# Generated by SAISO v2.7.0 # Paul Wilkinson Photography > Stunning portrait and wedding images from one of the UK's Master Photographers ## Important Pages - [Privacy Policy](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy Last updated: August 4, 2025 Introduction This privacy notice tells you what to expect us to do with your personal information and photographs when you contact us, use our services, or visit our website. We are Paul Wilkinson Photography Ltd, a professional photography service. We take your privacy seriously and are committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act... - [Wedding And Portrait Photographer](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/) Experienced portrait and wedding photographer in the Chilterns. Professional headshots, family portraits, and wedding photography that captures the moments you were too busy enjoying to notice. BIPP Qualified · As featured in Nphoto, Professional Photo, Digital Photographer · Author of "Mastering Portrait Photography" ° 25+ years creating portraits people love People. That's What We Do. Whether it's a professional headshot that actually looks like you, a family portrait you'll still love in twenty years, or wedding photography that captures the bits you were too busy laughing to notice - this is what we do. We photograph people. Our studio is in... Categories: Business Portraits, Family Portrait Photography, Portrait Photography Topics: Award Winning Portrait Photography, Family Photography, Headshots and Portfolio Photography, Portrait Photography In London, Professional Headshots - [Shop](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/pwp-shop/) Discover thoughtful photography gifts from Paul Wilkinson - vouchers for portrait sessions, masterclasses, signed books and personalised experiences beautifully presented. Wherever you see the Paul Wilkinson signature, you know it's applied to something truly special. We have always used my signature to show that the experience we offer here is completely personal and bespoke - whether it's a portrait shoot, some headshots, a training day or a beautiful frame on the wall, we are always thrilled to put our signature to it. We all appreciate a thoughtful gift, so why not treat someone you to... - [Shopping Cart](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/shopping-cart/) - [Order Cancelled](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/order-cancelled/) - [Photography Workshops](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/photography-workshop-courses/) Discover our portrait photography workshops and mentoring programmes. Learn from experienced instructors through hands-on training designed to master portrait photography skills and techniques. Photography Workshops and Creative Learning We've brought all of our photography workshops together under our Mastering Portrait Photography brand - an entire website dedicated to helping photographers develop their craft through resources, tools, stories, and hands-on learning experiences. Whether you're looking to deepen your skills in portrait photography workshops or explore other areas of creative development, you'll find a comprehensive range of options. Head over to the academy at masteringportraitphotography.com/workshops-and-mentoring/ to explore what's available. Our... Topics: Masterclasses and Training Courses, Mastering Portrait Photography, Photography business workshops, photography workshops, Portrait Photography - [About](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/about-paul-wilkinson-photography/) Discover the team behind luxury portrait photography in the UK. Award-winning photographer Paul and his dedicated team create bespoke family portraits and offer photography business consulting. About You're probably reading this because you love our photography. You want to know more about the team behind the images. And that's the thing - it really is a team effort. Paul's photographic skill sits at the heart of what we do. But this luxury portrait photography business runs on something just as important: exceptional service. We've built our reputation as one of the UK's most sought-after portrait photographers by caring as much about... - [Wedding Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/award-winning-wedding-photographer/) Award-winning wedding photographer creating beautiful, timeless albums from start to finish. Discover our professional wedding photography services and what makes your day unforgettable. Award Winning Wedding Photography Creating beautiful wedding photography is a blend of so many factors, it's hard to know quite where to start. The photography itself - the very thing that this is really about - is at the heart of what we do. But beyond that, we've always believed that our clients should have the ultimate experience from start to finish: from that very first meeting to the moment the album is complete, sitting... Categories: Destination Wedding Photography, Photography Albums Designs, Photography Awards Topics: Award Winning Wedding Photography, Engagement Photography, Family Photography, Location Portrait Photography, Masterclasses and Training Courses - [Blog](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/studio-life-behind-scenes/) Discover what really happens behind the scenes at our photography studio - from client consultations and shoots to the team culture that makes it all work. The Rhythm of Studio Life Behind the Scenes There is always something going on here in our photography studio life. Whether it's a portrait shoot in full swing, a photography workshop with a group of keen creatives, a client consultation photography session (where we sit down and really get to know what someone's after), or just us lot all laughing and drinking coffee whilst we sign frames, cards and quality check albums. I am genuinely... Categories: Commercial Advertising Photography - [Contact Us](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/contact-portrait-photographer-buckinghamshire/) Get in touch with our portrait photography studio in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire. Book a session, discuss your photography needs, or visit us: we're here to help Whether you're looking for a portrait session, professional headshots, or a wedding photographer in Buckinghamshire, we'd love to hear from you. Use the form below, give us a call, or drop into our studio in Haddenham - we're always happy to help. Send Us a Message Your browser can't display this form. Please click here to open the contact form. Visit Our Photography Studio Our studio is in the heart of Haddenham, Buckinghamshire - easy... - [The Mastering Portrait Photography Book | Photography Tips and Techniques](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/best-portrait-photography-book/) Learn portrait photography from a master craftsman. Discover posing, composition and techniques in Mastering Portrait Photography - the best photography book for beginners to professionals. Mastering Portrait Photography by Paul Wilkinson & Sarah Plater. Learn how one of the UK's master photographs creates his distinctive images. Our book, Mastering Portrait Photography is now out on Amazon and in bookshops! The book is a collaboration between myself and Sarah Plater and talks about how we create the images that we do and gives photography tips and techniques for both professional photographers and experienced enthusiasts (pssst we also thing this is the best portrait photography book on the market but, hey, we would say that!) We've worked to include a huge variety of... Categories: Photography Workshops, Portrait Photography Topics: Award Winning Portrait Photography, Masterclasses and Training Courses, Mastering Portrait Photography, photography how to, Photography Tips and Techniques - [Sitemap](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/photography-services-directory/) Find your way around our photography services. Browse portraits, headshots, weddings, and more - or get in touch if you need help locating something specific. Right, so here's everything in one place. Whether you're looking for our portrait photography, trying to find the headshots page, or you've gone down a rabbit hole and ended up somewhere unexpected - this sitemap gets you back on track. Have a browse, have a click, and if you still can't find what you're after, just drop us a line at studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk and we'll point you in the right direction. We're helpful like that. - [What Happens After My Portrait Session?](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/after-portrait-session/) Discover what happens after your portrait session - from viewing your edited images to choosing frames and prints for your home with expert guidance. What Happens After Your Portrait Session - Your Path to Beautiful Wall Art So, your portrait session is done and you're wondering: what happens next? Well, firstly, you'll come back to the studio screening room, sit back, have a cup of tea and relax while we show you your images, carefully set to music. Each one has already been edited and ready for printing and framing. Some colour, some black and white. Our team will... Categories: Photography Album Designs, Portrait Photography Topics: Customer Service Excellence, Photography Albums Designs, Photography Tips and Techniques, Portrait Photography, Portrait Photography In Buckinghamshire - [Headshot Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/headshot-photography-services/) Explore professional headshot photography services for actors, authors, business professionals and commercial work. Find the right headshot photographer for you. Headshot Photography Services That Capture Who You Really Are Your headshot is the first impression, before you even arrive. Whether it's for business, commercial, actors, or authors, a headshot is a portrait with a purpose. It has a job to do. It needs to say something about who you are before you've walked into the room, before you've shaken a hand, before you've said a single word. And that means it has to be right.... Categories: Business Portraits, Headshots, Personal Branding Headshots Topics: Actors Headshots, Author headshots, best headshot photographers, Business Headshots, Commercial Headshots - [Portrait Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/portrait-photography/) Discover portrait photography that captures life and character. Explore our approach to creating relaxed, authentic images that bring out the best in every subject. Portrait Photography What makes a portrait actually work? It's rarely the camera settings or the lighting rig - though those matter, naturally. It's something far more human: the moment when someone stops performing for the lens and simply becomes themselves. I've watched this happen hundreds of times. A client walks in nervous, shoulders tight, already bracing for the awkwardness of being photographed. Then something shifts. The anxiety dissolves into laughter. The tension melts. And suddenly,... Categories: Portrait Photography Topics: Award Winning Portrait Photography, Location Portrait Photography, Photography Tips and Techniques, Portrait Photography, Portrait Photography In Buckinghamshire ## Articles, News & Updates ### [A Year In The Making!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/11/portrait-photography-book-year/) This year, it must be said, has been a little bit of an adventure. OK, so that's a bit of an understatement. It's been a LOT of an adventure. We have had an incredibly full diary - and when I say 'full' I really mean overflowing - with more portrait shoots, commercial sessions and weddings than ever before! And yet, on top of all that, somehow we've managed to fit in our first time working as a Master Photographer for Crystal Cruises and, along with Sarah Plater, have co-authored a book on Mastering Portrait Photography. In case you're curious, we have ingeniously titled the book Mastering Portrait Photography! When I agreed to get involved with the book just over twelve months ago, I had no idea just how hard it would be! Firstly, there's the not inconsiderable challenge of describing what it is that I actually do. Not just the regular stuff, but the more complex (and often instinctive) too. I have created photographs since I was a kid but it's not often that I am required to both analyse and then articulate the difference between taking and creating a photograph! Sarah Plater spent hours interviewing me and sitting in on portrait shoots and it is amazing how much she has captured of the conversations. There are so many little snippets in the book, it's simply astounding! And then there are the images themselves. And for that, the whole team - Sarah, Michelle and Meg - were all involved going through tens of thousands of images from our back-catalogue, looking for images that best illustrated the points in the text but would also create a book that would look really beautiful as well as being useful. The final images span over 13 years of photography with the oldest image in the book being of our daughter, Harriet, an image that was actually taken on my first digital camera - a Nikon D100 - when she was just three. The most recent were created specifically to illustrate points - Jake, our son, stepped in - with only the mildest protests - on numerous (usually gloomy, chilly and damp) occasions to help out. And it's been a real thrill contacting so many of our incredible clients asking for permission to use their pictures (honestly, it's been a wonderful trip down memory lane to be in touch with so many people who we loved working with!) And now it's out there. All that work, all those images, all those memories (at least for us and our clients!) It is not a little bit terrifying having something out there that you've put so much effort into: particularly as book reviewers are not known for holding back! So how is it going down? Well, so far so good! It seems to be selling well on Amazon (you can buy it from us too - we can't match Amazon's low price but I CAN sign the book for you!) and the reviews - at least those we've had to date - have been really lovely. And, more importantly, we have had the chance to publish 200 images that we love of people we adored working with! PS. Ben, the little boy on the cover, is now seventeen years old and a member of the Team GB Rowing Squad! He is just a little bit taller than he was! Here a just one or two images that are included in the book - each has been selected to help illustrate some point or other that we talk about (and you thought it was just random!) ### [Another Award For The Cabinet.](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/11/30687/) ###### Sometimes, the best awards are the ones you least expect and for things you didn't even know you did. Having become one of the regular judges at the Master Photographer's Association (The MPA) Annual International Awards, it's been a real privilege to look at (and score) stunning image after stunning image after stunning image from across the globe. From Fashion to Farm Animals, Nudes to New Borns, Fine Architecture to Fine Art, Portraits to Press, whatever the category, it is truly exhilarating to see, study, analyse and assess the work of some of the world's greatest image makers and I love it. The judging is completely anonymous - the images are identified by random serial numbers - so, with the odd exception, I am as much in the dark as everyone else about which photographer (as opposed to which image) has won until the names and images are announced on stage: I sit at the awards presentation genuinely excited to see which photographers have done well just as every other person in the room. For the first award, the outgoing MPA President, Steve Howdle FMPA, began describing the person he wished to present the President's Award to: someone who is enthusiastic, happy to help other photographers and hard working. I, just like everyone else, looked round the room eager to see who it might be - they sounded like someone I might like. And it turned out to be me. I'll be honest, it took a second to sink in. As with every other awards judge, you accept the fact that you can't enter the image competitions, so I was having a particularly wonderful evening without any of the pressure many others must have been feeling. Which made receiving the award even more of a surprise. I am fortunate to have won one one or two awards over the years, but this is the one of which I am the most proud. For someone as eminent as Steve to pick me out for recognition - and for just helping out where I can - is possibly the biggest compliment anyone has ever paid me. I think there is a photograph of me somewhere looking decidedly bemused and thrilled all at the same time. So to all those photographers who have inspired me (and continue to do so) and the incredible clients who have made it all possible. Thank you. Thank you for everything you have enabled me to do. Thank you for making me smile. Thank you for making this the best job in the world. Just, simply, thank you. What a wonderful end to a wonderful year: another trophy and one that I could not be more grateful for. ### [Location Portraiture Superclass at the SWPP Convention 2018](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/01/location-portraiture-superclass-swpp-convention-2018/) Even a cold, grey day in London can still culminate in beautiful portraits. Our Societies Of Photographers Convention Superclass focussed on being creative with light and location - a chilly, but creative, portrait photography workshop! It's late and it's the end of a long week, or the beginning of a long week depending on how you view this, a Monday. Personally I am treating it as the end of a long week - not a bad one - anything but, in fact - but a long one nonetheless: too little sleep, a long list ticked off, much alcohol consumed and many photographer's shaggy dog stories shared (one or two that probably should have been kept to themselves!) It has been the Societies Of Photographers Convention 2018. Although I have been around the industry for a while and have judged the Master Photographer's Association for quite a few years this was my first time as a judge and presenter at the SWPP - and it has been an incredible few days! I've loved judging and running workshops on portrait photography - such an exhilarating thing to do! #### Available Light and Location Portraits: A Workshop These are a few images from the Superclass we ran on portraiture: using available light and locations to create beautiful images. The weather wasn't as kind as it could have been (thought it could have been far worse!) with flat light and an icy breeze that cut through to the bone. Certainly not ideal. However, with two brave models (Mina and Nick), fifteen determined delegates, one permit and a lot of enthusiasm, we set off from the Hilton Metropole in Edgeware Road and headed out to the canals of Little Venice. We should have taken a limitless supply of hot drinks too but, hey, you live and learn! You might also like: Location Portrait Photography Photography training and workshops A beautiful location portrait session Images from one of our photography workshops We didn't get far before we spotted an opportunity for an image. And then another. And another. And so it went on until, shivering and grinning, we returned to the conference hotel 4 hours later - and even then, there were more images that could be created (the last few were all taken using available light inside the building.) Such a great day - I hope the delegates enjoyed it as much as I found their collective excitement and creativity so inspiring! Here's hoping we get to do it again next year! All of these images were taken using available light - no flash or supplemental lighting was added. Amazing what can be achieved! ### [Master Photography Awards 2014 - A Fantastic Year!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/11/master-photography-awards-fantastic-year/) So why is it that hotels simply don’t get kettles right? They’re either teeny-tiny half-cup contraptions that coax the water warm or, like the hotel that hosted the MPA Photography Awards this year, they’re way too big to get under the tap!  Had to fill it cup-by-cup-by-cup. And when you do finally get some hot water together there are only a two tea bags one of which is decaf! Given how little a couple of Tetley’s finest would cost, I cannot figure why that is the target of any cost cutting! Surely just turning the heating down a little would give greater savings! Still, enough of my storm about a tea cup as nothing could dull the excitement of being back at the Master Photography Awards.  Ever since my inaugural awards in 2008, I have loved them; there is something utterly thrilling about being surrounded by a myriad of the best photography (and photographers!) on the planet.  And over the years, many of them have become tremendous friends (and drinking partners!) And this year was one of the best I have seen. So many incredible images!  Which is both inspiring and terrifying - with so many beautiful pictures, it is always hard to imagine your work is going to be able to stand up or maybe even win a category award.  And that is part of the fun I guess - seeing how well you can do in such hallowed company. Well, with no small degree of excitement, I can say we came away with not one but three UK national titles; Bridal Image Of The Year, Lifestyle & Location Portrait Of The Year and the award for best Pet and Livestock Image for an image of Hearing Dog puppy Guy. I cannot tell you how proud I am! Not just for the awards, but for the fact that all of them were were created during our regular sessions; each was shot for a client; each under the normal pressures of a shoot. Not one of them was shot with models or specifically for competitions. And I love that.  I love the fact that we're working that hard on behalf of our clients. Each and every one of them. So in the end, we won 16 merits, 6 awards of excellence and 3 overall category wins! And, if that wasn't enough (and normally it would be!) I was also voted in as Chair of the Board of Directors of the Master Photographers Association.  Which is the biggest honour (and possibly challenge!) of them all! You can see all of our images that won awards below. Enjoy! ### [MPA National Awards Winner 2020!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2020/10/portrait-photographer-year-award/) While it's true that this year hasn't gone entirely to plan - a worldwide pandemic tends to have that effect - it has certainly had its high points. The weather for one (what a summer!) and we've had some incredible clients and, so far at least, we're staying positive and testing negative! This last week, however, we've had the best news possible (at least, the best news possible if you happen to be a portrait photographer). I have won the Master Photographers Association UK Portrait Photographer Of The Year and UK Classical Portrait Photographer Of The Year awards. Winning these portrait photography excellence awards from the MPA is genuinely one of the highlights of my career. Sadly, what has traditionally been a glitzy affair at a swanky hotel, the 2020 awards ceremony was migrated to an equally glitzy, but slightly less swanky, Zoom call. Sigh. I am not normally a fan of Zoom calls - mostly because I almost always manage to be muted when I shouldn't be and unmuted when I am chatting to someone off-screen. And you'll be pleased to hear that this event was no different in that regard: moments after winning one of the most important awards in the industry, I was asked to hit my mute button. Apparently, the sound of me chatting with my daughter about what Thai curry we're going to eat and whether we should have a drink to celebrate the awards was maybe just a little distracting to the other nominees on the call. Not only that but I had managed to rotate my laptop around to show Harriet the award on the screen while simultaneously pointing the webcam at her whilst she sat perusing the takeaway menu and making notes on the culinary delights we were going to order. Oops. Still, that hasn't damped my utter joy of winning these awards! Not only did I win the overall title of portrait photographer of the year, but I also received 3 finalists and 18 merits. Quite a scoop! These buckinghamshire portrait photographer awards and the broader UK portrait photography recognition mean the world to me, particularly because they reflect the work we do every single day. The best bit, though, isn't that we've won awards - it's that the awards were won with images created of and for our incredible clients. From families to commercial clients, from The Hearing Dogs to headshots - each of the winning images was created in our regular line of work, trying to create the best possible images we can for the lovely people who ask us. As a classical portrait photographer working here in the UK, I'm genuinely proud that these images represent the kind of work we do with our clients every day. I cannot tell you how proud I am to have such wonderful clients, each and every one of them. And, from that point of view at least, this has truly been a fantastic year! ### [Welcome To Our New Website](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/10/welcome-to-our-new-website/) You may have noticed it's been a little quite on the blog for a while. Well, apologies for that. It turns out there really are only so many hours in a day! There is so much going on that we've been itching to tell the world but our old site wasn't brilliant when viewed on a smartphone - and our statistics were clearly showing that over half our visitors were using a smartphone to browse our website! Well, here we are, 4 months later and the new site is up and running. We are still tweaking and poking here and there but we really wanted to get it out there as, even with the few bits that need finishing up (I am very very fussy about my pixels!) it's already a lot friendlier to use on your smartphone or tablet than the old one. We had nearly 10 years of posts and pictures on our old site and nearly of that has been cleared out: it has been a little sad to see some of the old blogs get deleted but we really needed to simplify everything and put a new gallery engine behind the system so we can keep everything organised for the next ten years! So have a look around and see if it works for you. We hope you think the change is a good one! ## Baby & Toddler Photography ### [A Stunning Spring Portrait Shoot - Twins, Sunshine and Smiles](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2025/04/spring-family-portraits-twins/) ### Twin Portrait Photography: Siblings, Sunshine, and That Early Spring Magic Every now and again, a portrait session comes along that feels like it ticks absolutely every box - and this was one of them. Two beautiful two-year-old twins, the sun shining, the garden full of that early spring magic, and a studio set up ready to capture some timeless portraits too. Honestly, it was my kind of shoot through and through. When you're doing spring portrait photography, you're hoping for moments like this - where everything just aligns naturally. #### Capturing Spring Light and Natural Energy We began outdoors, making the most of that gorgeous, soft spring light. The girls were full of energy - running, exploring, laughing - and the bond between them was just wonderful to watch. It's incredible how close they are already, but even at two, their personalities are starting to shine so differently. One is just a touch more adventurous, the other a little more reserved - and both completely enchanting. The black and white images we created outside have such a timeless, storybook feel to them. The kind of photographs that you know would look incredible framed on the wall, a little slice of this precious age captured forever. There's something about spring portrait photography that brings out the best in natural light - it's soft without being flat, and it has this warmth that feels genuinely celebratory. #### Studio Portraits - Personality in Every Frame After a bit of running around (and a snack break or two!), we headed indoors to the studio. The change of pace worked perfectly. The girls settled beautifully for some classic studio portraits - and again, their individual characters just leapt off the screen. I absolutely love the softness and subtlety of studio lighting with little ones; it creates that perfect blend of simplicity and emotion. Honestly, sessions like this are why I do what I do. Natural moments, real connections, a little bit of gentle posing when needed - but always, always letting the personalities shine through. Whether you're capturing spring portrait photography outdoors or in the studio, the magic happens when you step back and let the subjects be themselves. These images are going to look absolutely stunning on the wall - a celebration of love, laughter, and those fleeting, magical toddler years. ## Baby & Toddler Photography ### [Beautiful Family Photography In Late Summer Sunshine](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/11/beautiful-family-photography-late-summer-sunshine/) I love working with a family and creating images - I know from our own family that pictures of the kids as they've grown are some of my most treasured possessions. Harriet, our eldest has recently left for university - Law, can you believe it? Blimey, we're going to have a lawyer in the family and now the pictures we have of her when she was little just take me straight back to when she was tiny and much less argumentative! pictures of the kids as they've grown are some of my most treasured possessions So imagine the joy of photographing Mikey and Kate and their twin girls Aoife and Ella! I've known Mikey and Kate for quite a long time as they both work at Le Manoir but it was the first time I've met the two girls - and they were hilarious! How can you have such big characters in such small people? The weather has been pretty much perfect for the photographer this year - plenty of warmth and sunshine - and this day was no exception. A beautiful mid-September day, the kind of day, when you couldn't say if it's summer or autumn: the heat of the summer but the early auburn colours as summer gives way to what is to come. Had such a wonderful time with them all, an hour or two messing around in the garden, and then a few images in the studio to create some of variety Just the perfect kind of shoot and I know there are many more to come this year - the winter light in our studio garden creates the most wonderful images! Enjoy! ### [Family Portraits of Mimi, Milos & Dominik](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/02/mimi-milos-dominik-family-portraits/) Well it's a really funny time I guess, there's no getting away from that, but some things are certain: our dog will always try to get on the sofa and/or bed every 20 minutes, insurance premiums will rise, facts are not 'alternative' and your family will always be the most precious thing imaginable - and family portraits become more and more priceless as time marches on! And that could not be more true with this lovely family! #### Flat Cap + Duffle Coat = Lovely Family Portraits! Take a handsome little fella in a flat cap, two lovely parents, a pinch of September sunshine, a sprinkle of beautiful backdrop and you have the perfect ingredient for a family shoot! Dominik is such a lovely little guy with big eyes and a huge grin! The weather hadn't been quite as kind as it could have been (it was cold!) but, hey, this is the UK in September so it's sort of to be expected. Besides, a duffle coat and a cap are always going to make for lovely images! #### It's all about the laughter... Part of the fun of creating family portraits is precisely that: fun. To get the kind of images I love (natural and relaxed), you have to make sure the session is fun - particularly for kids! The best way to do that is to mess around and laugh a lot - something that is really easy to do when your clients are this nice! Mimi and Milos are so unbelievably proud of Dominik and you can see it in these images. I love the pictures that show the bond between them as it just reminds me of our family and how much they all mean to me! My favourite picture, though, has to be the one I've used as the header image for this page - Dominik is such a wonderful character! Enjoy some of the images from this wonderful couple of hours spent laughing! ### [It's All About The Laughter And The Joy](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/03/its-all-about-the-laughter-and-the-joy/) Family photography is the very backbone of our business - and for good reason: there is nothing more exhilarating than spending time (and creating pictures) in the company of parents and kids, particularly when they are so utterly joyful as Jos, Jason and Samuel. I met Jos a long time ago. And I have loved being in her company ever since. ##### The loveliest of families Jos is one of those people who is always happy, no matter what. And it's infectious. Her energy, positivity and laughter just make it a pleasure to be in her vicinity (oh, and she's really smart too!) So imagine the pleasure I have had photographing her with her wonderful family, Jason and Samuel, who are equally engaging company. Samuel, in particular, is just full of smiles, barely breaking for breath in between chortles and chuckles. We had arrived in the afternoon to spend time family images and were all set to spend an evening in the sunshine enjoying a barbecue and a glass or two of something alcoholic. Well, that was the plan but, this being England in July, you couldn't rely on the weather and, even by the time we arrived, it was clear we were going to have to get a move on if we weren't to be creating images (let alone lighting a barbecue) in the rain! But them's the breaks and so we went for it! ##### The perfect family photoshoot This is my kind of session where I love being in the company of three people - and I really mean all three of them - made life a little bit nicer for being around them! Even the cat couldn't resist making an appearance (though I kept my distance as cats make me sneeze and that just seems to draw them towards me!) The greatest joy, however, is being able to capture memories forever for this wonderful family. I love to think of them, 20 years time, looking up at a photograph on their mantlepiece of this afternoon, and remembering what fun we had. How small Samuel was back then, how he always threw his head back when he laughed, how much they've all changed over the last few years. That's the greatest achievement for me. Which is why I love family photography like this: wonderful session, wonderful company, wonderful images, wonderful people. We hope you enjoy looking through these photos - and if you are interested in booking a photoshoot with your family, please do get in touch with us here. We look forward to capturing special memories for you, too. ### [Sammi & Martin With The Kids | Laughing (Nearly) All The Way!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2023/02/sammi-martin-with-the-kids-laughing-nearly-all-the-way/) Imagine a job where, day after day, week after week, month after month, the most interesting and entertaining people turn up and make you laugh. That is the life of a portrait photographer. Well, it's my life anyway: every day is different and it's always a joy. When Sammi and Martin came with the kids, it was always going to be a funny shoot. Their three boys just made me laugh from beginning to end. I love the shot of all of them laughing in the studio; it's the kind of family portrait photography that I adore: full of energy and affection. But when I tried to get a shot of just the three boys? Well, that didn't go quite as planned! I wanted a shot of the three of them giggling, and I got so close, sooooo close. But, when you're trying to get a portrait of three small boys, one of whom has only been on this earth for a few months, you can expect it to be an adventure! That said, I love it when this kind of thing happens: it's what families (particularly siblings) are all about. The two older brothers did everything they could to generate some laughter but it all ended in tears (but a wonderful family photograph to record it!) As always, family portraits are the stuff of life! Loved it! PS. Just because I love the laughter doesn't mean I don't love to get some more moody shots along the way - particularly as the whole family were so photogenic! The studio shots of Sammi and Martin looking a little more enigmatic are lovely! ### [The grin that captivated us all!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/09/caroline-nick-hatties-testimonial/) Just found this wonderful quote from one of our lovely family photography sessions! The shoot was a while back (we designed a beautiful acrylic wall-display for Caroline and Nick) but I managed to miss this until I was sorting my way through some folders of email testimonials. Hattie's irrepressibly energetic smile (and hair to match!) had all of us here at the studio utterly captivated! ! We had a wonderful experience with Paul and his team, taking some lifestyle photos of our family. Paul instantly put us at ease and captured us beautifully and we now have a set of family photos which we are proud to display and share! The team were friendly and welcoming, viewing the photos was brilliant, although choosing which ones to buy was an impossible task as there were so many excellent shots! The finished photos, framed and unframed were just stunning and the compilation frames we bought were beautifully put together. We cannot thank the studio enough, and we are looking forward to future shoots! Lovely thing to read! ## Business Portraits ### [FitLife Gym - The Coolest Commercial Photography Shoot](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2019/06/fitlife-gym-the-coolest-commercial-photography-shoot/) There aren't many gigs I get that are commercial photography and possibly the coolest shoots I take at the same time. Luckily for me, shooting with FitLife - a brilliant gym in Haddenham - was just that! As a business, no matter how big or small, the photography on your website, social media and advertising are very important. It's the first impression a potential client will have of your company - so it must portray you in the way you want to be portrayed. With this in mind, I was super excited to be asked to shoot FitLife as I knew it was going to be a pretty cool place. The owners, Steve and Jess, are great people who I've known for years (in fact, I shot their wedding!) and I jumped at the chance to take their business photos. ##### Getting the right shots Recently, the team at FitLife wanted some more photographs of the training staff and the fitness trainers at the gym, as well as some of their clients. So for each of their trainers I had to think up different ideas, as some of their early images I took have been used quite a lot. Trying to imagine a new way of photographing someone doing a 'plank' within the brand style is quite the challenge! But we worked on it and managed to get some great shots. It was a joy to photograph in their gym, too. There was an abundance of shapes and textures, fantastic contrast of light and dark colours, quick shafts of light when the sun breaks through the window. It helped us create these wonderfully interesting and unique images full of depth and mood and brilliant colour. They turned out so well. One of my favourite shots is of Iona, one of the FitLife bike instructors. We just ran a light round her, so if you look it's just outlines of her and the outlines of the fitness bike - which has a really great effect on the photo. It was really nice to be able to take a few snaps of their clients, too. The gym may look very cool and exclusive, but it is so warm and welcoming. The gym goers seemed to be really enjoying the facilities and their talks with the staff and owners. It had a great vibe which we hopefully captured in their photos. Steve - one of the owners - was talking to a few of his clients when I took a few photos of him. It's a privilege being able to take photographs of him using his inspiration, his energy, his drive - he has this charisma about him that was just palpable. While we were shooting I saw this patch of sunlight just drip across the room and I quickly placed him in it. It just suddenly lights his cheekbones - and I knew when I took the photo that this was THE shot. Beautifully simple, and yet captures everything that FitLife is about. With any luck, I'll carry on photographing with these guys, carry on creating really interesting imagery. I'm going to have to really think about how we are going to create something different every single time - but that's a challenge I am willing to take for this fab business. ##### Looking for a photographer? Are you looking for some shots of your business? Or professional headshots for you or your employees? Please don't hesitate on getting in touch with us here. We look forward to working with you! Enjoy A Few More Of The Images! ### [Headshots, stories, and a very well-travelled mouse](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2026/02/author-headshot-photography/) ### Headshots, stories, and a very well-travelled mouse I love headshot sessions. Properly love them. Not because they're straightforward (they rarely are when you want them to feel real), but because they feel like the purest form of portraiture. It's just me, a camera, some good light, and a couple of hours to chat, laugh, and get to know the person in front of me. And that's when the best portraits happen, when someone stops thinking about "having their photo taken" and starts being themselves. So when author James Hywel came to the studio for a headshot session, I knew it was going to be a good one. James arrived with ideas, a clear sense of what he needed the photographs to do, and a bag of props to match. And yes, he also brought Albert Mouse. Albert, for the record, is not a real mouse. He's a cuddly toy, and the star of James's series of children's books, 'Albert Mouse, The Mouse Who Wanted To See The World'. Which immediately made the session more fun, and also more useful. Because that's the thing about professional headshots - they're not just "a nice picture". They're a tool. If you're an author, speaker, business owner, or anyone who needs to be visible, your portrait is often the first handshake you give someone. It sits on websites, book jackets, press pages, event listings, LinkedIn profiles, and social media. And if it's out of date, awkward, or just not really you, it quietly works against you. James understood that. He didn't want one safe headshot and hope for the best. He wanted a set of professional headshots with options - confident, approachable, thoughtful, friendly. That way he can choose the right image for the right place. The session itself was relaxed. We worked through different looks and backgrounds, adjusted the lighting, and kept the conversation flowing. That's always my aim. If you feel comfortable, it shows. Your expression softens, your posture settles, and suddenly the portrait has life in it. Most people arrive saying they're "not photogenic" or they "hate having their picture taken". Nearly always, what they really mean is they've never had a photographer guide them properly and make it easy. You don't need to know how to pose. That's my job. One of my favourite moments was seeing how quickly the headshot images started being used. That's a lovely thing to see as a photographer, because it's proof the pictures are doing what they're meant to do - representing the person well, and making their work look professional and trustworthy. Professional headshots don't have to be stressful. They can be calm, enjoyable, and even a bit of a laugh. And you'll leave with a small collection of portraits you can actually use, not just one image you tolerate. If you're due an update - for work, a new project, a business refresh, or simply because you'd like a portrait that feels like you - we'd love to help. ### [It's So Much More Than A Haircut](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/10/its-so-much-more-than-a-haircut/) ##### Went for a haircut this week. It was much needed. It's a funny thing, hair. Mine is particularly so. I have hair that has a social life all of its own. At least, I assume it does. I go to sleep and, at least in my eyes, my hair looks reasonably normal. Nothing major to write home about: I have plenty of it (mostly in the right places - I swear I've always had that thinning patch in the middle) and it is a colour that cannot easily be described. Not blonde, nor brown, certainly not red. The best that can be said of it is, well, nothing. But when I wake in the morning, now that is a different story. My dull, slightly uninteresting barnet has clearly been out on the razzle and has barely made it back home in time to be in its rightful, cranial location by the time I peer, wearily into a mirror. It sticks out in all directions, upwards, outwards, sidewards, every thinkable direction. Like an errant teenager who has crept in from an all-night booze-up, slipt through the back door and slid into bed before their parents could notice. That is my hair. So there I was heading over to Sassy's in Wycombe (amazing salon by the way) to have it tamed just a little and I was pondering on the wonders of hair, particularly how come - as you reach a particular age - it stops growing where you'd like it and sets off on an adventure across the rest of your body. First it takes some tentative steps and explores the opportunities of your eyebrows, then, slowly, it starts to wander idly through your ears and nostrils, all the time heading south. Before you know it, hair is growing more enthusiastically below your head than on it. Like it's run out of conviction that being up high is a good thing, and it would rather find a secluded spot down south to live - sort of like a pensioner moving to the coast. But all of the time avoiding my chin. Yup. I still cannot grow a beard. Errant eyebrows? Yup. Nostrils? You bet. Ears? Most certainly. But can I grow a beard? Not a chance of it. Sassy, as always, look on it as a challenge. Katherin always grins and is always positive while warily eyeing up the job in hand. We talk shop (holidays, work, kids, family) of course, but then the dreaded question: what would you like? In my head I always answer "like George Clooney of course" but my mouth mutters something unconvincing like "just a trim" or some other incoherent instruction. Of course, with the way my hair is it makes little difference - it'll look neat and tidy, even styled when it's done. But then I will sleep. And my hair will head out for its nocturnal social life and I know, once more, I will wake and find the remnants of a great night out clinging precariously were anyone else would have hair. Every five or six weeks we dance this dance and I love it: I love the massage, I love that Wycombe has little to no phone signal (I can relax for an hour), I love that Katherine is funny and smart, I love that she is rude but does it with such a big smile that it just makes you laugh when she climbs on her soap box about something or other. I love that she shows me the back of my head - the only time I have ever seen it - using mirrors and then she looks expectantly at me, maybe hoping I will say something original (of course I don't - like everyone else I just say something like "yes, that's great" or "perfect" while I am always bemused that there's nothing I could do at this stage anyway), I love the coffee and the 'salon' biscuit (apparently it's a type), I love the service and the attention to detail and I particularly love that I have been going there for 10 years and it feels like home. And if you're wondering what the team at Sassy are capable of, here are just a few images. Enjoy! ### [Kevin Fong PR Images for the BBC Royal Institution Christmas Lectures](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/10/kevin-fong-pr-images-for-the-bbc-royal-institution-christmas-lectures/) Well, the autumn is well under way and we've just come through the MPA Master Photography Awards (which is a dead-cert marker in the diary that the autumn is right upon us and the clocks are about to go backwards!) I couldn't enter the awards this year as, in my role as the Chair of the MPA, it would be just a little inappropriate! So instead, I have been involved in the judging of the awards and helping behind the scenes, as well as helping to present them! All good fun but now it's back to focussing on the remainder of the year here at our studio. The weather has been rubbish today and it does have that chilly edge that you'd expect at this time of the year, but some of the shoots we're doing are just gorgeous: this has always been one of my favourite times to work as the colours are off the top of the scale (but you do have to time your shoots between the showers!)  