My favourite shot North Yorkshire photographer Emma Appleyard talks us through the shots she took for a wedding where everything was so colourful How did this picture come about? I’d had this shot in mind all day, and knew it was one I had to get before we left. It was a long summer’s day and by the end of the shoot the sun had moved round, backlighting the greenery and creating gorgeous dappled light on the ground. I am mostly a natural light photographer, so instead of a flash I used a gold reflector to bounce the sunlight back onto the models and bring them out of the shadows. This method worked really well, and even lit up the sequins on Leigh’s dress. What mood were you trying to convey? I wanted my photos to capture the relaxed and whimsical days of summer. Everyone was feeling so cheerful from the sunshine, so the moments I captured feel really fun and light-hearted. The venue (At The Mill, Stillington) was surrounded by trees and felt separate to the rest of the world, like our own little haven. We could party like no one was watching... because they weren’t.
with the Prince’s Trust when I was 18 and went from there. I normally photograph weddings, families, babies and products, but I do headshots too, and even pet portraits.
How did you make everything so colourful? For this, I have to thank all the amazing suppliers. Ellen (LND Events) hung streamers and lanterns from the apple trees, and Lindsey (Little Bear and Bird Flower Co.) brought flowers of every colour imaginable, adorned with pompoms and feathers. From the vintage furniture to the biodegradable glitter on our models faces – everything was full of colour. It really was a day to remember. How long have you been a photographer and what kind of subjects do you normally photograph? I officially launched my business in 2017 (but really I have been taking photos since I first picked up a Kodak dispos-
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able). I studied A-Level photography, and decided to throw myself into business with the money I would have spent on university. I took an enterprise course
People say never work with animals. How did you get the dog to stay still? The dog is actually my Golden Retriever, Honey. She was so excited to join me on this shoot – she was zooming around saying hello to everyone. I had the models do high fives with her and they gave her some treats so she understood that she could take commands from them. For this shot, we asked her to sit and the models told her to stay. I then had a group of people behind me calling her name so she looked up, but the models had their hands placed lightly on her back which kept her from running over..
