Meet Shell O’Toole, one of our recommended photographers and a familiar face here at Godwick.
Shell has photographed weddings, elopements and celebrations at Godwick many times over the years, and we’ve always loved the energy she brings to every wedding – whether it’s a large barn celebration, an intimate wedding or a private elopement.
Most recently, Shell photographed Bea & Ash’s beautiful Godwick wedding in May 2026, so we thought it was the perfect opportunity to introduce her through her own words and find out more about her approach to wedding photography.
Tell us a little about yourself and your photography style.
“I’m Shell, and I live on the Norfolk / Cambs border. I have been a photographer since 2013 and have been shooting weddings since 2019.
I describe my style as documentary, candid and natural. This means I pose as little as possible on a wedding day, and I aim to observe what is happening and document it with very little interference.”
What drew you to wedding photography?
“I fell into weddings by accident. I had been asked to shoot many weddings and always swore I’d never do it. Back then, the pressure to get someone’s very important day right was overwhelming (sometimes still is).
Then a friend was getting married, and her photographer let her down at the last minute, and I stepped in. My style was nothing like it is now, and it was very traditional with lots of posing. But I started to see that if I got the ‘right couples’ I could really love this.”
Every photographer sees a wedding differently. What moments are you always looking for?
“I am always looking for those in-between moments.
It’s a given that I will capture you walking down the aisle or cutting a cake, but my favourite images are always candid, when they didn’t know I was there. The mums hugging a brother they haven’t seen in years, a nan looking lovingly over at her granddaughter who just got married or a groom showing his best mate his new shiny ring. I love those moments.”
It’s this documentary approach that makes Shell’s photographs feel so personal – capturing not just what happened, but the people and emotions surrounding it.
This was one of your first larger weddings at Godwick. What were your first impressions?
“AT LAST!
I have shot a few elopements in the Hall, and I have second-shot 8 weddings at Godwick for other photographers, but Bea and Ash were my first big wedding at your venue. All I can say is I’m still not over it! Don’t think I ever will be.
I am an outdoorsy lass at heart. We love hiking and being outside with the dog, so I love the vibe at Godwick.”
What makes Godwick special for couples?
“Gorgeous backdrop, stunning views. A well-lit barn is a photographer’s dream and it’s an all-round, all-weather venue. If it rains, there is plenty of space inside for your guests. I always advise couples – you need to love the inside as much as the outside because if it rains, you’ll be looking at the inside all day! Amazing staff who are all so attentive. Some of the best I have worked with across Norfolk and Suffolk.”
How do you get to know couples before the wedding day?
“I really rely on couples letting me in and allowing me to get to know them. Most couples find me on Instagram. I try to be as real as I can be on there so if people see me, they feel like they already know me a little bit. I follow them back on social media and try to engage with their posts. You can learn a lot about people from what and how they post on social media.
I encourage couples to have a pre-wedding couples shoot. This is a great way to meet in person, have a shoot, a coffee and chat. It lets me know how comfortable they are on camera and, most importantly, what makes them laugh so I can get those natural laughing photos.
The more I know people, the better I shoot their day.”
One of our favourite things Shell asks her couples is:
“If my camera broke and you could only have 5 photos, what would they be?”
“It sounds like a scary question, but it gives me a real insight into what is most important to the couple. Couple one may say, ‘5 photos of us on our own being romantic during sunset / golden hour,’ while couple two may say, ‘candids of our parents and grandparents’.
I would approach these 2 weddings with a completely different frame of mind. Each wedding is always about capturing what is important to that couple and we don’t know what that is if we don’t ask.”
For Bea & Ash, their five photographs included their first look with Dad, their first married kiss, walking into the wedding breakfast, a non-traditional group shot and a fun couple portrait. Shell also knew how important their dog Olive was to them, so she made sure to capture those special morning moments with Ash and Olive too.
When we asked Shell to choose her favourite image from Bea & Ash’s wedding, she couldn’t choose just one.
“Oh my god this was so hard to choose. Bea and Ash’s wedding is honestly one of my all-time fave weddings and I don’t say that lightly. I have picked 2… I’m a rebel.”
The first was a photograph of Bea’s sister, Evie, beaming with pride as Bea and Ash were officially announced as husband and wife. “Sometimes you have a split second to decide: am I going to capture the couple or that person’s reaction? I think I made the right choice here.”
The second was a fun photograph of the whole wedding party. “They had asked for some fun and nontraditional posed shots. I simply asked them to ‘tell the person beside you they look gorgeous’. They all did this in funny voices, accentuating the ‘gorgeous’ which made them all laugh.
I took lots of frames over this 10-15 seconds and we ended up with lots of variations, each looking at different people and laughing.”
What advice would you give to couples who feel nervous about being photographed?
“I say it to every couple, but really research your photographer. Meet with them or have a video call before handing over any kind of deposit. Choose someone who you feel comfortable with, as ultimately you will spend a lot of time with them.
Due to my style of shooting (documentary and candid) I attract a lot of couples who are camera shy.
I also widely document that I only take couples away for 15-20 minutes max for couples’ portraits. This is very appealing for couples who are worried about feeling a bit uncomfortable, as it is only a tiny part of their day.” And you don’t need to know how to pose. “Most people’s nerves are due to having never done this before and thinking they must know how to pose. But all I ask is people turn up with a positive energy and be willing to have a go. The rest I will take care of.”
How would you describe Bea & Ash’s wedding in three words?
Fun, relaxed and wholesome.
And what can couples expect when working with you?
“I will always bring the energy that is needed. Part of my job is reading the room and giving it what it needs. If bridal prep is chilled and peaceful, I will keep calm and silently work the room. If bridesmaids are necking prosecco and dancing on the bed – I will match that energy (minus the prosecco)!
I am ALWAYS on the couple’s side no matter what happens. If they want to change plans slightly and do group shots after dinner because they are enjoying their drinks reception – that’s fine. It’s their day; we make it work. If they want to cut their cake in private or even not cut it at all, I will back them 100%.
I will always make them laugh (hopefully), and I will always end the night dancing on the dancefloor with them.”
And we think that sums up Shell perfectly – a photographer who knows when to step back, when to guide you, when to make you laugh and, most importantly, how to capture your wedding in a way that feels completely natural.
If you’re currently searching for your wedding photographer, take a look at Shell’s work and get to know her approach to documentary, candid and natural wedding photography.
And if you’re dreaming of a wedding surrounded by Norfolk countryside, beautiful light, characterful spaces and plenty of opportunities for those all-important in-between moments, we would love to welcome you to Godwick.