FAQ

As a Yorkshire wedding photographer, I travel throughout the North of England, covering Yorkshire (including Leeds, York, Harrogate, Ilkley, and Sheffield) and the Lake District. I’ve photographed weddings at many celebrated venues across these regions, including Ripley Castle, Allerton Castle, Wharfedale Grange, Middleton Hall, Saltmarshe Hall, and Armathwaite Hall. I’m happy to travel to your chosen venue, whether it’s a chic city hotel, an elegant countryside mansion, or a rustic barn setting.

I’ve had the pleasure of photographing weddings at many celebrated Yorkshire wedding venues, including Ripley Castle, Allerton Castle, Wharfedale Grange, Middleton Hall, Saltmarshe Hall, Hazlewood Castle, Bowcliffe Hall, The Mansion, East Riddlesden Hall, and The Tithe Barn. In the Lake District, I’ve worked at venues like Armathwaite Hall. I’ve also photographed weddings at unique locations such as the Crab and Lobster, The Orangery in Settrington, and various marquee weddings in countryside settings. You can explore some of these venues through my blog posts about specific weddings.

Yes, I do photograph destination weddings! While I’m based in Yorkshire and primarily cover the North of England, I’m available for weddings throughout the UK and internationally. I love traveling and experiencing different wedding traditions and venues. For destination weddings, additional travel and accommodation costs would apply. If you’re planning a wedding away from Yorkshire or the Lake District, please get in touch to discuss your plans, and I’ll provide a customized quote.

Yes, alongside wedding photography, I also specialize in family portrait photography. I bring the same natural, authentic approach to family sessions, focusing on capturing genuine interactions and personalities rather than stiff, posed portraits. Family sessions can take place at your home, a favorite outdoor location, or at my studio in Pudsey. These sessions are relaxed and fun, allowing your family’s true character to shine through. You can find more information about my family photography services on the Families page of my website.

I specialize exclusively in photography to ensure I can give my full attention and expertise to capturing still images of your day. However, I can recommend trusted videographers who complement my working style if you’re interested in having your wedding filmed. Having worked alongside many videographers over the years, I can suggest professionals whose approach and style will work harmoniously with mine, ensuring a smooth experience on your wedding day.

My photography style is natural, creative, and authentic. I focus on capturing genuine moments and emotions throughout your wedding day, from the preparations to the dancing. I blend documentary-style photography with creative portraits, ensuring I document your day as it unfolds naturally while also creating beautiful, artistic images of you and your loved ones. My approach is unobtrusive, allowing you to enjoy your day while I capture those special moments.

My approach combines technical expertise with a genuine passion for storytelling. Having transitioned from a scientific background, I bring both analytical precision and creative vision to my photography. I focus on capturing authentic emotions and interactions while also creating artistic portraits that showcase the beauty of your day. My clients often mention my friendly, calming presence and how I blend into their day while still providing guidance when needed. I’m particularly known for my ability to work with natural light and dramatic landscapes, especially in Yorkshire and the Lake District, creating stunning environmental portraits that celebrate both the couple and the setting.

Many of my couples initially feel camera-shy, and that’s completely normal! My approach is relaxed and unobtrusive, focusing on natural moments rather than forced poses. During couple portraits, I’ll give you gentle guidance to help you feel comfortable, but I won’t make you do anything that feels unnatural. Many couples mention in their reviews how I helped them feel at ease, even when they were nervous about being photographed. Remember, you’ll be so caught up in the joy of your day that you’ll hardly notice me capturing those special moments.

Yes, I do take group family photos as part of your wedding coverage. While my style is primarily documentary, I understand the importance of capturing these formal group shots for family records. I recommend keeping your group shot list to around 8-10 key combinations to ensure we don’t spend too much time on formal photos. I work efficiently to organize and photograph these groups, allowing you more time to enjoy your celebration with your guests.

