Storybook album design from wedding pictures in taken in Leeds – The front cover.

This lovely couple found some of the many wedding pictures I’ve taken on Reel Life Photos  on Facebook Page. They love photos so I was delighted to be their wedding photographer, and to have the opportunity to share their special day.  So much fun an laughter  – from them and all their wedding guests!  They were so keen, they came to see me almost straight after their wedding, as couldn’t wait to see their pictures!   They initially chose 650 favourites, which they would have loved to have had include in their wedding album, but gradually whittled them down to a more manageable 127 images.  I then added a few back in to use as backgrounds to make the story of their day more complete.

The church minister wouldn’t allow me to take photos from the from of the church as I normally do, but with my long lens from the organ loft at the rear, I still managed to get a few basic shots, though not the facial expressions I had hoped to capture.  The church warden put on a feast of tastefully arranged chocolate biscuits on every table in the church hall afterwards, at her own expense too, so can see the couple are much -loved here.

Start of the day at Oakwood Church in Leeds, as the wedding guests arrive.

The bride arrives at the church in Leeds in a simply decorated wedding car with her father

The groom and best man are patiently waiting inside the church , as the bride is met outside by her sister and flower girl

Congratulations to the bride outside Oakwood church in Leeds on a lovely sunny August day.

The groom’s mother watch on from her wheelchair, enjoying all the excitement of the wedding in Leeds

The bride arrives and poses by the church door with her sister and family

Everyone turns round to look as the bride arrives inside the church

The bridesmaid, flower girl and page boys walk down the aisle first, as seen from up in the organ loft at Oakwood Church in Leeds.

Bride meets her groom at the front of Oakwood Church in Leeds

These romantic wedding pictures tell the story of the couple’s wedding day

Beautiful church wedding ceremony in Leeds

The rings!

The kiss and extra blessing pics in storybook wedding album.

Fun and laughter by the wedding register

Reel Life Photos signature image showing the bride and groom’s hands and rings on the wedding register, next to the bouquet.

Smiles and a kiss!

Mums and witnesses!

Big group shot – inside the church!

The happy couple walk down the aisle

Kiss for Dad!

Happy wedding pictureof the newly-weds walking down the aisle

Congratulations! This is my favourite time to capture natural wedding pictures

natural wedding pictures as everyone rushed to congratulate an hug the bride.

Happy wedding pics after the wedding ceremony

Confetti magic!

Love it when everyone throws confetti and the couple are enjoying the fun!

Tea and biscuits after the wedding ceremony makes for relaxed family photos too!

Mums are precious aren’t they! Lovely how both of the couple’s mothers managed to make it to the wedding!

Fun bride and groom at their wedding reception in The Village Hotel Leeds South

A lady called me from Nigeria to enquire about her wedding photography, but it turned out that she was actually getting married in the UK, in my home town of Dewsbury.  It was a beautiful wedding, with the tables dressed immaculately with a masses of flowers following a lilac colour scheme.  OK , like most African brides.she was nearly two hours late for her wedding, so its just as well it was in the middle of winter, or she may have missed out had the registrar been busy!

After the wedding she made an appointment to come and see her wedding photos, but somehow things caught up with her, and she forgot to contact me for nearly two years.  Her English husband was still working in Nigeria, but they had by now had a second baby, so also set up a home in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Now she wants to surprise her husband with the wedding album under the tree at Christmas, but here at least is the album I designed from the photos she chose from a selection of over 600 images that I had already shortlisted for her.

Storybook cover

Storybook Pages002-003 with the cute white baby dress and shoes waiting to be worn

Storybook Pages004-005 wedding shoes and baby bridesmaid’s flowers in Italian storybook with the groom is also getting ready for their wedding in Dewsbury

Storybook Pages006-007 groom and groomsmen getting ready – all smiles!

Storybook Pages008-009 How to keep a baby bridesmaid happy while her mother is putting on her wedding dress: let the baby chew her new shoes!

Storybook Pages010-011 Novel way to keep the baby happy – with the wedding photographer’s expensive light!

