Introduction: Step into a world of love, elegance, and picture-perfect memories as we delve into the enchanting wedding of Vicki and Rich at the breathtaking Apton Hall in Rochford, Essex. On April 30th, 2023, this extraordinary couple, surrounded by their cherished friends and family, celebrated their love amidst the serene beauty of one of Essex's most exquisite venues.

Witnessing Love Unfold: As an Essex wedding photographer, I had the incredible privilege of capturing every heartfelt moment of Vicki and Rich's big day. From the loving glances shared between the couple to the joyous laughter of their young son, Eli, it was an affair to remember. The serene ambiance of Apton Hall complemented the intimate nature of the event, creating the ideal backdrop for an unforgettable wedding.

Stunning Apton Hall: A Haven for Essex Weddings: Apton Hall, nestled in the picturesque town of Rochford, Essex, is a unique gem among wedding venues. Its charm lies in its harmonious blend of history and modernity. With its elegant architecture, lush gardens, and exquisite interiors, Apton Hall offered the perfect setting for Vicki and Rich's special day. It is truly a place where dreams come to life.

Style and Elegance: Rich's love for exquisite suits was evident, as he donned a dapper ensemble that exuded sophistication and charm. Each photograph captured his radiant confidence and love for his beautiful bride. Vicki, on the other hand, looked nothing short of stunning in her custom denim jacket, a heartfelt gift from her mother, which added a touch of personalized flair to her bridal attire.

Perfect Weather, Perfect Day: With the sun shining brightly, Vicki and Rich's wedding day was blessed with perfect weather. The golden rays of sunlight added a magical touch to the already enchanting ambiance, allowing for breathtaking outdoor shots that encapsulated the romance and joy of the occasion.

Forever in Frames: As an Essex wedding photographer, my goal was to preserve the essence of this unforgettable day through timeless photographs. The candid moments, heartfelt emotions, and genuine love shared by Vicki and Rich have been immortalized in these frames, ready to be cherished for generations to come.

#EssexWeddingPhotographer #AptonHallPhotographer #EssexTownsPhotographer #CapturingForever #LoveInEssex #RochfordRomance #TimelessLove #CherishedMoments

Conclusion: Vicki and Rich's wedding at Apton Hall was a celebration of love, family, and the beginning of a beautiful journey together. It was an honor to be their Essex wedding photographer, capturing every emotion and detail that made their day truly special. Apton Hall's enchanting charm and the couple's radiant love made this wedding a cherished memory that will forever inspire and touch the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to witness it.

It was also great to work with some other fantastic suppliers: 

Venue: @aptonhall

Secondshooter: @sarah_young_photography

makeup : @makeupbyemmagooch

Cake: @occasions_cake_studio

Dress: @bridalrelovedmaldon

Flowers: @elliemaes.florists

Videographer: Lee Watts -Video Memories

Toastmaster: Martin Jukes

Music: @themaxibrites @alexcrowhurst_music
 

So onto my sneaky peek! This wonderful couple I actually met at a previous wedding earlier in the year. Crazily even after they had seen my work and met me, they wanted to book me for their wedding! Ha ha! This is always the biggest compliment, and why I love this job. Vicki and Nick contacted me and it was quite clear that they were wanting a really relaxed wedding day surrounded by their friends and family. When they told me what their plans were, I was SUPER excited to capture this wedding. Vicki and Nick were very laid back, but like many of my couples were not fans of having their photos taken. This is the main reason I capture pre-shoots prior to my weddings!

Vicki and Nick decided that we would use the Flitch walk, Rayne, Braintree. This was the perfect place to capture some amazingly different photos. There were puddles galore, and it was time to bring out the inner child! These guys kicked water at one another, jumped in puddles – it was fantastic.

On the wedding day, Vicki and her bridesmaids were getting ready at the father of the bride’s house, before we moved onto the beautiful All Saints Church in Rayne. The service was filled with emotion as Vicki’s Dad gave her away. When the service ended, we grabbed an opportunity to take some group shots against the walls of the church, before then capturing an amazing confetti shot! While everyone moved onto the East Anglian Railway museum ready for the Wedding breakfast, Vicki and Nick had some shots of them together (not before scoffing a scrummy scone!). We then swiftly moved onto the viaducts to make the most of landscape before moving onto the Railway museum.

This is an amazing venue to hold a wedding reception! There are so many places to go and we even had steam train rides! Fantastic! Throughout the afternoon and evening there were so many opportunities to grab some beautiful and unique shots, including moments in the speeches that were hilarious and heartfelt. 

Overall it was a fantastic day, with fantastic guests and more importantly an amazing couple.

Enjoy this sneak peek.

Fast forward to now, and I am happy to report that all work is done at home, I have finished editing all my 2019 Weddings and I am now drafting numerous Wedding albums ready for when my 2020 Weddings begin in the next couple of weeks. I have a jam packed 2020 with close to 30 Weddings so far and multiple family and newborn shoots booked in, so there are plenty of things coming up.

Its going to be an amazing year, and I am looking at building my Instagram and Facebook followers even further with some fantastic opportunities. I am happy to say that I am now a recommended supplier for three amazing Wedding venues in Essex. The Lion, in Boreham Chelmsford, Smeetham Hall Barn and Richwill Farm! All of these are simply stunning venues, all having their own unique beautiful ceremony rooms and grounds for some spectacular photos.

Over the coming weeks I shall be keeping up with my sneaky peeks for my 2019 and 2020 weddings so stay tuned.

So, onto todays blog post! Lauri and Pete’s amazing day at The Lion Inn Wedding venue in Boreham, Chelmsford.

Lauri contacted me in late 2019 when she had a bad experience with another photographer, and luckily, I was free to help with their special day!

A couple of weeks before the wedding we grabbed an opportunity to take a few photos in the discovery centre, near Braintree. This was a great time to see what they were like in front of the camera – Lauri believed Pete was going to be shy – He actually nailed it. It was a great mini shoot, and we were ready for the wedding day.