We still have a few weeks of shooting in time for Christmas gifts so, if you'd like a shoot, why not grab the opportunity and drop us a line? ### Kevin Fong PR Images ### [MPA National Awards 2018 Winners!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/10/mpa-national-awards-winners/) Well, it's been a little bit of a busy year! So many clients, so many stories and there's no sign of it slowing down any! I so love this job and the people that I get to create images with. Over the past few years, I haven't entered awards as I'm one of only a handful of qualified judges in the country. I absolutely love being a judge - it's utterly exhilarating to see images from around the world and to be part of a panel of elite photographers that score them and determine who will win. A lot of pressure but an amazing thing to do - particularly as I get to sit alongside photographers who I have admired throughout my career! The only problem with being a judge? You can't enter the competition - something I've always enjoyed doing. This year, however, I thought I'd test myself once more and see if I can still do it! So I took a year out of judging for the Master Photographers Association (the MPA), brushed off my printing and finishing skills and entered some images. Well, it turns out, I can still do it (**breaths a huge sigh of relief!**) and we have done rather well: numerous Merits, 9 Awards Of Excellence and 2 National Titles at the Master Photographer's Association Awards. If you put this into the context that we're competing with the very best photographers in the world, you'll understand why we're so thrilled to have won so many awards (though we may need a bigger shelf for the trophies!) ### UK Studio Portrait Photographer Of The Year 2018 This image of Alex Bellini, who is an absolute legend: an explorer and an author, a coach and an all-round nice guy. He came in for some images earlier this year and little did we know that the pictures we created would turn out so well! Those eyes just drill right through to your soul! An incredible shoot with an incredible guy! ### UK Dog Portrait Photographer Of The Year 2018 This shot was actually taken for Sarah, my wife, as a birthday present. Jake and I spent a happy hour desperately trying to persuade our errant dog, Rufus (a working cocker spaniel) to sit still and look at the camera. I don't think we took more than three images and this was by far the strongest. Still, you don't need more than one image and a beautiful frame of this image sits on living room wall. We might need to get a copy for the studio now as well! ### Awards Of Excellence Not only did we win two of the top UK titles, but we also won an additional six Awards Of Excellence! It's been a pretty incredible year! This beautiful image was created for Sassy and Co in High Wycombe. I've always loved working with the team there as every time we get together, we create the most beautiful pictures (and we laugh so much it hurts!) This bridal image was created for Ox Weddings Magazine. A beautiful session (although unexpected - you can read the full story here) We create a lot of commercial and business oriented portraits here at the studio. I don't know how many company profiles, annual reports, magazine articles and boardroom portraits have our images in them but it must be a lot! This picture of Alan was created for him last year - he wanted something different to the normal white background images and who am I to say no? These two beautiful puppies were photographed for the Hearing Dogs charity. It's unusual for us to photograph two puppies at the same time as we're usually photographing just one puppy for sponsorship campaigns. The puppies were only eight weeks old and so were quick to tire - they snuggled up and so we made this beautiful image out of the moment. Some of you may be aware that we have a new website dedicated to the art and passion of portrait photography. It's called Mastering Portrait Photography (after the success of our book of the same name.) This image was created for a video we were filming and, in fact, features my nephew who had come over to be one of the featured models. Good looks must run in the family! The wedding day. The perfect venue. The perfect couple. That perfect kiss. I captured this image just before the couple were due to make their grand entrance into the wedding breakfast. I asked them simply to sit either side of a table and to lean in and kiss. The idea was mine but the romance was all theirs! ### [Royal Institution BBC Christmas Lectures 2016: It's All About The Energy](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/08/royal-institution-bbc-christmas-lectures-2016-energy/) For those of you who know me, you'll know I originally completed a degree in Industrial Designer and then a PhD in Artificial Intelligence (don't ask - things have moved on a long way since I completed it!) so science and research have been close to my heart for a very long time! One of my earliest Christmas memories, along with copious selection boxes, tangerines and nuts in my stocking (really? Tangerines and nuts. What good are they to a small child?!), the Queen's Speech (it was compulsory), and dripping sandwiches (it was the seventies: eating lard on bread after a meal was considered perfectly normal - I'm firmly expecting a heart attack to be my chosen method to exit this world) is sitting with my dad being completely enthralled by the BBC's Christmas Lectures from the Royal Institution on topics that I'm not sure I entirely understood. Still, understanding the topic didn't seem to be a problem: I absolutely loved them! So imagine the excitement I go through every year when we kick off the PR photography in advance of the lecture series! This year the topic is Energy and the lecturer presenting the subject is Professor Saiful Islam, professor of Materials Chemistry at the University of Bath, who not only has a brain that is suitably super-sized but is also a thoroughly lovely guy. This year's shoot was held mostly on the streets of London where we wandered around Westminster, creating images that could be used to under-pin the story of the 2016 lectures, while trying not to cause any kind of obstruction or get ourselves mugged! If you're interested (and you should be) the details of this year's brilliant lectures can be found here. ## Children And Kids Photography ## Commercial Advertising Photography ## Destination Wedding Photography ### [A Glorious Summer Wedding At Le Manoir](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/06/luxury-wedding-venue-le-manoir/) I have been incredibly lucky this year find myself creating photographs at Le Manoir on a pretty regular basis - and it doesn't matter how often I'm there, it is always an absolute joy! When we met Lucy and Jonathan it was quite apparent their day was going to be one of our favourites: they are two of the loveliest people you could meet! To have a summer wedding at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons is a wonderful thing - and I think this venue has looked the best I've ever seen it this year. I can't put my finger on it, but every angle, every detail, every path and patio, every inch of the gardens is looking perfect in 2015. And to have a couple like Lucy and Jonathan to photograph here on a bright, hot, sunny day in May, well, it's hard to find words to describe it! A gorgeous day, a stunning venue and the most beautiful couple. ### [A Marriage From Mayfair To Le Manoir](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/12/le-manoir-wedding-photos/) ### A Marriage From Mayfair To Le Manoir What makes a wedding truly memorable? Sometimes it's the big, elaborate production. But sometimes - just sometimes - it's the intimacy of four people, a stolen morning in London, and the kind of weather that forces magic into existence. This Le Manoir wedding started with a bleary-eyed train journey into the city. I'll be honest: several coffees were required before my brain engaged properly. But the moment I arrived in Mayfair to meet Katie and Ross, I knew the early start would be worth every yawn. What struck me immediately was that they'd chosen to get ready together - not the traditional route, but absolutely the right one for them. Why spend your wedding day apart when you could share those quiet, ordinary moments? It meant they could soak in the whole experience together, from the first nervous cup of tea right through to the end. The day unfolded like a perfectly paced story. A ride through Mayfair in one of London's iconic black cabs. A ceremony stripped back to its essence - just four people bearing witness. Breakfast at Tom's Kitchen, where even the photographer got to enjoy proper Eggs Benedict. Then off to Le Manoir, where the weather had other ideas entirely. Here's the thing about storms at a wedding: they're either a disaster or they're a gift. This one turned out to be a gift. The skies darkened, the wind picked up, and suddenly the whole landscape became theatrical - moody, dramatic, alive. I've photographed at Le Manoir for a decade, and I've never - not once - seen a swan settle on that pond. But there it was, sheltering from the gales, framed against the turbulent sky. Ten years, and this weather brought something entirely new. I absolutely loved this wedding. The intimacy of it. The refusal to follow the script. The way the elements conspired to create something unexpected and beautiful. That's what stays with you. ## Family Portrait Photography ### [A Gorgeous Session Both In and Out Of The Studio](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/04/milestone-birthday-photography-session/) There are many reasons for having a portrait session, but a significant birthday is one of our favourites. This beautiful 16th birthday portraits session with one of our nicest clients turned out to be absolutely gorgeous both in and out of the studio. ### A Busy Year It's been a while since writing much on our blog - that's the thing about being busy, you kinda have to prioritise. It's been quite a year so far with working abroad for Crystal Cruises (not one but two trips so far), our new venture Mastering Portrait Photography (more on that in later posts), numerous weddings (Le Manoir Aux Quats'Saisons and The Crazy Bear seem to be our go-to venues this year) and, of course, the very essence of our business - portrait photography in all its guises. From head shots to families, babies to retirees, studio to location work, we've covered the full spectrum. One way or another, 2018 is already breaking all our records and has left little room for me to sit and type up the long list of blogs. Still, as they say, better busy than quiet. I don't know if I agree with them just now given I'm shattered, but I always dreamt of having a vibrant, busy photography business and here is the reality. So here I am sitting with the studio dog, Rufus, at my feet and he smells terrible. Had a long walk up on the Chilterns which was gloriously beautiful, but the dog managed to find more mud than you'd think possibly to run through. Even a good hose-down hasn't diminished the smell any. ### 16th Birthday Portraits - A Perfect Excuse There are many reasons to have a portrait session, ranging from celebrations to commercial need. This shoot was very much of the former: it was Katie's 16th and, as they had with her elder sister Lizzie, the family came to create some stunning birthday portraits and put together an album to celebrate this transition. Katie and Lizzie are both photogenic, so the 16th birthday portraits session was always going to be a lot of fun. Abbie Ludlow was looking after hair and makeup (she's a brilliant makeup artist), and we laughed our way through various location and studio setups. One of the nice things about photographing just one person for a couple of hours is that we really get to play and finesse each image. We have the time and, in this particular instance, someone to help with making sure the hair and makeup always looked fantastic. That's when portrait photography really shines - when you can focus on capturing genuine moments rather than rushing through a checklist. Enjoy a few of my favourite images from the shoot. ### [Chat. Laugh. Shoot. Repeat | Kelly And Mark's Gorgeous Family Portrait Session!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2023/07/chat-laugh-shoot-repeat-kelly-and-marks-gorgeous-family-portrait-session/) When I started as a portrait photographer, it was very much accidental - I have always had a camera in my hand and love chatting with people. Bring the two together, and, well, it turns out that is a really lovely way of creating portraits. Chat. Laugh. Shoot. Repeat. Twenty-something years later, not so much has changed. There's more structure, of course, and being a professional portrait photographer has its challenges, but broadly speaking, I am still doing the very thing I have always loved. Chatting. Laughing. Shooting. Repeating. So when Kelly and Mark came with their daughter, I was already in my happy place - a beautiful family, a stunning midsummer's day, our gorgeous location here at the studio and the opportunity for much laughter (and photography!) Or should that be much photography (and laughter!) Hmmm. Either way works. The shoot was simply lovely. I am consistently thrilled at just how incredible our clients are. Kelly, Mark and their daughter all made me laugh! Not that that is the purpose of a photography session, but it certainly makes for the perfect job. It's returning to my roots of loving being around gorgeous people and having a camera in my hand. And, of course, images like this look stunning in a frame or portfolio. I have written this before, but pictures - particularly family portraits - shine when displayed well. It's all very well having access to a gazillion images on an iPhone (and yes, I do this too), but when I get to see finished images, beautifully printed, mounted, framed and displayed, ah, now THAT is when you get to see the absolute joy of using the very best cameras, lenses and suppliers! ### [Cherished Moments: A Captivating Portrait Session with Diane, Graham, and Their Beautiful Family](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2023/06/cherished-moments-a-captivating-portrait-session-with-diane-graham-and-their-beautiful-family/) Capturing the essence of a family is always a beautiful experience, but when multiple generations come together, it's truly something special. I've had the pleasure of photographing this particular family for 15 years now, and each session is more heartwarming than the last. Our studio and garden provide the perfect backdrop for this kind of session, allowing us to capture both candid moments basking in the sunshine and more posed, classical portraits. There's something about seeing different generations interact that is truly magical. From grandparents doting on their grandkids to siblings reminiscing about old times, these sessions are full of love, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime. As a photographer, it's an honor to be able to freeze these moments in time and create images that will be cherished for generations to come. If that weren't enough, we laughed through every single second (even trying to get the more enigmatic shots of the kids without smiles, somehow we just fell about laughing.) And right now, laughter is something we all could do with more of. ### [Family, Frostbite, and a Gaggle Of Giggles - Gemma, Marc, Thea & Faye](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2025/04/family-frostbite-and-a-gaggle-of-giggles-gemma-marc-thea-faye/) January shoots always have a particular... bite to them. This one with Gemma, Marc, Thea, and Faye was no exception - but honestly, looking back at these images, you'd never know how cold it really was. You can almost feel the laughter warming the room. We spent most of our time wisely tucked up in the studio, dodging frostbite and chasing the chaos that comes with two brilliantly energetic little girls. Thea and Faye were an absolute riot - full of bounce, mischief, and endless expressions. They had that wonderful knack kids have of being hilarious without even trying. Half the time it felt like they were running the session and I was just there for the ride. (And honestly? That's when the magic tends to happen.) Gemma and Marc were amazing. It's not easy corralling young ones when they're full of beans, but they somehow managed it with buckets of patience and humour. A little backstory: they'd spent twenty years living in the US - Miami, no less - before moving back to the UK so the girls could grow up here. It's funny: you can almost spot a bit of that Miami sunshine still radiating out of them, even on a freezing British morning. From the girls climbing on the studio blocks like it was a jungle gym, to the quiet snuggly moments with Mum and Dad, to the chaotic outdoors dash through the frosty gardens - every frame tells a little piece of who they are as a family right now. Messy, funny, warm-hearted, loving. I think that's why these sessions mean so much. It's not about a perfect family portrait with everyone frozen in a grin. It's about the way Faye tilts her head when she's plotting mischief, the way Thea lights up when she's running at full pelt, the way Marc and Gemma look at their girls with that weary, unconditional love that only parents understand. Cold toes? Definitely. Tons of laughter? Even more definitely. Absolutely worth every minute. ### [Freezing Frames: Frosty Family Photography (With Their Frenchie Too!)](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2025/05/freezing-frames-frosty-family-photography-with-their-frenchie-too/) It was one of those sharp winter days that makes your cheeks sting, but the colours are too good to miss! Perfect for a family shoot like this. I've known James since he was a teenager living next door. Now here he is, all grown up with a family of his own - and what a family (I photographed James and Elaine's wedding too!) The two kids are amazing: Georgia has this incredible ability to connect with the camera, switching from enigmatic (aka serious) to bursts of laughter in a heartbeat while her brother toby, is gentle and easy going - the kind of kid who quietly watches the world, taking it all in. Basically, the exact opposite of me! We stepped in and out of the studio trying to stay warm, but making the most of the wintery light in the garden. Denim jackets, fallen leaves, and those deep brick walls - it all just worked. And then there's Betty, the family's French Bulldog, keeping an eye on everything with that classic, slightly suspicious look that only a Frenchie can pull off. A finished frame will make a stunning centrepiece for their home - a perfect snapshot of a cold but beautifully warm day spent together as a family. It makes me smile every time I look at it. PS. I think Betty would look great in a frame too! Here are just a few of our favourites (there are too many to mention!): ### [Three Generations, One Red Coat, and a Whole Lot of Laughing](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2025/04/three-generations-one-red-coat-and-a-whole-lot-of-laughing/) It was cold. Not crisp and photogenic cold - no, it was the damp kind that clings to your knees and makes you question every decision that led to standing in a soggy garden with a camera. But here's the thing: when you're photographing people who love each other, really love each other, it doesn't matter. Somehow the warmth they carry with them radiates out and fills the frame. This shoot with Loretta, her mum Jan, and her daughter Jess? It was the perfect example of that. Now, if you've followed my work for a while, you'll probably recognise them. I first photographed this trio just after Loretta's wedding, when Jess was still a teeny bundle of baby - and somehow, in the blink of an eye and roughly a dozen portrait sessions later, here we are: three generations, three enormous personalities, and one incredible red coat. Loretta is a natural show-off. I say that with deep affection - she's magnetic in front of the camera. There's a sort of old-school Hollywood confidence about her. It must run in the family because Jan has exactly the same spark. And little Jess? She's already picked up the baton and is running full pelt with it. At one point she actually ran full pelt across a field in a blur of curls and crimson wool. Couldn't have staged it better if I tried. Speaking of that coat - the coat! Jess turned up in this glorious, structured red number, complete with matching bow and the kind of attitude that says, "Yes, I know I look fantastic. Shall we begin?" It popped beautifully in the soft daylight, especially against the gentle green-and-gold of late autumn. We moved between daylight portraits, a few cheeky setups with the Elinchrom THREEs (honestly, I'm obsessed - small, reliable, powerful), and some classic studio setups. Loretta wore the most elegant, simple white outfit for the studio portraits. Effortless and graceful - it allowed all the focus to fall on her eyes, her energy, her natural poise. And when I say natural, I mean we were crying laughing for 90% of the session. They are hilarious together. There was no "warm up" phase - it was full volume joy from the first frame. And that's the thing with family shoots. This is where I started. It's what I've done since the beginning, and it's still the heart of what I love. Yes, I shoot portraits for all sorts of reasons now - editorial, commercial, conceptual - but these family stories? This legacy stuff? It's my bread and butter. It's real. It matters. And I'll never get tired of it. To Loretta, Jan, and Jess - thank you for bringing your sparkle and your silliness, your glamour and your giggles, your love and your laughter. You lit up the camera, the studio, and the damp grey weather. I can't wait for the next one. ### [Three Kids, Two Adults, One Portrait Photographer. Mix Thoroughly And Listen To The Laughter!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2023/07/three-kids-two-adults-one-portrait-photographer-mix-thoroughly-and-listen-to-the-laughter/) Here at Paul Wilkinson Photography, we have a long and happy history of turning memorable moments into magical photos. This family portrait session was of a fantastic family: Marion, Ian, Olivia, Cloe, and Matisse. They're an amazing family, and we're always thrilled to see them as we have over the years. We have so many incredible families that visit us. Marion, Ian, and their awesome kids would always be at the top of that list - simply the nicest people you could meet. They visit us every few years when the kids are a bit taller, older, and much more fun! And you know what? Every visit is like opening a new exciting present; we absolutely love it! The last time they came over was during a super sunny summer day, and maybe the sun got to me and the kids - I am not sure who had the most energy, them or me! We were laughing, jumping, and creating a whole lot of noise. Our garden, which is usually quiet (although my landlord says I'm usually the first to break the silence), was full of rowdy laughter! When we moved inside the studio, we tried to calm things down a bit, but guess what? The energy levels didn't really come down that much: I couldn't stop laughing as the kids barrelled around (occasionally in front of the camera!) And my favourite photos from that day? They were the ones where the kids were jumping around, laughing so hard they were almost howling, like a pack of happy wolves. It was just perfect! That's how kids should be, full of life and laughter. So, that's the tale of Marion, Ian, Olivia, Cloe, and Matisse's visit to our studio and garden. Every time they visit, they bring tons of joy. We created beautiful memories for them and us (even writing this blog makes me smile as the sounds of giggling and laughter come back to me!) And at Paul Wilkinson Photography, we're all about making memories that will make you smile whenever you see the pictures! And they make me smile just as much! ## Headshots ### [Branding Images For A Personal Trainer And Coach](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2021/04/personal-trainer-branding-photography/) With a brief like this one, who wouldn't love to be a photographer: creating personal trainer branding photography that's striking, graphical, and genuinely memorable. I absolutely love a brief like this one. We were asked to create a series of branding images for Eliza Kessell for her new venture as a personal trainer and coach. We've worked with Eliza a couple of times over the years (one of her headshots is in our book, Mastering Portrait Photography), but previously the images were always for her career in acting. Eliza is hugely talented and has spent the past year building a new offering as a personal trainer, something I have no doubt at all she will excel at. The brief was a photographer's dream: produce dark, sumptuous, low-key studio branding portraits for use on Eliza's website. The images had to be striking and graphical in nature, which is a real joy to be creating. These fitness coach headshots and professional portraits for fitness professionals needed to work across her coaching business photography needs - everything from her website to social media. Eliza brought a range of outfits and one or two bits of fitness gear - well, some weights anyway. So off we went. A couple of hours of laughing, chatting and catching up with an old and lovely friend of the business. To fit the brief, all the images were studio based, which provides a consistent look across the whole set. The graphical branding portraits we created all started as colour, but I've retained one or two monochromes as I really like them. If you're interested in what Eliza offers (she is lovely and I would highly recommend her), her details are as follows: - Website: http://www.elizatraining.com/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizatraining/ ### [Claire Hanson Makeup Portfolio Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/12/claire-hanson-makeup-portfolio/) Claire Hanson and her team represent the very best of the art (yes, it is truly an art!) of hair and makeup and it has been my absolute pleasure to work with them on numerous occasions - and not just for their undeniable talent with makeup but also for their attention to detail and the level of service they offer (for instance, they stick around until the end of the bridal portraits to make sure the makeup and hair stays fresh from the first image to the last - something I, rather understandably I think, am always rather pleased about!) And so it was with no small degree of pleasure, I was asked to help create some makeup portfolio photography for one of Claire's trainees with a couple of lovely models, Anija and Misha. And, having spent a day watching the intense coaching and the effort that goes into learning their craft (Claire invests as much attention to her classes as she does when working with her clients!) I am left in no doubt as to why she and her team are quite so popular. With Claire Hanson. ### [Gina: Soft Portraits In Harsh Sunlight](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/04/gina-soft-portraits-harsh-light/) It's been quite a busy weekend so far (and it's only Saturday night!) Two new wedding bookings, a beautiful couple's portraits at Le Manoir and, tomorrow, portraits in the studio. See? A busy weekend! In spite of all that excitement, we've also been steadily working through some of the vast catalog of images we created while writing the Mastering Portrait Photography Book: we held quite a number of shoots to generate images to illustrate various aspects of portrait photography. Gina very kindly stepped in during a particularly beautiful January day to create a mix of candidate images for the cover of the book, in particular, looking at soft portraits in harsh sunlight on a winter's day. In the end (and this was entirely down to the editors you understand!) another image was chosen but this session created so many lovely pictures - yup, you may have noticed that Gina is very photogenic - that many did still make it into the body of the book. It's lovely doing sessions like this, though we were incredibly fortunate with the weather, as it's a few hours trying different ideas and seeing what we can create. A huge 'thank you' to Abbie Martin for her ever stunning makeup (absolutely love working with her!) Look out in the coming months for more shoots with Abbie - going to be a heck of a year! ### [Headshots For A Surgeon](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2020/10/medical-professional-headshots/) ### Medical Professional Headshots for a Surgeon This year has been decidedly odd: nearly all of our weddings shifted to 2021 (some to 2022), Zoom calls became the new normal - as did the associated wine consumption - and it's been a while since I've seen my mum. But one thing that's continued unabated is the demand for headshots. Whether it's for personal branding, commercial use, dating sites or company websites, we've seen more and more requests for these. Medical professional headshots, in particular, have become increasingly important as consultants and specialists need strong visual representation for their practices and presentations. Marie came to us for some surgeon headshots for her work - she's a plastic surgeon - and needed images to accompany presentations and her role as a consultant. Creating them was an absolute pleasure. As an aside, I owe a huge amount to plastic surgeons who managed to fix my hand when an exploding glass cafetière cut through it and severed the blood vessels to my thumb, narrowly missing the nerves. I'm in awe of the work our NHS specialists do, and I've sat and wondered what would have happened had we not had access to their incredible talents. For me as a portrait photographer, headshots are uniquely perfect. They're the ultimate form of portrait - nothing more than faces, expressions, and characterisation. And I absolutely love it. Consultant headshot photography demands a particular kind of attention: you're not just capturing someone's likeness, you're conveying professionalism, approachability, and expertise all at once. Marie's pictures make me smile every time I go through them - not just because I think they're strong images (I would, wouldn't I?) but because I remember having such a lovely time chatting with her about her work, her family and her life. It was a wonderful couple of hours in the company of someone I genuinely liked. There's something rather special about specialist headshot photography when you're working with people who are genuinely passionate about what they do. That enthusiasm comes through in the images. Whether you're based in Buckinghamshire or anywhere else, finding the right photographer for professional headshots means finding someone who understands that these images matter - they're not just vanity shots, they're tools for building your professional presence. 2020 may well be the year of the headshot. Here are some images from the shoot. ### [Laughing and Clicking | Louis-Marie's Hilarious Headshot Session](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2023/07/laughing-and-clicking-louis-maries-hilarious-headshot-session/) Sometimes, someone walks into our studio and leaves such an impression that long after the event, it still makes us smile. Louis-Marie is one of those clients. The original email innocuously asked for some simple headshots he could use for an upcoming piano competition. We have photographed a lot of musicians over the years - headshots, gigs, quartets, quintets, rock, blues and pop bands, conductors, and even a violin maker, but headshots for a piano competition? Nope. Never done that. From the minute I met Louis-Marie in the station car park, with a huge friendly grin and more energy than even I am used to at that time in the morning, we hit it off. I love big characters, and I love it even more when they are in front of our camera, creating magic in the studio and out in the garden. Well, there could not have been more magic. The headshot session could have gone on for many more hours - though I suspect towards the end, we were laughing and chatting more than I was hitting the shutter! I haven't heard Louis-Marie play, but in my mind, I imagine he brings the same joy, energy and style to the keys as he does to the people who get to meet him. A simply glorious headshot session! ### [Libby, Actor Headshots](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2020/10/actor-headshots-libby/) This year has been a challenging one, yet if I'm honest, it's also been a year I've enjoyed enormously. We've had some incredible clients, we've created so many images I love - and more importantly, images our clients have loved too - and we've had the time to breathe and work on simple pleasures like building shelves, sorting out wiring, and getting on top of our websites. Of course, I'd rather not have the time to do all those things, but it's been fun! Libby came to us asking for professional actor headshots for her actors portfolio, and who am I to refuse? At the same time, we filmed the shoot to create a video for Skillshare and our own Mastering Portrait Photography platform. Two birds, one stone. Libby is simply beautiful - there's no ignoring that fact. And she's lovely too. Smart. Funny. Lovely. We have a long list of clients like this, and there are many things about our portrait business I'm incredibly proud of, but at the top of that list is the fact I love our clients - people just like Libby and her family. The brief was straightforward: create a range of images for her actor portrait session, moving from the more formal to the informal, from studio to outdoors. Well, that's our bread and butter - creating a wide variety of images during a professional actor headshots session. I think we fulfilled the brief. And at the same time, had an absolute ball in the process. What I love about headshot photography for performers is that it's not just about technical skill - it's about understanding what makes someone feel confident in front of the camera. With natural light actor headshots, you're working with what the day gives you, and there's a real art to making that work beautifully. Whether we're shooting in our studio or outdoors, the goal is always the same: capture images that feel authentic and that casting directors will genuinely connect with. Working with a headshot photographer in Buckinghamshire who understands the needs of performers means understanding that every actor's portfolio needs to feel distinctive. Libby's session gave us the chance to explore different moods and looks, different lighting approaches, different backdrops - all of which matter when you're building a portfolio that's going to stand out. Enjoy some images from the shoot. ### [Libby, Luck An' A Load Of Laughter](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/09/29828/) ##### Luck is a funny thing. You can't put your finger on it, you can't see it, you can't smell it, it has no substance at all and yet I feel it every day. Particularly when I am shooting portraits! I'm sitting in Plymouth, Devon as I write this having come down here to shoot the most beautiful wedding of an old friend of mine. I am incredibly lucky, there's no avoiding that fact. It's not that every day is perfect, far from it. The times when it rains and it needed to be sunny, when our beloved MPs hike business taxes, when kids turn up with bruises and cold sores (and I know it means hours in Photoshop), when the light is simply awful and I'm working flat out to figure it out or when, quite simply, I cannot find my mojo. Nope, it really isn't that every day is perfect. But I am my own boss and I do something I love, which is satisfying. Besides, all of the above are hardly problems on a world scale are they? First world problems. Every day I pick up the camera (or my retouching pen!) and I create images of people. Sometimes families, sometimes weddings, sometimes commercial headshots. It's the variety I love as much as anything: I am NEVER certain quite what is coming next even though I am a portrait specialist through and through - I even regard weddings as predominantly a series of portraits, it just seems to work for me. Which is why I feel particularly lucky. And so should the happy couple whose wedding I photographed on Saturday! The weather on Saturday was simply perfect for a wedding but, conversely, the weather on Sunday was perfect for a docu-drama on wind damage, flooding and hypothermia! They, like me, were lucky and I am looking forward to blogging that particular wedding some time in the future! #### A Beautiful Portrait Photography Session So to today's images. This is Elizabeth ("Libby") who we photographed a month or two ago. And back to the subject of 'luck'. When Libby walked in, I knew it would be pretty cool day at the office. Libby has a huge smile and beautiful eyes - she is also really lovely to work with. And it's the last bit that makes being a photographer such a joy: I get to meet amazing people every day who just make life a little bit better for having met them. And so it was with Libby. We laughed a lot and we created some images. And life is just a little bit better for having done so. Oh, and some of the images are really lovely! Enjoy! ### [Personal Branding Headshots - With A Twist](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2020/11/personal-branding-headshots-with-a-twist/) I so love it when someone arrives in the studio and cannot wait to be photographed. Suvi was that client. It's always a little tricky to define exactly what a 'headshot' is - beyond the obvious, of course. There are so many reasons for people to need them, ranging from personal branding, corporate and business portraits, actors, musicians, authors, celebrities and, of course, dating sites. A headshot covers quite a wide range of purposes, and we've done pretty much everything here. For this particular shoot, it wasn't entirely clear what Suvi wanted; up until the moment she arrived at the studio, we didn't really have much of a brief. But, if I am honest, I really like it that way. I love the process of chatting with someone, looking at their individual styling, their hair, their makeup, the clothing they bring with them and, ultimately, their personality. It's a little bit like one of those cooking programmes where the chef is given a bag of ingredients and has to make something of it. It can be a little nerve-wracking, but it does seem to bring out the best in me. Suvi simply said that she wanted to be a part of my art. Not, it has to be said, the most detailed of briefs but exciting nonetheless! Just like Marie in our earlier blog, Suvi is a medic - but a very different style of shoot! Once Suvi showed me her outfits, I just knew it was going to be an absolutely magical session. Each outfit showed a different side of her personality, from bubbly and street-style (I do love a hoody!) to sophisticated and formal, with rich, vibrant colours. And with each outfit switch, her body language and the way she moved changed. The weather wasn't kind - it rained almost throughout the session as we watched the light fading, but we still managed to get outside for a few images. We are lucky here to have both a studio and a beautiful garden (as well as the street right outside our front door). For this shoot, we used every inch of it to get a wide variety of images, showing the different sides of Suvi and her incredible outfits. We bounced between the beauty of the garden, the rawness of the street (and its puddles) and the flexibility of our studio - all of the time trying to make the best of the weather. Working with Suvi, was just a ball - she was funny, smart, confident and beautiful. Every time we switched outfits, the energy completely changed. This was one of those perfect sessions (apart from the weather!) ### [Photographic Masterclass | Creating Portraits In Edinburgh!