Business Details
31 Years
experience
Award-Winning Dorset Wedding & Portrait Photographer
With over three decades of dedicated experience in photography and visual storytelling, I have cultivated a unique approach that seamlessly blends artistic vision with technical precision. My journey began in the early 1990s at art college, where I discovered the transformative power of photography as a medium for expressing emotions and capturing fleeting moments. Specialising in wedding and portrait photography across Dorset and the New Forest, I prioritise building genuine connections with clients to create relaxed, natural imagery that reflects their individual stories.My work has been recognised with prestigious awards, including a Gold Award from the Guild of Photographers, and I remain committed to evolving my craft while maintaining a client-centred philosophy. Every session, whether a wedding or personal portrait, is approached with the same passion and attention to detail that has defined my career since 1995.
Services
Wedding Photography
Portrait Sessions
Photo Art
Pre-Wedding Shoots
Event Coverage
Details
- Year established: 1995
Highlights and features
- 30 years of dedicated wedding and portrait photography experience
- Personalised pre-wedding consultation and shoot included in all packages
- Discreet, documentary-style approach that captures authentic emotions
- Gold Award-winning photographer from the Guild of Photographers
- Flexible scheduling with venue walkthroughs close to wedding date
Associations and certifications
- Guild of Wedding Photographers
What people say
Class act throughout
Fantastic bonus pictures
Wonderful experience
Magnificent photos
Amazing photographer
Services
Wedding Photography
Specialist wedding photography capturing natural portraits and documentary-style moments across Dorset and New Forest. Using a blend of artistic vision and technical expertise, I create timeless imagery that tells your unique story. Clients benefit from pre-wedding consultations, venue walkthroughs, and a discreet approach that ensures authentic emotional capture.
Portrait Sessions
Relaxed, natural portrait photography focusing on family connections and individual personalities. Sessions begin with relationship assessment to create comfortable environments for authentic imagery. Available for family groups, couples, and individuals seeking timeless portraits that reflect genuine relationships and personal stories.
Photo Art
Artistic photography transforming landscapes and scenes into emotive visual art. Utilising movement and light manipulation techniques developed over decades, each piece captures mood and atmosphere. This service offers limited edition prints and exhibition-quality works that showcase unique perspectives on Dorset's natural beauty.
Pre-Wedding Shoots
Complimentary pre-wedding photography sessions included in all packages. Designed to build comfort with being photographed and develop rapport, these shoots provide practical experience for couples while creating memorable keepsakes. Sessions include posing guidance and location flexibility.
Event Coverage
Documentary-style photography for special occasions and charity events. Capturing key moments and emotional highlights with unobtrusive technique. Particularly experienced in charity fundraisers like the Dorset Hospital Twilight Walk and March for Men events, preserving both organisational impact and participant experiences.
People
Charles Thorne Photography
Photographer & Artist
Award-winning photographer with 30 years' experience in wedding, portrait, and artistic photography. Specialises in natural, emotive imagery while maintaining artistic integrity. Holds Craftsman distinction from the Guild of Photographers and multiple competition awards.
Questions
What areas do you cover for wedding photography?
Primarily covering Dorset and New Forest regions, with flexibility for destination weddings. Local knowledge ensures optimal use of scenic locations and weather conditions.
Do you offer pre-wedding photography sessions?
Yes, all packages include a pre-wedding shoot to build comfort with being photographed and develop rapport before your special day.
What photography styles do you specialise in?
Combining natural portraits with documentary-style coverage for weddings, plus creative movement-based techniques for artistic landscape photography.
How long have you been photographing weddings?
With nearly 30 years' experience since 1995, I've developed a refined approach to capturing authentic wedding moments while maintaining artistic quality.
What awards have you received for your work?
Gold Award winner with the Guild of Photographers for seascape photography, Craftsman distinction from the same organisation, and multiple competition accolades.
How do you ensure we feel comfortable during sessions?
Initial consultations assess your relationship with photography, followed by tailored approaches to create relaxed environments for natural imagery.
Reviews (7)
Martha Lanham
Aug 26, 2021
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Dear Charles
Thank you so much for sending our photos through, we are struggling to find the words to say how absolutely incredible they are. You have captured our day so perfectly and we have relived our wedding time and time again through your photos. Not only are they photos but they really are works of art; from the cheeky smiles of the flower girls to the raw emotion we both felt on the day and everything in between. We have had so many comments from all our guests about how lovely you were on the day quite honestly we all forgot you were there. You directed us when we all needed it and
Thank you so much for sending our photos through, we are struggling to find the words to say how absolutely incredible they are. You have captured our day so perfectly and we have relived our wedding time and time again through your photos. Not only are they photos but they really are works of art; from the cheeky smiles of the flower girls to the raw emotion we both felt on the day and everything in between. We have had so many comments from all our guests about how lovely you were on the day quite honestly we all forgot you were there. You directed us when we all needed it and
Kirby Court
Nov 13, 2019
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Thank you so much for everything, Charles. We are so pleased with the pictures you captured of our special day; they truly document the day in its entirety and we can see the story behind each image. From initial contact through to receipt of our photos, the service you provided was first class. You are a lovely, talented man who made us feel totally at ease. We consider ourselves so lucky that we found you as we could not have asked for better!
Amy Diment
May 08, 2019
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We looked long and hard to find the right person to photograph our wedding day and Charles was the perfect choice. He was a pleasure to work with, meeting us for a lovely pre-wedding shoot, helping us to plan everything out in the run-up to the big day and then providing us with a beautifully presented final set of photos once we returned from honeymoon. On the day itself he put us at ease right from the start, blending in seamlessly with our guests and other suppliers. We were really impressed at the way he worked with the bridesmaids and ushers to guide us all smoothly and very efficiently through
Jennifer Ashley
Oct 28, 2018
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Charles photographed our engagement shoot and our wedding day. He is a very friendly and relaxed photographer which in turn makes us feel happy and relaxed! He gave us advice on the best ways to stand / walk / tilt our head to optimize our positioning for a great photo. Our photos are beautiful - thank you Charles!
Raisng Hope Foundation
Jul 12, 2018
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Great photography session with my two children in June - Charles managed to capture some lovely photos - no mean feat with a 12 month old and an 11 year old! Made us all feel very relaxed from the second we met. Thoroughly recommend.
Maria McMahon
Jul 04, 2018
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We absolutely LOVE the photos Charles took of our wedding at Highcliffe Castle. We will certainly have our work cut out trying to decide which to include in the album he's creating for us, but we're already working on it and are so happy to have them all to keep to remember our special day. Not being able to be everywhere at all times throughout the day, we also now have some new moments to be able to remember that we would otherwise have missed, so HUGE thanks again for capturing all of our loved ones and happy memories so incredibly well. We will treasure these for a lifetime. Lots of love, Dan
Anna Mantle
Jun 27, 2018
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Charlie took our wedding photos and we were very pleased with the result. Beautiful pictures that really captured the spirit of the day. His unobtrusive style meant that he somehow managed to capture everything we wanted without interrupting the day. Perfect memories and natural, happy photos. I couldnt recommend Charlie more highly.
