I stopped shooting complete weddings almost two years ago, save for very close friends. However I still shoot occasional "Wedding Portraits", (just half an hour with the bride & groom at their wedding location), which leads to some great fun pictures, basically Glyn Davies landscapes with lovely people in them :-)However, for Barbara & Jonathan, who got married at Penmon church last week, God was obviously crying for joy because the rain was absolutely hammering it down that day! I've had to deal with heavy rain before, but whereas whole weddings allow opportunities for pictures during dryer moments, this shoot was just half an hour long, so the pressure was on!
They desperately wanted some pictures to show they were married at Penmon, a stunning location at most times, and were obviously keen to get the lighthouse in frame, HOWEVER! not only was the rain coming down sideways, the wind was blowing around Force 7, gusting 8!!! The only way I could get the lighthouse in the same shot as Barbara & Jonathan was to back my new Volkswagon T5 towards the lighthouse, and photograph them in the rear of the van!!! It was actually a great laugh and the pictures will remind them of a shooting location relatively unusual for any bride & groom!!!
As it happened, after shooting a set IN the van, the rain eased off for about 4 minutes, just enough to shoot some other pictures with Barbara's children Ben & Amy in the lee of the van!
We grabbed another few frames on a very windswept beach en route back to Beaumaris for their reception. I can't believe that my ONLY wedding portrait this year, faced such elemental obstructions to image making!
I will take this opportunity to wish Barbara & Jonathan all my best wishes for a drier and sunnier outlook for the rest of their married lives :-)))