Storybook Pages012-013 – The bride puts on her pearl necklace and walks down the stairs holding her beautiful lilac and white bouquet.

Storybook Pages014-015 The bride carries her baby to the waiting limo with her female friends and family.

Storybook Pages016-017 The photographer waiting outside in the cold for ages to make sure she didn’t miss the shot of the limo arriving outside Dewsbury Town Hall, but as the bride got out a car passed by, obscuring the limo and hurrying bride, as within seconds the bride was already inside the Town Hall.

Storybook Pages018-019 The bride walks down the aisle and her groom gets the first glimpse of her in her wedding dress and fur shrug

Storybook Pages020-021 The bestman fishes the rings out of his pocket and before we know it the wedding is sealed with a kiss!

Storybook Pages022-023 The register signing photos can be such happy ones if the photographer is quick and experienced.

Storybook Pages024-025 The witnesses and Reel Life Photos’ signature shot of the newly-weds’ hands showing their rings by the register with the bouquet for decoration.

Storybook Pages 26-27 The groom’s father poses with the happy couple be the wedding register, as the bride’s best friend in the red dress looks on, before the newly weds look at each other as the link arms to walk back down the aisle together.

Storybook Pages 028-029 The groom just manages to appear in one pic as the bride enthusiastically poses with all her friends. Well I don’t know many grooms who enjoy posing for wedding pics after all! That’s why I love natural wedding photos…

Storybook Pages030-031 Couldn’t resist adding in this background pic of the bride’s gleaming tiara along with the black and white photo of the bride sitting on the floor with her dress spread out.

Storybook Pages032-033 The happy bride poses with her friends. The groom as usual manages to escape the camera!

Storybook Pages034-035 Traditional 3 tier wedding cake and the beautifully decorated top table al ready to begin the wedding breakfast

Storybook Pages036-037 Happy days as the bride poses with her friends and the groom’s grown-up son.

Storybook Pages038-039 The wedding decorations are first class at this intimate family wedding reception in Dewsbury Town Hall

Storybook Pages040-041 Its good to capture all the guest when its a relatively small family wedding!

Storybook Pages042-043 Its always lovely to see the wedding guests enjoying themselves, and to remember who was there at your wedding.

Storybook Pages044-045 The groom’s speech

Storybook Pages046-047 Guests cracking themselves up with laughter during the groom’s speech.

Storybook Pages048-049 wedding guests and the splendid 3 tiered traditional wedding cake

Storybook Pages050-051 wedding guests pose for the camera, and oh, even the wedding photographer is snapped in her African outfit, far right in this storybook design.

Storybook Pages052-053 Oh that delicious dessert is making me hungry!

Storybook Pages054-055 Cheers! The wedding toast!

Storybook Pages056-057 First Dance and more dancing!

Storybook Pages058-059 Time for some fun dancing pics!

Storybook Pages060-061 Cutting the cake – all traditional like!

Storybook Pages062-063 bride and groom on the stairs of Dewsbury Town Hall

Storybook Pages064-065 wedding guests and the groom (!) pose for pictures at Dewsbury Town Hall

Storybook Pages066-067 Confetti pics

Storybook Pages068-069 The groom’s son is pretty merry as he hug and kisses his father and jubilant bridemaid after catching the bouquet .

Storybook Pages070-071 the garter and last few wedding pics

To contact Reel Life Photos full time experienced professional wedding photographer in Dewsbury call 07990867058 or visit our website:

http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk wedding photographers in Dewsbury

When a couple first see their wedding photos, they invariably want them all.  After all its the story of their day, and all their special people.  Some may want all the posed pictures, or others the natural ones , but the first time they whittle their initial choice down, there could still be too many to make a beautiful wedding album. This particular bride choice loads of group shots then after receiving the album decided she wanted a second one – just for herself – without all the little copies of a hundred and one groups.  Some pages are the same but here is the full version as she ordered it.

