Paddy and I lived together for a couple of years from the end of 2020 onwards. It was through him and our other housemate, Sam, that I was introduced to some of my closest friends to date. About a year into living together, Paddy met the wonderful Emma. I remember the day we sat in the living room talking about their first date, and I also remember when he asked Emma to be his girlfriend.

Paddy is a special guy, a gentleman and a true friend. Remarkably unflappable, even when playing the most frustrating game, golf, he always remains cool and calm. Even on his wedding day, he was relaxed and seemed completely at peace… except when he had to talk about his new wife, but who doesn’t get a bit of a wobble in the lower lip then?

The joy of photographing friends is that I feel even more comfortable directing them and asking them to move around. I use these opportunities to test out different styles, angles, and shots. Light is your best friend, but with most summer weddings taking place in the middle of the day, the sun is high and the light can be quite harsh. You have to manipulate each shot to create some side light. The photographs in the doorway are a prime example of using light and elements of the cottage to produce ideal conditions.

I loved this shoot on a personal level. Sharing that space with friends before one of the most important days of their lives is something I wish I could do with all my friends. I consider myself very lucky to have friends who (hopefully!) ask me to do this because of my talent, not just our relationship.