natural, fun, relaxed and unobtrusive style to photographing weddings that will tell the story of your day
I'm Chris, a professional Lake District wedding photographer based in the Cumbria market town of Cockermouth. With over 19 years experience, I offer a natural, fun, relaxed and unobtrusive style to photographing weddings.
I provide high quality wedding photography services with unique local knowledge throughout Cumbria and the Lake District.
I want to tell the story of your day, the real stuff that happens. The emotions, the fun, the quirks and craziness of you and your guests, the unplanned, unscripted parts I know you’ll look back on and love! I want the real connection between you two to shine through with fun, relaxed photography and not turn you into posed mannequins.
I have gained a wealth of experience over more than 19 years’ as a professional Lake District photographer. I have covered over 1400 weddings in all the varied, and sometimes exciting weather that the region has to offer. I truly love what I do and thrive on building upon the strong reputation of my photography business. As a focused and creative image maker I always strive to offer you a level of service that far exceeds your expectations with all of my wedding packages.
My natural, fun, relaxed and unobtrusive style to photography is well received and has aided me in continuing to build my excellent reputation as one of the top wedding photographers in the Lake District. But don't take my word for it, have a look on my Google review pageto read what my past clients have thought about the way I work and the photographs I have captured for them. I'm also incredibly fortunate to be recommended by some of the best wedding venues in the Lake District.
Whenever the weather and time will allow, capturing some dramatic wedding photographs with the landscape scenery is something I love. With my local knowledge, I can often suggest a suitable location that we can travel to or alternatively if you have a special place in mind then we can always look at the logistics of your special day to facilitate a visit to some of Cumbria’s finest views.
Over the years I have photographed many same sex weddings. They are some of the most joyous and memorable occasions I have covered in more than 18 years as a professional photographer, attending over 1300 weddings in all the varied, and sometimes exciting, weather that the Lake District has to offer. In the last few years I’ve shot in excess of 75 weddings per year.
In the Lake District we have some amazing and very welcoming LGBTQIA+ friendly venues - from the country boutique hotels to the larger lakeside location. There is usually an ideal place for you to host your gay wedding and I’d love to be part of it.
All of my same sex wedding photography packages include your edited high resolution images and you can choose my exclusive wedding album packages which will add something special to your whole experience.
I pride myself on offering a relaxed and unobtrusive service, capturing your gay wedding in a mainly documentary way that will tell the story of your day. Although there is a small element of posed shots, I really want these images to reflect your personalities and, if the opportunity arises, then I’d love to capture these in the beautiful Lake District landscape.
Should you wish to travel away from your reception venue to capture some of my signature Lake District landscape wedding shots, then we’ll ensure the timings for this have been designed into your day. I know this area well and can suggest some suitable locations that can result in some unique and stunning photography.
I pride myself on being LGBTQIA+ friendly and I really want you to be able to relax in my company, be yourselves and trust that I’ll be doing my best to capture beautiful and compelling images through my wedding photography. Love is love and that should be celebrated - I simply want to create a wonderful visual story of your wedding and the amazing connection between you.
I want you to feel comfortable while I’m taking pictures. That’s why, before the big day, I try to get to know you as a couple. During the wedding day, I observe so that my images will reflect the personalities of you and your friends in a creative way.
If you have any questions, would simply like to have a chat, or would like to receive one of my brochures, then please let me know.
Small, intimate weddings or elopement weddings, having become increasingly popular over the years so this is why I offer a dedicated Lake District elopement wedding photography package.
Maybe it’s the romantic idea of running away to be married or taking that chance to escape pressures from others about your special day, or perhaps it’s simply to keep the costs down. Whatever the reasons, I am being asked to provide professional wedding photography at these small, intimate ceremonies more and more frequently - and I love them!
For me, it's a genuine show of love and affection, just the two of you, in some of the most beautiful locations that the Cumbrian Lake District has to offer.
I first started offering my ‘Secret/Elopement Wedding Packages’ around five years ago when one of the top local hotels saw increasing requests for these services and we spoke in detail about what the couples would want from their special day. Now there are quite a few fantastic Lake District wedding venues that are tailoring packages to suit the demands of these ceremonies.