See more about Elaine – wedding photographer for 15 years at Reel Life Photos. www.reellifephotos.co.uk

Storybook cover shows the first dance

Storybook cover – white leather with small photo

Katie has classy tastes – and insists on the best for her wedding storybook album.  She’s worth it though as is absolutely beautiful.  The whole family dressed up in some amazing outfits for the church wedding followed by a fun wedding reception in Castleford, Yorkshire with loads of dancing.  Each image here represents two vertical (portrait format) pages – also known as a double page spread, except for the cover which just shows the front of the white leather, Italian storybook album .

First two pages of the wedding storybook, at the hotel where they got ready. P2-3

The glamorous traveller bride and her young brother.4 & 5

Bride’s family – parents and siblings at the hotel before heading off to the wedding ceremony. P6 & 7

Pages 8-9

Gorgeous bride ready to be married P10 & 11

Bride’s family pics Pages 12 and 13

Pages 14 and 15 with the bride’s family

The groom is waiting at the church P16 and 17

Bride and bridesmaids arriving in the limo, and walking into the church with her father. P 18 and 19

pages 20 and 21 of the wedding ceremony

Pages 22 and 23 – a double pages spread in Katie’s storybook wedding album.Smawthorne Church in Castleford

pages 24-25 wedding ceremony at Smawthorne Church

pages 26 and 27 – signing the register

signing the register p 28 and 29

bride and groom pages 30 and 31

Pages 32 and 33 outside the church with the limo

gipsy boys in the limo. pages 34 and 35

wedding reception by the castle cake pages 36-37

Double page spread with the whole family p38-39

P 40-41 family wedding pics

storybook pages 42 and 43

top table. p 44 and 45

castle wedding cake p46 and 47

posed wedding pics. pages 48-49

Cutting the castle wedding cake. P50-51

pages 52-53

54-55 First Dance

bride dancing with her mother and father. P 56-57

The bride and groom contacted me when researching their wedding, after coming across photos that I had shot at previous couple’s wedding in the Gambia.  I also will be returning to The Gambia in  early Spring 2014 to photograph a Gambian wedding for another couple.

Their chosen wedding venue – Coco Ocean Hotel  –   is this magnificent luxury hotel in the Gambia in West Africa.  The couple themselves are based in the UK, but have family connections to The Gambia, so it was the perfect choice for them.  I stayed a full week, so was able to capture their cultural wedding ceremony – based on traditions in Sierra Leone – as well as general pics of themselves around the hotel prior to the actual legal ceremony in their private Royal Suite by their private pool, followed by a religious church-style ceremony outside by another huge swimming pool next to the sea.

This combined wedding and honeymoon, is a popular solution for many couples, particularly for those with family connections abroad, as it guarantees lovely weather, and a fabulous location for the wedding pictures.  In this case it also made it easier for their family and friends who live in Sierra Leone to travel  to a nearby country within Africa.  By booking Reel Life Photos for their wedding they also were able to get the quality of storybook album their wedding deserved.  Hope you enjoy looking, as there are many lovely portraits of all their special people, and unusually for my brides and grooms, I was given complete creative freedom, not only to create the design, but also to choose the images I knew they would like.  Most couples spend hours choosing, but they trusted me to choose for them, which was wonderful.

If you are planning your wedding abroad or a multicultural wedding in the UK  contact Elaine – wedding photographer at Reel Life Photos .

cover of storybook showing the main avenue from the hotel down towards the sea at night

Inside the Royal Suite

Bride and groom’s family enjoying their holiday at Coco Ocean

Romantic sunset and palm trees – what more could you want!

private pool in Royal Suite at Coco Ocean

Civil marriage ceremony in the Royal Suite

The couple’s daughter helps her mummy get ready for the wedding

Love this page in as it floats in black and white and a touch of colour.

bride leaves the Royal Suite with her father to go to her church style wedding ceremony by the pool at Coco Ocean

The bride is given a lift with her father and children to the poolside where the wedding blessing will take place

wedding guests waiting as the bride arrives and joins the groom

This is just magical! Everyone seated as if in a church – but outside in brilliant light of day, protected by white parasols, with the water sparkling alongside the guests and a see view.

