London wedding & portrait photographer – in Greenwich, Blackheath and Westminster bio picture
  • Rebecca

    I'm a wedding and portrait photographer based on the borders of leafy Greenwich and artists' haven Deptford in south London. When I'm not working, I love visiting galleries and finding new places for afternoon tea or morning coffees. For the past couple of years I've been learning Argentine Tango. We're told it takes about five years to learn the tango walk, so I'm just about halfway.

    Rebecca Portsmouth FMPA

Westminster Register Office | Jackie + Khalid | wedding

Jackie and Khalid’s wedding at Westminster Register Office’s Yellow Room was very much an intimate family occasion.

westminster register office wedding

Bride puts in groom's buttonholeFlowergirl before weddingWestminster Register Office Yellow Room wedding registrarWestminster Register Office Yellow Room wedding ceremonyWestminster Registry Office Yellow Room wedding ceremonySigning the register at Westminster Registry Office Yellow RoomGuest taking photos in Westminster Yellow RoomOld Marylebone Town Hall steps wedding photosIf you were looking for a second witness, that was me – so a little tricky to photograph.  After photos on the Old Marylebone Town Hall steps, we went to the Ritz.  Some of us were more interested in the journey than others.

Wedding guest on way to receptionFlower girl on way to wedding receptionJackie and Khalid had booked afternoon tea at the Ritz. Although we weren’t able to take any photos where this was taking place, we did some more family portraits on the stairs before leaving them to enjoy their afternoon.

wedding photos on Ritz Hotel stairs

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Bilsington Priory | Kent wedding | Rebecca + Ty

Rebecca and Ty’s wedding at Bilsington Priory near Ashford in Kent was full of sunshine, children and animals.  The day started with capturing some of the local characters including a very patient one-eyed cat (you’ll see why soon) which I think is called Orville.

Bilsington Priory's Cat Orville with one eye

Bilsington Priory chickens

I joined Rebecca, her mother and her daughters getting ready.

Bridesmaid getting ready for weddingWhite Gucci wedding shoesBridesmaid showing off bouquetBridesmaid and flower girl at Bilsington PrioryBride getting ready at Bilsington Priory, KentWe went across to the Augustine Priory where Ty was waiting – a tad emotional – with the guests and lovely Kent registrars.

Augustine Priory civil wedding ceremonyBilsington Priory bride arrivingBilsington Priory bride arrivingBilsington Priory civil wedding ceremonyBilsington Priory bride and groomBilsington Priory - groom gets emotionalBridesmaid hugs wedding guestYoung wedding guests at Bilsington Priory

Guests watch Bilsington Priory wedding ceremony

Rebecca’s mum had set up a surprise dove release for Rebecca, Ty and their daughter Coco.

Wedding dove release photoBride and groom release doves at weddingRebecca, Ty and myself took a few minutes for some portraits out of the bright sunlight, including a garden bench where Ty had proposed.

Bilsington Priory wedding portraitsBilsington Priory wedding portraitWhile they rejoined their guests for drinks, children were making the most of the gardens, including a tree-slung horse swing.

Bilsington Priory grounds

Bilsington Priory girl on swingGirls in a tree at Bilsington Priory, AshfordBoy portrait at Kent wedding venue Bilsington PrioryGuest at Kent wedding venue Bilsington PrioryCoco took a huge liking to Orville and spent much of the reception cuddling him, although when he decided to make a bid for freedom, there was child carnage left in his wake.

Bilsington Priory cat Orville and bridesmaid

Bilsington Priory cat Orville and children

Just as the sun was fading, the speeches and Rebecca and Ty’s first dance took place and I left them and their guests to celebrate.

Bride cries at groom's speech photoGroom toasts bride in wedding speechBest man's speech at Kent wedding in Bilsington PrioryBest man toasts bride and groom during his speechBilsington Priory - bride and groom's first danceBilsington Priory - wedding first danceRomantic first dance photo - wedding

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Chelsea Register Office | Vikki + Toby | A single

This morning’s wedding at Chelsea Register Office was with Vikki, Toby and two witnesses before a portrait walkabout and going onto The Wolseley, where they were having an early lunch. Toby and Vikki’s mothers are in Spain and Cyprus and have been told a wedding day photograph is going online for them to see – so here it is.  More will be going up in about a week, so check back to see more when they have been edited.

