Every now and again it's nice to step away from weddings and spend a few hours doing something completely different.

That's exactly what happened recently when I met up with Charlotte Potter and Nurry Lee for a promotional portrait shoot in the beautiful villages of Glaisdale and Lealholm, deep in the heart of the North York Moors.

As a North Yorkshire photographer, I spend most weekends capturing weddings, but opportunities like this remind me why I first picked up a camera all those years ago. There were no timelines to follow, no confetti runs to organise and no speeches to catch. Instead, the afternoon was all about creativity, exploring locations and creating photographs that reflected the personalities of two incredibly talented musicians.

As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, I’m lucky enough to work at some incredible wedding venues across the region, but Hackness Grange is a venue I always look forward to returning to. Nestled in the beautiful North Yorkshire countryside just outside Scarborough, it offers everything I love as a documentary wedding photographer; stunning surroundings, a relaxed atmosphere and endless opportunities to create natural wedding photographs without ever making the day feel like a photoshoot.

As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, there are certain images that stay with you long after the wedding day itself has finished. Not because they were massively planned or took hours to create, but because everything naturally came together at exactly the right moment.

This photograph from Darren and Finuala’s wedding at Blackthorn Gate Lodge is honestly still one of my favourite wedding photographs years later.

Every time I look at it, it reminds me why I love relaxed documentary wedding photography so much.

As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, I get to work at some amazing venues across North Yorkshire and the North East, but every now and again you photograph a wedding that just has absolutely everything.

Gary and Kelly’s wedding at Treebridge Hotel was definitely one of those weddings.

Loads of personality, loads of laughs, brilliant guests and honestly one of the most fun relaxed atmospheres you could ask for as a documentary wedding photographer And somehow… Cindy the horse completely stole the show.

There’s sometimes this strange idea that a wedding has to be huge or expensive to feel special.

Honestly, after photographing weddings across North Yorkshire and the North East for more than 17 years, I can honestly say that’s just not true.

Some of the most emotional, relaxed and genuinely lovely weddings I’ve ever photographed have been smaller registry office weddings.

Every now and then you photograph a wedding that just has a really lovely atmosphere from the minute you arrive, and Joe and Jennifer’s wedding at Rushpool Hall was exactly that.

As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, I get to work at some amazing venues across both North Yorkshire and the North East, but there’s always something special about weddings at Rushpool Hall. The building itself has so much character, the grounds are beautiful for photographs and the whole venue just seems to create such a relaxed atmosphere throughout the day.

And honestly, Joe and Jennifer’s wedding fitted the venue perfectly.

Honestly, I don’t think couples always realise just how special that part of the wedding day can be until they actually see it.

The speeches are finished, everyone’s relaxed, the pressure of the ceremony has gone and the whole atmosphere of the wedding seems to shift into something completely different.

Then the light changes.

As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer photographing weddings across both North Yorkshire and the North East, golden hour is probably one of my favourite parts of any summer wedding day.

There are some wedding venues that just instantly feel relaxed the moment you arrive, and for me Howard Court is definitely one of them.

As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, I’m lucky enough to work at some incredible venues across both North Yorkshire and the North East, but Howard Court always has such a lovely atmosphere about it. It’s one of those places that feels elegant without ever feeling overly formal, and that balance works brilliantly for natural wedding photography.

Honestly, from a photography point of view it’s a dream venue to work at. One thing I always notice at weddings at Howard Court is how relaxed couples seem throughout the day. I think that comes from the venue itself.

It was such a privilege to capture the wedding of Jonathan and Vicki — a wonderful couple whose love for each other shone brightly from the moment we met, right through to the beautiful twilight hours. Celebrating at the iconic Scarborough Spa, and held in the stunning Suncourt, this afternoon and evening wedding had that magical, romantic atmosphere you dream of. As a natural wedding photographer covering North Yorkshire and Teesside, I absolutely love working here; the Suncourt is such a unique space, and as the sun goes down and the lights come on, it becomes pure magic — perfect for relaxed, timeless wedding photography by the sea.

Some wedding venues just have a certain atmosphere about them, and for me Scarborough Spa has always been one of those places.

Every time I photograph a wedding there, it reminds me why I love being a North Yorkshire wedding photographer so much. The views across the coastline, the character of the building itself and the way the whole day flows there always creates such a brilliant atmosphere for couples and guests alike.

But honestly, what really makes weddings at Scarborough Spa stand out for me is the people behind it.

Over the years I’ve worked alongside a lot of amazing wedding venues across North Yorkshire and the North East, but the team at Scarborough Spa genuinely make such a difference to the feel of the day.

