Pre-shoot / Engagement Shoots

A wedding pre-shoot is included in the two most popular packages that I offer. It is a great way for us to get together and have a good natter about the plans for your wedding day and discuss timings and specific shots you would like to be captured. I find that it also helps you feel more at ease and less nervous having to be in front of the camera on your big day. I will not pose or set up any of the shots, and just leave you to relax and have some fun (you will hardly notice that I am there).

You will of course receive all of the photographs from the shoot, to share with family and friends or to send out on save the date cards or invitations. I will ask you to select one of the images for me to print, mount and display in a large frame which I will bring along on your wedding day for your families and guests to leave messages. You can then take this home at the end of the day as a keep sake.

I have included a small selection of photographs from recent pre shoots to give you a idea of what I do..

Pete :-) x

Lydia and Marks Wedding

Lydia and Marks Wedding Blog

Going back to the crazy hot summer we had last year for today’s awesome wedding. Lydia and Mark held their ceremony at the beautiful St Andrews Church Penrith. We then all went down to the shores of Windermere to Low Wood Bay Hotel for the wedding breakfast and reception.

Families and guest were also treated to a surprise lake cruise on Windermere, it is safe to say that the Prosecco was flowing and everyone had a fabulous time.

Thank you for making us feel so welcome..

Pete :-) x

Laura and Jonnys Wedding

Laura and Jonnys Wedding Blog

Todays outing was down to the wonderful Abbey House Hotel in Barrow. For Laura and Jonnys wedding, it is always such a pleasure to work at this venue, all the staff are so friendly and helpful and the hotel grounds provide a spectacular backdrop for some great photography.

Part of the gardens where converted into a laser clay pigeon shooting range and all of the guests had a fantastic time. I declined the opportunity as I just knew I would not manage to hit a single one :-).

The happy couple decided to surprise the guests with two singing waiters. This went down really well and even prompted a dancing session in the middle of the wedding breakfast room.

Thank you to you all for making us feel so at home..

Pete :-) x

Paula and James Wedding

Paula and James Wedding Blog

We had an amazing day with these two nut cases. Paula and James tied the knot at the amazing Lanercost Priory and then on to the fantastically quirky Kirklinton Hall for the reception and evening festivities. Even the weather did not dampen their spirits as it is quite normal here in Cumbria it decided to chuck it down with rain. Thankfully it was short lived and cleared up in time for some awesome photo’s around the building and surrounding gardens.

For the evening reception they provided a BBQ and a series of fire pits outside in the grounds.

Vicky and Matthews Wedding Day

Vicky and Matthews Wedding Blog

Wow… It had to be one of the hottest days of the year for Vicky and Matt’s big day.. Blencowe Hall near Penrith never looked nicer in the sunshine..

The wedding was really relaxed and intimate, they even had their dog wearing a fancy flower necklace. 

The ceremony was held in the large sitting room, and felt really homely, so much so it felt like they where getting married in someones house.

After the ceremony everyone was treated to an alfresco barbecue. 

Laura and Jonny's Pre shoot

Laura and Jonny’s Pre-Shoot Blog

A couple of weeks ago I met up in Borrowdale for Laura and Johnny’s wedding pre shoot. We decided it was nice enough to spend some time by the lake before venturing up into the hills. Apart from a bunch of school kids the place was deserted, kind of unusual for the location..

We had a great time, so I decided to share a few shots from the shoot. Really looking forward to their wedding a the end of this month..

Pete :-)

Toni and Simons Wedding

Toni and Simons Wedding Blog

It had been a long time since our last visit to Stirk House in Gisburn, Clitheroe. We were here today to capture images and video for Toni and Simons wedding. I have to admit it was freezing cold but the sun did it's best to stay out so that we could get some really nice shots in the gardens. 

