Jonathan and Stephanie’s wedding took place at St Martins Church in Exminster, Exeter, with their reception at Duckaller Farm. It was one of those lovely, warm Devon days that just felt right for a summer wedding.
Bridal prep was at the bride’s mum’s house, conveniently only around the corner from the church. The morning was calm and full of laughter, and the house was actually nice and tidy for a change, which, as any wedding photographer knows, is a small miracle! One of my favourite moments was the first look with the bride’s dad, always a beautiful and emotional part of the morning.
St Martin’s church itself was charming, with bell ringers adding that perfect touch of tradition to the day. As expected, I was very restricted in where I could go and what I could do during the ceremony. Thankfully, experience has taught me to anticipate this, so Jonathan and Stephanie were already pre-warned that I’d be working creatively within the limits.
Still, I managed to sneak a great shot from the bell ringers’ room above everyone. I may have interrupted their sandwiches and drinks for a moment (sorry again if you’re reading this!), but it was worth it for the angle. And now I know exactly what goes on up there between the ringing 🙂
After the ceremony, we did the formal shots in front of the church. This meant everyone was facing directly into the sun, but it was the couple’s chosen location. To work with it, I used my Godox AD600 Pro at full tilt to lift those panda eyes and create a much more flattering look. Sometimes you just have to bend light to your will!
Then it was a mad dash to Duckaller Farm for the reception. The setup there was incredible, a massive teepee in the field, full of character and warmth. Of course, teepees come with their own challenge: tricky white balance. Luckily, my two well-placed AD200 strobes, along with the speedlights on my cameras controlling all the lights, made short work of it.
The couple had chosen the fields around the venue for their bride and groom photos, complete with haystacks that added that rustic farm feel. A huge thank you to the bridesmaid who helped with the veil, we got some amazing flowing veil shots that looked straight out of a movie.
As the night fell, it was time for the sparkler send-off. I took control of the lighters beforehand (a lesson learned from many previous sparkler moments) so I could manage when, where, and how they were lit. Despite a couple of enthusiastic guests starting early, we pulled it off, a perfect end to a perfect day, and the shot came out brilliantly.
This wedding also marked a turning point for me; my last Christian/Catholic church wedding. Over the years, restrictions on photographers during ceremonies have become incredibly restrictive and bizarre, to the point where it’s no longer possible to capture the photos couples expect. It’s a real shame, but I’m glad my final one ended on such a high note with such a lovely couple.
Gear List for This Wedding
2x Sony A7IV
Sony 70-200mm f2.8 GM V2
Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM V2
Sony 24mm f1.4
Sony 85mm f1.4
Godox AD600 Pro flash
Godox V1’s on both cameras, each controlling the other lights
Godox AD200 strobes on each side of the reception room
If you need a wedding photographer in Exeter for your wedding, let me know!
