2016 - a year in pictures

Well... what a weird year this has been! On a personal note 2016 has been a very emotional year for us.

In August, after a long and testing IVF journey, we welcomed our gorgeous baby boy into the world. And sadly just a few weeks later we lost his Grandad John.

I think you'd have to be made of stone to be a photographer that isn't affected by stuff going on in your personal life, but I also think having a job that allows you to express your feelings can only be a good thing. As I looked through the thousands of images I'd shot this year, one thing stood out for me about this collection of images that is different to previous years, and that was emotions! Whatever has been going on in my own life I've always made sure that the fun, love, and strong connections with family and friends at a wedding is not missed by me and my camera. 

Thanks to everyone that has welcomed me into their wedding day this year. I'm really excited about what 2017 has to offer, and can't wait to capture even more special moments. 

 

Suffolk beach pre-wedding shoot - Gemma and Chris

A couple of weeks ago I headed down to the Suffolk coast to catch up with the very lovely Gemma and Chris. These guys met me at the super-cool Most Curious Wedding Fair down in London earlier this year. 

Not only was it great to hang out, getting to know one of my 2017 couples, it was also nice to visit a part of the UK I've never been to before (I honestly thought I'd been everywhere!) Aldeburgh is a really cute, and picturesque coastal town in Suffolk, and it definitely wont be the last time I visit here. 

 

Asylum / Trinity Buoy Wharf wedding photography - Cheryl and Alec

"Dear Ed,

Thank you for your fantastic work on our wedding day (and the engagement shoot too).

Your pictures are beautiful and you really captured the magic moments. As the photo on our Thank You card shows!

We loved having you as part of the day. Thank you Ed for doing a brilliant job. We love the photos.

Love, Cheryl and Alec"

Devon festival wedding photography - Nat and Pete

I hope you're sat in a comfy seat, because this is my BIGGEST blog post ever! 

A couple of months ago we headed down to Devon to shoot this amazing wedding.

Nat and Pete were the perfect couple. After seeing one of my weddings featured on a wedding blog they contacted me, and within a quick 10 minute phone call I was booked! Simple as that. They knew what they wanted, they liked what they saw on my website, and booked me straight away.

A few months passed and the couple saw that I was exhibiting at the Most Curious wedding show down in London, so they popped in to meet me in person. I love meeting my couples face-to-face before the wedding date. Even if its just for a catch up over a coffee. It breaks the ice, and makes it feel a lot less awkward when I turn up on your wedding day. Don't get me wrong, I'm not some sort of weirdo! Its just, well, if the first time you meet a photographer that's following you round all day, on one of the most surreal days of your life, is first thing in the morning as you're having your hair and make-up slapped on, well it may not be the most relaxing of meetings.

The whole day had a totally relaxed vibe, amazing scenery (the couple said their vows on the moors out the back of Nat's family home), and a whole bunch of guests that were up for having a great day... this wedding was fun-packed, emotional, and just totally awesome. Everyone treated myself, and my second shooter Kev like guests... which in turn helped us to blend in and get such relaxed and intimate photos. Cheers guys, we had a blast!

Brighton wedding photography - Niall and Dan

"Hi Ed, Wow they're amazing, we love them! Everybody we show loves your work. Thank you again."

Yep, as another mental summer comes to an end, its time for me to get a few blogs up on my website, and this one just HAD to go in.

Niall and Dan got married in Brighton, then headed out to Dans parents house in the countryside for a party afterwards. Garden games, a swimming pool, an ice cream van, they had the lot! Plus, boy oh boy was it a scorcher of a day. Easily the hottest day of the year for me to be shooting a wedding. 

It was only the second gay wedding I've shot (I'd love to shoot more), and I enjoyed every minute of it! The guys were so chilled out, let me just wander around snapping away, and doing my thing, while they spent time with their friends and family, having a great time, and enjoying the beautiful weather. They also really helped me to feel like I was one of the guests. Insisting that I sat with the rest of the guests during the meal, and making sure that I was also having a good time.

Its weddings like this that really make me smile all day, and realise this job doesn't always feel like a job (does that make sense?). 

Thanks Niall and Dan for booking me to photograph your amazing wedding day. It was the best!

Swallows Nest Barn wedding photography - Hannah and Adam

"Hi Ed, we've just finished looking through the pictures! We absolutely love them. Thanks again for them - they are amazing!"

Special thanks to the fantastic Kevin Fern for second shooting this wedding with me. Amazing shots as always mate.

Venue - Swallows Nest Barn

Jesse's Journey - a personal blog post

Last Friday night, just before midnight, we welcomed our son into the world.

Jesse John Godden was born at 11.33pm on the 5th August 2016.

Its been a long, and very emotional journey, but capturing these emotions and special moments along the way has somehow made the IVF process a little bit easier to get our heads around.

Every week I photograph people getting married. I tell the story of one of the biggest days of their lives. Well, this is the story of the biggest year of our lives.

There's a lot of images included here, but there is definitely many more photos that I decided to not include in the slideshow. And there were even more moments that I didn't even want to photograph.  

In a world where not many of us print our photos anymore, I hope one day Jesse will watch this slideshow and be moved by the story of how much Clare and I went through to have him. But most of all, to see just how much we love him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many thanks to the amazing staff at Nurture Fertility, and also the midwives and doctors at Nottingham City Hospital, and The Sanctuary.

Summer wedding at Patrick's Barn, West Sussex - Harriet and Stuart

"Ed was everything we could of wanted for our wedding photographer. He completely got the theme of our rustic farm day and he did everything to ensure it will be remembered for the rest of our lives. He made us feel fully relaxed and slipped into the background during the day as if he wasn’t even there. The only evidence was a personalised package delivered to our home with an incredible set of photos. He is the best and will give our family many memories to come."