We had a treat during the evening shoot as the huge tree in the garden was lit up with hundreds of fairy lights, plus a bit of madness with a load of sparklers

Jayy and Ryans Wedding Day

Jayy and Ryans Wedding Day Blog

I met up with Jayy and Ryan a few weeks before their wedding day for an engagement - pre shoot down in the lakes. We had a great time wandering around the shores which gave us time to have a good netter about the plans for the big day. 

Following on from a church ceremony in Whitehaven the happy couple decided to hold the wedding breakfast and reception at Whitehaven Golf Club. Lucky for us it was a lovely day and the view was spectacular over the Cumbrian fells.

Cumbria Wedding Photographer

Courtney and Joe

We were almost on the doorstep for Courtney and Joe's Lake District wedding. The ceremony took place at Kirkby Stephen Parish Church, on a very hot and sunny day. Being a Cumbria wedding photographer it is not unusual to encounter all the seasons in one day!

The happy couple held their reception at the stunning Laura Ashley Belsfield Hotel on the shores of Windermere, where everyone was made to feel like movie stars. After the wedding breakfast we took the bride and groom down to the lake shore for some wonderful setting sun photos - even the swans made an appearance.. I hope that the photos manage to sum up just how special the day was.

Megan and Paul's Wedding Pre-shoot

Second of the recent pre-shoots, this time a wander off to the shores of Thirlmere in the beautiful Lake District.

Thankfully the weather was NOT up to Cumbria's normal standards and was super hot and sunny. As you can see from the images Megan and Paul where well up for a bit of madness continuing on from when we met last year during Lucy and Steve's wedding in Italy

Really looking forward to capturing their wedding in a few weeks time. 

Pete :-) x

Carly and Adam's Wedding

Carly and Adam's Wedding Blog

5th February 2017

Higher Trapp Country House Hotel

This was the third wedding I'd had he privilege to capture for the family. Our association started four years ago when we had the pleasure of shooting Adam's sister Hannah and David's wedding in Kendal, followed by Kim and Oliver's two years later.

Carly and Adam are movie fanatics and based the theme of their wedding on this, table names were names of their favourite films. They even had a light box next to the wedding cake with the words 'Cakes on a Plane' illuminated.

The men did their part by wearing "Spat" shoes to compliment Carly's 1920s styled wedding dress.

We had a fabulous day with the happy couple and almost feel as though we are now honorary members of the families.  

Jo and Ben's Wedding

Jo and Ben's Wedding - Inn on The Lake Glenridding

We first met Jo and Ben , and their gorgeous dog Scooby, on their pre-wedding photoshoot. We had a fabulous hour stomping around the Borrowdale Valley, chatting over their plans for the wedding day, and generally getting to know more about them. It was a rather overcast day, but it made for some spectacular skies over Derwentwater. 

The Inn on The Lake was the perfect setting for Jo and Ben's wedding. On the shores of Ullswater, the lake and surrounding mountains provide a stunning backdrop. Jo and Ben had chatted about having an outdoor ceremony, and being the end of December it was a dream that wouldn't necessarily become a reality. However, the Cumbrian weather was extremely kind - it was cold, but it was one of those crisp dry days that you can only hope for in December. Following the ceremony guests where treated to nice hot mulled wine outside on the terrace.

The hotel was looking very festive with all their Christmas decorations. 

Chris Gratten of Beautifully vintage-china-hire-vintage-accessories provided room decoration and centred on a golfing theme -  Ben and his twin best man brother Alec are professional golf teachers! Each of their tables was named after a famous golf course.

Thankfully the weather remained clear for us all day, and Jo and Ben where very keen to get outside again for some more photos. Jo did say that she ruined her shoes for the reflection pool and pier shots, but she said it was all worth it....

And to round the day off they held their evening reception in The Candle Room - it looked spectacular thanks to the work of Jaimie Johnston from The Memory Knot who provided the room decorations. Then one more little venture outside for some night time shots in the gazebo..

CPD Photography

Cumbria Wedding Photographer