Atmosphere, Warm; Mood, Welcoming—A Wedding Captured by Paul Santos [Rf Wedding of the Week]

May 4, 2016

By Laura Brauer

It’s easy to see why Newcastle upon Tyne wedding photographer Paul Santos has been honored many times in his career, including being named one of the “World’s Best Wedding Photographers 2015 & 2016″ by Junebug Weddings, “2015 International Double Award Winner” by Wedding Photography Select, and “Wedding Photographer of the Year 2013 & 2014” by North East England Wedding Photographer. As Santos describes his style to potential clients visiting his website, it’s “creative documentary wedding photography with a fine-art edge that thrives on atmosphere, emotion and every bit of character from your wedding day.”

Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (7)

All Photos © Paul Santos Wedding Photographer

Of Ami and Sean’s wedding at Ellingham Hall in Northumberland, England, Santos (who likes to chat quite a bit with his couples after the wedding is over) says Ami told him afterwards: “I really liked the way you photograph, using the light and darkness to your advantage to create a very unique look. Your style of capturing the day offered something different to look at, like a story. I also really liked the fact that you offered to do the portraits in 30 minutes, as I really didn’t want to spend hours getting sore feet and doing a fake smile. I also like how you captured so many different emotions in the day. I knew you would do a good job as you are a true perfectionist.”

Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (1)Ellingham Hall (above) is for the most part darker, Santos says, with more interesting and challenging light. “I love natural light, as long as it’s not flat and bland. The room where Ami got ready was a great example of this—quite a dark room, but with some beautiful bright chunks of lights coming through the old windows, which I used in a few of the pre-ceremony bridal images. What I loved about the wedding itself was, very simply, the reality was the same as the picture Ami first painted for me: a smaller, intimate, laid-back affair with some gorgeous, understated details and wonderfully unique florals. The atmosphere was warm and the mood was welcoming.”

Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (15)Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (22)Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (3) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (4)Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (11)Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (18)Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (5) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (6) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (8) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (12) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (13) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (20) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (21) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (23) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (24) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (25)Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (26)“I love a good set of outdoor portraits using beautiful natural light,” Santos says. “It wouldn’t have been the end of the world if it rained and we had to make use of the darker venue’s interior, but as a break and shake up, it’s good to get outside. Ami and Sean were flexible and let me decide when to sneak off for some portraits, which was perfect as the sun appeared for all of about 30 minutes, and I made sure I got every bit of value out of the time I had with them.”

Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (27) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (28) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (29) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (30) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (31) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (32) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (34) Paulo Santos Wedding Photographer (35)“My enjoyment for wedding photography is off the scale,” Santos says. “The only way this ever gets better is when you completely and utterly click with your clients and they just trust you to go about your business.  Things shine that little bit brighter when this happens. I clicked with Ami and Sean. This was my first wedding of 2016. A very good start!”

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EQUIPMENT
Camera: Nikon D750 (x2)
Lenses: Nikon 85mm f/1.8 and Sigma 35mm f/1.4

Check out more Weddings of the Week, and email Libby Peterson or Jacqueline Tobin with submissions.