Behind The Scenes Of A Wedding Shoot…

By Wedding Photographer Kate Pook

With weddings undeniably quieter this year, I wanted to design and create a styled shoot where I could embrace my creativity and photograph something truly chic and stylish. Styled shoots give you the freedom to design something modern and beautiful with all of the suppliers you love. For a photographer, they are honestly a dream day.

I wanted this styled shoot to celebrate local suppliers, and being Autumn my first and only thought was Barnsley House, easily my favourite hotel in The Cotswolds. I’m local, so I’ve been to a few! Barnsley House is brilliantly tasteful and intimate and the creamy stone of the building looks so beautiful in Autumnal light. The intimacy and the style suits me perfectly as a photographer, but also smaller weddings are a necessity these days and Barnsley House just do that so well. I wanted to celebrate that.

As a photographer, my style and tones are natural and little earthy so the wild but beautifully kept gardens, with their hidden water features and vegetable gardens, worked brilliantly for our shoot. Some of my favourite shots are of Tyla surrounded by red Dahlia’s with a crisp blue sky.

The day began with getting our models ready. Both Martha and Tyla, our single female models, were prepped by my amazing team: Rachel Capocci (Oxfordshire Bridal Hair) and Olivia at Make-up by Liv. Martha was dressed firstly in the most incredible 20s style Jesus Peiro dress with feathered sleeves, supplied by Ellie Sanderson in Woodstock. We complimented this with subtle Hollywood waves and red lipstick. With the jacket off, the shots in the garden and inside the house looked incredibly chic.

Tyla was dressed in the most gorgeous separates with a delicate lace crop top, again from Ellie Sanderson. Her look was a bit more bohemian and paired back. We dressed them both in another beautiful dress by Jesus Peiro which had long dotted sleeves; this was perfect for our winter feel with a brilliant nod to the 30s.

We photographed through the day, throughout the grounds, and inside the house. Barnsley has some stunning rooms inside with roaring fires and dark panelled doors.

In the afternoon Kayleigh and Aston arrived, our very real couple. I chose Kayleigh for our shoot as she has the most beautiful red hair. Aston was dressed by my favourite tailor, The Cotswold Tailor, who are based in Woodstock. Alex tailor’s beautiful suits but he also rents them out. I loved the deep blue woollen suit that they provided us.

The amazing flowers and button hole we’re supplied locally by Katherine at Hazelea, again based locally in Witney, the exceptional cake was created by The Cotswold Cake Kitchen and the handmade stationary by Abbie Worton. It honestly was the best team I’ve worked with and everyone worked with our chic, stylish and Autumnal brief so well.

I can’t wait to photograph more weddings at Barnsley House, I genuinely can’t recommend this as a venue and these suppliers more.

Photo credits Kate Pook Photography

www.katepook.co.uk