One of my recent brides, Natalie Bridgeman has written a marvellous blog offering encouragement to any camera shy brides to be out there. Oh, and she was nice enough to be kind about how I helped her through it as well. Thanks Natalie!

“Camera shy brides can rely on Luke!

By Natalie Bridgeman

I started writing a testimonial for the fantastic photography from Luke Patrick Dixon photography on our wedding day. I found myself going off point. The testimonial made me think, I must not be the only bride who felt the same as me about their wedding day, and I’m sure there are brides-to-be going through this right now.

The confidence of a bride, or lack of it!

We had our son before we got married, I was 32 and wasn’t feeling like a beautiful bride-to-be. I had a lot of work to do to get ‘wedding body’ ready! I was worried about my weight, my dress not looking right (will I have a belly button shadow through my dress), my hair, my make-up. It was A LOT of work leading up to the big day and I didn’t have the time.

I was worried about the attention being on me, people looking at what I looked like and judging, not just on the day, but for decades in our wedding photos! Camera, stay away!
The thought of the dreaded camera scared me! I would have a camera in my face, with a photographer asking me to pose in ways I was not used to and I had to look happy! This was a challenge I thought I would fail.

After confiding with a mum friend, she recommended Luke Dixon. I knew Luke from our local playgroup and he always took some amazing photos of my son for Christmas presents and gifts for family and friends.

We met with Luke some months before the wedding to discuss the types of photos we wanted. I think Luke knew straightaway from our conversation that I wasn’t the most confident of people in front of the camera. I’m a typical social media mum, loads of pictures of my son on my Facebook page, but none of me!

The Wedding Day!!

The big day came! Hair was perfect, make-up was spot on, belly button hole was hidden away, but I did not reach my perfect weight for the day (half a stone off my target). This resulted with my weight being on my mind, and I knew the camera add 10lbs!!

Luke could see my nerves and was so reassuring that the photos would look amazing. It’s very easy to be relaxed round Luke, he puts you at ease, and before you know it, you’re laughing and distracted from the nerves of having to look perfect.

Luke picked up on what kind of couple, Chris and I was from the beginning of meeting us both. Luke knew that banter was a big part of our relationship. When it was time for a few posed shots, Luke was there to get the banter started, to turn our awkward fake smiles into our natural smiles (no cheesy jokes!). The posed shots are what I was dreading, but actually it was a lot of fun and helped to get us in a relaxed mood to start the fun of the reception.
I would like to say a saw Luke after that on my wedding day, but I didn’t, he had gone! He was amongst the crowd, doing what he does best. I completely forgot he was in the room!
Photos telling the story of the wedding day

I few weeks after the wedding we received our wedding pictures. I was very nervous how I was going to look. We opened the file, and from start to end we were amazed! The photos were the happiest I have ever seen! Every photo was filled with beautiful and happy people. I now know where Luke was on our wedding day, hiding away, taking hundreds of shots to tell the story of our wedding.

Our wedding day was a daze, a bit like someone had hit us over the head with a hammer, there was so much we couldn’t remember, but the pictures showed the complete story not just from our side, but the complete story from our friends and family. We know what they get up to! Tears were falling down my face whilst going through the photos, I did look beautiful, I can actually say that. I looked relaxed, happy and at home. Pictures of my son as Paige boy was beyond beautiful, and fills us with so much joy. 

I highly recommend Luke Patrick Dixon Photography My advice to any nervous bride, is to speak with Luke! Let him know about your worries, he is the expert, he can work round your worries for your big day. We’re not all built for Hello Magazine confidence, but this doesn’t have to mean you can’t achieve your dream pictures for you to enjoy for decades to come. So, in the build-up to your wedding, relax, and enjoy. Things may go wrong (car broke down and AA man became an extra guest at our wedding!), but Luke will be there to tell the story for you to enjoy and laugh about for years! That’s what makes a wedding!
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