Naomi in particular is absolutely fantastic to work with.

One of the things I’ve always loved most about wedding photography is that no two weddings ever feel the same.

Different people, different stories, different energy — and that’s exactly how it should be.

Over the years as a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, I’ve been lucky enough to photograph weddings for all kinds of couples across North Yorkshire and the North East, including some absolutely incredible same-sex weddings filled with so much emotion, personality and atmosphere.

And honestly, that’s what weddings should always be about. Not tradition for the sake of tradition. Not ticking boxes because you feel like you have to.

You start off thinking fairly simply.

Find a venue. Book a photographer. Sort the dress. Easy enough.

Then suddenly you’re looking at flowers, registrars, suits, entertainment, table décor, invitations, accommodation, transport, food, evening food, favours… and before you know it you’re sitting there with about fifteen tabs open wondering how weddings somehow escalated so quickly.

Honestly, it happens to nearly everyone.

As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer covering weddings across both North Yorkshire and the North East, I speak to couples all the time who are trying to balance having an amazing day while still keeping things realistic financially.

And the truth is, weddings can cost as much or as little as you want them to.

Some weddings just have a certain feeling about them from the moment the day starts, and Simon and Karen’s wedding at Grinkle Park was definitely one of those.

It wasn’t over the top or trying too hard to be anything it wasn’t. It just felt genuine from start to finish — full of good people, loads of laughter and the kind of atmosphere that makes you realise very quickly how much everyone there cared about the two of them.

As a Grinkle Park wedding photographer, those are always the weddings that stay with you.

One thing I’ve noticed over the years photographing weddings across North Yorkshire and the North East is that every wedding day has a natural rhythm to it.

No matter the venue, the size of the wedding or how the day is planned, there’s always a flow. It builds slowly, hits a few key moments, dips here and there, and then finishes on a high.

As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, understanding that flow is a big part of what I do. It’s not about forcing moments or sticking to a rigid plan — it’s about reading the day as it happens and being ready for it.

One of the biggest advantages of getting married at Grinkle Park is how easy everything feels.

The layout of the venue means the day flows naturally without people needing to move around too much. Guests settle in quickly, which creates a really relaxed atmosphere from the start.

As a North East and North Yorkshire wedding photographer, I’ve found that venues where people feel comfortable tend to produce the best moments. When no one feels rushed or out of place, everything becomes more natural.

Martin and Julie’s celebration at Grinkle Park was one of those evenings that just felt full of warmth from the moment I arrived.

Their story was a little different to most. They’d already tied the knot on a cruise, celebrating their wedding out at sea, and this was their chance to bring everyone together back home and properly celebrate with family and friends.

And honestly, it couldn’t have felt more perfect.

I don’t think there’s ever really a point where photographing weddings becomes just a job.

Even after more than 17 years of doing this, I still go into every wedding with the same feeling I had when I first started — that mix of anticipation, focus and, more than anything, a real passion for what I do.

I’m Stuart, a North Yorkshire wedding photographer, and I photograph weddings across both North Yorkshire and the North East. Over the years I’ve worked at all sorts of venues, from coastal locations around Whitby and Saltburn to countryside barns and historic houses further inland.

There are some wedding venues that instantly feel special the moment you arrive, and Grinkle Park is definitely one of them.

As a North Yorkshire and North East wedding photographer, I’ve been lucky enough to photograph weddings at some fantastic venues across the region, but Grinkle Park always stands out for its atmosphere, its setting and the way a wedding day seems to unfold so naturally there.

It’s one of those venues where everything just feels relaxed from the moment guests arrive.

Being a wedding photographer is one of those jobs that’s hard to explain properly unless you’ve experienced it.

People often see the finished photographs — the smiles, the celebrations and the beautiful venues — but what they don’t always see is the emotion behind those moments. As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer who has spent years photographing weddings across North Yorkshire and the North East, I’ve been lucky enough to witness some incredible moments between people.

And honestly, that’s the part of the job that never gets old.

Every wedding day is different, but they all share something in common. They’re full of genuine emotion, real connections and moments that only happen once.

North Yorkshire is packed with some incredible wedding venues. From countryside barns and historic castles to coastal locations overlooking the sea, there’s a huge amount of choice for couples planning their wedding here.

As a North Yorkshire wedding photographer who has photographed weddings across the North East and North Yorkshire for many years, I’ve had the chance to work at some fantastic venues throughout the region. Every venue brings something different to a wedding day, whether it’s the setting, the atmosphere or the way the light works for photography.