Mont-St-Michel Wedding Photographer

Photographer Sabina Cowdery captures wedding photos for a lovely Japanese couple.

 

This photo-shoot with Mont-St-Michel Wedding Photographer Sabina Cowdery was particularly memorable for two reasons. Often my photo-shoots at the Mont-St-Michel are to capture Surprise marriage proposals but this couple contacted me from their home in Tokyo, Japan to ask if I could capture some wedding photos for them. They’d recently got married at home but wanted to capture some special pictures during their trip to Europe. Communication via email was easy enough as they translated their questions and sent them via email. On the day we partially used voice translation and managed to get by with English and hand gestures.

 

The first memorable part was at the beginning. They’d requested to start with some photos in the marshland fields that have the famous local sheep, who are known as the ‘pré-salé’. This means ‘pre-salted’. And yes, it is what you might be thinking… As these lambs graze on the grass that is often covered by the tide (Europe’s largest tidal range is in the bay of the Mont-st-Michel) the lamb’s meat is saltier than normal grass-fed sheep. The memorable thing was that the gate to the sheep field had a loose catch and whilst we were capturing the first photos a small group seized the opportunity to go over to the gate and push the gate open to escape! The young groom and I spent around eight minutes chasing them and herding them back into their field before continuing with the shoot on the Mont itself. Thank you Naoto, I couldn’t have done it without you!

 

We then had a lovely time capturing a wide variety of images in all the little, quiet places that I know around the Mont, away from the crowds. For many of my couples the photo-shoots involve lots of kisses but as I was expecting, knowing a little about Japanese culture, I realised quickly that public displays of affection weren’t comfortable for Miku and Naoto so I adapted my guidance and ideas for them. I suggested movements and positions that allowed them to have fun and show their love for each other in other ways.

 

The second particularly memorable part of the photo-shoot was right at the end. As we finished Miku reached into her bag and brought out a gift bag…for me! They were so kind and thoughtful enough to have prepared and bought japanese chocolate and beauty products all the way from Tokyo for me! I was and remain to be so touched by their kindness.