Mark and Natalie's wedding

Added Monday 23rd June 2008



Mark and Natalie are an amazing couple, and the kind of customers a photographer loves to have! Apart from being most attractive, they're also lots of fun, and keen to enjoy themselves while they get the best out of their photographs.



The girls got ready in the sunlit conservatory at Natalie's parents house in Silverstone. It was as mum put it, "chaos, but lovely chaos"! Here's Natalie practising her pout...



And arriving in style with Dad.





Some of my favourite pictures so far this year were down at the lake, after hanging on for dear life to the side of the horse drawn carriage (thanks for the lift guys!)



We had a great day at Whittlebury Park. Great weather, great company, great food!

Chris and Naomi engagement pictures

Added Monday 16th June 2008



Yesterday afternoon I met with Chris and Naomi at the Falcon Hotel for some practise shots and to enjoy the glorious sunshine together!



Chris and Naomi met 7 years ago at university in Bath, and were engaged in November last year. They wanted a summer wedding, but just couldn't wait until 2009 to be husband and wife! And who can blame them, right? So they've gotten their act together PDQ and organised their wonderful wedding, which is now less than four weeks away!

The Falcon will be packed with 120 of Chris and Naomi's adoring fans, family and friends, and I can't wait - it's going to be brilliant!



When was the last time you enjoyed a sneaky kiss behind the bushes?!



Ladies and gentlemen, we present 'the falcon'...

Later in the evening I headed over to Raunds to meet with a lovely couple who've booked me for their wedding in May 2009. On the way over I couldn't help stopping off in Stanwick for some of that magic air they've got over there. Seriously, the first time I got out of the car in Stanwick to recce a venue years ago I took a deep breath and thought "mmmm!" Try it some time. You'll feel so much better.

Michael and Amy, it was so nice to meet you both. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who sings along to the adverts, and I can't wait to work with you. Say hello to Parker's Piece for me. I miss Cambridge!

Last 2008 summer dates

Added Sunday 15th June 2008

The 2008 wedding season is well underway! I'm shooting weddings almost every weekend and editing, proofing, designing and meeting throughout the week. But a lot of couples are still making plans for their weddings this year. So here are the remaining Fridays and Saturdays I have available in 2008 as of now:

July: 18, 19, 25
August: 1, 15, 23, 29
September: 12, 19, 20, 26, 27
October: 3, 4, 24, 25, 31
November: 1, 7, 14, 15, 21, 28, 29
December: 12, 13, 19, 27

Please note, these are just the Fridays and Saturdays. Other days are available too, give me a call to check!



If you're still looking for a photographer for this year, please get in touch. I'm very keen to get to know you and find out what you're hoping to achieve with your photographs. Tell me what you were hoping to spend. I'd rather be with you on your big day than anywhere else.

All digital 'CD package'

You've probably noticed by now that choosing a photographer is not just about which albums, prints and optional extras you get for the price. You're choosing someone with the right skill level and personality to document your wedding in a fresh, inspiring, romantic and fun way. The 'CD package', previously restricted to off-peak days is now available any day for the rest of 2008. This gives you exactly the same great photography all day by me, and all the photographs with copyright permission on CD. Think about albums later, or just make your own prints.

Eamon and Jennie's Wedding

Added Thursday 12th June 2008

Well my plan worked. All that talk of rain practically guaranteed us a beautiful day for Eamon and Jennie as they were married at the Catholic cathedral on Barrack Road.

The house was pretty chaotic in the morning, with 5 bridesmaids, plus page boys and flower girls. The kids were lots of fun - while the girls dresses were put on, the boys were pulling their socks off. While the socks were put back on, the girls went to play with Hugo the dog. Hugo was amazingly well behaved, despite not being allowed to join in with much of the fun.



Jennie of course, remained cool and gorgeous throughout the whole process. She has a serene and warm nature that's particularly attractive, and it was lovely to watch her interact with her family and loved ones throughout the day. She reminds me so much of another famous Jennie I used to know!



The cathedral is one of my favourite places to shoot. It's big, light and airy, there's space to shoot from either side and plenty of room for group photographs outside. It has the added advantage of being 20 seconds walk from Eamon and Jennie's house! I always enjoy speaking to Father John before and after weddings here.



Eamon and the boys, looking confident!







The Northampton Golf Course has beautiful grounds, including this lovely bridge. Gavin, the general manager of the venue took me down in a golf buggy, while Eamon drove his new wife down after us.



I really enjoyed working here, and I'm very much looking forward to my dear friends' wedding in December. Gavin is doing a great job of re-launching the club as a premiere wedding venue, and has some exciting plans for the future. My congratulations too to ace wedding planner Alice Sibley on another great job. I can't wait to work with you again soon!



Eamon and Jennie, my warmest congratulations to you both. Have a wonderful time on honeymoon and give me a call when you get back!

Scooby-doo

Added Sunday 8th June 2008

On Saturday afternoon I was chatting with Gemma - one of Jennie's bridesmaids, during the reception at the Northampton Golf Course. She asked me about my work and I explained that yes, weddings were my speciality. I do other photographic work every now and then, but it's usually an off-shoot from a conversation or a person I met at a wedding. Certainly I only invest a great deal of time in marketing wedding photography. I see nothing wrong with specialising in the area you are most talented in and love the best!

I had of course, momentarily forgotten about today's assignment!



I had volunteered to take photographs at Sywell school's summer fete this afternoon. This involved taking - amongst other things - about 100 pictures of Scooby and Shaggy, with various heads poking through. We were selling prints for £1 each (Zoiks! What a bargain!) with all proceeds going to the school.



But it's funny how things work out. I was working with a lady called Jeni Channer, who makes custom-designed one off wedding dresses (she's scooby in the picture with me, above). She was lovely to meet, and if you're considering having your very own dress specially made, or if you simply can't find exactly what you're looking for anywhere, do give her a call on 01604 670531.



Among many things to do there was a stand from the local bird of prey handlers. Plenty of creatures exceed our sense of smell. My friend's dog Misty, can tell with a single sniff, who's round for tea in the next room! But owls are one of those amazing aninals with eyesight far superior to ours. An owl's eyes may be 100 times more sensitive than a human's. And this guy certainly had a penetrating gaze. So yes, I was glad to help out the local school, have a delicious hot-dog and all the orange squash I could drink, but I also did it for the birds.

And next time I think I'm taking myself too seriously, I'll remember to say "A-rooby dooby do, good one, Shaggy!"