top of page

The photography Blog

Search

Stunning Images from a Styled Shoot at Lillibrooke Manor

Updated: Mar 4




Introduction

At the end of November 2023 my makeup artist Stephanie Warren Makeup and I organised a styled shoot at Lillibrooke Manor in Maidenhead and with 20 small local businesses involved it was made both an incredibly fun and visually stunning.


Planning a styled shoot is a little bit like planning your own wedding in a way! I've left a little bit more info below on how this was all planned and carried out and hope you enjoy flicking through a bit of inspiration from this epic shoot day.


As a wedding photographer I do work with a number of suppliers on a regualar basis and always happy to give my couples reccomendations if ever you need them!


Lillibrooke Manor

The first element is of course securing a venue and we were lucky enough to be offered the stunning Lillibrooke Manor in Maidenhead. It's a rustic 15th Century barn setting with beautiful grounds and buildings and about a million places to take a gorgeous photo (it was so hard to choose which places to go!)




The Tack Barn

Lillibrooke Manor has recently refurbished it's prep room and it's stunning, a gorgeous small barn with enough room for the whole bridal party, places to hand dresses and have showers, everyone to have thier own lit mirror and seat and even a place to lounge. It's a dream getting ready space for any bride or groom.



Flat lay wedding details

The tack barn was a lovely light and airy place for me to set up the flat lay for all the details. Our stationer was Sorted Stationery Co and the goldsmith was Daniella.Wildeflower. I wanted to showcase both businesses in my flat lays. The backdrop, ribbon, boxes, plates and details are provided by me. I bring ribbon, boxes and details that fit within the wedding colour scheme for each wedding to ensure you get detail shots that are perosnal to you.





Planning the Wedding

A bit like having a real wedding my next job was to come up with a theme, I knew I wanted to do something fairly classic and chic because this fits with my photography style and I also looked at trending wedding themes and colours for 2024 that included:

  • Dark forest greens

  • Unique details

I wouldnt be me without mentioning Pinterest, I LOVE pinterest.

I have Pinterest boards with my Brides and Grooms so that I can clearly visualy see what my couples are imagining and it's great because we can talk about what's going to be possible or not and whats important to capture beyond the standard wedding photos. So I used Pinterest to make a few different boards and then Canva to export some of these ideas into a shareable PDF for my supplier.


Stephanie and I already knew a fair number of suppliers who wanted to be involved so once we were sure we had one of each element we reached out on social media and via email to a few additional suppliers who we wanted to be involved.


Organsing the Wedding

The key to a smooth running day is a rough plan, I say rough because of course nothing goes perfectly to plan on the day and just like with a wedding you all have to just go with the flow of the day. I provided an aimed timeline and shot list to everyone because we needed to ensure that every supplier got the professional content that they needed from the event.


My first goal was simply to get the flat lay detail photos and include details from our wonderful goldsmith, both the dresses and cake maker while our 'Bride' got her hair and makeup done. Once I'd finished flat lays (just like on a real wedding day!) I did my Groom prep shots in the grounds and then we got our Bride in her dress.


Then we ran the rest of the day a little bit like a real wedding, ceremony, dance, table, cake, portraits and in the mix we had a drone videographer come and capture a little bit of content!


Credits

The team involved in the shoot were as follows:

PHOTOGRAPHY: @catbrantphotography

ASSITANT PHOTOGRAPHER: @cavalaarcaptures

HAIR: @envyhairx

SUIT: Anthony Hireware

DRESS: @sophiegracebridal

CELEBRANT: @splendid.ceremonies.by.steph

CUPCAKES: @lozziestreats

BALLOONS: @once_in_a_bal_loon

WEDDING CAKE: @luluscakekitchen

STATIONARY/SIGNAGE: @sortedstationeryco

EVENT HIRE: @bubbleseventhire

DRONE VIDEOGRAPHY: @bubbleseventhire

CAR SUPPLIED BY: @retroelectrics


Comments

hi! I'm cat and i am a full time wedding photographer
(and a little bit of a photography geek!)
 
I started taking photos as a teenager, my Dad was a wedding photographer and I would often help him. In 2021 I left my corporate job with a dream and hope that I could make photography a full time job. Since then I have been pouring my heart and soul into this business and have been honoured to be chosen as wedding photographer for so many lovely couples as well as being a portrait and event photographer.  
​
I TAKE CLASSIC, TIMELESS, DOCUMENTARY STYLE PHOTOGRAPHS WITH MINIMAL INTRUSION

 

But I will step in and offer gentle guidance when it's right to do so, I have learned over the years to read the room, anticipate the next move, hold space when needed and offer support when I can.

​

aRE YOU LOOKING FOR A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER?
When choosing a wedding photographer, consider their style, experience, portfolio, and reviews from previous clients. It's also important to discuss pricing, availability, and any specific requests you may have.
 
Don't forget to meet with them in person to ensure you have good chemistry and feel comfortable with their approach.
​

Once you have narrowed down your list of potential wedding photographers, it's a good idea to ask them some key questions to help you make your final decision.

 

Here are a few questions to consider:

  • What is your photography style? Do you prefer a more traditional approach or a more candid, documentary style?

  • Do you have experience with weddings of a similar size and style to mine?

  • Can I see a full gallery of a recent wedding you photographed? This will give you a better sense of their consistency and quality of work.

  • Do you have backup equipment in case something goes wrong on the day of the wedding?

  • How do you handle difficult lighting situations (e.g. low light, harsh sunlight, indoor vs. outdoor)? This will help you gauge their technical expertise.

  • What is included in your packages? Are there any additional fees I should be aware of (e.g. travel, overtime)?

  • How long will it take to receive my photos after the wedding? Will they be edited and retouched?

  • Can you accommodate any special requests I have (e.g. specific shots, family portraits)?

  • How do you ensure that you capture all of the important moments on the day of the wedding?

​

By asking these questions and having an open and honest conversation with your wedding photographer, you can ensure that you find the right fit for your big day.

​

​

bottom of page