One of Abingdon’s secret locations | Cosener’s House wedding photographer
I was really delighted when Mick and Steph asked me to be their Cosener’s House wedding photographer. Cosener’s House is one of the beautiful and unexpected jewels in Abingdon’s crown and I love it.
Lots of elegant period features, rustic barn locations, beautiful trees and grounds, all nestled on the banks of the River Thames in stunning Oxfordshire.
This photo on the bridge (above) is one of my favourites from the day.
I don’t see that many people getting married in Autumn in the UK. Probably because Autumn can be hit and miss with the weather.
This day was no exception, rain was threatening when I took the shot. All the same, the beautiful colours of Autumn still manage to shine through.
Mick and Steph had a celebrity at the wedding and just as we were getting ready to take the first shot, he decided to put in an appearance.
I’m going to come clean here and say, I didn’t recognise him.
But then, I once spent 10 minutes waiting for a lift with Nastassja Kinski and Quincy Jones, and didn’t recognise them either; not even when Quincy said he played to 30,000 in Montreux!
But back to Mick and Steph’s wedding. And that waistcoat.
Do you know who it is yet?
Well. No matter.
This was an Oxford wedding with lots of laughter and hardly any tears – at least not from the bride and groom.
Talking of laughter, I almost missed this next shot for laughing at Mick trying to put the ring on the wrong finger.
One of the most challenging aspects of wedding photography is trying to balance the colour of the light across a complete album of wedding photos.
If you can shoot ‘all ambient light’ or ‘all flash’, it helps but the latter is not always allowed during the ceremony.
As a Cosener’s House wedding photographer, it was a real treat to be allowed to shoot however I wanted – the three shots above were all taken using flash. In fact, most of my photography uses flash; I find it gives my photos a better dynamic range.
Confetti | Cosener’s House wedding photographer
On my first visit to the Cosener’s House, I had a different location in mind for Mick and Steph’s confetti shot but the hotel ushered all the guests to this point in the garden and, for a smaller group, it worked well. In general, it’s best to take your photographer’s advice on locations for photos.
Portrait opportunities | Cosener’s House wedding photographer
My favourite part of every wedding is portraits of the bride and groom, including twilight and night photos.
That’s the reason most people book me – even when, like Mick and Steph, they don’t really love the idea of being photographed.
The important thing is that you want the photos so you’re willing to turn up to get them.
I always do my best to make the portrait session fun. I also give direction so you know how to stand, where to look and what to do with your hands.
Of course, not every pose suits every person. That’s why I find it’s great to meet couples at the venue before their wedding and get a sense of what comes naturally and what might be a bit awkward.
When I met Mick or Steph, like most couples, they didn’t know what would suit them but they were happy with the ideas we discussed as we walked around this wonderful river-fronted property.
For a Cosener’s House wedding photographer, there are places to shoot all over the property and even outside the entrance as well.
During the summer months, there’s also an abundant tree canopy which pretty much surrounds the property too – handy for keeping out of direct sunlight.
Rain options at the Cosener’s House | Oxfordshire wedding photographer
The staircase at the Cosener’s House is a great option for photos, especially if it’s raining.
I fell in love with it the moment I saw it and knew I wanted to photograph Mick and Steph on it, whether it rained or not.
This particular photo was taken at night but it’s relatively dark in the hallway most of the time so it’ll always be necessary to add light to capture all the beautiful detail of the space.
In addition to the staircase, the house has all number of chandeliers, beautiful windows and mirrors to shoot with, as well as a covered barn with courtyard near the entrance to the property.
As wedding venues go, the Cosener’s House is pretty well setup if it does rain on your wedding day.
I didn’t explore the barn with Mick and Steph as they needed to spend time with their guests.
Next time I’m working as a Cosener’s House wedding photographer, I’ll be sure to capture some photos in the barn and the many other places I’d like shoot at the venue.
First dance and night portraits | Cosener’s House wedding photographer
This photo of the first dance is another of my favourites from the day.
I setup the lights on either side of the of DJ’s station but the starburst on the spinning ball (in the centre) was more of a happy accident.
In fact, it was the result of me hitting the shutter at just the right moment and firing my forward flash.
There are several interesting night time photo opportunities at the Cosener’s House.
And if you’re hosting an early or late season wedding, they’d probably be covered by my eight-hour wedding package.
From mid-May to mid-September, you may need to add an hour or two if you want bridal prep through to night pictures.
If you’re oranising your wedding for the mid-summer months, it can be a good idea to book your ceremony for later in the day when it’ll be getting a little cooler.
This could also give you enough time for some romantic sunset and twilight portraits without having to pay for extra hours with your Cosener’s House wedding photographer.
We didn’t see the sunset at Mick and Steph’s Cosener’s House wedding so I’ve still got that pleasure to come in the future but I know where the sun sets so I’ll be ready for next time.
Cosener’s House is one of Oxfordshire’s historic wedding venues. For more information about Cosener’s House Weddings visit Cosener’s House
15-16 Abbey Cl, Abingdon OX14 3JD
Tel: 01235 523198
If you’re looking for a Cosener’s House wedding photographer and you’d like to know more about my wedding packages visit my Pricing page
You can see more examples of my work here as an Oxfordshire wedding photographer.