Why I Invest in Personal Projects & Photography Training (And Why It Matters for Your Wedding)
- Mick Merriott
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
When I’m not photographing weddings, I’m still very much behind the camera.
Whether that’s working on personal photography projects or attending training workshops, it all comes back to one thing — constantly improving what I offer to my couples.
As a North East wedding photographer and North Yorkshire wedding photographer, I’ve photographed many weddings over the years. But for me, experience alone isn’t enough.
There’s always more to learn.Always more to explore.And always new ways to tell a story.
A Never-Ending Commitment to Personal Development
No matter how many weddings I shoot, I never see it as “finished”.
Photography — especially documentary wedding photography — is constantly evolving. Light changes. Trends shift. People’s expectations grow.
That’s why I make a conscious effort to keep developing my skills.
Not because I have to — but because I genuinely want to.
For the couples I work with, this means you’re not just hiring someone with experience — you’re hiring someone who is actively refining their craft, constantly improving how they capture your day.
You can explore examples of my documentary & creative wedding photography portfolio across weddings throughout the North East
Love the idea of natural, candid photography like this ?
Creative Freedom That Feeds Into My Wedding Work
Weddings are real, unscripted, and fast-moving — which is exactly what I love about them.
But personal projects give me something slightly different:Space.Time.Creative freedom.
They allow me to experiment with ideas, try new approaches, and push my creativity in ways that I can then naturally bring back into my wedding work.
Whether that’s:
Using light in a more intentional way
Exploring composition
Or developing new approaches to creative wedding portraits
It all feeds back into my natural style — keeping it fresh, modern, and evolving.
This is something I talk more about here: My style & approach to wedding photography
A Recent Personal Project in the North Yorkshire Moors
One recent example of this was a personal shoot I arranged in the North Yorkshire Moors with Felicity.
This wasn’t a wedding — it was purely about creativity.
It gave me the opportunity to:
Work with natural light in an open landscape
Introduce off-camera flash in a subtle, controlled way
Experiment with ideas that I wouldn’t typically force into a wedding day
The result? A set of images that pushed my creativity and gave me new tools and confidence to bring into real weddings — in a way that still feels natural and unobtrusive.
Why Training Workshops Still Matter (Even With Experience)
There’s a common misconception that once you’ve shot enough weddings, you don’t need training anymore.
I see it completely differently.
Workshops are an opportunity to:
Refine your approach
See how others work
Stay aligned with industry standards
And continue growing
Recently, I attended a training workshop in Newcastle upon Tyne.
The focus was on finding light and storytelling — which sits right at the core of how I approach weddings.
It wasn’t about changing what I do. It was about strengthening it.
Staying Connected Within the Wedding Industry
One of the biggest benefits of attending workshops and training is the people.
Photography can often be a solo job, but the wedding industry is built on relationships.
By staying connected with other photographers and industry professionals, I’m able to:
Share knowledge and ideas
Stay up to date with what’s evolving
Build relationships with trusted suppliers
This is incredibly important.
Because it means if something unexpected ever happens, I have a strong network of experienced, reliable professionals I can call upon — giving my couples peace of mind.
Building a Trusted Network for My Couples
These connections go beyond photographers.
Workshops and industry events also give me the chance to meet:
Videographers
Florists
Stylists
Venue coordinators
Other wedding suppliers
Which means when couples ask me for recommendations, I’m not guessing — I’m recommending people I know, trust, and have seen work in real situations.
For couples planning their wedding, this can be incredibly valuable.
It helps take the stress out of finding reliable suppliers and ensures everything works seamlessly on the day.
Why This Matters for Your Wedding Day
All of this — the personal projects, the training, the connections — feeds into one thing:
Your experience on your wedding day.
Because my goal isn’t just to take photos.
It’s to:
Help your day feel relaxed
Capture it naturally
And allow you to enjoy it without feeling like you’re constantly being photographed
I firmly believe a wedding day should feel like a wedding — not a photoshoot.
That’s why I don’t need hours of staged time to create beautiful images.
With the right approach, I can capture:
Genuine, emotional moments
Natural interactions
And relaxed, meaningful creative wedding portraits
All without pulling you away from your guests for long.
A Natural, Documentary Approach That Keeps Evolving
At the heart of everything I do is a commitment to:
Candid wedding photography
Documentary wedding photography
And a natural style that reflects your day as it really was
The difference is that this approach isn’t static.
It’s constantly evolving through:
Experience
Creativity
Learning
And connection with others in the industry
Final Thoughts
For me, photography isn’t just something I do on wedding days.
It’s something I’m constantly working on — refining, developing, and pushing forward.
Because the more I invest in my craft, the more I can give back to the couples who trust me to capture one of the most important days of their lives.
As a North Yorkshire & North East wedding photographer working regularly across
Teesside, North Yorkshire and the North East, I’m always excited to return to venues like Grand Villa Heights that prioritise atmosphere, connection and real moments.
If you’re planning your wedding in North Yorkshire, the North East, the Lake District or further afield, and you’re looking for photography that feels relaxed, genuine, and beautifully unposed — I’d love to hear from you.
My approach is all about letting you be yourselves. I capture the laughter, emotion, and fleeting moments that make your wedding uniquely yours through a blend of documentary wedding photography, candid storytelling, and creative wedding portraits.
Real weddings. Real moments. Captured naturally.
Get in touch to check your wedding date and let’s start planning how to capture your day.
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