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2022/02/photographic-masterclass-creating-portraits-in-edinburgh/) A couple of days in Edinburgh running a Masterclass and then presenting to the Edinburgh Photographic Society. What was the biggest thing I learned? Take a hat! It is an honour being a part of this industry: I spend much of my time judging qualifications and awards and running workshops and masterclasses. Last week I had the pleasure of being a guest of the Scottish region of the British Institute Of Professional Photographers (the BIPP) and the Edinburgh Photographic Society - one of the world's longest-established photographic societies (1861!!!!). Rest assured, they've updated the furniture and the pictures since then - it's a thoroughly slick and modern organisation! Having a few days in Edinburgh is always a pleasure, so I was possibly as excited as the people attending! Although I have been a visitor to this beautiful (and welcoming) city numerous times, I love being in an area that I don't know and then, well, inventing photographs as I go. There's something magical about improvising and working with things as you find them - which is to say, on this particular day, chilly! Now I knew that Edinburgh could be cold - it is, after all, Scotland in February - but I probably should have brought a woolly hat (as pretty much everyone else did!). Funny how adding cold ears to the mix drives the creativity! ##### Always Start With Coffee The day started in an excellent little coffee shop in the city - the Rabble Taphouse and Grill. Much coffee and chatter as, one by one, the delegates arrived. It turns out it's relatively easy to spot photographers as they walk in the door - mostly, it's the bags they carry. You could argue there's a particular look in the eyes too! So we headed out into the elements with our incredibly photogenic (and patient!) model, Kristina. The point of this particular masterclass was to create variety in the images much as I would do here at the studio. And, just as it does here, the weather plays its part. Or should I say, the weather dictates what is possible! To start with, it was cold and windy. So we found a side street with as little wind as possibly and set about creating some images. When the street became too cold (Kristina was beginning to shiver) we headed down to the Photographic Society's building, a few blocks away. Daylight is such a wonderful thing to work with that, even though we had access to their well-equipped studio, we created most of the images just standing in the hallway. Sometimes it's like that: you walk into a space and just know that the light is incredible. And so it was. I could have worked in there all day. We did, eventually, head into the studio area and played with some studio lighting. The control you get in the studio is a real joy but I will always have a soft spot for natural light! A couple of people had asked to explore off-camera flash and working with mixed lighting. So a quick step into the street just to cover the basics of off-camera flash and then back for coffee (hoping I'd be able to talk about mixed available lighting once we had had a drink and some warmth!) Final shot? Just using the light from a Fire Exit sign (well, the clear plastic bits of it anyway - I didn't want any of the bright green!). It always amazes me what light you can find if you look carefully for it. All in all, an honour to be the guest of the nicest people and laugh with so many like-minded photographers. A huge thank you to Barrie from the BIPP and Pamela from the EPS for inviting me! Big hugs as well to Kristina (our model), the guys at Rabble who dealt with a big gang of photographers and their various coffee orders and, of course, everyone who attended! Oh, and I may just have consumed a wee dram or two while I was there. And next time? Well, maybe I'll pack a hat! In the interests of all things education, here are some of the images we shot along the way. ### [Steve Cole, Author Headshots](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/12/steve-cole-author-headshots/) Oh go on. Admit it. You gotta love a bit of James Bond. We all do really, deep down. The lifestyle, the cars the hotels, the gadgets (oh yes, those gadgets!) and, just occasionally maybe a beautiful lady or two. Stuff of dreams. Well books anyway. So it was huge privilege to be asked to create a few images of Steve Cole who has was about to be announced as the new author of the Young James Bond books. If, like us all here, you happen to have kids, you'll be well aware of his work already as he wrote the magnificent Astrosaurs books as well as the Cows In Action series - both adored by our boy Jake when he was younger and he has been chosen to write the next Young James Bond book (previously written by Charlie Higson) by the Flemming family. The book is due out towards the end of 2014. I am not sure if Steve is going to be drawing on his own experiences of growing up or living in Haddenham (it is not, I have to admit, a village where espionage and casinos abound), but whatever he does I know it'll be utterly brilliant! He's also a tremendously nice guy which made it a real pleasure to create some author headshots for him. Enjoy! ### [Sunny Soprano Sets Our Studio Alight](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/10/sunny-soprano-sets-our-studio-alight/) It's a wonderful thing. When someone walks into our studio and you just know you're going to get some beautiful images (and, just as importantly, have a huge amount of fun in the process.) It's not about looks, or fashion, or styling - though these were all in abundance - nope, it's much more subtle. It's all about character. And laughter. When someone walks into the studio and you know immediately that you're going to get on - and, in that same instant, you know going to get some beautiful images. Like I said, it's a wonderful thing. Anna Patalong is a world-class soprano with an incredible list of credits to her name. It does also mean that she is comfortable as a performer and when I say 'comfortable' I really do mean like most people breath, Anna performs: it's woven into her very DNA I suspect. She had asked us for some portrait headshots for PR work and marketing which she was doing with the team and so we had booked a day in our diaries and kept our fingers crossed that it the weather would be kind as we though the outdoor setting would suit the look we had in mind: very natural, informal, beautiful (of course), sunny (well, if we were lucky!). The garden here doesn't suit an edgy teenage fashion session - there is no graffiti anywhere in sight - but for a classic musician, well it could not have been more perfect. And, as luck would have it, narrow shafts of sunlight, weaved their way through the foliage, creating tiny pools of light in which to work - something I have always loved to do! Mostly we laughed. I say this a lot but it's true: mostly we laughed. Not about anything in particular, just laughter because we were enjoying the process of creating the images. Anna has a character that is even bigger than her voice (and that's saying something.) And it is just as captivating. I haven't yet heard her sing 'up close and personal' - much to my regret as I think i probably could have persuaded her - but I know from her reputation (and a sneaky peak at her YouTube videos!) that she is a towering talent. And it is just as captivating. I haven’t yet heard her sing ‘up close and personal’ – much to my regret as I think i probably could have persuaded her – but I know from her reputation that she is a towering talent. In fact, it's the only thing I'm kicking myself for is that I didn't ask her to sing. I suppose I felt it wasn't appropriate, but I had a world-renowned soprano in our garden and I didn't ask her to sing. Next time, sigh, next time. Yet I would guess that it's not just her voice that enthrals audiences across the globe, holding them captive for hours at a time, it's that glint in her eye and the joy she exudes. And the confidence in her own ability and the impact she has on anyone around her. And do you know what? It was that character that set our studio alight. Enjoy! #### If you're a performer, actor, musician or you simply need a portfolio of headshots / portraits for your work, then why not drop us a line now? There is no time like the present and you, too, could have images like these! ### [The Laughter Was Irrepressible!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/07/sisters-laugh-their-way-through-amazing-headshot-photography-shoot/) Every day in the office (aka studio) is a good day. But there are good days and really good days. This was the latter: creating headshots and portfolio images for Libby. This is the second time we've photographed Libby - you can read about the first set of headshots we created for her here. And if you look at that first set of images, you can imagine why I was looking forward to creating some more head-shots with her! This time the brief was a little more specific: to create a range of images but emphasis on high-key wherever possible. Ah, I do like an interesting brief. ##### Characterful head-shots and portraits the bit of portrait photography I think I love the most is capturing images that have some character about them! I love creating headshots for actors, models, musicians etc. as they are, essentially, just a variant of portraits but with generally more face and less of everything else. That's not a particularly eloquent way of putting it but you get the gist! Plus agents are typically looking for some sense of character in the subject. Which is the bit, I think, I love the most: capturing images that have some character about them. Now don't get me wrong here, I am not someone who clings onto the view that I capture the character of someone. Nope. That's not quite what I am saying. It's more subtle than that. The job is to create images that make a viewer think they can see character in the headshot or portrait. Why do I say this? Well, think about it: most viewers of portraits have never met the sitter so how could they possibly know if I've 100% captured the character of someone they've never have met? Answer? Well, they don't. But they do see something in the image that chimes or resonates with them. That's the trick. Creating images that others enjoy because it makes them feel something, whether it's joy, sadness, curiosity or empathy. So that's what I set about doing. ##### Sibling support This time, Libby came with her sister, Alex, for company. Which always makes it a lot more fun! Even when only one person is in front of the camera, having someone else there - particularly someone as close as a sibling - adds something to the photography session. So, if you're thinking about having a headshot or portrait session with us, don't assume you have to come alone! Anyway, I digress just a little. We were doubly lucky with this shoot as we had not one but two beautiful people to photograph but also we had stunning sunshine! Now I know if you're reading this from your home in Texas, Dubai or Greece you might be wondering what the fuss is about given you may well have wall-to-wall sunshine every day of the week. But this is the UK. And there is no such concept. Though, I admit as I write this, we're in the middle of a month of almost unbroken hot, dry weather. Well the exception that proves the rule and all that... So we set about creating a set of images that were bright, funny, full of joy and beautiful. Essentially the same description you could give to Libby and Alex. Although the brief was for high-key images, I simply couldn't resist creating some dark images while I was at it. Haha. The thing about a portrait shoot is I love working in sympathy with the skin colour, clothing, hair and personality of the sitter. It's all about trying to get an image where everything works together. And then the image feels all the better for it! Such a lovely afternoon with the guys, and such a lovely set of headshots! If you're thinking of having some headshots or portfolio images - whether it's for modelling, commercial use or a dating website, please do get in touch! ## Lifestyle & Location Portraits ## Lifestyle & Location Portraits ### [A Wonderful Family Session In The Sunshine (And In The Studio!)](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/08/studio-family-portraits-children/) This is proving to be a monumental year for us. Not only has the weather been glorious - though the irony is that, as I write this, it is tipping it down outside - but the shoots, the weddings, the clients and, ultimately, the pictures have been some of my favourite yet. And I don't say that lightly. We first met Susanne and Paul a few years ago when we photographed their wedding at the Crazy Bear, and wow, what a day that was. They were instantly one of our favourite couples, but now they're three. They came over with Amelie to grab some images of her and of them as a family - a proper family portrait session to mark this new chapter. What an absolute pleasure it was. There's something quite special about photographing couples you've already worked with when they come back with a child in tow. You get to see how they've grown together, how their dynamic has shifted, and how they navigate being parents whilst still being very much themselves. Susanne and Paul brought all of that into the studio with them. The sun shone through the windows, our studio rattled with the sound of laughter - from Amelie as much as from Susanne and Paul themselves - and the whole session had this lovely, relaxed energy that you simply can't manufacture. We shot both outdoors in the sunshine and here in the studio, which gave us a beautiful range of images. The outdoor shots captured them in natural light with that gorgeous green backdrop, whilst the studio work allowed us to be a bit more controlled and playful with lighting and composition. With a little one involved, you need flexibility. You need to be ready to capture the candid moments - the unexpected giggles, the genuine interactions - rather than chasing forced smiles. I must say, having clients like this is one of the joys of what we do. The energy they bring into the space, the way they genuinely enjoy being photographed together, the laughter that fills the room - it makes the whole thing feel less like work and more like spending time with friends. That's when the best pictures happen, I reckon. When everyone's relaxed and having a genuinely good time, it shows in every frame. Enjoy these images from their session. They're a lovely reminder of why we do this. Take care. Cheers, P. ### [Alison, Ross & Theo](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/06/family-photography-young-children-alison-ross-theo/) We were lucky enough to be gifted a family photo shoot and it has been the most amazing experience and the best gift we could have ever wished for. We felt totally at ease and had a really fun day. We even got some fantastic outdoor shots despite the rain. Paul has captured moments not just images which we will treasure forever. Looking forward to our next shoot already. I love family shoots like this one - though the weather nearly scuppered things with its determination to, well, chuck it down! Luckily, Alison and Ross were keen to have a mix of both studio and outdoor images and so started in the studio and only stepped outside when the rain had stopped. Theo made me laugh through the whole shoot - a real little character (and I think you can see it in the pictures!) ### [An Autumnal Portrait Session At Nether Winchendon](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/11/autumn-portrait-nether-winchendon/) Being out in the open for a shoot is a real pleasure - particularly in the autumn. I don't know why this time of year is so exciting for me but it is: it just seems to bring out joy! Maybe it's the colours or the first smell of wood fires burning at this time of year that make it so appealing. I don't know. Maybe it's the colours or the first smell of wood fires burning at this time of year that make it so appealing ### An Autumnal Portrait Session Along the Path Anyway, this was a lovely autumnal portrait session that used the light we get at this time of year to the full. A simple walk along the path between Cuddington and Nether Winchendon - two villages really close to us - chatting and creating images as we went. There's something rather special about an autumn portrait session when you've got the right location and the right people. It helps that the family were lovely of course and we had quite a giggle as we wandered along. We were also lucky that - even at this time of year - it was very dry which allowed me to use the grasses and hedges to the full! When you're planning an autumnal portrait session, you never quite know what the weather will throw at you, so having those dry conditions meant we could really make the most of the natural surroundings. I think the shot on the bridge would make a wonderful wide framed centre piece on any wall! If you're thinking about booking an autumn portrait session and you're anywhere near Nether Winchendon or the surrounding villages, there's absolutely no shortage of beautiful backdrops to work with. The light, the colours, the textures - it all comes together rather beautifully at this time of year. Enjoy! ### [Anna & Adam's Engagement Photography At Le Manoir](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/02/anna-adams-le-manoir-engagement-photography-at-le-manoir/) It's lovely to be swept along in the moment when you're photographing an engagement (particularly when it's only just happened!) It's been a fantastically busy start to 2015 but we managed to clear a day this week to sit down as a team and put together our strategy for the next few years. I always love the opportunity to do this as it helps us focus on the things that are important to us and, more importantly, to you, our clients. We spend the day as team talking through the business, our portrait photography, our sacramento wedding videographer, the things we think we do well and the things that could be better - we even talk about the tea, coffee (and cookies!) that we love to serve to anyone who cares to venture into the studio! And, if you were wondering why we always ask for feedback, it's during meetings like this that we spend time going through the testimonials and suggestions we received over the last year. So, as I write this, I am buzzing with ideas for the future: ideas for products, shoots, blogs, video walkthroughs - you name it. We were asked to come and photograph a couple who were planning on getting engaged at Le Manoir. Well, I say they were planning to get engaged - Anna didn't know anything about it (Adam had arranged everything as a surpirse!) so it was a little nerve wracking as I waited for them. Shouldn't have worried though as I don't think that there could have been a more excited and thrilled couple to photograph! Anna sent these lovely words summing up their engagement photography at Le Manoir: Thank you so much to Paul and his team making such an amazing experience unforgettable. Being asked to photograph an engagement shoot (10 minutes post proposal!) could've been slightly irritating for most photographers, as we couldn't keep our hands off each other, but instead Paul was so much fun to work with and put us both at ease instantly. It is an experience myself and Adam will treasure always, and we're so glad Paul was there to capture it. Thank you from the future Mr and Mrs Thompson! It was a wonderful thing to spend time with a couple who were so clearly in love (and besides, we had the chance to create some really beautiful images too!) ### [Chance Encounter](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/12/chance-encounter/) I have to admit I'm having a ball at the moment - a ton of photography (assuming you could actually weigh photography) going on, working on a whole new training website; about to embark on another two week stint aboard Crystal Cruises; some oh-so-lovely weddings; wonderful clients and the team is, quite literally, whistling as it works in spite of limited tuning and, er, rhythm. You can't have everything but life is, well, good. This particular shoot is a perfect example. It all started nearly a year ago when myself and Sarah had the most incredible meal down at the Crazy Bear in Stadhampton. The 12-plate Thai Taster Menu is one of my all-time favourite meals - unbelievably delicious! That night we also had faultless service, the food was perfect and the waitress could not have been lovelier - nothing was too much trouble. She was also quite remarkably beautiful. And so, for the first (and to date, only) time in my career I approached a complete stranger and asked if she'd be willing to come and be photographed at the studio. She did look at me a little distrustfully but she took my card and, having agreed to have a look at my work, we left the restaurant still hoping she may be interested. So I was very very happy when she emailed back a week or two later. She had never said yes to previous such approaches but had looked at our portfolio, loved the images and was really excited to come over! And so here we are. A new photography training video for the upcoming website (more on that in the coming months) has been recorded and we have a created some simply gorgeous images. And Dory was every bit as lovely as the night we first met. Enjoy! ### [Eliza, Leo and Austin: Family Photography in the Sunshine!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/01/eliza-leo-and-austin-family-photography/) I'm writing this blog in the middle of the winter, with dark nights (and the days don't seem much lighter!) though today we've had a lovely family portrait shoot but I admit we had to skip in and out of the showers! Well, for these cousins, we were still in the warmth of last year's wonderful summer sunshine! These images were created over two shoots - one for the brother Leo and Austin and one for their cousin Eliza. It would have been lovely to have photographed them as a single group but it doesn't always work that way! Each of the kids was absolutely brilliant, laughing throughout the shoot - lacking front teeth should never be a limited factor to a great big grin! These are things of family memories! I love these family shoots - so much fun to do: its more about laughing and having a fabulous time than it is about the technical aspects of photography (if the children are having a good time then the images will happen - if they're not having a good time, it really really doesn't matter how smart I am with the camera, the images won't have any life or energy about them whatsoever!) Each of the kids was absolutely brilliant, laughing throughout the shoot So two lovely shoots, and a wonderful set of images created for their grandparents - and two absolutely lovely albums that sit in pride of place on their coffee table! Enjoy some of the images from these two lovely sessions! ### [Emma: Images From One Of Our Portrait Photography Workshops](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/02/emma-images-of-one-of-our-portrait-photography-workshops/) I'm sitting here planning one of our portrait photography workshops that we're to be running in a few weeks, and so I thought I'd post some images from one we ran late last year. As is so often the case with our masterclasses, we spent the entire day talking through all the aspects of a portrait photography business, not just camera-craft and people-posing. For me, the toughest part of running one these days is the need to be logical explaining quite what it is that I do. I know, I know, if I can't articulate precisely what it is that I do then who on earth can? But therein lies the problem: I've had a camera in my hand since I was small and so much of what I do has become second nature! Still, rest assured I am figuring effective explanations of the dark-forces of photography! Anyway, Emma (an old friend of ours) kindly came as a friendly face in front of the lens, while our client and I talked, laughed, explained and explored, captured and created, delved, documented and deleted until exhaustion won over and we finished the day both enriched and enlightened (and with a load of images to boot!) If you fancy further developing your photography or business then why not drop us a line? You can read more about our one-to-one workshops here! In the meantime, here are just a few of the pictures we created during the day - enjoy! ### [Family Photography, Finn and Eva at Nether Winchendon](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/03/family-photography-finn-and-eva-nether-winchendon/) I adore family photography shoots like this - a chilled strole, through our beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside between Cuddington and Nether Winchendon with a lovely family.  This particular session, is from October, but we do them all year - and with the weather like it's been today, I can't help but want to get out with the camera.  Did you see the sunlight today?  It was stunning! when we're out and about like this, the whole experience is really enjoyable as much as it creates lovely images The kids were brilliant throughout the session, full of laughter - just as kids should be - and, more importantly for me at least, very very happy to be photographed! Their parents were, admittedly, ever so slightly less willing to be in front of the camera - though that didn't stop me getting a few of all four of them together! I know not everyone loves to be photographed, but at least when we're out and about like this, the whole experience is really enjoyable as much as it creates lovely images. And with the whole of this amazing county right on our doorstep, it would be rude not to! Loved it. Here's to many more in 2015! :) If you'd like a session like this with the kids, give us a call or drop us an email - you never know, you too might be able to stay out of the way of the camera for most of the shoot! ### [Five Frames To Fill With Family Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/05/five-frames-fill-family-photography/) ##### Family photography is always a joy, possibly an adventure, never, ever a chore - but then, just sometimes, it is, quite, simply amazing! It's that time of year when we look to refresh many of our portfolio images and to update the art that we have on the walls of of various locations. In this instance, we needed to create some new images for our frames in the Little Italy Espresso Bar right here in Haddenham. And so we met the beautiful Scarlett and her equally beautiful sister Ebony. #### Who Is Actually In Control? Now I like to think it's me who's in control of a portrait shoot but sometimes it's actually the kids who have the measure of me. Scarlett and Ebony are both simply wonderful children and they made us all laugh from the minute they arrived. Full of life and laughter, full of cheekiness and smiles: kids being kids. And that's how we approached this kids shoot - we messed around, giggled a little, laughed a lot and generally bounced around our studio and garden. The only challenge is, unlike my subjects, I am not a child - I was shattered at the end! Haha. #### Family Photography (To A Tight Brief) This was an interesting shoot in that it was for a very specific brief: to create images for five, large square frames that Little Italy have on their wall. When you're faced with a brief like this, it might seem like shooting is harder thank having the usual free-rein (it's certainly more restrictive) but in many ways it actually helps a little as I can easily pre-visiualise the images and how they're going to work out (particularly as squares!) Anyway, the girls (and their beautiful mum, Kelly) were simply lovely to work with and, oh my goodness, did we create some images - so many that we could have created a dozen or so sets of frames. Family portrait photography like this is still one of my all-time loves as it is how I started in the first place as I used to take pictures of my own family when they were young and those pictures still hold a huge place in my heart. A wonderful family shoot and the outcome seems to speak for itself as we are getting lovely comments (and a booking or two) from people who've seen them! ### [Late Summer Family Portraits: The Jacksons](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/10/late-summer-family-portraits-the-jacksons/) Ah, it has been such a beautiful summer this year. I know, I know, people keep telling me it's been rubbish but, honestly, I think it must have been cold and wet at the weekends but, given we shoot 7 days a week, maybe I've just been lucky with the midweek shoots! Either way, we've had a string of beautiful outdoor and location family portraits, either here at our studio and garden or, occasionally further afield (can't wait to share the engagment shoot we've just had down in Castle Combe - stunning!) It's nice being outside (though, of course if it's here we can leap back inside the studio whenever we feel) as I think it's more informal - something the kids appreciate as much as their parents! Summer family portraits need to be full of joy or we've somehow missed the point! ### The Jackson Family We've had the pleasure of knowing the Jackson family ever since they came in with Emelia as a new-born and they are one of our favourite clients. Helen and Paul always come in with ideas (and plenty of energy!) and we have created some really lovely images with them over the past couple of years! This shoot during September had a lovely warmth to it - though admittedly the sun didn't come out! We only went inside the studio for a little variety (and fairy wings of course!) It's really nice for us here when we have clients over a long period of time as each shoot becomes more and more relaxed, though I guess we're pretty chilled during the first shoot too! Anyway, enjoy these images of a very lovely family! ### [Lizzie: Location Portrait Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/04/lizzie-location-portrait-photography/) Whether it's for a wedding or portrait photography, it's always a shame when the weather breaks, particularly after we've had a spell of such warm spring days. Prior to today, we've had a few perfect days of spring sunshine: I simply love the warmth and there is, well, an inexplicable smell in the air. To me, it literally smells like the seasons are rolling forward. Tomorrow, it's due to be sunny once more. Today? Well, today was, frankly, everything you dread as a photographer. Cold. Wet. Dark. And I was photographing a wedding. A wedding at which, for various reasons, it was also not possible to use any kind of flash. A challenging day but, as it happens, one that I thoroughly enjoyed primarily because the couple were lovely and the wedding was simply beautiful. And I think I have some really lovely images from it. Anyway, more of that shoot in the coming weeks once I have permission to show the photographs. ### Lizzie's Portrait Photography The images below are from a day that was, climatically speaking, a little less formidable than today. As a birthday gift (now that is a cool gift!) Lizzie came to have some studio and location portrait photography. And it was a wonderful session! Once again, we were working with the fabulous makeup artist Abbie Martin who always brings such a wonderful quality to the finished images. Having a makeup artist for female portraits is always a fabulous idea - apart from anything else, it seems to make my clients more confident in front of the camera! Our studio is perfect for portrait photography: we have plenty of room for Abbie to work (though I know we need a specialist chair that's a perfect height for makeup!) and we can work in the studio, the garden and the street itself. Each has its own strengths (and weaknesses of course) and we can create a variety of images while always being able to duck back inside for makeup touch-up and changes of outfit. Sometimes I think the bit that parents enjoy the most is that they can sit and chill out while me and my team look after the photography (as well as making sure there is always a plentiful supply of tea and cookies!) Beautiful light, perfect location and lovely client. What else were we going to do but create gorgeous images? Enjoy! ### [Location Family Photography: Chillin' Chattin' Shootin'](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/07/28643/) There are so many joys to being a wedding and portrait photographer - particularly with location family photography - that I am forever in danger of sounding like I am on happy pills but, trust me, I really don't need them! ### Education Is Key. It's late. That could be said of most of the blogs I write I guess. But it is still true: it's late. There is something about the peace and quiet during the evening when everyone else is asleep that helps me think, helps me collate thoughts and ideas, ultimately helps me remember just what a privilege it is to do this job. I know I wax lyrical about the joy that being a portrait and wedding photographer brings and I really hope you don't think me too saccharin. But I am not sure how else I can explain it. This week the studio is full of work-placement students. I love it. They are funny. They're young (15-16 years old) and full of optimism. They are shy (at least at the beginning of the week) but smart. They don't take any prisoners. More importantly, they are the future of the industry. One day it won't be me - it'll be them or others like them. Meg, who works full-time in our team as a photographer, retoucher and living legend, was a work placement student - in fact she was our very first work placement student - 7 years ago and is now one quarter of the team along with Sarah, Michelle and myself. She was once like these guys in the studio today and she has grown into a phenomenal photographer. So imagine how proud we were to be nominated for an award (the succinctly titled: Oxfordshire Business Education Alliance Investor in Education Award) by Lord Williams school in recognition of the support we try to give schools and education in Oxfordshire. We have won many awards (and I am very proud of all of them!) but this is our second award for education and I think I may just be more proud of this than any of the others. ### A Beautiful Walk For Location Family Photography So back to the joys of being a photographer. This set of images are from a wonderful family shoot with Richard, Alison, Meg and George. I love family sessions like this - we went for a very pleasant stroll to Nether Winchendon, chatted, laughed, giggled, skipped and generally created mayhem and images in broadly equal measure. Even the dog thought it was fun. And that's the thing about his gig: it is one of the most sociable art forms on the planet, Enjoy! ### [Love Is In The Air | Giuliano & Anna's Engagement](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2023/05/love-is-in-the-air-giuliano-annas-engagement/) We are very much a studio that spreads a lot of joy - even as I write this, I can hear laughter drifting up from the reveal room downstairs! But that joy is only possible because it is fuelled by our clients, clients who come and bring happiness all of their own; it's that laughter that makes this job such an absolute thrill to be a portrait photographer. And there is little doubt that the happiest shoots of all (if we ignore weddings of course) are engagement shoots. There is something about the excitement between a newly-engaged couple that is lovely to capture. Giuliano and Anna came to the studio and it didn't seem to matter whether we were creating studio images, location portraits, individual headshots or the two of them in the most romantic of embraces, every single shot sung out love and romance. It was all I could do to capture one or two serious moments because the giggling never eased up! ### [Rosie and Ethan Family Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/05/rosie-and-ethan-family-photography/) I can’t help it. I know. People tell me. I am a little enthusiastic about what we do. Can you blame me? Think about it. Go on, really. Can you blame me? Every day I meet the most incredible people and I get to chat, laugh, sympathise, gossip (yes, I admit, I don’t mind a little gossip now and then) and generally revel in others’ company. Occasionally their stories are sad and they make all of us cry. Not often, but sometimes. We are the kind of team who form relationships with our clients. Nice relationships. When our clients laugh we’re all on a high but, when they’re sad, we share tears both with and for them. Our team is like that. There’s Sarah, the considered one. The strategist. She’s the rock-solid one. Never flaky (though don’t confuse that with not having strong opinions; cross her at your peril.) She’s the planner of the business. There’s Michelle, the always cheerful one. With just a touch of OCD. Neither a hair nor a pen out of place. Always happy to talk on the phone. Always making lists and keeping her desk clear. Always making our clients smile. Come to think of it always making the whole team smile. There’s Megan. The youngest one. She's new to the team and full of enthusiasm and ideas. Full of emotions close to the surface. Chock full of talent. Crazy amount of talent. Always asking for stuff to do. Never happy doing nothing. Never sitting back. Then there’s me. The one who began it all. The one who will spend all day messing around with a camera, laughing ‘cause it’s my favourite thing to be doing. Happy ‘cause I love being in the company of others. Happy ‘cause I know - though it may not be obvious to the observer - that I’m creating images. And somehow, in this mix of personalities and friendships, we create images. Photographs. Art. Stuff for the walls. Stuff from the heart. When Rosie and Ethan came for their family photography shoot we could not have been more excited. There is a back story. It’s not one that I can share, but it’s there and it makes us want to cry. It’s there in the relationship between the two of them. It’s there in the bond between mother and son. And it’s there in the way we feel about the two of them. Seriously, we could not have been more excited. Rosie is one of the loveliest people we have ever had the pleasure to work with and Ethan is testimony to her. And you can see it. It’s in there. All that emotion. It’s right there. It’s right there in the images. Simply beautiful. Enjoy! Cheers P. ### [Sisters doing it for themselves!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2023/01/sisters-doing-it-for-themselves/) Every day is different here - some days are lively, some are gentle, some are stressful, just a few are restful. But they're always different and always entertaining. Given the variety of clients we have, from headshots to family groups, from commercial photography to engagements and weddings with the occasional canine caricature thrown in, you'd expect that. My favourite days are always when I get to creat interesting portraits of interesting people and Romi and Arbel were two such people. Gentle, smart, shy, enigmatic. Each of them could gaze into the camera like they were exploring your soul which I always love. However, my favourite images - as is so often the case - when the sisters laughed with each other and the relationship between them shone through. As much as all photographers love the enigmatic, it's relationships that are at the heart of our business (and I couldn't be happier about it!) ### [Teenage portraits of Molly - and one or two of her mum too!