Why Smiling Tiger?
When I photograph weddings, it’s always about you.
But if you’re curious, here’s a little more about me.
The name Smiling Tiger reflects instinct and awareness — the ability to quietly read a room, sense when something meaningful is about to unfold, and be ready without ever interrupting it.
I don’t direct emotion. I don’t manufacture moments.
I observe, anticipate, and respond.
Whether it’s a glance between family members, a squeeze of the hand, or something wonderfully unplanned during the speeches, I’m already noticing the light, the angle, the timing — ready to preserve it as it happens.
When you look back at your photographs and film, you won’t just see what happened.
You’ll see moments you didn’t even realise were there.
Documented honestly. Preserved naturally. Timelessly yours.
Moments Over Formalities
My aim is to have as little impact on your wedding day as possible.
No orchestration. No unnecessary direction.
You live the day — I’ll quietly capture it.
Portraits are created efficiently and naturally, without dragging you away from your guests for long stretches. You’ll still have beautiful images together, just without it feeling like a production.
And yes, we’ll do the family group photographs too — calmly, smoothly, and without turning them into an endurance test. The goal is always to give you more time to mix, mingle, and stay present.
Emotional context has always been at the heart of my work.
There’s something magnetic about real human connection — the vulnerability, the joy, the quiet strength in relationships. Stripping things back and capturing those truths creatively has always been my passion.
My perspective has undoubtedly been shaped by my own neurodiversity. Following a diagnosis of ADHD in adulthood, I’ve come to understand how it has influenced the way I see the world — heightened awareness, relentless focus when it matters, and an instinctive sensitivity to connection.
What once felt different now feels like a gift.
It fuels the energy and drive behind my work, helping me notice subtle interactions and fleeting expressions others might miss.
A Team That Sees Like I Do
When I collaborate with other creatives under the Smiling Tiger banner, I look for the same qualities — awareness, empathy, and an ability to tune into raw emotion at precisely the right moment.
Many have earned professional recognition for their documentary work and are members of respected photographic organisations. But more importantly, they share the same instinct: to capture real moments, honestly.
Who is Behind Smiling Tiger?
Linus Moran and William Bazlinton are a seasoned creative team with a shared dedication to capturing authentic moments through photography and film. Linus, a Creative Director with a background in international photojournalism, brings over 15 years of global experience and a distinctive eye for emotional depth in his work. Partnering seamlessly with photographer William Bazlinton, the two have spent the last eight years working together, intuitively supporting one another to achieve powerful visual storytelling. Their work, part of the Smiling Tiger team, is marked by an unerring focus on raw emotion and human connection, an approach that has earned them recognition within the field of documentary photography and videography.
Linus Moran
Creative Director Linus Moran began his professional career within international photojournalism. Having graduated art school in Salisbury, Linus’s journey into the world of wedding photography and videography has been anything but conventional. After a brief stint at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall, He worked for over 15 years covering world assignments, then relocated to Eastern Europe for a number of years to setting up his own photo agency.
When he’s not behind the lens, Linus can be found at the gym – lifting weights, or exploring the stunning landscapes of the West Country. Accompanied by his stunning Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs, which he also breeds, Linus finds inspiration in the natural beauty and tranquility of the countryside.
Linus and Will have worked together for the last 8 years, intuitively knowing the shot they both want, each creating the opportunity for the other to get the best coverage they can when shooting film and stills.
William Bazlinton
When working as a team, Will Bazlinton is an integral part of Smiling Tiger Studios, specialising in stills photography. With over eight years of collaboration alongside Linus, Will brings an intuitive understanding of storytelling to every project. Their seamless partnership ensures both video and photography are captured with a shared vision, creating space for each other to deliver the best possible coverage in any situation.
Will’s work is grounded in his passion for authentic storytelling. A graduate of UCA in Surrey with a BA in Photography, he has honed his craft over two decades, specialising in portraiture and human connection. For Will, photography is a way to understand and remember—capturing moments of raw emotion and the unique stories they tell.
Part of a team renowned for their creative documentary style and dedication to capturing genuine moments, Will embodies Smiling Tiger Studios’ ethos of producing natural, timeless images that resonate with honesty and heart. If you’re looking for stills that reflect the essence of the moment without artifice, Will’s work is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Our Charity Pledge
We’ve documented so many happy days, and feel hugely lucky that we get to experience human emotion and love as part of our work. We also acknowledge those times when important people have been missing from those events, people who should have been there but were not.
It is really important for us to donate to a charity that provides everyone with the support they need, no matter what. Our chosen charity is CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably), a charity that shows we must stand together to show that life is always worth living.
A percentage of every wedding booking we take goes directly to this charity, through our Just Giving page.
Ready to book?
If we’ve struck the balance right and you’re still reading this at the bottom of the page, there’s a good chance we’ll get along. Hopefully the imagery resonates and you’re interested to know how we could capture your day.
Drop us a line through the contact form, or fix a date in our diary for a brief chat to sound one another out! All details can be found by hitting the button below. Hope to speak soon!
Frequently Asked Questions
Below, I’ve answered some of the most common questions I get asked about my services. From how I work on the day to the specifics of packages and delivery, I’m here to make the process as simple as possible. If you have any further questions, feel free to get in touch!
Based near Blandford and Bournemouth, I’m a Dorset wedding photographer and videographer, offering my services throughout the UK and occasionally abroad to ensure your wedding day is beautifully captured, wherever it may be.
To secure my services, simply complete my online contract and pay a £500 booking fee. Once that’s done, your date is confirmed, and I’m all set to capture your special day!
