Ludmila and Kristaps Intimate Wedding at Canterbury Registry Office

Ludmila and Kristaps held their intimate wedding at Canterbury Registry Office with their closet family members in attendance.

It truly was an intimate and emotional service and shortly afterwards, we had a wonder around the historic city of Canterbury, capturing some relaxed and natural photos.

Throughout the day, the forecast was warning of heavy rain storms, but despite the grey clouds overhead, it remained dry long enough for a quick trip down to Deal beach for a walk along the seafront.

Dan and Connor's Wedding at the Sandwich Guildhall

Dan and Connor held their big day at the iconic and historic Guildhall in Sandwich. I’ve had the pleasure of photographing a few weddings at this location and I’ve never seen it so packed!

Coinciding with the Queen’s Jubliee celebratory weekend, it was truly a lovely day, with the service full of laughter, smiles, love and the odd tear.

Following the Guildhall, Connor and Dan held their reception at the Deal Welfare Club, which involved some legendary speeches from the bestmen.

Here are a few of my favourite frames from the day.

Claire and Adam's Pre-Wedding Shoot

I caught-up with Claire and Adam in Kingsdown, a picturesque English village located on the outskirts of Deal, Kent for what proved to be stunning pre-wedding shoot.

The weather forecast had been keeping me on my toes, with rain expected throughout the week, but we were blessed with the most stunning golden hour (the rain clouds literally dissipated on our arrival). Based on the stunning light, I had a particular field in mind for their shoot!

It was great hearing all about their wedding plans, which has got me really excited about their big day, whilst these guys were so incredibly relaxed in front of the camera.

Here are a few of my favourites from the evening:

Yasmin and Adam's Canterbury elopement

I always say it, but I absolutely love capturing smaller weddings; during these intimate occassions, I really do feel privlidged to capture every moment between two people madly in love.

This was no different for Yasmin and Adam, who held an intimate and private service at Canterbury Registry Office with their closest family members.

Following the service, we had a wonder around the stunning city of Canterbury, capturing some relaxed portraits and shots in various locations.

Here are just a few of my favourites from this wonderful day.

Jasmine and Matt's Wedding in Deal, Kent

Held on the sunniest day of the year (so far), Jasmine and Matt hosted their wedding at a private location in the quaint village of Kingsdown, just outside of Deal.

Marrying in private earlier in the week, Matt and Jasmine invited their closest friends and family members to celebrate with them and my focus was to capture candid and relaxed photos which told the story of their big day.

This was made so easy by the amount of happiness, joy and love witnessed throughout the day, whilst we even had an unexpected flyover from the Kent Spitfire!

Wrapping up the day, we grabbed 10 minutes in a nearby field to capture some natural portraits of Matt and Jasmine.

“We are so pleased with the fantastic photography Matt supplied us with for our wedding, his style is exactly what we wanted and he has captured the most beautiful shots of our day. I cannot recommend him highly enough! He was professional, friendly and put us at total ease - somehow he managed to get fantastic shots of a very camera shy bride and groom! Thank you Matt so much for capturing the magic of our day!”

— Jasmine Ransley

Roary and Thea's Chirstening in Deal

I recently had the pleasure of capturing both Roary and Thea’s Christening in St Andew’s Church in Deal, Kent.

This Church was truly stunning; giant stain glass windows diffused tonnes of light into the church, whilst the décor represented the naval culture of the town! Equally, Roary and Thea were both superstars, and I was able to tip toe around the church to capture the service as it unfolded.

Following the service, we set-up some group shots in the church gardens, which was followed by a reception in a nearby village hall.

Here are a few of my favourite frames from the day.

Bridal Prep: Why I love it

When it comes to photographing weddings, I would argue that the ‘getting ready’ part is always my favourite. It is an overused cliché to say that it is a privilege to document a couple’s big day but it is undoubtedly true and for me, being a part of the intimate morning preparations is one of the ultimate privileges.

I often describe bridal prep as the epilogue of the story of the big day; for the bridal, it is a chance to look back at the time spent with some of the most important people in her life. It matters not whether the bride is getting ready in a family member’s kitchen or the bridal suite of the wedding venue, my focus is on capturing the moments as they unfold. The excitement, the nerves, the tears, the laughs and the dress reveal.

Whilst the bride and groom will have me at least once before the big day, the morning will be the chance for other members of the wedding party to me and start to feel relaxed in front of the camera. My style is always focused on being relaxed and ‘unposey’ and the morning acts a great chance for everyone to start feeling natural around the camera. Whether the morning is quiet and intimate or frenzied excitement with an element of chaos mixed in, it is perfect time to capture authentic and candid photos of the wedding party. Everyone will be excited and relaxed, which creates a perfect scenario for some beautiful photos.

Lastly, the bridal prep is chance to capture those special details; the rings, the shoes, the dress and more. For items which have special meaning to the couple, it is the opportunity to ensure they get their true place in the final wedding gallery.

I often will meet couples who think that bridal prep coverage isn’t needed and by all means I can provide a bespoke quote to not include this coverage. Although, it is always worth remembering it is a big part of your day and only a select handful people actually see it!

