London portrait and wedding photographer Marianne Taylor

Victoria & Charles : Kensington Palace wedding with old school glamour

June 23, 2016 · 11 Comments

Time is a funny thing. It seemed like I had been waiting for Victoria & Charles’ wedding day for ages, and yet it felt like it was only yesterday when we got together for their engagement session in Somerset. Taking on such a limited number of weddings means I’m looking forward to each one with even more enthusiasm, and I couldn’t have been more excited when Victoria & Charles’ big day finally rolled around!

Victoria got ready with her sister and friends at her childhood home, which added something really special to the proceedings. It was lovely to be surrounded by all the photographs and mementoes that told such vivid stories and formed a map of memories. Pat Mascolo, the mother of one of Victoria’s oldest friends was on hand for make-up, and Lauren from Tony and Guy perfected Victoria’s stunningly glamorous wavy hair-do.

Before Victoria stepped into her Valentino shoes and the most beautiful (I, mean really!) Monique Lhuillier gown from Browns Bride, her and Charles’ dog Albert came in for a quick cuddle and a pose. You could literally hear all the hearts in the room melting! After popping on her great-great grandmother’s pearl and diamond earrings, and Charlie’s family onyx and diamond bracelet, and picking up her simply stunning Hayford and Rhodes bouquet, Victoria was ready.

It was a short walk to the church of St Mary Abbots and after the ceremony, all the guests continued on foot to the Orangery at Kensington Palace for the party. There, Rhubarb was in charge of the catering and Pearl and Groove had created the most amazing gluten free cake. As well as stationery from Wren Press, Victoria’s own illustrations also played a part in the look of the day. She had illustrated all the escort cards to look like ‘Royal Ascot Enclosure’ badges, and each guest got a small cut-out caricature of themselves instead of a place card. It was definitely fun talking point (and a selfie opportunity!) and the guests took their portraits home.

Another talking point was a wonderful Photo Booth with a bespoke Reynolds oil painting backdrop, operated by the Photo Booth Guys. When the night fell, everyone got on the dance floor, and with a little help from the DJ’s Prelude Entertainment, boogied the night away.

It was such a pleasure to be a part of this joyful and beautiful day, and also to get to work with the amazing Gorgeous Film again. Victoria & Charles (and Albert!), I wish you all the best in your life together, I’m pretty sure it will be full of laughter and adventure! xo

Rebecca & Logan | Together

August 17, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Ah, it sure was nice to be back in London for some shoots!

Rebecca & Logan wanted to have their pre-wedding (i.e. engagement with a wedding gown) Together Session in London, where they both currently work. We had a lovely time walking around town and dodging tourists, while using their favourite landmarks as backdrops.

(P.S. if you’re thinking of a pre-wedding shoot, why not come to Cornwall for some stunning scenery!)

Kerstin & Dan | Together

May 11, 2015 · 5 Comments

Kerstin & Dan are from Chicago, where they are getting married later this year, but as they are currently based in London with their work, they wanted to capture their engagement session on the streets of their current home. We so very nearly rescheduled this shoot due to some horrendous weather, but I’m so glad we decided to risk it, as the weather turned lovely pretty much in perfect timing for our session! I love London in the spring, and thoroughly enjoyed my time with Kerstin & Dan.

Xueting & David | Together

May 5, 2015 · 3 Comments

Xueting and David are getting married in Singapore later this year, but before that, they wanted to have an engagement session in London, which would remind them of a city precious to them. We had a lovely time walking the streets of London, capturing iconic scenes, and discovering some new corners of the city. I adore getting to fall in love with London over and over again!

Rebecca & Craig | Together

April 13, 2015 · 3 Comments

Springtime in London! It was such a pleasure to get to know Rebecca & Craig while walking some of my favourite streets during their London engagement shoot. These two are getting married in Aynhoe Park later this year, which fills me with such excitement, magical things always happen at Aynhoe!

The Best of 2014

December 29, 2014 · 14 Comments

Favourite images from 2014 by Marianne Taylor Photography.

2014 has been one of those funny years… on the other hand, it seemed like Christmas and the end of the year caught up with me way too fast, but at the same time it felt like a looong old year. So many challenges and changes took place that looking back it seems crazy it all fitted into one year. As well as spending a year working on developing the Beloved Collective until May this year, creating the Beloved Magazine, and, of course, getting Her Lovely Heart up and running, I did fit in lots of lovely shoots, and memorable moments filled with love and laughter. I have to say I feel rather relieved that 2014 is drawing to a close though, and I am so happy about feeling way more focused and excited for the next year than I was this time last year. I really think 2015 is going to be different, surprising and amazing!

Here’s to everyone I shared laughter, tears and meaningful moments with, thank you for making 2014 all it was! xo

P.S. as always, you can click on the images to see more.