Elopement weddings or Micro weddings have become increasingly popular here in the Lake District and while you may have chosen to not have the big, family gatherings, celebrations and party in the evening time it's becoming clear that people are really embracing these mini-weddings and from a photography point of view, with my Elopement wedding packages option, either digital only or with one of my exclusive wedding albums, we can still capture some amazing wedding photographs that’ll help tell the story of your intimate wedding day.
So far, I’ve had the privilege of photographing more than 100 of these smaller services in quite a few different venues around the Lake District and I certainly believe my relaxed and non-intrusive style really suits these beautiful ceremonies and I’d like to believe that we have some fun and enjoyment while capturing these images. As with all my photography packages, it’s very important for me to help tell the story of your day with professional images and I have tailored a specific Elopement wedding photography package for these special occasions.
One of the huge advantages available to me from a photography point of view is the time I’m able to spend with the ‘two of you’ in creating some fantastic wedding portraits. Almost all my elopement clients take the opportunity to travel with me, after their ceremony, into the more scenic areas of the Lake District where we can capture some of my signature landscape wedding photographs.
Because of the completely unique nature of every secret elopement celebration, every couple has different ideas as to how they want the event to be marked with photography. Please contact me to discuss costs for your very special occasion.
With my excellent local knowledge, we can find a lake shore or tarn view, or a more dramatic mountain vista, without having to walk very far at all. This is a part of my wedding photography that I truly love, and it’s also a great chance to discover some hidden little gems in the Lake District World Heritage Site that I’m proud to call my home. To view more of my latest wedding photography and see for yourself how I include the beautiful landscape into my photographs then please take a look at my gallery page here.
If you would be interested in me becoming your Elopement wedding photographer here in the Lake District, then please do get in touch either by phone or email. Alternatively, if you would simply like me to send you one of my wedding brochures then please complete the enquiry form here and I shall get one in the post to you ASAP.
Choosing your primary wedding photographer that you trust to cover your special day is an absolute priority. However, in some circumstances a second photographer could be a great addition and a fantastic way to get another perspective of your wedding.
I offer this additional services of an experienced wedding photographer who is very much inline with the way I shoot weddings and my philosophy towards them.
While I will always be the primary photographer for my clients and never outsource my work, my second photographers work very much in the background to the brief that I will have set them for the day. Being non intrusive is an absolute priority, but having a second set of eyes to record and help tell the story of your special wedding day maybe invaluable to you.
The use of a second shooter is mainly aimed at larger weddings, for smaller weddings I believe there is generally no need or reason for a second photographer. But this option maybe worth considering if you would like equal coverage of the bride and grooms preparations before the ceremony, especially if different venues are being used.
I generally task my second photographers with the role of reportage / documentary style shooting, this is great for capturing even more of the natural, interactions of you and your guests especially during the times when I will be busy with your requested formal family shots and bridal portraits.
My second shooters aim to reflect my photography style as closely as possible; while I will provide guidance and advise as necessary on how they should cover your day, my goal is not to stifle their creativity or artistic eye.
Here are a few advantages of hiring two wedding photographers on your Lake District wedding day:
Hiring two photographers allows for you to capture different angles and perspectives during the wedding day, giving a more comprehensive documentation. Both photographers can capture moments simultaneously - for instance while one photographer captures bride preparation, another could capture groom preparation or vice versa!
Wedding days can be unpredictable affairs with events and moments happening simultaneously, which makes having two photographers much less likely to miss anything important or pivotal - with one photographer covering bride walking down aisle while other can capture groom's reaction on both ends. With multiple lenses focused on each event and moment captured simultaneously. This ensures all important moments and events will not go by undocumented.
More Creative Opportunities By having two photographers capture unique and unforgettable photos, there are more creative options for taking striking and unforgettable shots. One photographer may focus on capturing the landscape or natural features, while the other captures candid moments or intimate details - creating more varied shots that depict both couples as well as their surroundings. This allows a wider variety of photos which capture both aspects of beauty.
