lake district WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
Hey, I'm Richard — a Lake District wedding photographer specialising in natural, documentary wedding photography across Cumbria.
I've been photographing weddings for over 14 years, and the Lake District is somewhere I know incredibly well. From weddings overlooking Windermere to celebrations tucked away in the fells around Grasmere, Ambleside and beyond, I've photographed weddings at some brilliant venues across the Lakes.
My approach is simple: your wedding isn't a photoshoot.
I spend most of the day watching what's happening rather than directing it — the reactions, ridiculous laughs, nervous moments, hugs, chaos on the dancefloor and all the little things you probably didn't even realise were happening.
Of course, we'll still make the most of the Lake District. If there's incredible light over the fells or we've got five minutes to head down to the lake, I'm absolutely going to use it. But I'm not going to disappear with you for two hours while your wedding carries on without you.
The result is relaxed, natural Lake District wedding photography that actually feels like your wedding.
If that sounds like what you're looking for, have a look through some of my Lake District weddings below.
Lake District Weddings I've Photographed
I've photographed weddings right across the Lake District, from Windermere and Grasmere to the quieter valleys and fells further north.
Every venue is different, which is one of the reasons I love working up here. Here are a few real Lake District weddings I've photographed recently.
Lancrigg, Grasmere
Tucked away just outside Grasmere, Lancrigg has gardens, woodland and the surrounding fells all within a few minutes of each other. Laura and Sam actually booked me from New Zealand two years before their wedding, so it was brilliant to finally get everyone together in the Lakes and photograph the day.
Holbeck Ghyll, Windermere
Sitting above Windermere with views across the lake and surrounding fells, Holbeck Ghyll is a pretty incredible place to photograph a wedding. Cammi and Euan's day also involved a red wedding dress and alpacas, so this one was never going to be boring.
New House Farm, Lorton
New House Farm sits in the Lorton Valley, surrounded by countryside and the Lake District fells. It's an old farm full of character rather than a venue that feels overly polished, which suited Harriet and Tom's relaxed wedding perfectly.
Town Head Estate
Town Head Estate is another brilliant Lake District setting, with the grounds and surrounding landscape giving us plenty to work with without taking the couple away from their guests for ages. Hannah and Mike celebrated here after their church ceremony, and the whole day suited my relaxed documentary approach perfectly.
Getting Married in the Lake District
There's a reason people travel from all over the UK and much further to get married in the Lake District. You've got everything from country houses overlooking Windermere to converted barns, small hotels hidden in the fells and places where you can have an entire corner of the Lakes almost to yourselves.
From a photography point of view, one of the best things about a Lake District wedding is that we don't need to disappear for hours to find somewhere incredible. At many venues, the lake, woodland or fells are right outside the door.
Windermere has some of the best-known wedding venues in the Lake District, and I've photographed weddings at places including Holbeck Ghyll, Cragwood Country House and The Belsfield.
You've obviously got the lake itself, but it's the combination of water, woodland and the surrounding fells that makes this part of the Lakes particularly good for wedding photography.
Windermere & Bowness
Grasmere and Ambleside have a completely different feel. You're further into the fells, with smaller roads, woodland, stone buildings and mountains surrounding you.
I've photographed weddings at The Lancrigg in Grasmere and Barn in the Fells near Ambleside, and both are great examples of why couples choose this part of the Lake District for a wedding.
Grasmere & Ambleside
Head east from the central Lakes and things start to feel a little quieter, with open countryside, rolling hills and the Pennines in the distance.
I've photographed weddings at Eden Barn near Kirkby Stephen, a beautifully restored Westmorland stone barn surrounded by countryside. It's a completely different setting to the lakeside venues around Windermere, but that's one of the things I love about photographing weddings across this part of Cumbria — you don't have to go far for the landscape to change completely.
The Eden Valley & Eastern Lakes
It's the Lake District. There's a reasonable chance it will.
I don't build a wedding photography plan around needing perfect weather. If it's sunny, brilliant. If it's raining sideways, we'll work with it. And if the clouds suddenly break and the light looks incredible, we'll grab five minutes and make the most of it.
Some of my favourite photographs in the Lakes have happened when the weather hasn't behaved itself.
And What If It Rains?
“Richard did an amazing job, a consummate professional with an uncanny ability to manage being in multiple places at once yet remain unobtrusive. He captured the essence of our day to perfection.”
Andrea Cloughley
I'd love to hear more about you and your LAKE DISTRICT wedding!
