THIS IS REPORTAGE.

‘This is Reportage’ is probably the most respected and high level community of documentary wedding photographers the world over. Their awards are the most sought after and prestigious and along with ‘Fearless’ the most difficult to get. Only the top few percent out of thousands of submissions are awarded each round.

‘This is Reportage’ has a clear message. Nothing is staged, nothing is posed. They only showcase the best documentary wedding photography meaning that what you see is the real stuff from weddings. The moments, the emotions, the craziness, fun, and uniqueness, all captured at a world class level. Surely that’s how everyone wants to remember their day.

TIR #1 WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE U.K 2020.

In a year with relatively few weddings and such hard, uncertain times for many it could seem odd to be entering competitions, but it has kept me sane and reminded me of how much I love my job. It has kept me focussed and shown couples who have booked me and are stressed about their day that I’m still here, not going anywhere and going for it.

I truly believe I am better photographer because of ‘This is Reportage’. The standard is the highest there is, and it has made me work so hard to improve, to keep up, to shoot with a vision and a story in mind, and to write this having just ranked number 1 in the UK for 2020 overall and number 1 for storytelling just blows my mind. What is even more incredible is that in the Top 100 list in the WORLD I was placed 4th overall, and 3rd for storytelling. It is the proudest moment of my entire career so far, a level I just never expected to reach.

TOP 10 UK LIST

TOP 100 WORLDWIDE LIST

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bridesmaids sat in a row with flowers on their laps

bride and father embracing before the wedding. Father holding back tears

bride walking out of church. Light only picking up part of the dress and flowers

busy layered shot of kids playing and a man drinking beer

girl laughing at her twin who you can see the reflection of in her glasses.

Bride, groom and guests watching fire works at Eaves Hall

FANCY HEARING ME ON THE TIR PODCAST?

TIR & ME

This is Reportage was launched at the end of 2017 by documentary wedding photography legend and good friend Alan Law. This gives serious weight to the community and his standing in the Industry means that the worlds elite photographers consider it an honour to be asked to judge each round.

When I entered the competition in the first round, it was to see how I stacked up against such stiff competition and I figured I needed to pick up an award in the very first round before everyone else joined in if I was to stand a chance at being awarded. I was over the moon to get a story award in the first round, but my gut feeling about TIR becoming more and more difficult to win as time went on seemed confirmed when I got nothing in the second round (As it happens the only round that I haven’t picked up at least one award).

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE STORY.

‘TIR’ is also, as far as I am aware the only award that celebrates stories at weddings. Rather than a single image, these are a series of up to 20 images from the same wedding that show how creatively and expertly a photographer can capture a whole wedding. Not just the ‘hero’ or ‘one off’ shots. In my opinion these are what really matter, and are the thing I tell couples about when I meet them as winning a ‘Story award’ proves that I put my all into the entire day, the little moments as well as the big moments - the whole day and not just the obvious parts. It shows I capture these to the highest standard without interruption, allowing brides and grooms to enjoy their day. Of course I love capturing couple portraits as well but in this competition they aren’t allowed - they are for all the other awards.

…So onto my story awards…

SIMA & BHAVIN AT OFFLEY PLACE

I love the atmosphere, the colours and fun of Indian weddings. The awesome dancing, the amazing food, the lovely people and the freedom you are allowed to get in close and capture all the brilliant moments. There was plenty of time to spend with the bride and the groom separately before the wedding to tell both sides of the story as it came together.

Indian bride having her head dress put on

Brides mother puts rice on the grooms forehead

Indian door games with the groom and brides mother.

Beads on hands during the wedding ceremony

Emotional bride and mother during the ceremony

Close up of bride having red powder put on her head.

Emotional photo with a group of people hugging.

Grooms brother wipes a tear while standing behind the bride and groom

bride and groom exit through flower petals

boy and elderly relatives in a quiet room at the wedding

Bride lifted in the air on the dance floor.

Bride and groom lifted in the air on a busy dance floor.

ABIGAIL & TOM AT GISBURNE PARKE ESTATE

This was one of the highlights of 2018 and one of the first weddings held at this in demand exclusive and totally stunning venues. Combine that with lovely summer weather, plenty of space to work in and most importantly, loads of really cool people, it was the perfect day.

Photo of the bride getting ready taken through a door

Bride coming down the stairs in her dress

Bridesmaids reaction to seeing the bride in her dress

bride letting go of her dads hand as they enter church

funny moment between the bride and groom at the alter

dog ring bearer at the end of the church aisle

Bride, groom and guests laughing in church

close up of hands picking up cones of confetti

bride and groom walking through confetti

Bride and groom dancing into their reception.

Nice moment between the bride and groom during fathers speech.

Bride and groom holding hands. Shot includes all the table candles.

Grooms mother and bridesmaid laughing at the speeches

Groom lifts the bride during the first dance.

Confetti canon goes off during the first dance.

Bride and groom lifted by friends on a busy dance floor

Bride and groom watching fireworks going off at Gisburn Parke Estate

HANNAH & ROB AT LYTHAM LOWTHER PAVILION

Hannah, Rob and their friends (and Uncle - legendary wedding singer Paul Guard) are all insanely talented musicians and tour the country together. This was a really unique wedding based around music with the bride and groom doing solo performances for each other and together for their friends and family. A privilege to be a part of.

