TYNEMOUTH WEDDING - PORTRAIT SESSION WITH CHARLOTTE AND ALEX

Pre-wedding portrait sessions are an important part of the build up to me covering your great wedding day celebrations.

Our photography session is usually 6-12 months before your wedding, and it's a time for us to be able to bond a little and get a feel for each other and for you to have some great photographs taken!

It's often the second or third time we have met and it's always good to spend some more time together - so that when it comes to your wedding day we're not strangers to each other and you can worry about the best man's drinking problem or whether your mum's wedding hat will fly away in the wind .... you won't be worrying about me and whether I capture the atmosphere and fun of your wedding!

This week I had a great time photographing Charlotte and Alex at Tynemouth, it was a little late, and the sun never made an appearance (no change there then ...) but we had a wander about and had a laugh and a chat and took lots of photographs.

I hope you agree - they're a great looking couple and I'm so looking forward to their wedding in Tynemouth and then on to Blackfriars Restaurant in Newcastle for the reception and evening celebrations!

A WINTER WEDDING PLANNED FOR LOUISE AND IAIN'S AT JESMOND DENE HOUSE HOTEL

NEWCASTLE JESMOND DENE HOUSE HOTEL'S WEDDING VENUE - PHOTOGRAPHED IN THE SNOW BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY AT IAIN AND LOUISE'S WINTER WEDDING

UPDATED ... SEE LINK BELOW!

Jesmond Dene House Hotel in Newcastle is a great venue for a wedding, and I'm lucky enough to have been chosen by a number of brides and grooms to cover their wedding there.

I met with Louise and Iain, who are currently working in Dublin, and with both sets of parents to talk about their wedding day plans at Jesmond Dene House, and it sounds as though it's going to be a great wedding day celebration.

We will be having our pre-wedding portrait session in Jesmond Dene soon.
If you would also like me to be your photographer at Jesmond Dene House Hotel on your wedding day I would be honoured to be part of your celebrations!
My latest wedding news and photographs HERE:

SNEAK PEAK IMAGES FROM LOUISE AND IAIN'S ACTUAL WEDDING AT JESMOND DENE HOUSE HOTEL ARE HERE

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

JUDGES COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL WEDDING FAIR DATES

JUDGES WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: JENNI AND IAN AT THEIR WINTER WEDDING

Judges Country House Hotel Wedding Fair at Yarm is on Sunday 3rd November 2013 between 11-4pm See my recent weddings at Judges HERE or my Inspiration Board on Pinterest HERE

It's a great wedding venue - perfect for wedding photographs and for a great wedding celebrations on the border of North Yorkshire and Cleveland / Teesside.

One of my favourite weddings at Judges Country House Hotel at Yarm was Ian and Jennie's wedding between Christmas and New Year when it snowed!
The wedding was late in the day and of course it was almost dark as we came out of the church at Nunthorpe, and we headed across to Judges as the snow was falling heavier and heavier.
By the time the celebrations were over, I just knew that I would have to get Jennie and Ian outside in the snow as I was leaving.
It was about 11pm but they came outside, I put the camera on a tripod with a slow shutter speed and threw in a little bit of flash to balance everything up .... et voilà!If you would also like me to be your photographer at Judges Country House Hotel on your wedding day I would be delighted to be part of your celebrations!
Ring my mobile on 0778 7150966 or in the office until 6pm on 01429 423165 .. DON'T LOSE YOUR DATE .. WEDDINGS FOR 2014 / 2015 GET BOOKED VERY QUICKLY!!

My latest wedding news and photographs HERE
DIRK VAN DER WERFF

ELEANOR AND CLIVE'S WEDDING AT LUMLEY CASTLE ... AND THE MEMORIES IT BROUGHT BACK.....

Eleanor and Clive's wedding is going to be at Lumley Castle in 2009.

I was chatting with them on the phone last night at their home in Brittany about their pre-wedding portrait session next month when they are back in the area to visit friends and relatives.

Talking about Lumley Castle brought back two memories, both very random.

First memory is from about 5 years ago.

I was standing in front of the great hall at Lumley Castle in the car park on a really, really chilly February day.

A friend I was with shouted at me to turn around - and his voice was full of alarm. When I turned around there was a curtain of snow drifting across the main lawn leading to the golf course.

Literally a wall of white on one side and bright sun and green grass on the other side ...... quite one of the most weird things I have ever seen.

The other memory that came back to me was of hair .. the hair of a bridesmaid at Jennifer's wedding at Lumley Castle about three years ago. ..............it looked a picture. I hope you like it!

