Incredible Moments: Edward Ashley Photography

“I capture all the incredible moments from the best day of your life, so you can remember them forever.”

UNVEILED Network Member Edward Ashley Photography is a superbly talented photographer based in Newcastle, skilled at recording the heartfelt moments of love, joy and laughter from your special day.

His love for photography dates back to his childhood, when aged just 10, he took and developed his very own set of photographs using his parents’ garage as a darkroom – and he’s been hooked ever since. Always with a camera in his hand, a few of Ed’s friends asked him to photograph their weddings and he loved every second of it. Fast forward to today and he’s now an established photographer, working with couples at lots of amazing venues across the north and beyond.

As Ed professes, “I love that with the click of a button you can capture a single frame in time. It’s a genuine privilege to capture such a special day, and I feel so lucky that I get to do this for some truly fantastic couples.”

Read on to find out more, and for an incredible offer from Ed, exclusive to UNVEILED readers.

Style

Ed says: I photograph real moments and genuine emotion while keeping it creative. I’m all about recording the day as it happens, but also making sure I capture some unique portraits of the happy couple.

Approach

It’s really important to me that the wedding day shouldn’t feel like a photoshoot. No awkward posing, no distracting camera flashes, and no taking the couple away for hours to take pictures.

Relationships

I never photograph a wedding without meeting the couple first, usually online via FaceTime or Zoom. This is so important as it helps both the photographer and the couple confirm that they have a connection. You spend all day with your photographer so you need to make sure you get along!

As the photographer, I’m often next to be booked after the venue, so I’m there to help with supplier recommendations and wedding planning queries from the outset. I keep in touch in the run up to the big day, making sure I’ve discussed all their plans so I know what needs capturing.

A few weeks before the wedding I love to do a pre-wedding photoshoot. It’s really good fun and is great to solidify that relationship between couple and photographer. It breaks down any perceived barriers created by the camera and helps everyone relax on the big day.

Unique qualities

There are so many fantastic wedding photographers out there to choose from, which I think is great as it keeps the standard really high.

A lot of couples say they chose me because my style doesn’t follow any particular trends and they don’t think their wedding photographs will age over time. If you go to my Instagram grid you won’t see entirely dark and moody shots or entirely bright and airy shots. You’ll see a true range of images that reflects the multicolour of life.

I’m not saying the way I do it is the right way, it just works well for me and is how I love to photograph. There are lots of wedding photographers with very different styles to mine and whose work I admire. What’s important is that there’s a choice out there so that couples find a photographer with a style that works for them.

Best bits

My absolute favourite parts of the day are actually right at the beginning and right at the end.

During the bridal and groom preparations in the morning there’s so much anticipation and a real excitement that’s hard to put into words, but a real privilege to capture through photography. I remember this feeling from my own wedding day and it’s an emotion like no other.

Everyone partying away at the end of the night is also fabulous to photograph! I love that the bride’s grandma ends up on the dance floor next to her old flatmate from university and they’re both sharing this amazing moment of happiness for someone who they both hold very dear.

Locations

I’m based in Newcastle Upon Tyne but cover weddings all over the UK. For me, it’s far more important to work with the right couple than to be restricted by geography. I really love to travel and see new places. I also find working in new venues keeps me thinking creatively.

Top tips

Make sure you like the style of your photographer’s images. You want to know that the photographs you’ll receive after the wedding are the style you’re expecting.

Make sure you know what you’re getting. All photographers offer slightly different packages, so find out what’s included.

It’s normal for wedding photographers to be booked up two to three years in advance, so once you’ve settled on your ideal photographer, get them reserved for your big day right away!

Never book a photographer without having spoken to them first. If you’re uncomfortable with your photographer this will come across in your wedding pictures.

Don’t worry about whether your photographer has photographed at your venue before. Photographers like to work in new locations as it keeps them creative.

Don’t book a photographer who doesn’t carry back up gear. I carry several cameras, lenses, and batteries so there’s no stress if anything breaks.

Options

I offer three packages. The Gold package is by far the most popular and includes a pre-wedding photoshoot and full wedding day coverage with two photographers.

Special offer

I’m delighted to offer UNVEILED readers £300 off my Gold package (normally priced at £1,950).