Here are some images from a wedding I attended literally a few hours ago at Liverpool Town Hall, followed by the reception at the Atlantic Tower (Thistle) hotel in Liverpool City centre...

Helen had asked if we could photograph the wedding in a slightly more 'Funky' way, rather than the usual traditional style (Not that we photograph weddings completely traditionally, but the focus being on a 'Modern' approach.) She emailed me numerous images from weddings on the internet that she liked and asked me to recreate them in my own style...

The wedding was amazing & the finished images will be ones which they will look back at in years to come and smile...

I have included some of the images below, fully cleaned up, which they may receive in their finished album... 

Telephone boxes by the Town Hall in Liverpool

Helen looking out of the window in Liverpool Town Hall.

Walking down the road in Liverpool City centre next to the Atlantic Tower hotel.

Helen and Mark on the roof of the Liverpool Liver Building...

Helen and Mark walking back down the isle at Liverpool Town Hall.

I attended a wedding the other day at Thronton Manor. The wedding was Marie Florian and Roger Walton's...

 I have attended this venue on loads of occasions, but the wedding only a few days ago was one which I'll remember for a long time!

The bride was someone who was incredibly good at posing. She either had the 'X factor' or had been practicing like a maniac in front of the mirror before the photo-shoot! Either way hats off to her... If anyone wants photographs from their wedding like theirs, then what I suggest is looking through bridal magazines and copying the poses from the brides in the publications. I can pose virtually any bride (Hey, I can pose like a woman better than most women (This is worrying though!!!)), but for the very best shots and to know exactly what I'm talking about, my suggestion is to look in many bridal magazines, stand in front of the mirror and practice!!!!

Even if I'm not the photographer at your wedding and you have decided to book someone else (Why I ask at the standard and prices we offer?!!?), do what I recommend here!!!

There are loads of amazing venues right across Liverpool, Merseyside and Manchester and to make the most out of your wedding photography and help the photographer make the most of your images, pracitice in front of the mirror before your wedding (Probably when your bloke has gone to bed and after a few glasses of red)... Many photographers may not be so good at telling you how to pose!!!

Marie posing for the camera inside Thornton Manor, Thornton Hough.

Marie getting ready for her big day... Model like and the perfect example of exactly how to 'Make love to the camera...'

In recent years the professional wedding photographer has come up against a new kind of competitor 'free wedding photography'.

I'm sure to many, and at first thought understandably so, the prospect of not paying anything for wedding photography as opposed to £1k plus, seems very appealing. Wedding budgets (particularly during the recent recession) are often tight and costs can easily spiral out of control.

Free wedding photography can come in a couple of forms. It could be a family member, friend or work colleague who has a half decent (or even sometimes top of the range) camera and enjoys taking the odd snap or two at family dos - the hobbyist. They may have even taken a few good shots at a wedding they've been to as a guest, finding themselves pleased and enthusiastic to do more.

The pressures of the wedding day are enormous for a wedding photographer, it's a massive responsibility. It takes many, many weddings (often years) to reach the desired skill level and experience to be able to organise the day, guests, timings, groups of (often drunk) people, satisfy the demands of the bride and groom and still manage to produce a high level of photography, worthy of a wedding album. Should such high expectations be placed on someone just doing a favour?

There are also lots of new wedding photographers on the block - the 'Start Up' photographer. These photographers are 'giving it a go' and drum up business by supplying very low cost or even free wedding photography packages. The general idea is that, as they have no wedding photography experience; no established wedding portfolio and little or no technical photography skills then they couldn't possibly take payment. I'm sure we'd all agree that anyone could offer this service and call themselves a wedding photographer. Why then is the prospect of this wedding photography service such a tempting offer?

It's more than true to say that the primary task for a wedding photographer is to make memories. The job of a wedding photograph should always be to bring those memories to life by capturing the day's events clearly, artistically and with emotion – otherwise what's the point?

Would any bride allow an amateur seamstress to make her wedding dress? Perish the thought! Even if they had the best sewing machine on the planet? Or how about letting a kitchen assistant cater for her wedding guests? And risk all the guests going hungry on her big day? No way!

Surprisingly though, a large number of brides and grooms find themselves allowing a total amateur to photograph the biggest day of their lives and substituting their life long memories for a cheap and sub standard replacement.

The quality of photography received from someone who has little or no wedding experience speaks for itself. It's not uncommon for us to receive enquiries from distressed brides telling us how they chose the cheap or even free option, how they regret it and asking if there is anything we can do with their disappointing wedding photographs. Unfortunately however, it's more often than not, too late.