Upton Walled Garden

Upton Barn and the Walled Garden — my first time shooting there since moving to Devon — did not disappoint. The venue’s mix of timeless architecture, manicured gardens and soft natural light made for exactly the kind of relaxed, authentic images I love to create. It helped, of course, that the couple were lovely and completely on board with a natural, documentary approach.

They asked for natural shots edited in a bright, saturated style. I always ask couples whether they have a particular editing preference — there are hundreds of ways to edit a wedding in tone and colour, and everyone’s tastes differ. I’m adaptable in that regard. The couples I attract tend to favour documentary-led coverage, but my editing can vary a great deal depending on each wedding, and I enjoy tailoring the final look to suit the day and the couple.

Some couples leave the editing entirely up to me, which I appreciate. One thing I don’t do — and I’ve only had this happen once in hundreds of weddings — is edit every photo in a different tone at the couple’s request. That’s not realistic and would undermine visual cohesion. A consistent edit helps the story of the day sit together, while still allowing for individuality where it matters.

Upton Barn’s light and the Walled Garden’s colours gave me plenty to work with for a bright, saturated edit that still feels natural and true to the day. It was a lovely first wedding at a beautiful Devon venue — I’ll happily return.