Reducing Stress and Pressure Hiring two photographers may also reduce stress and pressure for one photographer alone. By sharing workload equally among both photographers, they are better able to focus on taking quality shots without feeling as overwhelmed and under-stressed themselves, ultimately producing better overall photos overall.
Having two wedding photographers during your Lake District wedding day can be of tremendous help in documenting all important moments and documenting its beauty, while relieving pressure from one photographer alone. A second shooter provides multiple angles and perspectives, eliminates missed moments, facilitates greater creative opportunities and alleviates stress on your primary photographer - ultimately guaranteeing all important memories are fully captured as well as documenting every element of beauty in both you and the surroundings!
My second photographers only use professional-grade equipment and are fully insured, while adhering to my high standards for ethics and etiquette at every wedding they cover.
Additional Wedding Photographer Costs
(Subject to availability - I only call on the services of a select group of experienced, full time and highly respected wedding photographers to provide an additional professional service) ----------------- 3 Hour Additional Coverage - £300.00 --- 6 Hour Additional Coverage - £450.00 --- Full Day Additional Coverage - £600.00
Good photography is all about empathy; about understanding what and who you’re trying to capture. One of my Lake District pre-wedding or engagement shoot is an ideal way for us to get to know each other better, which will always make for better images on your big day.
If you’re a little camera shy, a relaxed Lake District pre-wedding shoot is the perfect opportunity to help you achieve very natural-looking photos. This cost-effective photo session is shot as an informal and fun session in a scenic location, utilising the best outdoor backdrops of the Lake District or your local landscape. The shoot gives me the opportunity to create some great images of you as a couple, giving you even more confidence for the wedding day ahead.
If you’d like to combine this shoot to include your little ones or your pet, then this is no problem. I aim to make them as fun and relaxed as possible and capture your genuine personalities.
We can be as adventurous as you like, if it’s just a simple stroll though a local park, a walk along one of the Lake District’s many lakes shores like Derwent, Crummock, Buttermere etc then that’s fine but if you want to head up a little higher into the Lakeland Fells then this with give us some wonderful opportunities to capture more dramatic and remote landscape photography with the two of you. Some of my favourite areas for pre-wedding shoots would be either around the Keswick area or Buttemere/ Crummock, both have some fantastic scenery.
Locations for your Lake District pre-wedding photo shoot
While we are completely spoilt for choice here in the Lake District for breath-taking scenery, some of my personal favourite locations for your pre-wedding shoot would be either around the Keswick/ Derwent area or Crummock and Buttermere. Keswick has some lovely lake shore walks and jetties that can make for some great photographs, this is ideal if you have young children that you’d like to be part of the shoot.
Crummock and Buttermere offer something a little bit more rural and this area in the Lake District is one of my favourite, there are some great options overlooking the Lakes and valleys and if you are feeling a little more adventurous for your Lake District photo-shoot then a short walk up one of the smaller fells will enable us to capture some quite dramatic landscape pre-wedding photographs. If you wanted to make the photo shoot a bigger adventure then for an aditional cost to cover my time, we can spend alot longer exploring some of the higher fells and more dramatic scenery.
What to wear on your Lake District pre-wedding shoot?
This is completely up to you, however, the Lake District, paths, shorelines and fells do not lend themselves to being ideal for a fashion shoot so my advice would be to dress accordingly, sensible footwear is a must. Smart casual or your outdoor gear will be just fine, what I want my pictures to capture is the real you and the connection between you. We’re generally a bit more adventurous on the pre-wedding shoots that we would be on the wedding day so it would not be ideal wearing your best suit or dress for this shoot. Because of the changeable weather that the Lake District can sometimes throw at us, it’ll defiantly be worth having a waterproof jacket with you just in case.
The important this is for us to go and have some fun with your pictures and not be too worried about your footwear if you’ve decided to wear your finest Louis Vuitton, Jimmy Choo or your Christian Louboutin’s!
From the pre-wedding shoot you’ll receive all of the edited, high-resolution images so if you wanted to use these in any part of your wedding, from invitations to framed sign boards then this option is open to you.
If you’d like more information about these shoots or my Lake District wedding photography services then please get in touch, if you’d like me to send you one of my wedding brochures then please leave your postal address and I’ll get one sent out to you.
