June 26th 2010. Steve and Carina’s wedding at Ede’s House, Chichester and Duncton Mill
When you get married you’re often told ‘you can have what you want’.
Carina knew she wanted a picnic and ended up with one – under blues skies by the side of a lake. The ceremony itself was at Edes House in Chichester, a wonderful building with loads of atmosphere and a huge lawn behind on which to have a glass of champagne and a few formal pictures, before setting off for Duncton Mill just outside Petworth.
On a day with clear blue skies the location could have been more beautiful – two huge marquees right by the lake, loads of space and no one else around. The lake even comes with a boat and oarsman, so the result was very much the day you dream of.
With thought, time, effort and planning you can have what you want.
What I particularly enjoyed and admired was that Steve and Carina had planned every detail themselves, from the picnic baskets to Steve’s homemade chutney. And I was especially grateful on such a hot day that they chose not to wear ties.
It was a fabulous, unique and relaxed day massively enjoyed by everyone present. Above all it showed that with thought, time, effort and planning you can have what you want.
Tags: Chichester, Chichester Wedding Photographer, Chichester Wedding Photography, Duncton Hill, Ede's House
Posted in News, Wedding Photography, West Sussex Wedding Photography | No Comments »
Laura and Richard, Ramster, West Sussex, Saturday 5th June
I’ve just put the phone down from talking to someone who hates being photographed. Most of my clients would agree and most are worried about how they will look in their wedding photographs.
When I met Laura and Richard last year it was Laura’s big concern – and why they chose an informal or reportage photographer. They had a wonderful day at Ramster in June, surrounded by friends and family, and I concentrated on their reactions to those who they know and love, including each other.
The results speak for themselves, from the emotion of the ceremony itself through to the humour of the speeches – they’ve forgotten about me and are caught wrapped up in their reactions to the day itself. But what did Laura think when she saw the pictures – that has to be the acid test:
“The photos are absolutely gorgeous so thanks very much! I thought I was the least photogenic person in the world but you have managed to take some stunning photos of us both… I am over the moon that we decided to use you as our photographer as they really are a world away from any other wedding photos I have ever seen. You really have captured what a perfect day it was for us all.”
And that pretty much sums up why I do what I do and the way I do it – thank you Laura and Richard.
Tags: Chiddingfold, Ramster, Surrey, Surrey Wedding Photographer, Surrey Wedding Photography, Wedding Photographer in Surrey, Wedding Photographer Surrey
Posted in Ramster, Surrey Wedding Photography, Surrey Wedding Venues, Wedding Photography, Wedding Venues | No Comments »
Ashleigh and Alex, St.Mary’s, Lenham and Chilston Park, Kent, 30th May 2010
The 30th of May was a classic English Summer’s Day, unbroken sunshine, deep blue skies and comfortably warm. This is my favourite time of year, as the late sunsets extend the outdoor photographic possibilities into the evening.
Getting ready pictures can cause concern for some brides, but Ashleigh knew she wanted them and the results are very evocative – if you trust the photographer to do what he does best you’ll be rewarded with memorable images that capture a phase of the day that seems to fly by. Above all these pictures show what happens if you stick with the reportage brief, what Ashleigh know she wanted from the outset – the happiness they convey just couldn’t be engineered in posed shots.
If you trust the photographer to do what he does best you’ll be rewarded with memorable images …
I’m very pleased with the dancing pictures, though credit should also go to Ashleigh and Alex for rehearsing their moves! If you do have photography into the evening, dance pictures have to be one of the highlights.
Tags: Chilston Park, Henry Wells Wedding Photography, Kent, Kent Wedding Photographer, Kent Wedding Photography, Maidstone, Maidstone Wedding Photographer, Maidstone Wedding Photography, St. Mary's Lenham
Posted in Chilston Park, Kent Wedding Venues, Wedding Photography | No Comments »
Ja and Roger, Clandon Park, 8th May 2010
‘It’s like rain on your wedding day’ – so said Alanis many years ago, but she needn’t have worried if she’d chosen the right venue.
After so many weeks of sunshine it’s easy to forget it does sometimes rain in this country but at a venue like Clandon park near Guildford it’s far from the end of the world. Ja and Roger wanted informal reportage shots, starting with the bride getting ready.
The advantages of wedding photography in the digital age
One of the great gains of the digital era is low light photography without flash, making atmospheric shots possible whatever the weather. I’ve chosen the pictures for the blog to show what is achievable even when you can’t go outside and even when there’s no flash photography allowed during the ceremony.
The pictures also show that it’s people and their emotions that make the day, not the weather.
We were able to use the portico at Clandon for family shots during a lull in the weather – the bride, groom and their families stayed dry even if the photographer got soggy – and this should be an important consideration in venue choice if formal pictures are a priority. The pictures also show that it’s people and their emotions that make the day, not the weather.
Thank you to Ja and Roger for their reaction: I have to thank you…everyone including myself looks amazing!
