A Creative Post-Wedding Shoot at Staunton Country Park | Rhys & Harpreet

Who says the photos all have to happen on the wedding day? I couldn’t be there for Rhys and Harpreet’s wedding because I was already booked, so we did the next best thing. We got them back in their wedding outfits for a post-wedding shoot at Staunton Country Park in Havant. At 8am. On a morning where the sky was doing absolutely nothing. Challenge accepted!

Couple on the old stone terrace at Staunton Country Park, lit with off camera flash on an early morning post wedding shoot

Why a Post-Wedding Shoot?

I LOVE these. There’s no timeline, no one tapping their watch, no dinner going cold. Just the two of you, a gorgeous location and time to get properly creative. I can play with light, try ideas and take the kind of shots there just isn’t time for on the big day.

They’re perfect if you missed out on couple portraits on your wedding day, if your photographer couldn’t make your date, or if you just want an excuse to put the dress back on. (Valid. Very valid.)

Staunton Country Park, Havant

If you’ve never been, Staunton is an absolute gem right on our doorstep in Hampshire. Lakes covered in lily pads, willow trees, a beautiful old bridge, a stone terrace and even a gothic folly. Basically a photographer’s playground!

Couple smiling at each other by the bridge at Staunton Country Park
Couple on the wooden bridge path at Staunton Country Park post wedding shoot

No Sunset? I’ll Make One!

Here’s where I got to have some fun. The light was flat and grey, which is fine for some shots, but I wanted MAGIC. So out came my off camera flash.

On the bridge, I popped a flash behind them to give them that gorgeous glowing rim light around their hair and shoulders. Instant warmth on a flat, grey morning.

Couple on the bridge over the lily pond at Staunton Country Park, Havant, rim lit with off camera flash

Under the willow trees I did the same, lighting them up so they glow against all that soft green rather than disappearing into it.

Couple nose to nose under the willow trees at Staunton Country Park, black and white
Bride laughing with her husband under the willows at Staunton Country Park, black and white
Couple laughing together under the willow trees at Staunton Country Park

The Mirror Shot (Yes, It’s All Done In Camera!)

This is the one I’m most proud of. Now, before you ask… no, that is not a sunset!

In camera mirror reflection of the couple on the stone terrace at Staunton Country Park, with an orange gelled flash creating the sun

Up on the old stone terrace, I held a mirror under my lens to create that reflection, so it looks like they’re standing over a still lake. Then I put an orange gel on my flash and placed it behind them, so the “sun” glowing behind Rhys and Harpreet? That’s my flash!

No Photoshop trickery, no fake sky dropped in. It was all done in camera, at 8am, on a grey morning. I refuse to work with bad light, so I made my own!

A Couple Who Just Can’t Stop Laughing

Of course it’s not all about the lighting. Rhys and Harpreet were an absolute joy, giggling away like they’d forgotten I was even there. Just look at them!

Bride laughing as her husband holds her close during their post wedding shoot at Staunton Country Park
Bride and groom laughing at each other by the lake at Staunton Country Park
Bride smiling up at her husband by the lake at Staunton Country Park, black and white

And the little details. That ring!

Wedding ring and buttonhole detail during a post wedding shoot in Hampshire
Couple holding hands detail during their post wedding shoot in Hampshire

Twirls, Dancing and a Very Large Wicker Friend

A twirl on the path, a little dance, a walk hand in hand. My kind of couple!

Groom twirling the bride on the path at Staunton Country Park
Couple dancing on the path during their post wedding shoot at Staunton Country Park
Couple walking hand in hand through Staunton Country Park, black and white

We also made a new friend. Staunton has some brilliant sculptures dotted around, and we couldn’t walk past this one without a photo.

Couple standing beside the giant wicker sculpture at Staunton Country Park

Back to the bridge for a cheeky kiss, then a stop at the gothic folly, because when a park has a folly, you use the folly.

Couple sharing a kiss between the bridge railings at Staunton Country Park
Couple in front of the gothic folly at Staunton Country Park, Havant

Fancy a Creative Couples Shoot?

If you want something a bit different, a post-wedding or creative couples shoot is where I can really go to town. Flash, gels, mirrors, reflections, the lot. Whether you missed your portraits on the day, couldn’t get the photographer you wanted, or just want some seriously different photos of the two of you, I’d love to hear from you.

I’m ranked top ten in the world for flash, and this is the kind of thing I can do with it. See more in my flash wedding photography blog, or have a scroll through my portfolio.

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