Well that was 2025....almost

Its incredible to think the year is nearly over, just one wedding remaining now next weekend out of 39 weddings for this year.

It always amazes me how quickly time goes, but I think when you are so busy you just want there to be more hours in a day. That would have been so useful this year! From March when my weddings started this year, my time outside of my part time work has been dominated by weddings. I've either been shooting weddings, meeting couples for enquiries or pre weds, or editing. Most evenings I've been editing until at least 10pm and rarely had a minute to do anything else. I've only had a weeks holiday with family, in Wales, and even took time out during that to scout out a future wedding venue. I've not had time to even read a book in between. I've recently got Audible to correct that so I can listen while I edit as I've missed reading so much. I think scaling back on some of this has to be the way going forward, as it's not good to be this busy all the time, but I do love what I do and if it wasn't for the editing it would never feel like work.

I said to myself before this year started I was going to enjoy every wedding and maximise the photo opportunities that came from each one. In most cases I've done this and I've loved every wedding. Multiple wedding weekends have meant keeping up with social media is too time consuming and my tik tok debut stalled as I just haven't had time to edit any of the behind the scenes videos I've filmed as other things have always taken priority. Hopefully I'll get to that sometime in Late December early January before next year starts! These multiple weekends have led to the non stop editing queues and me reaching my maximum gallery delivery times which I need to avoid going forward.

I've been to some lovely new venues this year and enjoyed visiting some old friends again as well. It always makes a day better when you work with some lovely suppliers and I've met some new, and enjoyed chatting to some familiar faces. It's a lonely job if you don't have these connections. In terms of venues Wales was a highlight just a stunning location, loved Storrs Hall as well but that was also due to it being an elopement wedding allowing a lot of time for photos which produced some magical moments with Windermere as a backdrop. The Glass House at Staining was a nice surprise as well some lovely locations there especially on a nice summers day!

What has become clear this year is that if you, as a couple, are prepared to spend some more time away from your guests the photos you end up with as a result can be incredible. I've had a few weddings this year where this has happened and the couples have been repaid with some beautiful moments, Emma & Logan and their sunset on Blackpool beach, there was a lot of walking there but it was so worth it. Becky & Dave at Glass House on the golf buggy, Jess & Kras at Shaw Hill again on another golf buggy, Hannah & Martin at the stunning Llyn Gwynant Barns and Rachel & Joe at Storrs Hall. I completely understand that this isn't always possible and 90% of my couples change their minds on the day with what we planned to do with photos, because they want to celebrate and enjoy their time with family and friends, and I capture all of that as well. Nobody understands how quickly time goes at a wedding until you actually experience it, and that naturally leads to a change in plans during the day.

So at last I might actually get some time to myself in January this year, my first wedding next year is at the end of February. Currently bookings are well down on this year but I did get a lot of bookings in January last year. A bit of advertising will need to be arranged over this period to try and maximise things but I have a nice spread at the moment and I really don't want to be as busy as I was this year.

Have a great Xmas everyone, thanks to all my amazing couples this year and I look forward to meeting all my 2026 couples very soon for more amazing weddings.