Tags: Clandon Park, Guildford, Guildford Wedding Photography, Surrey, Surrey Wedding Photographer, Surrey Wedding Photography, Wedding Photographer in Surrey
Posted in Clandon Park, Surrey Wedding Photography, Surrey Wedding Venues, Wedding Photography | No Comments »
Hannah and Mark’s wedding, April 10th, Christ Church, Chorleywood and Durrants House, Croxley Green /Rickmansworth, Herts
One thing leads to another – Hannah saw my blog post from a wedding in nearby Chalfont St.Giles and instantly recognised the style she was after for her own wedding.
Hannah and Mark’s wedding day was fabulous in all respects – clear blue skies, the massive support of friends and family combined with that of their church community, a vintage Bentley – and two people so obviously very happy to be with each other.
“How many children can you fit in a vintage Bentley?”
After a church service that had a slideshow of Hannah and Mark in earlier times during the signing of the register, there was a huge tea party for all who had come to the ceremony, provided by members of the church. Whilst adults enjoyed the truly magnificent range of cakes and brownies on offer, most of the children present decided to find the answer to the question “How many children can you fit in a vintage Bentley?”
Moving to Durrants House for the reception provided the answer to another question – what happens if you do a shot with all your friends on a bouncy castle probably intended for children? Whilst the guests found their places for the wedding breakfast I caught some of the best moments of the day – Hannah and Mark alone together, unaware I was photographing from a distance. Thank you both for the kind comments – and the profoundly sustaining brownies.
Tags: Chorleywood, Chorleywood Wedding Photographer, Christ Church, Durrants House, Durrants House Wedding Photographer, Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire Wedding Photographer
Posted in Durrants House, Hertfordshire Wedding Photography, Hertfordshire Wedding Venues, News, Wedding Photography | No Comments »
Rachel and Michel, Ramster 24th April
Getting ready for a wedding can be stressful at the best of times – I remember standing in Jermyn Street the afternoon before my own wedding having just collected my waistcoat and feeling daunted by the number of tasks to be done by the following day.
For Rachel the situation was complicated by a large volcanic ash cloud in European airspace and the fact that many members of her family and friends were coming from Canada. Even early in the week of the wedding the situation looked grim, but by Saturday virtually everyone had made it and the sun shone to give a classic English spring day.
They both fell in love with Ramster from their first visit and chose to use the grounds for these set piece shots – which left me free to be a fly on the wall during the reception.
Rachel and Michel were both keen to have reportage photography during the reception and so made the decision to have some family group shots before the ceremony. They both fell in love with Ramster from their first visit and chose to use the grounds for these set piece shots – which left me free to be a fly on the wall during the reception.
Their strategy paid off handsomely – the groups were stress free and quickly achieved, using the beautiful backdrop of Ramster Gardens, whilst they had all the time of the reception to spend with their friends, not the photographer.
Thank you Rachel and Michel for the glowing feedback and comments. Here’s a selection from their day.
Tags: Ramster, Ramster Wedding Photographer, Surrey, Surrey Wedding Photographer, Surrey Wedding Venues, Wedding Photography
Posted in Ramster, Surrey Wedding Photography, Surrey Wedding Venues, Wedding Photography, Wedding Venues | No Comments »
Emma and Ben, Hampton Court House, Surrey – 27th March 2010
Another new venue for me – Hampton Court House and what a great place for a wedding. I visited it with Emma and Ben before the day – wonderfully atmospheric daylight in the ceremony room was something I was looking forward to and that Emma and Ben immediately responded to when they saw the pictures.
The elegance of the room combines with the warmth of angled light to give a very special quality to not only reportage shots throughout the day but also the handful of family shots Emma and Ben wanted and most importantly pictures of the dress, made by Emma’s Mum. The reception itself took place in the conservatory – wonderful natural light again, keeping the photography spontaneous and fun.
The reception itself took place in the conservatory – wonderful natural light again, keeping the photography spontaneous and fun.
Emma particularly wanted shots of the speeches and guests reactions to them. I needn’t have worried about the light levels in the dining room as once again the glass roof helped, so I was able to capture a variety of reactions to the speeches and do justice to the wonderful table settings and flowers Emma had organised.
A fabulous day, thank you Emma and Ben.
Tags: Hampton Court House, Hampton Court House Wedding, Hampton Court Wedding Photographer, Surrey, Surrey Wedding Photographer, Surrey Wedding Photography, Wedding Photographer in Surrey, Wedding Photography
Posted in Hampton Court House, Surrey Wedding Photography, Surrey Wedding Venues, Wedding Photography, Wedding Venues | No Comments »
Lucy and Shilen, St.Margarets, Warnham, and The Walled Garden, Cowdray Park
As promised, here’s another spectacular venue from last year that was new to me, The Walled Garden at Cowdray Park. Lucy and Shilen’s day involved two ceremonies, a Christian ceremony at St.Margarets in Warnham and a Hindu ceremony in the Walled garden.