Willow's Christening in Canterbury

Recently I had the pleasure of documenting Willow’s Christening at a stunning church in Sturry, just outside of Canterbury, Kent.

Starting the day with capturing the guests arriving and some photos of Willow in her gorgeous christening gown. Adding the beauty of the church, we had the perfect Spring weather!

After the service, we captured some relaxed group shots outside of the Church, followed by documentary coverage of the reception held in Margate.

“Booked Matt for my daughters christening and I couldn’t recommend him more! Matt is so lovely and very accommodating, he was there on time and spent a few hours with us at the church then at the reception, was amazing with my daughter and captured the most beautiful photos of my girls special day with all our friends and family, a huge thank you!”

— Lauren Body

Kent Business Summit

In late April, I had the chance to provide event coverage for the Kent Business Summit.

Held in the University of Kent’s stunning Sibson building, speakers ranged from leaders of the regional councils, to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Kent and even a Master Inventor from IBM (arguably the best job title ever!)

Throughout the morning, there were talks on the biggest issues facing local businesses, from Brexit to Covid, whilst there was an overarching focus on sustainability.

Check out a few shots below, which will now be used by the Summit partners to promote the event in 2023.

University of Kent's I-Teams Grand Final

Recently I provided documentary coverage of the University of Kent’s I-Teams Grand Final! This was a fantastic event, which was focused on students spending months working in teams to provide innovative and real-world solutions to challenges presented by national and local businesses.

Supported by advisors from Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, the students pitched their ideas to business and academic leaders.

Here are a select few from the evening!

Micro wedding in Sandwich

I had an amazing time capturing Laura and John’s micro wedding in early March. Surrounded by their closest family members, it was intimate, relaxed and full of love.

These guys held their service at Aberdeen House in mid afternoon, and following the service we walked into the perfect golden hour (you wouldn’t have known this was only a few weeks after Storm Eunice teared through Kent).

These guys held a small reception at the Bell Hotel, situated along the the River Stour in the quaint town of Sandwich. With the sunsetting against this backdrop, we took a relaxed walk along the river to capture some portraits.

“Matt was fantastic from start to finish, excellent communication with us prior to the wedding, and the photos are brilliant, we’re so happy we chose him to capture our big day! Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him, thanks Matt!”

— Laura Yeomans

Kim and Nic's Italian themed wedding at Frasers, Kent

This wedding was simply stunning! Following torrential rain all morning (typical British summer time), the sun was beaming just in time for Kim and Nic to say “I do” at the idealic Frasers of Egerton.

The day was full of emotion, from Nic seeing his dad for this first time in a year (due to COVID and travel restrictions) to a room full of tears as Kim and Nic said their vows. Adding the Italian theme across this stunning rural venue, it was the perfect wedding.

Just to top off the perfect day, we had simply the most stunning sunset, perfect for some relaxed couple portraits in the fields surrounding the venue.

“Matt put us at ease and captured our wedding beautifully. From the initial conversations right through to receiving the photos it was a great experience and I highly recommend to any couple getting married. He listened to what was important to us and helped us feel comfortable in front of the camera.. which is no easy thing! He was so professional even when he got covered in mud at our rainy outdoor wedding!
The pictures speak for themselves they are stunning. Thank you!”

— Kimberley Fraus

Gina and Richard's Wedding at Deal Town Hall

Just before Christmas, Gina and Richard held their big day at Deal Town Hall, situated along the quaint high street in Deal, Kent.

This was an intimate affair, involving closest family and friends, and it was full of love, laughter and tears!

Following the service, Gina and Andrew held a drinks reception in the Town Hall, and we just had enough time to capture some outdoor portraits in front of the town’s Christmas lights!

Here are a few of my favourites from the day.

Stephanie and Rosie's Twilight Wedding at the Orchard Suite

As I started thinking about this blog post, I was trying to find a word which sums up Rosie and Stephanie’s wedding at the Orchard Suite. Despite my overreliance on a thesaurus, I think the best description was ‘fun’. To clarify, from the moment I met these guys right through to their first dance, they didn’t stop laughing and smiling! This set the tone for a wedding full of belly laughs, beaming smiles and some crazy dance moves, and I absolutely loved the fact they just wanted relaxed and natural shots capturing this!

Working with the talented NNastia Photography as a second shooter, we also had the stunning backdrop of the Orchard Suite, with the outdoor service coinciding with sunset!

“Matt was absolutely fantastic! He made us feel as if he wasn’t there and completely captured our whole day! He was so professional and great at direction. He really made us feel at ease. I would highly recommend Matt…he certainly didn’t disappoint. The pictures are amazing and all our friends and family adore them! I cant recommend him enough. Thank you so much again Matt!” Rosie Chivers-Martin

Family Photography in Kent

Professionally taken family photos can provide you with timeless memories and to get the absolute most out of the session, I always recommend a little bit of planning first. Here, are my top tips for an awesome family photoshoot.

