I spend a lot of time exploring the countryside around Peterborough and I've discovered a lot of great photography locations. Different places are better at different times of the year. Let's start our journey in the winter and move through the buffet of photographic delights that Peterborough's countryside has to offer throughout the year...

One of the most common things I hear is “Just to let you know I hate having my photograph taken and I always look terrible in photos.”

This post covers what I tell people to help them realise that I’m a good photographer for people who hate being photographed…

This is a question that can be taken in two different ways:

1. Why hire a family photographer when you could take the photographs yourself?

2. What is the point of family photographs at all (after all my parents sadly never bothered)

I’ll tackle both issues and explain all the benefits of having family photographs and why you should hire a professional if you can.

I'd assumed Steve and Emma's Chichelely Hall wedding photos would be would be elegant and refined. I was half right, half wrong, as you’ll discover!

Chicheley Hall is a stunning venue that’s dramatic on the outside and oozing with history and character on the inside.

So, everything and everyone looked as beautiful as I expected, but this classy bunch had a hilarious edge to them. It was like 'Downton Abbey' meets 'The Inbetweeners' at times!

If you’re planning a rustic barn wedding near Cambridgeshire then Bassmead Manor Barns is a wonderful choice.

The 300 year old barn oozes character. There’s also a bridge that straddles the moat (yes a moat!). The bridge is lit up at night and looks amazing when I use my elaborate ‘off-camera flash’ lighting set up.

If it rains, dance in the rain; if you trip over, laugh; if you feel emotional, cry without shame. Nathan and Danie's wedding at Orton Hall Hotel & Spa had this fantastically positive and relaxed vibe.

But I nearly never made it to their beautiful wedding and Nathan and Danie nearly saw each other before the ceremony…

James and Steff’s wild west themed wedding at Bassmead Manor Barns even had a sponsor!

…The international boot manufacturer Ariat.

I knew this was going to be one of my favourite ever weddings when they asked for a wild west engagement session and I created some shoot-out scenes for them!

The whole of Keeley and Emma’s wedding day was at the Chequers Inn in Woolsthorpe, near Grantham. 

They both looked so beautiful and demure during the ceremony, but they didn’t hold back in the evening…!

The Chequers is ideal for a wedding if you’re looking for a relaxed vibe in beautiful countryside. There’s a huge hill right behind the venue and Keeley and Emma were awesome enough to agree to jump over the style and walk a little way up it to get some lovely shots.  Fluffy white clouds hovered above the hill to make the scene picture perfect.

Rob and Mel’s Orton Hall wedding, was not normal....and I loved every second.

It wasn’t normal because…

...They were like working with professional models...because Mel actually is one...!! And Rob could be. They're beautiful inside and out.

...because I was mugged by a horde of children trying (and succeeding!) in stealing my loud hailer (see photographic evidence)!

…because Mel's stunning veil was as long as a cascading waterfall.

Ettington Park hotel is a stunning venue for wedding photos anyway, but you know you're at a very special wedding when…

I’m delighted to say my friend Rona's wedding to her hunk of love Lee was one of my most raucous yet (our friend's rock!). The venue was the stunning Anstey Hall in Cambridgeshire - here are their wedding photos…

I had it all with this wedding.

For a start Heacham Manor in Norfolk is fantastic for wedding photos. You’re 5 minutes from the beach and there’s a beautiful garden with a pond and rope swing. Don’t worry, the rope swing isn’t over the pond!

On top of that I had a lovely, chilled couple who looked effortlessly fantastic in front of the camera. 

When I first met Tamsyn and Shaun I asked them to describe their wedding at Irnham Hall and Aslackby Church in 3 words.

Their answer was 'Fun' 'Fun' 'Fun'.

They sounded like my kind of couple!

And oh my giddy Aunt did they deliver on their promise! And so did their guests... ...and even the vicar! There were grenades, 7ft dinosaurs, glow sticks, Champagne spraying, synchronised umbrella throwing, vicar throwing (kinda) and Peaky Blinders... ...but more on all that later.

Two things leap out at me when I think back at Vicky and Paul's Bassmead Manor Barns wedding photos. Firstly they were quite possibly the two best and most natural and beautiful posers a photographer could wish for. Secondly Paul's speech was the best groom's speech I've ever heard.

I probably shouldn't be quite so pleased with myself for causing a traffic jam on the A1, but I just can't help it... ...we all had so much fun - including the lorry drivers! 

It's not our fault; weddings at Sibson Inn are right next to the A1 so drivers slow down to take a look - particularly when you do what we were doing...

A year ago I didn't even know what SteamPunk was. But when Kirsty and Jules told me they were having a steampunk wedding at Normanton Church in Rutland I got pretty darned excited!

Think Mad Max... ...in a church!

Say whaaaaat!!??

As one of the few photographers who offer trash the dress photos in Cambridgeshire (btw if you don’t want to trash it you can do a rock the frock session instead!), I’m always looking for new locations and creative ideas.

Although most of my trash the dress photos are created in Cambridgeshire I’ve been as far as The Peak District to use the beautiful waterfalls they have there.

Discover why I chose the amazing Hazel Cottrell from Creative Content to be a business hero for Peterborough…

I was really delighted that my friend Hazel Cottrell from Creative Content Company told me about the Soul Happy initiative in Cowgate, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.

One of the many things Kim Coley and her amazing team do at Soul Happy is arrange Pay it Forward events that help and inspire the local community. Last week we were doing some random acts of kindness like giving food to the homeless and giving out cakes, hugs and professional massages at Serpentine Green. 

Steve King was (and sometimes still is) a singer in the world famous soul band The Drifters. He used to live right here in Hampton (why on earth did he leave the sun-kissed shores of Miami!?)

This is the second portfolio session I have done with Steve. He asked me to update his portfolio as he said everyone was copying the images I did for him last time so he needed to stay one step ahead.