July 2012 | DIRK VAN DER WERFF - WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

Yarm Wedding Photographer Review - Joanne and Alan at Judges Country House Hotel

NORTH EAST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER REVIEW:
JO AND ALAN AT JUDGES COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL
Reviews of my wedding photography is the lifeblood of my business.
I work hard to produce great relaxed natural images from your wedding, but customer service and customer experience, as well as trust and confidence is paramount.
Joanne and Alan dislike having their photograph taken so much, they don't even have any in the house.
I guess I changed their minds.....

"........ When we started our search for a wedding photographer we went through the usual steps of checking websites, reviews and of course photos!
However, Alan used to work at a company years ago that hired a photographer to take shots of the people at work, and even years later that photographer's name had stuck in his memory due to the quality and style of the photographs – Dirk Van Der Werff.
Even though at the time they weren’t wedding photographs it was a joy to find that weddings were now his specialty! We were looking for relaxed, happy and natural photographs of everyone attending – as to us the day is just as important for our friends and family as us, and Dirk fit this vision perfectly.
When it came to our initial meeting Dirk visited us at home and immediately felt like a friend, and even though our mind was set near enough there and then, he encouraged us to look around and check other photographers, which was refreshing.
We did check out other photographers, but nothing quite compared.
On the build-up to the big day itself we met once more for some pre-wedding photos in our home town, although we could have gone anywhere.
Unfortunately it was pouring down on the date arranged, so we had a coffee and a nice chat in a pub, thinking we’d have to abandon them altogether.
However, Dirk was happy to shuffle his diary and meet us the following day when it was glorious sunshine – that level of commitment really made us feel special and valued as clients.
As for the wedding itself,  there were nothing but compliments about Dirk. People actually went out of their way and came up to us to say what a wonderful photographer he was!
They all felt relaxed and happy, and having their photos taken was PART of the fun and not something to distract from it.
As for the printed photographs.... Everyone who has seen the wedding photographs have been amazed by them and we couldn’t be happier – in fact we think there should be a disclaimer on his site cautioning people that there’ll be so many good photos to choose from, selecting some for an album may take you a long long time!
From the photos you would not think that we do not like to have our photograph taken, we actually have no photographs on display in our house, but Dirk's photos will take pride of place on our wall.
So, from one single photograph of Alan at work to a superb collection of memories and happy faces on our wedding day years later..... 
Some might call it fate, we think it’s just an amazing talent shining through and leaving a lasting impression!
We’ll never forget our big day, and equally we’ll never forget our photographer Dirk van der Werff!

Love Jo

SEE THEIR SNEAK PEEK OF THEIR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY HERE

Wynyard Hall Wedding Photography Review 2012 from Kirsty and Christopher


KIRSTY AND CHRIS - A PERFECT COUPLE TO PHOTOGRAPH DURING THEIR WEDDING AT WYNYARD HALL

I photographed Kirsty and Chris' beautiful wedding at Wynyard Hall earlier in 2012, and Kirsty has been kind enough to pen a few words about the service I provided her and her husband Chris with on their wedding day
"...... We could not recommend Dirk van der Werff highly enough! 
He produced the most beautiful photographs and managed to capture the essence of the day in a way we could not have imagined. 
I can't stop looking at them!
Dirk was recommended to us by our best man Chris and his sister Jo, who had booked Dirk to capture her wedding photography at Crathorne Hall
Once we saw her photographs, we knew Dirk was THE wedding photographer we wanted, and after meeting him in person we just knew he would make our wedding day so special! 
All our friends and family were full of compliments for Dirk - he was so amazing on the day! 
When choosing a wedding photographer, you spend a lot of time looking at other people's wedding photographs and hope that yours will turn out just as well. 
Nothing compares to looking at your own and with Dirk, they will turn out even better, a perfect wedding photographer!
We were really impressed with our initial meeting and how clearly Dirk explained his relaxed and friendly approach to our big day at the wonderful Wynyard Hall, and found the pre-wedding portrait session on the beach at Saltburn really helpful in making us more at ease... and we also got some amazing photos too!
On our wedding day, Dirk was wonderful, we had so many comments from guests about how well he merged into the background yet captured everyone smiling. Looking at our photographs it's amazing how he managed to capture every moment. 
We were thrilled with the photography and would recommend Dirk as your wedding photographer in an instant......"