The reverend conducts the wedding blessing by the pool

Getting married here by the side of that pool , facing the sea, must be a dream come true

pictures of Coco Ocean wedding in The Gambia

The rings are blessed.

So romantic!

Bridesmaids hold a bouquet of simple bougainvillea as hymns are sung and the couple’s children watch impatiently.

Sunlight and shadows, fan and foliage. Magic!

Such a romantic place to get married!

This minute could last forever in their minds as we look at this picture of such a happy moment.

Groomsmen take it easy during the ceremony.

Love the sight of the yellow bridesmaids dresses against the exotic foliage as the bride and groom walk out together

Lots going on as the wedding ceremony finishes…

“Now what shall I choose”, thinks the bride and groom’s son, when offered an array of nibbles by not one, but two waiters.

A big group shot all round the pool – so colourful!

Such great colours and so many happy people!

Perfect location for family wedding pictures.

Family wedding photos at Coco Ocean

photos by the pool then off to the wedding reception

Love this reception area with the dynamic stripey floor, so organised this pic of all the guests taken from the mezzanine floor above

bride and her family and close friends inside Coco Ocean reception area

Can you imagine having your wedding here? Such a brilliant family in an equally exciting wedding venue.

The couple enter their wedding reception dancing, and gather their children to dance with them.

Time to celebrate over a wonderful meal!

Amazing food and culinary delights at Coco Ocean. Just a shame I had to leave to catch a plane that evening on the last Thomas Cook flight out of the Gambia before the rainy season started, and also to photograph another wedding in the UK the very next day!

Night has fallen so I grab the bride and groom before the dessert course and take pictures of them within the delightful geometric designs of the contemporary architecture.

With the whole day being behind schedule after the Gambian registrar arrived one hour late, the daylight hours vanished so night time pictures of the bride and groom were the only solution.

Such a happy wedding picture on the beach at night!

Fun wedding pic on the beach at night

The night air is warm and the ambience delightful, but the bride and groom need to get back to their wedding reception and I need to head off soon for the airport!

Goodnight! Time to say goodbye to this wonderful couple in this amazing wedding venue in the Gambia, to fly back to the UK for an Asian wedding in Bradford in the morning!

If you are planning your wedding abroad or a multicultural wedding in the UK  contact Elaine – wedding photographer at Reel Life Photos  or keep up to date with recent weddings on Facebook

Storybook album cover showing Sara & Dan as they cross the bridge onto the island for their wedding reception.

Sara & Dan chose to get married in the lovely chapel at the National Trust-owned Nostell Priory, the bride having got ready at her parent’s home nearby. The following pages tell the story of their wedding day, using just the photos they themselves chose, though with all the unused shots they could easily have created a second album, that showed more of the reportage-/documentary type images.

Goodnight kiss at night

The dawn of Sara's wedding day starts as expected, with hair an make-up - bridesmaids first ...

The bride does up her father's cuff-links, there's a last-minute spot of ironing , and its into the wedding dress and on with the veil.

Sara is all smiles as she waltzes round her family home garden in her wedding dress and floaty veil

Traditional bride in black and white with spot colour floats off the pages ...

The bride's parents and little bridesmaid.

bridesmaids in limo, the grandparents, pageboy and wedding car arriving

The bride's arrival almost looks like a moving video as your eye is drawn through the perspective of these images.

Framed by the arched doorway of the church, the bride then walks down the aisle with her father.

Sara & Dan's wedding service at the chapel at Nostell Priory

Who gives this woman to be married to this man...? and "The Kiss"

The Kiss and blessing at the altar

The real signing the register

Last few photos inside the chapel.

Meet the newly-weds!

All the wedding guests in big group photo outside the church

Wedding car kiss...awhh!

