2009 availability and two new dates
Added Wednesday 25th March 2009
 Due to unexpected changes of some customers schedules, I have become available on the 26th of July and 22nd of August this year. This doesn't usually happen, and means I'll now be free to shoot weddings on those dates.
I'll be getting the word to as many brides as possible who initially enquired after these dates but I sadly had to turn away. But if you've been planning one of these days, or any other date this year and are hoping for a good deal, please get in touch.
I'm always keen to fill up those last dates in the summer, and with only a few months to go, maybe you can get the photographer you really wanted, at the price you were hoping for! I can, for example, offer the DVD package for any remaining date this year. The beauty of this package is you are still getting the same great knockout photography as my top-of-the-line, make-all-your-friends-jealous package. That is to say, you get me for the day! But rather than paying for an album, you get all the images on disk with copyright permission to make your own prints.
Other Fridays and Saturdays currently possible this summer are:
April: 10, 11, 17, 18, 24
May: 1, 8, 16, 22, 29, 30
June: 5, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26
July: 3, 10, 11, 17, 18, 31
August: 14, 15, 21, 22, 28
Give me a call, and we'll talk turkey!
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Happy Mothers Day
Added Friday 20th March 2009
A very happy and blessed mothers day for Sunday to anyone who is, was, has or ever had a mother!
This week I went to Mamas and Papas to 'help' buy presents for the newest addition to our USA family:
Welcome, Joseph. Woohoo!!
At first - like any man - I immediately gravitated towards the hardware; all-terrain buggies, digital walkie-talkies baby monitors, and the miraculous IsoFix car seat system (WOW!)
But then I started to imagine the tiny hands that would grasp the cuddly giraffes and rabbits that were all around me, and I flicked through books about pregnancy and newborns. I thought about what it would be like to mother (or for that matter father) a child. I did not see it coming. Just for the briefest of moments...
I caught a glimpse.
And I said to myself: "You know NOTHING, mister." But I know a little more than I did last week. Because I caught a glimpse.
 
Here's sending all the love in the world to a wonderful mother, Jennie, and her fine husband Eamon, who have had a baby girl, Emmy! I can't wait to see this lovely family again, and I wish them every blessing and happiness. Of all the places on earth Emmy could have landed, I can't think of a better one than in Eamon and Jennie's home. For all the history this family will share, I am priviliged to have been there near the start of it all to document their wedding.
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Your Church Wedding
Added Tuesday 17th March 2009
A couple of weeks ago on an engagement shoot, David and Sarah told me they'd seen my name in some literature they'd been given by their vicar, about their wedding. I'd forgotten that the notes I wrote on photography in church weddings were going to be making it into the hands of brides all over the place. So last week at the NEC I sneaked a copy for myself!
You may be aware of recent changes in the rules regarding where you can get married in the church of England. Now, rather than being solely based on parishes and things, a number of connections you might have with a church are listed. They say the average person now has a choice of around seven.
To coincide with this change, the C of E has run a 'weddings project' to look at marriages in the church, and how couples feel about them. A lot of people tell me that a church wedding is not for them for whatever reason, and I understand completely. I'd like to say that I'm in awe of every couple's love, wherever they tie the knot! But my fear is that some couples who would have liked to marry in church didn't ask because they assumed they wouldn't be welcome. Yes, news can travel slowly in an organisation like the church, but the new message surely has to be: "you are welcome!"
www.yourchurchwedding.org
Here's the bishop of Leicester, Tim Stevens talking to visitors at the wedding show last year. I'm immensely proud of this group for spending the cash (that I know they would have had to!) to go and meet brides and grooms where they were (shopping!)
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National Wedding Show
Added Friday 13th March 2009
On Thursday I went to the National Wedding Show at the NEC. I'll be exhibiting again in October, so this time I just dropped by for a sneaky look around and to make some new friends!
I had a chat to the girls at FYEO - For Your Eyes Only, who provide fabulous boudoir photography for women, and now men! Having these kind of shots done is a great way for a woman to feel good about herself, and is a fantastic gift for your groom. It's something I'm often asked about, and always consider doing more of, but I've sent lots of brides their way, and heard great things about them.
There's tons to see at the show, including some beautiful florals from Mes Jolies Fleurs.
 
A number of exhibitors were offering interesting 'alternative gift lists'. I'd like to make a proper mention of those in a future blog.
weddingrunner.com were providing these cool personalised red carpets for the ultimate aisle experience!
I toured the show with good friends and uber-talented photographers, Sarah Vivienne and Carole Kelly. After a while we got hungry, and had some soup and hatched a brilliant plan to take some crazy photos around the NEC piazza, while confused bridal parties passed us by.
Thank you Carole, for grabbing my camera and taking some cool photos of me!
 
 
Thanks to Sarah for this one!
Don't forget:
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Michael and Amy
Added Thursday 12th March 2009
I met Michael and Amy in June last year, and we hit it off straight away. They're such a sweet couple, and are really looking for the kind of photos I can give them for their wedding day - fun, relaxed, and beautiful!
It was raining hard when I got to my old favourite, the Falcon in Castle Ashby on Sunday :-( but somehow we managed to dodge the raindrops and pull some lovely shots together.
 
 
 
 
Just at the end of our time together, Mr. Sun pokes his head through, and illuminates this tiny spot by the front door. So we were all over it!
 
 
Smooching in the fireplace!
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James and Lindsay at Hogarths
Added Tuesday 10th March 2009
 
James and Lindsay will be getting married in April in Dorridge, with their reception at the splendid Hogarths Hotel. We went down one wet morning to take a look round, and shoot some great portraits!
 
There are some great spots in the extensive grounds of the hotel for photos. As it happens, I've never been there in the summer! So I'm looking forward to taking some great pictures with James and Lindsay.
 
 
 
As they put the finishing touches to their exciting wedding plans, I just want to wish the happy couple-to-be, much happiness and peace in the coming weeks. We're going to have a great time!
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golf
Added Monday 9th March 2009
This weekend I went along to Widney Manor golf club with my friends, Kyle and Andy. They play golf well. I don't. But I wanted to try some sporting shots, so I followed them round for a bit. Them selecting clubs, me selecting lenses.
 
Looking for a ball...
 
Andy hit his ball so hard it broke! I didn't know they did that.
On the 17th hole, I swapped camera for club with Kyle, and stepped up to the tee. Yep, took me about ten swings to actually make contact with the ball and when I did, this is how far it travelled!!
 
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Stuart and Lindsay
Added Thursday 5th March 2009
On Monday I had the great pleasure of hanging out with Stuart and Lindsay at Harrowden Hall, the location of their wedding in August this year. These two are so much fun to shoot. Lindsay especially - loves to have her picture taken, because she just knows she looks so good. (OK, so what actually happened is that she claimed not to like having her picture taken. But she's not fooling me.)
 
Kiss me quick!!
 
 
Harrowden Hall is a wonderful location for photos. (And a wedding, for that matter.)
 
And sneaking off to the secret garden. I think the thing about Stuart and Lindsay is the heat! They look so in love. They've been together for years, and I've no doubt they're the kind of sweet people who only get more affectionate and more in love as time goes by.
 
My best advice for photos is to wear your hearts on your sleeves. If you let your emotions show, I won't miss it. Stuart and Lindsay are obviously very much in love. It's un-fakeable, un-photoshop-able, and pure magic to shoot! Can't wait!
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