My latest wedding news and photographs HERE:

SEE YOU AT HARDWICK HALL WEDDING FAIR AT SEDGEFIELD COUNTY DURHAM

HELEN - READY TO GO DURING HER WEDDING AT HARDWICK HALL PHOTOGRAPHED BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

MARTIN ENJOYS THE DANCING AT HIS WEDDING TO HIS SIKH BRIDE JAG AT HARDWICK HALL - PHOTOGRAPHED BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

THE COMPLETE WEDDING EXHIBITION AT HARDWICK HALL NEAR SEDGEFIELD is between 11am - 4pm on Sunday 6th March 2011.
More than 40 wedding suppliers will be there to give you plenty of ideas when you are planning your wedding at the grand wedding fair next to the Lake in the grand marquee with all the main room settings open for brides and grooms and their families to view at this popular County Durham wedding venue.
If you would like me to be the official photographer at your Hardwick Hall wedding I would be pleased to receive your phone call on 0778 7150966 or in the office on 01429 423165


DIRK VAN DER WERFF

RACHEL AND JONATHAN'S WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL .....

RACHEL AT HER WEDDING AT HEADLAM HALL - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

LOVE IS IN THE AIR ...... RACHEL AND JONATHAN AT HEADLAM HALL

UPDATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THEIR WEDDING


I've been having an e-mail conversation for nearly a year now with Rachel who lives and works in Bristol. 
We talked about her wedding at Headlam Hall and last Autumn her mum came to see me.
We said that we would meet when she was in the area sometime - and luckily we finally met (and her mum) at Headlam Hall for a chat and a coffee with Jonathan too. 
They loved the A3 landscape San Francisco albums that I love so much too ..... Rachel and Jonathan have signed on the dotted line! 
I can't wait, Headlam Hall is a fantastic location for a wedding!


IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO BE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER AT HEADLAM HALL FOR YOUR WEDDING, PLEASE RING ME IN THE OFFICE ON 01429 423165, OR ON MY PERSONAL MOBILE: 0778 7150966 FOR A NO-OBLIGATION CHAT ABOUT YOUR WEDDING PLANS. DON'T LOSE YOUR DATE - AND I WILL TRAVEL TO MEET WITH YOU AT YOUR HOME OR AT YOUR WEDDING VENUE FOR A POT OF TEA AND A CHAT!
My latest wedding news and photographs HERE:

GREAT TO SEE SO MANY OF YOU AT REDWORTH HALL WEDDING FAIR ON SUNDAY!!

ORIGINALLY POSTED SEPTEMBER 2009

Thanks to all of you who turned up and came for a chat and talk weddings at Redworth Hall on Sunday.

Especially to Laura, Rebecca, Sarah, Kate, Louise, Rachel, Emma,, Katherine, Kate, Nicola, Andrea, Ellen, Neil, Vicki, Gayle, Jessica and Kelly and Jake.

Great to talk weddings with you and I will catch up with you all very soon - don't forget to check out my website and all the bridal testimonials to help you along your way to plan your BIG day!

If you would like to consider me to be your official wedding photographer, I would be happy to meet with you for a no obligation chat and a coffee. Happy to travel to you too. Ring for FREE on 0800 804 7270 or my mobile on 0778 7150966

MY LOVELY PHOTOGRAPH IS FROM CLAIRE AND JAMIE'S WEDDING AT REDWORTH HALL HOTEL IN SEPTMBER

ORE DETAILS ON MY WEBSITE HERE

My latest wedding news and photographs HERE

View recent testimonials HERE:

DIRK VAN DER WERFF

REDWORTH HALL WEDDING FOR JAMIE AND CLAIRE

SEATON CAREW HOLY TRINITY CHURCH WHERE CLAIRE AND JAMIE WERE MARRIED

THE BEAUTIFUL HAIRPIECE THAT CLAIRE USED FOR HER WEDDING

CLAIRE CONCENTRATES AS SHE APPLIES HER MAKE UP

SHOES AT THE READY!

ON HER WAY TO THE CHURCH ... CLAIRE GOES DOWN THE STAIRS AT HOME ... 

A CHEEKY SMILE FROM ONE OF CLAIRE'S BRIDESMAIDS

A BEAUTIFUL LIGHT SUMMER BOUQUET

CLAIRE ARRIVES AT THE CHURCH 

KISSES AND CONFETTI FOR CLAIRE AND JAMIE AT SEATON CAREW HOLY TRINITY CHURCH AFTER THEIR WEDDING

REDWORTH HALL WAS THE WEDDING VENUE FOR THE RECEPTION

... AND THE WEDDING BREAKFAST MENU ......

THE MAIN HALL AT REDWORTH HALL NEAR DARLINGTON

CLAIRE'S CAKE CATCHES THE SUNLIGHT

KEEP TIGHT HOLD OF MR RABBIT .... COMFORT FOR ONE OF THE YOUNGEST

ENJOYING THE SUNSHINE AT REDWORTH HALL

JAMIE'S PARENTS PORTRAIT - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

CLAIRE'S PARETNTS WEDDING PORTRAIT - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

.. AND THE DREADED GROUP PICTURE .. ALL DONE IN A FEW MINUTES - WITH A SMILE BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

TIME TO EAT IN THE GREAT HALL .... 