Wedding car by the lake as the couple arrive at Waterton Park Hotel

Time for a few cuddles and a sit-down by the lake

Windy day at Waterton Park whisks up the bride's veil

Windy Wedding Arrivals at Walton Hall, Waterton Park

Family pics and beautiful island wedding venue with fountains

All the bride's Aunties and Uncles

View from the window of the reception room during the speeches

beautiful table layout in the old building on the island

Fun family wedding, wedding cake and table details

wedding flowers, speeches and cutting the cake

wedding speeches at Waterton Park Hotel

Funky or what!

family wedding photos - bride's grandmother and descendants

How romantic!

The groomsmen's turn at last...

Ah so much in love...

smiley groomsmen photos and bride's bouquet

the party is well underway on the island with a barbecue

The Fire-eater was a fabulous surprise for the guests' evening entertainment

Such a grand performance!

Juggling with fire!

Beautiful colours and evening light on the island as the evening wedding reception draws to a close with a barbecue and strawberries.

The evening wedding guests linger outside by the lake as the light fades, reluctant to go inside.

The end of a lovely night...

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk  or www.LeedsWeddingPhotographers.com to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybooks

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

Not too cold to smile with joy!

Holiday Inn in Tong in winter wedding sunlight

little bridesmaid getting ready

bridal makeup and wedding dress and shoes.

Outside on a frosty morning...

Time to put on the wedding dress, with help from the bridesmaids

bride's daughter sniffing the bouquet of flowers

bride and daughter, groomsmen and groom

Baby pageboy ... how cute!

Let the wedding ceremony begin!

Happy bride and groom getting married

Bride's kiss for daughter after doing her wedding reading.

The Kiss

wedding ceremony goes on...

Signing the register

witnesses after signing register with bride and groom's children

walking down the aisle

Now to brave the cold outside ...

Smiles all round - despite the bitter cold & winter's evening frost

Confetti galore!

The limo.

Outdoor pics as the light fades...

Pics outside Tong Garden Centre

Such a sparkle! Wedding day photos inside Tong Garden Centre

Winter wedding perfection!

family wedding pics inside Tong Garden Centre

glowing bride in a colourful location

seeds of happiness have been sown!

Even Father Christmas has got in on the act: icy cold images but in the warm!

Christmas stars!

groom and best man looking good...

baby Harrison has woken up to Mum's kisses

wedding reception layout

Jubilant bride and groom go into the wedding reception

Speeches!

Not surprising that outgoing bride Joanne gives a wedding speech!

Fun time cutting the wedding cake. Bet Joanne & Damian wish they could do that all over again!

Kissy kissy!

Mummy's love...

Disco baby!

First Dance.

True romance!

Goodnight!

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

Our main website is: http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk  so after you have looked at these pics you might like to see more of my wedding photos…. ? More storybooks here – more wedding photos in the galleries and on Facebook in the albums there

xx Elaine

These Creole dancers performed in pitch black outside on the helipad by the sea at Lauren and Trevor’s Seychelles wedding reception. There was an official videographer there too (Michel T) , so this is just a basic clip I shot for myself (as the wedding photographer) on my Canon 5 D Mark II whilst also shooting photos.

Levana –  aged 9 and a half –  was my little assistant using one of my “big” cameras and two different “L” (top of the range) lenses during the first part of this wedding, up to the end of the beach ceremony, and several of her photos have been included by the bride and groom in this storybook wedding album.  She has been coming with me on wedding shoots since she was three , so know what to do, though its only in the past two years she has been allowed to use one of my professional cameras to participate in the photography.

This wedding was also videoed by Michel – a professional cameraman in the Seychelles.  He can be contacted on +2482510972 and his son Damien took over the assisting role once we arrived at the wedding reception venue.  Some of his photos have also been included, so many thanks to both my young assistants. xx Elaine

The earlier pages of this Italian storybook, showing the bride and groom and their families getting ready for the wedding, and Lauren & Trevor’s beach wedding ceremony in the Seychelles can be found here.

