Carlton and Carly
Added Thursday 30th April 2009
Seven hours ago I met Carlton and Carly in the orangery at Whittlebury Park!
Whittlebury is a wonderful venue, and the orangery will provide the perfect place for Carlton and Carly to celebrate their shiny new marriage in!
These two look so wonderful together. Carly has an elegance and poise about her. Others learn it to pose for photographs. But to her it's just called 'standing' or 'sitting'. Carlton is the love of her life, her handsome groom and her protector. Shots like these show a little of their relationship. He's her rock, and she's his beauty. They're going to be so happy together, and I couldn't be happier for them!
I like these next two photographs a great deal, and I couldn't quite explain why. I think it's quite simply that they look so darned cool!
One reason this photograph crops up all the time is because it's such a great metaphor. The couple walk hand in hand through their lives, with a new chapter starting here and now. Carly and Carlton are such a class act. What a guy. What a girl. Unbeatable!
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The wrong side of the lens
Added Monday 27th April 2009
Last week I went to Delapre park with four good friends and fellow photographers. We thought it would be fun to be on the wrong side of the lens for a change, and hopefully end up with some great pictures for our websites.
It's also a chance to try out one or two techniques we don't normally get time to experiment with at a real wedding. Here are Sarah Vivienne and Nigel Ord-Smith, playing with off-camera flash!
Here's the lovely Helen Bailey, and this shot is further evidence of what my friends all doubt - that I AM FUNNY!!
And Carole, hiding in an old shed!
Sarah looks bored!
OK. So here I am demonstrating poor composition, centered right on the person's head, and in landscape when it should have been portrait. But I am sitting in a tree. Maybe it will make more sense if you see her shot!
Nigel is practicing his 'reportage' technique!
Here we are with the oh-so-wonderful Carole Kelly, mucking about in some bluebells.
I had such fun with these models victims friends, and I'm looking forward to seeing all their shots, including the ones of my lovely mug! Maybe I'll post some with their permission!
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Tomorrow We'll Trust
Added Saturday 25th April 2009
Last weekend I went to see and shoot my cousin Dave and his band at their inaugural gig. They were playing the red festival at the Barfly in Birmingham. Dave's in the checked shirt.
Getting ready for their set...
Yeah. This makes me feel old.
We like to give each other a bit of a ribbing in my family. Well, we give Dave a ribbing anyway! So I hate to have to admit it in public. But the truth is, Dave is pretty darn cool actually. Coolest teenager I know.
Heading in...
Dave's axe. (Can I still get away with saying rock stuff like that?)
By the way, if you want to check out their sound, see myspace.com/tomorrowwelltrust. But bear in mind I can't be held responsible for online content provided by a bunch of unpredictable teenagers.
One of the band, unplugged (and not even on the stage!)
The room was packed with adoring fans. Way more than the previous band on. And mostly girls, I should add.
Finally a group shot of the band. Well done guys, you were awesome. One heck of a launch gig, I have to say!
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James and Lindsay
Added Thursday 23rd April 2009
 
James and Lindsay were married at St. Philips in Dorridge earlier this month. We had a lot of fun, and it was a wonderful day for photographs. I believe they'll be back from honeymoon one of these days! So I hope they love the pictures when they return.
Lindsay's beautiful bridesmaids and Mum. Mel, Susie and Chris.
Pulling into the tree-lined drive of the splendid Hogarths Hotel.
James and Lindsay had the coolest skiing and snowboarding theme for their table layouts, with these piste markers on the tables, each named after a famous resort or run. And the table plan took the form of a piste map complete with cable cars.
Lindsay's just letting the giggles out, before the serious business of portraiture can begin. No laughing in your wedding photos now!
Hogarths has one of the best layouts for photos at a wedding I've ever seen. And they keep building stuff every time I go back! The water gardens and bridges at the end of the grounds are wonderful for photos, and they're just about to finish a cool looking forrest-hugging pagoda/summer house type building, that will be used in future for actual weddings!
Stepping into the dining room to rapturous applause!
James and Lindsay, I know you had a great day. I could tell! But I wish you many more days filled with just as much joy. It's a pleasure to watch your love for each other up close, and I hope we'll see each other again soon.
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Mario and Tami, engagement session
Added Monday 20th April 2009
On Saturday, exactly one year before their wedding day, I met with Mario and Tami at their venue, the Moor Hall Hotel. It's just one of the best places to shoot, and the secret garden we spent most of our time in is one of the main reasons they chose the venue.
This is love, people! Mario and Tami are so natural and relaxed in front of the camera. At one point they said something about being nightmare clients that wouldn't stand still or stop fooling around. Couldn't be more wrong!! It's exactly this kind of familiarity and expression that creates the most wonderful, fun images.
We found this beautiful spot for photos, an ornate white summer house with soft light inside and lovely sunshine behind. Perfect! Tami has these beautiful, wide eyes that remind me of one of those heroines from a Disney movie, like Belle or Pocahontas. And the best part is the way she lights up with Mario. They play off one another and their affection is plain to see.
Maybe I should explain! I was just telling Tami this is the pose we can use to see the back of her dress. Mario is practising.
 
And then on to a few great shots of Tami by herself. I don't know what else to tell you gents, but sometimes, it is all about the bride!
I mean this girl is gorgeous. You can't take a bad picture of Tami!
Surveying the grounds of the venue from the lovely conservatory area.
And sitting down in the room where, one year from Saturday, these two will share their first meal as husband and wife, and celebrate their marriage with all their loved ones. Tami and Mario, I wish you all the happiness in the world for the next 363 days, and from there on after!
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Blenheim Palace
Added Tuesday 14th April 2009
It's good to dream big. Back when I started out in business I would have been thrilled to know about the work I'm doing now and the amazing weddings I get to photograph. But I keep on aiming higher, and going after bigger goals. One of them (along with shooting Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding) is to book a wedding at Blenheim Palace.
Last week I went to visit for the first time with a friend who shares a fascination with things old and crumbly. It's an amazing place, and I can recommend a whole day there to see the gardens, lanscapes, monuments, sculptures, paintings, glorious interiors and exhibits. You can see the room where Winston Churchill was born (like all babies, he probably did look most like Winston Churchill) and the garden temple where he proposed marriage to Clementine. In fact, he said of Blenheim:
"At Blenheim I took two very important decisions: to be born and to marry. I am happily content with the decisions I took on both those occasions."
On this particular occasion I wasn't allowed to photograph the beautiful things I wanted to at Blenheim. So I just took this from the courtyard, and left the other glorious sights to my memory. I swapped camera bag for packed lunch, and enjoyed the rest of the day.
Since my visit I've learned lots about the building and it's history. So much so that I'm going to have to go back and see it all again. I can only hope it will be with a bride and groom-to-be!
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Simon and Nicola's engagement pictures
Added Friday 10th April 2009
This week I went to see Simon and Nicola, whose wedding is coming up fast in May!
 
They're such a sweet couple, who are planning a wonderfully personal day, with the reception held in a marquee at Nicola's family home.
 
We finished up in the garden, where the newest member of the family - five month old Daisy came to join us. First, for a family portrait, and then Simon released the hound! Sick him, girl! (except, she thought he said "lick")
 
Finally, a portrait of a beautiful bride-to-be. Hellooo, Nicola!
 
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