Read the all the blogs from A Little Picture with the most recent documentary style natural wedding photography
I stole the title of this blog from one of my lovely bride to be’s! She was due to marry her bestie at the Normans in York in two weeks time and unfortunately had to postpone until next year. They actually managed to squeeze in a ceremony at Leeds town hall just before lockdown but I know many of my amazing couples didn’t get that chance so I wanted to share some of the lovely, happy pre wedding photos to encourage some excitement about what the future holds for these lovely couples!
Hello! Today we kickstarted Jesse’s challenge with a training session! We wanted to make sure he was up to the task ahead and give you a glimpse of what you are sponsoring :)
Please donate if you are able, as my dad wisely said ‘Every LITTLE helps!’
Jesse wasn’t feeling so optimistic about the challenge ahead on Day Two…..
After yesterdays defeatist attitude, Jesse was back on top form with the mantra ‘The Early Bird catches the Worm!’
We made the most of the nice weather today and tried Jesse out on some rougher terrain!
Day five has been a long day in the Little household - someone looks particularly cute on todays video but don’t let this little monkey fool you - Cheekiness galore!
Not sure Jesse quite understood the idea of ‘Tactics’ yesterday - hoping he doesn’t get so easily distracted on the big day!
A final afternoon preparing for the big challenge on Wednesday - one thing is for certain we are going to need a big bag of snacks!
It’s here! The Big Challenge day was on Wednesday and Jesse absolutely smashed it! We are so so proud of him and how much he has raised for the Trussell Trust! We couldn’t have raised it without all of your support and encouragement. We hope you have enjoyed Jesse’s video updates and we will try and keep them coming over the next few weeks!
For now this little Little is about to turn one whole year and we are wondering how this time had flown by so fast!
Take care & Stay safe, love The Littles xx
Well what a year! 11 weddings with the birth of a little baby boy smack bang in the middle!
I couldn’t have done this year without the help of two lovely fellow female photographers, Jo Crawford and Alice Lodge, who both stepped in to make sure the weddings I was booked to do went smoothly around the birth of my son. I started the year at The Hospitium in York, with a lovely winter wedding where Hyde Family Jam got the evening reception off to a great party. I did my last wedding of the spring in March at Rudding Park Hotel, set in beautiful grounds and the magnolia’s were just starting to bloom.
Fast forward to July where Carrie & Mandi’s wedding was an awesome fusion of love and colour at the Merchant Advernturers Hall and then Charlotte & Connor’s day where they had decorated Cawthorne Village hall so beautifully and didn’t stop smiling all day long!
September and we were off to Saltaire for an epic feast and dance at Victoria Hall and then The Park Inn in York for the sweetest celebrations with Florence & Lewis.
We finished our year capturing SJ & Kris’s wedding with photos and video over at The Alma Inn in Laneshawbridge and I have to admit it was the perfect wedding to end a pretty perfect year.
Sj & Kris had booked us to take the photos and capture a video of their wedding day and when they booked I instantly knew it was going to be a super relaxed, family focused day.
The girls were all getting ready at The Alma Inn before the wedding and we arrived to the friendliest reception, we already felt like part of the family! SJ & Kris’s son Oliver had made sure the hairdresser knew he wanted his hair waxing by keeping his was in his hand all morning! The boys arrived with the stash of Krispy Kreme’s for the wedding cake and greeted all their lovely guests upon arrival.
SJ looked so beautiful in her beaded gown and Kris all dapper in his tweed suit. The florals and foliage made the reception venue look truly Autumnal and the roaring fire was a great statement at the end of the aisle. Channeling some Wuthering Heights beauty we went out and looked over the hills surrounding the venue to grab some portraits before the meal began.
When SJ & Kris said they were all about the party, they really meant it! Dancing with all their friends on the dance floor really topped off a fabulous day.
