Hurrah another end of year “best of” post..I hear you say. BUT bear with me (you’ve got this far so don’t quit on me now) It’s been nearly 7 crazy years shooting weddings for me now so quite selfishly I do these for myself. I have never been much of a planner or even a do-er , more of a drifter. So as I drift from one year into the next it’s quite cathartic to take a look back and try and make some sense of it all…so here goes:
As wedding photographers we hear voices……our industry telling us that it has decided our couples want everything to be EPIC!!!!!! (note the 6 exclamations) We are constantly wowed with wide angle/cinematic/award winning pictures of little people in big landscapes. Amazing sunsets and sillouhetted “500 like” super shots and I get it..I really do. And I like it and given the chance sometimes strive for it. But looking back 2016 hasn’t been that way for me. In fact it’s been the complete opposite…..It’s been “anti -epic”
Golden sunsets have been replaced by moody skies and mountains by underpasses and shipping containers. And rather than step back I got closer…closer than ever before to the action the energy and the emotion. And I loved every single minute.
So here we go….bring on the subtle, the surreal and the silly side of weddings. Line up the portrait photo bombers, the dad dancers, the young ones, the old ones, the daft ones, the dogs, the cows, the owls and the giraffes. And let’s celebrate the real stuff: The hugs, the kisses, the outakes, the passers by, the laughter, the tears, the shots in between the shots, the joy and the LOVE….because THIS is the EPIC as far as I am concerned.
*BREATHE*
So, in conclusion to all this waffle, let’s look at my favourite 150-ish images of 2016. Whether they are good, bad, epic or EPIC!!!!!! Well I will let you decide?
And once again, to the 40 plus couples who not only invited me to their biggest days but more importantly trusted me to do my thang………I love you x (in a way)
So that’s it. I am off to drift into 2017 with an open mind and an itchy trigger finger…BRING IT ON!
Feel free to leave me a comment below and if you know anybody planning a 2018 wedding then give me a shout (or an e-mail or a phone call)
Matt x x x x
I mean. Just sublime. In the anti-epic you’ve created epic. At least in my eyes. So inspired Matt. Can’t wait to see what comes from next year, and lets get another shoot organised with the new addition xxx
Matt! Take your anti epic and stick it up yer bum! These are freaking phenomenal! What a lush set of images, the moments, the colour, the emotions. Well done bud! X
Inspirational stuff.
Brilliantly funny, ordinary yet extraordinary magic. That shot of the bride being lifted in the air in a shower of confetti is simply the best!
Matt that’s just awesome mate!!!
Dude, first all you grabbed me with the introductory text which is ‘nailed’ on so to speak and then looking through all your insane images that back this up, always been a fan of your work, the way you see, the way you frame images that happen in split seconds is a gift my friend!!
See you in 2017 for those beers – have a blinder mate!!
So many beautiful moments & relationships preserved in there. And for some reason the shot of the couple kissing by the window, hands in pockets, resonates particularly with me – quiet & sweet & stylish at the same time. More frocks need pockets. This has bugged me since I was a kid. Hmm.
Lovely, lovely stuff.
Amazing. Love them all. Some made me cry even though I don’t know a single person in the photos. Can’t wait to work with you Matt.
Matt this made me laugh out loud and feel warm and fuzzy all in one go. You have the knack of finding the extraordinary in the ordinary and seeing what passes others by. Inspiring stuff! Cant wait to see what you bring to 2017’s table.
Dude this is insane! You are to cool!
Breathtaking. And I expected nothing less. Top work mate.
You’ve got it all going on these are funny, ridiculous, surreal, cool, gorgeous…love ’em. You are such a talent. Well done my friend x
Awesome Matt! These are all ridiculously good. Love your style.
One of my favourite round ups of 2016 (and trust me I’ve seen many of them by this very point!). Absolutely phenomenal collection.
OH MY DAYS
All the bloody yes!!!
loving this set dude
These are truly epic, so many fantastic photos and I love how you’ve grouped them together. Great fun going through them, I found myself smiling so much!
So much touching!!! In a good way 😉 Brilliant, Matt.
Just incredible mate, absolutely incredible! I love you, I love your style, I love your approach, and I bloody love the results! Well done MP! X
Really REALLY loved this. Just brilliant. Utterly brilliant.
Painfully good Parry. Love it.
Loving these dude. Fantastic work – great moments and expressions and a real beautiful grittiness to them. Have a great 2017!
Cooler than a penguin’s pecker Parry! Bloody sublime stuff my man, just erupting with personality. Contender for my fave ‘best of’ of the year for sure….
You have such a unique style. Really fantastic post mate.
I loved going through these dude, you totally smashed 2016, so many candids with great raw expressions and awesome portraits to boot. Heres to an awesome 2017….
What a total treat these were to look through. Totally grabbed me, so bold and cut through all the crap and straight to the people. You are the king of capturing facial expressions! Amazing.
These are so amazing. Totally in love with your work!
Been following you for a few years and I love your work. Passion, emotion and seeing what others struggle to see. There is beauty all around us if you just open your heart and mind to see. This is real life! Amazing!
Hi Rebecca….thats a beautiful comment! I am feeling tired and a bit drained after a double header of weddings and you have given me a real lift…so thank you!
great set of photographs! Well done!