The day started with Lauri and her amazing bridesmaids getting pampered with their hair and makeup being done, and the bubbly (and orange juice for one particular bridesmaid) was flowing as the first few hours of the day just rocketing by! Before we knew it, I was heading off to the AMAZING Lion Inn, Boreham, Chelmsford.

When I arrived, guests were already flooding, ready to see the beautiful Lauri, and it wasn’t long before Lauri arrived with her Dad who was giving her away. Whilst they waited outside with the bridesmaids, the ceremony room was filing up, including a rather nervous Pete! Lauri and her bridal party took everyone’s breath away as they walked down the aisle – they looked simply stunning. Pete was lost for words. This made for some simply gorgeous moments when capturing the ceremony.

Once the ceremony was completed, we grabbed an opportunity to take a few group photos, however both Lauri and Pete were more interested in grabbing some natural shots. There was plenty of great moments though as the amazing Nick Crown was there creating literal magical moments with their guests. I’ve seen Nick on several weddings I’ve done and he is amazing! Check him out on Instagram and Facebook. After some hilarious entertainment everyone came back into for the wedding breakfast. As always, the Lion Inn provides some of the best food full stop! After the scrummy food, came some fantastic speeches that gave quite a few laughs and gasps as they are meant to! The day seemed to fly by the cake cut and first dance appeared from nowhere! And what a first dance it was. I think the alcohol helped them along the way ha ha. Overall this was a beautiful day at one of my favourite venues. So, here is my latest sneak peek! Enjoy.

Today’s sneak peek is Lisa and Paul's gorgeous day at the amazing Richwill Farm Wedding venue in Essex. This was the first time I have shot a wedding at Richwill and I certainly hope I get to shoot more there, as it was fantastic. I have to note a special thank you to Dean from Hitched Wedding films. Always a pleasure to work with.

The day started at the fantastic Wivenhoe house in Colchester, where Lisa and her Bridal party were getting ready. Sometimes when you arrive at the bridal prep it’s very manic with hustle and bustle, but this was very calm and collected, with a few glasses of bubbly on the go. The bridal party were having their makeup done by the talented Marilyn Morris (link below) who made them all look even more stunning.

After what seems like 5 minutes we were off to Richwill Farm Wedding venue. When I Paul was a the venue meeting his nearest and dearest, so it was a great opportunity to take some lovely natural photos of guests interacting with one another, and some of the venue.  Lisa then arrived shortly later in an amazing vintage car from Vintage Dreams. Stunning. 

It was soon time for the wedding itself and Lisa looked simply beautiful as she walked down the aisle, especially surrounded by flowers by Sweet P floral design. The two of them literally couldn’t stop smiling at one another throughout the ceremony.

Once the ceremony was completed guests were treated to some delicious canopies, while the bride and groom decamped to have some photos taken with the stunning car. It was soon time to conduct the official group photos that are traditional at a Wedding, and I have to say I think I met my match with Lisa’s Nan! She was a character ha ha!

Before the Wedding breakfast Lisa and Paul took an opportunity to have some photos on a different part of the Richwill estate, which is simply beautiful! There was some team effort from Dean and myself to get a few special shots! TEAM WORK!

It was then time for probably one of the tastiest gourmet buffets I’ve ever had! It was delicious.

The Speeches came next and Lisa gave us all a tear in our eye with reading a birthday card Paul got for her only a week earlier! We also found out their pet names for one another! Ha ha!

Over the following couple of hours Lisa and Paul cut the cake and had their first dance. The sun was still shinning bright so guests grabbed the opportunity to sit outside! It was glorious! As it was a bright sunny day, the golden hour sunset was simply amazing, so using more of the grounds of Richwill Farm Wedding venue we captured a stunning sunset shot! As if that wasn’t enough we then moved onto the pond area and took a photo which is one of my favourites of the day!

Overall Lisa and Pauls day was simply filed with joy! Glorious sunshine and amazing friends and family, along with Richwill providing a stellar service, this was one to remember.

Make-up : https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Makeup-Artist/Makeup-By-Marilyn-Morris-178668672674549/

Flowers : https://www.facebook.com/SweetPFloralDesign/

Car : https://www.vintagedreams.co.uk/

Venue : https://www.richwill.co.uk/

Today’s sneak peek is all about Emma and Dave's special day! Before I captured this beautiful day we took the opportunity to take some gorgeous photos at their reception venue....The stunning Channels Estate Wedding venue in Essex. It wasn't long before their wedding day was here! 

This was a totally stunning day, with some amazing moments captured. The day began at Emma’s parents’ house, and all was calm, and Emma and her sister Charlie was having their hair and makeup done by the fantastic Gemini Styling and Alexandra Sullivan. If you’re in need of hair and make-up for a special event then look them up! Gorgeous work. (links below)

Once Emma was pampered and looking stunning we left to St Johns Church in Little Leighs, Essex. This was a simply beautiful Church. Dave looked all ready to go as Emma walked down the aisle with Dad looking very proud! The ceremony was fantastic, with plenty of moments to reflect on and chuckle over! Both Emma and Dave were smiling throughout! There was some amazing music to compliment the day from Timeless Entertainment. Beautiful. 

After the ceremony we took the opportunity to take the official group photos outside the church. Whilst this was taking place there was some very moody clouds heading towards us, but luckily didn’t amount to any rain. When the guests moved on, Emma, Dave and myself stayed for a few moments to take some photos in and around the church grounds. It’s always a great time for couples to spend some time with one another away from everyone else. We got some gorgeous shots.

We then moved onto Channels Estate Wedding venue in Essex, which is a totally amazing venue! The grounds were perfect for some more photos including the confetti shot. The speeches and the meal seem to come around so quickly, and before we knew it the first dance was upon us!

Emma and Dave’s Wedding day was stunning, and it was an absolute pleasure to capture! Congratulations to you both!