Over the years I have sampled many of the different products available to the wedding industry. There is a vast range available, but I have always believed in keeping things simple, without using the ‘on-trend’, fashionable designs or the latest fads. This is an approach I believe will help your wedding albums maintain their timeless appeal.
So, from 2019 onwards, I am extremely excited to offer my new Exclusive Album Package - aluxury album, USB and box set that can be customised in a new, unique way to get a look and style that you will love.
The Exclusive Package is a practical, contemporary album set which is simply stunning. The beauty of it is that you can tailor this to create an impressive, high quality album that will personalise your wedding. You can choose from more than 60 cover colours with either a textile or a leatherette finish. You can pick from a pastel palette, or opt for bright colours, or go for more subtle pale and earthy tones. These cover options can then be lifted by the addition of a contrasting colour for the inside of your presentation box.
You are very welcome to choose the photographs you would like for your album or, if you simply can’t decide, why not let my creative eye design one for you? Once the initial design has been created, this will then be displayed via my award-winning online proofing system where you will be able to request any design changes to your beautiful wedding book.
Only once you are happy will the design be sent to the manufacturers. This process will take place in the workshops of one of the world’s leading wedding album companies.
Exclusive Album & Box Set highlights
Handmade with the choice of over 60 cover options
Up to 50 Crafted, lay flat rigid pages
Album Box with lift ribbon in either a matching or contrasting colour
16gb USB 3.0 stick coated in matching cover (Supplied blank so you are able to backup your high resolution digital downloads supplied with everyone of my photography packages)
Crystal Archive Digital paper which have images exposed onto them with Silver Halide Noritsu HD technology resulting a very tactile print that exudes quality
Embossed Text, Laser Etching or UV Print details depending on cover choice
Rounded Album page corners to complete to exclusive look and feel
3 size options, 8” x 8” (200mm x 200mm) 10”x10” (250mm x 250mm) and 12”x12” 300mm x 300mm)
Your investment - what’s included & what to expect?
I pride myself on my professional consistency. Every client and every wedding is treated with the same care and attention - from the initial inquiry, all the way through to delivering your beautiful images.
A month before your big day...
You will be sent a comprehensive information email along with a link to a wedding day information form, this form helps layout how you are planning your day to run and will assist my day in running smoothly.
A week before your big day...
It’s time for the final details and consultation either in person, over the phone or on Skype – whatever’s most convenient for you. We’ll go through your day in detail so I can offer any final bits of advice or guidance.
On the day itself...
I work quickly and efficiently to ensure we capture all the shots you ask for, finding the most beautiful and creative images of the two of you together. I also liaise closely with your reception venue’s staff to ensure everything runs on time. Should you wish to travel away from your reception venue to capture some of my signature landscape shots then we’ll ensure allocated time is written into your day for these. You can be sure that every care is being taken with your photographs, from using the very latest Sony professional-grade cameras and lenses, and bringing spare technical equipment, to backing up every one of the digital images I take during the day.
After the day is over...
I usually process your photographs within four weeks following your wedding. All your images are imported into the computer systems and, for peace of mind, duplicate copies are made and stored off site in our cloud servers. The original camera memory cards used are filed separately and your images are not deleted until your wedding photographs and albums have been processed.
The technical bit...
I continue to invest in the very latest software, storage, screen calibration and computer equipment to ensure every single image is managed in the most careful and consistent way. This all takes place my dedicated editing suite, which has constant daylight-adjusted lighting to help maintain colour balance and exposure. Processing your wedding images to ensure they are perfect is a slow process and can often take up to 10 hours for each celebration.
Any albums you request will be personally designed using your favourite images. You will then be able to view a proof on my dedicated website and request any changes. Only once you are completely happy will the album be manufactured, ensuring you receive exactly what you wanted.
I hope this has helps explain some of the elements involved in your wedding package and why I pride myself on my exceptional customer service. If you have any questions, please ask!
