In my ‘Picture This’ series I focus on an individual image, or series of images, and explain why I like it.

Leatherhead Register Office wedding

Suzie and Graham’s marriage was one of those rare occasions that had almost none of the usual formality of a wedding day. They were due to be married at Leatherhead Register Office at 3pm, but both bride and groom seem to spend the morning at their beautiful home in the Surrey Hills doing the usual household chores, as if this was a day like any other. I recall that Graham was even doing a bit of gardening when I arrived!

Hair and make-up artist, Gill East, spent a relaxed hour or two with Suzie, and then a few family and friends arrived. I was lured downstairs by the sound of champagne corks popping, but still, there was almost no urgency in the air. I remember checking my watch. It was close to 2.15pm and still Suzie had not descended the stairs, so I went back up and hovered as she gathered herself.

The mood had changed. There are those few seconds, just before someone is about to do something that will change their life forever, when they’re not quite sure what to do. No one else was upstairs now and everyone knew that it was time to go. But I could tell that she wasn’t quite ready. She looked around, grabbed her lipstick and dashed to the nearest mirror. I don’t think she realised I was even there. There was a pause. She bent forward to carefully apply that one last touch that seemed to say, ‘I’m ready now’. I took one frame and stepped back. And off she went to the top of the stairs…

If you like my style of candid wedding photography I’d love you to get in touch.