Getting the perfect location

Being the ‘Garden of England’, there are so many stunning locations to host relaxed and fun family photoshoots. You may have a specific location in mind which resonates with you guys or if you simply have no idea, speak to your photographer for ideas.

During the summer, one of my favourite spots is Botany Bay in Broadstairs, which provides the most beautiful sunset images. I also highly recommend Kearsney Abbey in Dover, as there is plenty of space for kids to run around, whilst also providing scenic backdrops.

Selecting the best time of day

Where possible, I always recommend booking family photoshoots for the last 2-hours of the day. As the sun starts to set, you get the most gorgeous golden soft light, which creates stunning images. You do need to balance this against any little ones getting tired and grumpy, and if this too late in the day, you could either aim for a family shoot in late spring or early autumn (when the sunsets earlier) or aim to host the session in the afternoon.

What to wear?

When selecting your outfits, the most important thing is to wear something you will be comfortable in! I always recommend avoiding bright colours and clothing with big logos and designs. It always best to wear neutral colours and greys, blacks, whites, creams, olive and browns look awesome against a natural backdrop.

Make it fun!

I strongly believe that family photoshoots should be as fun and relaxed as possible! As a parent of three children, I know full well how stressful it can be to get everyone fed, dressed and in the car on time. For my family sessions, I allocate more than enough time to capture images and I aim to focus on capturing relaxed portraits as well as shots of you guys having fun together.

 If you are interested in a family photoshoot in Kent, feel free to drop me a message and we can have a chat about any ideas you may have. My 2-hours sessions are available for £175, where you will typically get between 30-40 edited images.

University of Kent Headshots

I’ve recently spent three days with students at the University of Kent studying in Canterbury and Medway. Through the University’s Careers and Employability Service, I focused on capturing as many headshots as possible for students to use on their LinkedIn profiles.

That tiny square on a LinkedIn profile is the first impression students are providing prospective employers and research suggests you are 36 times more likely to receive a message with a professional headshot!

I ended up photographing over 120 students and here are a select few!

Harriet and James’ Wedding

This was without question one of the most relaxed, chilled and laid-back weddings I have had the pleasure of capturing. When I caught-up with Harriet and James a few weeks before their big day, they said that they just wanted me to capture the moments as they happened (no awkward posing with people being forced to say cheese). The weather was absolutely perfect for this winter wedding and the Secret Garden’s rustic and vintage vibe matched perfectly with everything, from the bridesmaids dresses to the flowers.

These guys held their service at the stunning chapel and the weather was perfect for wintery walk with the newly weds around the gardens. The top off the perfect day, there was a sparkler exit followed by some smashing dance moves to 80s pop!

“Thank you so much, we love them! You have really captured the happiness of the day”

Clark and Jodie’s ‘Day of the Dead’ themed weddings

Clark and Jodie’s big day was truly one of a kind, with rain pouring (literally red level weather warning scale), a request for guests to dress as comfortably as they wish and an overarching day of the dead theme. But most importantly, this day truly reflected this awesome couple and was foremost characterised by their love for one another.

The service at St. Peter’s Church in Bridge, near Canterbury, was particularly special as it was delivered by Clark’s Step Mum (which happened to be her first wedding) and their reception at Barham Village Hall was so much fun to capture.

Working alongside the talented NNastia Photography, who was my second shooter, we completely forgot about the rain, with so many special moments being captured inside.

We also had the chance to take the couple to a nearby stately home for their indoor newly wed session, which provided plenty of opportunities for relaxed portraits.

The couple also showed their awesomeness by standing out in the cold and rain, allowing for unique night-time portraits!

“I can’t recommend Matt enough. We are so so happy with the photos! He’s professional and friendly and is really passionate about getting the best photos he can. Thank you Matt for giving us some precious memories to cherish forever!”

— Joddie Stupple

Sophie and Joe’s wedding at the Crown Lodge

What a wedding! When I met Sophie and Joe a few weeks’ before their big day, they told me they had one big requirement; they wanted the coverage to be a relaxed and natural as possible!

The wedding started at St Cosmas & St Damian’s Church in Challock, which is an absolutely stunning Church, followed by the reception at the Crown Lodge in Wye (an equally stunning location).

Despite the heavy wind and rain, we managed to get outside after the meal for some relaxed portraits, shortly followed by Lofty Harris playing into the evening.

“Matt was amazing - neither of us felt very comfortable being photographed but Matt instantly put us at ease and I felt like he really understood what we wanted. He captured some amazing photos of our day that will be treasured memories for us forever. Matt was really responsive to messages and got us our final gallery 2 weeks after the wedding, with some sneak peaks after about a week. Thank you so much for your amazing work”

— Sophie Lawrenson

Personal Branding Session for EnglishQi

I recently had the chance to work with the Founder of EnglishQi, a new initiative which helps individuals develop their English language skills for professional development.

As a new business, the Founder was looking for a series of images, including ‘action shots’ to help market the business.

We worked across multiple venues (with some challenging lighting conditions) to create some simple yet effective imagery.

You can check out some select images below: