"You've got 3 hours to shoot a wedding."
Well, that was certainly a challenge.
No messing around, just pure photojournalism, and what a thrill it was for me!
One thing that I personally love about weddings is getting to know the guests and the family, having a little chat with them.
I know that this helps them to relax around me throughout the day.
No time for that here though.

Wayne and Caitlin got married at the incredible Manchester Town hall.
Inside, it's as dark as Darth Vader's arm pits but as beautiful as you'd expect from, well... a neo-gothic municipal building completed in 1877 by architect Alfred Waterhouse.
It's a good job I can remember things like that, and the internet address of a popular online encyclopaedia.

Wayne and Caitlin moved on to the Radisson Edwardian hotel in Manchester for their very intimate wedding breakfast.
I believe they were joined by more friends later on.
I packed up after my 3 hours and went for a Nando's.

Enjoy.

So, with the magic of the internets, here's another blog post to keep you busy. Well, with me out of the country, I imagine everyone is wondering what else to do...

On to Neil and Flora. Lovely couple.
They are actually already married, but I won't repeat what I said in my last blog post...

I met up with them in Yorkshire, quite a long way to travel for an engagement shoot. But still.
On the way up, we faced torrential rain. To be honest, I was gutted and I felt really sorry for Neil and Flora. Anyway we put on our British faces and got on with it. I also wore some inappropriate shoes. I have since learnt my lesson and invested in wellies.
Thank goodness the weather cleared up for our shoot, we were left with some beautiful light and we had a fantastic evening.

As you'll see, they love their horses. I find them a little intimidating but I think that's rational. I'm sure I'll get over it. I can't deny the fact that they're beautiful creatures.
Anyway, enjoy the pictures please, and look out for the wedding pictures soon.
(they got married in a teepee, so you'll not want to miss it.)

Take care.

When I meet with my couples, I remind them that an engagement shoot isn't anything fancy at all, I don't get you to do ridiculous poses or even ask you to smile.
Most of the time, we just chat.
To me, the idea of an engagement shoot is less about having pictures taken and more about getting to know each other.
It's also about having a break away from wedding related stuff, put on some nice clothes and go for a walk.
I remind all my couples of this, so if you're having an engagement shoot with me, I apologise for sounding like a broken record.

Just a few days later, they got married at Berwick lodge, one of the most beautiful wedding venues in the Bristol area for sure.
Their wedding will be up on here soon.

Oh look, it's another horse...they still scare me.
 Enjoy.

On to the picture...
I got given a good talking to by these two the other day.
In short: "Why do you take such a long time to blog?"
Well, I had answers and excuses but whatever I said would of been pointless.
I also don't want to be the person who starts each blog with "Oh my days!!! soz 4 not bloggin'"
So, if I carry on at my current blogging speed, you'll see Robin and Kate's wedding next year.
(they're getting married next month)
I don't plan on waiting that long to post it, I'm sure I can work something out, like actually catching up with my weddings to blog.
My mum will be happy any way.

So, like I said, Robin and Kate get married next month at Priston Mill.
We had a photo shoot in Clifton, then it poured down and we weren't prepared so we quickly got wet and miserable.
We met up again a few days later for more picture taking in the sunshine!
They're a lovely couple and I'm sure you'll like their pictures when I actually take them (and actually blog them)

Anyway, back to the wedding.
Enjoy the pictures (including the many of Gemma's veil), leave a comment at the bottom and look out for more Priston Mill weddings in the near future.

Take care.

Pickwell is a breath taking venue full of carefully renovated rooms and gardens in amongst beautiful Devonshire countryside, just minutes from the beach and is run by two families. I don't think I can sell it better than that to be honest!
I mostly dealt with Susannah who was a fantastic wedding coordinator. I had met up with her previously and it was obvious that she could keep James and Kat's wedding running smoothly.

James wanted me to join him and the boys in the sea in the morning for some pre-wedding surfing shots. Well, that didn't happen due to a serious lack of waves, but at least I managed to have more time to tell some stories with pictures back on land.
Kat and James were fortunate to have a break in the weather. The days prior to their wedding, The south west experienced torrential rain and with an outdoor ceremony planned in England, they were really taking a big risk. As you'll see by the pictures, their attitude paid off and they enjoyed a fantastic day with their closest family and friends!

Enjoy the pictures, as usual I hope you feel part of the day. that's always my intention.
Look out for the goosebumps!

I joined Simon and the boys for a pre wedding grill, followed by general suiting-up and then off to get some marriage.
Melissa and Simon are both Jehovah's witnesses and chose to have their ceremony at the Kingdom hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Thornbury.
The wedding ceremony was taken by the Father of one of my Brides who was also a bridesmaid along with my Jessica.

Melissa and Simon then went on to Old Down Country Park for their reception. This was before it was cool!
They found the cafe a couple of years ago and knew then wanted to have their reception there. It suited them perfectly.

Friend's weddings, as they are, are extra special aren't they? This was no exception with so many magical moments, from the great speeches with their hilariously awkward moments, songs written especially for the day and amazing live music.

If you're a long time reader, You'll probably recognise a few faces on here. Well, when one of your friends is a very handsome and talented wedding photographer it's only natural to want the best!
You'll also notice that there are a few more posed pictures on here than usual. I'm sure you and the WPJA will forgive me just this one time.

You may want to keep an eye on Josephyarrow.com over the next few weeks. There is a huge and well deserved change on it's way.
Enjoy Melissa and Simon's wedding and look out for the example of best photo-bombing ever.

Mick and Becky are another one of my Manchester couples who booked me after seeing Matt and Annie's wedding. It's the wedding that features on the home page which has been up there since time began really. If you've not had a chance to check out, do so because there are some big changes coming to this site soon.

Becky chose to get ready at her parent's beautiful house in Stockport, a house that, full of carefully selected art work, was an absolute pleasure to be in.
Then they picked Great John Street hotel in the centre on Manchester to host their wedding ceremony and reception.

Both Becky and Mick work in a secondary school, and Great John Street Hotel was an old school that has lovingly been remodelled into it's current state, so it appeared to be the natural place to hold an amazing day.
Becky and Mick had clearly put in a lot of effort into making their day unforgettable. Like all weddings I shoot though, I am always very interested in the guests as they really do make the day.
These guests were no exception at all. A fantastic bunch of people.

At each wedding, I learn something. Usually it's about technique, or human behaviour or myself.
This time my lesson was: Don't wear new shoes to a wedding. Stupid stupid stupid.

Anyway, have fun looking through these pictures.
I hope you'll feel that you were one of the guests.
Enjoy.

I met up with them in London a couple of months before their shoot for them to tell me about their wedding and generally just get to know me.

We agreed that we would go down to Devon to one of their favourite beaches for surfing.
Kat had in her mind that it would be beautiful weather and perhaps she thought that they could have some really glamourous engagement pictures of them running through the waves like a Hasslehoff/Anderson type duo. I don't know if she thought that, but I know that that's what I would've wanted from a beach shoot!
Well, this is England and you don't come here for the weather that's for sure.

Still, we had a fantastic shoot and ended up with some really great pictures.
We also got a chance to view where they were getting married; Pickwell Manor.
I think it's fair to say that I wholeheartedly recommend Pickwell Manor to anyone wishing to get married in Devon.

Their wedding pictures will be on here shortly.
Meanwhile though, enjoy these few!