How to choose your wedding venue from a photography point of view
Posted on September 13, 2018
Devon and Cornwall wedding venue
Let’s face it; your wedding will be amazing from start to finish wherever you decide to get married.
But if you’re like us and value your photography and how your images look, here are some top tips to help you think about which venue will work best for you as a couple.
Here at Liberty Pearl Photography & Film Collective, we love everything to do with the outdoors.
Being able to capture the natural beauty of the various seasons makes us really happy and so we have compiled these top five tips if you’re starting your search for your venue:
- Always begin your search by looking for outside space. How will the area look in different seasons? Think about any ideas that you have for themes and how this will complement what you already have available.
- Do you have exclusive use of the venue? We have to admit that we find it so much better when our couples do. It means you don’t get someone else wandering into the back of your photographs. Exceptions to this include lovely golf clubs where you can still find lots of space away from any other guests.
- Can you decorate the venue yourself injecting your style to reflect you as a couple? This isn’t essential but it’s definitely a great one to look out for as the more unique you can make your venue, the better. It also means your photographs will reflect this too.
- Visit your preferred venue at different times of the day and on different days of the week. This will help you to see it in different lights and will help you envisage how it could look for you and your guests.
- Have a look to see if there are any lovely archways or areas that you really like. That way you can discuss them with your photographer and light allowing on the day, they will be able to capture some of them for you.
We would always advise going with your initial feeling about a venue.
If it feels right, it will be the one for you.
If you’re thinking about venues but finding it hard to choose, please feel free to contact us for some suggestions, we are the recommended supplier for a number of weddings in the UK.
We photograph weddings across Devon and Cornwall and further afield in the UK and internationally, and it’s highly likely that we have experience of the venue that you have in mind.
Happy wedding planning!
Amber Leach – The Imperfect Entrepreneur will be talking about her past 5 years of trying to run a business the best way she knows how!
Posted on July 6, 2018
Why does this matter?
So what am I going to do about it?
When It Rains On Your Wedding Day – Wedding Photography Top Tips from Devon Photographer Liberty Pearl
Posted on April 24, 2018
We photograph weddings in Devon and Cornwall, but also in beautiful countries around the world including France, Spain, Ibiza, South Africa, Ireland and many more…
We frequently get asked how rain or bad weather will affect our couple’s wedding photography. Whether your wedding is in the UL or abroad there is one thing you cannot guarantee THE WEATHER!
As we’ve already seen this month, even though we’re at the start of spring, with temperatures of 25 degrees and more last week, the sunny weather has been sandwiched between downpour after downpour! There are never any guarantees as to what the weather will do. One minute it can be bright sunshine, the next pouring with rain.
It’s no longer guaranteed that you will have amazing sunshine if you book your wedding in May, nor is it unheard of for our couples to be getting married outside at the start of October.
Our advice is always the same – you can’t change it – so just make the most of it and smile!
Here are our top five tips that will help you plan ahead for your special day whatever the weather:
- When searching for a wedding venue, it’s good to look for one that is as beautiful inside as it is outside. That way you can have the best of both worlds if the weather plays ball. If not, you won’t be too disappointed either!
2. Try to work with your photographer to be flexible with your timings or when things need to happen. We will always try to get some images taken outside in between any showers. If this means getting the group photographs taken slightly later when it is dry, then so be it.
3. Please remember that your couple photographs can also look stunning if taken inside. Our photographers are all fully trained in using off camera flash, which means they are able to make a feature of the rain.
4. Come prepared
We will always have white umbrellas with us to ensure that you look as radiant as possible in all weather conditions. If you want to buy your own umbrellas, please ensure they’re either plain white or see-through as this will enhance how you look. There’s nothing worse than an ugly colour cast or a motif/logo featuring in all your pictures. Some of the most fun weddings we’ve been fortunate enough to capture have seen showers on the day. Work with your photographer to ensure you have those special memories that you can look back on for years to come.
5. Embrace the rain!
Please don’t be too precious about your dress getting a little wet. The most important thing to remember is that your wedding day is a celebration of the start of your marriage, and if the hem of your dress gets a little damp, it really isn’t the end of the world. The couples we have worked with that have made a feature of the rain have enjoyed their days far more, than those who have stressed about it.
