It is a rare but deeply appreciated occasion when we find ourselves photographing in our own hometown of Scarborough. We love travelling the world, documenting stories across the globe, but there is a distinct power in the old adage: there’s no place like home. For us, the environment is always the stage, but the people are the play. Whether we are in a far-flung country or on our local coastline, the joy comes from the same source – the authentic connections between humans.
The Narrative: Seeing Through the Familiar
There is a specific challenge that comes with photographing a familiar landscape: the need to see through fresh eyes. When we travel for street photography, the first day in a foreign country is a sensory overload; everything is exciting, different, and stimulating. By the second day, you naturally begin to normalize. If you aren’t careful, you can lose that initial magic.
Wedding photography – especially at local venues – requires the same discipline. You have to harness that feeling of the “first time” and remember the anticipation of the unknown. You have to capture the smells, the touch, and the wonder as if you’ve never seen them before.
The Venue: Scarborough Spa
Joanne and Joseph were the perfect catalysts for this “re-discovery” of our home. Their wedding at Scarborough Spa was a masterclass in vibrancy. From the stunning ceremony overlooking the beach to Joanne’s incredible colourful dress that seemed to radiate against the coastal light, the day felt brand new.
They took us on an adventure through the very heart of Scarborough – the beach, the arcades, and a first for us: the Big Wheel. Moving through these iconic locations with them allowed us to document our hometown with a vigour and “childlike curiosity” that is so easily lost to the mundane.
The York Place Approach
Our documentary wedding photography approach is built on the belief that wonder is everywhere if you are willing to look for it. We don’t need exotic backdrops to find compelling stories; we just need real people living real moments. Thank you, Joanne and Joseph, for reminding us that there truly is no place like home when you have the right eyes to see it.
