Kate McCarthy Photography

09/08/2026

05/08/2026

There is absolutely a place for the quiet moments.

The deep breath before you walk down the aisle. The tiny smile that only your favourite person gets to see. The hand squeeze that says everything without a single word.

I love those.

But if you’re marrying the love of your life, surrounded by everyone who’s helped you become who you are, I don’t want you spending the day wondering whether you’re smiling “the right way”.

I want you to laugh with your whole face.

To throw your head back.

To ugly cry during the vows.

To hug people for a little bit longer than feels socially acceptable.

To cheer when you’re announced as newlyweds.

To forget I’m there because you’re far too busy living one of the best days of your life.

The photographs you’ll come back to in twenty years probably won’t be the perfectly composed ones.

They’ll be the ones where you can still remember exactly how it felt.

So...

Lean into the moment.

Lean into each other.

Lean into the chaos.

Lean into the light.

Lean into the ritual.

Lean into the laughs.

Lean into the ephemeral.

Lean into the well-wishes.

Most of all?

Lean into the joy.

I’ll take care of remembering it for you.

03/08/2026

Twelve years into photographing weddings and I still get ridiculously excited when I walk into a venue I’ve never photographed before.

You’d think after all this time I’d have seen them all, but the last couple of years have proved me very wrong.

One of the things I love most about this job is that every venue asks something different of me. Sometimes it’s figuring out where the light disappears to at 4pm in winter. Sometimes it’s discovering the quiet corner nobody else seems to use. Sometimes it’s realising the best photographs happen nowhere near the “Instagram spot”.

These are just a handful of the venues that have been new to me over the last two years, and every single one has given me something completely different to fall in love with.

The funny thing is, couples sometimes ask if I’m nervous photographing somewhere for the first time.

Not really.

Because I’m never photographing the building.

I’m photographing you.

The light, the people you love, the hugs that last a little longer than expected, the way your partner looks at you when they think nobody’s watching… those things don’t change because the postcode does.

Although I won’t lie… finding a new favourite portrait spot is one of my favourite parts of the job.

So now I need to know…

Which venue should I have on this list next?

Whether it’s somewhere you’ve booked, somewhere you’ve visited as a guest or somewhere you’ve always dreamed of getting married, tell me below. I’m always adding new places to my wishlist.

30/07/2026

Darlings I’m still here! My sharing has been lighter than usual due to an absolutely jam-packed July of travelling up and down the country capturing BEAUTIFUL weddings (like gorgeous Jo & James a few weeks ago!).

We are now neck-deep in that wild chaos that is juggling a busy wedding season, a full slate of editing and summer holidays with the tiny queen (who is currently on unlimited screen time whilst we try to work a little in the day). I am currently on top of emails but if you’re expecting a response and I haven’t yet got back to you, please do give me a nudge.

I’m on track to have all weddings edited and sent within my 8 week turnaround (and some a few weeks early even!) and will be sharing more beautiful photos as I chip away but I cannot thank you all for your patience and support in my 12th (!!!) year telling your stories full time.

As I do every year to prevent that pesky burnout, I have got a couple cheeky holidays booked in August but with it being wedding season, I’m not totally disappearing on you and will be keeping an eye on my emails if you need anything.

September invoices have mostly been sent now (a little early to help with the most-neglected mid-season admin pile) so again, nudge me if yours hasn’t come through.

Thank you thank you thank you to all of you for continuing to support my small business and allow me to have the career of my damn dreams. I literally can’t do this without you! Have a wonderful weekend!

28/07/2026

Georgia & Andy … “They say nothing lasts forever
But they ain’t seen us together
Or the way the moonlight dances in your eyes
Just a t-shirt in the kitchen
With no make-up and a million
Other things that I could look at my whole life
A love like that makes a man have second thoughts
Maybe some things last forever after all” (Luke Combs)
What a perfect Monday I had capturing this STUNNING city centre wedding at my favourite pub, The Black Friar Salford . Georgia & Andy really know how to throw a party and I have adored getting to know them and being a part of their day.