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/06/teenage-portraits-of-molly/) We're always nice to people. And it's always genuine. Though the same cannot be said of everyone - especially when they've been brought up never to lie! ##### Babies Are Always Beautiful, But Some Are More Beautiful Than Others I am asked a lot about how we can be so nice to people all the time. Our entire team is built that way. That's not to say we don't have off days when I could honestly strangle someone but, on the whole, we genuinely love people, especially our clients. We have to. Seriously, we have to. How could I create an image of someone if I didn't like them? Trust me, it would be glaringly obvious in the finished images: for starters, the eye contact would be awful and the body language would surely follow. Nope, my job (and luckily my personality is the same) is to look for something that I can really like about my client. Whether it's as shallow as their looks or as deep as their vulnerabilities, I go looking. Once I have found that certain something, the photography is significantly easier - at least, it's easier to work with the person even if I am hunting for the best angles and lighting. And all this reminds me of a client of ours who clattered into the studio one morning and told us she'd just bumped into an old friend of hers with a new baby that she had on a Baby Trend Expedition-Jogger-Stroller. The two mums (my client has a couple of young children) made small talk for a while and then inevitable had to happen: she had to compliment her friend's newborn lying asleep, peacefully, in its buggy. And here's the thing: babies, it turns out, are not always that beautiful. Now if they're YOUR child, then, of course, they are the most beautiful thing you've ever seen, but if they're someone else's... ##### I Must Not Lie "So," my client stuttered at me and the team, "I peeked under the hood of the buggy and there was this baby." We like to think we're a good audience here, so we all sat attentively, waiting to hear how beautiful this baby must surely have been. My client drew in a short breath and gasped "but it was simply the ugliest baby I had ever seen and all I good think of saying was 'nice pram'!" See? You can ALWAYS find something to like about someone, even it's their pram! ##### Molly's Teenage Portraits Anyway, these images are of Molly (and her mum, Rachel) who we didn't need to go hunting for things to like: beautiful, funny, smart: the list would go on and on. My kind of session! We do a lot of this kind of teenage portrait shoot - nearly always commissioned by parents. The end goal can be anything from a single, stunning piece of art on the wall, an album for the coffee table, or a wide range of items to give as gifts (such as these Lolli & Pops artisan chocolates). Whichever it is, we treat the session in the same way: laughter. A couple of hours of messing around really! It's a lot of fun and, in this instance, resulted in the most beautiful album (I'll post the album design in a separate blog.) Molly was incredibly lovely, which is to be expected given her mum has been a client of mine for years and we've always had a brilliant relationship. Both of them are beautiful too! The shoot seemed to fly by but we managed to create a really wide range of images from dark and moody to bright and cheerful. We even managed to persuade Rachel to be in front of the camera for a few too! Enjoy! ##### Your Portrait Photography Session There's never a better time to have a portrait session with your loved ones than right now. If you're interested, you can read more portrait photography stories, view our portrait portfolios or get in touch to book yours. While everything in this world is seemingly changing so fast, a beautiful image on a wall or a personally designed bespoke album will last a lifetime! ### [The Magic Of Bumping Into An Old Friend](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2023/01/the-magic-of-bumping-into-an-old-friend/) The joy of being a portrait photographer is that it is all about the people you meet, the stories they tell and the friendships we have made along the way. Nikki is the perfect example. I first met Nikki when I photographed her wedding, a glorious day at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons. At that time, Nikki was also head of comms for the Hearing Dogs For Deaf People charity and she persuaded me to pitch for the role of their regular photographer. At the time I had never photographed dogs but as a quick learner (and a bit of a dog-person) I agreed to give it a go. Eleven years later I am still there and still loving it (and I have learned to photograph dogs - we've even won an award or two for our images!) Nikki moved on but our friendship has remained - she is one of those people that it's just a pleasure to have in your life. I bumped into her back where it all started and we grabbed a little lunch and few quick photographs of her and of her Cocker Spaniel, Rufus. As an aside, if you're in the area and fancy a good lunch then The Grange restaurant at the Hearing Dogs in Saunderton is well worth a visit - great food, great service and it is completely dog-friendly! ### [Two's Company, Three's A Party!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2020/10/twos-company-threes-a-party/) When Kate asked if she could bring her two best friends for a portrait session in celebration of her 40th birthday, I couldn't help but laugh as I just KNEW it would be a lively (and lovely) shoot! It helped that they turned up looking amazing and carrying a couple of bottles of champagne. This was going to be one hell of a session! I love portrait sessions like this because not only do we get the opportunity to create beautiful images (of them as a group as well as individually) but we get to have, essentially, a party at the same time! In the end, pictures like these are about the memories as much as they are pieces of art in their own right - and this shoot was definitely about the memories and the relationships between Kate, Karen and Rachel - three amazing people and long-standing friends. Kate has hung one of her favourite pictures in her downstairs loo. Well, when I started I hated hearing that my pictures were in a toilet until someone sat me down and wisened me up: where else can you (modestly) get people to look at your pictures? Too true but I don't have a room-set image of a loo, so I'm showing it in pride of place above a sofa. I so loved this session - I think I laughed as much as they did. Three beautiful, lovely, smart, people with more energy than the teenagers I get to shoot! Enjoy a few more images from this incredibly memorable shoot! ## Luxury Wedding Photography ### [A Magnificently Musical Marriage!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/10/a-magnificently-musical-marriage/) There are days when you have to pinch yourself. This being one of them. Imagine my delight when a couple of world-renowned classical musicians asked us to create their wedding images for them. Not one musician but two. Couldn't believe my luck! I knew the minute we met that we'd get on famously with Anna and Ben (we created PR images for them which is how we met, funny how things turn out) and so we knew their day would be glorious. But that wasn't even close! ### A Classical Musician Wedding Photography Dream The day was incredible - and all here in Haddenham, which made it all the more stunning. Every minute was full of music. It seems that everyone who came to the wedding had a musical talent (some professional, others just sheer talent). Such was the quality of the music during the ceremony that it almost stopped me dead in my tracks - which is not, frankly, ideal when you're supposed to be photographing the couple signing the register! I have never, ever heard such moving performances during a wedding ceremony. And that was just the beginning. The evening band (drawn from the same incredible talent pool) was possibly the best wedding band I've ever had the thrill of listening to. And also the funniest. They just looked like they were having the time of their lives which, incidentally, is what everyone on the dance floor was having too! ### Intimate Wedding Ceremony Photography at Its Best In amongst all this melodic mayhem was the gentlest, most romantic of village weddings. Almost everyone involved (from the tractor driver, the people serving drinks, the evening bar) was local - we knew absolutely everyone. The whole event was hosted in a marquee in our local school grounds. So much affection it was untrue. Working as a musical couple wedding photographer here in Oxfordshire, I've learned that the best bespoke wedding photography captures not just what happens, but who people are. And with a couple like Anna and Ben - both classical musicians with such obvious joy in their craft - that meant being ready for moments of pure artistry alongside the tender, quiet ones. ### Wedding Photography Storytelling Through Music and Light The icing on the cake was a quick trip down to the local pond (we would have walked but our Land Rover served as a useful, if a little undignified, aid to get us there in time for a glorious sunset!) where Ben had first proposed to Anna. Here, as the sun dipped below the horizon, we created some images that reflect perfectly the nature of this one-in-a-lifetime wedding. Wedding photography storytelling at its finest - capturing the place where their love story began, with the day's joy still singing in the air. Simply stunning! ### What Anna and Ben Said Thank you so much for providing us with such a wonderful set of photos from our wedding! As promised you made it very difficult to turn any of them down. The service you provided was so personal and the resulting photographs really captured the soul of the day. You both were fun, yet discreet and made everyone feel extremely comfortable. We are so lucky to have found you! Thank you so much! And that is just the icing on the cake! ## Magazines & Publications ### [N-Photo Magazine Issue 135](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2022/03/photography-magazine-contributor-issue-135/) For anyone who doesn't already know, I have spent the past few years contributing to various magazines, publications and blogs: I can only imagine my high-school English teacher laughing his head off! Who saw that coming? Certainly not me! However, having written more than 50 articles and been featured in half a dozen different magazines, it feels as natural for me to be sitting at a keyboard as it does with a camera in my hand. Well, OK, nearly as natural... And I love it. It is certainly a skill I'm still working on (the vagaries of the semi-colon vs. the colon or the precise use of an ellipsis still confuse me) but sitting and putting thoughts down into an article is not only cathartic, it is also remarkably creative! I am a monthly contributor to N-Photo Magazine and the latest issue just dropped through the door. In this issue, I pay homage to all of my incredibly talented friends in the hair industry and draw parallels to why it's a great place to learn how to offer the best customer service as a professional photographer. I know we all laugh about hair stylists talking about holidays as your stare helplessly in the mirror, but they are supremely skilled with both people and their core skills of cutting and colouring! See where I'm going with this? If you're a Nikon shooter (and why wouldn't you be?!), please do pick up a copy from your local newsagent or you can order a subscription online. Enjoy! PS. if you're a photographer thinking about turning pro, why not come to one of our workshops? ### [Ox Weddings Magazine Shoot At Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/08/le-manoir-wedding-photography/) Sometimes it's a pleasure to create beautiful wedding photography without the pressures of the wedding day itself. So imagine our delight when Ox Weddings Magazine asked us to create images for one of their features. We decided to do it at our favourite venue, Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, and we invited some of our real couples to join us. Shooting wedding photography is always a joy. The romance, the style, the theatre of it, the fashion, the laughter, the tears, the kids, uncle Dave holding fort at the bar, great speeches, embarrassing speeches, emotive speeches (and yes, those really dull speeches that go on way too long), buttonholes and bouquets, shoes and champagne, family and photos: the list is long and lovely. So imagine how excited we were to be asked to create images for Ox Weddings Magazine and, in particular, to do it at one of our favourite venues: the world-famous Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons. This incredible venue has incredible people, and we have the privilege of being their Partner Photographer too. A styled shoot is never quite the same as a wedding (for a start, the time pressures are less intense!) but it's still an absolute thrill to create the images. To keep a real sense of romance and authenticity, rather than use models, we determined to invite some previous real couples of ours to come and relive a few very special memories. Shooting at Le Manoir with couples who'd already experienced their own wedding days there felt like the perfect approach. Samantha and Samuel (with their gorgeous kids) and Susanne and Paul - both couples whose weddings we photographed - came along. Sam and Sam from Le Manoir back in 2012 and Susanne and Paul who were married at The Crazy Bear in 2013. Luckily for us, neither couple seems to have aged at all! While Le Manoir is most notably recognised for its culinary delights (and the service to go with it), it's actually a quite remarkable place to photograph weddings. From the soft light of my favourite room, Blanc de Blanc, to the lush greens of the gardens, from the violets and purples of the Lavender Walk to the pockets of light and reflections down at the pond: every inch is photogenic. And if that weren't enough, Raymond Blanc made an unexpected appearance, kissed the brides, and made everyone's day. #### So Many Amazing People Weddings are wonderful for bringing people together. Creating wedding photography for this shoot was a privilege, working alongside this world-class team. - Location: Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire - Flowers: ## Mastering Portrait Photography ### [Photography How To: Use Reflections In Portraits](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/04/photography-how-to-use-reflections-in-portraits/) I have created portraits ever since I was a kid, it's a very natural thing for me and I know exactly what I'm doing, in spite of appearances! However, it turns out it's much much harder to create a photography how to than it is to actually create images! Yet that is precisely what I'm doing at the moment: Sarah Plater (co-author of the Mastering Portrait Photography book) suggested we create a YouTube channel and linked website full of videos and "photography how to" articles covering all aspects of portrait photography and so, for the past few weeks, we've been creating images and then describing how each of them is done. And it's harder than I thought it would be! Now those of you who know me will know I am more than happy to talk (possibly a little too much!) but it's a different beast when you're in front of the camera! I am having to plan out each shoot and figure out how to describe the invariable anarchy of what's going on in my head - and do it without saying 'er' or 'um' - a skill, it transpires, I'm going to have to work at! Still, we're getting there so look out for the launch later in the year once we have a reasonable body of work together. #### This Week's Photography How To: Reflections This week's shoot was with Megan and we decided to look at reflections: how they can be used in portraits. Sadly, it wasn't raining (you wouldn't normally here me say that - normally when I try to do some outdoor portraits it does nothing but rain!) so all of the reflections had to be done using glass or smooth surfaces but rest assured, as soon as we have some decent precipitation  (and we can't be waiting for long surely) we'll do a similar photography how to using puddles. Reflections are a really interesting skill in a photographer's repertoire as they can very often add some interest to an otherwise conventional image. And, given most locations have access to some kind of reflective surface such as a bar-top or windows, then they are almost always readily available. httpv://youtu.be/yYFVzpcXQpw Here are a few of the images from this photography how to session with Megan (note that I couldn't resist taking a couple of 'regular' portraits while she was here!) look out for many more in the coming months! Enjoy! Being social is good for the soul: ### [Photography in the rain (what to do when the weather doesn't play ball!)](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/05/photography-in-the-rain-what-to-do-when-the-weather-doesnt-play-ball/) When we originally scheduled this particular shoot for our Mastering Portrait Photography series of videos, we didn't anticipate that we'd be doing the photography in the rain but such is the craziness of the British climate, that's exactly what happened (though that is not quite the whole story!) Our plan, as you might expect at this time of year, was to create some images in glorious watery sunshine with bright, colourful spring flowers - you know the kind of thing, daffodils (though I've never liked them!), tulips and, of course, the obligatory bluebells, the staple of all portrait photographers. Watching the weather forecast, however, suggested we might want to reconsider: it was forecasting 99% chance of 4.8mm of rain which, frankly, suggested our plan for outdoor, sunny was somewhat flawed! So, rather than having to photograph in the rain out in the woods, we opted to work here in our studio garden as, after all, we do have plenty of cover and one or two spring flowers we might be able to use. And that, turned out to be our mistake - you'd think after all these years of living and working in the UK, I'd know not to trust the weather forecast too much - even though photography in the rain is a fairly regular outcome! At the last minute, we changed tack to make use of the foretold precipitation (technically it was due to absolutely lash it down) and then the unthinkable happened: it simply didn't rain! Bugger. #### Photography In The Rain (How We Faked It) However, Jackie and the team who look after Turn End Garden where we shoot had the answer: a hosepipe and a long lance with a rose sprinkler on the end. Not ideal but, given the rather surprising (and, frankly, uncharacteristic lack of rain) we had to think fast as not only were we expecting rain, we were betting on there being a lot of it! One of our long-standing friends and clients, Nicki, and her gorgeous daughter Amelia, had agreed to come and be models for us and so we set about creating some images. Incidentally, the first couple of images were taken in the studio: what else would you do when you have a a princess (in her favourite princess dress) in front of you?! After that, we set about creating a couple of different images to illustrate both spring time photography and photography in the rain. Luckily for us, both Nicki and Amelie are very very lovely, as well as being photogenic, and let us do pretty much anything we needed for the shoot. Look out for the Master Portrait Photography website and YouTube channel later in the year (we'll post links on the blog) to see all of the finihed content. Until then enjoy these few images! ## Personal Branding Headshots ## Personal Projects ## Photography Album Designs ### [Molly's Beautiful Portrait Album](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/06/beautiful-portrait-album/) It's good to be up and about early when the studio is empty and silent. It doesn't necessarily mean I am getting through my 'to-do' list though! #### Keep Calm And Get Through That List It's early. A combination of hay fever and workload and I was awake at 6 and already in the studio. I quite like the quiet if I'm honest: the life of a photographer is not one of peace and tranquility, at least not if you're a portrait photographer (I cannot comment on the life of a landscape or wildlife 'tog.) And with Bucks Open Studios running just at the moment, it's even more lively than normal. The trouble with this unexpected solitude, though, is that I am at a loss as to what I should do with it. Don't get me wrong: my 'to-do' list is longer than War And Peace (though a lot more exciting) so it's not that I am short of things to get on with. It's just that, well, with so much to do, where do I start? As I left this morning Sarah nudged me to finish the production on a couple of sets of portrait photography - which I've done - but now I seem to have a myriad of choices - write a blog; post on Instagram; update the website; do some admin; finish our new price lists; start setting cameras for the week ahead; archive old shoots; do some portfolio edits - there is plenty I could get on with. But that's the problem. With so many choices, I am not as good as I like to think I am at being focussed. So I am doing precisely the wrong thing - I am writing about the things I should be doing and drinking a large cup of coffee! I like writing though. There is something cathartic about it. I was chatting with an English teacher who came into the studio who told me she had enjoyed reading the stories we attach to each of the framed images here in the studio. I had the distinct feeling she may have enjoyed the words more than the photography but I still take that as a compliment. My old English teacher, My Bettley would have been proud. ### Molly's Portrait Album Anyway, the purpose of this blog was to show the design we came up with for a portrait session album. The portrait shoot in question was for Molly - her mum, Rachel commissioned us to create some images of her daughter and this is the design we came up with for a beautiful little portrait album. The albums are made by an incredible company in Italy - Graphistudio - the quality of which you have to see to appreciate. We custom design all of our albums here in the studio and then have them crafted and shipped back where we check they're perfect before they're collected by the client. There's no real point to telling you all that except that you should know our albums are a) unique and b) beautiful. So have a look through Molly's album and see what you think! #### Your Portrait Photography Session There's never a better time to have a portrait session with your loved ones than right now. If you're interested, you can read more portrait photography stories, view our portrait portfolios or get in touch to book yours. While everything in this world is seemingly changing so fast, a beautiful image on a wall or a personally designed bespoke album will last a lifetime! ## Photography Albums Designs ## Photography Awards ## Photography On Board Crystal Cruises ### [An Arctic Circle Adventure: Photography On Board Crystal Cruises!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/10/photography-on-board-crystal-cruises/) Last year I had the honour of being asked to join a prestigious set of Master Photographers working on board Crystal Cruise's Symphony and Serenity as an invited photographer and speaker. We had been looking forward to this ever since we were asked to join and so you can imagine the excitement when we finally joined the Cruise ship Symphony in Reykjavik in Iceland! Our very first trip was a three-week cruise starting in Iceland, heading through the Arctic Circle up to Russia and then onto Norway's famous fjords. A stunning cruise - so many favourite parts that it's impossible to describe so over the coming weeks, I'll break it down into smaller posts. ### [Finding Your Bearings As A Portrait Photographer On Board Crystal Cruises](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/05/finding-your-bearings-as-a-portrait-photographer-on-board-crystal-cruises/) Over the past couple of years, it has been a great privilege to be a Master Photographer for Crystal Cruises, a truly luxury cruise company (it really is like a 5-star hotel on the ocean: even the sushi restaurant is, in fact, a Nobu restaurant!) I am lucky enough to be one of only half a dozen photographers from the UK who hold this position which involves sailing on various cruises around the world working as a portrait photographer. I know, I know, when I say 'working' it's a little tricky to make that sound like anything other than a holiday but it really is work. OK, it really is work but it's also an absolute thrill to do it - I mean, who wouldn't accept the offer of traveling around the world creating high-end portraits for clients on board a luxury cruise liner in some of the most exotic places on earth! The challenge with creating portraits like this, however, is that being on one of Crystal Cruises liners is not quite the same thing as being here at our studio! #### Getting My Photographic Bearings On A Crystal Cruises Liner With 50,000 tonnes of ship to use as a studio, where do you start? Well, I've always believed in test shooting everything I do - it's just part of the way I work. Whenever I want to learn something new, new lighting, new locations, new ideas, I always turn to a test shoot. This was our first shoot on Crystal Cruises Serenity, so we asked the on-board photography team to find someone who would be willing to let me create some images for them. Funnily enough, there was a long list of willing volunteers! In the end, we asked Helen who worked in one of the boutiques on board to come and work with us. I'm a huge fan of taking whatever time is necessary with shoots - it's more than just about creating exclusive images it's about our clients enjoying every minute of the experience, though that does mean our sessions run to a couple of hours or more! This particular cruise was in South East Asia and so we knew we'd be working in searing sunshine for much of the shoot (and you may not have noticed, but Crystal's ships are painted an intense white which can be crazily bright to be working in!) Although I use the term 'test shoot' of course I do know more or less what I'm doing - it's not that I don't know how I'm going to create portraits, it's more that I need to learn the rules on board the ship, which areas are quiet during different times of the day, where there is interesting light and shapes and where we could set up a dedicated studio for example. So, with the help of the on-board photography team, Sarah and myself set off to photograph Helen in as many areas on board as we could manage. And it was an amazing afternoon! Helen was a real legend, not complaining once about what I was putting her through (even though we were using up her day off) and, in return, we created some really lovely images that were the starting point for everything we did for the rest of the cruise. I'll post more stories over the coming weeks but, for now, here are a few of the images from the first shoot on board Crystal Cruises Serenity. Enjoy! PS. These pictures have traveled halfway round the world - feel free to continue their journey and share them on! ## Photography On Our Travels ### [Italy Calling Part 1 - Pisa (And A Speeding Ticket)](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/08/italy-calling-part-1-pisa-and-a-speeding-ticket/) ###### We select our suppliers carefully because of the quality of their products and the surety of their customer service. It is an added bonus that one of them is in a picturesque corner of Northern Italy. Sarah and I sacrificed our valuable time to go and visit the manufacture of the beautiful albums we create for you. That's us: putting ourselves out in the interest of our clients! OK, I'll be honest here: although we headed to Italy to visit the Graphistudio factory and see, first-hand, our albums being made, we took advantage of the opportunity of seeing some of a country that we both adore. #### Pisa Leanings First, to Pisa in Tuscany. I have always wanted to go to this wonderful city (and no, not so I can have a picture of me holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa - though the temptation was immense!) so we flew into the local airport and jumped into our rental car. Well, I make it sound that simple but, of course, it involved a half-mile hike (nearly a kilometre I suppose given we were in a fully metric nation) to a small concrete building with nearly no clues (in Italian or English) that this was where we were to fetch the keys to our transport for the next few days. They helpfully also gave us a map. A small, green forlorn copy of what once must have been a cartographer's pride and joy. #### Paper Maps Are Dead: Long Live TomTom I looked at the dismal scrap of paper in my hand with an ominous sinking feeling: I suspected I should have downloaded the European map for my iPhone TomTom before I started paying the exorbitant fees for data roaming. Bugger. Still, the small green map looked to have the key points on it: airport, petrol, Tower. What could go wrong? Not much as it turned out. When I say 'not much' that assumes we ignore the eight times we encircled Pisa and the resulting speeding ticket I received in the post. I thought (naively) that I had adhered to every traffic law thrown at me - and judging by the celebratory horn-blowing from appreciative Italian drivers stuck behind me, who are more than generous with their audible feedback, I believed I had succeeded! But no. One letter two weeks later, numerous visits to Google Translate and a suitably large bank transfer, it turned out I had managed to offend a speed camera somewhere on Pisa's ring road. I doubt that Galileo or his compatriots had that problem. Anyway, to Pisa. Having completed our circumnavigation of the entire Pisa region, we decided to stop and switch to walking. So we parked up and Sarah stepped out of the car and I sunk my head into the map only to hear Sarah shouting to get out of the car and take a look: there, right behind us was the Leaning Tower. I have seen many things in my time, but the site of this World Heritage monument, right slap bang at the end of the road we had parked (it was in my rear view mirror!) was the kind of thing that takes your breath away! Pisa is a wondrous place and we loved it. I think I could have lived without thousands of tourists all trying to take a picture of themselves doing various 'funny' things to the Leaning Tower, but that aside, I recommend everyone should go. #### Balls. I'm the son of an engineer so, of course, it was a highlight to finally ascend the famous leaning tower. You do need to book well in advance (and woe betide anyone turning up even thirty seconds early: trust me, the guards look at you like you have just pee'd on their perfectly shined boots and send you away with strict instructions to only return at your allotted time) but it is well worth the slightly disconcerting climb, careering from one side of the spiral staircase to the other, hundreds of years of intrepid footsteps having worn an uneven furrow, guiding your feet in giddy spirals around the tower. You arrive at the top, breathless, giddy and enthralled. The view is stunning! But be aware they really do ring that bell and it is loud! My only disappointment was to discover from one of the guides that Galileo never dropped two balls from the top in his proving that all objects fall at the same acceleration. Damn. I had been brought up on this urban myth and it turns out it was only ever a thought experiment. I blame my education. It didn't prevent the day from being a lifetime highlight however. The tower isn't the only thing to be seen at this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site - in fact, the moment that nearly reduced me to tears was the sound of a single, solitary tenor voice in the Battistero - every hour or so, he comes out and simply sings single solitary notes, one by one. As each note reverberates around the space (the sound lasts for tens of seconds at a time) the next note soars up to join it and they interweave into the most incredible chords and harmonies. That alone was worth the trip. Oh, and we indulged in one of the best street-restaurant pizzas we have ever had. Though it might be the company and the setting that made it simply perfect! In the next post, we get to Florence which simply blew us away! And we thought Italy couldn't get any better! ### [Italy Calling Part 2 - Florence And Flat Tyres](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/10/italy-calling-part-2-florence-flat-tyres/) ##### I have always wanted to see Tuscany, so imagine the excitement at the prospect of driving right through it's lofty heights as we travel from Pisa to Florence. It was early. OK, it was earlyish as we couldn't resist the Italian breakfast. I love an English fry-up but I tell you what, the Italians know a thing or two about breakfast too, particularly where the coffee was concerned! Black, like treacle and in medically minuscule quantity. I suspect if you drank more than a thimble you'd be flying for the rest of the day. Needn't have worried as there was no sign of anything approaching a mug! And so we left Pisa, full of pastry and a thirst for more caffeine, and headed into the beautiful hills and valleys of this iconic region of Europe, sweeping from left to right as far as the eye could see. Sadly, 'as far as the eye could see' wasn't very far at all: the entire region was enveloped in a thick, gloopy, impenetrable fog. Nothing. Not a thing: we drove right through the middle of one of my bucket list without seeing anything more than a tyre-pressure-warning on the rental car. And that was a drama I didn't need (luckily Italian 4G is incredibly good even high in the mountains so we could look up what the warning - in Italian - meant and fix it.) Eventually, and disappointingly, we descended from the mountains as the fog cleared and headed across to Florence, knowing that one day we'll have to return another day if we want to actually see any of this reputedly stunning area. ### So To Florence The sun came out. And the city knocked the breath out of me. It is, quite simply, one of the most beautiful cities I have ever had the joy to be in. Suddenly, the lack of Tuscany vistas was forgotten as the sheer glory of this city washed over me. The architecture, the people, the art, the sculptures, the river, the food, the art, the beer, the art (have I mentioned the art?) I have always wanted to visit this seat of the Renaissance and, even though I have must have seen a hundred different documentaries about the home of the Medici family, it quite simply surpassed everything I could have conjured up in my imagination. There are one or two things you should know about Florence if you ever get to visit: - The traffic system is completely confusing - so you get a lot of practice going around the city in circles - The statue of David is simply one of the greatest things you will ever get to see - The gelato is to DIE for! - The people are lovely - There are some incredible restaurants - but ask someone who knows them (thanks to our Le Manoir friends, we found a glorious little place - all in Italian but delicious food! - The Duomo di Firenza is scarily, breathtakingly, frighteningly awe-inspiring - and very high. But oh, those views! - It gets cold in the evenings - You should book. For everything. The queues are long. Very long. - Take a camera... - ...and comfortable shoes. In the next installment, I'll talk about the reason we found ourselves in Italy - our visit to the Graphistudio headquarters where our beautiful albums are hand made. Enjoy a few images from Florence! ## Photography Workshops ### [Capture Birmingham Workshop At The Photography Show 2017](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/02/capture-birmingham-workshop-at-the-photography-show-2017__trashed/) #### The Photography Show and Capture Birmingham Photography Workshop Date: 18th March 2017, Location: Resorts World, The NEC, Birmingham, Time: 17:30-19:30 In conjunction with The Photography Show and The Master Photographer’s Association, join Paul Wilkinson FMPA FSWPP on a live shoot as part of 'Capture Birimingham'. In this intensive couple of hours, come and see how he achieves the images he's so well known for. Paul is one of the UK's most sought-after photographers and is hugely in demand for his distinctive images (and the laughter that goes into creating them!) With a life-long love of photography and a passion for creating beautiful, timeless images, Paul Wilkinson has established himself at the very top of the profession as a people photographer. Paul is a Fellow of the MPA and the SWPP and has won an array of national and international awards for his work. His book, Mastering Portrait Photography, is one of the best-selling photography books in the UK. This workshop will show how Paul uses locations and the environment to maximum effect, how he puts his clients at ease and creates the images he is so well known for. With a maximum of 12 attendees, this is a hands-on workshop so bring your camera! Paul will be available to chat through ideas and answers questions after the workshop. ### [Lizzie And Katie Studio Portraits](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2022/04/lizzie-and-katie-studio-portraits/) I have to admit, I am really excited to be running our photography workshops over the coming months. Over the years, we've always run one-on-one masterclass days but it's only this year, thanks to demand, that we made the decision to run regular workshops here at our studio. Each workshop has its own topic and is for a strictly limited group of attendees so we have plenty of time to chat and answer questions. The first of these, Mastering Studio Lighting, is happening next week and so I asked Lizzie and Katie to pop round to help create some images we can use for future promotions as well as to check timings for the day. Call me old fashioned if you like, but I like to be well prepared! This studio-lighting workshop isn't going to be a list of lighting patterns - that would be easy to do but doesn't really help when it comes to an understanding of how to apply studio light. Instead, the day will be about having the confidence to try different ideas, seeing the effects that different lights, modifiers and reflectors have on the finished image. So at breakneck speed, Lizzie, Katie and I, ran through a range of ideas, double-checking everything is ready (and discovering one or two things that need to be looked into - including making sure we have a full shelf of Nespresso pods!) A whole day playing with studio light? Well, I have to admit that I'm as excited about that as anyone! Cannot wait! ### [Posing Portraiture Superclass at the SWPP Convention 2019](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2019/02/posing-portraiture-superclass-at-the-swpp-convention-2019/) Being able to pose someone is absolutely key to creating great portraits. But what if you're not comfortable directing someone, or you're looking for something that little bit more natural? In this workshop we explored the subtle art of posing people without, well, posing people. It's simple really! It's good to be back at the Societies Of Photographers Convention in London! That's the thing about annual events: they only happen once a year but you do get to look forward to them! This year, amongst judging and running a Masterclass on the portrait photographer's workflow, we ran a Superclass on 'Posing Without Posing' aka, how to get people to look their best, quickly and naturally. Here's the thing about posing people for portraits: unless you're working with models, most people don't know how to stand or sit but, should be tempted to get too prescriptive and start manipulating them, you'll quickly trade clumsy poses for uncomfortable expressions - basically switching one problem for another. But there is another way: pose people naturally. Most of the skill in this has less to do with posing people than it has to do with interacting with your subject. That and being able to read the light and location. So, come 9am in West London, we gathered to go create some images. Of course, this being a Superclass, I get to load the cards in my favour a little: we had Mina and Nick as models (coincidentally - and fortuitously - the same models we used last year for the Superclass on using light and location in your portraiture.) Admittedly not all of our day-to-day clients are models but, fortunately, the principles still stand - it's still all about interaction and body language. I had intended to head straight out into the joys that are the surroundings of Hammersmith however, it was simply freezing so we stalled for as long as possible inside the hotel before braving the arctic chill of January in London! Hammersmith is not, as you might have guessed, the most photogenic of places but we stuck it out for a few hours, looking for patches of light to create images. I loved this workshop in spite of the frost bite! We had a lovely crowd of delegates, two amazing models and enough enthusiasm between us not to slow down for the four hours of the class. ##### Photography Workshops At Our Studio Incidentally, if you fancy a one-to-one workshop in portrait photography then we can help. We run photography masterclasses here at our studio with its beautiful garden (and out and about in the village if you prefer to learn on location). Details of what we can do can be found here. Enjoy a few images from the class! ### [Vintage-Styled Photography Workshop](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/07/vintage-photography-techniques-workshop/) There are many, many aspects of this job that I love: the laughter, the creativity, the passion, the energy, the people I meet, the sense of achievement to name but a few. And one thing should be near the top of that (long) list is running a vintage-styled photography workshop. ### A Vintage-Styled Photography Workshop Is Incredibly Creative A vintage-styled photography workshop is a welcome opportunity to play around, create beautiful images and try to explain, as you're working, what you're doing and why. The rewarding bit though is when the delegates on the workshop clearly start to see what you're seeing and begin creating images of their own using your techniques and ideas. This vintage photography workshop was held at the Mid-Hants Railway Station near Winchester in Southern England on what was one of the hottest days (if not THE hottest day) I've ever run a session with almost no wind and the harshest July sunshine I can remember. Phew! ### Portrait Photography in Harsh Sunlight? Surely Not! Conventional wisdom with harsh sunlight is, generally, put your camera down, go have a beer and wait until evening. However, when you're running photography training you simply can't do that (well we could do that I suppose, but I am not sure the delegates would be very happy about it!) So we set about creating soft, beautiful imagery during the harshest light of the day. The models - Amy and Hayley - were fantastic! We agreed at the beginning of the session that we would start with 1950s style and then gradually shift it backwards to the 40s then 30s. I'll be honest here, that vintage styling is not really my area of expertise but the guys were brilliant and promised to work their magic with the