Some weddings are all about grand entrances, carefully choreographed group photographs and a long list of formalities. Others are about spending time with the people who matter most, having a good laugh, and enjoying every moment without worrying about what comes next.
Sophie and Josh chose the second option.
Their wedding at the stunning Bovey Castle in Devon was an intimate affair, with a relaxed atmosphere and a very clear idea of what they wanted from their photography. They didn’t want endless formal photographs or rows of guests being arranged into increasingly complicated combinations. They wanted natural, candid photographs that captured the laughter, the emotions and the little moments that made their wedding theirs.
And that’s precisely what we did.
This was a two hour booking, combining my wedding photography and wedding content creation services. So, while I was busy capturing photographs, I was also recording short video clips for Sophie and Josh to use on social media.
Two services, one photographer, and a very busy two hours!
Bovey Castle, A Venue That Speaks for Itself
Bovey Castle is one of those wedding venues that makes an impression before you’ve even taken your camera out of the bag.
Set in the beautiful Devon countryside on the edge of Dartmoor, the castle combines grand architecture with sweeping grounds and some spectacular scenery. It’s the sort of place where you could spend hours wandering around with a camera and still discover another lovely view just around the next corner.
I’ve photographed weddings here several times now, so it’s always a pleasure to return.
One thing worth mentioning if you’re planning a wedding at Bovey Castle is to make sure your photographer has their public liability insurance documentation readily available before the day. The venue will request it, so having everything organised beforehand helps avoid any last minute administrative adventures.
Fortunately, this is something I’m well used to dealing with, and have it online and on file, ready to email.
Capture Sophie and Josh’s wedding.
A Small Wedding With a Big Personality
What I particularly liked about Sophie and Josh’s approach was that they knew exactly what mattered to them.
They weren’t interested in spending their wedding day standing in front of a camera, being told where to put their hands or which way to turn their heads. They wanted to enjoy the day with their guests, and they wanted photographs that reflected what actually happened.
That’s very much how I like to work anyway.
My photography style is built around natural moments and storytelling. I want to capture people laughing because something is genuinely funny, not because I’ve asked them to pretend they’re having the time of their lives.
There’s a difference between photographing a moment and manufacturing one.
Of course, there are occasions when a little direction helps, particularly when working with light or making the most of a beautiful location. But there’s no need to turn a wedding into a two hour photoshoot if that’s not what the couple wants.
With Sophie and Josh, the brief was refreshingly simple.
Capture the emotions.
Capture the laughter.
Capture the memories.
Let them enjoy their wedding.
I think that’s a pretty good way to approach any wedding, regardless of its size.
The Ceremony Room and a Little Lighting Magic
The ceremony room at Bovey Castle is a huge, bright and airy space, with large windows that allow plenty of natural light into the room.
It’s a beautiful setting for a wedding ceremony, but those enormous windows can present a bit of a challenge for photography.
Sophie and Josh were positioned directly in front of a large window, which meant there was a significant difference between the brightness outside and the light falling on the couple.
You might have noticed this if you’ve ever tried taking a photograph of someone standing in front of a bright window using your phone.
The camera sees all that light coming through the glass and has to decide what to expose for. Get it wrong, and your couple can end up looking rather dark, with the window behind them appearing much brighter.
Some of the guests were taking photographs during the ceremony, and you could see exactly how difficult the lighting was. The couple appeared quite shadowy in those images, and the detail in the bride’s dress was difficult to see.
This is where having professional lighting makes a real difference.
I used my Godox V1 speedlight and Godox AD200 strobe to lift the shadows on Sophie and Josh while balancing the light coming through the window.
The aim wasn’t to make the room look artificially bright or destroy the lovely natural atmosphere. It was simply to make sure the couple were properly illuminated, with good skin tones and detail in their clothing.
The difference was particularly noticeable in Sophie’s dress.
In some of the guest photographs, the dress appeared very dark because of the backlighting. With my lighting positioned to complement the available light, I could bring out the detail and texture while keeping the background looking bright and airy.
It’s one of those things that can look effortless in the finished photograph, but there’s a little more going on behind the scenes than simply pressing a button.
Although, if pressing a button really did solve every lighting problem, I’d have finished work years ago!
Photography and Content Creation Together
This wedding was also a great example of how wedding photography and wedding content creation can work together.
Alongside photographing the ceremony, guests and the couple, I captured plenty of short video clips throughout the booking.