Eddie & Owen got in touch over a year ago to talk about their plans for their low key, laid back wedding held at Victoria Hall in Saltaire. They had plans for an Autumnal wedding with family and friends with lots of music, dancing and delicious food. Fast forward to September of this year and we arrived to one of the most relaxed Bridal Preparations I have ever been to and I am happy to say the day continued in this way. We were filming the day too and managed to capture some gorgeous light throughout the day for photos and video.
The ceremony was beautiful, decorated by elegant coloured bouquets from Pink Ginger Flowers and then the real fun began with the evening reception. A feast for the eyes and stomach was the meal created by Bear’s Pantry Leeds, and the pavlova was out of this world!
I captured a serene moment together on the dance floor before all their family and friends join them to dance the night away. Congratulations Eddie & Owen, I can’t wait to send you the full collection.
On the 1st of May 2019 we welcomed to the world a bundle of black hair, Jesse Rab Little, weighing in at 7lb9oz. He was born at home as planned and then the nights and days began to blend into one and we spent hours looking at this tiny human that Andy and I had made.
Most people tell you it’s the most difficult job in the world and I would have to completely agree. The first few weeks were a blur of feeding, waking, catching sleep and meals where we could and trying to establish what our new baby needed. My advice would be take it easy on yourself - have family and friends around you who can truly help and know what you will need at this precious but crazy time. Some very thoughtful friends left parcels of food on our doorstep and came round to just give us a hug in the time of need and these are the things that will stick with me about this early part of the journey.
Now Jesse is nearing 4 months it is hard to imagine feeling like we would never get into anything resembling a routine but now we are really getting to grips with things. His smiles and giggles never fail to melt our hearts and his constant desire to be up and investigating the world is wonderful to see.
We absolutely could not love him more, vomiting and all!
I don’t think a year has gone by where the British weather has ruined plans for numerous family shoots but 2019 seems to be very different. The weather has actually played along and I have managed to go ahead with all my natural, outdoor shoots on the days we planned. This has meant lots of beautifully dressed families meeting me in woods, parks and local favourite spots to have their photograph taken. One thing all the families have in common is that they all say they never have a nice photo of all of them; maybe its always mum taking photos or dad behind the camera, so getting me to capture a session means everyone gets a chance in front of the camera! I love family shoots and can’t wait to soon be taking some of my very own - best get working on the timer function so I can jump in the photo too!!
As the year begins and festivities have well and truly died down I thought I would take some time to look at some of the beautiful venues that I had the opportunity to work with in 2018. This selection covers some of the closer to home Yorkshire venues and a few further afield. Some of you will know, or have seen from my chosen images that I absolutely love an outdoor setting, something about the light and the colours really make me happy; Having said this, nearly all wedding venues can surprise you with hidden opportunities for gorgeous outdoor shots. I always encourage couples to meet me at the venue before the wedding so we can take a look together to find some perfect spots for photos on the day, come rain or shine! I loved shooting at all these venues this year and I am happy to say I will be returning to a couple over the next year or so!
Kirkstall Abbey - Leeds
Saltmarshe Hall - Howden
Sledmere House - North Yorkshire
The Normans - York
Kirknewton Estate - Edinburgh
Barden Tower & Priests House - North Yorkshire
Swaledale Yurts - North Yorkshire
The Tetley - Leeds
Alverston Pastures - Stratford Upon Avon
Tanfield House - North Yorkshire
The Talbot Malton - Malton
Wood Hall - Wetherby
Larmer Tree Gardens - Salisbury
Deepdale Farm - North Yorkshire
Hornington Manor - York
The Crab & Lobster - Thirsk
Greys Court - York
Woodlands Hotel - Leeds
Wentbridge House - West Yorkshire
When Christmas has passed and bringing in the new year seems like a distant memory it is often a great time to start thinking about what the year ahead holds. You may have a big celebration coming up or a family gathering and sometimes the normal, everyday moments in life can get overlooked. This is where I would say take a minute and think about whether you captured enough of your everyday moments last year and can you make a change going forward.
