Liz and Matt's Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding

Liz and Matt were married at the lovely St Peter and St Paul's Church in picture postcard Edenbridge, Kent.

On yet another very crazy day weather-wise, we enjoyed a fabulous time.

After the ceremony Liz and Matt joined their guests for champagne on a red London double decker bus for the drive down to Ashdown Park Hotel, one of my favourite venues.

The weather dramatically deteriorated as the day moved on but fortunately the venue offer superb photographic opportunities inside. To my mind the best images at Ashdown are available in its interior, although, of course the grounds are stunning too.

A brief respite in the rain, allowed us to pop down to the lake for a couple of set pieces before they sat down for a superb wedding breakfast in the chapel.

Here are some key moments from a terrific day.









Have loved the drama created by fisheye lenses for years.























What a dramatic setting to make a speech!



Rain, twilight and heavy low clouds can look stunning.

Videographer: Leo Ferenc at Perfect Day Studios

A question i frequently get asked is "do you recommend any wedding videographers?".

This is an awkward one for me as my style and approach to wedding photography means that in the main the average videographer will compromise my work by getting in the way, "not getting it" and generally being a bit difficult to work with.

This year alone i have had a videographer moan at me because i wasn't setting things up to enable him to film the wedding properly (an obvious case of limited ability where he makes a living of recording the photographer's contrived moments), and another who had 4 cameras in church (two camera men and two static cameras on tripods) who ordered me to ensure i didn't block any during the ceremony. He then went onto complain that the vicar blocked the ring exchange!

As with wedding photography, finding a good and talented PROFESSIONAL videographer for your wedding can be difficult.

Over my 14 year career i have seen them all and in the main, they are mostly amateurish in their approach and produce at best very average DVDs. Of course, the same can be said of some wedding photographers.

However, i have to say that Leo Ferenc at Perfect Day Studios is far more than a "cut above the norm" .

He has vast experience in shooting video and especially wedding films. He has a background in stills photography, travelling the world on cruise ships, before setting up his film company a number of years ago.




I have been fortunate to work with Leo on tens of weddings all over the country and we really bounce off each other. Leo is happy to work independent of a wedding photographer, doesn't need to reply on set up shots and produces dynamic and exciting wedding films with the minimum of fuss.

His larger than life personality certainly helps but his genuine talent combined with his creative and true cinematic approach is his real winner.

I only recommend a couple of wedding videographers and Leo rates as one the very best i have come across.

Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Fair This Sunday

Just a quick heads up to let you know that i will be exhibiting at the Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Showcase this Sunday, 26th September.

Ashdown is an amazing venue to hold a wedding, with vast grounds, a beautiful lake and wild deer that appear from all angles! Even better, as a former convent it has a breath taking chapel inside.

What a place to entertain your guests. The atmosphere and drama of the main chapel where you enjoy your wedding breakfast is unbeatable, so its well worth coming along to take a look, meet Lisa and the events staff who will be able to answer all of your questions and, of course, come and have a chat with me about your wedding photography options.

Just to wet your appetite.

Charlie and Luke's Wedding in Central London

I love shooting weddings in London.

Its a complete change in mind set and pace from covering weddings in Sussex. It is so hectic and crazy and, of course, logistics are everything in a city centre.

The ceremony was held at Chelsea Old Church by the Thames with the reception at Il Bottaccio in Grosvenor Place, just south of Hyde Park Corner.

I took along my good friend Mark to act as bag carrying assistance as the locations meant we took the train up and used black cabs to get about.

The interior of the church was stunning and the ceremony was followed by an informal champagne reception outside. Charlie and Luke laid on a couple of red London buses for the guests to travel the reception and we joined them to capture the fun.

Here are some favourite moments of the day.

Wedding Fair at the Cavendish Hotel, Eastbourne

Just a quick heads up to let you know that i will be exhibiting at the Cavendish Hotel Wedding Fair in Eastbourne on Sunday.

The doors open 11am-4pm with entry free for everyone.

It would be great to see you there so come and say "Hello".


I will also be supporting a number of other wedding events over the next few weeks and here are the details:



26th September: Ashdown Park Hotel, East Sussex (10-3)

10th October: Loseley Park, Surrey (11-4)

31st October: Wiston House, West Sussex

Another Amazing Testimonial

WOW! This week has been great for kind words and testimonials from clients.

Just opened my Inbox and found this amazing message from Abi and Simon who's wedding i was privilged to shoot at the Powdermills Hotel last month.

"They say that great minds think alike... Well, almost everyone I have shown the photos to so far has picked out that signing shot as a favourite amongst many, many stunning shots. My Mum says it should be on the front of a wedding card or something!... It is indeed beautiful. Some of our guests took photos at that exact same moment in time and yet they look nothing like this, which can only be testament to your sheer skill - the composition, the light - all beautiful!

You produced so many beautiful and unique shots for us; I shall be forever buying frames for them. Thank you so much.

You captured all the little moments that added together tell the story of the most perfect day and were so professional in doing so. You were totally unobtrusive and yet every time I did notice you, you were working so hard. Simon and I were particularly bowled over by your sheer passion for your work - you made us feel like our wedding was the most important day's work you had ever done and got so excited by every single shot! From talking to you, I can tell that this enthusiasm extends to every single wedding you cover, not just ours, but thank you for making us feel so special all the same.

To anyone out there considering having Peter Prior for their wedding - do so! You will not be disappointed!

Thanks again Peter.

Kind regards.

Abi and Simon Fisher"

Nice Words

I just thought i would share a couple of nice testimonials i received yesterday.

Both were from weddings i shot in very mixed weather condtions at Ashdown Park Hotel this summer.

The first one is from Laura and Edmund and you can see their images here

"Dear Peter,

I hope you are well.

Sorry for the late email, we have been on honeymoon and have also been ill since we came home!

We are thrilled with the wonderful pictures. We wanted to thank you for all your efforts and enthusiasm on our wedding day. It meant a lot to us to have someone such as yourself taking a great deal of pride in their work. You have captured a lot of fond memories for us to remember and we are thrilled to bits with the photos. We couldn't have wished for a more perfect set and they have more than fulfilled our expectations.

Once again a huge thank you, we will be recommending you to our friends in the future!

Best regards,

Laura and Edmund Cooper"



The second was from Jenny Howes, mother of Rebecca whos wedding can be seen here.

"These are wonderful photographs Peter and they evoke many happy memories of the day. As the very proud Mother of the Bride, I can't wait to see the complete set! You may also be interested to know that Rebecca posted the link to your site on Facebook and she has received some very pleasing comments. One of her friends emailed me this morning to say she thought the photographs were "absolutely stunning" and that her husband had commented "they are like something you would see in Conde Nast Brides" Congratulations and thank you again for everything you did to capture the story of Rebecca and Sam's wonderful wedding day."

Just Received This

I was excited to finally receive my trophy for becoming the MPA South East Wedding Photographer of the Year 2010, yesterday.

For those of you who didn't read about it here, back in July i was fortunate to be awarded the titles of MPA SE Reportage Wedding Photographer of the Year and the same image went on to win the overall MPA SE Wedding Photographer of the Year. This was achieved despite some amazing images from some superb photographers throughout the south east.

Membership of The Master Photographers Association is only eligible to full time photographers who have to achieve professional qualifications to ensure the quality of their work and customer care.

The images was shot of Holly as she arrived for church in Guildford on a very cold December afternoon and ranks of one of my favourite career images. I love the almost haunting tension and atmosphere as well as the "cold chill" of the air temperature as she peers through the misty window of the car.

Right here is the trophy.



And the winning image.

Charity and James' Wedding at Deans Place Hotel

Charity and James' wedding had a real "countryside" theme.

They chose the stunningly pretty Friston Church on the South Downs with its panoramic views over the village of East Dean and out to Birling Gap. Then this was followed by a reception at Dean's Place Hotel, in Alfriston a few miles away.

This was the first time i had shot at Deans in five years. A one time regular venue for me, it was lovely to be back, although i have to say that since the new ownership and investment, the hotel is a huge step up on times past.

The grounds were lovely and the staff refreshing.

All in all it was a terrific day and here are a few favourite images.





















Loved the Segways from HS Segways.