Here is Emma and Dave’s sneak peek, at the amazing Channels Wedding venue in Essex. Enjoy.

Dale Zimmermann Photography - Capturing magical Wedding and Portrait moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. As featured on UKBride. 

Hair : Gemini Styling

Makeup : Alexandra Sullivan

Music : Timeless Entertainment

Venue : Channels Estate 

I am really trying to make more time for blogging my latest sneak peeks over the coming months as its come clear that I am rather busy actually capturing weddings and family portrait shoots. Over the coming weeks I aim to get these sneak peeks out swiftly for everyone to see!

Today’s sneak peek is Donna and Dan’s wedding at the amazing Crondon Park Wedding venue in Essex. Crondon Park will always have a special place for me as this is where I got married. I met Donna and Dave after the wonderful team at Crondon shared a beautiful photo I captured there in March 2018. I met Donna and Dan for a family shoot a couple of months before the wedding at the fantastic Thorndon Country park near Brentwood, Essex.  These guys are just the nicest couple, and it was a real joy to be able to be involved in their day.

Donna’s day began with the bridal party preparing at Greenwoods, just a stone’s throw away from Crondon Park. It was a wonderful opportunity to take some natural shots of everyone interacting with one another, including a few gorgeous shots of Donna’s children (VERY CUTE!). I would say the shot of mother of the bride having her hair done was the highlight ha ha.

Once ready the party moved to the new bridal suite at Crondon Park, which is beautiful. A few stunning shots later (along with some prosecco of course) it was time to get married! The newly decorated ceremony room looked gorgeous as Donna walked down the aisle to meet Dan. There were a few eyes welling up even at this point.

Once completed, Dan and Donna took the opportunity to spend time with their friends and family before having the official group photos. This was hindered slightly by the VERY wet weather. However we embraced this and went outside for some shots in the rain. It was STUNNING!

The time soon ticked on and before we knew it everyone was sitting down to the BEST steak and Ale pie! Who I wondered finished theirs? It was enormous! As always the food was amazing.

Then came the speeches which had everyone in stiches, most notably from the fathers of the bride. At this point we took advantage of the rain stopping so we went outside and took some fantastic photos of the gorgeous grounds of Crondon Park, and also a highlight an amazing very wet bouncy castle photo with the bridal party. Hilarious! Quote from Donna “I’ve paid for it, we are going to use it!” ha ha!

Things swiftly moved to the first dance, which involved the totally fabulous The Redfords! Find them over on Facebook! They are awesome!

Donna and Dan’s day was filled with fun and laughter, and it’s a day they definitely won’t forget!

Thank you to the staff at Crondon Park for being amazing as always and Donna and Dan for choosing me to capture your day. 

Here's a special shout out to Alison White Wedding Flowers - for the amazing flowers! Stunning work! The cake was made by the very talented Jennifer Cakes! Another stunning cake. You can find their work on Facebook and Instagram. Gorgeous!

Dale Zimmermann Photography – Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. As featured on UKBride and Hitched.

Today’s sneak peek blog is about Clare and Craig – an amazing couple who got married at the fantastic The White Hart, Great Yeldham in Essex. I shot numerous weddings here and love it every time. It’s a beautiful venue!

The day started with Clare and her bridal party getting ready together in the White Hart itself. There was a very relaxed atmosphere when I arrived and this continued throughout the day. All the girls were getting ready and having their hair and makeup done by the fabulous Elaine from Right and Fine Hair design and Faye Neill (both on Instagram and Facebook!) and they looked stunning.  We were then joined by Clare’s flower girl who I have to say nearly stole the show! Very very cute!

As guests arrived the bridal party then began to get into their dresses and before we knew it Craig had arrived with the roomsmen, in style of course!

As I headed to the ceremony, I was greeted by numerous guests who were excited to see Clare in her dress. The ceremony room was packed full of friends and family, including a very proud father and mother of the bride.

The ceremony was literally full of smiles and laughter! It’s evidenced itself when you see Craig’s face! There are some hilarious shots, just see for yourself.

After the ceremony Clare and Craig escaped for a “while” in the gorgeous car from Simons white Wedding cars – and had a few glasses of the fizzy stuff on route. When they arrived back, there was a lot of giggling going (I believe alcohol related) on before they started the confetti shot! Group shots came next with everyone giving them “big grin” smiles.

We then moved onto the Wedding breakfast and speeches, which had so many laughs and tears which all good Wedding speeches should have!

After a quick sparkler shot, we went onto cutting the cake and the first dance, but it wasn’t long before Gangnam style had the guests dancing, with amazing results.

So here are some fantastic shots from Clare and Craig’s special day.

Thank you to the guys at True Reflection cinematography it was a pleasure to work with you.

Dale Zimmermann Photography – Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. As featured on Hitched. 

https://www.rightandfine.com/

https://truereflectioncinematography.co.uk/

https://simonswhiteweddingcars.co.uk/

I have been so lucky to capture Weddings at Prested Hall, Channels Estate Wedding venue and Crondon Park already this year, and todays sneak peek is Laura and Andy’s amazing day, captured at the gorgeous Reid Rooms in Essex. I have shot numerous stunning weddings at the Reid Rooms, and this was no different.

The day was warm and sunny and there was a perfect opportunity to capture some natural shots of the childrenrunning around and being monkeys, as well as Laura and her immediate family preparing and getting ready.

The time flew and before we knew it, the ceremony had started with Andy waiting patiently for the stunning Laura to walk up the aisle. The ceremony was filled with smiles and laughter throughout! Once the formalities were completed, we took advantage of the amazing weather (ironically it had rained all week!) by everyone staying outside to capture the traditional group shots including many fantastic shots of the children who kept me on my toes.

As with all weddings, the entertainment mostly comes from the friends and family, and there were some truly hilarious individuals (CHERYL!) that made my job the best it can be.

