Racing the Storm: A Malvern Hills Wedding Adventure
Most clients would have raised their eyebrows when I suggested hiking up the Malvern hills on their wedding day which was being held at the nearby Abbey Hotel. Not Lea and Tim - their eyes lit up at the mention of incorporating these historic hills into their couple shoot as they were the same paths where they'd spent countless weekends exploring together along with Bertie their mischievous dog.
Over the coming weeks we made a plan together and scheduled enough time in the afternoon to fit in some extra wedding excitement. The trail from the ancient British Camp fort wound upwards past weathered quartzite outcrops, the distinctive shape of the Malverns rising like sleeping giants around us. My quads burned with each step carrying my cameras and a drone, whilst my assistant carried a couple of wedding umbrellas grabbed from the car at the sight of threatening clouds.
"Just a bit further!" I called out, watching Lea navigate the terrain in her flowing dress, white trainers peeking out beneath the hem. She'd chosen the perfect blend of elegance and practicality. Tim walked beside her hand in hand whilst occasionally glancing at the darkening sky and acknowledging hikers smirking at this strange collection of adventurers. The group was completed by Bertie and his wedding dog sitter.
As we reached the hills, the spine of the Malverns stretched out before us. To the east, Worcestershire was beginning to cloud over, while to the west, the storm painted the Welsh borders in dramatic greys. The air felt charged, heavy with the promise of rain, creating the kind of dramatic conditions that make a photographer’s dream (or perhaps a nightmare). I scrambled up one of the weathered rocks, a good vantage point to capture the sweeping panorama and launched my drone as the wind was picking up. I positioned the chattering couple and undertook a couple of swoops capturing them against the moody backdrop that made their figures stand out in sharp relief. After landing the drone I quickly turned to concentrate on camera shots.
Sometimes the best shots require you to think quickly and the race against nature itself heightened my creativity. The darkening sky and building wind meant I had to pose the happy pair in the same spot whilst I ran around them to catch different angles and backdrops.
Each frame captured not just their love, but the wild beauty of the Malverns themselves. This is why I became a wedding photographer – not just to document love, but to create experiences that become part of a couple's story. Yes, I could have suggested the Priory Gardens or a convenient corner of the hotel but there's something magical about working with couples who are willing to embrace the beauty of places like the Malverns, who understand that extraordinary moments often require extraordinary action.
Within 10 minutes we were done and as we made our way back down the hillside, the storm finally breaking around us, Lea turned to me and said, "This was so much better than I imagined." I just handed them both umbrellas whilst we took the now slippery path down, them not realising that I was still clicking away, catching more memories whilst trying not to trip over. I was soaked but my memory cards were full of moments that captured not just love, but the raw energy of nature itself.
To all my future couples reading this: don't be afraid to think outside the box for your engagement or wedding photos. Whether it's hiking the Malverns, chasing storms for the perfect shot, or embracing whatever weather the British climate throws at us, these moments of spontaneity and adventure often lead to the most authentic and breathtaking images. And I'll be there, camera in hand, ready to climb any hill and brave any storm to capture your love story.
For more adventures on your wedding day around the South West (and the Malverns) you now know a photographer that will make it happen. Follow along on Instagram, Facebook or on my website for more.
Simon
@platinumphotographyuk
