Beamish Hall on a hot summer day.

I love the vintage wedding cars. It's a quiet moment as the registrar speaks to the bride and checks details before she goes into the hotel.

Helen is a very beautiful bride to be. I am watching her quietly as she talks to the registrar.

Natural unposed photos show you the story of how it is. The intimacy of the space of the car. Helen with her father. There is a lot to read in this photograph.

Toby and Helen are involved in the theatre so its natural for Toby to strike such an interesting 'pose'

How lucky we were as the day for Alec and Brett's wedding was so beautiful. They were married on 12th November this year. Sunny and warm among such a wet November week. This often happens which is nice. This was my first visit to Duns Castle. A very special place.

The ceremony room is very beautiful and has a grand piano in it. The Bride's brother played a piece on it during the signing of the register. can you see that the pageboy's foot is turned on it's side ah he's nervous.

Duns Castle is full of original oil paintings on the walls creating a strong sense of history.

Alec collected petals for her confetti which we could smell as they were thrown, very sweet.

My favourite kind of photograph. he's unaware of me and the camera and how good does he look.

Duns Castle has a lake a short walk from the castle. the sun was beginning to set so the light is quite beautiful.

The long driveway into the castle with the late November afternoon sun.

This wedding took place at Woodhill Hall near Otterburn. It was a very relaxed family affair with the couple's little girl and boxer dog.

Relaxing with a bottle of beer after the ceremony.

We went for a walk with the dog.

I first went to Chillingham Castle when my sons were young and found it fascinating. Years later I started a series of drawings which were based upon photographs I had been given permission to take at Chillingham of the staff and rooms. It was while doing these drawings that I had the idea to do photography and within a few days was enrolled on the new HNC in Photography at Newcastle College. It is therefore particularly special to photograph weddings at Chillingham as the castle helped me on my way. x

My favourite kind of moment, unstaged, unplanned, spontaneous.

Horton Grange Hotel is one of my favourite locations. Fran wore a stunning dress.

The red theme added a lovely richness.

The garden building is always useful for group photos as well as the bride and groom and if its raining it offers shelter too.

Horton boasts a very large Yew tree which provides shelter and lovely dappled light.

I photographed this couple at their wedding a few years ago in Northumberland. It was lovely to see them again this summer at my new studio at Cronkley.They didn't want to do any indoor photos so we went straight out for our walk from the studio a few yards to this spot and then off into the wood and along the shore of the Reservoir. It was a beautiful hot August day and for a couple who live and work in London it was an opportunity to chill.

Children know how to have fun, go with the flow and they find things of interest everywhere around them. I like to think I am like that too.

He had picked up a piece of grass and was so intent upon it. I was crouching down on one knee and he wandered over towards me. I didn't know if I would get this shot as he was moving and was rather close. I am so glad it worked. I love the light, the shapes, the intensity. One of my great joys with photography is the unexpected moment. The composition which you couldn't design yourself but in the freezing of the moment in the photograph it gives you the time over and over again to savour it.

Claire and Mike were married in September at Heavenfield Church near the Roman Wall. What a ovely romantic place it is. The ceremony was conducted in candelight as there is no electricity.

I love this photo. Claire naturally looks round to her father as they begin to walk towards the church.

We spent a little bit of time at the church after all the guests had gone onto the reception. There was a sudden downpour, the umbrellas came in very useful, the light levels dropped and with the change in shutter speed this gave a sweet soft atmosphere to the photos. I can feel the rain in the photos so I hope you can too.

As the Roman wall was so close by the couple were very keen to visit it on the way to the reception. We sat in my car for a few minutes first to wait for the shower to end.

It was a fabulous day where I could follow the way the couple wanted to go and find lots of lovely natural images on the way.

Durham Castle is an amazing place to get married. So much history it was a privilege to work there.

The couple were married in the chapel inside the Castle. An intimate space.

On the steps in the castle courtyard.

It's interesting to take a photo from this perspective and then you see what every one else is doing.

But not forgetting who are the main attraction of course.

And then a little bit of wandering time to appreciate the location.

Katy and Jonathan were married a few years ago now, I photographed their wedding. So it was lovely to see them again with their children. All my wedding clients receive complimentary portrait sessions and the majority use them when they have children rather than a pre-wedding shoot. I love this because when I started out in photography years ago I very much wanted to be the family photographer. The person the family turns to when they want photography to record their family history.

We went outside shortly after doing some indoor photos on the 'bean bag' settee I have. Children are so expressive as their feelings change from moment to moment. I photograph children by watching and waiting to see what happens. As long as they are playing and enjoying themselves with a bit of exploration and wonder thrown in it gives me all the material I need.

If my memory is correct I think we were all listening to an aeroplane far overhead. She stopped to listen intently. Her blue coat is very beautiful.

Ellingham Hall is lovely and Helen looks very beautiful. There are some more photos from their wedding on Ellingham Hall's web site too.

I converted some of the photos to sepia as the natural light was so soft and fantastic.

Signing the register at Ellingham.

Such a lovely warm day the couple only paused briefly before coming outside.

The dining room at Ellingham is full of atmosphere.

Joanne and Lee were married at Seaham Hall a wonderful North East location for weddings.

The Bridesmaids and Joanne arrived in a vintage wedding car with that fantastic smell of leather.

Her flower girl was raring to go and we had a lot of fun playing with umbrellas and the fountain at Seaham whilst waiting for Joanne.

Once the ceremony was over I spent some quiet time with the bride and groom for some photos. This one is natural as I never need to give direction or interfere.

Getting everyone onto the steps at Seaham for some group photos and then confetti. There's never any rush and always so much to photograph at every turn.

Sitting on the front seat of the car is nice - it's a private space.

Remnants of confetti and petals for Joanne.

Langley Castle is a wonderful venue and I have worked there many times over the years.

The pageboys are chilled and have such lovely blue eyes. Sometimes when children know they are being photographed and their parents ask them to 'pose' they can have such a mixture of expressions on their face all at the same time.

Coming down the stairs at Langley in a fabulous dress.

The bride going into the ceremony room and then outside for chocolate covered strawberries, a favourite with the boys.

Langley often put out the red carpet. The pageboy is doing his best at 'posing' very smartly with his Mum looking on. There is a lovely zig zag to this photo as your eye travels through all the faces.

A quiet moment. Nothing posed or set up.

Nice to make use of the dramatic backdrop for a group photo and lovely summer light. I don't interfere with group photos so in this one it's natural that the pageboy has his arm round his Mum so it tells it's own story.

I really like the fact that I didn't add the flowers to the suit of armour. The pink theme really softened the Castle and gives it a unique look.

Dissington Hall is full of natural light with such beautiful big Georgian windows. What a pleasure to photograph there.

The bride getting ready at Dissington. The bedroom is fabulously spacious and with a walk in dressing room too.

Down the stairs and then into the ceremony room.

Everyone watching and waiting.

There are lots of opportunities for photos in the grounds, this location has a very old tree.

I have photographed the Wilson family a number of times now. So they have photos of their daughter when she was a baby and now growing up. She has a brother too. I love the colours in these photos. I never tell my client's what to wear for their portrait session but if I am asked I suggest you wear what you feel most comfortable in and if the children have favourite clothes they could wear those. I can remember some of the dresses my Gran made for me when I was a child I loved them but sadly there are no photos of them and they were thrown out long ago. It's another way of making the portraits more meaningful to you and young children often bring their dolls and teddies with them. Which is brilliant.

These photos were taken on location at the children's grandparents house.