I recently lost my wonderful Granny B and it quickly became apparent how important photographs were to remember her when she was a youthful 80 years old with a cheeky spark in her eyes. Family photographs don’t need to happen for a special occasion, they are simply remembering a moment in time; maybe you have a new addition, maybe you never get a family photo of you all together, maybe you just want to document each year as the time flies by so fast. In 2018 I lost my grandma but gained a beautiful niece, who is named in memory of my grandma’s mum, and I am so grateful that I have taken the time to capture them both at different times in their lives. Photos of both Sheila and Lucie are below along with some of my other favourite images from Autumn of last year. Capture those moments guys, you never know when you might treasure those photos one day!!
When my long time friend and fellow Alice called me in April to see if I was free on the 18th of August I was so happy to be able to say that indeed we were, the only Saturday free in the whole summer - ‘Great’ she said, Nick and I are getting married! Shocked and very excited we pencilled this date in the go to our dear friends wedding at Larmer Tree Gardens near Salisbury.
Not only did we get to go to their Saturday ceremony as guests, we were able to capture their secret ceremony on the Thursday evening, both in photographs and on 8mm vintage film. Here is just a selection of the photos from our special friends secret ceremony, and the video with some dodgy stock music on (ask Al if you would like to see the version with their fabulous music choices on!).
Now technically I am not in order posting this wedding today, I had many in between Klo & Ant’s, but I was reviewing Rebecca & Matthew’s photos and just wanted to share. Some of you will know I have a massive love of flowers, the more vibrant the better, so this day was a delight for me! Not only that but it also happened that their day was held at Grays Court, York and is in the most picture perfect spot! Rebecca and Matthew got in touch because they had planned a relaxed, family affair and wanted their photography to reflect this. They wanted natural photography that captured all the important parts of their day, and even thought they opted for shorter coverage, I still think we managed to do just that.
On the day the weather was been typically British, raining one minute and then teasing us with the thought of sunshine the next. We embraced this and ran outside at any given opportunity! By choosing a September wedding Rebecca & Matthew were able to make the most of the beautiful festoon lights and a very carefully organised sparkler exit! I must admit fire at weddings terrifies me but done in the right way, organised by the couple and with extra long sparklers, it really can pay off!
Congratulations to Rebecca and Matthew and thank you for including me in your magical day!
Kloe & Ant first got in touch from their current home in Dubai! They explained they were already married legally but had missed out on the party and they were excited to plan their day in the UK.
When I arrived on the morning of the wedding I knew that it was going to be a pretty special day! Kloe and all her girls were getting ready and as more people arrived everyone got even more excited. Incredible flower crowns, white Bridesmaids dresses and Snoop the ring bearer meant that this wedding was including so many quirky little touches. Styled like a Pinterest board their venue, Alverston Pastures looked just like a chilled out festival, with dream catchers galore, an aisle of colourful rugs and wild and wonderful posies everywhere.
The ceremony was conducted by a family friend and was super emotional, only surpassed by the speeches - literally everyone was in tears - even me! And then.... the party! Dancing, faceprinting and a choreographed 'Greatest Showman' dance routine by Kloe & Ant!
I had so much fun at Kloe & Ant's wedding and when Kloe sent me gorgeous email saying how pleased they were with the preview it made me even more eager to finish the full gallery! Soon to be featured on Whimsical Wonderland Weddings!
I met Hattie & Joe at Sledmere house for their engagement shoot and to say it was covered in Fog would be an understatement! We could not see further than our hands and the view was hidden with a thick layer of York Valley fog, so to arrive on the wedding day to clear blue skies and temperatures hitting 30 degrees was a big difference. These guys had pulled out all the stops; With pub themed table settings, flowing champagne and a 90's power hour disco they made sure everyone would be in for a good time. I can also honestly say that Hattie & Joe's friends and family were amongst the most welcoming I have ever had the privilege to be around, constantly offering me champagne or jagerbombs, whilst complimenting me on photographs they were yet to see!
