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WHAT’S SO SPECIAL ABOUT MONKTON BARN?
It’s always unadvisable to call a venue “the perfect wedding venue”, because rather like a TV promo or a movie trailer (both of which in a past life I used to produce in return for payment of my mortgage) once you say something is the best, then logic dictates, everywhere else is not as good. And who defines what “best” actually is? I’ve photographed weddings at the Tower of London, Kensington Palace, numerous stately homes across the UK and the capital. Would you laugh if I said Monkton Barn was better than those venues? You might well. Would I rather be shooting there than at those venues? Well, probably yes is my answer.. Is Monkton Barn then the perfect wedding venue? Perhaps not. But in my experience it certainly is A perfect wedding venue and one that it was my absolute pleasure to work at.
Some of this may come down to the kind of wedding this was. This is my favourite kind of booking - a referral from a previous wedding. I don’t advertise a lot because I get referred a lot, because I always try to go the extra mile. So when Terri-Lee dropped me a line saying how much she loved my wedding photography for their friends Kat and Alex who tied the knot at Marwell Hotel, I knew this was a couple who would truly appreciate my style.
And here is what I found at Monkton Barn. As a photographer, Monkton Barn is a dream setting. Nestled on the edge of the Chiltern Hills, near the scenic riverside town of Marlow, this venue is a hidden gem. The centerpiece of the location is a beautifully converted traditional farm barn, complete with original beams and oak floors, providing a warm and authentic backdrop for any celebration. The surrounding meadows, bathed in natural light, offer an expansive canvas for outdoor events, while a secluded dell adds a magical touch for woodland weddings.
Monkton Barn is incredibly versatile, allowing you to craft your celebration exactly as you envision it. Whether it’s a relaxed, intimate barn ceremony, an open-air reception in a marquee, or a large-scale party, this venue offers the flexibility and charm to match your style. Photographing events here is a delight, from candid moments in the barn to the wide, sweeping views across the meadows and woodlands. The light filtering through the trees, the open skies, and the natural textures of the landscape all lend themselves to creating stunning, timeless images.
For me, it’s the outdoor spaces that truly shine. Imagine capturing a couple’s first dance under the stars, with fireworks or bonfires lighting up the night. Or documenting a festival-style celebration with live music, fairground rides, and guests mingling in a relaxed, playful atmosphere. Whether it’s the rustic charm of a woodland wedding or the elegance of a marquee reception, Monkton Barn allows for endless creativity.
The venue offers the opportunity for unique shots – from glamping under the stars to hot air balloon rides – creating moments that are not only beautiful but unforgettable. Each celebration here tells its own story, and I love being able to document every detail, from the intimacy of a cozy winter reception with fire pits and roasted chestnuts to the vibrancy of a West-End musical-themed party.
Now so far, so ChatGPT, right. But the truth is, the people who run this place are really on it. They are super helpful at all times and really lovely. They have taken real care to make every part of the venue feel special. For me, the real standout is how they have decorated and cared for the woodland glen, which feel genuinely a bit magical.
The owner is a talented wedding photographer, and, as someone who also shoots wedding videography, I really hope I get the chance to work alongside them one day. The little prep barns are small but perfectly comfy, the indoor dining and party spaces, likewise, so if rain stops play, there is ample space to host your wedding. But best of all is the woodland and countryside. Even on a wet day, a woodland wedding is still very much a possibility. And, for a wedding photographer and videographer anyway, on a sunny day, as you will see from the wedding group photos below, the light bounces up into the shade, giving a lovely glow to everyone’s skin.
And with such a beautiful backdrop, couple portrait photography becomes a real pleasure.
And the views really are that wonderful. Take a look abelow and see for yourself. The highlight for me on this wedding - apart from the adorable couple and their lovely friends and family of course, was that Terri-Lee and Casper had their first dance and party out in the open. A whole new experience and creative challenge for me as a wedding photographer, giving me the chance to experiment with all different kinds of lighting techniques and styles
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WHY ARE WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHERS SO EXPENSIVE?
Videographers, what are they good for, absolutely nothing, say it again
Huh!
Videographers, they’re terrible people, right? Can get a bad rap, right? Well, maybe if you listen to the occasional old-fashioned photographer, you know, the kind who doesnt like working with other people, who likes to grumble, who doesnt even really appear to like weddings, they are known to whinge about videographers. Crusty old vicars too are occasionally not that keen on wedding videographers. Or so I’m told. Personally I’ve never met a vicar, priest or celebrant, crusty or otherwise, who I didn’t get on with. .
Wedding Videographers are lovely, just like wedding photographers, just like most humans. And just like most photographers and most humans, they charge more than you might want to pay. Why is that?