After a fantastic hog roast the speeches took place along with the usual “face in the hands” moments. It’s always great to capture these moments. Whilst this was all going on, the amazing band 6 String Makeover was setting up ready for the first dance. If you ever want a band I can highly recommend them!

Overall the day was filled with great moments. Thank you for the amazing staff at the Reid Rooms, and also to Paul Turner from Paul Turner Photography for your assistance throughout the day!

Dale Zimmermann Photography – Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. As featured on Hitched.

6 String Makeover website : http://6stringmakeover.co.uk/
 

So now onto my latest sneak peek! I was recommended to Rachel and Rob via one of Rachel’s work colleagues, and it’s always a real pleasure to meet new people via others you have worked with before. When I first met Rachel then first thing I noticed that she was always smiling! Throughout the engagement shoot and of course during her Wedding day. Rob as like many of my other grooms I have captured weddings for was very reserved and was quite shy when it came to having his photo taken. The engagement shoot and meeting took place at the stunning (and muddy if I remember) Hylands Park in Chelmsford Essex. Once we had a brief meeting about their day, we took an opportunity to capture some shots of them two of them.

On their Wedding day, Rachel and Rob chose the fabulous Crondon Park, Wedding venue in Essex. I have a soft spot for this venue as I got married there coming up to 10 years ago.  I started my day at the mother of the bride’s house where Rachel’s bridal party were getting ready for the big day. After this we moved onto the then newly finished Bridal suite at Crondon Park. What a gorgeous room, and a great place to get some fun photos. It wasn’t long before the Wedding ceremony was in full swing and Rachel and Rob were on cloud 9, being surrounded by their friends and family. After the ceremony we grabbed a few moments of dry weather to capture some group shots, before a few spots of rain began to fall on Essex. We of course embraced this and took the opportunity to get the umbrellas out.

The rest of the day appeared to just fly by with the Wedding breakfast, speeches, cake cutting and of course the first dance. Rachel and Rob had a fantastic day, surrounded by the people they love. Crondon Park Wedding venue is beautiful and I cannot wait to return there this year. So without further a due here are Rachel and Robs sneak peek. Enjoy.

Dale Zimmerman Photography - Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. Featured on Hitched.

Before I start leaping into my weddings of 2019, I really want to re-visit my favourite images of 2018. 2018 was an amazing year, with SO many weddings and family shoots. I have worked with some fantastic wedding suppliers like Bumble Bee Bridal and venues like Crondon Park and Gaynes Park which I have now added links to their sites. Follow the link below to see more!

Recommended Suppliers and Venues 

Now onto my favourite 2018 moments. There have been so many to choose from, and cropping them down to these few wasn’t easy! Over the coming weeks I shall be doing more sneak peeks with the upcoming shoots and Weddings, so stay tuned. Enjoy my favourite moments of 2018.  

Dale Zimmerman Photography - Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. Featured on Hitched.

Sam and Graham exchanged their vows at the stunning Maidens Barn wedding venue near Great Dunmow, Essex. It’s a beautiful, and a stunning venue to get married. I knew that there was going to be some great moments to capture using the estate itself. Before heading to Maidens Barn Wedding venue, I met the Bridal Party at Sam and Graham’s house. I have had to work with some wonderful bridal parties previously, but these guys were hilarious. Fay, Jade and Brittany just wanted to make the day as wonderful as possible and they made my job so easy! It was a fairly relaxed morning whilst the girls were getting ready.

The trip to Maidens Barn was slightly hectic as there was an accident which meant some of the roads were busy! Luckily there was no real delays and everyone made it on time. When I arrived I found a nervous Graham, all ready to meet his stunning bride, and I wasn’t long before Sam walked down the aisle and meet her future husband. It was a fantastic ceremony and before long everyone was outside ready for the group photos.

During the meal the mother of the bride, Lesley spoken to me about how it’s VERY rare to get any photos of her parents…….at all…..together or individually! I took this as a challenge and I am happy to say I did capture a couple of photos….and they were smiling as well. What’s that all about? Haha.

When the meal and speeches were all completed, I made the most of the time and asked Sam and Graham to come outside for some photos of just them in the lovely surroundings of Maidens Barn. Graham’s brother who is also a photographer mentioned that he had a couple of smoke bombs and would we be interested in using them. We all agreed, but there was no opportunity for a second shot as there were only 2 left! We planned the shot as best as possible as the wind was ever changing! It was a gorgeous shot.

Overall the Sam and Graham’s wedding was fantastic, and Maidens Barn Wedding venue was the perfect place for them to celebrate their day with their nearest and dearest.

I just wanted to give a big thank you to Brian and Tracey from Red Carpet Video. It’s always a pleasure to work with videographers like yourselves. Great work.

https://redcarpetvideo.co.uk/

So here it is, Sam and Grahams sneak peek. Enjoy.

Dale Zimmerman Photography - Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. Featured on Hitched.

Dale Zimmerman Photography - Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. Featured on Hitched.

With that I am going to take things back to 2018 with my first sneak peek for 2019! This is the fantastic Dani and Ben. I had a Wedding consultation with these guys back in 2016, and to my delight they chose me to capture their gorgeous day. The two of them had their engagement shoot at the glorious Discovery Centre near Braintree. Ben was not a fan of having his photo taken, however you will see that he got into the swing of it when we started to goof around, and it made for some gorgeous natural shots.  It was a perfect start to their new adventure.  Dani and Ben's Wedding day was at the White Hart Wedding venue, in Great Yeldham Essex which is stunning. The day was full of smiles and laughter, with friends and family celebrating with them. There were also a few jokes floating around about Ben’s stature – Not that I had any part of that of course ha ha. One photo you have to keep your eyes peeled for is a fantastic Groom party “jump” – Look at the lines – You can tell there is an ice skating background (HOW HIGH!).  So here is my latest sneak peek of Dani and Ben’s wedding. Enjoy.

Dale Zimmerman Photography - Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. Featured on Hitched.

