If you’re getting married at Bassmead Manor Barns, there are a few things worth thinking about before the wedding day arrives, particularly when it comes to your photography.
You don’t need to plan every photograph or work out exactly where you’ll stand for your portraits. But having a rough idea of your timings, the photos that matter most to you and how the day will flow can make everything feel much easier.
Bassmead Manor Barns has a mixture of historic barns, outdoor spaces and modern reception areas, which gives you lots of options. The key is knowing how to make the most of them without spending too much time away from your guests!
Here’s what I’d recommend as a Bassmead Manor Barn wedding photographer, considering when planning your wedding photography at Bassmead Manor Barns.
Planning Your Bassmead Manor Barns Wedding Photography
Before the wedding, there are a few practical things worth discussing with your photographer.
- Where to Get Ready at Bassmead Manor Barns
- How Much Time Should You Allow for Couple Portraits?
- Organising Family and Group Photographs
- When Is the Best Light for Wedding Photos?
- What If the Weather Isn’t Great?
- Are There Any Photography Restrictions at Bassmead Manor Barns?
- A Few Things I’d Recommend Before Your Wedding Day
Where to Get Ready at Bassmead Manor Barns
The morning preparations are worth considering when planning your wedding photography at Bassmead Manor Barns, as the space you’re using can affect how the photos look and how comfortably everyone can get ready.
Bassmead Manor Barns has two dedicated preparation spaces: the Salon and Boudoir, and The Dudeoir.
The Salon and Boudoir is a light-filled suite with hair and make-up stations, an upstairs dressing room and a lounge area. It’s designed to give you space to get ready with your wedding party, so there are opportunities to capture both the practical preparations and the moments shared with friends and family.
The Dudeoir, across the moat, offers a separate space for partners and their party to get ready together.
If you’re planning to have the morning photographed, it’s worth letting your photographer know which spaces you’ll be using and roughly when you’d like coverage to begin.
A little preparation can help. Try to keep the main areas you’ll be using reasonably clear of bags and spare belongings, and gather important details such as your rings, stationery and accessories together if you’d like photos of them.
You don’t need a perfectly tidy room. It’s just about making the most of the space you’ve got!
How Much Time Should You Allow for Couple Portraits?
There’s no single amount of time that works for every wedding, but I’d suggest discussing around 15–30 minutes of dedicated portrait time with your photographer as a starting point.
That doesn’t mean you have to spend that entire time standing still and posing. A short walk around the venue, a few different backdrops and some relaxed photos together can provide plenty of variety.
Bassmead Manor Barns has several areas to consider, including the gardens, the surroundings of the historic barns and the outdoor ceremony setting when it’s available and appropriate.
The best plan will depend on your priorities, your schedule and how comfortable you feel in front of the camera.
If you’re camera-shy, don’t worry about needing to know what to do. I’ll offer simple direction where needed, and there’s no expectation that every photo should be perfectly posed.
For your wedding photography at Bassmead Manor Barns, I’d also recommend leaving a little flexibility in the schedule. Weddings rarely run exactly to the minute, and it’s much easier to enjoy your portraits when you’re not rushing to get back inside!
Organising Family and Group Photographs
Family photos are often the part of wedding photography that benefits most from a little planning.
Before the wedding, make a list of the combinations you’d really like. For example, you might want a photo with your immediate family, one with grandparents, one with siblings and a few with your closest friends.
It’s worth keeping this list realistic. If you want dozens of combinations, the time spent gathering people and rearranging groups can quickly add up.
The landscaped gardens at Bassmead Manor Barns can provide a useful option for group photos, depending on the weather, group size and what’s happening at the venue. An indoor alternative can also be considered if conditions aren’t suitable outside.
I recommend asking a member of your wedding party to help gather family members when it’s time for the photos. They’ll usually know who’s who, which makes the process easier!
The idea is to get wedding photography at Bassmead Manor Barns that matter to you, then let everyone get back to enjoying the day.
When Is the Best Light for Wedding Photos?
Light makes a difference to the way wedding photos look, but you don’t need to understand photography to plan around it.
The time of year, weather, ceremony time and layout of your venue all affect the available light. The light during a summer afternoon can be very different from the softer conditions you might get later in the day.
For couple portraits, the period before sunset can sometimes provide softer, warmer light. This is called golden hour, although the timing and appearance depend on the season and weather.
It’s worth discussing this with your photographer before the wedding so you can see whether a short portrait session later in the day would fit your plans.
That said, don’t feel you have to leave your guests just because the light might be particularly good at a certain time. We can work with the conditions available throughout the day, including the light inside the barns.
The most useful thing is to have a flexible plan rather than relying on one particular moment for your wedding photography at Bassmead Manor Barns.
Are There Any Photography Restrictions at Bassmead Manor Barns?
This is something I’d recommend checking before your wedding rather than making assumptions.
Although Bassmead Manor Barns offers a range of indoor and outdoor settings, access to particular areas, ceremony photography rules and the use of spaces can depend on the venue’s current policies and your wedding arrangements.
If you’d like photos in a particular part of the venue, ask the team whether it’s available and whether there are any restrictions. This is especially useful if you have a specific portrait location in mind or want to plan photography around the ceremony.
It’s also worth discussing any restrictions with your photographer in advance, so we can plan your wedding photography at Bassmead Manor Barns accordingly and avoid unnecessary interruptions on the day!
A little communication beforehand means we can focus on capturing the wedding rather than working things out at the last minute.
A Few Things I’d Recommend Before Your Wedding Day
Beyond the locations and timings, there are a few simple things that can make the photography side of your wedding easier.
First, think about the moments you care about most. You don’t need to provide a detailed shot list of every interaction, but it helps to let your photographer know about important family members, special details or moments that have particular meaning to you.
Second, be realistic about your schedule. Build in time to move between parts of the day, gather family members and enjoy your portraits without rushing.
Finally, choose a photographer whose approach suits you. If you don’t want to spend the day posing for photos, look for someone who is comfortable working naturally and giving direction when needed!
The photos should be part of your wedding, not the thing that takes you away from it.
Let’s chat about your Bassmead Manor Barn wedding photos
There we have it — wedding photography at Bassmead Manor Barns, and what couples should know before their day.
Bassmead Manor Barns gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to your wedding photography. With dedicated preparation spaces, historic ceremony settings, landscaped gardens and a mix of traditional and modern interiors, there are plenty of ways to create a varied gallery!
You don’t need to plan every detail yourself. A conversation with your photographer before the wedding can help you work out your timings, decide which group photographs matter most and make the most of the venue.
If you’re getting married at Bassmead Manor Barns and are looking for a photographer who keeps things genuine, friendly and relaxed, I’d love to hear from you.
I also offer a hybrid wedding photography and videography package, so we can talk through how to capture your day through both photos and film.
Get in touch to discuss your wedding plans and find out more about working together.
