Stephen and Helena

Added Thursday 28th August 2008



I had a lot of fun shooting Stephen and Helena's beautiful wedding in Banbury. Here's Helena looking gorgeous before she'd even finished getting ready. But I have to watch out - she calls me a creep when I try and get away with stuff like that! I don't know, maybe she's just used to compliments, but she's going to have to put up with it a bit longer. She was breathtaking on Saturday. You'll all back me up, right?

These beauties caused a stir with all the ladies present at the house. They were passed round as looks of awe and possibly even unconcealed jealousy were exchanged!



Stephen's a really lucky guy, and his expression here seems to suggest he knows it! But more on that later.





Last minute preparation. I've never seen a bride use a car mirror like this before. As I said, Helena is a lot of fun to shoot!





I love it when a little moment like this breaks the ice at the ceremony. Everyone's happy, everyone's rooting for the bride and groom, but there's also a little positive tension as man and woman face one another for the first time as bride and groom. It just takes a laugh from a baby or an amusing comment for a church-full of smiles to break out and everyone to feel relaxed.



See what I mean? (creep creep) I love Helena's veil. It's original, simple and beautiful. This is one of my favourite shots of the year - it's going in the book!!





Driving Mum and Dad away from the church!



Another of my 2008 favourites. There are loads of pictures of these two kissing, and I make no apology for it! They were just so good at it, and it's so completely natural. Stephen and Helena are tender and loving in front of the world. They even close their eyes for goodness sake. How romantic is that?! You can't even pose this stuff if you try to!



Banbury House is Helena's workplace, and she was warmly greeted by friends and colleagues, who looked after us all so well throughout the evening.











What's so funny? There's that creepy guy with the camera again!



OK, more on why Stephen's such a lucky guy! The shot on the right is one of my favourites from the whole day. Because, in his arms, this man holds what is most precious to him in all the world - his family. When I was editing the hundreds of photos we got through on Saturday, I stopped on this one and just stared for ages. There's something so powerful and beautiful about a family. I really believe it's how God meant us to be. Whilst far from perfect (photos on a dance floor are tricky!) this image will stay with me. Thank you both for showing it to me, and for making me a small part of your big day. God bless you all.



There's a little tear in this little chap's eyes. Must be time for bed!

Kris and Louise

Added Monday 25th August 2008

As I entered the house in the morning, I overhead a strange conversation coming from the kitchen. Louise was being chased by a pretty scary terrapin and dashed into her parents room for safety. The terrapin gave chase (presumably quite slowly?) so she evaded it by hanging from the light fitting. Of course, the fitting gave way and she plunged down onto her Mum and Dad's bed. And that's when she woke up, apparently.



After such a dramatic start to her day, Louise seemed pretty cool, and the girls had a lot of fun as they got ready. There are actually quite a few creatures living at Gary and Carol's house, some real and some not. After one particular shot I remember asking Louise: "Is it OK that there's a big cuddly tarantula sitting on a KFC bucket in this one?" (we did that one again)



The gorgeous Olton Friary, from the handy balcony. It's great how many catholic churches build an area for photographers to shoot from at the back. Of course, the choir sometimes use it too.



The boys!



Gemma, Clio and Vicky. Top bridesmaids!





She just doesn't stop smiling!









As you may have noticed from their engagement portraits. Kris and Louise look so unbelievably natural in front of the camera. I'd love to tell you it's entirely because of how friendly and approachable I am, but to be honest, I think these two just love each other like no-one's watching.











I have to ask, what girl wouldn't love a guy like Kris? We saw the way he treated Louise with tenderness and affection, and (once the pre-wedding butterflies were gone) he's cool as beans. Louise loves him back with all her heart, and these two thoroughly deserve each other, and to be happy. I've no doubt whatsoever that they will be.



Hens, practising the 'come hither' look!



See? Louise can't help smiling. Even when some girls try to steal her umbrella.





There's a garter in here somewhere!



Halfway through the evening, the power cut out, thanks to an aweful lot of water and a ropey generator. So the bridal party entertained us with a hearty YMCA.



What a great day! Kris and Louise are such a sweet couple, and it was so fun to be with them on their special day. We had some pretty spectacular rain at one point, and the venue staff had a few major marquee-related incidents to handle. But nothing stopped these two wonderful people from enjoying the best day of their lives. I hope the photos show it, because to those of us there it was just...obvious!

