Black Mountains Wedding Photography | Gorgeous Wedding of Marina + Sam in Escley & Craswall | The Mays

Black Mountains wedding photography is pure magic when you get the right ingredients: mountains on the horizon, a calm, emotional morning, and a party that genuinely doesn’t want to end. Marina + Sam’s day in Escley and Craswall, Herefordshire had all of that – plus the kind of sunset that makes you stop mid-sentence and just stare.

We’re Marta May Photography – also known as The Mays (Marta + Artur) – a husband-and-wife photo + film team based in Hereford, working across Herefordshire, the Cotswolds and UK-wide. We shoot in our DOCU-ART style: real documentary moments, plus cinematic portraits that still feel natural (no awkward posing, no forced stuff).

Planning your own marquee or tipi celebration? See more real examples here: Marquee and tipi wedding photography.

Black Mountains wedding photography – the bride’s vision

Marina’s vision was beautifully simple: photos that feel like the day felt. Not stiff posing. Not “performing”. Just the real emotions, the atmosphere, and the little moments that make you tear up years later.

They wanted a gallery they could come back to for the rest of their lives and instantly remember it all – the nerves, the laughter, the hugs, the mountain air, and the party energy when everyone finally let go.

Best time for portraits in the Black Mountains

If you’re getting married in the Black Mountains, the sweet spot for portraits is late afternoon into golden hour – when the sun drops low and the hills turn soft and glowy. Even 10 minutes at that time is enough for cinematic, breathy, “this feels like a film” portraits.

And if the day runs late (because… weddings), don’t worry – blue hour just after sunset can look even moodier and more dramatic, especially with the mountains behind you.

The evening dance floor

This Black Mountains wedding was everything we love: relaxed, laid back, and full of that “everyone’s finally let go” energy. And the dance floor? Honestly… it was unreal.

From the first song, guests just didn’t leave. No awkward warm-up phase. No polite swaying. Just proper, joy-filled chaos – laughing, singing, throwing shapes, and somehow getting better (and wilder) as the night went on. These are the moments we live for, because this is where the real day shows up.

We’d photograph evenings like this every weekend if we could.

Special father–daughter moments

We always tell our couples: have fun, breathe, and let the day happen. Don’t try to “manage” every minute – just enjoy it. And Marina + Sam did exactly that.

Their friends and family showed up for them in the best way. The morning was emotional (the good kind), the weather was beautiful, and I’ll never forget the journey to the church – riding with Marina and her dad, in that quiet little bubble before everything begins. Those minutes felt so special, so real, and so full of meaning.

Thank you for trusting us to be there and capture it all.

Wedding photography slideshow

Here’s the slideshow with the story from that day, have a look:

Engagement photography

Marina + Sam also did an engagement shoot with us – a spring session in Herefordshire. We spent the hour chatting, walking, and getting to know each other properly (which is always the best way to start).

Engagement sessions are genuinely helpful. You learn that you don’t need to “pose” to look amazing – you just need to be together. So when the wedding day arrives, you already know what it feels like in front of the camera. You relax faster, you worry less, and you enjoy the day more… which means your photos feel even more like you.

Planning your own pre-wedding shoot? If you’d like one, just mention it when you enquire and we’ll talk you through the best options for your season and location.

A Black Mountains planning tip (that will make your photos better)

The Black Mountains are stunning – but they’re also open, windy, and bigger than they look on Google Maps. So here’s the simple plan that makes everything feel easy:

• Bring a wrap/jacket for portraits (even in summer, the wind can bite).
• Choose shoes you can actually walk in for 5 minutes – fields and uneven ground are part of the magic.
• Build a little travel buffer if you’re moving between getting ready, the church, and the marquee (those country roads are beautiful… and slow).
• And if you want that epic mountain glow, save 10 minutes around sunset – it’s the easiest “wow” moment you can plan without turning your day into a photoshoot.

Planning your own Black Mountains wedding?

This Black Mountains wedding really was unforgettable. If you’re planning something similar – mountains, meaningful moments, and a proper party – we’d love to hear from you.

And if you’re getting ready around Craswall (even at Duke’s Farm Holiday Cottages), even better – we know the area and we know how magical it looks in every season.

Tell us your plans and your vibe, and we’ll let you know if we’re free.

More wedding photography links:

Also, please take a look at our BEST WEDDING IMAGES 2018. If you want to see another couple whose day was equally incredible, take a look at Alice & Tom’s Lyde Court summer wedding!

Ready to chat about your Black Mountains wedding photography?

If you’re planning a wedding in the Black Mountains (or anywhere around Herefordshire and the Cotswolds) and you want photos that feel real, relaxed, and full of emotion – with cinematic portraits that still feel like you – we’d love to hear your plans.

Check availability and tell us your date

Planning your own marquee or tipi celebration? See more real examples here: Marquee and tipi wedding photography.