The good news is, there are wedding filmmakers to suit every budget, so if you have only four or five hundred quid, you can still afford one. The bad news is that these guys are either at the very beginning or the very end of their career and probably do not have the experience, equipment, ability, energy or talent to offer a high quality product. How can I say this? Because if you’re not packing at least £10K worth of equipment plus edit software, running a car, liability insurance and other expensive offsets, you are not going to be able to make professional wedding films. It just isnt viable. See the lady who offered so many brides a £600 wedding film only to tell them eight months later there was an editing back log and they were 43 in the queue. How is that sustainable?
It isn’t. Though sadly every year so many brides have to find this out the hard way. Seriouslyif you’re not in the market for a high quality product, well you know, your phone has a camera on it.
But a good wedding videographer costs AT LEAST £1500, three times that lowest budget figure. Many will tell you that anything under £2000 is cheap. I am a little under £2000 and while I wouldnt dream of calling it cheap, it IS very good value.
But what exactly is all that hard-earned wonga going on, I hear you ask.
Well here goes. As a London Wedding Videographer who covers all of the Uk, and destinations abroad, when I rock up to the eleven hour shoot that is my working day, I’ve already spent a heap of money before you even see me.
On my car, the petrol I put in it, the insurance and tax. None of this is chargeable to you.
On my three, sometimes four cameras, along with drone, monopod, tripods, gimbal, accessories, lighting, audio equipment, radio mics, and high quality lenses.
On my website, advertising, socials, so that you might find me and I might help you choose if I am your guy, and happily answer a thousand other wedding-orientated questions.
Ever wonder why your phone videos are only so so? Check out that little lens on the front, or the tiny sensor inside. The value of the equipment I bring along to your wedding day totals somehting in the region of
£16 000. Which is what it is insured for. Insurance being another thing I pay for, including public liability of up to £10 000 000
That’s right, this is a bone fide grown up business, with insurance, payroll, public liability, limited liability, legal contracts, advertising costs, editing software, a high end computer with external peripherals, admin costs, accountancy costs, and all the rest of it. On the day, I look like a nice chap having a jolly time, and that is what I am. Because I really do love making wedding films. But what I also am is a consumate professional wedding videographer focussing on getting the very best images and sound, capturing every important moment and making sure key people get included, and knowing how to weave that into a story, into the narrative of a film you will want to watch over and over
So yes, I agree. Wedding videographers are a bit of an expense. But so is wedding food, and you won’t be watching that time after time, for years to come, right?
Please feel free to zip on over to my main videography page to check out some of the hundreds of beautiful wedding films and lovely, happy couples I have worked with over the years
MY FAVOURITE WEDDING VENUES
EPISODE ONE : WHAT’S SO GOOD ABOUT WESTERHAM GOLF CLUB?
You’ve seen the brochure, you’ve had a visit, you’ve weighed up all the options, and you’re pretty certain you’ve decided on your wedding venue.
But what’s it really like on the day? What will your real world experience be? Will the reality match up to the fantasy? So, in an occasional series where you get your read - and more importantly you get to SEE , because this is after all from the point of view of a wedding videographer here - just what it’s like at the wedding venue of your dreams, I give you, ladies and gentlemen and everyone in between, Westerham, one of my favourite golf club wedding venues.
“Golf”, Mark Twain famously wrote “Is the best way to ruin a perfectly good walk.”
Well despite having filmed and photographed countless golf club weddings, I can’t say it particularly spoils anything - walks, weddings, whatever. I can’t say I have strong feelings about golf myself - being someone who doesnt know one end of a club from the other, being the kind of guy who thinks a mashie niblick is a kind of machine gun. I even had to google how to spell it. It’s a kind of golf iron by the way - an iron being the stick or bat or club or whatever that golfers hit the “ball” with. Still in the dark? You’re probably like me, you think links are something you put in your shirt cuffs, or what Scottish people say when they mean sausages.
Anyway, that’s enough of me being totally hilarious/useless/delete as appropriate. Apparently golf is a whole heap of fun, and all the golfers I have ever witnessed seemed to be having a pretty great time. My only personal experience of golf is when I’m asked if groom prep could include me following round the groom and his pals while they have a round of golf before the big event.
That’s right kids, a whole bunch of guys like to play golf on the morning of their wedding day. And I have to tell you it actually is a whole lot of fun. We will allow just a little sympathy for the wedding photographer who one time started what turned out to be a thirteen hour day of non-stop wedding photography with a five-mile walk around the links, although honestly, that was a terrific day and I loved every minute of it. And the shots were great too.