Sometimes I feel that  wedding photographers are frightened of colour and dull everything down to muted tones and plain black and white throughout.  That might be appropriate for some weddings in the UK and for certain couple’s tastes, but when in an exotic or vibrant environment,  its a shame to somehow avoid colour!  Having lived in Greece for 8 years where I brought up my family, I soaked up the Mediterranean light which in turn formed my artistic vision through my oil paintings and line drawings of people, and photography too.

I doubt Kate and William had a better wedding than this, though they did honeymoon in the Seychelles too!

Lauren and Trevor hand in hand at the end of their beach wedding ceremony

wedding party arrives at Cap Lazare

The little pictures show details of the personalised coconut-shell cups the welcome drinks were served in decorated by star fruit. the tropical leaves overlaid with white Frangipani flowers following the theme of green dresses for the bridesmaids, and banana crisps wrapped in funnels of banana leaves. Absolutely fantastic!

bride and groom make their official entrance to their reception at Cap Lazare

I originally designed these with the images of the bride and groom to the left and to the right in a  slightly smaller size, as believe space surrounding the images is important to display the photos better, but always listen to bride and groom’s personal views and preferences so this is a revised version to suit their tastes.

groom's sister Katherine plays a delightful flute recital for the wedding guests at the start of the wedding reception

Love the emotional hug from the groom for his sister after the flute performance while their Mum applauds and smiles with happiness too. All the bridesmaids had Frangipani flowers in their hair too, so overlaid this lovely image of Katherine onto a picture of the red flowers used.

Three loving sisters with their three loving partners

Under the above  photo here is of a sunlit dark green pool surrounded by palm tree fronds at the entrance to this Seychelles wedding venue at Cap Lazare in Mahe.  I really wanted to photograph the bride lying on the smooth undulating rocks at the side of this pool but it had rained heavily during our drive from the beach wedding ceremony to the reception venue, so it wasn’t to be…

bride's family who travelled mainly from the UK for the wedding in the Seychelles

happy moments before the wedding breakfast

Trevor’s Dad Emmanuel loved the idea of a pic that showed the blue sky above palm trees here

Groom's friendly family in the Seychelles

more of the groom's lovely family over clasped hands uniting both sides

Trevor and Lauren made this very creative seating plan board over a map of Mahe

photos of beautiful memories and giant shell in the Seychelles wedding venue loo

Seychelles wedding banquet! Exotic wedding food-yummie!

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! More storybooks here – more wedding photos in the galleries, and whole weddings in  All Day Wedding Pictures

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

Magical movements of Creole dancing and first dance in the dark outside

More night-time dancing outside on the helipad

See here to contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos about your wedding or visit http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk to see loads and loads more wedding photos! – in the galleries, All Day Wedding Pictures and storybook

xx Elaine and Cuban videoman Jorge

What abeautiful wedding cake!

Nearly forgot to throw the bouquet!

We bid a reluctant goodbye and good night to the end of Trevor & Lauren's wedding day

www.leedsweddingphotographers.com

Album cover

The location

bridal preparations with help from the family

Bride being helped by her Mum and sisters to get ready for her wedding in the Seychelles

Gorgeous Seychelles groom getting ready for his wedding

Amazing bride putting on her wedding dress in the Seychelles

Little Touches...

Groom's Mum and sister on background of Frangipani flowers

The veil

Don't they both look fantastic!

dream wedding location...

Time at last for Trevor & Lauren's dream wedding

Lauren is given away by her Mum

Dream beach wedding!

Lauren and Trevor say their wedding vows on the beach as planned

Catherine presents the rings inside twin shells: how romantic!

Lauren and Trevor chose to sign the register sitting on a rock at the edge of the clear blue sea.

watched by their witnesses Lauren & Trevor sign the register by the sea

Surreal! Bet nobody else signs the register on a rock in the Seychelles

time for a private cuddle...

Confetti and flower-lined beach aisle

What an amazing wedding location!

bride's close family

Groom's family

Congratulations!

Bride and her Mum.

Now its Lauren's turn...

Lauren and Trevor's special place

here come the happy couple!

More storybooks here  or visit our main site

You can call Elaine on +44 7990 867058 if you want to know more too. xx