Lapwing Farm Wedding Photographer
Natural, documentary wedding photography by Patrick Newnham
Ask any Somerset wedding photographer and they’ll tell you Lapwing Farm is a dream booking. An eighteenth-century stone barn high on the Mendips in an area of outstanding natural beauty, a meadow that looks across to Glastonbury Tor, and owners, Duncan and Claudia, who let couples build the wedding they actually want. I always look forward to seeing what people have done with it.
Why I love photographing weddings at Lapwing Farm
Because it’s a blank canvas that’s already beautiful. The barn needs no dressing, the setting does the rest, and couples who want an outdoorsy, rustic, boho day put their own marquee up, build their own bar and string their own lights. That effort shows in the photographs; every wedding here looks like the couple, not the venue.
The spaces, and how they photograph
- The meadow. Outdoor ceremonies on hay bales and benches with the Tor on the horizon. Romantic doesn’t cover it.
- The stone barn. Character and charm, and shade when you need it.
- Marquee or tipi. Yours to design. The personal touch makes for great setup shots!
- The hill. Low, dappled evening sun for portraits as the day ends. Some of my favourite images anywhere were made here at that hour.
Char and Matt at Lapwing Farm
Third attempt, after Covid and Royal Navy postings got in the way. A vintage lace gown, a navy uniform swapped for tweed and braces, seven bridesmaids in blush pink, a hog roast and wood-fired pizza, an ice-cream bike that their daughter made full use of, and a first dance outside as the sun set. In their words afterwards: “apart from the family photos we asked for, we hardly knew he was there. The photos tell a different story.”
Practical notes for your photos
- Portraits. The hill in the last hour of light. Give me fifteen minutes and you’ll have the pictures you frame.
- Confetti. Up on the hill is great, the venue also lends itself to smoke bombs as you can see!
- Rain plan. The barn and the marquee. Bring wellies; the walk to the meadow is part of the fun.
Questions couples ask me about Lapwing Farm
Have you photographed at Lapwing before? Yes, and I’d love to again.
Do you do engagement shoots? Yes, included. Char and Matt did theirs at Cheddar Gorge, which is close by and spectacular.
What’s your style? Natural and documentary; see the quote above.
See also: Somerset wedding photography.
Taking a limited number of weddings for 2027 and 2028
If you’re getting married here and my way of working sounds like your kind of thing, I’d love to hear about your plans. Drop me a line with your date and I’ll tell you straight away whether I’m free.
Taking a limited number of weddings for 2027 and 2028
Drop me a line with your date and venue and I’ll tell you straight away whether I’m free.