hair, makeup and outfits. And so they did! Every scene in the station had its own feel to it, as well as its own light: from harsh direct sunlight, to soft light at the edges of shadows, to deep tunnels of darkness alongside the dark green of the carriages. It's always fun figuring out where there are pools of light that will yield great images. We worked our way through various techniques ending with some interesting uses of reflectors and off-camera flash. I had such a wonderful time working through different ideas and different ways of approaching each image. We also dealt with client interaction - you need to be able to make people genuinely happy and relaxed - and how to pose and execute the picture. Each scene and method yielding beautiful images (and quite a lot of laughter!) ### Get Everything Right in Camera Then to finish things up nicely, we sat in a ridiculously hot room to show some of the post-production techniques in Photoshop. Though it was so unbelievably hot by then, even I was struggling to concentrate! Just goes to show it's worth getting everything right in-camera so you don't have to sit at a computer too much! Thank you to everyone who made this vintage-styled photography workshop such a huge success - from the organisers to the models and, of course, the delegates. If you're interested in coming on one of our photography workshops or perhaps would like to come for photography training please do get in touch. In the meantime, here are just a few of the images we created during the day. Enjoy! ## Portrait Photography ## Pre-Wedding & Engagement Photography ## Same Sex Weddings ### [Michael and Patrick's Wedding at Le Manoir](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/09/michael-patricks-wedding-le-manoir/) Ever since I first met Michael and Patrick I just knew I was going to love this Le Manoir Wedding - something about them, possibly their exuberance, meant it was always going to be a wonderful day! We nearly always meet our clients before their wedding day - this can be tricky sometimes particularly when they live abroad (Michael and Patrick live in New York) - as it gives us a chance to get to know them just a little and get a bit of feel as to how their wedding will be. This wedding we knew would be full of music (Patrick used to be a musical theatre performer). And flowers. Lots and lots of flowers! this was one of the most emotional weddings I've ever photographed We had a ball with the guys on their day - though they came terrifyingly close to being mown down by a taxi as they messed around on Le Manoir's bikes (the driver really wasn't paying attention as he turned into the hotel gates and nearly collided with the two of them!) Still, we (or should I say they) survived! Ignoring the near-calamitous cycling scrape, this was one of the most emotional weddings I've ever photographed. And musical - just as expected. Patrick's microphone takeover was simply amazing! The only shot I nearly missed was Michael's birthday cake. This, it turned out, was the only teeny-tiny detail that had been missed off my briefing so, when it was brought out in all its glory, it was a little bit of a surprise: I am used to resetting a camera on the run but this really was just a second or two to set the camera up to capture candlelight! Some wonderful moments from the wedding and well into the night (we took some lighting so we could create some of these really interesting silhouette images.) Enjoy! ### [Sarah and Sarah's Wedding in York](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/05/sarah-and-sarahs-same-sex-wedding-york/) Sometimes you get lucky. Really lucky. It hadn't stopped raining for a day or two and I was headed to York to have the pleasure of photographing the same sex wedding for Sarah and Sarah - something that has only recently been legal in the UK and so it was a real privilege to do. And I'll be honest I was really looking forward to the day! However, it does have to be said that it is a remarkably long nighttime drive from here in Haddenham up to York with the thought of a rain-drenched wedding playing on your mind! Sure enough, on the morning of the big day it was still raining. Hard. As everyone went through hair and makeup; still raining. As the family arrived; still raining. As the guests gathered in the bar prior to the cab ride across town; STILL RAINING. ## Studio Portrait Photography ## Teenage Portraits ## Uncategorised ## Wedding Album Designs ### [Katherine and Emmanuel's Le Manoir Wedding Album](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/11/katherine-and-emmanuels-le-manoir-wedding-album/) We've had the most incredible year this year and it's been in no small part thanks to Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, the amazing people who work there and the wonderful clients who chose it as a wedding venue or simply somewhere to celebrate something special (we've photographed engagements, anniversaries, birthdays and - just once or twice - simply an excuse to get in front of the camera!) This particular Le Manoir Wedding is Katherine and Emmanuel's stunning day. Everything about it was perfect - there is nothing you could change to make it more beautiful or romantic. Everything. Perfect. Emmanuel is particularly good with words and, with his permission, here's a note he sent back to us: When we first saw your pictures on the Manoir's ipad we knew we would love your work and when we first met as you were shooting another wedding and we were having tea in the garden we knew it would be fun to work with you. It was a delight therefore even if not a surprise to see how you have truly captured the wonderful day we had (which you contributed to) and given us a set of images which we will treasure for the rest of our lives. However, what neither of us had anticipated is how you, your wife and Michelle would make working with you such a touching experience. We truly want to thank you all for making us and the process feel so special. All the incredibly thoughtful touches around the reveal (the flowers, the candles, the DVDs and the fantastic food) made it a wonderful moment. As the groom I am in awe of your work. Seriously we are both so touched and delighted at the work you all have done. We may be the first people on earth to actually wear out a DVD. We look forward to continuing on this journey with you and once again thank you for being such a fantastic team. Honestly? Felt very emotional when we received this testimonial as the whole of the team here genuinely care about our clients - we should do given we spend a lot of time with them - and so it's always lovely to hear that clients appreciated the work we put in! Here are a few of the album spreads from this stunning Le Manoir Wedding Album for you. We love designing these albums - ultimately many of the images we shoot are precisely to look fantastic in one of these stunning books with full-page single images to comic-book style designs full of character and laughter! Enjoy! ### [Lilah and Mark's Beautiful Le Manoir Wedding Album](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/01/lilah-marks-beautiful-le-manoir-wedding-album/) ##### Beautiful weddings need celebrating - the memories are beyond priceless. And the best way of doing that is in a beautiful, leather-bound, hand-made album that will last for generations to come. Enjoy one of our Le Manoir couples' wedding albums! Lilah and Mark's wedding at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons was gorgeous, simply gorgeous. Everything about it - the couple, the location (of course) and the guests. Everything added up to a stunning day - in spite of the inclement weather! And here is the album we put together to celebrate and remember all of that! We rather like it and we hope you do too! Take care Cheers P. ### [Sam and Sam's Wedding at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons - The Finished Album](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/08/sam-and-sams-wedding-testimonial-le-manoir-aux-quatsaisons/) It's hard to think back to the chill of late December while it's mid-20-something outside and the sun is pinging around the inside of our studio, glaring off every shiny surface imaginable (including our monitors - need to put some screen shades up!) but I have a lovely testimonial from Sam & Sam to write up. Their wedding at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons was simply perfect - irrespective of the decidedly remarkable weather they had - and was a pleasure to photograph from start to finish. Dear Paul, Sarah and Michelle, Thank you all so much for all your hard work in producing our wedding photos. It truly was such an amazing, professional, friendly experience from start to finish. We actually talk more about you and the photos than we do our wedding day! Your attention to detail was exceptional and the whole service was faultless. It really really was the icing on the cake to make our dream wedding a reality. No doubt we'll be ordering more photos soon and look forward to seeing you next summer for some family portraits! Best wishes, Sam & Sam x Well, I must admit to looking forward to that family portrait session - loved working with these guys! Take care Cheers P. ## Wedding Photography ### [9 People, 3 Social Bubbles, 2 Michelin Stars, 1 Romance, No Problem](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2020/08/michelin-star-wedding-photography/) ### A Year Like No Other for Wedding Photography Well, there's no doubt at all that this is a year like no other - at least for wedding photographers! I'll be honest: I truly hate the platitudes of 'unprecedented year' or 'the new normal'. To me, these seem to trivialise the emotions and life changes that everyday people are having to go through - particularly if you happen to be a couple who were hoping to get married. We are so lucky to have built incredible relationships with our clients and the venues that our clients use. And I really do mean incredible relationships. We have felt every bit of their frustrations this year and we have done everything we can to stay positive and driven and, with a little luck (and maybe a vaccine!) we'll get ourselves through this thing. ### One of Our Favourite Wedding Venues One venue that we have always had a wonderful relationship with is Belmond's Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons. This simply incredible 'restaurant with rooms' (as Raymond Blanc OBE likes to refer to it) has been our venue of choice for weddings and celebrations for about 14 years now - we love everything about it. And, more importantly, we love every-one who works there. Simply the very best of the very best. So it came as no surprise that as soon as the restrictions allowed, the first post-covid-lockdown wedding for us was at this incredible venue. The team down there threw everything they had at it - the setting was pristine, the service was second to none and the food? Well the food was as you'd expect: utterly, utterly divine. And the PPE that the front-of-house service wore was almost invisible. At no time did it feel that they were restricted in any way and, yet, they took everyone's safety so seriously: it's just that the hotel made the bold and brilliant choice in their face masks - ultra clear and without a head band. From a distance (actually, even from close up) you could barely tell there was a layer of polypropylene between you and 2-Michelin starred service. The PPE was so good, in fact, that we have invested in the same product for us here at the studio! It's great because you can still see expressions and make out words but is also completely protective. ### A Romance Story: Two People, One Perfect Day Of course, though, the venue and their service are only a part of the story of a wedding. At the end of the day, it's a story of two people coming together for the rest of their lives. And for a wedding photographer, the process of capturing that joy no matter what the restrictions are is what it's all about. And Claire and Ed could not have brought more joy, excitement and humour to their day. They clung on to the date for all they were worth, refusing point-blank to move it. And thank goodness they did or I would have missed out on a truly memorable day. A day that I will remember and talk about probably for the rest of my career. Stories of laughter (Claire and I had a pre-wedding-day phone call that lasted an hour or more simply because we couldn't stop laughing), stories of surprise (when we found out last-minute that we could have a little pre-recorded music for Claire to walk into and the somelier recognised her description of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel something or other" and instantly plugged an iPhone into the sound-system and flooded the rooms with the beautiful melody), stories of service (I am used to Le Manoir's exceptional team, but Jenny from the Events Team, Karen on Front Of House, the chefs and, well, everyone pulled something truly awesome out of the bag), stories of wedding photography (Ed's dad turning up with two Nikon 850's fully loaded with pro-spec lenses - but his wife couldn't get to grips with them!), stories of laughter (bride, mum and sister in hysterics as they prepared for the big day), stories of floristry (Sofia at Le Manoir produced the most incredible display!) and ultimately stories of romance (simply being around Claire and Ed, the bride and groom, was infectious.) Oh, and we observed the safety constraints every step of the way - even the group shots were done in their bubbles! ### The Wonderful People Behind the Scenes #### All credit to the team - Event Coordinator: Jenny Turner, Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons - Front Of House: Karen Gruet, Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons - Flowers: Sofia Hogarth, Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons - Wedding Gown: Bride By Aster - Hair and Makeup: Claire Hanson, Mach Management - Wedding Photography: Me! Paul Wilkinson One or two of their images would look stunning in a frame! But hey, I would say that wouldn't I? What more can I say? Enjoy a few images from this utterly incredible day. ### [A Stunning Late Autumn Wedding In Somerset!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/01/natural-light-autumn-wedding-somerset/) Photography isn't the easy living some people imagine. Long hours. Hard work. My knees take a real beating! And there's that constant nagging doubt: am I being creative enough? And yet I love it. Even if it does require industrial amounts of Neurofen and caffeine. This year is exciting. We've booked more weddings than ever before. We cap ourselves at 25, and beyond that we're selective about what we take on. There's a reason we do this. Every wedding is completely unique. Yes, there's a recognisable pattern - just like songs all follow a similar structure but sound entirely different. We want time with each couple. We want to get to know them a little. We want the experience they have with us to feel as personal and special as their day itself. Otherwise, what's the point? I've always believed you have to genuinely care about the bride and groom to shoot a wedding properly. You can't just go through the motions. We certainly don't. With Isabella and Simon, we couldn't have cared more. I'd worked with Isabella when she was part of the Le Manoir events team. Being asked to photograph her wedding to Simon was an absolute honour. Such a thrill! I started at the Manor House Hotel in Castle Combe, where Isabella was getting ready. Walking up to the front of this beautiful venue, I had to smile. There was a scarlet E-Type Jag parked right there. I knew it was going to be a good day. And it was. Romance in spades. Gorgeous venues. And the light - wow, the light! Beautiful, beautiful wintery light. For this intimate autumn wedding, the natural light wedding photography was absolutely stunning. Late autumn light has a quality you simply can't manufacture - that soft, golden warmth mixed with the crispness of the season. It's the sort of English garden wedding photography light that makes you fall in love with the craft all over again. I absolutely adored this wedding. Enjoy these pictures from the day. ### [Amrit & Mark's Hedsor House Wedding](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/05/hedsor-house-wedding-photography/) ### Amrit & Mark's Hedsor House Wedding I'll be honest - we don't normally blog a wedding before the bride and groom have seen the full set of images. To say we are careful with our clients' images would be an understatement. But having just come off the phone with Amrit, who asked me to share some of the photos (I think she's getting a lot of requests!), I'm breaking our normal rule. And they're a lovely set to share. Amrit and Mark's wedding day at Hedsor House was spellbinding and exhausting in roughly equal measure. The venue acted as the perfect backdrop for this wedding, which was a real fusion of European and Asian influences. The colours were to die for - and so was the dancing. From the minute I walked into the bridal suite and found Amrit and Cimmie, her daughter, chilling out and laughing as they watched the arrival - and subsequent selfie antics - of one or two of the guests through the window, I figured it would be a lot of fun. Given the pre-wedding shoot (a bottle of champagne was involved), I knew this would be an amazing day to be part of, and so it proved to be. What struck me most about this Hedsor House wedding photography was the sheer variety of moments to capture. Amrit changed into a sensational green sari after dinner, which is a photographer's dream - a bride who looked stunning in white all day and then looked, if it's possible, even more beautiful in a different outfit for the evening. The look on Mark's face when she walked in was priceless; he had no idea she was going to switch. That's the kind of colourful wedding photography moment you live for - genuine emotion, gorgeous colour, and a story unfolding in real time. We have so many pictures to choose from it's untrue. I didn't really know where to start for the blog, but selecting images from a luxury venue wedding like this one is always a pleasure. The light at Hedsor House is stunning, and the architecture gives you so much to work with as a documentary wedding photography style photographer. Every corner offers something beautiful. The energy throughout the day was infectious. As a wedding photographer near me in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, I've photographed plenty of celebrations, but the fusion of traditions here created something really special. The Bhangra dancing was particularly memorable - joyful, energetic, and absolutely brilliant to document. I just happened to catch the perfect end-of-evening moment when I stuck my head round the door of the dance floor to find one guest completely flaked out after his particularly energetic Bhangra moves had proved to be maybe a little too exuberant. From a photographer's view, it was the perfect full stop to this beautiful Hedsor House wedding. I can't wait to show more images, but until then, here's quite a large selection. Enjoy! ### [Andrea and Tom's Castle Combe Wedding](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/11/andrea-and-toms-castle-combe-wedding/) Andrea and Tom's wedding was the first time I've worked in Castle Combe but it's not the last: coincidentally, we had a wonderful engagement shoot the following day, the bridal preparations for another wedding and another stunning wedding yet to come next year! It goes like that sometimes: prior to this day, I had barely heard of the Manor House Hotel in this stunning Cotswold village and I will soon have worked there four times in less than half a year! And I have to say that is a very very good thing as this is one hell of a location! It is STUNNING! Andrea and Tom's wedding was equally as beautiful. And I absolutely loved it. Andrea and Tom didn't want much in the way of formal images (which is to say, they didn't really want ANY formal images if we could get away with it) and so we kept the formalities to a bare minimum and had the best day laughing with them, their family and their guests! So many stories from the day: you should ask me about the emotional service animal letter and hotel guest's dog who not only insisted on following me around but went to the loo practically on my shoes (and they're Churches!); a perfect first dance; a bandstand for some images in the rain and a relative of the couple performing the most unfathomable card tricks for some of the guests. Such a fabulous day. Just to say thanks so much for the fantastic photos of our wedding. We are absolutely thrilled. Your speed, professionalism and sense of humour put everyone at ease and this really shows! You have managed to capture the essence of our day brilliantly and it is so lovely to think that in years to come our photos will bring back such happy memories. Thank you. Andrea & Tom ### [Ben and Amy: A Wedding To Remember](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/12/ben-and-amy-a-wedding-to-remember/) As a wedding photographer, I like to make sure I know where I am headed for my clients' Big Day in advance - so I can plan and prepare those perfect photographs in my head before the hustle and bustle of the ceremony. So you can imagine my surprise when the lovely Ben and Amy told me they were getting married in a field. Luckily, I am never one to shy away from a challenge! So myself and Rachel (my fabulous second camera for the day) took off in search for this field on Ben and Amy's wedding day - giving ourselves plenty of time to do what we call a scout for great shots. Good thing we had given ourselves lots of time too - we couldn't find the place! Until we came across the father of the groom hoisting up a sign that said "Wedding this way." Edward is a good friend of Paul Wilkinson Photography - he and his family have been to our studios many of times, so I was absolutely thrilled when I was asked to take photos at his son's wedding. Edward directed us to said "field" that his son would be wed in - and, oh my goodness, it was stunning. In the middle of this beautiful meadow - surrounded by woodland and rolling greenery - stood a magnificent cluster of yurts. They were complete with soft fairy lights, hay bales for guests outside, it was beautiful - even in the morning sun. The interior was also fantastic, with chandeliers and stunning table displays. There was a hole at the top of the yurt - covered in plastic in case of a downpour (which thankfully never came) - that was letting in the soft natural daylight. And with delicate lights all the way around the side - as a photographer - you know it's going to be incredible. It's just going to be absolutely beautiful to photograph. I couldn't wait to get started. ##### The most magical start to a wedding So with the much needed scout of the stunning venue complete, we headed over to the hotel in which the bride Amy and groom Ben were getting ready for the biggest day of their lives. To my surprise - their rooms were literally exactly opposite each other in the same corridor. While this meant we had to be super careful not to allow the bride or groom to catch a glimpse of each other - it did open the opportunity for me to be in two places at one time! Thanks to this, we managed to get these great pictures in the rooms - and some of the funniest groomsmen pictures that I have ever taken (Ben ironing his shirt...) And then there are these beautiful pictures of the bride getting ready. There was a real quality to the light in the room that just made it enchanting. Then just as we were about to leave for the yurt, I got them into the entrance lounge of the hotel. As a wedding photographer, you're always looking for something that is different to anything you've done before. And I believe these shots are exactly that. It really was the most magical start to a wedding. ##### It's the little things! Then, the usual panic ensues. Getting from the hotel to the yurt where the ceremony would be held was tight on time. Thankfully this is where Rachel, my "second camera" for the day, comes to our rescue! While I am taking the last one or two shots of the bride before she sets off to marry the love of her life, Rachel is already at the venue - taking snaps of guests arriving, mingling and capturing the excitement of the day ahead. I've been in the wedding photography world for 10 years now, and I have learned many little tips and tricks that have really helped me be the best photographer I can be for my clients' big day. One of these (I won't be divulging all of them!) is that I always, always make sure I introduce myself to the vicar, priest or registrar who is in charge of the wedding ceremony itself. This way, they know who I am, and I can ensure they are happy with what I will be doing during the procedures. It's important there is a mutual respect in this - so they can do their job and I can do mine! (But we'll come back to this in a second...) Then, just behind me, the bride arrives in a camper van with her mum in the driver's seat. Talk about a unique entrance! It was perfect - there was a palpable excitement in the air. The congregation are seated and you can tell they are just beside themselves with anticipation. It was a lovely moment to be a part of. Then as Amy comes in, you can see the look on the Ben's face - and it's at this moment that you really feel a part of something special. The day they'd both been dreaming of for months and months was coming true. So in all of these pictures you're just collecting these precious moments, and it was just a mesmorising ceremony. So beautiful, so gentle. I like to think we captured the essence of it in our photos. Then of course, it all erupts into confetti and cheers and laughter and music. We took our group shots which was a lot of fun - especially when the vicar pulled out his professional SLR camera and started to steal my shots! Laughter from myself and the groups was hard to contain I swiftly reminded him of our previous conversation about not treading on toes! It was just hilarious and meant we got some fantastic, natural photos of genuine smiles and laughter - so I guess I owe the vicar one after all. ##### A note to newlyweds to be... Something that really stood out for me - and something I would recommend to anyone getting married and looking for a high-end wedding photographer - was that Amy and Ben had made time and arrangements for their photos as a newlywed couple. Too often at a wedding, although the couple have paid a lot of money for you to be there and to get the magical once-in-a-lifetime shots, they don't necessarily want to set aside loads of time to do it. Your wedding day is very compressed, there so much going on. But it makes a huge difference when a couple utilise the short amount of time we do have well - and that's exactly what Amy and Ben had done. So they lead me to this beautiful woodland scene, which they had already dressed it with fairy lights, had a swing on the branch of a tree and it was just a privilege to have that kind of access. We didn't take an awful lot of time, but we sure made the most of it. We scooped them away from the crowd and took the most glorious pictures using the fairy lights in the backdrop - it was everything you could wish it to be. This one has to be my absolute favourite - possibly from the whole day. ##### The "just one more" photograph of the day The day just evolves from here and it is just wonderful. It was one of those unforgettable experiences as a photographer. Then our time with Ben and Amy had come to an end. Rachel and I got put everything back in its bag, said goodnight to everyone, and walked back to our Land Rover, pack everything away - we were officially done for today. But then, I look out of the windscreen, just about to turn the engine on. I am looking back across the field and the yurt is just breathtaking. It was like something out of a fairytale. All the lights that are inside it, all the fairy lights around it were glowing in this perfect evening sky. And you just know that if you drive away and don't take a beautiful picture of that final scene, you will forever regret it. So, sure enough, I made poor Rachel wait while I climb back out of the car, open up the boot, open up the bags, put the camera back together and took just a couple of night time pictures of this exquisite scene glowing in the September sunset, unbeknownst to the celebrations and festivities happening inside. It really was a spectacular day - just perfect. ##### A wedding photographer's dream day I have to say, this wedding really was an absolute joy to photograph. When shooting such a momentous occasion in someone's life, to capture the memories in photos that will be passed down through generations, it pays to take that extra bit of care. By having two cameras present, by getting that "something different" shot - and by never being off the job... even at the end of the shoot! It makes such a difference and can result in some fantastic photos your family will look back on forever. Are you looking for a wedding photographer? Please get in touch with me and my team today to learn more about the services we offer to make your big day timeless. Until next time, Paul. See more photos from Ben and Amy's Wedding... ### [Doreen & George's Le Manoir Wedding](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/08/doreen-and-georges-le-manoir-wedding/) #### It's Such A Pleasure! Ah, this job is always a joy so imagine the excitement when one of the people we have worked with regularly over the years is getting married - particularly when it's a Le Manoir wedding too! ### [Emily and Javan's Wedding Album (And A Few Lovely Words!)](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/09/emily-and-javans-wedding-album-and-a-few-lovely-words/) It's been crazy in the studio this month and not only with the photography: it's been buzzing daily with excited couples coming to see their wedding images or pick up their finished albums, as well as frames arriving (and departing!) and people just popping in for a cup of tea and a chat about what they'd like. In the midst of all this, we're steadily working our way through the album designs for the weddings we've photographed through the year. This is one of my favourite parts of my role as it's a nice moment for me to sit and go through the images we created and put them together in a way that best tells the story of the day (as well as looking beautiful of course!) so keep an eye on the blog for these as we will be sharing a few. Emily and Javan's album (see below) is going to be a stunning album for them to treasure - it was a beautiful day from start to end and I think it reflects that throughout: you can see just how much affection everyone has for this amazing couple. Emily has sent us this lovely quote: Thank you so much for our beautiful wedding photos. I cannot accurately describe just how much we love them! We are very definitely NOT ‘photo people’ and if I'm completely honest, we were dreading our-pre wedding shoot. So imagine our surprise when we had a brilliant day and, even better, the photos were stunning - I actually got a bit tearful when I saw them for the first time. After that we were so excited about our wedding photographs and you exceeded our expectations. You made the whole process easy and everyone at our wedding loved you. Your kindness and sense of humour put even the most nervous guests at ease and it was so much fun to have you there on the day. You managed to capture every important moment without ever interrupting or intruding and I cannot tell you what it means to us to have those photos of our closest friends and family. We can’t wait to receive our wedding album – we will treasure it forever. Thank you as well for all the extra care you took of us – details like the signature frame, the wonderful slideshows set to music, providing lunch at the studio so we could take as long as we needed to choose our album photos, and giving us spare copies of the DVD with all the photos and the slideshow on so our families could have a copy each. These extra details made all the difference and made the experience completely perfect. I've already lost count of how many times my mum and mum-in-law have watched the slideshow! Which, honestly, made us all here a little emotional! And if you'd like to see way, have a look through some of the album pages below. Enjoy! Take care Cheers P. x ### [Emma & Richard: Commuting Coincidence Leads To Romantic London Wedding!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/02/commuting-leads-to-romantic-london-wedding/) Emma and Richard's eyes met across a London Tube as they commuted to work. Little did they foresee that, three years later, this would lead to them getting married at the most romantic London wedding! #### The Most Romantic London Wedding I so love this story. A story so romantic and unexpected that it could be the plot for a movie. Richard, a lawyer, is calm - calm and smart. You'd like him to be your lawyer more than you'd wish him to be facing you across the table. Emma, an urban planner, is equally switched on. And likes to dance. Scrub that, she LOVES to dance. They both shared the same Tube ride to work across London. Richard's eyes fell on Emma and they never really left. After six weeks of sharing this same journey (but never actually speaking: even Emma's own diary entry gives Richard the nickname 'Awkward Train Guy' - subsequently simplified to 'ATG'! Eventually Richard did pluck up the courage to hop off at Emma's stop and ask if she'd maybe like a coffee. Actually, as he recalls, he started the conversation with 'I don't know what I'm doing...' Well, if he didn't know what he was doing, he did a pretty good job of it as, three years later, we're at the Landmark London Hotel in Marylebone photographing the most romantic wedding imaginable! And it's lucky that he asked on the day he did as that, as it turned out, was her final day in her job. If he had left it just one more day, they would never have seen each other again. And a final footnote: Richard asked if Emma would like to go for a coffee (because, of course, that's what you do.) She agreed and that's precisely what they did: they went for a coffee. Which is ironic given that neither of them can stand the stuff - when they're at the studio they only ever drink water! Gotta love fate huh? ### [Hannah & Mark's Wedding Photography at Blenheim Palace](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/02/hannah-marks-wedding-photography-at-blenheim-palace/) So it's been a little while since I've written a blog but, hopefully, you're enjoying the new design of our website and blog - lots to see and plenty of ways to find posts about particular venues, suppliers and various photographic flavours. A huge effort (I've possibly typed more in the past few weeks than ever before - just nothing that would make interesting reading, at least not to anyone other than website coders!) but, with any luck, a nicer place to browse! So here are some images from a sublime day creating wedding photography at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire. I've known Hannah for many years now - she is one of the amazing teachers at one of Haddenham's unbeatable schools and has taught both of our kids - so it was an absolute pleasure to be asked to photograph her wedding. It's not every day you get to create wedding images at such a huge and iconic venue as Blenheim And what a wedding! It's not every day you get to create wedding images at such a huge and iconic venue as Blenheim (couldn't stop thinking of the Hollywood blockbusters that have been filmed there!) and with a bride and groom who laughed from start to finish, guests who made me feel incredibly welcome (apologies to the lovely teachers who I sat with for the wedding breakfast - I am a terrible guest as I had to keep leaping up, mid conversation, to capture an image or two!) and a venue that, well, took the breath away. And all of it happened in near-perfect weather too (even the evening clouds created just the right amount of character to the sky!) Oh, and yes, I ended up in one of my own photos... Enjoy! ### [Huifen & Kelvin's Le Manoir Wedding](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/01/huifen-kelvins-le-manoir-wedding/) Huifen and Kelvin's wedding is one of our favourite Le Manoir Weddings of all time! Simply beautiful! It's a brand new shiny year, all gleaming and unsullied. A bit like a new car, you know the sort of thing; you're still unfamiliar with its layout and controls but it's exciting and slightly daunting to climb behind the wheel (and with that "brand new car" smell thrown in for good measure!) That's how 2015 feels right now. This year is looking to be really quite a year ahead and we have much to talk about; being Chair of the Master Photographer's Association is absorbing much of my time, though it's a real thrill; I am co-writing a book ('Mastering Portrait Photography') that will be out in the autumn; we have the most incredible diary of weddings and portraits and our we're growing our team here at the studio. I can't remember the last time I felt so excited about the dawning of a new year. I can't remember the last time I felt so excited about the dawning of a new year. And this is one of our favourite weddings from last year: Huifen and Kelvin's Le Manoir wedding. It was such a beautifully sunny day that was rich with colour and joy! We started out with an absolutely stunning Tea Ceremony (Huifen looked incredible in her traditional scarlet dress) and then moved over to the more familiar format at Le Manoir. Even Raymond Blanc popped in to say "hello" too as he often does which always makes our clients smile! Utterly glorious. One of my favourite images of the whole year is that of Kelvin exuberantly toasting with his friends and family; the sheer joy of the moment is captivating! So here's to a very Happy New Year to all of you, our clients and our friends, we are all very much looking forward to working with you! Paul and the team. ### [Jane and Stewart: Two's Company At Le Manoir...](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/11/twos-company-at-le-manoir/) ##### A very good year! It's been a lovely day today - but then, life at the moment is pretty cool all round: I don't remember ever having more fun working with clients or creating images! It was unexpectedly warm today which was an added bonus for creating family portraits out in the sunshine. However, cast your minds back a month to this time in October and it was even warmer - so much so, that creating images outside was a warm and uncoated affair! That was particularly lucky for Jane and Stewart's wedding as, with only the two of them there, it would have been a shame if the weather had meant we couldn't photograph them as it wasn't an option to go and socialise with a big crowd of celebratory guests! Their wedding was simply stunning. I met them first in one of Le Manoir's warm and welcoming lounges where they were having a glass of wine and just chilling out before they tied the knot. I always think this is a wonderful way to spend your wedding day. I know it is a tradition - though goodness knows where that particular tradition originated - to be separated on the day of your wedding, however, I do think it's a lovely thing to spend the whole day together! The weather was beautiful and I'd already taken some pictures of this picturesque venue on my way in and, once we had the bride and groom out in the sunshine, it was always going to result in some wonderful images! ##### A Simply Beautiful Le Manoir Wedding The wedding was simple and romantic - two things that the Le Manoir wedding team does magnificently well! Simple, romantic and just the two of them. Well, OK, just the two of them, plus me, two registrars and Rui and Lucy from Le Manoir to act as witnesses! Apart from that, just the two of them! Luckily the registrars (Michael and Julia in this case) are some of the nicest in the business - full of humour and laughter as well as the necessary officialdom - and so the ceremony was gentle, joyous and romantic. Simple and romantic - two things that the Le Manoir wedding team does magnificently well! Such a beautiful day, such a lovely couple! One of the things that made me laugh was, as they wished to send some pictures from the day to their family, I was required to take some on their iPhone for sending out later in the evening. So, I had to put my camera down and act like a regular plugged-in guest and use Apple's finest so they had some they could send out during their meal. Funny. Sp, here are just a few of the images (and no, none of these is from the iPhone) to have a look through. Enjoy! ### [Jim & Caroline's Wedding at the Crazy Bear - A Testimonial](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/05/jim-and-caroline-testimonial__trashed/) Jim and Caroline's wedding was one of those joyous celebrations that we've always loved to photograph. Lovely people, perfect wedding venue. We've just had this wonderful note back from them and, with their permission, I'm very pleased to share it (it's made me smile all morning!) Jim and I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Paul Wilkinson Photography. We have had our wedding album for a few weeks now and we are both absolutely thrilled with it. Paul really managed to capture the atmosphere in every photograph and as you look through the album, you are taken right back to the day in a way that I didn't think was possible. The pre-wedding shoot proved to be particularly helpful as we felt that we got to know Paul well enough to feel at ease on the actual wedding day. His ability to make us and our guests feel relaxed whilst being photographed is a real gift, as well as the way he just blended into the background giving him the opportunity to take the many candid photo's that we asked for. Being someone that really hates (with a passion) being photographed, I think that Paul really had his work cut out. Photographing a wedding with a Bride that does not want to pose must be hugely difficult, but the photo's have turned out beautifully natural, far far better than I could have hoped for. Jim on the other hand, thoroughly enjoyed posing with his entourage and those photo's are just amazing. The slideshow to music was a wonderful surprise and the thoughtfulness of including some of the songs that were played at crucial times during the day really transports you back as if you were there all over again. Having been given a number of dvd's of the slideshow we were able to give them to key members of the wedding party as a keepsake which was lovely. From our first meeting, right through to choosing the photo's for the album, we could not have been made to feel more special with everyone going out of their way to accommodate us. Thank you once again to Paul, Michelle and Sarah for giving us an everlasting memory of our wedding day which we will enjoy and cherish for