Michael Stanton
“Life Isn’t Posed”
I’m a wedding photographer based in Sussex in the UK. I work with couples from all over the UK who want expertly composed photos capturing the REAL beauty, emotion and humour of their special day – without having to pose.
This short photofilm shows my documentary wedding style perfectly.
Daisy & Chris: One of the most moving and most fun weddings of last year at the beautifully restored Georgian delights of the Chichester Harbour Hotel.
Becky & Ross: This wonderful DIY family wedding had just about everything, including a 'Bake-Off' challenge for the best wedding cake won by Cakey McCake Face!
Lou & Tom: This fabulous Knepp Castle Estate wedding last summer was one of the most memorable I shot in 2018 – for all sorts of reasons...
Anna and David: the wedding might have ended up at the stunningly beautiful Milwards Estate in Laughton, East Sussex, but it started 17 miles away in Hayward’s Heath...
Aïcha & Dan: Lewes has to be one of the prettiest towns in England to get married – or to do anything, for that matter...
Lizzie & Jamie: This Buxted Park Hotel wedding in East Sussex last month managed to be both grand and laid back at the same time – a bit like Buxted Park itself...
Mel & Jez: A wedding at The Bell pub in Ticehurst was always going to be a fun one. It has so many nooks and crannies you could play a never-ending game of hide and seek...
Lisa & Tom: I always think that couples should be able to forget about their wedding photographer and just enjoy their special day and being surrounded by their friends and family...
Even though I’m based in Sussex, near Brighton, I shoot weddings all over the UK. However, if you’re planning to tie the knot in and around Sussex there are so many different types of wedding venue. From the cool, urban culture of Brighton and the splendour of Chichester to the ancient villages of the South Downs and rolling Weald, Sussex has it all. And it’s only about an hour’s journey south of London.
Couples planning to get married in Sussex are simply spoilt for choice. There are rustic barns such as Upwaltham Barns, Fitzleroi Barn and the Blackstock Country Estate. And there are elegant country houses such as Buxted Park Hotel, for ceremonies and receptions overlooking its deer park, or Milwards Estate with its fabulous lake and lawns.
The South Downs is now famous for its award-winning wines, so you might consider tying the knot at the stunning Highdown or Alfriston Gardens. Sussex also has some of quirkiest places in the UK to get hitched such as the multi award-winning pub, The Bell in Ticehurst.
The grade-II listed Worthing Dome, and its world-famous old cinema, overlooking the town’s elegant pier, is perfect for a vintage-style wedding. And if your wedding guests would like messing about on the water then consider the Anchor Inn & Boating on the River Ouse near Lewes. There are enough boats for 100 wedding guests and a permanent marquee for the wedding breakfast.
If being wed outdoors in the wild woods of Sussex captures your imagination, then you’ll love Knepp Castle Estate. A tipi wedding set around a lake will give your ‘Big Day’ the magical, rustic touch.
Alternatively, for a ceremony steeped in regal opulence many couples choose the Royal Pavilion in Brighton and its famous gilded Music Room. I doubt there’s a more glamorous venue in Sussex to exchange wedding vows.
For more information about venues, check out my guide to some of the best places to get married in Sussex.
I work with couples that like natural, storytelling photography – authentic shots of the big day taken by an unobtrusive and sympathetic photographer. Weddings already have so much love, emotion, beauty and humour, so why try to stage anything? After all, Life Isn’t Posed.
Of course, knowing how to frame shots perfectly takes lots of experience and an eye for visual storytelling. My candid approach to taking pictures of your wedding day also means you and your guests can simply get on with having the most fabulous day. Yes, most couples want a few group photos and some of just the two of them, but I do these quickly and in a fun and relaxed way. No awkward poses for the camera, I promise!
Read a little more about me, and the inspiration behind my style of wedding photography. And if you’d like to check my availability or just want more info, I’d love you to get in touch.