Middleton. Standing over 600 years old its full of character and charm whilst being super close to Manchester city centre. As a Lancashire wedding photographer I love having the opportunity to explore venues for the first time.

I first met Emily when I photographed her brother and sister in laws wedding 2 years ago and was absolutely thrilled when she got in touch to see if I was available to shoot her big day. 

The day started off nice and relaxed with the girls getting ready together at Emily's mums home surrounded by bridesmaids, with flower girls Poppy and Ada excitedly waiting upstairs jumping on the bed. I was super excited to see Emily’s “light up” shoes and colourful bouquet that she had previously told me about and it did not disappoint! If you want to inject some colour and fun into your flowers then take note because this is how to do it!

After a drive in the appropriately named “Emily” wedding car Ed and Emily were married in a beautiful service at St Marie’s church in Bury surrounded by their closest family and friends.

A quick showering of rainbow confetti and time for some portraits of the pair outside of the church and it was time to head over to The Old Grammar School. The traditional stone and oak building looked incredible filled full of rainbow flowers and fairy lights – the brighter the better!

After an afternoon spent in the sunshine with family and friends Ed and Emily settled down for a BBQ and speeches before kicking off the dance floor to sound of The Midnight cats. Thanks so much for having me at your big day Emily and Ed it was beautiful !

Here’s a little preview of what the day looked like

Wedding Suppliers:

Venue: The Old Grammar School

Make up: Vicki Sillett

Hair: Alicia Davies

Flowers: Bealey’s florist

Cake: Julia’s icing on the cake

Band: The Midnight Cats

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 

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!

Fiona and Ian's intimate farm wedding in Kinross

From the moment Fiona's email detailing her wedding to Ian hit my inbox I knew it was going to be special. An intimate wedding set on their very own farm with their nearest and dearest - a grand total of 9 guests and Polly (the ring bearing sheep) Set in the incredibly beautiful Kinross in Scotland and I was looking forward to this wedding for a long time! 

After getting their hair done at the salon the girls headed back to Fiona and Ian’s farm house to bind beautiful rose and thistle buttonholes before doing makeup and getting dressed. Once dressed Fiona headed over to see her calves and other animals on the farm before… wait for it….. driving herself down the “aisle” in a tractor- Seriously one of the coolest entrances EVER! 

Following a traditional bag piper Fiona, bridesmaid and flower girls headed down the aisle for a hand fasting ceremony. It was such an honour to be part of Fiona and Ian’s intimate ceremony with what can only be described as the most phenomenal views! 

After the ceremony Fiona, Ian and I wandered around their farm taking photos of the two before heading back to the field directly behind the farmhouse where the couple had set up bride and groom hay bales as well as a hay bale pyramid for their group shot *swoon* It felt so special taking photos not only where they had been married 20 minutes prior but on their land where they both worked and lived. A brief stop in the farmhouse for some snacks and refreshments and we headed off for a mini tour of the couples favourite spots including Loch Leven (if you get a chance to visit I cannot recommend it enough) I loved being able to explore the stunning scenery and take portraits of these guys before heading to an intimate (and amazingly tasty) meal at a local restaurant before they headed off on their honeymoon. I had such a beautiful and fun day celebrating and documenting this intimate wedding.

If you’re planning a relaxed countryside wedding, or an intimate elopement get in touch ! I adore shooting this sort of beautiful wedding 

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 

Michaela & Ken's Chester Zoo pre wedding shoot

Last month on a very sunny Saturday I headed to Chester Zoo (yay!) to meet up with Michaela, Ken and daughters Annabelle & Taliah to chat all about their wedding plans, stroll around the zoo and sneak in a few pictures ahead of their wedding day. 

I am so excited for this one and know its going to be an absolutely amazing wedding full of fun, love and incredible animals. 

Here's a little look at what we got up to when we met. 

Lauren & Ian's vintage village hall wedding in Chipping Lancashire

Lauren and Ian's wedding was definitely one of my favourites from last year. Full of love, family and beautiful hand made touches this is what rustic village hall weddings are all about! 

Prior to the big day I met Lauren, Ian along with their closest family and friends to document them dressing the room together. So much care and attention went into every single part of the day making it so personal and extra special. Lauren's mum and grandma created beautiful floral arrangements for the tables in an array of jars and vases collected in the year leading up to the wedding. The best man and groom were set to hang bunting that Lauren had handmade throughout the hall. Handmade handkerchiefs and napkins were tied and organised ready for ceremony and wedding breakfast and family photos of marriages previous were stacked on a ladder Lauren had found and up-cycled. Alongside their wedding cake Lauren and Ian opted for a table full of cakes ranging from gluten free lemon cake to chocolate cake (My idea of heaven!) 

Set in stunning rural Chipping in Lancashire the day started off in Plum Cottage with Lauren, bridesmaid Helen, daughter Emily and friends for bridal preparations. There was plenty of laughter as I photographed the bridal party getting ready along with all the special details including Lauren's vintage inspired Vivian of Holloway wedding dress and Irregular Choice heels (swoon!) 

We headed over to Parish church of St Bartholomews for an intimate service before Lauren and Ian were showered with dried petals. Following some family photos and a walk around the village with Lauren and Ian we made the very quick walk across the road to Chipping Village Hall for an evening of pimms, afternoon tea and plenty of dancing. 

If you're wanting a rustic vintage feel for your wedding this is definitely the way to do it! 

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...

Wedding Photography Workshop at Owen House Wedding Barn

Last week I was lucky enough to bag myself a place on Jonny Draper's latest workshop at Owen House Wedding Barn in Cheshire. All I can say is what a venue, what a photographer, what a day!

Being self employed can be a bit lonely at times so I absolutely love having the opportunity to meet and catch up with other photographers from not only the North West but around the country whilst taking the time to learn new skills and gain inspiration. 

I feel so lucky to be able to say this is my second course with Jonny (an immense achievement as his courses seem to sell out in under 30 minutes every time!) and just like the previous course this one did not disappoint. Teamed with a whole host of incredible suppliers, the venue and models looked AMAZING! 

We spent the morning shooting in the barn with models Sarah, Suzy and Ollie creating beautiful couples shots and bridal portraits against the hay bales and beautiful exterior. 

Following this we stopped for pizza (my favourite) created by Smith Street Kitchen (a horse box converted into pizza oven). With each pizza cooked in around 90 seconds, and tasting unreal, these guys are a definite must for anyone looking for a relaxed, alternative/ fun option for catering their wedding. 

In the afternoon after a quick dress change we headed round the back to play with smoke bombs, some inquisitive cows and beautiful country views. I even had a chance to pull out my prisms to create some beautiful lighting effects. 

Thank you so much to Jonny and the team who helped put together this INCREDIBLE day! 

Here's a few pictures from the day.

Special thanks go out to 

Venue: Owen House Wedding Barn

Workshop host: Jonny Draper

Dress: Love Bridal Boutique

Suit: Whitfield & Ward

Bouquet: Red Floral

Catering: Smith Street Kitchen

Model: Sarah Rowlands

Couple & Light up letters: Ollie and Suzy from The word is love

Olivia x