many years to come. With our best and warmest regards What a lovely thing to hear! ### [John-Oliver And Cara: How To Make The Most Of Rain On Your Wedding Day](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/12/john-oliver-and-cara-how-to-make-the-most-of-rain-on-your-wedding-day/) Although it may seem a lifetime ago now, cast your mind back to this summer, 2018 - the seemingly never-ending heatwave that made headlines across the UK. So you can imagine John-Oliver and Cara's August wedding was expected to be a scorcher - champagne on the lawn, guests fanning themselves in the late summer sun. Well, it was none of that. It might actually be one of the wettest weddings I have ever photographed! A couple of days before the wedding - when we realised the weather forecast effectively said "drowning!" - the groom John-Oliver rang us up to see what the plan was now. They remained very calm and we hopefully reassured them that we knew what to do - and despite Alanis Morissette's best efforts to make us dread such an occurrence, it was the most magical wedding. I don't think the bride and groom stopped smiling the entire day. ##### A very wet shave So I turn up at the Oxford hotel the bride and groom are getting ready in, and it's raining so hard that by the time I get inside I'm already soaked through - there's just water bouncing everywhere. Unlike most weddings - as well as getting the preparation shots - I was due to go across the road with the groom and best man to photograph them having have a proper old-school, lying on a chair, hot towels cut-throat razor wet shave. The three of us walk in the now torrential rain to the barbers, and get absolutely drenched. So I know that's me damp for the rest of the day! But it really was worth it, because the shots of him having his wet shave and chatting are just really special, and it's a nice, slow, easy build up to the day ahead. After this, I went back to the hotel to meet with the bride. ##### The wedding preparations Cara and her bridal party are getting ready: there's makeup, hairspray, nail varnish - and then there's her dress hanging on the back of a door. There are lots of different styles of wedding dresses and lots of different styles of brides - generally they marry up (pardon the pun). But with Cara, she is quite quiet, very beautiful, with a gentle and calm presence. Yet the dress she'd chosen was really quite sensual. I knew she'd look a million dollars and there wouldn't be a single pair of eyes not just captivated by her when she walked in in this dress. I think one of my favourite photos and moments of the day was the first time I saw her in it. She was absolutely breathtaking. At this point, I know it's going to absolutely break John-Oliver when he sees his wife-to-be in this dress - he's going to be speechless. I just know it. And so I make a mental note to myself to ensure I get the shot when he first sets eyes on her - because it is going to be one of those once-in-a-lifetime moments. ##### A gift from the bride to her husband to be I then spent some time with John-Oliver and his groomsmen to get some lovely shots with those guys. I was lucky enough to be there for one of the most special moments of the day. I know say I use the word privilege quite a lot - but as a wedding photographer, you are stepping inside people's lives with a camera - on the most important, most emotional day of their lives. They give you this access - not just to the pictures, but to their feelings and emotions, too. It feels like a tremendous honour to be involved in people;s lives like this. Cara had gotten her husband-to-be a wedding gift - the most stunning watch and a note alongside it. John-Oliver was visibly moved by this, it was very emotional. He then proceeded to show it off to everybody, like the bride would show off a wedding ring. It was a great moment to be able to capture and be a part of. ##### You can't rain on their parade! We now need to think about getting the bride and groom to their venue - the fantastic Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons - without them getting completely ruined by the torrential rain. But as with everything, there are tricks and you can always figure these things out! Everything is set up and ready to go - and the groom has made it safely (and relatively dry!), now waiting for his bride to come in. This is another favourite shot of mine from the day. This beautiful bride walking in to her wedding, with the heavens just opening on her. Her head is up, she has the biggest smile on her face, and she has a team of people around her keeping her dry. It really says she is about to marry the love of her life and she won't let a bit of rain stop her! I mentioned earlier that I wanted to make sure I got that shot of John-Oliver setting eyes on his bride for the first time - so I run back to ensure I don't miss my moment. We can't always get this shot because of angles, but today it was perfect. I positioned myself and waited for the second he turned his head to see Cara walking up. I managed to capture that moment that he saw her for the first time, which is just amazing when you get to do - because that's the thing he'll remember for the rest of his life - and I know that because he's told me! When John-Oliver came back to see the pictures, that was the moment that he broke into tears. He just knows that he'll remember that split second that he saw his beautiful wife-to-be for the first time on their wedding day. Saw the way she looked, how excited she was, and saw what she was wearing as well! He just knew how special all of this was. And as a wedding photographer, I am beyond happy that I was able to capture this moment for him. ##### Getting best photos when it rains on your wedding day It's never easy to get outdoor shots at a wedding when it's torrential, but we managed to make the most of it and got some fantastic shots. We'd wait for natural breaks in the rain and rush outside, ensuring the bride and groom were under umbrellas and we had towels for underneath her dress. We also used huge open doors into the garden as a backdrop - which meant it looks like you are outside but actually sheltered. It's all these little tricks you pick up after years in wedding photography that make such a difference to the shots we get. And I think we managed to take some magical shots for John-Oliver and Cara - a couple so in love it's untrue. One lovely little touch was that towards the end of the evening, John-Oliver and Cara presented me with a very special bottle of wine just to say thank you for everything myself, Sarah and my team had done. It's always touching when that happens, because you try so hard to make their day flawless. You try so hard to make sure you've done everything they've asked for. You try so hard to create these images that will be with them for the rest of their lives. To be thanked even at a point where they hadn't even seen the pictures, says that the service and the care and attention that we've put into it was acknowledged and that little thank you meant the absolute world to us. So, thank you John-Oliver and Cara. It was a privilege to capture the memories of your wedding day - and for giving me the opportunity to take some of the most beautiful pictures I've ever taken. The Paul Wilkinson team wish you a lifetime of happiness. Are you looking for a wedding photographer? Please with me and my team today to learn more about the services we offer to make your big day timeless. Until next time, Paul. See more photos from John-Oliver and Cara's Wedding... ### [Kate and Darrell's Wedding At The Crazy Bear In Beaconsfield](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/11/kate-darrells-wedding-crazy-bear-beaconsfield/) #### A Weird Time. Really? Christmas tunes are already playing on the TV adverts and Donald Trump is the 45th President Of The United States Of America. Not sure quite what leaves me more bemused - the craziness that is Christmas or the fact our place in the world as the owner of Brexit has been unexpectedly usurped by someone claiming to have developed Brexit-plus-plus-plus (is it just me or does that no sound like something you'd get at the pharmacist for a migraine ("be aware this drug may leave you with discomfort and unpredictable side-effects".) The Crazy Bear is one of THE coolest venues for a wedding! It has been an incredible year this one, on more fronts than you can imagine, and we have had the privilege of creating images with some absolutely amazing people from one side of the globe to the other but, in the end, my favourite places to be working are all much closer to home - and it's a real joy when I get to shoot wedding photography at the Crazy Bear! ##### Wedding Photography At The Crazy Bear I talk about The Crazy Bear as if it's singular but, in fact, there are three of them (Oxford, London, Beaconsfield) each with their own unique flavour, each of them glorious! Kate and Darrell had their wedding in Beaconsfield which, it has to be said, is one of the coolest venues .you could step foot in (you should go - there really isn't another venue like this!) So many fantastic memories from this day from the girls getting ready to the emotions of the ceremony and the hilarity of the speeches. But, and maybe I'm being selfish here, I loved the twenty minutes we spent away from the crowd to create some images with just Kate and Darrell in this oh-so-funky venue! Loved this day; even a little rain didn't manage to dampen things. Actually, come to think of it, the rain DID manage to dampen things physically but it did nothing to dull the party atmosphere! Enjoy a few images from the day! ### [Laughter, Light & Love: Zöe & Aan Son's Wedding](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2025/04/laughter-light-love-zoe-aan-sons-wedding/) Some wedding days just buzz: you arrive, and within moments, you know you're in for something special. That was exactly the feeling as soon as we stepped into Zöe and Aan Son's day-sunlight pouring through the windows, dresses swinging on hangers, and the unmistakable sound of belly-laughter drifting down the corridors. My kind of day. From the soft morning light spilling into dressing rooms to the final golden sun on the lawn, the whole day was full of moments that made your heart squeeze and your shutter finger twitch. Zöe's dress hung beautifully against the cream wood panelling (with all the lace detail singing in the soft light), while the bridesmaids' blush-toned gowns caught that morning window glow just right. And I don't know who designed the suite Aan Son wore, but that pale blue was perfect against the garden greens later in the day. It's always a treat when you get an outdoor ceremony too. That little hush just before the music starts, a slight breeze in the bride's veil, guests glancing toward the trees as the bride appears... it's magic. Real, beautiful magic. And I have to say-their crew? Hilarious. That groomsmen shot on the steps was chaos in the best way. I love it when people forget the camera's there and just live. Friends throwing heads back in laughter, kids in oversized sun hats pulling faces, and that whole joyful confetti explosion with kids in the foreground throwing petals like they're trying to win gold at the Olympics. Yes please. The whole day had this rhythm-soft romantic portraits tucked away in secret gardens, mixed with spontaneous silliness on deckchairs or sneaky group shots between bubbles and beers. At one point, I turned round to see someone lounging with arms wide in a yellow deckchair, laughing at the sky like they'd just won the lottery. That is the wedding energy we want. Honestly, one of my favourite moments was the image of Zöe beneath her veil. Quiet, still, serene. There's something sacred about that moment of stillness before the world restarts. That, and the photo of her walking with her friends arm in arm, the sun giving them halos and lens flares. You could frame that on a wall and call it "joy". OK, a little corny but you get my drift Anyway, to Zöe & Aan Son-thank you. For trusting me, for laughing loudly, for choosing to get married outdoors (you brave, brilliant souls), and for surrounding yourselves with such incredible people. It was a blast from start to finish. And that is what weddings should be. ### [Lilah & Mark's Lovely Le Manoir Wedding (in spite of the rain!)](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/01/lilah-marks-lovely-le-manoir-wedding-in-spite-of-rain/) Well it's cold outside. Flippin' freezing. On the bright side, however, the sun is crashing in through the windows, bouncing off every surface here in the studio. Aesthetically magical but I am now surrounded by blackout blinds and monitor hoods to be able to colour correct images properly! Maybe I should just do the edits in the dark of night. what happens when it rains? Of course this is an exciting time of year for photographers as it's a welcome opportunity to get some much-neglected admin and updates sorted. I'm lucky here in that I have an entire team making sure we're up to date throughout the year but I still need to find the time to make website updates, clean up the brand and produce new portfolio books (you should see the new one that Meg has been working on - it looks stunning!) For those of you with a technical bet and sharp eyes, you may have noticed the website is now running over SSL (i.e. it's https: rather than http:) as well as having had a bit of tidy up so it's quicker and easier to navigate. Still more to do but it's nice to get it done - and hopefully Google will reward us for having gone to the effort! But it's not just for the IT-interested that this is a lovely time to be a photographer as this is when we see a steady stream of bookings for the year ahead - particularly for wedding photography. I get to meet new people and sit and hear about their day and how it might translate into photography and then into a wedding album and I love it. We've had two couples this week who have asked to be their photographer and I cannot wait! Going to be beautiful! But it's not just for the IT-interested that this is a lovely time to be a photographer as this is when we see a steady stream of bookings for the year ahead - particularly for wedding photography. I get to meet new people and sit and hear about their day and how it might translate into photography and then into a wedding album and I love it. We've had two couples this week who have asked to be their photographer and I cannot wait! Going to be beautiful! The wedding images below are from Lilah and Mark's stunning wedding at Le Manoir. Such a gorgeous day in spite of some fairly unpredictable weather! We are asked all the time what happens if it rains? Well, have a look below and see. It didn't rain throughout the day but it rained enough that a) we had to resort to umbrellas and an unplanned sprint back inside and b) I got a drenching! Good job the cameras are watertight! Rain brings other opportunities too: those broken clouds don't happen in quite the same way on a 'dry' day and they make for some fantastic images, particularly at dusk! And if you're wondering if I wonder into every restaurant kitchen with a camera then answer is a resounding 'no'! But Le Manoir is different and I've worked with this amazing team for a long time (I have photographed many of their weddings too!) so if you'd like to pop behind the scenes and say 'hello' it is nearly always possible! Ah, brings back memories of the summer and gives us a taste of weddings to come! Enjoy! ### [Loretta and John's Crazy Crazy Crazy Bear Wedding!](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2016/12/loretta-and-johns-crazy-crazy-crazy-bear-wedding/) It's the end of our most successful year to date by any measure which is a lovely thing to round 2016 off. Next year is looking even more exciting too so we're unbelievably excited about everything that is to come in 2017: more classic weddings at Le Manoir, more funky ones at the Crazy Bear, portrait shoots across the globe and closer to home and a wider variety of commercial photography than we've ever had before. So you can see why we're quite so upbeat! The Crazy Bear is a uniquely characterful venue for weddings! I am going to try and catch up with the many many blogs I haven't had time but this Crazy Bear wedding is certainly one to talk about: it's not every wedding that has quite such a party atmosphere and a helicopter trip in the middle. I loved Loretta and John from the first moment I met them - they made me laugh! Laughter is such an integral part of what we do here that it felt like we'd known them for a lifetime! The Crazy Bear is a uniquely characterful venue for weddings: full of golds and silvers, dark dark woods and inky-black leathers, mirrors mixed with Moroccan mayhem and world-class cuisine (particularly their Thai food!) But it also takes some experience to photograph it well too, to get the most out of the opportunities that it presents, to create beautiful images that somehow portray that inimitable atmosphere! However, the biggest challenge we had with Loretta and John's wedding was that we had been told Loretta had arranged a surprise helicopter trip for John but that no-one was to know about it until the aircraft arrived. Not so easy, given you need a fairly large space to land one and somehow we needed to have everyone outside for that moment but without them noticing that the staff at the Crazy Bear were on radio telecoms guiding the chopper in! So cue up me taking group-shot after group-shot after group-shot (they're not even my favourite of the standard wedding images) waiting for the very welcome sound of the helicopter blades as it finally approached! Luckily, I chattered away and no-one (except Loretta who thought it was hilarious) noticed! Such a wonderful day! And I got to see the area (including our home and studio) from the comfort of a chopper. Brilliant! ### [Melanie & Peter's Summer Outdoor Wedding At Le Manoir](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2013/08/melanie-peters-summer-outdoor-wedding-at-le-manoir/) I'm writing this on a Monday morning as I'm about to head off to photograph one of the Le Manoir team flying a vintage aircraft (one of the many and brilliant 'experiences' you can have while staying at this beautiful hotel) and it struck me that it's been a heck of weekend! Mind you, it's not that the week before was any quieter, or that the week ahead will be any less so, but I have to admit, I rather like it that way. 10 years ago as London commuter, I used to dread Mondays: the early start; the monotony of the platform pacing; the 'back to it' mentality. Now? Well, now I love Mondays as they mark the start of another week of excitement. ### Melanie & Peter's Wedding I am not exaggerating when I refer to it as 'perfect', I really don't think there is anything you could have changed This particular couple, Melanie and Peter, came in this Saturday to see the pictures from their practically-perfect summer outdoor wedding at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and it brought back the whole experience of their day. I am not exaggerating when I refer to it as 'perfect', I really don't think there is anything you could have changed (oh, except for me knocking the front wing of my Land Rover on a deceptively-close wall when I arrived to photograph Peter and his family having a pre-wedding drink at a pub. Now, that, I would have changed if I could!) The weather was absolutely glorious (though I am not sure that Peter and his best man predicted quite how warm their exquisitely tailored tweed suits would be) which meant they could be married in Le Manoir's summer-house: a stunning way to do it, with the sun glinting through the trees. Melanie, Peter, the crowd, the weather, the location, the dress, the suits, the food, the croque-en-bouche, the atmosphere. Perfect. All of it. Simply perfect. And so, after several hours of decidedly determined deliberation (and a tasty lunch - we do look after our clients!) they have selected a set of images that will make a simply beautiful big album full of classic 'hero' images and a whole heap of story-telling too! ### Enjoy Some Images Can't wait to share the final designs! Until then, here are just a few: ### And These Lovely People Made It Possible Venue: Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons Hair and Makeup: Jodie from the Claire Hanson team Wedding Dress: "The Dress" in Teddington Flowers: Emma Walker Bride's Headpiece: Gillian Million ### [Penny and Jon's Wedding At Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/06/penny-jons-wedding-at-le-manoir/) Some weddings are small, some are big: all are unique and emotional. This wedding, at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, was a wonderful blend of intimacy and laughter! ##### Incredible Weddings! I have just arrived home having had a long drive back down from Scotland with my wife, Sarah. A long drive because of the 450 miles - not because it was with my wife I should add! We have been up photographing the most beautiful wedding but I'll be honest, eight hours in a Land Rover Defender - much as I love that car - does take it out of you! We have photographed some of my all time favourite weddings this year, many of them at Le Manoir or the Crazy Bear but a fair few further afield (though, thankfully, not too many involving entire days sitting in the Land Rover!) ##### A Perfect Wedding At Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons Penny and Jon's wedding at Le Manoir was perfect: an small and intimate affair with just their closest friends and family around them to help celebrate. A wedding at Le Manoir, I think, is pretty much perfect - particularly if it's a small and intimate wedding like this one (though it does the large, exclusive events exceptionally well too!) with it's range of small, licensed rooms in which you can tie the knot and its unsurpassable team making sure every detail (and I do mean every detail) is taken care of. Penny, well, Penny looked gorgeous - her smile just radiated through the day. Brides are always beautiful of course, but there really was something quite magical about Penny and her infectious joy to be marrying Jon. A little hair and makeup magic from our lovely friend Claire at Mach Management didn't go amiss of course! This wedding was in one of my favourite rooms at the venue: Blanc De Blanc, a splendidly confident room in every shade you can imagine - as long as every shade you're imagining is a shade of white! And with simply stunning flowers from the gorgeous Fabulous Flowers team, the floral details were always going to look incredible. With such a small wedding, it's lovely to spend so much time with everyone and we made the most of it, from the getting-ready to the going-home and a whole lot in between! ##### A Storm In A Wine Glass The weather wasn't exactly kind - anything but - but at least the multiple deluges happened while we were all safely ensconced indoors. Thankfully, it did little to dampen things (forgive the pun) and it also had the very happy result of creating incredible light and drama in the sky: we even had a glorious rainbow under which to photograph Penny and Jon (though I had to make sure with the Bradley and the team in the kitchen that I wasn't going to screw up the timings if I dragged the couple away from their dinner!) Simply perfect. ##### So Many Amazing People! Weddings are wonderful for bringing people together. It was a privilege to be a part of this world-class team! - Location: Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons, Oxfordshire - Flowers: Fabulous Flowers, Oxford - Hair and Makeup: Mach Management - Cake: Princess Patisserie - Photography: Paul Wilkinson Photography ### [Styled Wedding Shoot at Nether Winchendon House](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/05/styled-wedding-shoot-at-nether-winchendon-house/) ###### A speculative phone call, a serendipitous slot in the diary thanks to the early arrival of a baby and the opportunity of working with a wonderful team results in a magazine cover image. Some days are surprising. Some days are really really surprising! We had already finished one of two maternity shoots when we heard that our second had been, well, cancelled. Reason? The most obvious of all reasons to cancel a maternity shoot: our client was on her way to hospital to give birth to her first baby. Can't really argue with that! So, there I was thinking I had been given some time 'for free'. You know that feeling, when you thought a whole day was busy and then suddenly it isn't? And it feels like someone invented time for you? That. That's where I was. Blissfully planning an afternoon of catching up. ##### Best Made Plans An' All That... It was 2pm when the phone rang. "I don't suppose you could do a shoot could you? We're doing a styled bridal shoot here at the house" said the voice on the other end. It was Georgiana from Nether Winchendon House. "Er, yes" I reply, perhaps a little apprehensively (there was no mention of time or date), "when were you thinking?" "Right now." "Right now? What do you mean right now?" Obviously she must mean tomorrow, or some time in the not-too-distant-future. "Right now." She was sounding a little too emphatic for this to be a wind-up. "You really do mean, right now?" I asked, still struggling to catch on. "Yes", said Georgiana conclusively, "right now." ##### When Opportunity Comes Knocking When you have opportunities in life, you learn to say "yes" and ask "how" later. So that's precisely what I did - enthusiastically as it happened as I knew the team behind the shoot would be first-class and Nether Winchendon House is, well, stunning. So that is how, forty minutes later we found ourselves running a styled shoot for Ox Weddings Magazine, with an incredible team of people (another photographer had mixed their dates up and had failed to materialise, hence the last-minute opportunity.) Luck is a wonderful thing huh? And what a shoot it turned out to be! A beautiful model, gorgeous hair and makeup from Oxford Hair and Makeup, stunning gowns from Anna McDonald in Thame, incredible headdresses from Isabella Henry Headdresses, funky styling from The Event Designer (Natasha) and a cake that looked way too good to eat. And if that wasn't enough, we have continued to work with Ox Weddings Magazine, you might also enjoy this shoot at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons too! Model: Diana Bulee Makeup and Hair: Oxford Hair and Makeup Gown: Anna McDonald Headdress: Isabella Henry Headdresses Styling: Natasha The Event Designer Flowers: Forever Blossom By Vasti Client: Ox Weddings Magazine Location: http://www.netherwinchendonhouse.com/ ### [Susanne and Paul's Crazy Bear Wedding](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2014/09/susanne-pauls-crazy-bear-wedding/) ### [The Le Manoir Wedding Behind THAT Image](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2015/04/the-le-manoir-wedding-behind-that-image/) When you win an award for an image, it is often easy to focus on that and that alone when, in fact, the picture was just one that was created as part of a couple's big day. We create hundreds of images as we document the entire event and so I thought I'd put some context around the beautiful bride in this particular Le Manoir wedding picture! I first met Marisa to talk about her wedding at Le Manoir where we sat and had coffee (and maybe, just maybe a little Lemon Drizzle Cake - if you ever have the chance should try it! Lush!) and chatted through her day. And it struck me then, just how lovely she was; really gentle and quietly-spoken. And beautiful. Having agreed to photograph their wedding (I was already excited about it!) we had a planning meeting to make sure I had all the details of their day mapped out and a note of any particular images they'd like - this is something we always do; I really like having a plan in my head even if it doesn't go that way on the day - which so often it doesn't! We had pretty much gone through everything when Marisa, almost blushing, asked if she could have one particular picture, promptly waived her iPhone at me and showed me a handful of images from Galia Lahav. I wrote the following in my notes afterwards: "She wants a picture of the back of her dress - we discussed the shots at the top of the steps by the pond." Little did I know then that this single, fairly innocuous, note would result in a national award! Roll forwards to the big day and it was perfect. Le Manoir is always the superlative setting for a wedding but, on a sunny August day, there really is nowhere better. A glorious outdoor ceremony, jovial, friendly guests, and a bride and groom who were a) chilled b) stunning and c) fantastic company to be around. Well, there you have the ingredients for a magical day. And, boy, was it. And so the time came to capture some images of the couple. We always try to do this as quickly as we can so that the bride and groom aren't apart from their guests too long, however things are a little different at Le Manoir as it is such a beautiful place to spend time chilling out in the sunshine and, so, we take a little more time and relax. With a couple like Marisa and James, it's easy of course. We meandered our way through the gardens, grabbing champagne (well, they did - I never drink alcohol while working no matter how much merry guests offer it!) as we went. And we arrived at my favourite place in the entire venue: the pond. I don't know what it is about this tranquil spot but there is always a lovely quality to the light down there and, importantly, it's a permanently dry patch just beneath the Yew tree (irrespective of the weather) and it's here that I had visualised the image that Marisa had described to me. Marisa has a wonderfully gentle way about her and I wanted to capture a little of that more than I wanted to create a sultry fashion image. And, in the end, it's her very nature that makes the resulting image quite so engaging. All I had to do was position her high on the steps so the dress could be revealed in all its glory, her stunning bouquet in her hand (care of our friends Fabulous Flowers) and just asked to her to twist so her face was lit beautifully and to rest her fingers on the wall, knowing she would do it in her own elegant way. As a footnote, there is very little Photoshop work on this image (or any of the other images for that matter) just the removal of a lighting cable that runs across the wall. The light, the location and the gorgeous bride are all that was required. Oh, and that exquisite dress! And the award? Oh, yes forgot to say: it was the Master Photography Awards UK Bridal Image Of The Year 2014/2015. ### [The perfect summer wedding - Sue and Peter](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2019/06/the-perfect-summer-wedding-sue-and-peter/) As a wedding photographer, I am always called to take photos on weekends and maybe even on special personal days. There aren't many, but I do have a few special dates that I always decline, because they mean so much to me. My wife Sarah's birthday is one of them. I think it says a lot about this couple that - when they came to me to take photos of their wedding on my wife's birthday - even she said I absolutely have to do it! That couple is Sue and Peter - who live right next to my photography studio in Haddenham, Buckinghamshire. I feel very privileged that, every now and then, I get a family who become ‘family' to us. We end up taking their engagement shots, wedding shots, maternity shots, newborn shots... the list goes on and on! You end up almost living their lives alongside them, and get to be with them during the most intimate moments of their lives, capturing memories for them. It can be very emotional and you do end up with a very strong bond with these people. Sue and Peter are no different - we have taken photos of them with their families, photographed Sue's son's wedding, and even one of their grandchildren did some photography training with me! Suffice to say, there was no way we could turn this wedding down - and I was delighted to be a part of another magical day with this wonderful family. As with most of the summer weddings I photographed in 2018, (except this one!) we woke up to the most beautiful hot day. I get to the venue super early to make sure I don't miss a second of the excitement. My ‘second camera' Rachel and I are doing our usual preparation and scout of the area, and gradually there is this excitement building in the air. It's just like any wedding we attend, and it's one of my favourite parts. That hushed anticipation before the bride makes her entrance. We even managed to capture the look on Peter's face when he saw Sue for the first time - it was a beautiful ceremony. A real highlight for me was when Sue's son, who had given her away, stood up to give what would have been the Father of the Bride's speech. I have photographed probably hundreds of weddings in my wedding photography years, but this was one of the best speeches I have been lucky enough to be around for. It was funny. It was poignant. It was moving. It was affectionate. It was eloquent. It was well-timed. You just don't get many speeches like that, and it was great to be in the room watching it, and capturing the reactions of the guests. So a big well done to Sue's son. Towards the end of the day, as the sun was starting to go down, I managed to get 15 minutes or so with the bride and groom to take a few pictures of them. It had been such a busy few hours, we hadn't really managed to squeeze in a shoot with just them two. At this stage it was early evening, but it was still beautifully warm and the lighting was perfect. All the group shots had been a success, but it was so important that we get Sue and Peter alone for those lovely, peaceful, intimate shots of the newlywed couple. And as a wedding photographer, I often notice that I am giving the couple time to be just the two of them for once on their wedding day. It's something we don't often think about, but this might be the only chance they have to talk together - almost in private - since they tied the knot! So for a moment or two, I just left them to it, and during this time, I got one of my most favourite shots of the day. This picture of the two of them just laughing in deckchairs - it's one of those images that wedding photographers absolutely kill for. Because it's natural, it's beautiful, everyone is having a nice time, the guests don't really notice the couple are missing, so nobody is any the wiser. It's just the bride and groom having a few minutes to themselves. I really love the sentiment behind this photo. When we rejoin the party, I can't help but tap a foot along to the songs being played by the DJ. This guy had everyone up on their feet - it was truly some of the best wedding music I've heard! I went to get a picture of the DJ and what I was met with really took me by surprise. I don't know why, but we always expect the DJ at a wedding to be 30s-40s, life-and-soul kind of guy. Well, I think this guy must have been nearer to 90! And he had two standard laptops this big pair of headphones, and it was just incredible - it really took me by surprise. Best part about this? He never smiled. He always looked serious - even though he was playing the most joyous music that had everyone dancing, laughing and singing along, just having the most fun time. And every time I took a picture of him, although he had a twinkle in his eye, he had the most steadfast, serious expression I've ever photographed on any DJ ever! It was just one of the funniest things I have seen. What a brilliant guy - very talented, and very entertaining. And then, in what seems like a blink of an eye, the sun sets on my time with the wedding party. It was a magical day and I was so honoured to be a part of it. As I drive away, I happen to look in my mirrors, and I can see the venue in the background lit by the setting sun. So I pull up onto the high banks under a wood, on a hedgerow. (One of the many reasons I drive a Land Rover!) I climb on top of the roof of the Land Rover and take one final shot looking back across the valley, and I think if you zoom into the picture really carefully you can see everyone partying in the distance. It was great to have that kind of shot as the closing picture. Overall, it was the most beautiful wedding day, of a family and a couple who it has just been lovely to work with over the years. Thank you Sue and Peter for letting us be part of such a special occasion. Are you looking for a wedding photographer? Please get in touch with me and my team today to learn more about the services we offer to make your big day timeless. Until next time, Paul. More shots of Sue and Peter's wedding: ### [Unusual Image Request At A Wonderful Hampden House Wedding](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2017/08/unusual-image-request-wonderful-hampden-house-wedding/) ###### A gorgeous day, a stunning venue and a somewhat unusual image request, Rebecca and Tom's wedding was unique beautiful! It's Monday evening. Some would say that is a good thing as it marks the end of Monday. And the end of a Monday is definitely better than the beginning of a Monday. Though, today at least, Monday has been a good one - I spent the morning creating images for the Crazy Bear in Beaconsfield (for those of you who don't know, you should visit their website: it's a very cool venue!) and the afternoon with clients which I always love. And this evening? Well, it's Monday so it was Spin Class at the inimitable FitLife gym. Now don't get me wrong: I actually like being on a bike. It's exhilarating and it gets you from A to B without paying some oil tycoon (or our esteemed government) for the privilege. And Spin is just a stationary version of being on a bike right? Wrong. Spin is a torture, though admittedly it's mostly self-induced as the hills that the ever-lovely-but-tough-as-nails Iona (the Spin Instructor) asks you to imagine are precisely that - imaginary. But that doesn't stop you wracking up the load on the bike and pushing on for another minute (and another after that) as Iona asks. No amount of sweat stops you, no lactic build-up in your protesting legs, no lack of breath or crashing heart-rate. Nope. If Iona asks it, you give it. She is, frankly, a hypnotist. So I am writing this blog with that self-satisfied smugness of someone who has completed an evening exercise class though we'll quietly skip over the rather delicious Gnocchi and Pesto we ate post-session, after all there is always Wednesday's class! And so to some images... Rebecca popped round today to pick up her wedding album, with her son Finley in tow and so, as all photographers would, I took a picture of him. He makes me smile so I couldn't resist. Rebecca and Tom had their wedding a few months ago and it was, quite simply, glorious. The sun shone, the guests were lovely and the venue, Hampden House, was a stunning backdrop. Everything about the day was as you would hope - and Rebecca and Tom were the perfect couple! At this point I have an admission to make: one of my favourite images of the day was actually taken by a guest. "Really?" I hear you say. "Yes, absolutely" I respond: Tom asked us to create a photo that included myself and Meg in it and so I figured out an image where, while we are both clearly visible, we are, well, not exactly featured (you may not be so surprised that neither of us like being in front of the camera!) Obviously though, I had to get someone else to hit the shutter on the camera. A little asking around led to one of the guests was identified as being suitably responsible (and, remarkably, still sober) so with a little setup, a moment of coaching and no small amount of nerves, we took our positions and he pressed the shutter. And the result is exactly as I'd hoped! A perfect end to a perfect wedding (even if I didn't actually hit the shutter release personally!) Enjoy! #### So Many Amazing People! Weddings are wonderful for bringing people together. It was an absolute privilege to be a part of this world-class team! - Stunning Location: Hampden House - Beautiful Flowers: Joanna Carter - Flawless Hair and Makeup: Holly Preston - Incredible Wedding Gown: Anna McDonald - And Meg and Me: Paul Wilkinson Photography ### [Why Are Le Manoir Weddings Simply Perfect?](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/blog/2018/06/why-are-le-manoir-weddings-simply-perfect/) The sun is shining, the menu has a couple of well-deserved Michelin stars, the setting is glorious and the couple are beautiful. But this doesn't provide the entire answer. So why, then, are Le Manoir Weddings simply perfect? ##### Writer's Block I find writing blogs tricky. There, it's out there. Seriously. I find writing blogs tricky. Why? Well that's simple, it's because I never quite know what to say that is different or compelling to any other blog. I could, of course, rant about things that annoy me: politicians; when Joe Public are allowed to talk on national radio or television (honestly I do think that vox-pops should be outlawed with immediate effect and anyone breaking that ban should be made to listen to Jeremy Kile 24 hours a day, 7 days a week); BBC Question Time; The Apprentice (even more annoying than Question Time); pollen; suddenly needing glasses to read and to drive; when the tank in the car is empty as I climb into it after a couple of days; when I go to make toast and someone has eaten all the bread and when someone has left the electric toothbrush with no charge. That last one might be the most annoying of all. Seriously, those little brushes work perfectly when they're powered up but when they're flat? Useless! I am guessing, however, that no-one really wants to hear me moaning - even though each and every complaint is entirely justified - as we all have our tribulations in life. ##### Let's Be Positive So what should I talk about? That's harder. The thing is, I am naturally a positive kind of person - even the things that annoy me also make me laugh (well, mostly) - and if I always write positive blogs, it starts to sound like I'm on some kind of prescription happy pills. Which I'm not. And, on top of all that, I gave up caffeine at the beginning of the year and that has had the weird effect of making me even happier. From the minute I wake up. Which is now very early. But the thing is, it's hard NOT to be happy when I am talking about our weddings - particularly those at Le Manoir. So I am going to do what I find easy, which is to say, laugh and be happy. ##### So Why Are Le Manoir Weddings Simply Perfect? This venue does seem to create magic all of its own. But it's not the venue that's doing it, nor is it the food, or the drink, or, well, anything physical. It's the people. Purely and simply, it's about the people. This wedding - Katie and Tom's glorious bash - is one of my all-time favourite Le Manoir weddings. From beginning to end it was just wonderful. Though, on entering the bridal suite, I was told (in no uncertain terms I might add), "don't you