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Islington Register Office & St Pancras Station | Tanya + Zhewei | A single

Here is a single from today’s wedding of Tanya and Zhewei.  They were married at Islington Town Hall, before us all hopping in a limo to go to the Oyster Bar in St Pancras Station; and just about now, they will be on the Eurostar, which runs from St Pancras, to honeymoon in Paris.  Their full blog post will be posted in the coming week.

St Pancras Station wedding photo

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South Bank Centre + Hayward Gallery wedding | Helen & Mattie

Possibly my dream venue combination – London’s South Bank Centre and the Hayward Gallery – were where Helen and Mattie celebrated their wedding a couple of weeks ago.  I’ve been going regularly to both for the past 20 years and am strangely fond of the grey concrete buildings that have undergone a facelift in the last few years. Helen and Mattie held their ceremony in the South Bank Centre’s St Paul’s Roof Pavilion, then took their guests to the Hayward Gallery for a private view of Ernesto Neto’s exhibition The Edges of the World before returning to the roof pavilion for dancing and more partying.

Helen was walked into their wedding ceremony by her brother.

south bank centre photosouth bank centre wedding bridesouth bank centre wedding ceremonysouth bank centre civil ceremonysouth bank centre bride and groomst pauls pavilion civil ceremonysouth bank centre wedding ceremonysouth bank centre bride and groomThen there were drinks on the outdoor deck.

st pauls pavilion eventsouth bank centre bride portraitst paul's pavilion wedding guest st paul's pavilion wedding guests

south bank centre event photoWe started Helen and Mattie’s portrait session by waiting for the lift – and making the most of this red counterweight that floats onto the St Paul’s pavilion floor when the lift is on a particular floor (no idea which one).

london bride and groom portraitWooden panels, the Thames riverside and sunlit balcony also came into play.

south bank centre wedding photossouth bank centre wedding photosouth bank centre wedding picturesouth bank centre wedding photographTime for the Hayward – with some guests stopping for a break along the way. I especially loved some of the contrasting footwear.

hayward gallery event photohayward gallery waterloo sunset pavilionhayward gallery waterloo sunset pavilion guests
hayward gallery waterloo sunset pavilion

ernesto neto hayward gallery sculptureThe wonderful thing about the Neto exhibition was its emphasis on fun and interaction – including a funky pool on the Hayward’s roof. Guests had been invited to bring their swimming costumes and this is most definitely the first time I’ve ever photographed a bride and groom in a bikini and trunks – and the first (& hopefully last) time I’ve had water splashing towards me and the camera.

ernesto neto hayward gallery sculpture 2010hayward gallery rooftop pool 2010hayward gallery rooftop pool 2010hayward gallery rooftop bridehayward gallery wedding guestshayward gallery pool 2010One of Helen & Mattie’s guests was a keen photographer – so I took a couple of portraits of him – you can decide which is his best side.

hayward gallery portraitshayward gallery portrait

Helen and her family really got into the swing of the exhibition.

hayward gallery ernesto neto exhibitionhayward gallery ernesto netto exhibitionhayward gallery ernesto neto exhibitionbride on hayward gallery stairs

Helen and her new mother in law – how sweet are they!

hayward gallery white room

Helen, Mattie and I LOVE the Hayward’s concrete stairs, although they don’t usually have such stunning light fittings as this.

Hayward-gallery-wedding-photo

Outside, the light was fading and it was time to return to the South Bank Centre for partying … and a few more portraits on the way.hayward-gallery-bride and groomsouth bank centre bride and groomSouth-bank-centre-bride-photo

Guests who had gone ahead await Helen and Mattie.

south-bank-centre-wedding-party

Helen does a quick check that Mattie is choosing something suitable … Mattie is thinking perhaps Duran Duran. south bank centre first wedding dancesouth bank centre wedding first dance photoAnd the party is properly underway.

south bank centre wedding guestssouth bank centre partysouth bank centre dancingwedding-dancing-photo

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