Paul Roland Williams

Hannah & Benjy’s Trafalgar Park Wedding Photography

Published January 10, 2012 | By Paul Roland Williams

Sometimes you know how good a wedding is going to be just from meeting the people involved. The warmth of the welcome I received from Hannah’s mother Carol when I rocked up at their house clutching an information pack (I was in the neighbourhood so it made sense…..I can’t always hand deliver them unfortunately) told me that this was likely to be a great wedding.  Great venues, good food, kind weather and even free flowing alcohol all contribute to a wonderful wedding, but it’s ultimately the people that make it a day to remember.

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Posted in Trafalgar Park, Wiltshire Wedding Photography | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Award winning reportage wedding photography

Published December 28, 2011 | By Paul Roland Williams

I was delighted to learn over the Christmas period that one of my images picked up an eighteenth place in the “Other Vendors” category in the latest Wedding Photojournalist Association contest.

In this global contest, competing against potentially hundreds of other images submitted by some of the worlds best wedding photojournalists, having an image placed in any category can be considered a great achievement so it would be fair to say that I’m very pleased to have been awarded 18th place, perhaps the only circumstances under which that would be the case.

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Posted in Awards, Style and Ethos | 1 Comment

A look back at 2011

Published December 24, 2011 | By Paul Roland Williams

2011 isn’t quite over for me yet as far as shooting weddings goes……I’m very much looking forward to documenting my final wedding of the year on 30th December at St Audries Park, one of my favourite venues.

In the meantime though, I thought I’d take some time to reflect on a great year in which I’ve had the tremendous pleasure of photographing a huge variety of weddings, from extremely intimate family only affairs to large celebrations involving marquees and country mansions, including several that I was working at for the first time. As always it’s been an enormous privilege to be entrusted to capture such an important milestone in people’s lives.

It was a year that saw a leap forward in the evolution of my style of wedding photography, influenced in part by the experience of having my own wedding photographed. Unobtrusive, documentary coverage had always played an important part in my wedding photography, but this year really saw it come to the fore when I experienced for myself the real value of a good body of photojournalistic work. I also found it was a much more rewarding way to document a wedding.

The change in my approach provided a challenge in a number of areas though, partly in adapting to a new way of seeing things, but also in overcoming the tendency of the wedding photography industry to pigeon-hole photographers into very distinct categories. It’s not generally accepted that a wedding photojournalist should also be good at creative portraiture, and setting up detail shots definitely rules you out of defining yourself in that genre. It’s very much an all or nothing scenario, and makes it very difficult to know how to present yourself when you feel you have strengths in all areas.

I think it presents a challenge for clients too, who want their wedding covered in a non-obtrusive, documentary style but also want to make the most of the opportunity to have some beautiful portraits taken and feel it would be a shame not to get some pictures of those details they’ve spent so long choosing to make their wedding day unique. Do they choose a pure wedding photojournalist and forego the portraits and details? Or do they opt for a more creative photographer and compromise on the quality of the documentary work?

I’m very proud to be able to offer my clients strong documentary coverage, but equally proud that I can produce creative work that doesn’t rely on presets or faddy vintage effects, to produce a high quality body of work that ticks all the boxes and which will stand the test of time.

Perhaps convincing the world that they can have the best of both worlds if they want it will be my challenge for 2012.

In the meantime, I have selected some of my favourite wedding images from 2011, drawn from a total of around 7000 presented to my clients, and all individually “finished” by me to produce the high quality end product I’m committed to.

These images are not only personal favourites but are also the ones that I feel best represent the breadth of my style, encompassing pure documentary images alongside some strong portraits and detail shots. Please feel free to leave a comment.

I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.


Posted in Style and Ethos | 5 Comments

Rhinefield House Wedding Photography

Published December 9, 2011 | By Paul Roland Williams

Hidden deep in the New Forest, Rhinefield House is one of my favourite venues to shoot at. The beautiful house, ornamental lake and gardens provide great backdrops both for some creative images of the bride and groom and for the reportage work too. Inside works equally well too with it’s large windows, grand rooms and warm ambience. A venue for all seasons.

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Posted in Hampshire Wedding Photography, Rhinefield House | 1 Comment

Clevedon Hall Wedding Photography – Jarrod and Leanne

Published June 27, 2011 | By Paul Roland Williams

I was delighted when Jarrod and Leanne asked me if I would do the photography for their wedding at Clevedon Hall in Somerset. I’ve known Jarrod for many years, since we were both teenagers in fact and he started playing in bands with my brother. He’s a man of many talents and an all-round entertainer, but more than that, he’s a man who exudes warmth, great humour and a genuine passion for life. So nobody was happier than me to hear that the lovely Leanne was going to make an honest man of him.

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Reportage Wedding Photography at St Audries Park

Published April 18, 2011 | By Paul Roland Williams

It was back to the wonderful St Audries Park for Sarah and Ray’s wedding. Having got married at St Audries myself, going back to document someone else’s big day is always special.

I’d met Sarah and Ray back in 2010 for a pre-wedding shoot and I knew they’d be a delight to work with. They were completely on board with my style of photography and gave me the freedom to do what I do best, predominantly reportage coverage with a little time for some more directed and creative portraits. Continue reading →

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St Audries Park Winter Wedding Photography

Published February 14, 2011 | By Paul Roland Williams

Only a couple of months after getting married there myself, I was back there to do Sara and Jap’s (real name Anthony….something to do with a stay in Japan apparently) St Audries Park Winter Wedding photography. I hadn’t even seen my own photos yet!

I’d worked at St Audries before, of course, but this time I was seeing things through different eyes. Continue reading →

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Dorset Wedding Photographer – Athelhampton House

Published November 21, 2010 | By Paul Roland Williams

Producing Laura and Rob’s wedding photography at the stunning Athelhampton House was a delight and a privilege for two main reasons. Firstly, Athelhampton House was a new venue for me and I love the challenge of working with the unfamiliar. I like to think that coming to a venue “fresh” allows me to really separate myself from the crowd and produce something nobody has seen before.

Secondly, Rob is also an excellent professional photographer so being asked to document his wedding was a huge compliment.

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Orchardleigh Estate Wedding Photography

Published October 2, 2010 | By Paul Roland Williams

Caroline and Daniel tied the knot at the impressive and expansive Orchardleigh Estate, near Frome in Somerset. Orchardleigh boasts it’s own intimate church on site which Caroline and Daniel made full use of. The surrounding scenery was perfect for them to get away for a few minutes so I could get some pictures of them alone before returning to the main house for the reception. I vividly remember the enthusiasm they had for this aspect of my work when we first met so I knew the opportunity to get some creative portraits, along with the documentary coverage, would be important to them.

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