The musical aspect is what I really wanted to make sure featured in this story.

Reflection of bride having hair done to the right, mother watching to the left

Bride having dress fastened with full reflection to the left

Bride’s father first see’s his daughter in her dress

Bride and groom’s dog waiting at the end of the red carpet

Groom waits at alter while his friends joke behind him

Bride and groom celebrate getting married in church

Bride and groom leave church through confetti in strong light

Reception entertainment with all the girls on stage

Bride and groom react to father of the brides speech

Brides mother does a speech and gets the guests laughing

Grooms has head in hands during best man speech

Groom sings a song at the piano for his wife

Bride on stage singing a song to her husband

First dance, focusing on the singer on stage

first dance focusing on the bride as she hugs her husband

NATALIE & LEE AT NEW HOUSE FARM

This wedding was cool as you like. Nat and Lee are amazing and they have a super tight group of friends who just know how to let rip and have fun. I felt a strong series of images coming together at various parts of the day, but as a large part of the day was spent doing portraits by the stunning lakes surrounding the venue (not allowed in TIR) I wanted this story to focus on the relationships and friendships.

Bride having her make up done in a beam of light.

Bridesmaids laughing at the bride with rollers in her hair

Groom and his friends laughing while getting ready.

bride checks her make up in a hand mirror.

Brides father overwhelmed by the moment.

Bride walks down the stairs to head to the wedding venue.

Bridesmaids looking to the left for the bride at New House farm.

Bride and groom leave the wedding ceremony as man and wife.

a guest dancing and singing during a ‘sing off’

emotional bride looks up at her father during his speech.

Grooms mum pulls a shocked but fun face during best man speech.

First dance focusing on the guests in the background.

Bride hugging her father, groom hugging his mother.

Dancing action shot of the bride and friends on the dance floor.

JEN & JOSH AT EAVES HALL

As one of the main wedding co-ordinators at Eaves Hall I’ve got to know Jen pretty well over the years and I couldn’t wait to be a part of this day. I initially wanted to show their cheeky little girl as the star of this story until Mr Wilson’s second liners took over at night time, but there were so many great moments like when Jen got out of her dad’s truck (which had been sprayed to match the bridesmaids dresses!) and when Jen’s face lit up with a cocktail as she saw her friends at Eaves hall.

bride and sister talking while her daughter dances in the mirror.

Bridesmaid overjoyed at seeing her sister in wedding dress.

Groomsmen touch the groom on the shoulder

Brides feet as she gets out of dads red truck.

Brides daughter cheekily looking at the camera during the service.

Bride laughing at her daughter during the wedding service.

Brides daughter gives her mum a cuddle during the vows.

Bride and groom kiss as their guests wait to throw confetti on them.

Excited bride, close up of cocktail which contrasts with the blue sky.

Mr Wilson’s second liners at Eaves Hall.

Bride dancing to Mr Wilson’s second liners at Eaves hall.

RACHEL & GRAHAM AT MITTON HALL

This was always going to focus mostly on the party as Rachel and Graham live in Dubai, don’t see their family and friends that much, and booked me to stay right until the very end of the night. When choosing images for a story award, while I feel I need some prep/scene setting shots and something for variety, I always think of what stood out as a unique part of the day and where the best moments happened, and at this wedding it was on the dance floor.

Wedding car and chauffeur taken from through the upstairs window.

Bride looking excitedly out of the wedding car.

Bride and bridesmaids walking out of Mitton hall.

Bride laughing during the wedding ceremony.

Kids playing and blowing bubbles at Mitton hall.

Groom has his hand on brides shoulder as they laugh at a trick played on her father.

Bridesmaids throw confetti on the couple during their first dance.

Man plays with tie while another cheers on the dance floor.

Man attempts a cartwheel on the dance floor.

Same man on his back after a failed cart wheel.

guests looks through her legs at swept up confetti.

Brush sweeping all the confetti at the end of the night.

Bride and groom hugging with friends at end of the night.

ANNA & DAN’S TEPEE WEDDING

Another fantastic and totally unique day. Speaking with Anna before the wedding she mentioned everyone was going to walk down to the local ice cream shop from church after the service and I got excited about this as it’s not something that happens at every wedding and I love ice cream. The village of Downham is like a post card and there were people paddling in the nearby stream. Fun moments and space to work in. After that it was onto a tipi on their own land. It’s a common theme right, people having fun make great photos.

Botton of brides dress in a pocket of strong light.

Bride and groom signing the register in church.

Bridesmaid stealing another guests ice cream.

Ceremony timetable with a beer bath and feet in shot.

Brides mother holding grandmothers hand.

bride and groom laughing with nan and other guests.

Guest celebrates not toppling the Jenga tower.

Bride and groom laughing at best man song on guitar.

Full dance floor focussing on one of the bridesmaids laughing.

Bride and groom kiss in the middle of a full dancefloor.

SARAH & MARC AT EAVES HALL

Another story from Eaves Hall. I love these guys and this was one of my favourite weddings. I’ve know Sarah quite a long time. The story here was the contrast between how nervous Marc was and how much fun Sarah was having. She was so chilled. A lovely day.