Grace & Ian | Together

December 16, 2014 · 5 Comments

Grace & Ian were in London for only a few days, so we didn’t have many options for the timing of their sessions. As it turns out, the day we shot was absolutely freeeezing, with a chilling wind that gets right to the bone. Nevertheless, Grace & Ian pushed through the cold as they wanted to capture some of the iconic sights, and in some way I think the weather adds a real ‘London in the winter’ feel to the images.

Marie & Jens | Together

December 9, 2014 · 3 Comments

‘Missy, Oscaaaaaar, look over heeeeeere!’ This was the soundtrack to our anniversary session with Marie & Jens. It was just the loveliest to get to spend some time with these two again since their London engagement session last year. It was also such a pleasure to meet Missy & Oscar, who looked dashing in their matching jumpers! Despite the freezing conditions, we had the best time traipsing around London and playing a game of ‘turn that dog around’.

McKenzie & Cameron | Together

November 20, 2014 · 6 Comments

‘Cameron loves football (the proper kind, not the American kind, haha) and golf. He’s a total guy in every sense, but definitely has a goofy, sensitive side. I work in marketing and love paper crafts, sewing, cooking, baking, and reading. I am a complete bookworm. One of our very favourite pastimes is going on what you might call ‘everyday adventures’, which usually entail exploring a new neighbourhood or town and eating a lot of tasty food. I do more shopping on these outings than Cam would probably like! We’re quite a playful couple and love a good laugh.’

I think I’ve had a little bit of a girl crush on McKenzie ever since that first email I received from her. She is just so open, fun and enthusiastic, and I couldn’t wait for these two to get to London from California, so that we could go on our own ‘everyday adventure’ to celebrate their engagement.

McKenzie studied in London and the British Library is very dear to her heart, so it naturally became our starting point. From there we wondered the streets of Bloomsbury in search of pretty nooks and crannies, pretty much giggling all the way through.

I had so much fun during McKenzie & Cameron’s London engagement shoot, and I wish they have an amazing time planning their Californian wedding day!

Shira & Vladimir | Together

November 7, 2014 · 7 Comments

On a crisp, sunny autumn day, we got together with Shira & Vladimir for their engagement Together Session in central London, right in their own home neighbourhood. I had such a lovely time walking among the gorgeous colours of London and getting to know Shira & Vladimir better. I also loved watching them go from being a little bit shy in front of the camera, to embracing just having fun together! I think I also need to send an official thank you note to the sun for making an appearance after what had been an absolutely miserable rainy week up until then!

Campbell Family | Together

August 18, 2014 · 2 Comments

It’s always fascinating to me how little connections are made in ways you couldn’t predict. Alix & Matt got married at Aynhoe Park back in 2012, and a year or so later they just happened to attend the same antenatal class as Marie & Darren, and became fast friends. When Marie & Darren were looking for a photographer to capture some family photos of them with Wesley, they remembered seeing and loving Alix & Matt’s wedding photos and so got in touch with me. It’s a small world, huh?

I’m glad they did, and that we got to spend a lovely London spring afternoon together making memories. I think you’ll agree that Wesley is the cutest giggler!

Alison & Gareth | Wedding

July 24, 2014 · 3 Comments

On a hot summer’s day like today, reminiscing over Alison & Gareth’s wedding day, with it’s energetic and erratic rain showers, feels like a breath of fresh air.

Alison & Gareth had a very intimate London wedding, with a ceremony for their nearest and dearest at Mayfair Library, followed by dinner at Claridges. I felt very privileged to get to capture such a personal celebration, and it made a lovely change to this year’s wedding to be at the heart of London. Even the umbrellas added to the familiar vibe I thought!

Congratulations again Ali & Gareth, wishing you lots of love and laughter in your future together! xo

Marianne Taylor creative fine art destination wedding reportage photography London Claridges

Marianne Taylor creative fine art destination wedding reportage photography London Claridges

Introducing Families – Together

July 15, 2014 · 5 Comments

Since the early days of shooting weddings, one of the things I’ve been asked most by my clients a year or two down the line is ‘would you please please do a family session for us?’. Over the years I’ve had to give out way too many heartbreaking no’s, purely because I was so busy with shooting weddings, and pursuing other business interests, that I simply didn’t have the hours to accommodate the requests. Nor could I with a clear conscience pick and choose and do sessions just for my ‘favourite’ clients (since you’re ALL my favourites!).

Marianne Taylor creative beloved family photography Cornwall

Over the past year I have done some serious re-evaluating of my business, my life and of how I spend my time, and one of the things I came to realise was that in order to have a little bit more flexibility in my life, I needed to take on fewer weddings. So I did some major re-arranging of my business(es), and as a result I am finally in a position where I am able to do more Together sessions, both for couples, but also for families.