Todays sneak peek is all about Melissa and Alex, who are an AMAZING couple! These guys were an absolute dream to work with! Melissa and Alex exchanged their vows at the stunning Gaynes Park Wedding venue in Essex. Before this totally beautiful wedding, we took the opportunity to take some gorgeous engagement photos at Hatfield Forest in Essex. There are so many stunning areas in Hatfield Forest we were really spoilt for choice, however it was quite busy at the time and we were getting some funny looks by passers-by. It’s a good job I am not a shy individual and we patiently waited for our audience to move on. What really stood out with Melissa and Alex is how easy going they were, but were also quite focused on what they wanted for their day. It was quite clear that friends and family were very important to them, with an extensive guest list, and just wanting everyone to have a great time.

Dale Zimmerman Photography - Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. Featured on Hitched.

On their wedding day the two of them had the time of their lives! The day started at Melissa’s parent’s house with Melissa’s wonderful Bridal party. There were smiles all around and the first couple of hours flew by. Before we knew it the Bridal area of Gaynes Park awaiting for the Wedding to begin. Surrounded by their friends and family they exchanged their vows in a beautiful ceremony which saw tears of happiness. The day swiftly came onto the group photos and a leading line. Gaynes park was brimming with tables ready for Melissa and Alex’s guests to sit down and have an amazing meal……..this was not before being serenaded by an fantastic Wedding singer Fil Straughan! Check below for his website! 

Guests were soon out of their chairs singing and dancing, which then led to the speeches. The best men speeches were of course a highlight, with some very interesting props, including a card board cut out of the groom himself!

Before the first dance I managed to get a few moments to with Melissa and Alex to capture some great shots. There was so much laughter, it was infectious. This then led to the epic cake cutting a first dance…….and what a first dance this was! WOW!

Overall this was a purely fun and fantastic day. Many thanks to White Dress films who conducting the videography for the day, it was a real pleasure. So here you have it, welcome to my latest sneak peek.

Wedding Singer Fil Straughan 

http://www.filstraughan.com/

White Dress Films

http://www.whitedressfilms.co.uk/

Well today I am going to focus on something very specific……..Posing. Now before I go any further I have to say not one couple I have ever captured, whether it be an engagement shoot or a wedding likes to “pose” for their photos. I would say that at least 80% of all emails I receive from couples enquiring about Wedding photography say they hate having their photo taken. 

So how do I go about dealing with this? Well to begin with I always re-assure couples that at least 90% of the photos from your wedding day are going to be naturally captured, with me standing back and letting moments occur in front of me. It’s the pesky 10% left over EVERYONE hates, including group shots.

So let’s start with the group shots. During my pre-meeting before the wedding days, I have had couples provide me lists of 30 group shots they want on their day. Now this may be a controversial thing to say but its generally unrealistic that I will be able to capture that many group shots in between the ceremony and the traditional wedding breakfast. I always hear horror stories of Wedding photographers spending 2 hours on the group shots and the couple’s photos never get captured! This should never happen! I always state that the maximum time I should be spending on the group shots is 45 minutes, and there shouldn’t really be any more than 15-20 group shots. Organising these particular shots can be rather difficult and have been likened to “herding cats”, so over the years I have gathered my little tricks of the trade to help me. The biggest asset I have at my disposal is ME! If anyone has worked with me before, you will know I am rather…………animated. I always strive to make the group shots as fun as possible, and I am always cracking “Dad Jokes” along the way. You will see that many of my group shots, including bridesmaids and groomsmen, they aren’t looking at me, but at one another. This is where I implement what I believe is the most important advice I give anyone to anyone………..This is not about me and the camera, it’s about you and your friendship/love for the individual who’s with you. 

When it comes to the couples I always ask who the "comedian is" and get them  to whisper in the other’s ears,  or pull faces at one another. This is where the magic happens as when they laugh or smile (or both), I take the shot. A couples interaction with one another is the best way to capture natural shots. Who wants bland boring photos? NO ONE!

To refine this process I always ensure that couples hands and clothing (and the background) is looking good throughout. There is nothing worse than having a lovely photo and there is a lampost in the way. My main aim is to get the most natural shot, and normally one whereby there are smiles or laughter. So what’s my best advice to anyone having their photo taken on their wedding day? Be yourself……….The photographer is someone who should guide you through positioning etc, couples should just concentrate on being them, and enjoying it. Here are a few shots that are posed/staged using these techniques and tips. Enjoy. 

Dale Zimmerman Photography - Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. Featured on Hitched.

Essex Wedding Photographer Dale Zimmermann captures creative moments with a personal touch.

Well it has been a while since my last post, and I really cannot believe where this year has gone! Time just runs away with you when its so busy. Over the coming months I have so much in my diary, including some more Essex Weddings.

As an Essex Wedding Photographer I am so lucky to have access to some totally stunning wedding venues. This year so far I have been to Crondon Park twice, The White Hart in Great Yeldham twice also! The Thurrock Hotel to Gosfield Hall, The Lion Inn Boreham, Maidens Barn near Dunmow and Gaynes Park to name a few! 2018 has been crazy so far with some totally amazing couples letting me capture their special day. 2019 is already gearing up to be something special as well.

This blog is going to give you a sneak peek of some of my favourite moments so far, and they say pictures say a thousand words, and this is going to be proof of that. There is nothing more emotive than a Wedding, with tears and smiles being forefront of these fabulous photos.

Over the coming months I am going to strive to blog more and keep you all updated with new beautiful photos, as I am aware I’ve been away for a while. Balancing work and life is always a challenge! Stay tuned over the coming weeks as I shall be adding some new parts to my site, including recommended wedding suppliers and of course many more sneak peeks.

In the meantime here are a selection of some of my favourite Wedding moments of 2018 so far.

Again thanks again.

Dale 

Dale Zimmerman Photography - Capturing magical wedding moments with a creative, unique and personal touch. Featured on Hitched.