All the pictures show the joys of a Spring wedding on a fine day – blue skies and guests happy to be in the sunshine after the gloom of winter. Lucy and Shilen both looked fabulous in their outfits and the light levels meant I could capture pretty much all of the day without flash – although I have to admit to being really proud of the dancing shots.
Cowdray park is a great location – private and yet spacious in the Walled Garden itself but also with the ruins of Cowdray Castle.
A lot of couples debate whether to ask me to stay into the evening, wondering what they’ll gain – these pictures answer that question, they show not only another phase of the day that it would be a shame to miss but also Lucy and Shilen’s sheer enjoyment of the day and all their friends joining in with them. If you like informal and reportage photography the more relaxed feel of the evening provides wonderful opportunities.
Cowdray park is a great location – private and yet spacious in the Walled Garden itself but also with the ruins of Cowdray Castle immediately next door for any set piece pictures or if the bride and groom want to escape for some time on their own – I really loved it and the marquee in the centre was spectacular.
Tags: Cowdray Park, Cowdray Park Wedding Photography, Midhurst, Midhurst Wedding Photographer, Walled Garden at Cowdray Park, West Sussex, West Sussex Wedding Venues
Posted in Cowdray Park, Wedding Venues, West Sussex Wedding Photography, West Sussex Wedding Venues | No Comments »
Sonja and Dan’s wedding was one the highlights of last year – how often can you say ‘the groom arrived at church on his motorcycle’. Theirs was a classic summer wedding – the ceremony took place in a church at the end of a country lane in an unspoilt West Sussex village.
After the ceremony everyone left together, bride and groom with motorcycle outrider, guests following in a doubledecker bus, making for a memorable picture.
How often can you say ‘the groom arrived at church on his motorcycle’
After a wonderfully relaxed reception at Dan’s parents’ house everyone moved on to Amberley Castle for dinner. It was a day that had so many wonderful elements – the beauty and tranquillity of a traditional village and its church, the warmth of a reception at home and the wow factor of Amberley Castle, not to mention the chef’s amazing food – and I enjoyed every minute of it.
The pictures give some idea of the day, but Sonja and Dan also chose to have some handprinted black-and-white pictures taken on film, a choice I offer all my clients. I have to say I wrestle with this one.
The convenience of black-and-white converted from digital cannot be denied and if you’re going for a Graphistudio ‘book’ style presentation or tend to look at pictures on screen rather than prints then this is the way to go. And to be honest I expected the traditional print done by me in the darkroom to have died by now. But whenever I think that’s going to happen a client will opt for handprints and be overwhelmed by the result – I’ve spent a lot of this week in the darkroom handprinting pictures from a wedding shot both digitally and on black-and-white film.
The colour pictures are wonderful – and beautiful – but the black-and-white have a charm of their own. What I like is that my clients can have the best of both worlds – digital images on a disc, viewable on screen and instantly transmitable – and the wow factor and difference of black-and-white handprints.
If you liked to have framed prints out in your house they are definitely worth a look – all my clients say the black-and-white pictures are the ones that end up in frames covering their walls!
Tags: Amberley Castle, Amberley Castle Wedding Photographer, Amberley Castle Wedding Photography, Black and White Wedding Photography, Horsham, Horsham Wedding Photographer, Itchingfield, Wedding Photographer in Horsham, Wedding Photographer in West Sussex, West Sussex
Posted in Amberley Castle, Wedding Photography, Wedding Venues, West Sussex Wedding Photography, West Sussex Wedding Venues | No Comments »
Tori and Caspar (and Tabatha)
At last – a chance to catch up on some of the great venues I visited for the first time last year and I’m going to start with a real cracker.
Bickleigh Castle near Tiverton in Devon impresses in every respect. Run as a family business you’re assured of a personal touch and that makes for a very intimate yet relaxed occasion.
Tori and Caspar took advantage of one of the venue’s special offerings – a very long weekend. They arrived on Thursday, enjoying dinner in the evening with key family guests who were also staying at the Castle. Friday was spent in rehearsal and saying hello to all those who had arrived during the day – with family from Ireland, Berlin and other parts of the globe it struck me as a wonderful way of having more time with people you don’t often see. All too often the day itself just flies by .
Bickleigh Castle near Tiverton in Devon impresses in every respect.
On the big day itself they had two ceremonies, a brief civil ceremony followed by a church service in the attached chapel. It’s tiny, with standing room only for most guests, but amongst the most atmospheric I’ve ever encountered – truly wonderful. The party continued on Sunday, with a large party heading for the beach, whilst others went fly fishing on the Castle’s stretch of river.
This really was a memorable event for all concerned – I can’t wait to go back.
Tags: Bickleigh Castle, Devon, Devon Wedding Photographer, Tiverton, Tiverton Wedding Photographer, Wedding Photographer Devon, Wedding Photography Devon
Posted in Bickleigh Castle, Devon Wedding Photography, Devon Wedding Venues | No Comments »
