A photographer who built his business up from scratch says his soul has been crushed after £5,000 of camera equipment was stolen from a wedding he was shooting.

Constantin and Irina Culic were left "sick to the stomach" after finding two Nikon cameras, adaptors, lenses and batteries had gone.

The couple moved to England from Moldova seven years ago, with no money or family and started Costa Weddings UK in May 2019.

Constantin said: "When I shot my first wedding, it felt like your first kiss – it gives you this power and excitement, and made me believe I could do this.

"Through word of mouth and recommendations I started to get more clients.

"It's a very emotionally rewarding job, with some of the brides saying my pictures have made them cry."

The Aylesford resident was booked to do a job at a venue in Hertfordshire.

He said: "I have learnt that when you go to a wedding, you must have options and be prepared for unexpected events.

"At a full-day wedding I have everything with me, including four cameras, longer lenses and extra battery packs.

"Sometimes you have to leave equipment somewhere, as you can't carry four cameras around your neck all the time."

He added: "This particular wedding was a very private location, in the middle of nowhere and there was only the guests, staff and maybe a couple of hotel guests present.

"I was due to finish at 9.30pm and at 9pm it was the cutting of the cake and the first dance. I only took one wide lens with me to get the last few shots.

"When I went to get my stuff at 9.40pm, my bag was missing – it felt like my hands and arms had fallen off.

"It was a shock for me, and I honestly didn't know what to do."

Constantin had tucked his bag underneath a table with the guest book to make sure to "hide it from plain sight".

The lost equipment totalled around £5,000.

Not only that, but Constantin's car keys were in the bag that was stolen.

He says he didn't make it home until 3am, as he had to wait for a friend to drive to him with a spare key.

As well as the equipment that was lost, many of the images from the wedding were also on the cameras.

"I told the couple, they stopped the music and asked everyone to have a look for my bag," Constantin explained.

"The most hurtful part was that my soul was in that bag, and it kind of crushed my soul.

"That couple lost memories from their most important day, I cannot reshoot that.

"It was a really sad ending to a beautiful wedding – I was devastated."

Irina previously worked as a sales assistant and Constantin did night shifts at a warehouse, but they quit their jobs to pursue their photography business full-time.

"This year is the first time we are doing photography as our full-time jobs," Constantin explained.

"On a few occasions I would go straight from my night shift in the morning to the wedding – sleep in the car park for a few hours – shoot the wedding, come home, sleep and then go back to the job again."

The pair contacted their insurance company after the theft but were told they were not covered as the item was left unattended.

They also filed a police report the following day, with Irina adding: "The only update they gave us is that they would send an officer to the venue.

"The establishment had no CCTV in the area that the bag was taken.

"A member of staff checked the cameras at the entrance and said that they couldn't see anyone walking out with the bag."

Constantin hopes that his story can warn other people in the industry to not make the same mistake.

He said: "I tell this to all my fellow photographers and friends because I want to raise awareness.

"Looking back I think 'this could have happened so many times', but you are not expecting a person to do that."

"Thinking about it, I honestly hope it was someone who didn't know the couple," Irina reflected.

"As awful as it sounds, I wouldn't want it to be a family member or friend that would do something like this. It's just terrible."

The pair have said they are now investing in Apple AirTags, which can track items via your phone.

Irina started a page on GoFundMe, so that they would be able to raise money to buy new equipment again.

She said she "thought they would only receive about £150" and Constantin mentioned that "seeing the messages of support gave me hope".

Click here to donate.

So far the couple has raised nearly £1,300, and has had 52 donations.