Favourite Frames – My First Ceilidh

My first Ceilidh, and my first in a new series of blog posts that I’ve chosen to call “Favourite Frames“.

Favourite Frames does exactly what it says on the tin. Intended as a series of single image blog posts, these are images with particular resonance for me because they go above and beyond the normal coverage of the wedding day, or maybe have an interesting story behind them worth telling.

As a reportage wedding photographer I’m always looking for the unrehearsed moments within the wedding day that capture the genuine love and joy between Bride and Groom, family and friends.

Favourite Frames aims to tell the story behind some of my latest work, as well as occasionally dipping into the Married to my Camera archive, as I’ve done here, to help shed light on my approach to capturing the love, laughter and happy tears of a real wedding.

This image, appropriately enough, was captured at one of the very first weddings I ever photographed, on the first digital camera I owned. A 6 megapixel Nikon D70s, which just goes to show what’s possible with good technique (and a big burst of flash!)

Having never witnessed, let alone photographed a Ceilidh before, I had no idea what to expect. I love photographing on the dance floor at weddings, but things can sometimes take a while to get going. That’s never a problem with a Ceilidh or Barn Dance and the routines make it easy for me to anticipate the action and be in the right place at the right time. This particular shot came towards the end of the dance when a big circle is formed and everyone rushes into the centre. Somewhat foolishly, I decided to position myself right in the centre, but I absolutely love the expressions on everyones’ faces and the high kick from the man on the right. Not a move that is likely to ever win Strictly Come Dancing, although look a little more closely and you might be able to spot a former winner of the TV show in the photo!