A pre-wedding or engagement shoot is a relaxed photo session that takes place before your wedding day. It’s a wonderful opportunity for us to work together before the big day, helping you feel comfortable in front of the camera and giving you beautiful images to use for your wedding invitations, website, or guest book. These sessions typically last 1-2 hours at a location of your choice, such as a meaningful spot to you both or somewhere with beautiful scenery. Many couples find that this experience makes them feel much more at ease with being photographed on their wedding day.

I only photograph around 30 weddings a year so I can give each day my complete attention. This limited schedule allows me to provide a personalized service to each couple and ensure I’m fully present and focused on your special day. Because I take on a limited number of weddings, I do get booked up quite quickly, so I recommend getting in touch with your date as soon as possible.

Since I only photograph around 30 weddings per year, I recommend booking as early as possible, especially if you’re planning a wedding during peak season (May-September) or on a popular date. Many couples book 12-18 months in advance to secure their date, but it’s always worth checking my availability even if your wedding is approaching soon. You can contact me to check if your date is available.

Yes, absolutely! I believe it’s important for us to meet and get to know each other before your wedding day. If you’d like to meet in person and see some sample albums, appointments are available at my studio in Pudsey, West Yorkshire, during both daytime and evenings. We can discuss your wedding plans, go through sample albums, and ensure we’re a good fit for each other. If you’re not local, we can arrange a video call instead. Feel free to contact me to arrange a meeting.

Booking is simple! After our initial consultation (either in person or via video call), I’ll send you a booking form and contract. To secure your date, I require a completed booking form, signed contract, and a non-refundable booking fee (which is deducted from your total package price). The remaining balance is due one month before your wedding date. You can contact me via email at kirstyds@gmail.com, call me on 07564 953262, or use the contact form on my website to start the booking process.

While this is extremely rare, I have a network of professional wedding photographers with a similar style who can step in if I’m unable to photograph your wedding due to illness or emergency. I would work closely with the replacement photographer to ensure they understand your requirements and expectations. Your wedding will always be covered by a professional, experienced photographer, and I have backup plans in place for all eventualities.

Absolutely! I always bring multiple professional cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment to every wedding. I also use cameras with dual memory card slots, which means your images are backed up instantly as they’re taken. This ensures that even in the unlikely event of equipment failure, I can continue shooting without interruption, and your precious memories are always safe.

Don’t worry about the weather! As a photographer based in Yorkshire, I’m well-versed in working with the British weather. Rain doesn’t stop us from creating beautiful images – in fact, it can add a magical, romantic element to your photos. I always scout venues for covered outdoor areas and beautiful indoor locations for portraits. I also bring elegant clear umbrellas to weddings, which make for charming photos while keeping you dry. Some of my most stunning and unique images have been created on rainy wedding days, as you can see in my portfolio.

When choosing your wedding venue, consider the available light (venues with large windows and good natural light are ideal), outdoor spaces for portraits, and wet weather options. Yorkshire offers a wonderful variety of venues, from rustic barns to elegant castles. Think about the style of photography you want and how the venue complements that vision. Also consider the time of year and how the venue looks in that season. I’m happy to offer advice on specific venues I’ve worked at before, or even accompany you on venue visits if you’d like a photographer’s perspective before making your final decision.

I understand how excited you’ll be to see your wedding photos! Typically, I deliver your complete gallery within 4-6 weeks during peak wedding season, and often sooner during quieter periods. I carefully select and individually edit each image to ensure the highest quality. I’ll usually share a few preview images on social media (with your permission) within a week of your wedding to give you a glimpse of what’s to come.

For a full day’s coverage (typically 8-10 hours), you can expect to receive approximately 400-600 carefully edited images, depending on the events and duration of your day. Every wedding is unique, so the exact number may vary. I focus on quality over quantity, ensuring each image tells part of your wedding day story. All images are professionally edited and provided in high resolution, perfect for printing and sharing.

Yes, I offer beautiful, handcrafted wedding albums that are designed to tell the story of your day. My albums are made with the highest quality materials and are designed to last for generations. I work with you to select the images and create a layout that perfectly captures the narrative of your wedding day. You can view sample albums during our meeting at my studio. Albums can be included in your package from the beginning or added after your wedding.