Hattie wore an incredible Charlie Brear Gown that she transformed for the evening with a jewelled belt and all her girls wore their own version of the same dress which worked perfectly. The gents had a sing a long to "Three Lions', as England had just got through into the Semi's and during the 90's power hour guests could only order WKD's or Smirnoff Ice from the bar! Smashed it guys!!
Hattie & Joe's Day will also feature on Brides Up North at the end of August!
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Sledmere House Wedding North Yorkshire
Seen as it is Yorkshire Day I would like to show off this incredible wedding that took place in the beautiful rolling hills of North Yorkshire. It has recently been chosen as Brides up North real wedding of the month which made me super proud!
Dominic and Becky got married on Saturday the 23rd of June at Barden Tower and Priest's house, North Yorkshire along with around 100 of their friends and family. They had chosen stylish mint green for the bridesmaids and a dapper navy blue suit with matching bow tie for the gents. Becky and Dom were always super lovely and relaxed when I met them before the wedding and their day was no different; Full of laughter, love and VW campers!
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
North Yorkshire Wedding
When Nick got in touch to say he had seen my work when starting out as a photographer and he wanted me to shoot their wedding I must say I was a little nervous. I have know Nick since I was 11 years old, meeting in the noisy classrooms of high school, and Natalie not too much longer after that! These guys have been together through thick and thin, nearly 12 years, and it was time for them to tie the knot.
I had visited The Tetley to view the art work before so I knew shooting a wedding there was going to be fun. Surrounded by family and friend they got married at a local church before moving on to The Tetley for the party. Blush and copper colour schemes set the tone for a sophisticated party with plenty of Prosecco and Barnsley FC themed cocktails. We had the pleasure of filming a video for these guys too and hopefully we can share that soon. For now, enjoy a few of my favourite snaps from Nick & Nat's awesome day!
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding.
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The Tetley, Leeds Wedding
The weekend of the 2nd of June was a pretty special one for me, not only was it our own 1st anniversary I also got the chance to photograph an incredible festival inspired wedding in the Yorkshire Dales. Amanda & Matt got in touch and explained that they would absolutely love me to do their photos and that if I wasn't available then they may not even get a photographer - how could I refuse! When we met to discuss the plans I knew this wedding was going to be perfect!
Now, something Brides always worry about, me included, is the weather and I am so proud to say that even though it rained, a lot, on Amanda & Matt's day they did not let it phase them! I was blown away by the way the guests grabbed brollies, moved the ceremony indoors and embraced the English weather. Amanda strode out into the glorious buttercup field with no umbrella and made sure to wipe the rain drops off Matt's forehead; making for even more intimate and beautiful photos.
These guys had a blast and it just goes to show that if it does rain on your wedding day, embrace it and it won't matter one drop!
Soon to be featured on Boho Weddings so keep your eyes peeled!
When Ellinor & Michael explained that their wedding day was going to be absolutely full to the brim of traditions, songs and dancing I was very excited to say the least! Ellinor's Swedish family mingled with Michael's Scottish relatives underneath the beautiful blossom trees that were creating a wonderful natural confetti during the ceremony and we all waited as Ellinor and her father were walked down the aisle by a traditional Scottish Bagpiper! The ceremony was personal and dedicated and Ellinor told me how happy she was that the blossom had been falling throughout. Kirknewton House Stables has so many fabulous spots for portrait photos so it was lovely to wander around with the newlyweds and capture them sharing these moments together. The evening finished with a huge Ceilidh, and I must admit, I was so tempted to join in!! It was really special to be part of a day that brought two families together in such unique and personal way!
You can view their fabulous day on Brides Up North
I am sure a few of you reading this know exactly how much I love flowers and especially Peonies. Flowers are where A Little Picture all started from so I do love it when Brides mention that they are excited about the flowers on their wedding day! Philippa and Andy had chosen the beautiful venue of The Normans just on the outskirts of York and Phil had completely gone to town on the incredible flowers! Not only does this venue have an super cosy barn but it is filled to the brim with fairy lights too so this combination was a dream. I have had the pleasure of getting to know Philippa, Andy and their beautiful little ones for a few years now and it always such a great feeling when someone chooses me to photograph their wedding day through a recommendation from a friend. I had a wonderful day where I felt like part of the family and left with a warm glow, knowing that I had captured this little family celebrating a very important day!
