Wakefield · West Yorkshire
Wakefield Wedding Photographer
I’m Ross Wilson, a Wakefield wedding photographer who has spent more than ten years photographing couples in the city I live in. One photographer, the whole day, honest pictures.
Why choose a local Wakefield wedding photographer?
Wakefield is home. I know which corner of Wakefield Town Hall catches the afternoon light, where the cathedral steps get crowded at weekends, and how long it really takes to get from a ceremony in the centre to a reception out at Walton or Crigglestone on a Saturday. That local knowledge means less time worrying about logistics on the day and more time making pictures.
Black Hat Photography is just me. There’s no team and no roster of second shooters. The person who answers your first message is the person standing at the back of the room when you say your vows.
Wakefield venues I’ve photographed
Every wedding below is a real couple’s day. Have a look through to see how the light, the rooms and the grounds come out in my pictures.
- Wakefield Town Hall — Tom & Mary’s city-centre ceremony
- Hatfeild Hall — Rachel & Anthony, Georgian manor and golf course grounds
- The Holmfield Arms — Jaysie & Michael’s relaxed country pub wedding
- Waterton Hall — Amzy & Kevin, the island house at Walton
- Dimple Well Lodge, Ossett — Lorraine & Mick
Looking at other places too? My guide to Wakefield wedding venues covers what each one is like to photograph.
Every package is priced to be fair. If you’re keeping costs down, my guide to affordable wedding photography shows what you get from £500.
How the day works with me
Six to eight weeks before the wedding we meet for a coffee. We talk through the day, the group shots you want and the people who matter most, and I write it all into a plan for where I need to be and when. A week before, I walk the venue so I already know the best backdrops and where the light falls at the time you’ll be outside.
On the day I work quietly. Most of what I photograph happens without me asking anyone to do anything: a dad straightening a buttonhole, the flower girl asleep under a table, the moment your best friend loses it during the speeches. When we do need posed pictures, I keep them quick and organised so you can get back to your guests.
After the wedding I edit every chosen image in three styles: Timeless Black & White, Bedford 1940 Film and Wild Thing. You get all three, so you can choose your favourite version of each moment.
Photo spots around Wakefield
If you want portraits away from the venue, Wakefield has plenty within a few minutes’ drive. The cathedral and the streets around it suit a city-style shoot. Thornes Park and Pugneys give you open green space and water. The modern lines of The Hepworth Wakefield and the riverside work well for something a little different. I’ll suggest what fits your day and your timings.
Coverage further afield
Plenty of Wakefield couples marry just outside the district. I regularly cover Ossett, Pontefract, Castleford, Normanton, Leeds and Barnsley, and further across Yorkshire on request.
Questions
Good to know
How far in advance should I book a Wakefield wedding photographer?
Summer Saturdays tend to go first, often a year or more ahead. Weekdays and winter dates often have space at shorter notice, so it’s always worth asking.
Do you cover the whole Wakefield district?
Yes. Wakefield, Ossett, Horbury, Normanton, Pontefract, Castleford and everywhere in between.
Will you be the photographer on the day?
Yes, always. Black Hat Photography is a one-person business, so the photographer you meet is the one who shoots your wedding.
How many photos will we get?
It depends on the package: 200, 300 or 700 images, each delivered in all three edit styles.
Check your date
Getting married in Wakefield? Tell me your date and venue and I’ll let you know if I’m free.
Every enquiry gets a personal reply from me. No pressure, no hard sell.