Paul and Julia

Added Monday 18th August 2008



Paul and Julia were married on the 8th of the 8th 2008! It was wonderful to share their intimate, personal ceremony and celebrations with them and their families. First, here's Julia, all dressed up and looking absolutely gorgeous, and with bridesmaid Silva, and Julia's own best man, Gwyn!





hotness..



I think we got them into the same room just in time. Both Paul and Julia were simultaneously feeling the wedding day butterflies setting in. It's really sweet how in-sync these two lovely people are. I didn't see at the time, but when you zoom right in to Julia's eyes here, you can see a couple of big tears almost ready to drop!





BLING!



Julia's dress has this cute lacy texture all over, trimmed with a ribbon and broach at the waist. And here's Silva, giving out masses of confetti.









The falcon has a cute little cottage to one side, with a nice front garden for photos. At least, we're pretty sure it belongs to the Falcon!! Some guy came out to see what we were doing, but seemed pretty relaxed when he saw a bride and groom. It got me thinking though, about just what a girl could get away with in a white dress.



Just before they entered the marquee for the reception meal, Paul and Julia shared a little moment as he gave her the gift of a necklace. They don't think I noticed, but I did. Sneaky-sneaky.



Paul and Julia, congratulations again on your marriage! It was a wonderful wedding that I was so thrilled to be a part of. Take good care of each other, and I'll see you soon!

Matthew and Kirsty's engagement portraits

Added Thursday 14th August 2008



I first met Matthew in the bar of the Tally Ho in Arncott, at Dan and Zoe's wedding in May. He was there with his fiance Kirsty, who is a close friend of Zoe's. He spotted me working on images on the laptop and asked for a card. A few weeks later we sat in their living room and looked through some sample albums together, and made plans for their wedding, now just over a month away!



Kirsty and Matthew will be married in St. Mary's, Launton, and hold their wedding reception at the Bicester golf and country club. It's an impressive venue, and they have some exciting plans underway for a new hotel on site. The balcony and dining room area looks great for entertaining the many friends and family Matthew and Kirsty have invited to share their wedding with!



In the last few weeks before the wedding, these two are rushing around finishing all sorts of things, personally delivering bridesmaid's dresses as far as Cornwall and Guernsey! They're planning a nice long honeymoon in Lanzarote, and I could tell they're definately looking forward to not planning a wedding anymore! But don't worry guys, it's always busiest just before the wedding, and then we're going to have a blast on the day! Take good care of each other - I can't wait to see you soon!

Richard and Carly engagement pictures

Added Tuesday 12th August 2008

On Sunday I met up with Richard and Carly, to take a look at their chosen wedding venue, the highly prestigious Hellidon Lakes.



They're such a nice couple, and they just look so great together on camera. As good as they look together in real life, for that matter!



Hellidon is an awesome wedding venue. I've worked with Catherine Kidson (not to be confused with Kath Kidston!) there so many times and I'm always impressed with her team's professionalism and attention to detail. Theirs is one of the few hotel-based wedding fairs I still exhibit at. For some reason, they only seem to have the very coolest brides and grooms married there.







As we walked round the grounds, Carly and Richard claimed they didn't particularly enjoy having their photo taken. But I'm not buying! They're a hot couple, and I'm really looking forward to their wedding which is now just over three weeks away!



(Many thanks to whichever bride left some spare roses outside for us to steal, above)

Doug and Helen's Wedding

Added Monday 11th August 2008

Doug and Helen were married on the 2nd of August at Sywell church. I have so many favourites I just couldn't choose. The files in a blog entry are named with sequential letters, so here are 26!!



Helen was so beautiful. I can't get over her lovely smile and awesome sense of humour. She had a lot of fun, and made sure everyone around her did too! Here's one very proud Dad seeing his daughter's dress for the very first time.



Perfect angle from a bedroom window!



St. Peter and St. Paul, Sywell is my church. It was great to be in a place I love and know so well. Also meant I could brief the ushers on the use of our 'cutting edge' sound system.



Here's the lucky Doug, who turned up nice and prompt. Before the vicar, in fact!





It's just the best when I can get a view of the bride and groom's faces as they make their vows. It's not always possible in all churches, but great when it works out. In the background is the intrepid cameraman for the day. Chris was a groom who I photographed in 2005. It was so nice to catch up with him and his lovely wife Claire, and Finlay, who is the new addition to their family! Congratulations, you two!













Grrr...



Sunley is a great wedding venue. The big conservatory provides good light in all weather, and you can spot the occasional bunny flopping across the lawns. The food is excellent too!