Their sneak peek is linked in the bio, read all about what we got up to!

Venue The Black Friar Salford
Content Abbey 🫶🏻 Wedding Content Creator ✨ Lancashire, Manchester 🇬🇧
Singer Imogen-paige music 🤎
Cake The Palms Bakery , Rachel
Dress Jane Hill Bridal from DOTTY BRIDAL ™️
Decor Kole Events

20/07/2026

Carla & John … once more, with feeling.

Because your wedding should always be a day (or two!) that feels the most like YOU. For this beautiful couple, that meant keeping their ceremony just for them and then opening up the celebrations to all of their favourite people.

Thank you to the new Mr & Mrs Barrand for inviting me along this past weekend, it’s truly been an honour to tell your love story.

The full sneak peek is now live on the blog!

Venue Abbey House | Hotel & Wedding Venue
Florist
Hair Coco Hair And Beauty
MUA Beth Taylor
Cakes FINCH BAKERY 🍰🪩⚡️
Singer Samwise
DJ Ryan Smith Wedding Host & DJ
Dress SHONA JOY

16/07/2026

Carla & John … ‘Do you remember when we met?
Oh, that’s the day I knew you were my babe
I wanna tell you, oh, how much I love you
Come with me
To the sea
Of love’ (Cat Power)
The sweetest elopement in my favourite city with my bestie subbing in as witness (and content creator) for this beautiful couple. Thank you for the trust, my loves. I can’t bloody wait for the grand celebrations on Saturday!

13/07/2026

Jo & James … “Loving you
Is some kind of wonderful
Because you’ve shown me
Just how much you care
You’ve given me the thrill of a lifetime
And made me believe you’ve got more thrills to spare”
(Natalie Cole)
A sweltering fever dream of a Lake District wedding working alongside some absolute gems of fellow wedding suppliers. The connections that lovely Jo & James and I have in common are surreal and I’ve adored getting to know them and telling their story. Click the link in bio to read all about their gorgeous day..

Venue Holbeck Ghyll
Bouquets .blossoms_
Styling Perfectweddings
Video Jo Gendle Films
Dress Maggie Sottero Designs | Wedding Dress Designer
Sax Al Grant sax
Photobooth oldschoolbooth
DJ Nick Campbell

07/07/2026

I think winter weddings are a little underestimated.

People worry it’ll be dark too early. Or cold. Or rainy. They imagine they’ll have to compromise on photographs somehow.

But honestly? Some of my favourite galleries have been made between October and February.

The light is softer. Everyone naturally stays a little closer together. Candlelight starts to glow earlier. And because golden hour arrives before your wedding breakfast, we can often sneak away for ten minutes while your guests are finding their seats, leaving the rest of the evening completely free to celebrate.

There’s something wonderfully unhurried about a winter wedding.

Nobody expects endless time outside, so we make the most of the moments we have. We find beautiful window light, quiet corners, dramatic skies, cosy interiors and, if you’re up for it, five minutes outside just after sunset when everything turns the most incredible shade of blue.

And if it rains?

Well… I live in Manchester.

We’ll be absolutely fine.

One thing I always tell my couples is this: beautiful wedding photographs have very little to do with perfect weather.

They have everything to do with how the day felt.

The season simply gives us a different backdrop for your story.

And every season has something beautiful to offer.


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06/07/2026

Tracey & Stewart … ‘You can’t hurry love
No, you just have to wait
She said love don’t come easy
It’s a game of give and take
You can’t hurry love
No, you just have to wait
Mama said just give it time’ (The Supremes)

What a dreamy day of SO MUCH LOVE. I cannot thank the new Mr & Mrs Smith for welcoming me so very warmly into their lives and allowing me to tell their love story. Their full sneak peek is linked in the bio, read all about what we got up to!