I had not met Dave and Liz before the shoot as it was in fact my wonderful wife who had spoken to them at the York Racecourse wedding fayre last March. They enjoyed speaking to her so much that they figured that I must be also quite a nice person and they decided to book me - I hope they weren't too disappointed when they finally met me!
We met at the Cow and Calf cafe car park which provides easy access onto Ilkley Moor, one of my favourite places to come for a photography shoot. Liz and Dave chose it because they loved the wide sweeping views of Ilkley and the Wharfe valley from the top and we were blessed with the perfect conditions to capture these stunning vistas. Despite our worries earlier in the week that we might be battered by driving rain and gales from an approaching storm that was forecast, we had calm conditions and beautiful light from the descending winter sun.
We met a couple of hours before sunset to make the most of this perfect light and spent the next hour chasing the sun as it dipped behind the moor. I think we got some cracking shots, and that's not just to do with the light or the scenery, but how great Liz and Dave were to work with. I could tell that they were a little bit nervous to begin with, but they soon warmed up and were up for everything I suggested, even agreeing to stand close to the edge of a very big drop on more than one occasion! I can't wait to work with them again when they get married at one of my favourite outdoor wedding venues, Skipbridge Country Weddings, near York, in June.
On the hottest weekend of the year so far, Liz & Dave chose to get married at one of the best outdoor venues (in my opinion!) in Yorkshire, Skipbridge Country Weddings, and what a day it was!