6. Most of all, enjoy your wedding day no matter what the weather and happy planning!
INSPIRED BY NATURE ADDICTED TO ADVENTURE
If you would like to book a photographer who loves embracing the elements with you on your wedding day, whether it is rain, wind or sunshine then Liberty Pearl is the photographer for you!!!! We love nature, we love adventure and we love being inspired by the elements!
Contact us now to check if we are available on your wedding date…
Women in Photography Conference and Exhibition in the TV & Radio News Spotlight
Posted on March 25, 2018
This week has been exceptionally busy and equally as rewarding. On Thursday, Plymouth College of Art helped me host the latest Women in Photography Conference. And I’m delighted to say that the event and the resulting exhibition were featured on BBC Radio Devon in the morning and BBC South West’s Spotlight news programme in the evening.
The conference has very quickly become recognised as the platform to showcase female creative talent in Devon and Cornwall, where passionate like-minded women come together to support each other to celebrate each other’s successes, learn from each other’s challenges and to empower each other to focus on solutions.
I have been organising these events every three months since 2016 and as a result hundreds of women have been inspired and encouraged by industry respected speakers.
An added bonus to everything that we do is that the proceeds go to local charities which benefit women.
See some the amazing images from the Exhibition on the Evening Herald website.
I’m delighted that a big focus of the BBC South West Spotlight News piece was about the exhibition itself as when I launched it last year, the response was literally overwhelming. We received no fewer than 400 entries from local female photographers. It has been such a wonderful way to be able to showcase the extraordinary talent that we have across the South West. Shortlisting the images which would be on display, and then be sold in our Etsy store was no mean feat. It took a panel of xxxx and xxxx to whittle down those 400 entries to just xxx.
Watch the video from the BBC Spotlight TV appearance here.
I’m a firm believer in focusing on community above competition and collaborating as much as possible with other local companies and entrepreneurs wherever possible. There are too many people to thank for all their help in making the Women in Photography events, a success.
But I would like to give a special mention to Jane Prior from Plymouth College of Art and the Women in Photography Community for their input, guidance and encouragement to help make these events what they are.
I hope that you enjoy the interviews…
Listen to our BBC Radio Devon Interview on Soundcloud.
Here are some Photos By Margo R Goska from the Women in Photography Conference.
We also had a feature in the recent issue of Devon’s West Magazine.
Our next event is on Thursday 24th May in Plymouth and you can buy tickets via our Event Brite page.
Read more about our conference series here.
Join our Women in Photography Facebook group here.
The Top Tips You Need to Know When Planning Your Destination Wedding
Posted on March 23, 2018
I am a destination wedding photographer. I feel very blessed to have photographed weddings in Ibiza, Spain, France, Cape Town, Ireland and Scotland, and this year I am the wedding photographer or videographer for destination weddings in Belgium, Ibiza, Santorini, Tuscany Italy, and France.
Nothing can be more appealing than having a destination wedding surrounded by your closest friends and family, but there are many things to consider if your dream day is to go according to plan.
As experts in destination weddings across the world, we thought that you would find it invaluable to hear our top tips on what you should know when planning that all-important special day abroad.
Ibiza Wedding Photographer
Choose your location wisely
It sounds like an obvious thing to say, but thinking about what kind of wedding you both want in advance can save a lot of problems further down the line. Is the venue suitable for all of your guests, and what is the weather likely to be doing at that time of year? Is there a contingency in case it does rain, and how organised does the venue seem to be around organising visits, responding to any questions you have etc. Has the venue also hosted other destination weddings and is there at least one fluent English speaking member of staff on board?
Make sure you have been to the location at least once beforehand
This is a biggie in terms of knowing what to expect and how everything could look on your special day. It will also give you a feel for what your location/venue will look like at any given time of the year. The more you have seen, the easier it will be for you to make an informed decision.
Italy wedding photographer
Take a photographer who speaks the same language as you and you have met beforehand
Yes we were bound to say this, but it is so important. Your photographs are the only real record that you will have of your wedding day. If you were getting married in the UK, you would want to meet or at the very least want to speak to your photographer beforehand, so it should be no different if you’re getting married abroad. Having someone who also speaks the same language as you, means that there are no misunderstandings and you’re able to let them know what you’re after.
Be aware of any local marriage requirements
This can be where a lot of couples run into difficulties. The legal side of getting married in a different country can be complicated. Did you know for instance that if you’re planning a wedding in France, you have to arrive in the country at least 40 days before you get married?