Well this blog is going to talk about something a bit different – it’s all about those magical moments which happen during weddings and my creative spark! Now if anyone has read my previous blog on how I became a wedding photographer you will know that I liked my own wedding photos, but didn’t LOVE them! I believe there is a very fine line between taking staged photos and taking photos while they naturally happen.  I always take the approach of making those staged photos look as natural as possible. If you have been one of my couples, you will know that I am not shy by any stretch of the imagination, and you will also know that I like to have a giggle during shoots and make it as fun as possible. Many people hate having their photo taken and this is where my approach makes it as light hearted as possible. The best way to capture natural photos I have found is making the shoot about the people involved, and how they interact with one another. It’s really not about me and the camera.

Over the years my creative spark as a photographer has grown, and it’s helped with the advent of new and improved technologies. As you can see from my website and social network sites I enjoy shooting when the sun goes down and if it rains on your wedding day, I always think the best way to approach it is to embrace the weather. I also love to use light painting in my work, and I am generally ecstatic when a couple are open to trying something new or getting outside in all weathers to capture an amazing photo for their wall. Many times these shots are in my mind before the wedding day, or on occasion I get an idea whilst doing something else creative.

Of course some of these moments can just happen naturally anyway, and I am always poised to capture them. These are the best moments of course and when I come to edit photos this is when I get excited to show couples what I have got, and how amazing it looks. I can never resist a little sneak peek to them during the process.

There are so many other photographers out there, all with their own styles and approach to photography. Trying to stand out from the crowd and be different is something I am striving to do, and with that here are a selection of some of my favourite magic moments captured…….some staged………some not. Enjoy.

The story starts when I received an email headed “Blast from the past!” back in August 2016. The beginning of the email read “Hi Dale, I hope you are well. I can’t believe it’s been 20+ years since leaving the Harwich School very scary”. I read on and looked at the email address of the sender; it was none other than an old school friend! Now, I like most people aged a certain age (nearly 40) still keep in contact with a few school friends via social networking, or by other means, but I hadn’t spoken to Ross for 20 years. The email continued by saying that they loved the look of my photos as they were non-intrusive and this was the style they were after for their wedding photos which was booked for August 2017.

After exchanging several emails Ross and his future wife Abbie decided they wanted to book me for their day. We then arranged a meeting and pre-shoot at the stunning Flatford Mill, on the Essex/Suffolk border. I remember the meeting it vividly…….I had the most amazing chocolate brownie at the tea shop! Mmmmmmm Chocolate…….anyway we had a great meeting and pre-shoot including a view of a stunning sunset! Abbie was taking notes mentally during the shoot, including where her feet were positioned (check the brides feet in some of these photos, ha ha).

The months flew by and before we knew it, Abbie and Ross’s wedding day was here. I have shot a lot of weddings and been to numerous venues; however Butley Priory in Suffolk is now up there with one of my favourite places. This place is simply STUNNING! Abbie and Ross had decided to have a very relaxed wedding, with their nearest and dearest being there. During the ceremony and throughout the day, it was filled with tears, laughter and more tears, then more laughter! Abbie and Ross were happy for me to capture some natural moments along with staging a few moments to fit the look of their day. What followed was my photography brain going into over drive, and going around capturing some simply stunning moments. It’s a real credit to the friends and family at wedding days as they add so much to it. Abbie’s friends were a real joy, especially when it came to “twirling!”

Editing the photos was a pure joy and I constantly had a smile on my face on how they came out. This was one of my favourite weddings I have captured, and to "put the icing on the cake" (pun intended) I received this review from Abbie and Ross , to say i was over the moon was an understatement!

“Having trawled the plethora of websites trying to find a wedding photographer that grabbed our attention, they all felt very similar. We then had a look at Dale's website and saw something completely different and original in his photos. We decided he was our man and haven't looked back since.
The photos that were taken for our engagement shoot were stunning and the wedding photos were exactly what we wanted. His use of light and the environment is amazing and can get the best out of any situation. Throughout both shoots Dale's personality and humour helped even the most camera shy people relax. The wedding photos are exactly what we wanted with a relaxed feel to them and he captured the day perfectly. We would absolutely recommend Dale without a doubt and we have lost count of the number of compliments we have received from family and friends saying how fantastic the photos are"
We now have the impossible task of choosing our album photos from the 100's that were taken.
Thank you Dale for capturing our day so perfectly”.

This day was simply amazing! Abbie looked simply stunning, and that dress was beautiful! I cannot wait until I create their wedding album. So here is my latest sneak peek! Enjoy.

Over the coming months I shall be developing my new blog series involving different aspects of the wedding industry from flowers, cakes, and music to the brides and grooms reflecting on their own wedding days. I’m certain you will find these posts insightful and will help to provide great guidance for couples who are organising their wedding days. If you would like to be involved and have a great story to tell, then contact me!

Today’s blog is going to be something a little different. It’s all about ME!

Whilst developing this new blog series I’ve had loads of ideas about how to move my business forward and make it more dynamic and interesting, then I had a “light bulb” moment. There are three things that customers look at when booking a wedding photographer. 1: Their photos 2: The cost (packages etc.) 3: Who is the photographer?  

When I got married 8 years ago, I never met my photographer; in fact I couldn’t even remember his name. When I started capturing weddings myself, I made a conscious effort to ensure all my customers knew who I was, and I knew all my customers! Sounds simple doesn’t it, however you would be surprised at how many people have spoken to me about their experiences when they got married, and how even on their wedding day professional people in the wedding industry did not know their customers name and vice versa. On every wedding booked with me, I conduct a personal consultation. This means couples get to know me, and get to tailor the pictures they wish for the big day. I have always wanted to make my business customer focused, and I want couples to feel comfortable with me. So………….let me take you through a brief history of Dale Zimmermann Photography and the man behind the lens. Enjoy!