I’m a member of the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA), an international organisation for professional photographers skilled in candid, unobtrusive wedding photography, joining some of the most respected, award-winning photojournalists worldwide.
I provide professional Dorset wedding photography, dedicating full attention to each wedding. I personally oversee every step, from shooting and editing to colour correction, retouching, and album design. Every album is meticulously quality checked before being presented to the client, ensuring a truly personalised and exceptional result.
Large enough for poster prints, if desired. All images are high-quality and delivered in full resolution.
Absolutely! You’re fully licensed to print as many copies as you like for your personal use. Friends and family can also order prints directly from your gallery.
Certainly, I’m covered with up to £10m for public liability and professional indemnity, including photography and drone operations.
I typically share a selection of 12-20 preview photos within a couple of days, with the full set ready within two weeks. During busy periods, this may take up to a month. Film previews are delivered within three weeks, and the full highlight video is available within six weeks.
Ready to say “I do”?
I’d love to hear about your wedding plans and how I can help capture your special day.
Get in touch with me today to check availability or discuss your vision and let’s create something unforgettable together.
Brock & Sophie at The Tudor Barn, Burnham - midweek, smaller guest list, and the whole day flowing beautifully.
The standout? Sophie’s dad arriving in a pillar-box red classic American convertible and delivering her in absolute style. They’d already done the legal bit earlier, so a friend-led ceremony made everything feel personal, warm and completely them.
A proper celebration, done with calm confidence.
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#TheTudorBarn #BurnhamWedding #BuckinghamshireWedding #WeddingPhotographer #DocumentaryWeddingPhotography
Mar 25
James & Carly at Knoll House, Studland - the most chilled coastal wedding day, with one unexpected moment right at the start.
A helicopter landed near the ceremony field… not a guest, just someone needing the bathroom - and the downdraft sent decor flying across the grass. Everyone laughed, rallied, and the day rolled on perfectly.
Friend-led ceremony, drinks on the lawns, speeches with a proper roast, then James & Carly handing out guest awards (some only the inner circle will ever understand). Short portrait session in the field, then leaving them with plenty in the tank for their big Las Vegas wedding a few weeks later.
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#KnollHouse #StudlandWedding #DorsetWeddingPhotographer #DocumentaryWeddingPhotography #CoastalWedding
Mar 11
Angel & Stephanie flew in from Texas with one mission - pull off the most romantic surprise proposal in the UK.
Stourhead was the dream location. Period drama perfection. Pride & Prejudice energy. And Stephanie, a full-on fan, had no idea what was coming.
Angel planned this properly - he reached out well ahead of the trip so we could hatch the whole thing: Temple of Apollo, exact spot, angles, where I’d be waiting, how we’d make it feel effortless.
Then reality tried to spoil it. Public transport to Stourhead is basically planes, trains and automobiles - and they arrived over an hour late. But somehow… that made it even sweeter. The anticipation. The nerves. The pressure.
And then Angel did it. Perfectly. Completely under the radar. Stephanie’s reaction said everything - and yes… she said YES.
Afterwards we wandered the lake for portraits and a few little video clips to lock the feeling in forever.
If you’re planning a UK proposal (and you want it captured quietly, beautifully, without ruining the surprise) drop us a message and tell us what you’re dreaming up.
#StourheadProposal #SurpriseProposal #ProposalPhotographerUK #PrideAndPrejudice #CouplesPhotography
Mar 9
Gemma & Nick - a proper Weymouth beach wedding on a scorching summer day.
Confetti storm outside St John’s Church with sunglasses on, a promenade walk to the Pavilion, then harbour portraits using the rowing boat taxi to get close to the lifeboats (Nick’s world) and a jetty that mattered to them both.
Then they handed guests tokens for the amusement rides beside the beach. Chaos, laughter, and the most perfect seaside energy.
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#WeymouthWedding #WeymouthPavilion #DorsetWeddingPhotographer #DocumentaryWeddingPhotography #BeachWedding
Feb 27
Tian & Julius - a micro wedding at Winchester Registry Office on a scorching summer day, with their Golden Retriever right at the heart of it all.
They got the full classic Cadillac experience (two separate trips, properly enjoyed), kept the ceremony intimate with mostly close friends, then we grabbed confetti, a few fast portraits and headed for a quick detour to The Gurkha Museum for those bold architectural backdrops.
Small wedding. Big feeling. Exactly our kind of day.
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#WinchesterWedding #HampshireWeddingPhotographer #MicroWedding #RegistryOfficeWedding #DocumentaryWeddingPhotography
Feb 26
Valentine’s Day weddings hit different - and Rhiannon & Andy’s was pure joy from the first minute.
They tied the knot at North Cadbury Court with their mountain dog Rafiki right in the mix, and the ceremony exit was everything - big smiles, a proper thumbs-up to their people, then walking back down the aisle together like, “Yep. We did that.”
But the moment that stole the whole room? The surprise Irish dance.
After the first ceilidh set, Rhiannon disappeared for a quick change… then re-entered to The Corrs - Toss the Feathers. The room was stunned. Then her sister Ciara joined her on the floor and the two of them absolutely owned it. Nobody saw it coming. Everyone felt it.
And right afterwards - the payoff. Their dad, in tears, grabbing his girls in a hug so raw the whole room went quiet for a second. That’s the stuff. That’s the memory.
Congrats Rhiannon & Andy - enjoy that honeymoon. Thanks for an epic wedding. You’re both stars.
#NorthCadburyCourt #SomersetWeddingPhotographer #DocumentaryWeddingPhotography #WeddingReception #WeddingInspiration
Feb 17