The Emotional Speech

This post is part of my Why I Love this Wedding Picture series, where I describe why I, as the photographer, love a particular image or series of photographs.

A Favourite Frame from Rose & Edward’s Wedding at Hampton Court House

There’s something about this photograph that still stops me every time I see it.

It’s from Rose and Edward’s wedding at Hampton Court House, a place that feels almost designed for documentary wedding photographers. Those huge windows, the soft natural light that rolls across the room... It’s a dream to work in.

This particular frame was taken during Edward’s dad’s speech. He was standing just behind me as I photographed the scene.

There are plenty of shots of him, of course, but I’ve always found that sometimes it’s more powerful to turn the camera away from the person speaking and focus instead on the people listening. That’s often where the real story sits.

Edward was properly caught in the moment - visibly moved by what his father was saying. You could see him drifting somewhere between pride, nostalgia, and that slightly overwhelmed feeling you get when emotion sneaks up on you.

Rose leaned in gently, resting her head against his shoulder. It was such a small gesture, but full of meaning.

Around them, friends and family smiled, a few laughed quietly, and others just watched, everyone feeling something slightly different but all connected in that shared pause.

I think it’s these unscripted, in-between moments that hold the most weight. They’re the ones that come back years later when you look through your photos. The speeches, the laughter, the emotion... it all blends together, and somehow this one instant ends up saying more than the words ever could.

I still love this photograph. Simple, honest, full of feeling and a reminder of why I do what I do.