Planning a Beach Wedding in Cornwall? Here's How to Capture It Perfectly
Planning a beach wedding in Cornwall is about more than choosing a beautiful backdrop; it’s about crafting a day that reflects who you are as a couple. There’s an honesty and rawness to the Cornish coastline that lends itself to authentic, deeply emotional celebrations.
As a wedding photographer who works almost exclusively with film, I specialise in preserving those moments in a way that’s natural, timeless, and completely unique.
I’m Ben Selway, and I’ve built my approach around capturing weddings as they truly are unposed, unforced, and overflowing with real connection. Using traditional film photography, including rich black and white imagery, I create beach wedding pictures that feel like they could have been taken yesterday or decades ago.
My work isn’t about trends or filters. It’s about permanence, emotion and soul.
Why Cornwall is the Perfect Setting for Film Photography
Cornwall’s beaches aren’t just scenic, they’re cinematic. The ever-changing light, moody skies, golden cliffs and wide stretches of sand offer a kind of visual poetry that film photography enhances beautifully. Whether you’re standing barefoot at the edge of the tide in St Ives or exchanging vows on a dune-fringed beach near Holywell Bay, the coast gives every image a sense of scale and serenity.
Film responds to this natural setting in a way digital never quite can. It renders skin tones softly, captures highlights with a glow, and imbues every frame with texture and depth. In short: it feels real. You can almost hear the sea breeze when you look at a properly exposed medium-format negative. And for beach wedding photography, that level of honesty is everything.
A Timeless, Organic Approach to Beach Wedding Photography
When I arrive to photograph a wedding, I’m not there to direct your day, I'm there to observe it. To feel the rhythm of it. I work in a documentary style, allowing each moment to unfold naturally, capturing candid interactions and quiet glances with care and discretion.
This approach is particularly important when photographing beach weddings. The environment is ever-changing. Light shifts. Tides move. Veils dance in the wind. These aren’t interruptions, they're the essence of what makes a beach wedding experience in Cornwall so memorable. My role is to move with that energy and document it without interfering.
Every couple I work with is different. Some are eloping in secret. Others are throwing a full-on seaside celebration. My aim remains the same: to capture your story with integrity, beauty and timeless grace. You won’t find stiff poses or overworked edits in my work; just real people, real connection, and the subtle storytelling that film does best.
The Power of Black and White
While my colour work leans into the warm, earthy tones of film, I also shoot extensively in black and white and for good reason. Stripping away colour allows a photograph to speak more directly to emotion. It reveals truth in a way that’s raw and deeply moving.
Black and white film is where I often find the most powerful moments of the day: A father’s hand on a bride’s shoulder; The way you look at each other just after the ceremony; The movement of a dress caught in the sea wind. Without colour, the photograph becomes entirely about feeling and light. It’s the kind of imagery that feels timeless; more like art than a snapshot and it forms a key part of the galleries I deliver to my couples.
When it comes to beach wedding pictures, black and white photography also provides a striking contrast to the softness of the surroundings. The interplay of light and shadow against sea and sky creates frames that feel like stills from an old romantic film.
My Favourite Beach Wedding Locations in Cornwall
Having lived and worked here for years, I know Cornwall’s coastline intimately, with a few of my favourite places to photograph including:
Kynance Cove - A dreamlike, dramatic location with turquoise waters and jagged rock formations. Perfect for elopements and editorial-style portraits.
Gwithian Towans - Expansive sands, epic skies, and dunes that catch the golden hour light like nowhere else.
Porthcurnick Beach - Peaceful, romantic, and tucked away; making it ideal for smaller ceremonies.
Holywell Bay - Timeless and textured, with long dunes and a majestic clifftop backdrop.
Porthmeor, St Ives - Buzzing with character and wonderful light for those who want a celebration with energy.
Each location offers something different in terms of mood, light, and accessibility. I’m always happy to guide couples towards the setting that fits not only their vision, but also the natural rhythms of the tide and sun.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
From our first conversation, I’ll take the time to understand what matters to you, not just in terms of photos, but in terms of the experience itself. I know how vulnerable it can feel to be in front of a camera, so I approach every shoot with sensitivity, care, and patience. I’ll also help with timing, light considerations, and location logistics so that everything flows as smoothly as possible.
On the day, I’m calm, unobtrusive, and fully present. I won’t be barking instructions or dragging you away for long posed sessions. I’ll simply be there, observing with intent, waiting for the moments that truly matter and capturing them in a way that feels effortless and true to who you are.
Afterwards, you’ll receive a thoughtfully curated gallery of film scans, edited to retain the soul and subtlety of each frame. I offer bespoke magazine-style albums too, so your beach wedding photography doesn’t just have to live online. Rather, it can become something you can hold, cherish, and pass down for generations.
Let’s Create Something Lasting
Your beach wedding in Cornwall isn’t just an event, it’s a memorable story that deserves to be remembered with honesty and heart. If you’re looking for a photographer who works with film, who values meaning over trends, and who will approach your day with artistic intention, then I’d love to hear from you.
Feel free to explore more of my work or reach out to start the conversation with me today. Together, we can create something that feels not only beautiful in the moment, but timeless for a lifetime.