It all started on March 31^st 1978……….that’s right one day before April fool’s day. My parents Glynis and Mick were proud as punch (of course why wouldn’t they be!) My first memories of my childhood were of my first house in a little village called Wix, near Manningtree in Essex. I loved this house, especially the garden, which was ENORMOUS, and the Tree house my Dad made for me, even though there was not one Tree in our garden! I attended Spring Meadow primary school which I loved. I was a spotty lanky lad who loved sports especially running and swimming and I was actually quite good, regularly running for the school in the local sporting events. I am also still friends with some of the students that I attended with!

When I left high school I attended Suffolk College and graduated with a Media and Cultural Studies Degree course. I loved this course as it incorporated two things I loved……film studies and being creative with TV and Video production. This was of course before the days of digital media with Cameras. Like many graduates I had no experience doing anything so when I left, I of course didn’t go into anything I studied for! Typical isn’t it. You spend three years of your life doing something you really enjoyed, and now the difficult part……WORK!!!

However, anyone who knows me will tell you that I love technology and one of my first memories as a youngster was of the top loading video player my parent’s had. That was home entertainment at its greatest! I can recall this was my first glance of movies which I love, and I’ll go to the cinema whenever I get the opportunity! The creation and imagination in film fuels my interest and artistry in photography, and gives me new ideas for wedding shoots, so anyone planning a Star Wars wedding, I’m your guy!  I would like to say that with age, my taste in movies has matured, not so! I love all kinds of movie's, however several will always be my favourites………The Goonies, Jaws, Superman the movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the future to name a few. As you might know these movie's are from a particular genre which encapsulate the themes of light and love over dark, and all that is good in humanity. Perhaps this is why I love being a wedding photographer as weddings are the epitome of the commitment to love and capturing the moments on these days is a great privilege.

I have worked since I was old enough to do so, starting off on paper rounds, and assisting to local butcher, and then moving onto summer work doing baggage handling for cruise ships and baling straw and hay for farmers but my first “proper” job was with a clothing retailer. If anyone has worked or works in retail then you will know that it can be really hard graft, with working weekends etc. but there was one specific reason why this job was special to me……this is where I met my wonderful wife, Laura! Retail wasn’t really for me, and I moved onto a couple of different roles in the following years, however in 2003 I applied to work for an emergency service, and to this date still work there, but this is only part of my story……

Laura and I were married at the stunning Crondon Park wedding venue, Essex and like a lot of weddings, the day FLEW by and before we knew it we were sitting around the pool on our honeymoon in the baking heat of the truly amazing country that is Thailand! In the following weeks we received our wedding photos and my reaction was….they are nice……just nice. I didn’t at one point go WOW look at our wedding photos! These “okay” photos were distributed amongst friends, and so began the journey of taking photos for other people and prompted me to spend a bit of our wedding gift money on a Canon 450D – A DLSR camera…..and this was the beginning of my photography career, don’t worry, I didn’t spend it all, Laura got the boots she wanted too!

(One of the happiest day of my life)

I am a self-taught photographer. I learn best by doing, and for 12 months after my wedding I took my new camera out and took photos of everything, perfecting my skills with landscapes, macro work and the business of capturing photos of people. In this time, Laura and I discovered that we were going to have our first child which I was over the moon about and when he arrived we found were approached my numerous photographic business’s asking if we wanted pictures done of our child. The prices of these photos appeared to be remarkably high with very little product at the end of it. Despite reservations, we did have a couple of shoots with some of these photographers and we did encounter a few things. First : On one shoot they “photo shopped” my sons face so much he looked like a porcelain doll and it didn’t even look like him Second : Another shoot he had a bogey hanging out of his nose, they said “we don’t Photoshop anything!” I then decided I could do a much better job of it and took some photos of my own, which were infinitely better.

(My first EVER photo shoot of my eldest!)

(My first "official" photo shoot)

(My boys!)

A friend saw these pictures I took and said to me “would you take some photos of my friends’ children for a gift?” I have never looked back after this moment and I began to build my skills and portfolio as a photographer. Things then took a remarkable turn when several people I worked with were getting married and asked me if I would take some photos for them. My first wedding was just an evening shoot, and I got paid in burgers…..sounded good to me (unfortunately I cannot offer this to customers today)! I learnt so much from these informal jobs, not just about camera settings, but more about how to interact with people on their wedding day to get the best and most natural shots.

Things progressed swiftly and in the following 12 months I captured 3 or 4 weddings for friends I worked with, they then recommended me to their friends and so by the power of word of mouth advertising, my second vocation has progressed to a professional level, and over the last few years my photography and business has grown from strength to strength. I have never been so busy and it is all thanks to you that I am getting more and more enquiries which is fantastic.

(Here are some of my first wedding photos I ever captured)

So what are my plans moving forward? Well this is where things are going to change and develop. Several projects are in the pipeline that I will be telling you about in my new blog series, Essex wedding photographer: The Wedding series. These new projects are going to involve other wedding vendors like florists and DJ’s and I also have some exciting interviews with two of my previous brides and grooms sharing their experiences of getting married, so do stay tuned for that.

With so many photographers out there, I know that it is difficult to choose who will capture those special moments for you, whether it is a portrait shoot, or a wedding. I think it’s important that you know who is going to be involved in your event. A wedding photographer in particular will be around you all day, and it’s integral that you feel comfortable with them, and most important for you to know you can communicate easily with them. I am far from a shy person, however there will obviously be times when the photographer needs to “stand back” and let things happen rather than set it up and the candid shots can sometimes prove to be the favourites. A photographer should merge into your wedding day and bring out the best moments for you to keep and enjoy for years to come. I love this job and it’s my passion to provide the best service, with the best photos possible, and most of all, be me.

Thanks for listening and I shall see you all soon.

Dale 

Hi all and welcome to my latest blog!