Kirsty and Christopher Mulcaster

Wynyard Golf Club Wedding Photography for Rene and Alison

WYNYARD GOLF CLUB WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER:
RENE AND ALISON .. SO IN LOVE!
WYNYARD GOLF CLUB WEDEDDINGS:
ALISON'S DAUGHTER IN THE MAKE-UP CHAIR WITH SAM

A BEAUTIFUL WEDDING BOUQUET FOR ALISON

TIME FOR A SONG FROM THE BRIDESMAIDS!

WELL, SOMEONE HAS TO HOLD THE WEDDING DRESS!

SORTING OUT THE DRESSES WITH RUTH AND ALISON

THE GIRLS ARE READY .. SO THERE'S READING TO BE DONE!

ONE BRIDESMAID

TWO BRIDESMAIDS

THREE BRIDESMAIDS

TIME FOR A QUICK PHOTOGRAPH OF ALISON AND HER FATHER WHO FLEW IN FROM THE USA

A NERVOUS RENE AWAITS HIS GUESTS .. AND HIS WIFE-TO-BE

SMILE GIRLS ...... THE BRIDESMAIDS ATTRACT ATTENTION

ALWAYS NICE TO GET ONE OF THE GRANDMOTHERS .. PARTICULARLY WHEN SHE DOESNT THINK SHE TAKES A GOOD PHOTOGRAPH!

ALL LINED UP ....... THE BRIDESMAIDS COURTING ATTENTION AGAIN .. :)

ONCE OUT OF THE WAY OF THE CAMERAS .. THEY WERE LET LOOSE!

ALISONS SHOE ... ON THE STEPS OF THE CHURCH, RESCUED BY YOURS TRULY ..

RENE CAN HEAR HIS BRIDE APPROACHING

TIME FOR A QUICK HELLO AS ALISON JOINS RENE IN THE PEWS

THE MINISTER HAS THE AUDINCE LAUGHING

BRIDESMAIDS DEEP IN THOUGHT IN STOCKTON ON TEES UNITED REFORMED CHURCH

THE BEAUTIFUL BOUQUETS FOR THE BRIDESMAIDS

STOCKTON UNITED REFORM CHURCH - THE VENUE FOR ALISON'S WEDDING TO RENE

RENE'S MUM .. SO PROUD OF HIM AS HE TAKES HIS VOWS

ALISON ONLY HAS EYES FOR RENE

SMILES ALL ROUND AS ALISON MAKES SURE THE RING FITS

ALISONS DAUGHTER SINGS WITH ACTIONS HELPED BY THE TRAINEEE MINISTER IN THE CHURCH

AUNTIE HELPS ALISON'S DAUGHTER OUT WITH THE ACTIONS FROM THE PEWS

EVERYONE JOIN IN!

PLENTY OF CLAPPING AND CHEERING AS THE SONG COMES TO AN END

RENES MUM HAS THE MINISTER IN STITCHES

ALWAYS GOOD TO HAVE A CONFETTI SHOT FROM THE DAY

RENE'S GRANDMOTHER JOINS IN WITH THE CONFETTI

CUPCAKES AWAIT US AT THE RECEPTION

THE MUNCHKINS AT PLAY .... 

ALISONS MUM WITH THE BRIDESMAIDS .. EAGER TO GET THEIR HANDS ON THE CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!

ALISON'S FATHER DAVE DURING HIS SPEECH

BEST WOMAN AMY LOOKS ON AS RENE'S SPEECH IS MADE

NOT QUITE THE PUB KARAOKE .. RENE DELIVERS HIS HEARTFELT SPEECH

WATCHED BY HIS WIFE ....

ALSIONS DAUGHTER CHLOE BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE SAYING THAT SHE WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING RENE AS HER STEP-FATHER BECAUSE HE MAKES HER LAUGH!

