Gate Street Barn Wedding Photographer

“Your work reminds me of Henri Cartier-Bresson, the way you capture a narrative in one shot.  Your photographs are beautiful works of art.  I saw a wedding shot you took of the top table during the main meal, and the way you captured the people in it reminded me a little of Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, so clever!”

Under normal circumstances, dropping a couple of big names like that into an e-mail, would be more than enough to grab my attention (making me feel slightly embarrassed in the process) but have me chomping at the bit to photograph the wedding. But as I continued to read Sue’s initial enquiry to me, it soon became apparent just what a special occasion this was going to be, and just what a tough journey she, and those closest to her, had been on in recent years to reach this point. As wedding photographers we drop into peoples’ lives on this most momentous of days, knowing precious little, if I’m honest, about the couple and their history together. Except for what little gems we might pick up over a cup of tea before the wedding, in snippets of conversation on the morning of the wedding or what embarrassing childhood stories we’re treated to in the after dinner speeches, we’re left to react to things as they unfold, telling the story of the day with images that we hope will resonate with our couples. That’s why each year I like to offer my services to a couple that I feel have had a particularly tough time and deserve a break, not only to document their wedding day, but to understand what brings people together, to empathise and to give something back. Shortly after Ray (Sue’s now husband) had proposed four years ago, Sue was involved in a serious accident in which she was knocked down by a van as she crossed the road. Fortunately she was rushed to hospital but after waking from four days in a coma there were still serious injuries that required major surgery and months of physiotherapy. In her e-mail Sue went on to describe what a traumatic time this was and how after loosing her job as a result, and partly because of the ordeal, she had decided to re-train as a child psychotherapist. She writes “I hope to use my experience to strengthen my therapeutic role and specialise in trauma.” Writing about the wedding she says “if there is one thing that I have learnt from my recovery it’s that you have to celebrate the milestones in your life. After everything else falls away, all that is left is love.” With words like this, how could I refuse? Sue and Ray it was an absolute honour to be your Gate Street Barn wedding photographer. It’s a day that I’ll certainly never forget. To read a full account of the day from Sue’s perspective please scroll further down the page.