A Wheelchair Wedding Like Any Other
Catarina and Mackiewicz were getting married at the Washingborough Hall hotel and country house in Lincoln. It was a beautiful location with some fantastic backdrops. The only consideration was the fact that both the bride and the groom were in wheelchairs. Some of the locations didn’t have the best access, so with the help of their carers, I planned the shots carefully, and well in advance.
Another challenge was that the Polish guests hardly spoke any English. This, however, is something I’m quite used to with ‘international’ weddings – it just means I have to use a lot of gestures and, dare I say it, people skills, to make sure everyone stays relaxed and looks natural in the photos.
I strongly believe in normalising disability through positive images. Apart from some logistical considerations and a sensitivity to the lovely couple’s tendency to tire quickly, this was just like shooting any other wedding.
The happy couple were quite camera shy but that wasn’t a problem; apart from a few staged shots, I took a more ‘fly on the wall’ approach to capture moments when they didn’t realise I was there. It made for some really beautiful images.
I strongly believe in normalising disability through positive images, which is why I was honoured to be Catarina and Mackiewicz official photographer. Apart from some logistical considerations and a sensitivity to the lovely couple’s tendency to tire quickly, this was just like shooting any other wedding.