SO CONFIDENT FOR ONE SO YOUNG

TIME FOR A FEW FORMAL PHOTOGRAPHS 'IN THE ROUGH' AT WYNYARD GOLD CLUB

FORMAL DOESN'T LAST SO LONG WITH THESE GIGGLY BRIDES AND GROOMS ... 

LOVE AND HAPPINESS ALL THE WAY FOR RENE

SO WE TRY A FORMAL PHOTOGRAPH ONCE MORE .. WELL, THE PARENTS LIKE THEM DONT THEY?

FIRST DANCE FOR THE NEWLY WEDS

Rene and Alison's lovely intimate family wedding at Wynyard Golf Club was all they ever dreamed of, sharing their wonderful day of celebration with their closest family and friends, surrounded by LOVE.
Alison's Mum Sue was at Ruth and Martin's wedding at a different church but at the same venue for the reception, Wynyard golf Club, last year.
She was impressed with the way that I interacted with people, how relaxed the day was and that I 'wasn't like other wedding photographers'...
She thought I would be ideal for her daughter's wedding to Rene, not just because it would be a lovely family wedding, but because Rene had been blind since he was four years old.
It would never be  a problem for me, as I capture emotion and happiness and celebration, I'm not one for 'standard' wedding photography, though of course I always make sure that we keep parents and grandparents happy with the group images they always expect.... but I knew what she meant.
Rene is a great guy, who fell in love with Alison at University while studying for a BA in Translations and she completing a BSC in Biological Anthropology and who has also become step-father to Alison's daughter Chloe. His parents flew over from their home in Germany to attend the wedding at Alison and her Mum's family church in Stockton on Tees in the north east of England.
When I met with Alison and her Mum at home on the morning of the wedding, they had just come back from the hairdressers and the lovely Sam was busy with the make-up and there were little people EVERYWHERE!
Alison's grandmother was busy ironing the wedding dress because she had spotted a crease in it, sandwiches and cups of tea and coffee were being made and before long Rene's BEST WOMAN , Amy was wanting to be in her dress!
It was all good humoured and relaxed and even when my former bride Ruth and her husband turned up to help out and to 'dog sit' it was like a friendly gathering with excitement building!
Before long I was heading off to the Stockton United Reform Church to meet with Rene and the Minister who was conducting the service - I had met with them both the evening before at the dress rehearsal, so we pretty much knew how things were going to work out between us!
Rene told me he was nervous, but he has such a stromng solid smile, he used it to mask those feelings very well indeed!
Lots of friends and relatives turned out to support the happy couple, and Alison's father flew in from California too to give her away!
Alison and Rene shared smiles and held hands as they finally stood together, a moment almost interrupted when her shoe came off while she was climbing the steps on the way into the church.
Luckily, a passing photographer (!) rescued the damsel in distress!
At the end of the ceremony, Alison's daughter Chloe and the trainee minister sang a song with plenty of actions for those who wished to join in - it was all good!
Confetti fun followed on the steps outside as we headed of to Wynyard Golf Club for the reception and wedding breakfast!
The sun was a welcome visitor at the church, but it didn't hang around too long at the reception - though, luckily it was still warm and it never rained which was a huge change from many of my weddings so far this year!
Canapes and champagne flowed as guests arrived and this was a great time to capture some nice relaxed images of everyone having a great time.
I also sorted out some family groups before we headed  inside for a lovely wedding breakfast (thanks folks!) and some fine speeches.
Alison's daughter Chloe brought the house down when she stood on her chair and read her own little speech which mentioned that she was looking forward to having Rene as her step-father because he 'made her laugh' .. 
Aaaawww, how nice is that?
Time was moving fast with the first dance and the cutting of the cake following quite quickly afterwards, so it was time to get some important family photographs sorted out with a smile and some charm, before I borrowed the bride and groom for ten minutes to make sure I had some of them too!
So, not long after their first dance, I bade farewell to Alison's Mum and dad and Rene's parents and wished them a safe journey back to Germany, before kisses and handshakes with Alison and Rene, thanking them for their hospitality and a great day of celebration .. they both looked VERY happy indeed!
Job done ... 
I hope you enjoy this sneak peek of their wedding, just 25/30 images from the 300+ that tell the stoty of their wedding day.
You will be able to view ALL their photographs from Friday, HERE, ask the bride and groom or their parents for the passwords.
If you would like to see my previous recent weddings at Wynyard Golf Club, Victoria and Simon's wedding is HERE, AND Ruth and Martin's wedding is HERE, and if you would like me to photograph your wedding, naturally showing all the happiness and fun of your day,l ring me NOW  and check your date for 2013 / 2014 / 2015 as I only photograph a limited amount of weddings each year, so it never becomes a production line. Ring me now on 0778 7150966 NOW !
DIRK VAN DER WERFF


