I adore Dodmoor House for many reasons, but the one I always come back to is their incredible team.
I’ve admired them ever since I noticed one of their planners painstakingly sweeping the courtyard of rain and carefully drying off the outdoor furniture in preparation for an outdoor wedding. I’ve never seen any other venue do that – you stand up or get wet, usually!
At Dodmoor House, they pay attention to the little details that ensure your wedding day truly is special.
Working with such a brilliant team makes my life so much easier, because when things are run well, I can focus on actually taking photos - rather than trying to work out what’s happening and chivvying things along!
For an experience that’s all about you, there really isn’t a better place than Dodmoor House
Dodmoor House Wedding Photography
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Holdenby has so much to work with. The gorgeous gardens, amazing architecture, and incredible interiors mean I’m never short of great backgrounds. And because the seasons, weather, and lighting conditions transform it so much, every couple gets unique photos.
For such a grand venue, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. It feels like home for the day, which helps you and your guests relax - and relaxed people make for the most naturally beautiful wedding photos.
Holdenby’s defining features - like the roofline with its many chimney pots, the many imposing arches, and the grand front door - will give your photos a strong sense of place. There’ll be no mistaking where you got married. (Assuming you choose a photographer who knows how to show it off, of course!)
No need to worry if it rains because the inside is every bit as beautiful as the outside. The library and entrance hall are my go-to spots for couple shots as they’re private, have beautiful natural light, and interesting features. And the ballroom or dining room are spacious enough for group photos without feeling like a compromise.
The staircase lends itself brilliantly to pre-ceremony “reveals” and first looks. Think the ‘Jack and Rose meet on the staircase’ scene in Titanic but with a happy ending. It’s a natural meeting point en route from The White Room to the ceremony, and I can be there to capture the moment before anyone realises I’m there.
Five reasons you’ll love Dodmoor House for your wedding photography
I’ve worked at Dodmoor in all seasons and in all weathers; and have photographed weddings of all shapes and sizes. Indoor civil ceremonies, outdoor civil ceremonies, micro weddings, maxi weddings, receptions in the courtyard, receptions on the lawn ...
And I’ve had more than my fair share of wet weddings at Dodmoor House and am officially a professional sheltered nook finder!
Hello, hi, bonjour! I’m Sarah.
My Experience at Holdenby house
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Dodmoor House really knows its camera angles. Come and explore some of its most delightful details, nooks, and crannies.
The Dodmoor House Gallery
Anna & Colin
“Sarah, what can we say! I've known and worked with you for over 15 years! To now have the good fotune for you to be our wedding photographer is amazing! When we received our photos yesterday we were just overjoyed. You captured every part of our day perfectly and we can't thank you enough! You are talented beyond belief!”
Sarah & Robert
“Sarah, I just had to stop by and tell you how grateful we are for the wonderful, WONDERFUL pictures! From the moment I first saw your pictures, I absolutely loved your work, and now, I feel truly blessed to have some gorgeous pictures of my own! …But it wasn’t just how beautiful our pictures turned out, it was also how comfortable you made us feel. We felt like ourselves throughout the day, not posed or too formal. Your work is absolutely stunning and we are so glad we had the chance to work with you!”
Laura & Hugo
“What can we say?! Thank you so much for everything you did to make our day so perfect and for your photography which means we will never forget how perfect it was. Your calm presence is the perfect tonic for a nervous bride and groom. You fought the sun, rain and thunder …. but so well! We are delighted with the photographs and we’ve heard from many of our guests who love them too. Your help in timings etc was invaluable as you helped to make the day go smoothly and without a hitch!”
Rachael & Fahad
“Thank you so so so much for our photos and the amazing care and attention to detail you put into our wedding. We’ve been amazed and very appreciative of your enthusiasm from the start and the photos are beautiful. You’ve captured everything just as we wanted and the smiles shine through in every photo. Thank you for reading our minds, not minding the ‘unofficial’ photographers! And for being such a calming presence on the day.”
Sally & Ben
“We fell in love with one of her photos taken at Holdenby House and after looking on her website we knew she'd be perfect for our day. Our biggest worry before we found Sarah was being treated as just a job & not having our individual needs met. This didn’t happen though and Sarah listened to all our thoughts & input. Her friendly approach made us feel at ease and we couldn't have asked for any more.“
Vicki & Keith
“We would like to thank you sincerely for the absolutely incredible photographs you took of our special day. You captured the whole day so perfectly, exactly how we wanted. We love our album. We could not have wished for a better service. Everyone we speak to says how wonderful our photos are and we couldn’t recommend you more highly. A massive thank you!”
Natalia & Dale
“Sarah’s work speaks for itself but she made us feel so at ease and was great to have there on the day. She really listened and understood what we wanted. It was a very personal experience and we built up a lovely friendship. She is a lovely, professional, and trustworthy photographer who will listen to what you want but also advise you. Sarah did everything and more than we expected, and she also saved the day with my dress disaster!”
Kind words from Dodmoor couples
My top five planning tips for wedding photography at Dodmoor House
Optimize portrait time. Immortalise more of the venue by splitting your portrait photo time into two. How about a 10 minute session while your guests find their seats for dinner, somewhere close by, say at the front entrance or in the Chinese Room? And then a 20 minute slot after dinner, when time is more relaxed and we can go deeper into the gardens or down to the lakeside?
Plan ahead. Having a civil ceremony? Space around the registrar's table is very limited and when your witnesses join you for your vows they can unwittingly obscure the view of you. So before the day, ask them to stand back a little so they don’t block your photos.
Get that confetti exit ready. Want to take a big group photo of all your guests? This process is super efficient and takes the least amount of time possible: Walk down the aisle, then head to the library and take a post-ceremony breather. Meanwhile, your guests exit the hall via the front door, grabbing a handful of confetti from a basket as they go, and then make a pathway ready to throw said confetti. When everyone’s in place, you appear to a sea of smiling faces and run the confetti gauntlet. Lastly, your guests gather on the front steps for that big ol’ photo … and then your reception awaits. Bish-bash-bosh!
Cut that cake. Want the best possible cake cutting photo? Plan to cut it in daylight hours. And when it’s time, we’ll turn your cake so the front faces the piano (with your permission, of course). Then you face the piano and I stand opposite you for the big moment. It gives a flattering and dramatic result - compared to trying to shoot into the window where even pro cameras struggle with the angle of the light. The same thing would work in The Great Hall or the Ballroom too - it’s all about the angle of the window light.
Comfy footwear please. The gardens involve a lot of walking - or at least it’ll seem that way if you’re wearing heels, and balancing bouquet and bubbles. So pop some comfy shoes in your bag to save your feet - and your sanity.
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