My advice to anyone looking for a wedding photographer is to find one whom you like and get along with. You’ll be spending a lot of time with them, and they’ll be in your wedding day memories, so find someone who makes you laugh. Good wedding photography includes more than taking photos; you’re paying for the experience, great editing, moral support, and talent…”
Abi Chadwick, Photographer
Abi Chadwick has been a photographer for over twenty-five years and lives in Hampshire, England. One of the pivotal moments in her career was taking photos for Comic Relief when she visited Mozambique with TV and radio presenter Graham Norton and photographed him delivering a herd of cows to a village that had lost its livestock in devastating floods. With the photos she took of Graham during their trip to Mozambique, she approached OK! Magazine, which employed Abi as the Senior Staff Photographer, where she stayed for twelve years. Here, we discuss her techniques for getting the right shot, her favourite venues, and her most memorable projects…
C&B: “Abi, firstly – congratulations for appearing on the CITY & BEACH TOP 10 WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS 2025! Your trip with Graham Norton was obviously an incredible turning point in your career – and working with OK! Magazine must have been eventful. How did your photography then evolve to covering wedding and events?”
AC: “At OK!, I covered all sections of the magazine: celebrities at home, birth announcements, glamorous holidays, honeymoons, events, actor portraits, musicians, celebrity holidays, TV, fashion, food, and of course, celebrity weddings. I was the photographer for Tom and Giovanna Fletcher’s London wedding, photographed Wayne Rooney’s Italian wedding, Amanda Holden’s Babington House wedding, Mel B’s Egyptian wedding, and Holly Willoughby’s gorgeous English wedding, plus many more. I was also the photographer for ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and in 2013 I launched Abi Chadwick Photography…”
C&B: “That’s an incredible back catalogue of work – no wonder you decided to focus on weddings. How would you describe your photographic style, particularly when capturing the romance and emotion of a wedding day?”
AC: “The first wedding photos I ever took were for OK! Magazine, which has a very stylised look but when I began shooting freelance weddings, I wanted to find my own aesthetic. It was freeing to work with a camera in my hands and not on a tripod. It meant I had so much more flexibility; I’ve developed a more relaxed style which combines the same high quality and also the utilises the depth of my experience…”
I think truly romantic photographs are when an authentic moment has been captured. A lot of couples feel uncomfortable posing for photos however an easy way to get them to relax is to ask them to simply walk together, and usually, they feel less self-conscious. By giving them something to do, they become more like their true selves, and this is when I can capture a romantic moment…”
Abi Chadwick, Photographer
C&B: “That approach really comes across in your images. How do you go about ensuring you capture the unique story of the couple on their big day?”
AC: “This is where my celebrity background comes into its own. When I worked at OK! Magazine, there were restrictions, so I’d never have a lot of time with the celebrity couple. There was absolutely no ‘faffing around’! Therefore, I learned to be swift and efficient, and that means my couples don’t feel like they are missing any aspects of their reception. I do want them to have lots and lots of photos, though, so we make sure everything they would like is covered…”
C&B: “What particular challenges do you encounter when photographing weddings and events, and how do you address these while maintaining the quality of your work?”
AC: “As I mentioned, time constraints are the biggest challenge. For example, recently at a gorgeous Cliveden Wedding, the couple just wanted to get their formal shots out of the way, so we met before the ceremony and spent a lovely relaxing hour getting every shot we needed. The rest of the day was very relaxed, and there was much less pressure…”
C&B: “That sounds like a very good idea – fewer distractions as well, we’d imagine. If a couple is looking for an engagement shoot that has a very romantic vibe, how do you go about producing that?”
AC: “I create an intimate and nostalgic mood. Black and white photos can evoke a sense of emotion and connection, and they can be timeless. I also shoot during what we call ‘golden hour’, the time just before sunset when the light is more intense and very low. This creates such a romantic atmosphere…”
C&B: “That sounds beautiful – sunset shots are always so romantic. When it comes to a larger-scale event, with lots of family and guests involved, how do you ensure that every significant moment is captured seamlessly?”
AC: “I visit the venue before the day and I work out how the event will flow – I imagine every eventuality. Sometimes, if I’m meeting the couple at the venue, I ask them to do a ‘walk-through’ so they can visualise the day as well…”
I love shooting weddings at Chewton Glen. I love the venue as it exudes ‘relaxed luxury’. I also enjoy Cliveden House, Taplow, which has so much history – the French Dining Room has hosted Winston Churchill, Charlie Chaplin and also Meghan the night before her wedding to Prince Harry…”
Abi Chadwick, Photographer
C&B: “That sounds like a very effective strategy. How do you make sure that you’re unobtrusive and not imposing while documenting the intimate and candid moments during weddings? Is that a challenge?”
AC: “I have a friendly personality and I love to chat with the guests – slowly, slowly they come to think of me as another guest rather than me being the photographer. A happy client recently wrote this lovely review:
“So many people asked me about you as they felt you were unlike any wedding photographer that they’d seen before in that you seemed to be such a part of the proceedings rather than the bossy one barking orders. You were more likely to be seen giggling than yelling!”
C&B: “That’s such a lovely compliment to your approach! How do you ensure that your photographs reflect not only the visual aspects but also the atmosphere and emotions of an event?”
AC: “When I’m at a wedding, I love that feeling you get when you glimpse a wedding-breakfast room. Through the crack in the door, you can see flowers and glassware of a beautiful set-up. I love the feeling that beyond those doors is a stunning room and the promise is that when you walk in, you’ll be captivated. I try to record that vibe and make sure that I get it all on camera…”
C&B: “We’d imagine it’s important to stay updated with the latest trends and technologies in photography – how do you go about doing that?”
AC: “I’m a member of The Association of Photographers and I’m also a member of RSVP, the exclusive membership community for Luxury Wedding and Party Professionals. I attend ‘Way Up North’ European Wedding Conferences which are held all over Europe – I’ve attended those staged in Cannes, Vienna, Florence and I’ll be going to Berlin later this year…”
C&B: “Last question, Abi, you must have covered some seriously unique and fun occasions over the course of your career – are there any that stand out in particular?”
AC: “When I was Senior Photographer at OK! Magazine, fellow OK! photographer Tony Ward and I photographed Wayne and Coleen Rooney’s Wedding in Italy. During the wedding, the paparazzi were climbing trees, and there were several boats far out at sea trying to grab a shot of Coleen in her dress. The Rooneys were great fun, and the entire trip was hilarious. On the wedding day, I enjoyed photographing Coleen getting ready. Later, during the wedding breakfast, the toastmaster announced, ’Ladies and Gentlemen…Westlife!’ A curtain fell to the floor, and there was the band! I think it was about 7 am when I finished…”
CONTACT: http://www.abichadwick.com