We set off on a holiday or otherwise known as 5 city breaks within two weeks! Ambitious?! Maybe but we were excited about the thought of seeing lots of new places, travelling on various modes of transport and maybe even lying on a beach at least once!
First stop was Dubrovnik, somewhere we have both been excited to visit for a few years now. Upon arriving we must admit we have never entered a city that had such a remarkable first impression. We wandered through the archways of Kings Landing, following Cersi's walk of shame up to our apartment. We were on the outside of the walls which I would really recommend as we escaped the tourists and had a great view of the city. Dubrovnik is an unbelievable place, with incredible buildings, light and 1000's of swift's flying above the city. Much smaller than York and the walls are fully in tact which means there are ample amazing views of the city from above. A super start to the trip.
Next up was a 5 hour bus journey to Split. Travelling across the Bosnia & Herzegovina border twice in order to travel up the Croatian coast line we finally made it to this rather modern city with a beautiful old town. A lovely mix of idyllic old buildings and modern cocktail serving restaurants, we had a great airbnb with good tips from the locals so made the most of our 48 hours in Split.
By this point we thought we had done a lot of walking but that was nothing compared to our next stop of Venice! Having visited once before I had forgotten the size of the city and it surprised me how lost we would actually get. I do believe this is the most romantic city we have ever visited together. We fell in love with the back streets, the canals (of course) and the prosecco! We were constantly beaming and saying 'Wow!' each time we turned a corner. The food was obviously amazing and we tried to eat as much pasta and pizza as we could every day. The sunsets were wonderful as was the buzz after dark, we were given some good tips by our friends Ben & Mieke so found all the local hangs and felt totally at home. We actually didn't want to leave!
Florence next and this now felt like a proper city break. No more pedestrianised streets and tourist menus, Florence catered for the fast lifestyle of early Italian breakfasts and all day gelato stops! We did a pasta making course in Florence which was one of the best parts of the trip, as we realised how easy it was and how delicious it tasted! Sunset overlooking the city with a few beers and a visit to the Boboli gardens before we headed up into the Tuscan hills.
San Giminago was a bus ride away and we headed up for the promise of spectacular wine and views. Unfortunately storms started brewing as we arrived but that didn't put us off wandering and hiding inside the cave like bars for a wine or two! We watched a couple get married and found a great family run restaurant to eat our final fill of Italian cuisine!
Last stop Pisa! Yes we visited the leaning tower and Andy was on the hunt for a McDonalds that Homer Simpson had visited on the show! We found both, but not too much else in Pisa. Just a stop to see the sight before we headed home. A jam packed holiday full of easy journeys and lots of the essentials - food and wine! Two happy Travellers!
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik
Split
Venice
Venice
Venice
Venice
Venice
Venice
Florence
Florence
Florence
San Giminago
San Giminago
When I first met Helen & Ed they explained that from their day they just wanted to capture everyone laughing, smiling and having fun. They were planning a day at Saltmarshe Hall with all their family and friends and wanted relaxed, natural photography to reflect these relationships and of course their very own marriage! Helen & Ed bounce off each other constantly, laughing and joking with each other and so it was no surprise when, upon meeting all their family and friends, everyone was super friendly too! Helen told me she loves colour and she was so excited to see the wedding dress she had chosen, specifically to match her love of anything colourful! Gold shoes and a delicate collection of florals made Helen's outfit complete and of course matched Ed's tie! On the day Helen & Ed were indeed smiling constantly and it was nice to step them away for a few minutes to capture some more intimate portrait photos. A couple that have been in love for a long time and it was wonderful to be able to capture their celebration of that love. Soon to be featured on Brides Up North so keep your eyes peeled!
