Father’s Day – the day of the year in which I dread but love. Dread because my own dad passed away in 2015, whom I miss everyday, and love because I am myself a dad to Alby who I spend most of my time with – the seven year old hurricane that makes me laugh every single day.
Approach to weddings
In weddings I meet a lot of ‘dads’ they consist of dad’s, step dad’s, grandad’s, single dad’s and friends of dad’s who are no longer here but stepped in to fill that dad role. I capture precious moments between dad’s and their daughter/sons and family members that will last a life time. I think after losing my own dad I have really developed a sense of importance for these type of moments and capturing the love and affection that ‘dads’ have. Of course, the same goes for other family members but I think sub consciously I have adapted the way I approach weddings to ensure I capture the love, happiness, emotion and moments between the special men (and women) in my couple’s lives.
I honestly think that wedding photos are not just for the bride and groom today, but for them, their families and any possible future children that come along to see their grandad (family member) how they were. Which is why I want to capture natural moments and not loads of posed photos.
Photos are – moments in time that people can view for years to come. When those people are no longer with us – you have your memory and you can also have photos to look back and treasure. In wedding I constantly look for moments to document. I don’t want posed, I just want to tell the story of your wedding as it happens. Some of the following moments are a mix of moments from throughout the wedding.
My own dad is no longer here but I have photos of him in my office, in my wallet, in my living room and in my kitchen. I talk to my son about his grandad almost every day – whom he only ever met for 6 short weeks of his life.
After Covid and the restrictions placed on us, my advice – see your parents as often as you can, look after them, treat them well. I moved home from Australia and moved to Liverpool to look after and see my dad and it was the best decision I ever made. I would have always regretted not spending that time with my dad for those 2 years of his life that I was home for.
I also have to say take photos and print photos. Get an album from your wedding – whether it is from me or you make it yourself – please get an album. Photos are important moments in history that you can look back on and smile – I do not have enough photos of my dad.
I don’t actually have many photos of my dad from growing up. Probably because I was too cool to be seen around my dad and spent most my time messing about with my mates at every opportunity. I would also say I occasionally had quite a strained relationship with my dad until I was about 18. Some of my best memories from nights out and growing up in Aberystwyth would be walking down to the 24 hour spar and seeing my dad in work at the post office at 5am. He would be working and I would be pissed trying to kiss him or blag a lift home.
The unfortunate times for him that I would come home and he would be in bed I would elbow drop him in bed. I bet he loved it really, although at the time he would go mad. Similar things happen to me now with my seven year old – except he isn’t pissed – just wants to get in bed with me at 4am!
This is one of the only photos I have of my dad and my son. I love it and was taken about a month before my dad passed away. This is the one printed everywhere!
This is of course my amazing four year old son Alby. Whom makes me laugh everyday.
Favourites
Here are a selection of my favourite photos from weddings that I have captured that show how special dad’s are. Laughter, carrying dresses, emotional speeches, funny speeches and other moments I loved being a part of.
