Warwickshire has so many lovely wedding venues that sometimes it’s easy to forget how spoilt for choice our brides and grooms can be. I’m always very aware that many couples book lovely locations because it adds to the atmosphere of their day ….. and, of course, they want some nice photographs that capture the details of the venue to help remember their day by. The following photographs show a couple of venues where I’ve done or and doing wedding photography this Autumn: Ragley Hall in Alcester near to Stratford upon Avon and Coombe Park Country Hotel near to Coventry…….

Ragley Hall – Great for spectacular Wedding Photographs

……but very challenging as a photographer if you don’t know what you’re doing!

This is the driveway within the huge grounds that lead up to Ragley hall. It’s where wedding cars will arrive ….

A closer look at the front of the main house from the courtyard. Ideal for arranging large group shots …

One of the fantastic views from inside the great hall. This photo was taken on one of my preparation visits, not on an actual wedding day, hence the stacked chairs – but it gives you a good idea of how grand it is ! What this photo doesn’t show is how dark it is – something an ordinary camera wouldn’t handle.

This is called the red room, for obvious reasons! It can be used as the room from which the bride first enters the great hall.

… and another view from the opposite end ….

I like to make use of the red room for taking beautiful photos of the bride just before her groom sees her for the first time and again afterwards, sometimes making use of the spectacular view through the windows and the large mirrors inside. I’ve ‘photoshopped out’ the ropes and stands that cordon-off some of the furniture and valuable artifacts.

One of the main attractions for wedding couples is the beautiful stair case and murals on all surrounding walls. Spectacular ….but Very dark and the light available changes massively from day to day. Again, I took the following photos without using any additional lighting or flash since the flash will tend to over expose the white walls and columns, ‘blowing-out’ the detail.

And another view – I can’t stress enough how a normal camera simply wouldn’t handle this image without the flash going off, ruining the details and casting horrible false shadows! Again, I took this photo without flash and it was actually very dark inside.

The mural continues as you look upwards, although it’s worth pointing out that couples do not have access up the whole staircase, only the first few steps …. but it is great for some newly-wed couple shots.

After the ceremony and weather-permitting there is a lovely terrace overlooking the spectacular gardens that guests will be invited to go to: Great for outdoor photo opportunities. Sometimes, however, the gardens are open to the general public and so it can be necessary, as a photographer, to choose your opportunities carefully.

Coombe Park Country Hotel near to Coventry (Often Called Coombe Abbey)

…… Lovely building and grounds lend themselves really well to great photos but again the internal lighting can be very challenging

I’ve taken photographs at Coombe Park for several years and I find something new every time I visit! It has some lovely grounds and the hotel backs onto the public park that can be very busy at certain times of the year. There are great opportunities for lovely photographs in the grounds, which ever way you turn – but again, it’s not a venue that an inexperienced photographer or one without top quality equipment will be able to make best use of. Internally it can be very dark and externally you’ve got the general public to avoid and contend with. Here are a few shots I took today on a preparation visit ready for a wedding I’m photographing there in a few weeks time …..

Lots of people in the Coventry and warwickshire area think they know Coombe Park but few will recognise this, despite the fact that it’s the front entrance!

The moat provides plenty of opportunity to make use of reflections. Here are several external shots from view points that I particularly like ….

I decided to let the images do the talking. It doesn’t require much imagination to realise that for a bride and groom any of the views I’ve shown you would provide a perfect backdrop for any number of lovely photographs.

I’m taking bookings for photographing weddings throughout 2011 and I am now receiving enquiries for weddings for 2012 as well. If you would like to talk to me about wedding photography at either of these two venues (Ragley hall or Coombe Park) or any other Warwickshire venue I am only a phone call away!  My number is 07739096632.

I’d be glad to discuss your requirements and provide advice and opinions on getting the most out of your wedding photography. I really can’t stress enough how important it is to have a wedding photographer who has the knowledge, ability and equipment necessary to get the best out of these lovely venues and from your guests whilst enhancing your enjoyment of your special day as well.