Cape Town Wedding Photographer
Local time
Please bear in mind how things are different from country to country so don’t keep a constant eye on the clock. Many tropical islands for instance run on “island time” – with things happening when they happen. Avoid the temptation to micro-manage from afar and instead just schedule in regular check-ins with each of your suppliers.
Get Help!
We’d always recommend having a planner who can oversee the whole wedding for you. It’s also well worth choosing a venue that is used to hosting weddings for foreign brides and grooms. It will act as a reassurance on the day that someone else is worrying about where the flowers are or how the tables are being dressed.
Santorini wedding photographer
Above all else, congratulations and happy planning!
Beautiful, calm, love-infused, nature-inspired – welcome to the Liberty Pearl Photo & Film Collective!
We are a team of 6 female photographers & Videographers. We cover weddings nationally and internationally. We cover everything from 2 hour elopements to full day weddings to 3 day Asian weddings.
We’ve been fortunate to capture several destination weddings and have many more planned for this year. So if you would like to talk about your photography requirements, do please get in touch.
Why Elope to Cornwall for Your Wedding…
Posted on March 15, 2018
Whilst many brides and grooms opt for larger ceremonies, surrounded by friends and family, there’s a growing trend for couples to elope and where better to do so than Cornwall?
We are established Cornwall elopement photographers and here are the reasons why we think you should choose Cornwall as your elopement wedding destination….
We have to admit that elopements in Cornwall are some of our favourite ceremonies to photograph as they are so personal and so full of love. They also inevitably are more relaxed as everything is focused solely on the bride and groom.
Intimate, meaningful, individual and personal….
There are several reasons why our couples tell us they chose to elope in Cornwall including:
- Having the wedding that they really wanted
- Making the event about just the two of them
- Having a ceremony and wedding day that reflects their personality and style
- Taking away the stress of organising a big family event
- Making the day a truly magical experience and an adventure
- Being mindful of their budget
- Having timings that worked for them
- Having a ready-made honeymoon location already sorted
INSPIRED BY NATURE …. addicted to adventure …
Here at Liberty Pearl Photo & Film Collective, we have photographed many beautiful elopements in Cornwall over the past five years. And each and every one of them has been as special and unique for each of our couples we have been lucky enough to capture. Elopement weddings are not your traditional ‘cookie cutter’ type weddings, our couples have incorporated their personalities into the day as much as possible, recent Cornwall elopements have included rock climbing, a mini festival, venturing into beautiful woodlands, dancing in fields, watching the sunset over the beautiful Cornish coastline, paddling in the sea, exploring ancient Cornish ruins and international couples revisiting memorable locations from their previous visits to the UK.
Photographing natural landscapes and seascapes is always a breathtaking experience and something you will be able to relive each time you look through your images……..
We know that we’re biased as we’re based in the South West, but Cornish elopements are always really special.
Our elopement couples may be very different but they all have one thing in common; they love the great outdoors and they love nature. It shouldn’t be underestimated how important it is to be able to feature the natural environment in your photographs. Here in Cornwall we have some of the most beautiful beaches, woodland and coastal venues on offer in the UK. And yes we know the hidden gems, the areas that work best for any time of year, and locations that will make your heart sing.
Some of our favourite elopement wedding venues in Cornwall are BoHo Cornwall, Lower Barns, The Green Cornwall, The Scarlet Hotel, Pengenna Manor, Pentille Castle, Cosawes Barton, Trenderway Farm to name but a few of our favourites….
We will leave you with a film from one of our beautiful elopement weddings at Boho Cornwall last autumn….
We are an experienced team of Cornwall elopement photographers, so if you are a UK bride who has fond memories of holidays in Cornwall, or an overseas bride thinking about eloping in Cornwall or hadn’t thought about it before but are open to the idea, please get in touch for a chat and we can help you with any questions that you might have.
5 ways professional photography can benefit your wedding business
Posted on February 9, 2018
I am a wedding photographer but also a commercial portrait and business photographer based in Plymouth Devon, and I travel all over the UK capturing business portraits, team photographs, personal brand stories, and commercial imagery.
Photography is more crucial to the promotion of business than it has ever been… the power of visual communication has increased with the rise of digital and social media such as Facebook, Twitter etc. It is proven that personal brand photography is far more likely to engage your potential customers than text alone. Making it necessary to include imagery on your website and printed marketing materials to help get your message across. Therefore making it crucial to use good quality and engaging images that are right for your brand.