Wedding Photographer Reviews North East England


WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTOGRAPHY REVIEWS:
ALEX LOOKS SO HAPPY DURING HER WEDDING TO JON AT WYNYARD HALL COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL

READ MY LATEST WEDDING REVIEWS ... FROM BATH TO NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM TO YORKSHIRE HERE
REVIEWS ARE THE LIFEBLOOD OF MY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY SERVICES  - YOU ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS YOUR LAST WEDDING!
With that in mind ...... Here's Alexandra's review of my wedding photographer for her wedding to Jon at Wynyard hall last Autumn:
".......I read that Kate Moss changed the date of her wedding because her chosen photographer wasn’t available.  She figured that her wedding would last one day (or three in her case), but the photographs would last a lifetime.  And she was spot on.
When Jon and I booked our wedding, our chosen venue had no availability on a Saturday for 2 years.  So we booked it and waited.  I was dying to get started with the organising, but what can you do 2 years in advance?  But I did what anyone would do once their wedding is booked – I started reading bridal magazines, getting ideas, asking around for recommendations.
One part of my wedding that I really wasn’t looking forward to was having my picture taken.  I absolutely hate it!  Jon had been to weddings before where he’d been pushed here and there by a fussy photographer, so we agreed that we wanted someone who would be easy-going, taking mainly non-staged shots.  I remembered Dirk from (many) years ago at a family wedding, and I checked out his website and blog.  I thought the pictures were really wonderful, but that was only part of it; what if he was fussy, pushy ... annoying??  I decided to bite the bullet and I rang him.  Dirk has the knack of making you feel like you’ve known him forever.  We chatted easily and I knew I wanted to meet up.  He visited me at home, and he totally put me at ease.  He brought me some sample wedding albums to look at, and showed me more photos.  Although we got on famously, rather than pushing me into committing to a booking, he advised me to look around and check out some other photographers.  But you know what?  I didn’t want to.  When you meet a photographer that you just know is going to do their utmost for you, and who is friendly and likeable – you book them!
I told Jon I wanted to book Dirk, his only requirement was that he wouldn’t be getting dragged off every five minutes to have a picture taken.  This isn’t Dirk’s style, so Jon was happy.  Even though I had a two year wait, I had found my photographer!
On our wedding day I had stayed over at Wynyard Hall, and early on I got a text from Dirk letting me know that he was ‘on site.’  He came up to my room and chatted to me like an old friend, occasionally snapping an informal shot as I got ready.  Every now and again he would disappear down stairs, then reappear to take some more shots as my bridesmaids arrived and got ready.
Throughout our day, Dirk was everything we wanted in a photographer.  He was always present, and yet rarely noticed! Most of the time I didn’t even realise I was having my picture taken.  There are some lovely shots of us with our families that were more staged, but they were put together quickly, and were so relaxed that I actually enjoyed it!   Dirk stayed late into the evening, and we have some fabulous photographs of our entire day.  One of our friends hadn’t even realised that he was our photographer – he thought he was a relative, which I think speaks volumes.
When I saw all the photographs of our wedding, I couldn’t believe just how many there were, how good they all were, and how on earth I didn’t realise I was having my picture taken!  They were exactly what we wanted, and Jon and I are so pleased with them.
We finally got around to picking our favourites (no easy task), and Dirk was very accommodating when I asked him (a couple of times) if I could change my mind and switch things around.  We recently received our wedding album, and it is fantastic.  I love looking through it and remembering our day.  We are so glad we asked Dirk to share it with us – we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him in a heartbeat...."