But what you really want to know is - is a golf club a good place for a wedding? Well, of course it is, that’s why there are so many of them. But more importantly, what you want to know is, is THIS golf club a good venue for your wedding day? Check out the wedding film below, the if still in doubt read the review.
Westerham Golf Club is an award winning 27-hole golf course a on the Kent / Surrey border. Their main course is set in mature woodland, with tree-lined fairways, water features and stunning views over the North Downs. That’s something like the official line. If you like golf, you’ll love it.
And, it transpires, if you want your wedding here, you’ll love it.
The Valance Suite ceremony space is a bright, light, cool curved space with views across the main course and the rolling Kent countryside. Or is it Surrey? No one seems to know, but it looks gorgeous and green. It’s your wedding day, so chances are you may not be paying too much attention to the countryside while your celebrant is marrying you. But you will feel comfortable in this space, which manages to be both light and shady at the same time.
Licenced for ceremonies of up to 150 guests, who are easily and comfortably accomodated, the Valance Suite offers contemporary design and, to the relief of this wedding videographer, air conditioning. Never underestimate the power of air conditioning.
Next door is the Eleanor Suite with its own private entrance and terrace and can seat 200 for a wedding breakfast, and, when used with the Valance Suite together, can hold up to 275 guests for your wedding reception party.
I can confirm that the official line “Westerham is a popular choice for Asian, African and Caribbean events., our experienced weddings events team strive to ensure that traditional values are honoured, whilst considering your individual requirements”, is 100% true.
The staff are super helpful and accomodating and nothing is too much trouble. My experience was that everything ran smoothly and to schedule without anyone ever feeling pressurised. The co ordinator’s even keep in mind that you may want the best light for your couple shoot, and will do everything to assist that too.
As for your wedding portrait photography session, Westerham is brilliant. On this occasion I was Sharon and Jason’s wedding videographer, and their wedding photographer had already signed off and gone home at this point. Me, I put in the hours because I love what I do, and was delighted to catch the last rays of the day for some gorgeous sunset portrait shots. The staff are more than happy to take you round in a buggy to get the very best out of the light and the views, and you can very much make your session about the couple and the countryside, rather than about the golf.
For a real world look at what it’s like, do please have a quick watch of the videos on this page to see for yourself. For me, the big thing is the comfort; lots of light, but lots of shade, warm, but with air con, spacious while somehow still feeling intimate. It’s magic.
Truly organised, considerate and efficient staff, with a real sense that this wedding venue is YOURS for the day and that you will be looked after. A tastefully-style interior and a relaxed atmosphere, with wonderful views of the English countryside. I’m telling you, there is nothing here not to love. Wonderful wedding venue!
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DANCING RAW FOOTAGE FILM (ADDED EXTRA, COS YOU’RE WORTH IT, EM)
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Lewisham, Sunday lunchtime. The traffic grumbles. The sky is a pallid grey. Gentrification has piled luxury new builds amidst the tower blocks and terraces. And then the sun came out. Big time.
So many smiles. So much warmth. For a small and intimate wedding, both families managed to fill the generous space of The Church of St Mary the Virgin with conviviality and open friendliness.
Even before beautiful bride Ramya had arrived, it was clear this would be a lovely, affectionate, fun day.
After a simple, traditional church blessing and some frolicsome group and portrait photos in the picturesque garden behind the church, it was off to the Clarendon Hotel for fun and games.
There not being time to shoot at sunset, we made do with no less than three flashes to light the portraits out on Blackheath, before heading inside for fun and games that included Morris Dancing, Ballroom Dancing, heck, pretty much every kind of dancing, along with a brace of very funny and moving speeches.
All in all, a fantastic and lively day in which a beautiful couple tied their knot in the presence of the people closest to them, their dearest friends and family. Congratulations guys, here’s a quick look below at a few of your photos and your film x
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Ah Oxford. Dreaming spires. Beautiful architecture. A university that is over 1000 years old. Countless murders in Inspector Morse novels… oh no, scratch that bit.
While the Dexter Room at Oxford Registry Office may well have been named after the venerable author of the Inspector Morse Novels, this was a day for romance and celebration, rather than plots and detectives.
Thilini and Shimal had opted for an early morning wedding, and with the sun bright in the sky and family spirits high, the mood in their simple but moving civil ceremony was celebratory and affectionate.
After some group portrait shots, we moved on to exploring the city’s highlights for a short session of couples portrait photography and videography, taking in the famous Radcliffe Camera, the Bodleian Library, Lincoln College, Exeter College, Brasenose College, All Soul’s College, and all before lunchtime! These two pulled it off with patient, elegant style - I only wish we’d had all day! So while I’m still awaiting my piece of cake in the post, all in all it was fabulous morning! Congratulations, guys! x
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