The last few months have been SO busy and I am behind with my blogging. This is my last blog of 2017, but don’t worry as I have so much planned for 2018, including some exciting interviews and insights into other parts of the wedding industry. For my webpage, I am currently developing my bio so I hope you’ll all love reading about how I became a wedding and portrait photographer, so stay tuned and I guarantee there is going to be some great content to share with you all.

Warning! There may be some old photos of me included, so it will be worth your while having a look, if only to laugh at the fashion in the 70’s and 80’s.

Today’s blog is all about a wonderful couple called Laura and Gareth. I met Laura when she was a guest at another wedding I captured back in 2016. I was fortunate to be sitting on the same table during the meal and to say there was laughing is an understatement; I love to have a giggle with the guests at ceremonies, it’s what weddings are all about, that joyous celebration with friends and family. It wasn’t long after, that I was pleased to be asked by Laura and Gareth to capture their own wedding day in August 2017.

Earlier in the year I met up with Laura and Gareth to capture their pre-wedding photos, and we had such fun walking around capturing some great moments. Fast forward to the wedding day itself at the wonderful Prested Hall in Essex where I have worked before. Prested Hall itself is stunning and along with its gorgeous setting, the organisational aspect is second to none. Kathryn the wedding co-ordinator was always in full control of the day and makes everything run so smoothly.

The sun was beaming and the heat was creeping up, but there was a lovely breeze and a relaxed mood throughout the day, exactly what Laura and Gareth had wished for so all their guests would enjoy their celebration, (there was even beer pong organised for later that afternoon, into the evening!).

Laura looked simply stunning as she walked down the aisle and everyone had a smile on their face as she approached a rather dapper, but nervous looking Gareth. With the weather on side for the entire day, and the gorgeous sunset in the evening there was plenty of opportunity to capture some beautiful photos. I have just received their photo choices for their wedding album, and I can’t wait to start creating this in early 2018!

It was a complete pleasure to capture Laura and Gareth’s special day which was filled with smiles and laughter and seemed to go in a flash (sorry - photographers pun) It was not long until all the guests were busting some moves out on the dance floor before the day drew to a fantastic end.

I have to give a special mention to Simon Rogers Photography for helping me out on this wedding. Thanks Simon, it was great to work with you.

And finally, before I present the photo sneak peek, I want to wish all my customers and followers a very happy new year, and if you have upcoming nuptials, drop me a line for an informal chat, and I hope one day to capture your wedding and help make it as special as Laura and Gareth’s.

Thanks for your support, and I shall see you all in 2018.

So without further ado here is Laura and Gareth’s sneak peek.

Enjoy

Dale

The last few weeks have been crazy busy with three weddings captured and ready to edit, numerous wedding albums to create and many sneak peeks to show you, so keep those eyes peeled for upcoming wedding blogs. 

Know of anyone getting married? or are you after some photos of you and your family? I do have very limited availability for Weddings for 2018 and portrait shoots for 2017 and 2018. Don't hesitate or be shy get in touch. 

Are you into Social Media? In the last few weeks my Instagram has exploded and if you want to see any photos you cannot see anywhere else, including a few of me, then head over via the link on the website. I am still on Twitter and Facebook so check those out via the links. 

On Saturday I had the pleasure of capturing Laura and Ryan's Wedding, and what a gorgeous day it was. After a few spots (and down pours) of rain to begin with that sun came out and it was stunning. There were a few nerves in the morning, but they subsided when Laura received a fantastic surprise from Ryan in the form of some "Killer" tickets. Laura's face was a picture! Well done Ryan, you earned from brownie points for that. 

It was apparent that Laura and Ryan's friends and close family were an important part of their lives, and the groomsmen and bridesmaids all played their parts supporting them during the day. Its safe to say they were all looking forward to this day as much as the lucky couple, and there were a few tears.

The day continued when everyone arrived at the gorgeous Copdock Hall Wedding venue in Suffolk. It was a lovely service, and Ryan did not stop smiling......all day. It was clear that Laura took his breath away, and he felt like the luckiest man. Laura looked stunning!

There were a few surprises still in store for Laura, especially during the best man speech when a short message made her day! There were a few screams from the ladies. 

Congratulations to you both again........So here it is, my latest sneak peek. Enjoy! 

This is a very special sneak peek, as I have known Tracey and Steve for many years, and I was very flattered when they asked me to capture their day. It was early start with Tracey being pampered and this gave me the opportunity to catch up with Tracey. It was not long before there were a few chuckles, as if anyone knows Tracey she likes to laugh and smile, and this did not stop throughout the day. 

It was not long until the ceremony began, and Tracey shed a tear (or two) as she walked down the aisle.  Steve looked so proud as they stood together, exchanging vows. Tracey's family and friends all said how stunning she looked, as I am sure you will all agree with the following photos. 

The day flew by and the sunshine even reared its head later in the day, giving the children time to go and burn some energy outside. 

After a heart warming speech from Steve and a hilarious speech from the best man, the evening guests soon arrived, leading onto the first dance. 

It was a gorgeous day, and it is with great pleasure I present this sneak peek. Congratulations Mr and Mrs Syrett. 

The last few months have been crazy busy with weddings and bookings are fully underway for 2018. I have also been fortunate to capture numerous family and engagement shoots lately with many more booked in for the rest of the year. To save disappointment get in touch, there are only limited spaces left!

Are you into Social Media? In the last few weeks my Instagram has exploded and if you want to see any photos you cannot see anywhere else, including a few of me, then head over via the link on the website. I am still on Twitter and Facebook so check those out via the links. 

So onto my latest sneak peek. This is one of the favourite Weddings of 2016, and it was captured at one of my favourite venues, Houchins in Essex.

Julie and Luke's day was covered with glorious sunshine sunshine throughout, and the stunning grounds of The Houchins Wedding venue in Essex was a perfect setting. There was plenty of fun and laughter during the day, including entertainment from the fantastic Marshall King from King Entertainment who had everyone on their feet.....literally!  

So onto the sneak peek.......enjoy.