Included:-
Pre-wedding consultation either in person, by phone or via Skype
Comprehensive booking information pack
All wedding images taken on the day are digitally edited to maximise quality
All your wedding images are backed-up securely via our dedicated cloud storage system
Your photographs are supplied high resolution via direct digital download and can be backed up on the USB supplied with the Exclusive Album Packages
Certificate of copyright release – your images are all yours to use as you wish
Award-winning password-protected viewing gallery
Password protected online viewing gallery with cloud back up
Secure online purchasing of prints for your family and friends with 50% discount
Deluxe digital album design with interactive online viewing, including a free iPhone / Android app with all album designs
Information cards for your family and friends so they can view your photographs once you’ve seen and approved them
Professional indemnity and public liability insurance
All my travel and food expenses within a 50-mile radius
My name is Chris Freer and I live with my wife Rachel our two young sons and our ex-racing Trail Hound called Jazz in the town of Cockermouth, just on the edge of the beautiful Lake District.
I was born in 1972 near Nottingham but spent most of my childhood and early 20s living in South Lincolnshire. In 1999 I moved to the pretty town of Cockermouth, I worked, met the love of my life, settled down and we now have a beautiful little family. This is my life and where I now call home.
After leaving school I pursued a career in motorsport, which continues to be a passion of mine. I started with an apprenticeship at a racecar manufacturer and, following 10 years of working with some incredibly skilled and respected people, became a craftsman fabricator. I moved on to work for the Ford World Rally Team and spent a year working behind closed doors to develop a new multi-million-pound rally car project that was to become the Ford Focus WRC. I then moved to the team’s HQ up here in Cumbria and was responsible for managing the fabrication department. This was an incredible experience and enabled me to meet a lot of people and travel extensively across the globe
Throughout this, I always had an interest in photography, since I got my first SLR camera at the age of 13 - which I still own! I persuaded my parents to buy me countless rolls of film and became truly passionate about taking pictures.
After moving up to Cumbria I discovered I loved landscape photography, largely thanks to the breathtaking beauty of the Lake District on my doorstep. It’s that stunning landscape which inspires my signature wedding images and I can’t believe that I have been lucky enough to turn my passion into a full-time career.
I left my motorsport work behind and I’m now entering my 19th year in the photography business. In this time, I have covered more than 1350 ceremonies, gained a wealth of experience and have been rewarded with a host of awards and credits. Many have come from my peers in the photography industry including numerous national photography competitions.
My early working years taught me a lot about attention to detail and professionalism. These skills are important to me and my business and I will always try to apply them to whatever I do.
I am also very fortunate to have a close working relationship with a lot of the finest wedding venues in the Lake District and this has been gained through mutual respect and professionalism.
I’ve trained with some world-class photographers, including Chris Chambers, the internationally-renowned Edmond Terakopian, Brett Harkness, a truly brilliant and highly-acclaimed wedding photographer, and Jeff Ascough, a Canon ambassador who was voted one of the top 10 wedding photographers in the world. Lately, I've been working with Sony's Imagining Ambassadors including the multi-award-winning photographer, Terry Donnelly. I have achieved my MPA Diploma and I’m also a registered member of the Guild of Photographers, a highly respected professional organisation in the UK.
Photographing weddings will always be my first love, but I also work on a freelance basis for the international media and some corporate clients including Bentley, M-Sport, National Trust, Pirelli, Azione Sports Clothing and Cumbria Tourism. Those media clients have included the BBC, ITV, The Times and The Irish Independent along with a lot of the more regional media. It can be a lot of fun, particularly when I get the chance to sneak back to motorsport and shoot events like Formula 1 and the World Rally Championships. I’ve even had photo shoots with Sir Chris Hoy and UK Prime Ministers!
Away from work, I love competing in sports. As a teenager I loved karting and moved over to rallying but it’s a rather expensive sport and it didn’t last as long as I’d have liked! I’ve even been an instructor at a rally driving school, but stopped that when I moved to Cumbria.
Now I enjoy testing my personal fitness and have been competing in marathons, duathlons and triathlons in the UK and Europe. In 2018, I was incredibly proud to be a member of the GB Age Group Triathlon Squad representing Great Britain at the European Championships and I’m also a qualified British Triathlon coach.
Apart from being a wonderful way to keep fit and focused, it certainly helps with the concentration levels and stamina required for photographing weddings!