A LOVELY PORTRAIT OF JAMIE AND CLAIRE IN FRONT OF THE BIG WINDOW WHILE AT THEIR TOP TABLE AT REDWORTH HALL

BRIDAL PORTRAIT OF CLAIRE AS SHE LISTENS TO JAMIE'S SPEECH

MY FAVOURITE PORTRAIT OF CLAIRE ON THE DAY .. REACTING TO JAMIE'S SPEECH - PHOTOGRAPH BY DIRK VAN DER WERFF

MESSING ABOUT IN THE LATE EVENING SUN ON THE LAWN AT REDWORTH HALL

STILL HAVING FUN ..... 

AAWWW .. LOVE IS FOR CLAIRE AND JAMIE IN THE LATE EVENING SUN AT REDWORTH HALL

NICE AND RELAXED ........ JUST LIKE ALL OF MY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY, JAMIE AND CLAIRE SEAL THEIR WEDDING DAY WITH A KISS

Claire and Jamie are great fun people and I met with them at their mum's about a year before we met again at the pre-wedding portrait session we arranged at the beach.

A pre-wedding portrait meeting is so much more than taking photographs - it gives us time to chat and talk about the forthcoming wedding and bond a little .. so that we're not strangers on the day of the wedding. So that instead of: "Ohh, the photographer's here ... ", it's more like: "Great, Dirk's here - let's get the wedding started!"

Their wedding was at a beautiful old church on the sea front at Seaton Carew near Hartlepool - Holy Trinity, before we all headed off to Redworth Hall Hotel, west of Darlington - a lovely venue for a beautiful wedding.

Luckily, Claire is cool calm and collected and when I went to meet with her and her family and bridesmaids at home everything was tranquil, so I managed to get a few key photographs from the start of her day, before meeting with Jamie at the church - he is just the most relaxed guy ever!

They both wanted what I do best - to document and capture their wedding celebration as naturally and as unobtrusively as possible - showing all the laughter and the fun of the day!

Once at Redworth Hall, there was plenty of time for canapes and champagne on the lawn - and for a few casual, relaxed, happy family shots of mum's and dads with grandchildren and close family friends. No hassle, no stress, just relaxed and quick and FUN !

The wedding breakfast was really nice (thank you!) and the speeches entertaining and full of laughter and tears.

Luckily it was still light, so I had an opportunity to take Claire and Jamie into the grounds for ten minutes, catch some fresh air and finally get some photographs of them on their own - she looked so good in her Paloma Blanca wedding dress!

Before long, it was first dance time (or first shuffle as it often is!) and the entertainment and dancing was going great guns as I headed off home into the late setting sun.

A great day for Claire and Jamie - relaxed, fun and a wonderful day of celebration to mark the first day of the rest of their life together!

UPDATED:
Claire's review:
“Dirk has a very relaxed approach. He blended into our guests well during the day and captured exactly what we were looking for – shots of friends and family having fun.
He photographed people unaware, but also did some staged shots for the album. Jamie and I were able to enjoy our day to the full knowing the photography was well taken care of.”

If you would like me to be part of your family wedding celebrations at your own wedding at Redworth Hall, or just to chat about your wedding plans, in the north east, north Yorkshire, Cumbria, The Borders, or anywhere in the UK, ring ME IN THE OFFICE on +44 (0)1429 423165 until 6pm or my mobile telephone after hours until 10pm day or night, weekday or weekend on +44 (0)778 7150966.
Many of my brides-to-be work in Europe or elsewhere in the world and are coming back to the UK to get married .... so, Use +44 if ringing from abroad, or add the 0 if ringing from the UK.

Maybe you have booked a wedding in France or Italy or Greece or Las Vegas or Cayman Islands?  I'm happy to be part of your destination wedding plans anywhere in the world. Flights and accommodation are charged at cost.

Wedding photography costs from £1000, with the most popular package at £1395 which includes a pre-wedding shoot and a framed portrait together with a signiture A3 print for signing by your guests at your wedding. Up to 500 hard-copy gallery proof-prints in a presentation box, a dedicated website, all final edited images on a CD, together with great customer experience and outstanding personalised customer service and satisfaction.

Smaller weddings with less than 25 guests, midweek, cost from £550, these options are also available 10 weeks before a Saturday or Sunday if the date is free.

A3 wedding books are from £450 with all parent books and mini-books available from the top companies around the world.

PLEASE NOTE: I am a FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER, fully insured, with 25 years experience, please don't ask if I can match the price of a weekend photographer with 6 months experience who offers 3 photographers and unlimited photographs at your wedding for £400, this is a bespoke, personal service with outstanding photography.

For additional images and news and special offers, add me as a friend on Facebook HERE

SEE Anne and David's review of my wedding photography at Redworth Hall HERE

READ MY WEDDING REVIEWS HERE

AND HERE

READ ABOUT COST / PRICES / INVESTMENT HERE

DIRK VAN DER WERFF