2024 has to be remembered for the wedding year of the downpour. My season began in the April with Clair & Martin at The Knowle Country House, in Higham, Kent. I don't remember when the rains began but it just kept coming, January, February, March and into April. As with all my couples, I met with Clair & Martin several times before the day and every time we crossed fingers and hoped the weather would clear, although Clair was very accepting of whatever the day would bring us. So much so, Clair even bought herself some colourful wellies to splash in the puddles.

Faced with a wedding in the pouring rain, I still wanted to give Clair & Martin amazing photos to remember their special day by, even in the rain. Inspired by the famous flash photo of Prince Harry and Megan Markle by Getty Images photographer Samir Hussein, with an umbrella capturing a storm of rain drops as they ran from the car. I knew this was something I wanted to recreate for my couple.

I researched Samir Hussein and how he took the photograph. It really is a tale of a photographer thinking ahead and planning his shot. Also taking advantage of your surroundings. Having found out the direction the famous couple would be walking, Samir noticed a member of the public with a camera, and every time they took a photo, the flash would light up all the rain drops. Samir worked out, if he positioned himself to have the stranger behind Harry & Megan to shield the flash, and placing himself directly in front. He would be able to capture the couple under their umbrella surrounded by the illuminated rain drops.

And there it was, an absolutely iconic photograph. So, what about me? With a determination to recreate that photograph, I tried to coax my modelling stooge (my daughter Emily) into the garden to set up the shot. - Nope she wasn't having any of it. Plus, the rain had stopped! Now what was I going to do? No model, no rain. I thought of setting up a step ladder with an umbrella and turning the garden sprinkler on, but it wasn't such a good Idea. No, I'm just going to have to go for it. No dry run, I was going to have to pull off the shot with no preparation, just the inspiration and a bit of guess work.

27th April 2024, it rained all day. We had a short break in the clouds at the time of the ceremony, but the air was too cold which meant everything had to be moved indoors. As the day progressed and darkness fell, so did the rain. My chance had arrived. In the grounds of The Knowle Country House, I found the perfect spot. As the rain came down I was dashing about setting up tripods and lights under my umbrella. So my set up - Off camera flash on a tripod about 20 feet behind the couple on full power - Two Andoer W140RGB white lights set on stands 45 degrees angle to the front of the couple about 10 feet away. Camera settings - Canon R5 with EF24-70mm lens at 24mm - f/2.8 - exp 1/200 - ISO 2500. With their confidence in me, and wellies on her feet Clair & Martin took up position in the middle of my set set up, I stood about 20 feet in front and - boom - in one shot, I got the photo I imagined, planned and was inspired to achieve. What do you think? Thanks Clair & Martin for trusting in me, and an amazing day. One of my favourite photos of 2024.