Choosing a professional wedding photographer to capture the images of one of the most memorable days of your life is one of the most important wedding decisions you will make.
It’s an honour for me to be involved and my aim is to make your day and your memories as special as they can be by providing you with an unobtrusive and professional wedding photography service.
I want to tell the story of your day, the real stuff that happens. The emotions, the quirks and craziness of you and your guests, the unplanned, unscripted parts I know you’ll look back on and love!
I have gained a wealth of experience over more than 19 years’ as a professional wedding photographer. I have covered over 1350 weddings in all the varied, and sometimes exciting weather that the Lake District has to offer. In the last few years I’ve shot in excess of 75 weddings per year but in the last couple of years I'm now limiting this 65 per year.
I want you to feel comfortable while I’m taking pictures. That’s why, before the big day, I try to get to know you as a couple. During wedding days I observe so that in my images I will reflect the personalities of you and your friends in a creative way. I will capture all of the little details and touches that you have worked so hard to create, from the cake to the dress, the flowers to the favours.
Should you wish to travel away from your reception venue to capture some of my signiture landscape wedding shots, then we’ll ensure the timings for this have been designed into your day. I know this area well and can suggest some suitable locations that can result in some unique and stunning photography. I'm also a registered CAA drone pilot, so utilising the latest DJI drone technology, If the conditions and situation is suitable, we can launch the drone and capture some additional, dramatic and very unique shots.
I will blend in with your guests and work around your schedule for the day. If you wish, you will barely notice I’m there. I know that often months - and sometimes years - of preparation and hard work has gone into planning your wedding day and it is so important for you to take the time to relax, enjoy and experience what will come to be one of the most memorable days of your life.
I offer a range of photography packages from the digital only, through to my Exclusive Album choices. All of my photography packages include a password-protected viewing gallery where all of your edited images can be downloaded directly in high resolution. They will have no reduction in quality and no watermarking so they are truly yours to keep and share.
This is your day and you should be able to enjoy it, your way. I hope you love every minute!
Reportage Photography - Telling the story of your day.
It's not just about the award winning wedding portraits or the dramatic landscape wedding shots, as a photographer my role is to observe and capture the story of your wedding day with images, 80% of my wedding day will be wandering the space looking for those special, humorous, intimate moments that’ll help tell the story of your wedding.
I adore moments where the true personalities of people shine, the laughter, the looks, the little mannerisms that make us the unique people that we are. There are always going to be the times when I offer a little more guidance to enable us to capture those wonderful shots that may end up framed in your house but I’m not there to turn you into mannequins, the guidance I offer will be minimal and I’d like to believe that my calming manor in which I go about this will bring relaxed, natural looking images that you’ll love. But most of all, I want the connection between you, your friends and you families to shine though with the candid and reportage side of my wedding photography.
It is important for me to work quickly and efficiently to capture all those special formal shots you want – but reportage photography is the perfect way of telling your story on this most important of days. That’s why a big part of my role will be taking lots of images in a documentary style.
What is reportage photography? It is about capturing the beauty of your wedding in a genuine, candid and authentic way. It is a hands-off approach, focusing on letting you and your guests relax so that you don’t even realise that photographs are being taken.
After many years of working in the wedding industry and honing my skills, I pride myself on being an unobtrusive photographer, ensuring that I build a great rapport with you and your guests.
By using the latest Sony Mirrorless professional camera systems, which are small and very quiet, and by dressing smartly, I am able to blend in to catch those key moments that make a wedding so special.
I think this is so important – you’ll see all the compelling moments throughout your day, including lots that you may have missed at the time. This is a way of telling a genuine story through emotion and natural composition.
Wedding Photography Details
Choosing a professional photographer to capture the images of one of the most memorable days of your life is one of the more important wedding decisions you will make.
It’s an honour for me to be involved and my aim is to make your day and your memories as special as they can be by providing you with an unobtrusive and professional photography service.
It's important for me to tell story of your special day, the unplanned, unscripted, the quirks and craziness, the emotions.... the real story of your day.
I’ve spent 18 years of my professional life honing my skills and developing techniques to ensure the experience of having your photographs taken is, all being well, good fun!
