While some London weddings take place out in the leafy suburbs, others occur right in the heart of the action, and it’s these city centre locations that a London wedding photographer like me jumps at the chance to shoot. Surrounded by the adrenaline and exhilaration of one of the most busy, bustling, and fascinating cities in the world, I simply couldn’t say no when Laavanya contacted me. Laavanya and Ken were looking for a central London wedding photographer at short notice and, luckily, I was available.
As a London wedding photographer, operating in one of the most culturally diverse cities in the UK, I’ve photographed a number of Indian and Nigerian weddings. However, this would be the first time I would witness the combining of the two cultures, and there couldn’t have been a more suitable venue than the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel. The large events room, which holds up to 500 guests, is decked out in classic neutral tones, which provided the perfect backdrop to this colourful and vibrant wedding.
Initially, I thought that photographing at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel may present some challenges. The venue offers very little in the way of natural light, which is something photographers often dread. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw the room is all its glory. Mood lighting created a sort of mysterious and magical glow, which suited this occasion down to the ground. In fact, it was this mood lighting that allowed me to get some truly unbelievable shots of the couple.
With both bride and groom dimly lit by the deep blue and red glows illuminating the bar area, I was able to capture what have become two of my favourite wedding photographs. I couldn’t quite believe that with no re-touching, with no photoshop, I was able to create such beautiful pictures. The Radisson Blu Portman Hotel clearly knows what it’s doing!
The beauty of this location is that it’s within easy reach of some of London’s most iconic sites. Although not necessary on this occasion, I would love to shoot here again, taking guests to nearby Hyde Park for some pictures amongst London’s beautiful and picturesque natural settings.
