Hi! I’m Melly.
A proper ‘country bumpkin’ who grew up in the best shire in England (Shropshire, obviously). A lover of seasides, cats, motorbikes, and wandering through French streets taking my job as a crêpe-enthusiast very seriously. Mum to two hilarious and brilliant boys named Isaac and Lucas, as well as to three rescue cats named Rupert (dog-sized), Basil (more issues than Kevin from We Need to Talk about Kevin), and Gilou (named after the cop from the French TV show Spiral). An ex-secondary school English teacher, who loves writing stories that I’ll never finish, reading, and collecting dusty old books. My dream is to have a circular library inside a circular house. I live in the quaint and quirky town of New Mills in the High Peak, just a stone's throw from the beautiful scenery of the Peak District, and from the borders of Cheshire and Greater Manchester. I’ll travel anywhere to capture your wedding day!
Engagement and wedding photography, with a good dose of fresh air, sunlight, and beautiful outdoor scenery.
I love getting as much natural light and scenic backdrops as possible into my photos, and watching the joy, love, and splendid chaos of weddings unfold through my camera lens whilst remaining as unobtrusive as possible. I’m your girl if you would like ‘fly on the wall’ style coverage, without the posing and awkwardness, so that your wedding day doesn’t feel like a photoshoot, and so that you get to just celebrate being your brilliant selves.
Pricing
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The Part Day Package
5 hours of coverage. Enough time to capture the ceremony and some of the reception, and to get those all important group shots and couple photos.
A minimum of 250 final edited images presented in online gallery. Full resolution digital files to print and share as much as you like.
Option to include photos on a USB flash drive.
Sneak peeks of photos within 7 days.
£595
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The Full Day Package
9 hours of coverage, taking you from bridal preparation up until after the first dance.
Includes travel within a 50 mile radius.
A minimum of 500 final edited images presented in online gallery. Full resolution digital files to print and share as much as you like.
Option to include photos on a USB flash drive.
Sneak peeks of photos within 7 days.
£895
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Couple Shoot
A pre-wedding photo session lasting approximately one hour in the location of your choice.
A minimum of 100 final edited images presented in an online gallery. Full resolution digital files to print and share as much as you like.
£125
Kind Words
‘Melly was absolutely perfect for our outdoor wedding. She was so calm and relaxed it was like having a friend we'd known for ages casually taking some pictures. The images she took were absolutely stunning and melt me every time I look at them, what a talent. Thank you so much Melly we are so pleased we found you and we finally have some pics of all the kids in one place too...skills.’
Lizzy & Nathan
‘We are absolutely blown away by the photos - they are truly worth the wait. You have captured every part of the day, so very beautifully and we have had all the wonderful memories brought back to us. We just haven't stopped smiling as we've gone through them - over and over again! They are exactly what we were looking for and they truly are the most beautiful representation of our day. Now we face the impossible task of choosing which ones will be framed! Thank you once again for your care and exceptional skill - we are bursting with happiness at the end result.’
Karl & Natalie
‘Thank you for the photographs which far surpassed our expectations in their exquisite beauty. You have truly captured the spirit of the day and I feel like I can hear the laughter and love coming out of each and every image. The colours, movement and energy in each photo makes them all compelling to look at and I feel like Narcissus about to fall into the images of myself - as somewhat of a reluctant bride it is really moving to see myself in your photos and I am so grateful to you for all of them.
From our first chat at the wedding fair to receiving the digital photos yesterday you have made the experience completely enjoyable and entirely stress free with your easy going, patient, warm approach. On the day you fitted seamlessly into the wedding party and we are so fortunate to have had a photographer who felt like a friend and guest. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.’
Emily & David
FAQs
How would you describe your approach?
I keep things warm and earthy, making use of beautiful natural light and the interesting backdrops provided by the great outdoors. There’s no bush I won’t climb in so that you can have great photos! For me, it’s all about capturing an authentic sense of who you are as a couple, by allowing you to move around and interact with one another in a natural way. I try to avoid staging photographs wherever possible, so that you can look back and remember the fun you had on your day (instead of hours of posing!). I work hard behind the scenes to capture both big moments and small details alike, and to make sure that I include everything that is important to you as a couple.
I strive to be as professional as possible, and to blend in seamlessly along your weddings guests in a non-obtrusive way. The greatest compliment I can receive is when somebody says ‘I hardly even noticed that you were there!’. I truly believe that your day should be about celebrating you, and not just about the photographs!
Can we have formal group photos?
Absolutely! Whilst I will cover the majority of your day in a candid, fly-on-the-wall style, you are welcome to have as many formal group photos as you like (although, remember to allow 3-5 minutes for each group to be arranged and photographed).
Can we have a coffee?
If you live nearby, you are more than welcome to arrange an in-person meeting at my studio in New Mills, where I’ll pop the kettle on and we can chat about your wedding plans. Otherwise, I am happy to schedule a telephone or video call so that we can get to know each other better.
Should we have an engagement shoot?
An engagement shoot is a wonderful way to get used to the camera before your wedding day, so that you can put any nerves to rest about how it will feel to be photographed (particularly if you are a bit camera shy!).
They allow an opportunity to capture you both alone without all the frills and pressure of the big day, perhaps in a favourite walking place (and with any pets that you might want to bring along!), so that you get to feel a little more like yourselves.
As a bonus, it means that we can feel less like strangers on the morning of your wedding, and you can also use the photos for your ‘Save the Date’ cards!
Does it matter if you haven’t shot at my venue before?
Whilst it is nice to be familiar with the great photo spots, wedding team and workings of a venue that I have been to before, every single wedding requires a new pair of eyes and a completely fresh approach (since no two weddings are ever the same!). The weather and the time of year will have a considerable effect on the light, and the best directions and backdrops to shoot against. I will always arrive early to scout out each venue properly, and continually assess the best spots to take photos from throughout the day.
How do I book?
Firstly, you just need to drop me a line to check my availability for your wedding date. If I am free, I will send over a copy of my wedding booking form for you to complete, and take a £100 deposit to secure your date. Your remaining balance will then be due one calendar month before your wedding, when I’ll get in touch to go over any final details with you.
Chat with me!
Interested in finding out more about photography for your day? Fill out some info and I will be in touch shortly! I can't wait to hear from you!