For the last six weeks we’ve been asking front line workers to enter a little wedding photography competition - essentially to be in with a chance to be gifted a full day of wedding photography.
We wanted to say "thank you" with a free, full day of wedding photography worth £1,550 for one of our amazing front line workers. Thank you to the wonderful doctors, post operatives, bin workers, nurses, midwives, shop workers, fire fighters, carers, teachers and so many more. We're proud of you!
Over recent weeks - now months - the stories of front line workers have touched our hearts. They do vital work every day - pandemic or no pandemic. However, during this highly challenging time they have gone above and beyond by carrying on and doing all they can to keep us all safe and healthy. We cannot thank you enough, but this small gesture of gratitude is something, as wedding photographers, we are able to offer.
We can’t help much in other ways unfortunately due to various circumstances. Volunteering was something of real interest, but we just can’t (if you’re interested in volunteering, find opportunities, here). So, we thought we could say thank you instead.
Bringing a smile to a front line worker doing amazing things was the aim, as well as helping a little bit with what can be an expensive celebration. Unfortunately we could only offer the one package on this occasion. Clearly the wedding industry has been badly hit by COVID-19 too, which restricts us somewhat.
To be in with a chance of winning, we effectively needed a comment on our Instagram or Facebook posts to either nominate a friend or family member, or a comment from a front line worker themselves. We were delighted to receive entries from a variety of front line workers, including:
Physiotherapists
Ambulance crew
Delivery drivers
Police officers
Paediatric nurses and more.
Last weekend we announced the winners on Instagram Live to be two junior doctors getting married in 2022 in the Northamptonshire countryside! Congratulations to you both, but also a huge thank you to you, all other entrants and the front line worker community as a whole.
We know that this pandemic will change things. Not all of it will be good change. But, one thing we do hope for is that the increased recognition of key workers and our reliance on them continues to be noted and fairly rewarded.
To Amy and Katty, we very much look forward to hearing about your exciting wedding plans in the coming weeks and photographing your 2022 wedding.
Stay safe. Be kind. Love to all.
Phil and Al x
Artwork credit - Al's 2 year old, Piran. Watch out Vincent van Gogh! This young meristro is making waves in the art scene!