These are ideal for Instagram Reels and TikTok, allowing couples to share little snippets of their wedding day without having to wait for a traditional wedding film.
The idea behind content creation is different from traditional wedding photography.
My photographs are carefully composed, professionally edited images that tell the story of the day and can be printed, framed and treasured for years.
The video clips capture movement, atmosphere and those little moments that work brilliantly on social media. A quick laugh, a reaction, a glimpse of the ceremony or a moment between the couple can become a lovely little video to share with friends and family. Here is a short reel I made for their wedding:
@simondayreels A beautiful wedding at the incredible @BoveyCastleHotel #weddingcontentcreatoruk #weddingcontentcreators #weddingcontentcreation #devonwedding ♬ All That Really Matters – ILLENIUM & Teddy Swims
And because I’m already familiar with wedding photography, I understand the importance of positioning, timing and being discreet.
I’m not going to stand in the middle of the aisle waving a phone around when the photographer needs to capture the ceremony. In this case, of course, I was looking after both services myself, so I could coordinate the photography and video clips as the day unfolded.
It also meant Sophie and Josh didn’t need to organise separate suppliers for two services they wanted covered.
For couples who want beautiful photographs as well as content they can share almost immediately, combining the two can be a very practical option.
Time for Some Photographs Around the Grounds
One of the best things about photographing weddings at Bovey Castle is the opportunity to explore the grounds with the couple.
The wedding planner kindly takes me and the newlyweds around the estate for the bride and groom photographs, which makes the whole process much easier.
And what a place to photograph!
The grounds are stunning, with beautiful views, mature trees, lovely architecture and countless little spots that work wonderfully as backdrops.
Honestly, it’s a bit unfair on other venues when you have this much choice.
You could spend the entire afternoon photographing a couple here and still feel as though you’ve barely scratched the surface.
Fortunately, Sophie and Josh weren’t looking for an extensive collection of formal portraits. We could concentrate on making the most of our time together, capturing natural photographs while enjoying the surroundings.
This is where I find that a little gentle direction can be useful without taking over the experience. I’ll help couples find a flattering position, make the most of the light and give them something to do if they’re unsure what to do with themselves in front of the camera.
After all, not everyone spends their weekends modelling for wedding photographers.
The best photographs often happen when couples simply relax and interact with each other, rather than worrying about whether they’re standing correctly.
With Bovey Castle providing the backdrop, we certainly weren’t short of beautiful places to work with.
A Quick Look Around the Reception Room
Before finishing, I took a quick tour of the reception room, capturing the details and the setting ready for the celebrations ahead.
These photographs help complete the story of the wedding, showing the care that has gone into preparing the venue and giving Sophie and Josh a record of how everything looked on their day.
Then, just like that, my two hours were up.
It always amazes me how quickly wedding time passes. You arrive, start capturing the story, and before you know it, you’re packing your equipment away and heading home.
The advantage of a shorter booking is that we can focus entirely on the parts of the day that matter most to the couple. There’s no need to cover hours of preparations or stay late into the evening if those aren’t priorities.
For Sophie and Josh, two hours of photography and content creation gave us the opportunity to capture their ceremony, the emotions and interactions, some lovely photographs around the grounds, and video clips for their social media.
A Wedding That Was Completely Theirs
Sophie and Josh’s wedding was a lovely reminder that there is no single correct way to celebrate getting married.
Some couples want a huge celebration with hundreds of guests, extensive group photographs and a party that continues into the early hours.
Others prefer something smaller and more intimate, focusing on their closest family and friends.
Neither approach is better than the other. What matters is that the day reflects the people getting married.
Sophie and Josh knew what they wanted, and I was delighted to help them capture it.
It was a pleasure returning to Bovey Castle, working with the venue team and combining photography with wedding content creation to give the couple a collection of memories in both formats.
To Sophie and Josh, thank you for trusting me with your wedding day. I hope you enjoy looking back at the photographs and reliving all those little moments for many years to come.
And if you’re planning your own wedding at Bovey Castle, or anywhere else in Devon, and you want natural photography without spending your day posing for the camera, I’d love to hear from you.
I can also combine wedding photography with content creation, giving you beautiful photographs alongside short video clips to share on Instagram and TikTok.
Because your wedding day should be about enjoying the moment.
I’ll take care of remembering it.
Equipment Used on the Day
Sony A7IV
Sony 24 to 70mm f2.8 GM V2
Godox V1 speedlight
Godox AD200 strobe light
DJI Osmo Pocket 4P for the wedding content creation.