dare point that thing at me." This coming from the mother of the groom who was protesting at me having a camera in my hand. However, I am not entirely certain what she hoped I would do with her directive given, as she must surely have realised, I would be in for a bumpy ride with my client if I acquiesced and didn't capture an image or of such a key person of the day so, of course, I ignored the request. ##### You Might Also Enjoy These Other Le Manoir Stories - Doreen & George's Le Manoir Wedding - Ox Weddings Magazine Shoot At Le Manoir - When The Sun Is Shining... The wedding was perfect. Everything about it. But in this particular instance I want to draw attention to the people who looked after us: the porters; the guest relations team; the waiters; the chefs and the events team; the unsung heroes in the gardens, maintenance and housekeeping: every single one of them made this day so special. And they do that every minute of every hour of every day. And I really do mean that too - they work incredibly long hours! That, dear readers, is why I think Le Manoir weddings are simply perfect. And it is my privilege to be the photographer who works alongside them all. PS. This is also the only wedding I've ever photographed the Limbo Dance. Just thought you needed to know. Enjoy a few pictures from Katie and Tom's stunning celebration! ## Wedding Photography At Blenheim Palace ## Wedding Photography At Hampden House ## Wedding Photography At Hedsor House ## Wedding Photography At Le Manoir ## Wedding Photography At The Royal Berkshire Hotel ## Weddings Across The UK ## Weddings At The Crazy Bear ## Weddings In Oxfordshire ## Site Pages ### [About](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/about-paul-wilkinson-photography/) ### About You're probably reading this because you love our photography. You want to know more about the team behind the images. And that's the thing - it really is a team effort. Paul's photographic skill sits at the heart of what we do. But this luxury portrait photography business runs on something just as important: exceptional service. We've built our reputation as one of the UK's most sought-after portrait photographers by caring as much about your experience as we do about the final image. Paul is the Master Photographer. Yet there's a dedicated team here making sure you get the very best experience possible. From your first phone call or email right through to collecting your beautiful frames and custom-made albums, someone is there to help. That attention to detail is why Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and The Crazy Bear Hotels recommend us to their clients when they're looking for bespoke family portrait sessions and luxury work. #### What We Do Beyond the Camera Paul writes for N-Photo, Professional Photo, and the British Institute of Professional Photographers magazines. He created and hosts The Mastering Portrait Photography Podcast, one of the world's most popular photography shows. He and Sarah are in constant demand for two things: award-winning portrait photography and photography business consulting. If you're building a photography business or want to improve your craft, we offer coaching and guidance based on decades of real experience. Whether you're searching for a high-end portrait photographer near me or looking to develop your own practice, we're here to help. #### Recognition and Partnerships Brand Partnerships - Brand Ambassador for Graphistudio Albums, Elinchrom Lighting, and Pixellu Smart Albums - Master Photographer to Crystal Cruises - Partner Photographer to Raymond Blanc's Belmond Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons - Partner Photographer to The Crazy Bear Group Professional Leadership - Chair of Judging UKPPA International Print Awards - Chair of Qualifications & Awards for The British Institute of Professional Photographers - International Judge for The Societies of Photographers and The Federation of European Photography Awards Professional Fellowships - Honorary Fellow of The British Institute of Professional Photographers (HonFBIPP) - Fellow of The British Institute of Professional Photographers (FBIPP) - Fellow of the Master Photographers Association (FMPA) - Fellow of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (FSWPP) Recent Awards - 2024 Best Solo Portrait in the International PMI-Gear Global Portrait Competition - 2020/21 MPA UK Portrait Photographer of the Year - 2020/21 MPA UK Classical Portrait Photographer of the Year 2018/19 Awards (Central Region) - MPA Photographer of the Year - MPA Classical Portrait Photographer Of The Year ### [Testimonials](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/about-paul-wilkinson-photography/client-testimonials-photography/) ### What Photography Clients Say About Us We are blessed to have many, many lovely clients. Seriously. Lots. A plethora. A profusion. An abundance. Numerous. Bounteous. Umpteen. Countless. Copious. And those who are kind enough to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) sometimes write us the most lovely words about their experience with our wedding photographer reviews and portrait photographer testimonials. They make us smile, genuinely. This is exactly why we do what we do. What I find most moving about client testimonials photography isn't just the compliment itself - though of course, those are wonderful to receive. It's the specificity of what people choose to mention. Someone might remember a particular moment on their wedding day, or the way we handled a stressful situation, or simply that we made them feel looked after. Those details tell us we've done more than just our job - we've created something that mattered to them. That stays with them. Over the years, we've learned that the best wedding photographer reviews and luxury wedding photographer reviews are never about us at all, really. They're about how people felt. Did they feel relaxed? Did they feel heard? Did they feel like their vision was being taken seriously? When someone takes the time to share their thoughts about their portrait photographer testimonials with us, they're usually saying thank you for making their day feel special, or for solving a problem they were worried about, or simply for caring about the details as much as they did. Here are a few of those lovely thoughts. ### [Blog](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/studio-life-behind-scenes/) ### The Rhythm of Studio Life Behind the Scenes There is always something going on here in our photography studio life. Whether it's a portrait shoot in full swing, a photography workshop with a group of keen creatives, a client consultation photography session (where we sit down and really get to know what someone's after), or just us lot all laughing and drinking coffee whilst we sign frames, cards and quality check albums. I am genuinely not sure Michelle is ever happier than when she's finished wrapping a whole heap of our finished wall art ready to head out to our clients - there's something satisfying about seeing a project come full circle, from the initial shoot right through to that final, beautiful package arriving on someone's doorstep. ### What Happens During a Photography Shoot Day The studio hums with this constant energy. On any given week, you might find us prepping lighting rigs for a shoot scheduled for the following day, or gathered around a laptop reviewing contact sheets from a session that wrapped just hours earlier. There's the quiet focus of our team working through the technical side of things - colour grading, retouching, print preparation - alongside the louder moments when someone cracks a joke or we're all crowded around someone's desk looking at a particular image and genuinely excited about how it's turned out. It's this mix that defines what happens during a photography shoot day, both in front of and behind the camera. ### The Craft Beyond the Camera It's that blend of the practical and the human that makes this place tick. The shoots themselves are only part of the story. What happens before (the client consultation photography session where we listen carefully to what someone needs, the planning, the preparation) and what happens after (the editing, the printing, the wrapping, the delivery) - that's where the real craft lives. And it's where our photography studio team culture comes through most clearly. Every person here brings something different, and that shows in everything we do. ### Get in Touch So I thought I'd write a little about the life here: the shoots, the people and, of course, the images. Have a read through what we've got coming up, and if you have any questions at all, we're always very happy to hear from you. Drop us a line, give us a ring, or pop in if you're passing - we'd genuinely love to chat. ### [Contact Us](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/contact-portrait-photographer-buckinghamshire/) Whether you're looking for a portrait session, professional headshots, or a wedding photographer in Buckinghamshire, we'd love to hear from you. Use the form below, give us a call, or drop into our studio in Haddenham - we're always happy to help. ### Send Us a Message Your browser can't display this form. Please click here to open the contact form. ### Visit Our Photography Studio Our studio is in the heart of Haddenham, Buckinghamshire - easy to reach by car with parking nearby, or just 40 minutes by train from London Marylebone direct to Haddenham & Thame Parkway station. #### Studio Address Paul Wilkinson Photography Ltd 6 High St. Haddenham, Buckinghamshire HP17 8ER United Kingdom #### Get in Touch Directly Phone: +44 (0) 1844 291000 Email: studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk #### Find Us ### [Headshot Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/headshot-photography-services/) ### Headshot Photography Services That Capture Who You Really Are Your headshot is the first impression, before you even arrive. Whether it's for business, commercial, actors, or authors, a headshot is a portrait with a purpose. It has a job to do. It needs to say something about who you are before you've walked into the room, before you've shaken a hand, before you've said a single word. And that means it has to be right. #### What Makes a Great Professional Headshot What makes it right? Well, it starts with a connection. When you come into the studio, we don't just stick you in front of a light and fire away. We talk, we laugh, we figure out what it is you actually need this image to do for you. Because a headshot for an actor's Spotlight profile is a completely different animal to a business headshot for a CEO's LinkedIn. Same person, same camera, but the intention behind the shot changes everything. That's what we do here. We create headshots that work - images with purpose, with energy, and with just enough of you in them that people feel like they've already met you. Whether you need actor headshots for casting directors, author headshots for your book jacket and social media, or commercial headshots for your brand, a professional headshot photographer understands that each one serves a different purpose. #### Explore Our Headshot Photography Services Browse our range of headshot photography services below, from business headshots to specialised work for performers and creatives. Each section links to detailed guides, case studies, and everything you need to understand what goes into creating a headshot that actually works for you. ### [Business Portrait Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/headshot-photography-services/business-portrait-photography/) ### Corporate Headshots and Team Photography That Actually Look Like You Your headshot is doing a job before you even walk into the room. It's the first impression on LinkedIn, the face on the company website, the image beside your name in a pitch deck. And if it looks like it was taken against a roller blind in the HR office - well, that says something too. We create corporate headshots and business portraits that look like real people, not stiff, uncomfortable versions of them. The kind of portraits that make people say "that's exactly what they're like" rather than "is that really them?" ### A headshot is still a portrait Here's what most corporate photographers get wrong: they treat a business headshot like an ID photo with better lighting. We don't. To us, a corporate portrait is still a portrait - it just happens to have a suit in it. Sometimes not even that. We shoot headshots for FTSE companies, sole traders, and everyone in between. Our images have appeared on magazine covers, across the BBC, in company literature, and on websites worldwide. And yes - we still get a little thrill every time we spot one of our portraits on iPlayer or a magazine shelf. ### What to Wear, What to Expect What you wear depends entirely on the image you want to project. Some of our clients turn up in three-piece suits. Others arrive in trainers. Both work brilliantly - because the portrait isn't really about the clothes, it's about the person wearing them. We always suggest bringing a couple of options: a formal outfit and something more relaxed. That way, you walk away with headshots that work for the boardroom and for your LinkedIn - and you haven't had to book two separate sessions to get them. ### Teams and Groups Need headshots for a whole team? We can come to you, set up in your offices, and work through the team one by one - or in small groups. Same quality, same attention, just on your turf instead of ours. Whether it's five people or fifty, we'll make it painless. Even the ones who say they hate having their photo taken. ### [Familiar Faces And Celebrity Portraits](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/headshot-photography-services/celebrity-portrait-photographer/) ### Familiar Faces And Celebrity Portraits I don't think anyone would call me a celebrity portrait photographer - whatever that may be - but it has been a pleasure to meet and work with some incredible people who have lived a public life over the years. I suppose you could call them celebrity photographs or celebrity portraits, but that would be underselling the talent of our clients. The truth is, when you're photographing someone who's genuinely exceptional at what they do, whether that's science or performance or leadership, the portrait becomes about capturing something real: the person behind the public persona. #### Working With Exceptional People Over the years, we've had the privilege of working with an extraordinary range of people. Scientists - including a Nobel Prize Winner - who've spent decades unravelling the mysteries of the universe. Actors and musicians who've mastered their craft through years of discipline and creativity. Politicians and world leaders navigating the complexities of governance. Authors who've shaped how we think through their words. TV presenters and journalists who've become familiar voices and trusted faces in living rooms across the country. Olympians who've dedicated their lives to pushing the boundaries of human performance. Formula 1 drivers with reflexes and precision that seem almost superhuman. Chefs who've elevated cooking to an art form. And yes, even an occasional ex-President of the United States of America. Each and every one of them uniquely talented in their field, and each bringing something different to the session. What's fascinating about working as a professional headshots for actors and other high-profile individuals is that they're rarely what you expect. The intensity you might imagine doesn't always translate into the room. Sometimes the most accomplished person is also the most relaxed, the most generous with their time, the most willing to have a laugh between frames. That's what makes these sessions so rewarding - you get to see past the public image and find the person underneath. #### Executive And Celebrity Headshots That Capture The Real Person Whether we're creating executive and celebrity headshots for boardrooms or high-profile portrait photography for media use, the approach remains the same: listen, observe, and capture authenticity. A prestigious portrait photographer isn't someone who simply points a camera and hopes for the best. It's about understanding what makes each person tick, what they want to convey, and then finding the light and moment that reveals that truth. That's where the real craft lies. Here are just a few of our favourite people. ### [Professional Headshot Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/headshot-photography-services/professional-headshot-photography/) Actors, musicians, comedians, personal trainers - in fact, anyone who performs or holds a public-facing role needs professional headshot photography in their corner. Whether it's for a website, a portfolio, or a publication, personal branding photography is the hook that brings in work. It always has been. Casting agents, producers, and event organisers have long relied on headshots to pick and choose their talent. An actor headshot photographer was once dealing almost entirely in physical prints - great stacks of them, passed around offices and pinned to boards. Now, with everything moving digital, the need for a strong, well-crafted headshot has only grown. And honestly, the creative possibilities have grown with it. That's where we come in. Professional headshot photography has never been more accessible - or more exciting. ### Headshots Have Many Uses It's not just performers who need them, either. Over the years we've created commercial portraits for CEOs, politicians, directors, barristers, judges, doctors, consultants, accountants, chefs, magicians, personal trainers, artists, sculptors, impressionists - and even a clown. Yes, you did read that correctly. We've also created headshots for dating profiles, which has turned into one of my favourite little corners of what we do. More than a few of those clients have come back to us to photograph their weddings, which I suppose suggests we do a pretty good job of making people look their best. Personal branding photography, it turns out, can have some rather lovely side effects. ### Studio, Garden, or Somewhere in Between At the end of the day, a professional headshot is a portrait - full stop. Whether it's destined for commercial use, a musician's promotional photos, a dating profile, or a theatre programme, it's still an image of a person, a face, a character. And that's precisely why I love them so much. Many clients come to us not just because we have a proper studio right here on site, but because the moment you step outside the door, you're standing in one of the most beautiful gardens imaginable. It makes for a perfect backdrop when you want something with a little more of a natural feel to it. Very often we'll begin a session outdoors - people tend to relax more easily in the open air than under studio lights, and that ease shows in the photographs. Of course, the studio is there when you need it: controlled light, clean backgrounds, that classic look. But having both options means we can tailor the whole session to you, rather than fitting you into a formula. ### Read More Stories Click here if you'd like to read some of our stories from headshot and personal branding photography sessions. Rest assured, unless you need to be photographed in a medical laboratory, we can create something perfectly suited to your needs. And if you do need to be photographed in a medical laboratory - well, we can probably figure that out too. Why not update your image today? Just drop us a line and let's create something you'll be genuinely proud to put your name to. ### [Photography Workshops](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/photography-workshop-courses/) ### Photography Workshops and Creative Learning We've brought all of our photography workshops together under our Mastering Portrait Photography brand - an entire website dedicated to helping photographers develop their craft through resources, tools, stories, and hands-on learning experiences. Whether you're looking to deepen your skills in portrait photography workshops or explore other areas of creative development, you'll find a comprehensive range of options. Head over to the academy at masteringportraitphotography.com/workshops-and-mentoring/ to explore what's available. ### Our Current Photography Workshops Here's what we're running right now: ### [Portrait Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/portrait-photography/) ### Portrait Photography What makes a portrait actually work? It's rarely the camera settings or the lighting rig - though those matter, naturally. It's something far more human: the moment when someone stops performing for the lens and simply becomes themselves. I've watched this happen hundreds of times. A client walks in nervous, shoulders tight, already bracing for the awkwardness of being photographed. Then something shifts. The anxiety dissolves into laughter. The tension melts. And suddenly, there's a real person in front of the camera - not a version of themselves they think they should be, but the version that actually exists when they're relaxed and genuine. That transformation shows up in every frame. A portrait taken by someone technically skilled but emotionally distant feels exactly like that - distant. But a portrait made by someone who's genuinely enjoying the moment, who's laughing alongside you, who's creating space for you to be comfortable? You feel the difference the moment you see it. The warmth is there. The connection is there. It's the difference between something staged and something real. There's an art to creating that environment. It's not complicated - it's about being kind, approachable, and genuinely interested in the person in front of you. It's about understanding that portrait photography is a conversation, not an interrogation. The whole team here gets that instinctively. You'll notice laughter happening during sessions. You'll notice people relaxing. And you'll notice it in the final images - they're full of life and character because they were made in an atmosphere where life and character could actually emerge. ### [Children's Portrait Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/portrait-photography/childrens-portrait-photography/) ### Children's Portrait Photography at Our Studio This business originally grew out of the beautiful pictures that Paul created of his own young family, so it might not come as such a surprise to find we still specialise in children's portrait photography! In fact, the bestselling book "Mastering Portrait Photography" that Paul co-wrote with Sarah Plater features an award-winning image he created of a young boy called Ben (who is now a strapping 20-something who rows for Team GB!). Children's portraiture, it seems, will always be at the centre of our studio. Every parent - including us - knows how special each and every picture you have of your kids is, and how every time you look at that frame on your wall or page in an album, it takes you straight back to that unique age before they turned into teenagers (though that is an equally special time!) Having a framed picture of your kids on a wall where you can see it every day is a truly magical thing. ### The Perfect Setting for a Kids Portrait Session Here at the studio we are uniquely set up for professional children's photography: from natural outdoor settings to something more classical in our studio. In fact, our studio doors open out onto one of the world's unique gardens: Turn End Gardens, which is listed by English Heritage as being globally important! This garden is a wonderful space for creating pictures of kids. It's a stunning space in its own right, but immediately you can see it's perfect for children's portrait photography with its alleyways, steps, doorways, benches, hidden paths and sweeping lawn. All of this helps create the stunning imagery we've won awards with. But it doesn't end there: we also have a very sophisticated studio right here on site (there's no need to travel anywhere else), and so in the same kids portrait session we can step inside and create something coolly classic if that's what you're looking for - or just to create a little variety inside, out of the cold and the rain! If, on the other hand, you'd prefer to be out and about, we can also arrange to either use our beautiful little village as a backdrop or we can borrow someone else's - Haddenham is surrounded by the most quintessentially English countryside that is within easy walking distance or a short drive. Whatever suits you. ### Family Portrait Photography That Celebrates Childhood No matter what you prefer, we can create beautiful frames for your wall celebrating that wonderful thing that is childhood! If you'd like to see if we can create some beautiful family portrait photography for you and your family, please do get in touch! Until then, here are a few images to have a look through: ### [Dog Portraits](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/portrait-photography/dog-portrait-photography/) We know. We have one, too. Your dog is a member of the family (and possibly the most faithful member!) What better way to celebrate their unique role than with dog portrait photography that's beautifully crafted and uniquely theirs? And if you're worried that your dog won't behave perfectly during a family dog photography session, you really needn't be concerned. Our dog, Rufus (our loveable, irrepressible, mischievous, hyperactive, joyous, barking mad working cocker spaniel) only ever lets us get one or two shots before something more interesting interrupts - possibly the thought of a squirrel? Yet, we still have the most beautiful photographs of him, just as we have for hundreds of other dogs and their families. As a pet portrait photographer UK-based, we've learned that perfection isn't the goal - connection is. Whether you're looking for studio and outdoor dog portraits or a combination of both, we work with what makes your dog happiest and most themselves. Sometimes in the studio, sometimes in our world-famous garden, sometimes both: whatever works for you and your dog during your pet portrait session with family, we can craft something beautifully and uniquely memorable. ### [Family Portrait Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/portrait-photography/family-portrait-session/) ### Family Portrait Photography: Capturing the Moments That Matter There is nothing you love more than your family. Parents, siblings, children, the love you feel toward your family is like no other feeling - you know how it is: when they laugh, you laugh, when they cry, you cry. It's that deep, instinctive connection that makes family moments so precious, so fleeting, and so worth capturing properly through a thoughtful family portrait session. Here in the studio, I think we'd say our favourite images are those of our families. There's something about photographing people you genuinely care about - the energy shifts, the authenticity comes through, and suddenly you're not just taking pictures, you're documenting love in its most honest form. When you're working with your own family, or with families who feel like friends by the end of the session, something shifts in the room. The stiffness melts away. People stop worrying about how they look and start being present with each other, and that's when the real magic happens - those unguarded glances, the quiet moments between the big laughs, the way a grandparent's hand rests on a grandchild's shoulder. #### Getting Everyone Together Children, grandchildren, siblings, cousins, partners. And the dog. Don't forget the dog. In this day and age, it seems, it is harder and harder to have the family all in the same place at the same time. School runs, work commitments, sports fixtures, parties, social obligations - you name it, the pressures on a family's time are absolutely immense. Everyone's pulled in different directions, and coordinating diaries becomes a logistical puzzle in itself. One parent might be working weekends, another has their kids on alternate weeks, someone's moved for work, cousins are scattered across the country. Getting them together for a professional family portrait session can be genuinely tricky to arrange, but it is so worth it when you do. Because once you have those images - real, unguarded moments of your family together - you realise how rarely that actually happens. The photographs become a record of something precious that might otherwise slip away without being properly marked. Years from now, when your children are grown and have families of their own, these pictures become a window back to a moment in time. You'll see the way your mum looked at your kids, the way your brother made everyone laugh, the way you all fit together in that particular moment. That's irreplaceable. #### Milestone Family Photos: Marking the Moments That Matter Some of our favourite sessions have been when people come to celebrate something specific. A new family arrival - those first few months when the baby's tiny and everyone wants to be part of that moment. One of the kids starting school, marking that shift from one chapter to the next. Graduations, engagements, family reunions after years apart, anniversaries marking decades together. Any excuse for the family to get together and come to the studio gives the session a bit of extra meaning. There's a reason you're all there, a milestone to mark, and that creates a lovely energy. It transforms what could be a chore into something genuinely celebratory. The kids are excited because something important is happening. The adults are present because they understand the significance. Everyone brings a little more of themselves to the session. #### Making Family Photos with Kids Feel Natural Of course, we make everyone welcome whatever the reason for the get-together. Whether it's a formal occasion or just a "we haven't had a proper family photo in years" moment, the approach is the same - we want you to feel at ease, to be yourselves, and to enjoy the experience. Each shoot is punctuated by laughter, banter, the occasional tears of joy, but always wonderful memories being created in real time. You can see it happening. A grandparent might tell a story that has everyone creasing up. A little one might do something completely unexpected and hilarious. Someone will make a terrible joke. And we're capturing all of it - not just the posed moments, but the in-between bits where the real character of your family shows through. Family photos with kids work best when there's genuine connection and ease, and that's what we're always working toward. And whether it's here at the studio with controlled lighting and a familiar setting, or out on a summer's walk where the light's soft and natural and everyone's a bit more relaxed, there will always be some creativity thrown in for good measure. An outdoor family photo session, for instance, gives you something different entirely - the natural light is forgiving and beautiful, there's more space for people to move and interact naturally, and often the change of scenery helps everyone relax. We're not just lining people up and saying "smile" - we're thinking about composition, light, the story the images tell together. How do we show the connections between people? Where should we position everyone so the dynamics of your family actually come through? What's the light doing, and how can we use it to make everyone look their best? #### Multigenerational Family Photos: Capturing Your Legacy When you bring together grandparents, parents, and children - sometimes great-grandparents too - multigenerational family photos become something truly special. They're a visual record of your family's continuity, the way love and connection flow across the years. These are the images that matter most, the ones that will be treasured for decades to come. Laughter is the defining characteristic of the family being together. That's what we're after in every family portrait session - those genuine moments where the guard drops and you're just being yourselves with the people you love most. Not stiff, not artificial, just real. Because those are the images you'll treasure, the ones you'll want on your wall, the ones your children will show their own children one day. If your family has something to celebrate, a landmark to record, or quite simply you'd love a picture of your loved ones to enjoy every day - the kind of image that catches your eye when you walk past it on the wall - then please get in touch. Whether you're thinking of milestone family photos to mark a particular moment, or you simply want professional family portraits that capture who you all are right now, we would absolutely love to hear from you. ### [Location Portrait Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/portrait-photography/outdoor-portrait-photography/) ### Location Portrait Photography Imagine this: we talk, we laugh, maybe we take a short walk together. We find patches of light, discover texture, notice structure. We capture moments of genuine laughter, real affection. It's unbelievably relaxed - the kind of session where you forget you're being photographed at all. Here's what I've learned after years of shooting on location: there's no such thing as a bad season for portraits. Each one brings its own distinct character, its own light, its own mood. Pick the one that speaks to you, and let's create something beautiful together. #### Spring Early spring arrives fresh and dewy. Everything is green and cool until mid-morning, when the light shifts and softens. There's a sense of renewal in the air - new growth, clean light, that particular clarity you only get this time of year. #### Summer As summer approaches, everything becomes warm, light, airy. Long hot days mean intense colours and hard shadows - rich, dramatic, full of energy. The light is bold and unforgiving, which makes for striking portraits when you know how to work with it. #### Autumn Autumn brings golds, oranges, reds and browns. There's the smell of wood smoke and fireworks, apples and casseroles - all those sensory details that make the season feel alive. The light turns golden and forgiving. It's romantic, nostalgic, deeply photogenic. #### Winter Winter is cold, blue, and short-lived in daylight hours. But the raking sunlight is crystal clear, and there's something magical about scarves, woolly hats, thick socks and jumpers - the texture of winter clothing. You can see people's breath. The light is sharp and honest. Warm, cool, romantic - each season has its own beautiful character. There's never a bad time to create location portraits. Get in touch, and let's pick a season that feels right for ### [Maternity And Baby Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/portrait-photography/maternity-photo-shoot/) ### Maternity and Baby Photography - Capturing Life's Most Precious Moments There is nothing quite like the love you have for your children - and the emotion (and exhaustion!) that goes with being a new parent. Of the four people who work here, three of us are parents, so we really do know what that's like. And those early baby photographs we have of our own children are some of the most precious we have. Maternity and baby photography is some of the most rewarding work we do here. Paul has always been emphatic about the type of images he loves: it's all about happy babies, happy parents, and that irreplaceable magical bond between them. The studio is always full of laughter when we're photographing babies and parents (and mums to be!) - at the end of each session, the whole studio is just full of smiles, which, it has to be said, doesn't add anything to our oh-so-cool brand! Have a look at the images below to see what we mean. Many of the clients below were our wedding clients (some of them did things in a different order and became our wedding clients later!), and it's always a joy to see them again during their maternity and baby photography sessions. #### Maternity and Baby Photography Sessions ### [Studio Portrait Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/portrait-photography/studio-portrait-photographer-uk/) ### Studio Portrait Photography: Love, Light & Laughter Well, it has to be said, Paul's passion was originally for location and lifestyle photography - that is, outdoors in natural light and real environments - which is, as it happens, one of the numerous reasons we selected our stunning studio with its rich variety of architectural gardens. But Paul has had a love affair with studio portrait photography too. And honestly, amongst other things, it's always warm and dry in the studio, which doesn't hurt when you're working through the British winter! In fact, Paul has won as many awards for his studio work as he has for the location work that he is so well known for. In 2018 he won the title of UK Studio Portrait Photographer Of The Year with this striking image of the incredible Alex Bellini - a mountaineer and adventurer whose character absolutely jumped out of the frame. That recognition speaks to what we believe matters most: the ability to capture something genuine and compelling, regardless of whether you're working indoors or out. The eyes have it. #### The Versatility of Studio Portrait Sessions Studio portraiture is an incredibly versatile genre of photography. The beauty of it is that you can go in almost any direction you fancy. Images can be anything from bright, punchy, high-key images full of light and energy - think clean backgrounds, soft diffused light, and a real sense of optimism - to dark, intense, moody portraits that draw the viewer's eye directly to the subject's face. And there's a whole lot in between: classic three-point lighting setups, dramatic studio portrait lighting that sculpts the face, minimal single-light portraits, even experimental colour gels and textured backdrops. Each approach tells a completely different story about the person in front of the camera. More often than not, our clients take advantage of both the garden for some location portraits and then switch into the studio for something completely different - all in the same session. It's a brilliant way to give yourself options. Our studio and location portrait package allows you to start outdoors with natural light and flowing fabrics, then come inside and try something altogether more controlled and intimate. Some people love that variety; it keeps things fresh and gives you a real range of images to choose from at the end of the day. Sometimes, a simple, elegant look is all it takes. #### Dedicated Studio Portrait Work That isn't always the case, of course. If classic studio photography is your thing - if you're drawn to that timeless, controlled aesthetic where the lighting and composition are absolutely paramount - then Paul is always more than happy to dedicate the whole session to being under studio lights. No rushing between locations, no worrying about the weather or the time of day. Just you, the camera, and carefully crafted light. Professional studio portraits demand that kind of focus, and whether you're looking for award-winning studio portraits or simply something beautifully executed, we'll tailor the session to whatever feels right for you. Simple light and an old chaise lounge. An old school look. #### Getting in Touch If you'd like to see if we can create some beautiful studio portraits for you and your family, please do get in touch. We'd love to chat about what you're after and how we might bring that to life in the studio. Whether you're interested in a studio portrait session with dramatic lighting, a combined studio and location approach, or something entirely different, we're here to help. Until then, here are a few images to have a look through: ### [Privacy Policy](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/privacy-policy/) Privacy Policy Last updated: August 4, 2025 ### Introduction This privacy notice tells you what to expect us to do with your personal information and photographs when you contact us, use our services, or visit our website. We are Paul Wilkinson Photography Ltd, a professional photography service. We take your privacy seriously and are committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. This notice applies to all individuals whose personal data and photographs we process, including clients, potential clients, event guests, and website visitors. ### Photographs as Personal Data We recognize that photographs of individuals constitute personal data under applicable privacy laws. Any image that can identify you or contains information about you is treated with the same care and protection as other forms of personal information. We are committed to handling all photographic content in compliance with data protection regulations. ### Who We Are Paul Wilkinson Photography Ltd is the data controller responsible for your personal data and photographs. Our details: 6 High St, Haddenham, Bucks, HP17 8ER Email: studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk Phone: 01844 291 000 Website: https://paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/ ### Information We Collect We may collect the following types of personal information: - Full name - Email address - Phone number - Physical address - Payment information Additionally, as photographers, we collect photographic images which may contain your likeness and are considered personal data under privacy laws. ### How We Collect Information We collect information through the following methods: - Website contact forms - Email correspondence - Phone conversations - In-person meetings - Contracts and agreements ### Information from Third Parties Sometimes we receive your personal information from third parties. This might happen when: - Someone books on your behalf - such as a family member booking a portrait session as a gift - Wedding planners or coordinators provide your details for wedding photography - Event organisers share attendee information for event photography - Other wedding vendors recommend our services and pass on your contact details - Previous clients refer you to us When we receive your information from third parties, we will: - Only use it for the specific purpose it was shared (e.g., to contact you about services) - Inform you at our first direct contact where we got your information - Provide you with this privacy notice - Not add you to marketing lists without your consent ### Legal Basis for Processing We process your personal data and photographs under the following legal bases: ##### Consent We process your personal data and photographs based on your explicit consent for: - Using your images in our portfolio and marketing materials - Sharing your photographs on social media - Submitting images to competitions or publications - Any other use beyond delivering the contracted service You have the right to withdraw consent at any time, though this will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal. ##### Contract We process your personal data and