As for being photogenic, everybody is, in their own unique and beautiful way. We just tend to look at ourselves, be way over critical, and somehow believe we are not. I’m on your side and will be doing my upmost to ensure you have a great day.
Costs for an reputable, experienced, professional wedding photographer in the Lake District will range from £1300 to £2000 for a Digital Package, there is a range of albums the differant photographers may offer and these can really vary in cost.
I have tried to be as competitive as possible with my pricing, I’m always open to how much I charge and I’ve no doubt there will be some who are offering cheaper packages.
What they may not be able to offer you is my calming and relaxing approach to taking your wedding photographs, my 18 years of experience, excellent reputation and a desire to supply you with the best wedding images I can every time.
Everybody has a cost or wedding budget in mind but investing in the best wedding photographer in the Lake District that you can afford will not be something you will regret.
A secret wedding, often known as an elopement wedding, have become increasingly popular here in the Lake District.
Maybe it’s the romantic idea of running away to be married or taking that chance to escape pressures from others about your special day, or perhaps it’s simply to keep the costs down. Whatever the reasons, I am being asked to provide professional Elopement wedding photography at these small, intimate ceremonies more and more frequently - and I love them!
One of the huge advantages available to me from a photography point of view is the time I’m able to spend with the ‘two of you’ in creating some fantastic wedding portraits.
Almost all my elopement clients take the opportunity to travel with me, after their ceremony, into the more scenic areas of the Lake District where we can capture some of my signature landscape wedding photographs.
My name is Chris Freer and I live with my wife Rachel, our two young children and our Trail Hound called Jazz, in the Lake District town of Cockermouth. Since I got my first SLR camera at the age of 13 – and persuaded my parents to buy me countless rolls of film – I have been passionate about taking pictures.
My early working years taught me a lot about attention to detail and professionalism. These skills are important to me and my business and I will always try to apply them to whatever I do.
I’ve trained with some world-class photographers, including Chris Chambers, the internationally-renowned Edmond Terakopian, Brett Harkness, a truly brilliant and highly-acclaimed wedding photographer, Jeff Ascough, a Canon ambassador and also some Sony's Imagining Ambassadors including the multi-award-winning photographer, Terry Donnelly.
I have achieved my MPA Diploma and I’m also a registered member of the Guild of Photographers, a highly respected professional organisation in the UK.
For a little while now I’ve been creating reels for social media while shooting weddings, and this means I’ve been capturing video clips throughout the wedding day to help create these.
I’m now taking this a stage further and offering an additional service, a wedding highlights Film. This film and service is not a replacement for a dedicated wedding videographer/ film maker who would be able to focus solely on filming the details of your whole day. This is for those who would like a short, snappy wedding highlight film creating from their special day.
My primary focus will always be photography but with this additional service I’ll be filming short clips throughout the day at my discretion and then using professional editing software to create a short wedding highlights film set to licensed music.
Drone Wedding Photography
Wedding Drone Photography in the Lake District
I'm also a registered CAA drone pilot and also fully insured for commercial use, so utilising the latest DJI drone technology, If the conditions and situation is suitable, we can launch the drone and capture some additional, dramatic and very unique aerial wedding photographs.
Where and when possible, I will arrive early to capture some venue shots with the drone to show it in the amazing landscape environment that the Lake District offers. It’ll also give me the opportunity to film some footage to be able to use in any reels or your highlight video should you choose to add that service to your photography.
It’ll defiantly be an additional wow element to your Lake District wedding photographs with a very unique view point.
My Style Of Photography
My Style of Wedding Photography
Naturally Posed, Relaxed, Fun, Enjoyable, just about sums up my wedding photography style.
My style of wedding photography is simple. A minimal amount of naturally-posed images, done in such a way that your personalities shine through and you feel relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera, then plenty of shots in a candid documentary style.
I want to tell the story of your day; the real stuff that happens. The emotions, the laughter, the fun, quirks and craziness of you and your guests, the unplanned, unscripted parts I know you’ll look back on and love!
I want the real connection between the two of you to shine through with fun, relaxed photography, and not turn you into posed mannequins with stuffy, formal shots.
