Behind the Scenes - August 2024

I am sitting by my south facing window, overlooking the hills, and have come to a conclusion: As West Yorkshire wedding photographers & videographers, I think we have it easy.

Firstly, we have God's Own Country as our backdrop, with the most breath-taking views. Almost all venues on a hill will enjoy rolling green hills divided by ancient dry stone walls, tended to by flocks of sheep and herds of horses. Driving to the venue is an opportunity in itself for beautiful photography.

Then there's the sky. I've always felt Yorkshire's skies are dramatic - hues of blue with gigantic clouds. There's something to be said about our position on this land - we have rain, and with that a lot of rainbows. In August 2024 I have seen no less than seven this past few weeks.

Thirdly, we have the cost of living in this County. You can buy a pint at the local pub for £3 of real ale. Many wedding venues have quality beers from local breweries for Yorkshire prices. It is much easier to finance a wedding here than it is down south (I say this as someone who lived between Cambridge and London for 20 years).

Finally, the people. Like many wedding photographers, I did the first couple of weddings for free to build my portfolio, and the kindness of the couples and their friends and family blew me away. Hundreds of people in all, and all of them relaxed and joyful and eager to help as I was gaining confidence in this field. Having lived in Huddersfield for over a decade now, this came as no surprise. It is very easy to make friends here.

And having friends helps a lot. The first few months (May onwards) was about getting ducks in order. Website up? Check! Emails sending and receiving? Check! Learning the balance of posting not-too-frequently on social media? Semi-check! (My Social Media Marketing Director says I need to chill a bit).

Having friends, family, and my community support me by sharing my posts has been the deciding factor in sinking or swimming. If you are reading this, thank you for paddling along with me and helping me stay afloat :)

Hannah - Thursday 29th August 2024 - Sunny and Breezy