photographs as necessary for the performance of our photography services contract with you, including: - Taking photographs during your session or event - Editing and processing images - Delivering final images via your chosen method - Communicating about your photography session - Processing payments and maintaining service records ##### Legitimate Interests We process your personal data based on our legitimate interests for: - Maintaining backups of your images for business continuity - Protecting our intellectual property rights - Preventing fraud and ensuring network security - Improving our services and business operations - Responding to legal claims or disputes We have conducted a legitimate interests assessment to ensure your rights and freedoms are protected. ##### Legal Obligation We process certain personal data to comply with our legal obligations, including: - Maintaining financial records for tax purposes - Keeping business records as required by law - Responding to lawful requests from authorities - Complying with court orders or legal proceedings ### How We Use Your Information We use your photographs and personal information for the following purposes: - To provide photography services as contracted - To process and deliver your photographs - To create and maintain secure online galleries - For portfolio and marketing purposes (with your consent) - To communicate with you about your session - To process payments and maintain business records ### How Long We Keep Your Data We only keep your personal data for as long as necessary. Our retention periods are: Type of Data Retention Period Reason RAW/Original image files Indefinitely Backup in case of technical issues Edited images Indefinitely Final delivered images Online gallery access 6 months Client access period Client contact details Indefinitely Business records and repeat clients Financial records 6 years UK tax law requirement (6 years) Contracts & agreements 6 years Limitation period for contract disputes Model releases Indefinitely Ongoing consent evidence Marketing consent records Until withdrawn + 3 years Evidence of consent After these periods, we securely delete your data unless we have a legal obligation to keep it longer or you have asked us to retain it. You can request early deletion of your data at any time, subject to our legal obligations. ### Sharing Your Information We may share your personal data and photographs with third parties in the following circumstances: - Professional printing laboratories for producing physical prints and albums - Album manufacturers for creating photo albums and books - Cloud backup services for secure data storage - When required by law or to respond to legal process - To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property - With your explicit consent All third parties we work with are required to protect your personal data and use it only for the specific purposes we authorize. ### Portfolio and Marketing Use With your consent, we may use your photographs for: - Display in our online portfolio - Sharing on our social media channels - Print marketing materials and advertisements - Entry in photography competitions and awards - Editorial features and blog submissions We use a separate model release form to obtain consent for portfolio use. You may withdraw your consent for portfolio use at any time by contacting us. ### International Data Transfers We transfer your personal data outside the UK when we use certain service providers based in other countries. We ensure your data is protected by using one of these safeguards: For transfers to the United States: - We use the UK International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) with our US-based providers - We have completed transfer risk assessments as required by the ICO - Our providers have implemented supplementary measures to ensure UK-level protection For transfers to other countries: - We only transfer to countries the UK government has deemed to have adequate data protection laws - Where no adequacy decision exists, we use the UK IDTA or UK Addendum to the EU Standard Contractual Clauses You can request a copy of our transfer safeguards by contacting studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk. ### Data Security We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data and photographs against unauthorised or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage. ##### Technical Security Measures - Password-protected galleries: All client galleries require unique passwords for access - Secure transfers: All data transfers use SSL/TLS encryption - Security updates: All software and systems are regularly updated with security patches - Firewall protection: Network and application firewalls protect our systems - Anti-malware: All devices run up-to-date anti-virus/anti-malware software ##### Organisational Security Measures - Access control: Data access is limited on a need-to-know basis - Security reviews: We conduct regular security assessments ##### Physical Security Measures - Secure storage: Equipment and media stored in locked locations - Access control: Work areas have restricted access While we implement robust security measures, please understand that no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We continually review and update our security practices to protect your data. #### Data Breach Response We take the security of your personal data very seriously and have procedures in place to deal with any suspected data security breach. If a breach occurs that is likely to result in a risk to your rights and freedoms, we will: - Notify the Information Commissioner's Office within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach - Notify you without undue delay if there is a high risk to your rights and freedoms - Provide you with information about the breach and our response - Take immediate steps to minimize any damage Our breach response plan includes: - Immediate containment and recovery procedures - Assessment of ongoing risk - Notification procedures for authorities and affected individuals - Evaluation and response improvement We maintain records of any personal data breaches, regardless of whether notification was required. ### Your Rights and Choices Under the UK GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data and photographs: - Right to be informed: You have the right to be informed about how we use your personal data (this privacy notice). - Right of access: You have the right to request copies of your personal data and photographs we hold. - Right to rectification: You have the right to request correction of inaccurate personal data. - Right to erasure: You have the right to request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances. - Right to restrict processing: You have the right to request restriction of processing in certain circumstances. - Right to data portability: You have the right to request transfer of your data to another organization. - Right to object: You have the right to object to certain types of processing, including direct marketing. - Rights related to automated decision making: You have the right not to be subject to decisions based solely on automated processing. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk. We will respond to your request within 30 days. #### Your Right to Complain If you are not satisfied with how we handle your personal data or respond to your privacy concerns, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent regulator for data protection. Information Commissioner's Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Helpline: 0303 123 1113 (local rate) or 01625 545 745 (national rate) Website: https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/ We would appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns before you contact the ICO, so please contact us first at studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk. If you are a California resident, you have the following rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA): - Right to Know: You have the right to request disclosure of the personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell. - Right to Delete: You have the right to request deletion of personal information we have collected from you. - Right to Opt-Out: You have the right to opt-out of the sale of your personal information. We do not sell personal information. - Right to Non-Discrimination: You have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment for exercising your privacy rights. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk. #### Withdrawing Your Consent Where we process your personal data based on consent, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before withdrawal. You can withdraw consent for: - Using your images in our portfolio - Sharing your photographs on social media - Sending you marketing communications - Using non-essential cookies on our website To withdraw consent: - Email us at: studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk - Call us on: 01844 291 000 - Unsubscribe: Use the link in any marketing email - Cookie settings: Adjust your preferences in our cookie banner Please note: Withdrawing consent for portfolio use will not affect images already published with your previous consent, but we will not use your images in any new publications or posts. ### Cookies and Tracking #### How We Use Cookies Our website uses cookies to improve your experience and analyze how our site is used. We comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) alongside the UK GDPR. How we obtain consent: - When you first visit our website, we show a cookie banner - We only set essential cookies until you give consent - You can choose which types of non-essential cookies to accept - We remember your preferences for 12 months Types of cookies we use: - Essential cookies: Required for the website to function (no consent needed) - Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site (consent required) - Marketing cookies: Used to show relevant ads (consent required) Managing cookies: - Use our cookie settings tool (link in website footer) - Adjust your browser settings - Email us at studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk to update preferences For more details, see our dedicated Cookie Policy. ### Marketing Communications We comply with the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) for all electronic marketing. When we send marketing emails: - We only send marketing emails to people who have explicitly opted in - We never share your email address with third parties for marketing - Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link - We honour unsubscribe requests immediately What counts as marketing: - Newsletters about our services - Special offers and promotions - Photography tips and updates - Showcase emails featuring recent work What doesn't count as marketing: - Emails about your active booking - Gallery access information - Important service updates - Responses to your enquiries To unsubscribe: - Click "unsubscribe" in any marketing email - Email studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk - Call 01844 291 000 Note: Using your images on our social media or website may also be considered marketing. We only do this with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time. ### Children's Privacy #### Children's Privacy We take the privacy of children very seriously. In the UK, the age at which children can provide their own consent for online services is 13. For children under 13: - We require parental or guardian consent before photographing children - We will not use images of children under 13 for marketing without explicit written parental consent - Parents/guardians have all the same rights over their children's data as listed in this policy For young people aged 13-17: - They may provide their own consent for photography services - We recommend parental involvement for session bookings - Special care is taken with images of minors in our portfolio use If you believe we have collected personal data from a child without appropriate consent, please contact us immediately at studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk and we will delete it. ### When You Must Provide Data #### When You Must Provide Personal Data To book and receive our photography services, you must provide certain personal information. This is a contractual requirement - without it, we cannot deliver our services. Required information includes: - Contact details (name, email, phone) - needed to communicate about your booking and deliver your images - Event/session details - needed to provide services at the correct time and location - Payment information - needed to process your payment under our contract Optional information includes: - Style preferences and special requests - Social media handles - Additional contact persons If you do not provide the required information, we will be unable to: - Confirm your booking - Deliver our photography services - Provide you with your images ### Changes to This Privacy Policy We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or business needs. When we make changes, we will: - Update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy - Notify you of significant changes via email or website notice - Obtain your consent for material changes where required by law We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your personal data. ### Contact Us If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: Paul Wilkinson Photography Ltd 6 High St, Haddenham, Bucks, HP17 8ER Email: studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk Phone: 01844 291 000 Website: https://paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/ For privacy-specific inquiries: studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk ### [Shop](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/pwp-shop/) Wherever you see the Paul Wilkinson signature, you know it's applied to something truly special. We have always used my signature to show that the experience we offer here is completely personal and bespoke - whether it's a portrait shoot, some headshots, a training day or a beautiful frame on the wall, we are always thrilled to put our signature to it. We all appreciate a thoughtful gift, so why not treat someone you to something truly personal such as a family portrait session or a photography masterclass day for the photography enthusiast in your life? Each voucher is beautifully presented in a signature gift box. And never forget, our book Mastering Portrait Photography is still available - and still selling across the globe. If you'd like a signed copy, please let us know what you'd like the message to be and it'll be on its way to you. ### [Sitemap](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/photography-services-directory/) Right, so here's everything in one place. Whether you're looking for our portrait photography, trying to find the headshots page, or you've gone down a rabbit hole and ended up somewhere unexpected - this sitemap gets you back on track. Have a browse, have a click, and if you still can't find what you're after, just drop us a line at studio@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk and we'll point you in the right direction. We're helpful like that. ### [The Mastering Portrait Photography Book | Photography Tips and Techniques](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/best-portrait-photography-book/) Our book, Mastering Portrait Photography is now out on Amazon and in bookshops! The book is a collaboration between myself and Sarah Plater and talks about how we create the images that we do and gives photography tips and techniques for both professional photographers and experienced enthusiasts (pssst we also thing this is the best portrait photography book on the market but, hey, we would say that!) We've worked to include a huge variety of ideas and techniques - and, of course, a couple of hundred images! Use it as a reference, a book of photography tips or simply because it looks lovely (well we think it does!) Each chapter covers a different aspect of mastering portrait photography from choosing kit to understanding what you're trying to achieve. All of the images in the book were created by Paul (and nearly all of them are from our regular clients who have very kindly let us use their images) so the photography tips and techniques the book describes are directly from the artist's mouth! The book is widely available from all good bookshops (including Amazon of course) but if you would like a copy of the book personally signed by Paul, you can order it here (either hit the Paypal button or drop us a line and we'll send it straight out to you with a personalised message if you'd like.) If you'd like to buy a signed copy of Mastering Portrait Photography directly, you can do so here: just select your preferred delivery method and hit the 'Buy Now' button. If you'd like a personal dedication please let us know in the comments field on Paypal and we'll ask Paul to write it for you. You can purchase a signed copy here in our gift shop. ### [Wedding And Portrait Photographer](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/) ####### BIPP Qualified · As featured in Nphoto, Professional Photo, Digital Photographer · Author of "Mastering Portrait Photography" ° 25+ years creating portraits people love ### People. That's What We Do. Whether it's a professional headshot that actually looks like you, a family portrait you'll still love in twenty years, or wedding photography that captures the bits you were too busy laughing to notice - this is what we do. We photograph people. Our studio is in the heart of the Chilterns, right on the Oxfordshire-Buckinghamshire border, with London Marylebone just 45 minutes down the line. But honestly, people travel from all over for this - because it's not just about the photos. It's about enjoying the experience of having them taken. Oh, and we do like our cookies. The biscuit kind and the website kind. ### See What a Session Looks Like Two minutes of what actually happens when you come to our studio. Spoiler: there's more laughing than posing. Spoiler: there's more laughing than posing. ### Where to Find Us Our studio is tucked away in the Oxfordshire countryside, right on the Buckinghamshire border. We're just off the M40, 45 minutes from London Marylebone by train, and easy to reach from Oxford, High Wycombe, Aylesbury, and the Chilterns. Whether you're coming from London for a headshot session or you're local and want family portraits somewhere beautiful, getting here is the easy bit. ### Ready to Get Started? Whether you know exactly what you want or you haven't got the faintest idea yet - that's absolutely fine. Drop us a line, tell us a bit about what you're after, and we'll take it from there. No hard sell. No pressure. Just a chat about how to get you the pictures you actually want. Book your consultation ### [Wedding Photography](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/award-winning-wedding-photographer/) ### Award Winning Wedding Photography Creating beautiful wedding photography is a blend of so many factors, it's hard to know quite where to start. The photography itself - the very thing that this is really about - is at the heart of what we do. But beyond that, we've always believed that our clients should have the ultimate experience from start to finish: from that very first meeting to the moment the album is complete, sitting in its ribbon-tied box, ready to be picked up and enjoyed. You should know that you don't just have an award winning wedding photographer; more than that you have an entire team looking after you, making sure even the tiniest detail is taken care of. Your finished album will be an unfolding record of your wedding, not just a fragmented set of pictures. Hair, makeup, champagne, details, locations, family, friends, the ceremony (that first magical kiss!), speeches, the laughter (and the tears), the dancing and the party. Beautiful images: a lifetime of memories. Paul's credentials as an award winning wedding photographer speak for themselves. He's won numerous awards, including UK Wedding Photographer Of The Year, and he's a Fellow of the Master Photographers Association - an organisation that promotes the very best standards in professional wedding photography. This is the photographic equivalent of being a 3 Michelin Starred chef. When you work with a professional wedding photographer of this calibre, you're investing in expertise that's been recognised at the highest levels. #### Professional Wedding Photography Services and Pricing We're always very happy to talk about how much you'll need to budget for our wedding photography services. After all, getting your wedding investment right can be a challenge. But it's hard to describe everything we do - from the initial planning to the delivery of your bespoke designed, beautifully hand-made albums and coffee-table books. We'd much rather show you than email you. Feel the weight, the vibrancy of the HD printing, the smell of Italian leather (or the colours of our synthetic materials for our vegetarian clients, or for those who just prefer bright, joyous finishes!). Give us a call and let's chat. Maybe we can arrange for you to come to the studio for a cup of tea and see how we may be a small (but very important!) part of your incredible day. You can have a look through some of our wedding photography portfolios below and you can browse some of our wedding photography ideas and stories on the blog. Enjoy! ### [Wedding Photography Across The UK](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/award-winning-wedding-photographer/wedding-photographer-oxfordshire/) ### Beyond Our Backyard - Destination Wedding Photography Across the UK Although it is true that the majority of the weddings we cover are at Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons or The Crazy Bear (our two partner venues), we are more than happy to work anywhere in the UK as a wedding photographer Oxfordshire and beyond. These partnerships have become really important to us over the years - we know those spaces inside out, understand how the light moves through them at different times of day, and have built genuine relationships with the teams there. When you've photographed a venue dozens of times across different seasons, you develop an almost instinctive sense of where to position yourselves, which corners will catch the golden hour beautifully, and how to work around the inevitable challenges that every space presents. But that's never meant we're limited to just those two places. So whether it's a marquee in the stunning gardens of Nether Winchendon House, the beautiful surrounds of Woburn Abbey, or fireworks lighting up the grounds of The Manor at Weston On The Green, we genuinely love getting the call to shoot somewhere different. There's something rather lovely about exploring a new venue - figuring out the best spots for portraits, working out how to use the natural light, discovering hidden corners that make for beautiful photographs. It might be a stone archway that frames the bride perfectly, or a tree-lined avenue that creates natural leading lines, or a window in an old barn that floods a room with soft, diffused light at exactly the right moment in the day. #### Finding Beauty In Every Location Every location has its own character and its own challenges, and that's exactly what keeps things interesting for us. We've travelled the length and breadth of the country to capture weddings - country estates with rolling parkland that stretch for miles, intimate village halls where the community gathers, converted barns with exposed beams and rustic charm, seaside venues with dramatic coastal backdrops and unpredictable weather. A Cotswolds manor house demands a completely different approach than a contemporary London loft, which requires entirely different thinking again from a Scottish castle or a beachfront pavilion. As a UK wedding photographer, we've learned to read each space, to understand its rhythm and its possibilities, and to adapt our style accordingly whilst maintaining the same level of care and attention that defines our work. Whether we're offering destination wedding photography UK services or bespoke wedding photography closer to home in wedding photography Buckinghamshire and the surrounding regions, our approach remains consistent. Our luxury wedding photography style translates beautifully across any setting - from intimate gatherings to grand celebrations. The venue might change, but our commitment to capturing the day beautifully and telling your story properly never does. Whether we're working at one of our established partner venues or discovering a location for the first time, you get the same level of dedication, the same technical expertise, and the same genuine desire to create photographs that matter - images that will mean something to you and your family for decades to come. Here are a few images from some of those venues further afield, just to give you a flavour of the kinds of places we've had the privilege to work. ### [Wedding Photography At Hedsor House](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/award-winning-wedding-photographer/hedsor-house-wedding-photographer/) ### Why Hedsor House is a Photographer's Dream Wedding Venue Hedsor House is a favourite with film directors for good reason. It's a stunning blank canvas - if you can call a grand stately home "blank," that is. The moment you arrive along the avenue, it takes your breath away. Inside, it's equally beautiful, with plenty of space for getting ready in the bridal suite (genuinely a suite of rooms, which makes for gorgeous images) and hosting your guests. What strikes you immediately is how the architecture manages to feel both imposing and welcoming at the same time. The proportions are generous without being cold, and there's a real sense of occasion the moment you step through the doors. Being a film set means the opportunities for wedding photography at Hedsor House are almost limitless. The house has been used as a backdrop for countless productions, which means every corner has been thoughtfully designed with visual storytelling in mind. That translates beautifully to capturing weddings in this environment. Whether you're drawn to the formal grandeur of the main rooms, the intimate corners of the corridors, or the unexpected architectural details - ornate fireplaces, sweeping staircases, period features - there's always something compelling to photograph. The lighting changes throughout the day as the sun moves across the building, creating different moods in different spaces. A room that feels one way at 9am might have entirely different character by mid-afternoon. Between the ceremony, breakfast, speeches, and dancing, the expansive grounds offer the perfect escape. You can steal a few quiet moments away from the day's energy - which, honestly, is something every couple needs. The gardens and parkland surrounding the house give you breathing space, literally and photographically. Whether it's a formal portrait session under the trees, a quiet moment together before the reception kicks into gear, or simply wandering the grounds with your nearest and dearest, there's room to move and discover. And of course, we'll capture some beautiful images whilst you're there. These stolen moments often become the images couples treasure most - the ones that feel unhurried and genuine, away from the structured formality of the day. As a Buckinghamshire wedding photographer who specialises in stately home wedding photography, I've found that working at venues like Hedsor House is genuinely special. The key to great photography in these luxury wedding venue spaces is understanding how to work with what's already there. You're not fighting the venue; you're in conversation with it. The house does half the work for you, which means you can focus on capturing the real moments - the laughter, the emotion, the connection between people - without worrying about whether the background is interesting enough. That's the luxury of being a country house wedding photographer at a place like Hedsor House. The scale and majesty of the setting mean the possibilities are genuinely endless. Whether you're based in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, or further afield, a venue of this calibre transforms what's possible photographically. Every corner tells a story, and as your wedding photographer, I'm there to weave those stories together with yours. ### [Wedding Photography At Le Manoir Aux Quat'Saisons](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/award-winning-wedding-photographer/le-manoir-wedding-photographer/) ### Stunning, Intimate Weddings At Le Manoir, Oxfordshire Much of the wedding photography you may have seen at Le Manoir, whether in the press or online, I've created. As the Partner Photographer to this beautiful Belmond hotel, I can be found there throughout the year (in all weathers!) creating the images I'm so well known for - and I know the venue like the back of my hand. Being a luxury hotel wedding photographer at Le Manoir means understanding not just the space, but the philosophy behind it. There's a real advantage to that kind of familiarity. It means I've spent enough time at Le Manoir to understand how light moves through the gardens across different seasons and times of day. I've watched how the morning sun shifts through the trees, learned where shadows fall at different hours, and discovered those hidden pockets of the venue that most photographers would walk straight past. That little corner in the bottom of the garden where the mid-morning sun creates a pool of light - perfect for those intimate wedding photography moments between the couple and their closest family. That spot by the wall where the light is always perfect and it's dry (even in a storm!) - invaluable when the weather decides not to cooperate. That corner of the bar where the atmosphere is, well, so atmospheric - ideal for capturing the genuine joy of the reception without feeling like you're chasing the light. There is always a location for beautiful wedding photography at country house hotels like this one, no matter what the day throws at you or what time your moments need capturing. And that's much of the joy of this beautiful venue; it's incredibly photogenic. The architecture, the gardens, the carefully considered design of every space - it all works together to create backdrops that feel both elegant and intimate. But it's the experience of being at Le Manoir that makes it truly special. Everything about it - from the food (of course, the utterly delicious food!), the meticulous attention to detail in every element of service, to the genuine warmth of the customer service - comes together to create something rather lovely. If you love fine dining, superlative service and beautiful photography, a luxury wedding photographer Oxfordshire partnership with me at this venue really is the perfect combination for your wedding. Your guests will feel looked after from the moment they arrive, which means they're relaxed and genuine when my camera appears - and that authenticity is what transforms good wedding photographs into ones you'll treasure forever. As an Oxfordshire wedding photographer with deep knowledge of Le Manoir's spaces and rhythms, I capture not just moments, but the genuine warmth that defines a day at this exceptional luxury hotel wedding photography UK destination. Our weekend wedding photography at Le Manoir starts at £2999, and our small and intimate midweek weddings (Monday to Thursday) start at £1899 - both options include a beautiful bespoke hand-designed album with your initial selection of images. ### [Wedding Photography At Notley Abbey](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/award-winning-wedding-photographer/notley-abbey-wedding-photographer/) ### Wedding Photography At Notley Abbey: A Photographer's Dream There really aren't too many 12th century locations like this one for your wedding - certainly none with such a rich history as Notley Abbey. From Augustinian canons to Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, this place has seen some life - as well as a couple of King Henrys (IV and V if you're curious). The Abbey itself dates back to 1146, founded by the Augustinian order, and over nearly nine centuries it's accumulated the kind of stories that make a location genuinely special. Now it is one of the most characterful and romantic locations in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and as a Notley Abbey wedding photographer, I can tell you with absolute certainty that capturing celebrations here is an absolute joy. Some of the wedding celebrations we've created imagery for would rival those of any Royalty (of both Hollywood and Plantagenet variety!). There's something about photographing in a space with that much history - you can almost feel it in the stonework. #### Why Notley Abbey Works So Well For Wedding Photography From a wedding photographer's point of view, the place has (perhaps not surprisingly given its history of inhabitants) everything you could wish for. For a start, it is a picturesque and stunning backdrop full of nooks and crannies - the cloisters offer gorgeous dappled light, the gardens provide those sweeping vistas, and even the stone archways frame couples beautifully without needing much directional work. Being a Buckinghamshire wedding photographer, I've worked across countless venues in the region, and Notley Abbey genuinely stands out for its versatility. But beyond the obvious visual appeal, Notley Abbey also offers a genuine plethora of wet-weather options with scope for fashion-influenced wedding images throughout the building. You can move seamlessly from the grounds into the interior spaces - the Abbey rooms, the function spaces, the hallways - each with their own character and light. That flexibility means you're never stuck, never compromised by a downpour, and there's plenty of room to weave amongst the guests, capturing beautiful unscripted moments as they move between spaces. I've shot weddings where the weather forced us indoors and honestly, some of the best images came from those intimate interior moments. This is where unscripted wedding photography really shines - when you're not fighting the environment, but working with it. #### The Tree-Lined Approach: An Icon Worth Photographing Most of our clients take advantage of the glorious tree-lined approach which is surely one of the most iconic in the UK. That avenue - with mature trees creating a natural tunnel of greenery - is the sort of thing you see in wedding magazines, and for good reason. Irrespective of the weather (and daylight), we almost always head out to create an image or two along the avenue. On a sunny day, the dappled light through the leaves is absolutely stunning. On an overcast day, the soft, even light is equally beautiful - just different. And even if it's drizzling, there's something rather romantic about wet leaves and that moody atmosphere. It turns out this can also be a welcome opportunity for you both to relax a little, away from the pressures of entertaining your guests. There's something about stepping away from the reception, even for twenty minutes, that lets couples actually breathe and enjoy each other's company. Who knew that working as a Notley Abbey wedding photographer could be cathartic too? Whether you're a couple getting married near Haddenham or travelling from further afield, these stolen moments become some of the most treasured images from your day. #### Evening Magic And The Perfect Finale And, of course, if you're looking for something to round off the evening, the venue is perfect for fireworks. The open grounds give you plenty of space, the backdrop of the Abbey lit up at night is spectacular, and it creates that fantastic finale - a sparkling way to bring your day to a close with plenty of cheers and applause from your guests. It's the kind of moment that photographs beautifully, too - genuine celebration captured in colour and light. So if you're looking for beautiful images from a historic venue wedding photography perspective, there really aren't many places better than having your wedding photography at Notley Abbey. Whether you're drawn to the Cotswolds region or the wider Buckinghamshire area, this is a location that simply delivers - in every season, in every light, and in every kind of weather. ### [Wedding Photography At The Crazy Bear](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/award-winning-wedding-photographer/crazy-bear-wedding-photography/) Wherever you go in the South East of the UK, people will know of the Crazy Bear. Whether it's the one in Beaconsfield (nestled in Buckinghamshire), or the original in Stadhampton (near Oxford), the very mention of the name conjures up visions of fine champagne, delicious Thai food and unforgettable weddings. The Crazy Bear has become something of an institution for couples looking for a venue that's genuinely special - a place where the food is exceptional, the service is impeccable, and the atmosphere is unlike anywhere else. And creating wedding photography at the Crazy Bear is something of a joy too! As much as the Crazy Bear is a venue of dreams for many brides and grooms, it's a photographer's heaven too. Walk through the doors and you're immediately struck by the sheer visual richness of the space. It's a veritable visual overload in the very best way - full of black walls, even darker ceilings, oak floors, golds, pewters, ebony, leather, copper, glass and velvet all layered together in this gloriously atmospheric setting. The interior design is theatrical and moody, which might sound challenging, but it actually rewards a photographer handsomely. Those dark tones and rich textures create incredible depth and dimension in photographs. The interplay of light - whether it's natural daylight streaming through windows, the warm glow of the evening service, or the dramatic uplighting during the reception - bounces off all these surfaces in the most beautiful ways. It amply rewards with stunning images in all weathers, all seasons, day or night. A winter wedding feels cosy and intimate; a summer celebration feels luxurious and dramatic. There's genuine visual interest in every corner, which means there's always something compelling to photograph. Which is why being a photographer there is something rather special. Wedding photography at The Crazy Bear is something of a joy to do - every single time. ### [What Happens After My Portrait Session?](https://www.paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk/after-portrait-session/) ### What Happens After Your Portrait Session - Your Path to Beautiful Wall Art So, your portrait session is done and you're wondering: what happens next? Well, firstly, you'll come back to the studio screening room, sit back, have a cup of tea and relax while we show you your images, carefully set to music. Each one has already been edited and ready for printing and framing. Some colour, some black and white. Our team will be with you throughout to help and advise if you're undecided or finding it difficult - our clients often find it overwhelming seeing so many images that they love. Don't worry. We're used to it and we'll help. If you're looking for a frame (or a set of frames) for your home, you'll need to have measured the wall, but everything else we can help with. From the selection of your images, the style of frame, layouts and finishes - we're there on hand with a tape-measure and some very clever software tools to help you visualise the final items. Our frames adorn people's homes across the globe, so rest assured, we'll help you create something truly beautiful that you will love for many, many years to come. #### Single Image Frame - The Classic Statement Piece Always our most popular wall-art choice, a single beautiful image in a custom-made frame makes a stunning statement piece. With a wide range of frame styles and mounts available, selecting the right frame for your portrait can feel daunting, but our team will help you pick out a finish that suits both your selected image and your home. It's one of the most timeless ways to display a portrait session's best moment. #### Multi-Image Frame - Showcase Your Favourite Moments If you have limited space or are simply finding it impossible to decide which image would be your choice for a frame, why not select a multi-image frame? These versatile frames can incorporate between 9 and 12 images, and if one of our existing templates doesn't suit your selection, we'll custom design one for you. Why have just one image on the wall when you can have so much more? It's a wonderful way to tell the story of your portrait session in one cohesive display. #### Framed Canvas - Modern Elegance If you'd like a wonderful statement piece for the wall that blends the modern with just a touch of the traditional, a framed canvas always looks magnificent in any interior. The print is a fine-art giclee canvas that's mounted and stretched in the frame. The canvas has tensioning wedges, so it will always look pristine even after many years on a wall. It's a particularly lovely choice if you want your portrait session to feel like gallery-quality art in your home. #### Edge-To-Edge Image Frame - Clean Lines, Maximum Impact If you're looking for something with clean lines and an uncluttered modern finish, these frames with an edge-to-edge image (there is no mount) look stunning in any home. With the image stretching to the full extent of the frame, impact really is the order of the day. This style of frame works beautifully for portrait session images that deserve to command attention without any visual distraction. #### Acrylic Orb - Ultra-Modern Sophistication The cleanest, ultra-modern finish for your photographs, an acrylic orb offers something truly distinctive. These crystal-clear, high-gloss circular acrylics suit any modern interior and look completely at home in a lounge or study amongst high-tech TVs and sharp lines. With the print seamlessly bonded onto the acrylic surface, the image will always retain its rich colours and sharp finish. It's a particularly striking way to display a portrait session's standout images. #### Gift Frame - Perfect for Sharing Your Portrait Session In addition to your statement piece, whether it's an album or a frame, maybe you'd love to have something smaller for your desk at work. Or perhaps you'd like to proudly present a gift frame to someone - great for grandparents! These diminutive frames may be just the thing. A perfect present for any occasion, a gift frame lets you share the joy of your portrait session with the people who matter most. ## Contact - Address: 6 High St., Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, HP17 8ER, United Kingdom - Phone: +441844291000 - Email: paul@paulwilkinsonphotography.co.uk