Marianne Taylor creative beloved family photography London

The Family sessions I offer are very relaxed and informal. There’s very little formal posing involved, as I want to capture real interactions and authentic moments, that will create memories of who your family is right now.

Marianne Taylor creative beloved family photography London

If you’ve asked about family sessions before, and I’ve turned you down, I’m sorry, the timing just wasn’t right before. I do hope you’ll get in touch now and we can make things right! I’m so looking forward to spending special, fun times, with my former and brand new clients alike!

Marianne Taylor creative beloved family photography London Bushy Park

In the next few weeks I’ll be blogging a couple of the first sessions I’ve done, sneaks of which you can see here.

Rachel & Alexander | Wedding

June 19, 2014 · 15 Comments

This is a day everyone involved had waited for a long time! Rachel & Alexander were supposed to get married the year before, but due to health reasons had to postpone their date. The silver lining in this was that, while I wasn’t available on their original date, I was on the new one. And I am so so glad I got to be a part of this truly magical day.

Northbrook Park looked better than ever, with the gardens in full bloom and the weather showing us it’s best. Add to that the amazingness that Steph aka Fairy Nuff Flowers created, she really outdid herself with the amazing flower arrangements! Rachel looked gorgeous in her Phillippa Lepley wedding gown and Jimmy Choo (of course!) shoes, and she completely took Alex’s breath away when coming down the aisle.

It was such a pleasure to work with wedding planner Always Andri and Jacaranda catering again. Othes I need to mention are The Cake Parlour, who was responsible for the amazing cake, and Louise Richardson who created the adorable stationary. Chrystal Palace String Quartet provided beautiful music throughout the day, until night fell and none other than The Wedding Smashers took to the decks and got everyone on the dance floor. I don’t know how they do it, but it just always happens like magic!

Northbrook Park is one of those place where I really wouldn’t mind working every weekend if I had to. But I am so glad it was this particular weekend, and this particular couple. Thank you so much Rachel and Alexander for having us share your gorgeous day with you! xo

Marianne Taylor creative fine art destination wedding reportage photography Northbrook Park

Marianne Taylor creative fine art destination wedding reportage photography Northbrook Park

Marianne Taylor creative fine art destination wedding reportage photography Northbrook Park

Fleur & Nick | Together

June 17, 2014 · 2 Comments

The weather was outrageous on the day of Fleur & Nick’s engagement session. The wind and the rain felt like an impossible obstacle when we started, and then something magical happened. The rain stopped – just enough for us to do our thing – before returning with a vengeance. I think we got mysteriously lucky, because Fleur & Nick deserve all the luck and laughter in the world. They fell in love in dramatic circumstances, as survivors of a horrible accident, and for them to get through all that together, the happiness they found with each other feels all the more poignant. I can’t wait to celebrate their wedding day at the end of the summer!

Amy & John | Together

May 16, 2014 · 5 Comments

Amy & John had to fast track their wedding day to ensure that a terminally ill family member would be able to join them. Afterwards, they wanted to arrange for a Together session in London, to celebrate the place where their romance bloomed. We had a lovely time, taking in some famous views, but also finding some special more obscure corners of London. It was a pleasure to spend time with you Amy & John, I hope there will always be as much laughter in your lives! x

Annie & Hamish | Together

May 7, 2014 · 5 Comments

Well, what can I say? We had pretty much a perfect day for Annie & Hamish’s London engagement session. The sun peeked gently from behind the clouds, there was a light breeze, and London was really showing it’s best spring colours. Spending time outside on a beautiful day with a lovely couple such as Annie and Hamish really makes me appreciate my job and count my blessings!

Monique & Eric | Together

April 11, 2014 · 10 Comments

I couldn’t possibly love Monique & Eric’s London engagement session more. Pretty balloons and pretty blossom, I was in total pastel colour heaven! We did experience some drama, when the balloons decided to unexpectedly make a run for it! But even so, good times were had. It was such a pleasure, Monique & Eric!

From London, Monique & Eric continued to a pre-wedding session in Paris!

Whitney & Chester | Together

April 4, 2014 · 2 Comments

Another spring day, and another London engagement session with gorgeous blossom. I can’t help but just LOVE this time of year. I had such a lovely time with Whitney & Chester, I wish every day was full of pretty blossom and laughter!

Karen & Michael | Together

March 31, 2014 · 1 Comment

I’ve shot a few sessions with beautiful blossom already this spring, and I couldn’t love them more. Blossom really makes everything better. It started raining during Karen & Michael’s London engagement session, but with all those gorgeous flowers around, it didn’t really matter at all in the end. It was definitely a win for the prettiness, and for this lovely couple. Welcome, spring!