I’ve been to more weddings than I can count at this point, and you start to notice a bit of a pattern. There are things that happen at almost every single one… not because couples love them, but because they feel like they’re part of the deal. And look, if you do love them, crack on. It’s your day. No judgment here. But if you’re on the fence about any of this, consider this your permission slip to quietly stick a few of these in the bin by breaking wedding traditions.

I see it all the time. You get engaged, you start planning, you’ve got about twelve tabs open, and suddenly you’re comparing photographers like you’re buying something off Amazon. They all look pretty similar at first glance, nice photos, similar sounding packages, wildly different prices, and before long you’re thinking, “do we really need to spend that much?”

Most people think they’re booking a Wedding Photographer, someone to take photos of their special day. Nice and simple. Turn up, take a few pictures, go home. That’s the expectation anyway... The reality is very different.

Let’s have an honest chat about unplugged ceremonies, because right now what most couples are actually having isn’t fully unplugged at all. It’s more of a “we mentioned it briefly but people did what they wanted anyway” situation. And that’s where the chaos creeps in, and half measures ruin ceremony photos.

A week or so ago, I put a post up on social media. I asked my followers and people on my personal Facebook to ask me anything. It was a bold move, and because I like to live dangerously, and honestly, I think I'm a gluten for punishment, I also gave everyone the option to make it anonymous too.

Every family has one. You know the one. The relative who turns up to weddings with a camera bag the size of hand luggage, a couple of impressive looking lenses, and the quiet confidence of someone who “used to do a bit of photography back in the day”.

Your wedding should feel like you. Not a performance of what you think weddings have to look like. The best wedding days are the fun ones. The ones where people laugh so hard their shoulders shake.

I’ve got no idea who first decided that shouting “cheese” was the magic trick for a good photo, but they owe all of us an apology. The second someone says it, everyone tenses up. Shoulders rise. Eyes go wide. Smiles freeze into that weird, slightly panicked grin you used to do in primary school photos. And honestly, nothing kills a real moment faster than that.

Let us talk money. It is not the most glamorous part of wedding planning, but it is one of the first questions couples ask and probably the thing that causes the most raised eyebrows. You start looking around and suddenly realise there are photographers charging anything from a couple of hundred quid to prices that make you wonder whether they arrive by helicopter and shoot on cameras made of solid gold.

Here is the thing. No one has planned a wedding before they start planning a wedding. There is no secret handbook, no cheat code, and definitely no magic download button that suddenly makes you an expert. So how on earth are you meant to know what actually helps you get stunning wedding photos and what quietly works against you?

One of the biggest surprises couples have when they start planning their wedding is just how early photographers get booked. You secure your dream venue, start getting excited about outfits, décor and the general vibe, and then suddenly you realise suppliers are disappearing faster than the last roast potato at a Sunday dinner. And honestly, I do not blame you for being surprised. Nobody tells you this stuff until you are already knee deep in Pinterest boards and timeline str

Let’s be honest. Most couples aren’t models. You probably don’t spend your weekends practising poses in front of the mirror (and if you do, no judgement). So when the thought of a camera being pointed at you all day comes up, it’s totally normal to think: “We’re going to look awkward.”

Picking your wedding photographer is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. Bigger than flowers, bigger than table favours, bigger than whether Uncle Dave gets to sing on the mic after three pints. Your photos are what you’ll still have long after the last bit of cake has been eaten, so choosing the right person matters.

Wedding photography is not about stiff poses anymore. It is about energy, story and personality. Couples book me because they want photos that feel alive and modern, something they will look back on and grin at rather than a gallery of formal smiles.

Read about Robyn and Craig who got married in Saint Neots, a little town nestled away in the depths of Cambridgeshire.

Last weekend's wedding at Worksop registry office was an absolute delight, and Angela and Dale, the lovely couple I had the pleasure of photographing, were truly fantastic.

Get ready to hear the story of an amazing couple, Stephen and Craig, who said their "I do's" last weekend at the stunning Sandwell Registry Office.

This is a wedding I've been looking forward to for a while now, and it's one that feels like it's been in the diary forever, as I booked their special day way back at the Charnwood Arms wedding fayre around 2 years ago now!

We were treated to a well-needed break in the rain and some gorgeous sunshine for the wedding of Kay and Mark at The Fox and Goose, just on the outskirts of Chesterfield.

Laura and Lewis's Wedding, where we captured the day at Bosworth Hall.