Here are 5 ways that professional photography can benefit your wedding business
1.Increased enquiries from your high quality commercial imagery
There is a direct link between using high-quality imagery and an increase in enquiries. Professionally shot images can show your work in its very best light, generate more interest in your business, increase enquiries, and in turn, revenue.
2. Stand out from the crowd with your personal brand photography
To stand out in the wedding industry you need to find ways to set yourself apart from the competition. Investing in your own professional photography will really help to strengthen your brand and help you to stand out from the crowd.
3. Cost Benefits from your professional yet natural headshots
Professional photography can deliver a high return on investment. Excellent imagery that truly represents your business can increase enquiries and result in better turnover. Whilst it’s true that professional photographers can charge high fees for their work, these fees are often justified depending on the client’s requirements; number of photographers, use of finished images, shoot crew etc. But, think of all places you can use the photos you’ve invested in — social media, websites, blog posts, brochures, ads, webinars, presentations, newsletters and more. When photography is done well, it should be something that you use many times over. More often than
not, professional photography is more affordable than you think, and any experienced professional can scale a project to fit within reasonable budget constraints.
4. Social media content from your personal brand photo shoot
Today, social media is the foremost marketing channel for most industries, but it is particularly important to the wedding industry. From Facebook to Instagram, and many others in between, social media has managed to bring customers and brands closer than ever before through vibrant
and creative visual branding. Your social media presence could benefit hugely from having professional images of your business, venue or products, raising you above the white noise of the competition.
5. Sell a story with your professional portraits – people want to get to know you!
Weddings are all about emotion. You can use photography to tell a visual story about your wedding business or show off your new product in it’s best light. People are by nature visual and curious. Psychology and marketing go hand in hand, especially in the wedding industry. If you can evoke an emotional connection or response with your marketing message, there is a better chance it will resonate with your customers.
6. Keeping it real – the personal touch
Your imagery can reassure customers that you are a business with real people and real products or services. Competition in the wedding industry is strong and when people consider your company, they will want to see the faces of the people they’ll be doing business with and feel reassured. This is something that stock or bought photos just can not do. If you’re a wedding venue there’s no substitute for shots of happy couples enjoying the best day of their lives with your venue as a stunning backdrop. If you’re a wedding supplier, people want to see beautiful images of your past projects and commissions. If you’re a wedding planner, show yourself in action setting up a wedding or meeting with clients. This type of visual branding will also help people instantly understand what you do and what your values are.
These are just five ways professional photography can benefit your wedding business, but here at Liberty Pearl we believe there are many more.
If you’d like to learn more about how excellent photography can increase your enquiries or sales sign up now for your free personalised visual branding consultation.
Liberty Pearl Film & Photo Collective featured on Belgium national television…
Posted on January 14, 2018
There’s something truly special about destination weddings – and we’re delighted that one of our amazing couples has been featured looking at their images and film on national television in Belgium!
Kristof and Eva’s wedding took place at the idyllic venue of Manoir de Clenord in the heart of the Loire Valley.
They’re both originally from Belgium, but chose to get married in France so that they could have a relaxed celebration outside.
The weather is the single biggest reason that many of our couples opt for destination weddings rather than staying here in the UK.
It was lovely to be able to watch Kristof and Eva looking over their images and being able to relive every moment captured and created by us.
As well as travelling all over the UK, we’re huge fans of international travel.
In the past few years we’ve photographed and filmed wedding ceremonies in Ibiza, France, Cape Town, Spain, Ireland, New York and Scotland.
And next year is shaping up to be just as exciting with lots of weddings and elopements already planned in Santorini, France, Italy and Portugal.
For us, it’s a dream come true to combine travel with capturing weddings in a relaxed way, whilst making the most of the natural environment.
Please check out Eva & Kristof’s full wedding on our blog.
We are destination wedding photographer’s based in the UK who love to photograph adventure elopements and nature inspired weddings, in wild locations, filled with natural light, and travel all around the world.
With an editorial approach, we regularly photograph weddings in London, Ibiza and France, but our work has taken us further afield to Cape Town South Africa, Ireland, Scotland, The Loire Valley France and Spain. Next season we are also heading to Provence in France, Santorini in Greece, Portugal, Ibiza and Tuscany in Italy!