Don't worry, there's a baby! (Why look directly into the lens when there's a more interesting flashy thing right up above it?)





Ian, Doug's brother and best man, made the most hilarious speech. Under each table was a bag containing the means to transform every guest into a Doug. A "Douggie-Bag" if you will. Pretty soon we had a whole room full of Dougs, and it was so funny I even cried a little! (check out Helen's mum in the background!) I was about the only person in the room without a goatie. Including Helen!!



I'm not sure what this moment was, but it looks lovely. Doug and Helen, thank you for making me a part of your day. It was a privilege to be there, and an absolute honour to witness your actual marriage quite so close up! Call me when you're back, and we'll go through some images soon. God bless!

Nick and Mariza

Added Monday 4th August 2008

Nick and Mariza's wedding is one of the longest standing bookings I've had. We met back in October 2006, following their romantic engagement in Florida in 2005. You can actually see pictures of the big moment at their wedding website.



Mariza has a gorgeous dress with the most amazing texture and detail. I won't embarrass myself by trying to describe it to you, except to say, I can tell it was 'spensive', but worth every penny. Mariza looked really stunning, and floated along, once she got out of the confines of a normal house and into a nice big churchyard!





Nick had plenty of help from his 6 ushers and two best men! It was nice of him to choose two Richard's for the job - to make my life easier of course. You can always trust a Richard though.



feeling nervous...



cool as...



Nick and Mariza love two movies; Just married (of course) and fifty first dates, which donated music and themes to the day.

After the wedding, we headed down to Whittlebury Hall, one of my favourite places, for a wonderful wedding reception. Mariza was pretty adventurous, and took some really fun photos! I'd had this one in mind for a while, but hadn't gotten anyone to do it yet!

Three gorgeous girls. The job of usher or bridesmaid has many sides. Dressing up with the bride or groom and assisting them throughout the day is a way to honour their very close relationship with them, and there are always things to hold, fetch, remember, etc. But one of their most important roles is to be sort of glamourous social agents at the wedding, mixing with the guests, introducing people to each other and generally making the whole place look appealing! These girls certainly did that, and looked after Mariza all day. Here they are getting a sneaky peak at what we were up to round the corner! Naomi, Lizzie and Amy, you were amazing. We had some fun, and I'm really grateful for how involved you were with the pictures. We got some good ones, hey?!

This was just before they started doing shots off of each other. No, not really. At least, not this time anyway!

So anyway, the WHOLE CLUB was looking at her. She hit the floor, and next thing you know shawty got low low low low low low loooow!

For your information (since I didn't know either), Hawaii is 10 hours behind, and here. Apparently, Nick and Mariza have broadband in their honeymoon suite. So hurry up and say "Aloha" in the guest book on their gallery page for them! Have a wonderful time you two, make yourselves a waffle house for me, complete with hinged door, and call us when you're home!

Kris and Louise engagement portraits

Added Friday 1st August 2008



Introducing one of the cutest couples you're likely to meet! Louise and Kris seem to stick together like glue, in a really sweet way. Something about proximity just clicks with them in front of the camera and it looks like they were born to be this way! Either that or they're just clinging together for safety because of the creepy guy with the camera! I like to think it's the former.



Kris met Louise when they were both at Newman College, training to be teachers. To be specific, they were both playing evil villains in the drama group pantomime!



We met last October, and as they waved me off at the front door, I remember thinking what lovely people they were, and what fun it would be to shoot them. I was of course right. I really am so lucky to work so often with such nice (and not to mention attractive!) people. Making friends with a bride and groom in plenty of time before the wedding is really important for me to get the most relaxed informal pictures. But it's also just the best way to work, and means I have one of the best jobs in the world.





After looking round the spectacular Olton Friary together, we headed over to the Aylesbury Country House Hotel in Hockley Heath. This place is a gem! It's just perfect. The grounds, the house, the marquee. Louise and Kris walked round the grounds and told me about their plans. It's going to be a beautiful wedding. Clare and Shane of Clare's Weddings are responsible for a number of details for the day, so we have every confidence in those!





Since we were feeling adventurous, we decided to head into a bit of rough ground for the countryside feel. You may have noticed me using a couple of new effects on these shots, like the infra-red black and white above, an iconic choice for a field like this.



Any thoughts on the distressed look? Fun for a few? Or a bit silly? I like to try things out on couples, keep the ideas flowing at first, with both photographic style and image retouching, to get an idea of what they love the best.



And finally, one of many reasons Louise loves Kris - he's a gent: