Sussex Wedding Photography: The Secret to Getting Great Wedding Photos

What is my advice to couples wanting to get the very best wedding photographs they can? I get asked this all the time.

I have an idealistic vision that every couple would have amazing wedding photographs to look back on for the rest of their lives, but the reality is very different.

Of late there has been a lot of opinions and comments being spouted on so called "super blogs" giving tips on how to ensure you get the very best wedding photographs, how to pose and how to avoid being disappointed with the results.

Unfortunately, while there has been some positive and good posts, as with everything there is an awful lot of nonsense and misinformation being written. The apparent power of some of these "super blogs" means there is a real danger of damage being done to the wedding photography industry and there being some very upset and disappointed couples who may have elected to follow the advice of the misinformed.

Now i am not saying that all these blogs and bloggers are guilty of this and i know that many are a good place for tips and ideas as well as offering good entertainment for brides who have the enormous task of organising their wedding day. However, i have been alerted to posts on a number of these which are plainly more about personal egos and power trips than actually offering well educated advice to brides.

Let's face it, a wedding day is probably the most important day of that couple's lives and with all the planning and expense its only natural that they expect the photographs produced to be way beyond the very best images they have ever seen of themselves.

Even at the cheaper end of the market place, wedding photography is a big investment and as with most things you only get what you pay for. A good wedding photographer with a great reputation is generally in high demand and as such they usually command higher prices. However if great photographs are important, spending good money on photography is a sensible investment.

It still surprises me that some brides are happy to waste a few hundred pounds on inexperienced, poor photography when they wouldn't dream of skimping on unreliable cars, amateur catering and an ill fitting dress!

So, going back to my original question: what is my advice to couples wanting to get the very best wedding photographs they can?

Simply, having a quality photographer and feeling comfortable and relaxed with that photographer is the prime requisite for getting fabulous images.

I am passionate about my work and imagery and put all of my skill, experience together with my heart and soul into producing the very best i can for each and every couple.

You can see my wedding portfolio of images taken at real weddings on my website by clicking here.

Keep up to speed with all my latest work by following this blog.

More Kind Words

I just received a letter from the Chairman and Managing Director of Haynes Ford, Andrew Haynes following my coverage of their 100th birthday celebrations a couple of weeks ago.

"Dear Peter,
I just wanted to write and thank you for the photographs that you recently sent through to us. In my previous career which was in marketing and public relations, i have worked with many different photographers however, i have to say that it is rare to engage one that has so ably managed to capture the true spirit of the party.

The photographs you took at our Ford Centenary were outstanding and i received very positive comments from those who have seen them, including Sir Stirling Moss.

Thank you for your professionalism on the evening and for providing us with a lasting accurate photographic reference of an important and happy occasion for us.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Haynes

Chairman and Managing Director"

London Fine Art Images

I thought i would share a couple of Hipstamatic Images captured on my iPhone 4 using the Hipstamatic App.

These were taken on my arrival at last Saturday's wedding's reception venue opposite the 02 Arena.

The weather was extremely variable to say the least, as the dramatic skies show.

Sussex Weddings: Nigel Harper's Wedding Films

I have had the privilege to work with my very good friend and extremely talented wedding film maker and photographer Nigel Harper on a couple of occasions of late.

Nigel's artistic eye is second to none and combined with his professionalism and personality his skills are always in high demand.

I thought i would share a couple of images i captured of Nige in action at a recent wedding at Amberley Castle as we worked together on a new, exciting venture. Keep reading here for details as they become available.



Nigel has no fear! Captured shooting a knight of the realm!

Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Photographer: Sussex Wedding Photography: Jennifer and Daniel at Ashdown Park in Sussex

What a wonderful wedding!

Saturday saw me cover the wedding of Jen and Daniel at Ashdown Park Hotel East Sussex. Once again the venue and staff excelled. APH must surely be one of the very best wedding venues in the UK!

It was a weekend of very mixed weather but we were fortunate to be blessed with a dry, if breezy day which meant everyone was able to enjoy the grounds for drinks.

Here are a few favourite shots from the day. All were shot on my Nikon D3s using environmental light only.

Meeting with the registrar.



I shot the ceremony at 3200iso. Overhead spotlights in a darkish room made for challenging lighting!





My APH signature confetti shot.








I love shooting low key bridal portraits.



Cake cutting lit by a spot light in the chapel.



You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: More Kind Words

Just thought i would share an email i received yesterday from Clare who's wedding i covered in May at the stunning Ashdown Park Hotel in East Sussex.

You can see some of the images from their wedding here.

Hi Peter,

That’s great – thanks for the directions.

Looking forward to seeing the album, we loved the photos, I have so many favourites! I really like the two shots of Gavin and I as we come out the chapel with the champagne in our hands and then the next shot of us naturally walking down the steps smiling at each other (Still with the champagne!). You really captured the magic of our day! Looking at them online brings it all back to me!

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Another Stunning Jorgensen Sample Album

Peter Prior Photography has always been about offering the ultimate in photography and presentation to our clients.

With this ethos in mind, all of our albums are one-offs, hand made and are beautiful works of art in the their own right. They really are the perfect medium to show case my images and i always get a buzz when i share them at client meetings.

So I thought i would share some images of a recent sample album.

This is a simply stunning world class 16"x12" Jorgensen Art Album, which has been custom designed by me and then hand made to order by the wonderful people down under in Perth.

The cover is from their luxury, premium leather range and the images are mounted below custom cut bevel core mounts. My wife, Karen hand mounted the prints below the overlays.











You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Another Stunning Jorgensen Album Perfect for Intimate Weddings

Here at Peter Prior Photography we have always pushed ourselves to offer the very best in terms of photography, client experience and products possible. This is the bed rock of our business and branding where second best is just never good enough for us or our clients!

All of our albums are unique , hand made and are beautiful works of art in the their own right. They really are superb and the perfect way to display my images. I am passionate about our albums and album design and our clients are too!
So I thought i would share some images of a recent sample album.

This is a beautiful smaller 9"x9" Jorgensen Album which has been custom designed by me and then hand made to order by the craftsmen in Australia. Over a period of almost 9 years we have worked very closely with Gary, Nick and the team to ensure we offer the very best at all times to our clients. This relationship is a very strong one and their products are simply the very best in the world.

The wedding was at Amberley Castle in west sussex. you can read all about Kerry and Karen's wedding here.

This has the standard black cover with the images are mounted below modern white matts. My wife, Karen hand mounted the prints below the overlays.









i love to simple, elegant, high class and timeless designs.





You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Editorial Portraits: Mark and Yvonne

Just thought i would share a couple of editorial style portraits that i took of our good friends Mark and Yvonne when they came to visit over the weekend.

Mark is a superb landscape photographer and as ever the conversation went onto photography and light and how it can be used.

The next thing, before she knew what had hit her, Yvonne was the model for quick window light demo which ended up into a 5 minute editorial style portrait shoot in my kitchen!

To be honest, i frequently find myself with very little time to capture my images on assignment so this was very much shot in "real time".

All shot on my Nikon D3s and 85mm 1.4 lens at around 125th second at 1.4 and 400iso. Light is from a window off to my left (the subject's right).









You can view my portrait portfolio here.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Weddings: Jo and Brett at Eastbourne Town Hall and the Grand Hotel

I had the pleasure of covering the intimate wedding of Jo and Brett last week.

They were married at Eastbourne's impressive Town Hall, a listed building with striking architecture in front of a very select groups of friends and family.

Following the ceremony i captured a couple of images featuring the interior before we moved on to the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne for drinks and lunch.

Here are a few images from the day. I have been noticing a trend of shooting a few more colour images of late!

Going to run through the pre-wedding formalities with the registrars.











You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.