Our photography has been featured on many international blogs and magazines including Rock My Wedding and Wedding Ideas Magazine!
If you have recently become engaged and are thinking of having a destination wedding – congratulations!
Do please do get in touch via our contact page as we’d love to hear from you.
Why New Year’s Resolutions Are Important If You Want to Change Your Life…
Posted on January 9, 2018
As another year comes into sharp focus, it’s easy to set yourself resolutions.
Resolutions that you will no longer eat chocolate, that you will go to the gym more or that you will steer clear of alcohol for the first three months of the year.
And then somehow within a couple of weeks, when the resolve has started to wear off and an invite to a must attend party arrives, you waiver and give in. Just one glass of wine won’t hurt will it? Just one week off exercising will be fine.
But what if rather than just plucking random resolutions out of thin air, you purposefully sit down and think about what you want to achieve in 2018?
What if you pull together some goals and then look more closely at how you will be able to achieve them?
What will you have done by March? What will have been ticked off by June? Where will you be by September? And then as the end of the year comes around again what can you say you have achieved?
I started out as a single mum with a very strong reason to make my business dreams a reality. I needed to provide for and support my 4 year-old daughter to ensure we maintained the quality of life that we had. I had six weeks money in the bank, and as I was by myself, I had no one to fall back on or borrow money from. I just knew that I had to make it work.
Four years later, and after a lot of hard work, networking and giving back, I now run a successful six-figure photography and film collective. I also inspire other female entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams, through coaching, mentoring and workshops.
Having a clear focus at the outset is always important. Have in mind where you want to be. What is your end goal?
Set yourself stretch targets but also think about what is possible to achieve if you set your mind to it.
At the start of my journey I only had a handful of weddings booked. But to match my corporate salary I knew I had to have at least 30 secured by the start of the year. It was daunting at first, but I networked, and took any and all work that came my way. By the time I finished my accounts for the year – I had a turnover that matched my previous salary.
I had also achieved everything that I set out to do.
And now I realise the importance of setting myself goals at the start of every year and I do this not only for my business but also for my life.
Where do I want us to go on holiday? What experiences would I like my daughter to have this year? What else can I make happen so that as well as the hard work, we also have fun with a capital F?
So yes, it’s easy to dismiss New Year’s Resolutions if you set them in a half-hearted way. Of course, it means you’re more likely to break them.
But if you intentionally focus on where you want to be – anything is possible.
And only you know what your hopes and dreams are.
So why not take the first steps to making them a reality? What’s holding you back?
Amber Leach is the founder of The Liberty Pearl Photo & Film Collective and works alongside four other Associate Photographers across the UK and internationally. She also provides mentoring and coaching for female entrepreneurs. In January she is launching her new Be Audacious programme for Professional Photographers looking to build their six-figure wedding business in 2018.
For more details visit: https://libertypearlphotography.com/be-audacious/
Images on this page: Laura Rimmer Health Coach
Free Wedding Album With All Full Day Wedding Photography Packages Booked in January 2018
Posted on December 30, 2017
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
To celebrate we are offering all our wonderful wedding couples a Free Wedding Album With All Full Day Wedding Photography Packages Booked in January 2018!
Taking a relaxed and unobtrusive approach to wedding photography, the photographers here at Liberty Pearl Photo & Film Collective capture the story of each wedding through a collection of beautiful and natural images, capturing the special and spontaneous moments for you to treasure for many years to come.
Take advantage of our brilliant promotion, where we are currently offering couples a free Sim Imaging Fine Art wedding album worth £600 with every full day wedding photography package.
The result? An inspired set of images displayed in a gorgeous album of fresh-from-the-day memories that you’ll treasure a lifetime.
The package includes a beautiful bespoke linen fine art 10×10 30 page wedding album by Sim Imaging.
Simply quote ALBUM2018 when sending your enquiry but please note this special offer is only valid for bookings made (with deposit paid and contract signed) before midnight on January 31st 2018.
Beautiful, calm, love-infused, nature-inspired – welcome to the Liberty Pearl Photo & Film Collective! We are a photography and videography team of wedding and elopement photographers based in Devon and Cornwall.
We love to travel and capture beautiful weddings all over the UK and Europe and beyond!
Contact us now via our contact webpage to see which photographers we have available on your wedding date! xx