Melanie and Cieren, Send Church and Ramster, October 8th 2011

And now a quick trip back in time to October and to Melanie and Cieren’s wonderful wedding day. When I look at the pictures again I’m struck by the blend of captured moments and timeless elegance.

Black-and-white pictures are what got me into photography in the first place and the pictures here have that sense of beauty I’m always looking for – the picture of Melanie arriving in the car is one of my favourites.

Send Church is beautiful and from another time – and at the end of a single track lane, but thanks to some skilful ushering and considerable planning all possible logistical difficulties were overcome, with the added joy of a restored RT8 London bus. I’ve restrained myself on the bus pictures but it was a spectacular backdrop and a joy to behold.

The happiness of the day is clear in all the pictures

The Ramster pictures show just how much it has to offer and all in all this was a day with many, many wonderful elements that come together superbly. The happiness of the day is clear in all the pictures and I’m very grateful to Melanie and Cieren for their feedback:

“It was an absolute pleasure dealing with you” – I enjoyed every minute.

Isobel and Tom, St.Michael’s, Northchapel and Upwaltham Barns, November 19th 2011

If you’re getting married in November you have to expect all kinds of weather, but you probably wouldn’t expect a gloriously sunny day and to be outside in the sunshine.

November the 19th was a great day to get married on and Isobel and Tom’s wedding had all the classic ingredients you could want – clear blue skies, a pretty rural English church in an unspoilt village and a fabulous reception venue set in the middle of the South Downs.

We love the photographs as does everyone who has seen them. Your style and approach was just what we were looking for

It was a very, very happy day with wonderfully warm autumn light making for some memorable images – and some very happy clients:

“We love the photographs as does everyone who has seen them …Many thanks for your efforts on the day, your style and approach was just what we were looking for …we would be delighted to recommend you.”

Thank you Isobel and Tom.

Laura and Richard, Hascombe, December 4th 2010

The last blog post mentioned what happens if you’re indoors all day. As a lot of people will be even now be planning winter weddings here’s a good example of the great pictures you can have, even in darkness in winter.

The light was just going as Laura arrived at the church and she walked up the aisle to candlelight alone. Flash would have destroyed the atmosphere and the vicar’s rules specified no pictures were to be taken during the ceremony at all – yet despite such a brief photographic opportunity the resulting pictures are very atmospheric. Laura and Richard emerged to darkness – and sparklers, making their wedding unforgettable and giving great images.

Even walking in the snow from the car to the marquee produced pictures with a charm all their own

Even walking in the snow from the car to the marquee produced pictures with a charm all their own. Are they the same as you would have had getting married at midday on a warm sunny day like last Saturday (they’ll feature in a future blog post) – no, but the results are a great set of pictures full of joy and warmth despite the snow.

And paradoxically Laura and Richard first saw their pictures online whilst on honeymoon in very different weather in Sri Lanka: their reaction was “they are brilliant”.

Thank you both for your kind comments and allowing me to put the pictures on the blog.

Gemma and Richard, St.Mary’s, Chiddingfold, and Ramster, 17th December 2010

My last post talked about the joys of winter light and Gemma and Richard’s day had it in abundance – with the added atmospheric benefit of snow.

Again too Gemma and Richard had wisely chosen a time for the service that had plenty of opportunities for photography before the light faded. The black-and-white picture outside the church shows the wonderful mix of deep blue skies and a light dusting of snow, whilst the setting sun as they emerged from the church gave a fabulous warmth to the pictures.

The photography at Ramster itself shows just what can be achieved in low light in winter – but enough from me. As ever at this wedding there were loads of very well equipped amateurs amongst friends and family and it’s very clear that many brides and grooms might be tempted to choose one of them to take their wedding pictures.

Words can’t describe how delighted we are with our wedding photos …you captured the beauty and romance of the day perfectly.

After the day, when Gemma and Richard had had a chance to see everyone’s pictures, I asked them whether they thought it had been worth having a professional photographer. Here’s what they said:

“Words can’t describe how delighted we are with our wedding photos …you captured the beauty and romance of the day perfectly.

From the first moment we met you, we knew you understood the style and mood we wanted you to capture and the end result is testament to your skill, ability to understand and read individuals, your timing and all your hard work.

You took some stunningly magical photographs in the snow that will forever be the most wonderful memories of our winter wonderland wedding. You were always helpful before the day with our endless questions and requests and patient during the tense getting ready moments and on the day you were unintrusive and never once did we feel that we having to have our photos taken.

We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you to anyone looking for a reportage photographer. You asked if we were pleased that we’d had a professional photographer, not only is the answer definitely yes, but we are so happy that it was you!”

Thank you Gemma and Richard, that means a huge amount to me.

Jo and Alex, Ramster 11^th December 2010

And now coming back up to date here are some pictures from Jo and Alex’s wedding in December – the 11^th was the Saturday it didn’t snow.

This wedding was a triumph of organisation by Jo – amongst the host of special details was a video during the speeches of Alex’s favourite song, mimed by many friends and superbly cut and edited. Look for the picture that shows Alex’s reaction. Alex contributed to the planning too – the first groom I’ve seen arriving at a wedding with his own personal survival kit of a bottle of Jack Daniels.

Alex contributed to the planning too – the first groom I’ve seen arriving at a wedding with his own personal survival kit of a bottle of Jack Daniels

As well as having elegance and beauty this wedding was also a lot of fun, which you can also see in the pictures. For those planning winter weddings it shows the special quality of the light in winter – in the pre-digital era my clients would often be concerned about wedding photography at Ramster in winter and whether the results would look dark.

The ceremony shots show there should be no cause for concern and the pictures from the speeches have a very attractive winter warmth to them, enhanced by all the details Jo planned so carefully.

So thank you Alex and Jo for a great day, I’m only sad it’s over.

12^th December, Claire and Brian, Preston Park, Brighton and Pangdean

I photographed Claire’s sister’s wedding on a sunny July Saturday and as a result of my work on that day Claire asked me to photograph her wedding – as I’ve said earlier in the blog 2009 was a wonderful year for the weddings of sisters of previous brides and I always enjoy meeting the family again.

Claire and Brian’s wedding had that wonderful warm winter light that gives photographs that ‘Christmas wedding’ feel – the shots outside the church were stunning, whilst the venue, Pangdean, allowed us to go into the gardens just as the sun was setting.

The main barn had a beautifully decked out Christmas tree which set the scene well and made a good backdrop for the handful of family shots Claire and Brian chose. After a glorious summer wedding for her sister what would Claire make of her pictures in December?

Thank you so much for the beautiful photos – they are absolutely perfect and exactly what we wanted. You have captured the day so beautifully!

“Thank you so much for the beautiful photos – they are absolutely perfect and exactly what we wanted. You have captured the day so beautifully! I am driving Brian mad as I have not stopped looking at them since we got the link, although he secretly loves looking at them too! It brings a smile to my face every time I see them as I think you can see how happy we are and how much fun everyone is having. All our family are thrilled with them….”

Which pretty much encapsulates what I hoped to achieve when I set out to be a different wedding photographer – thank you, Brian and Claire.

Nicola and Brian, 19^th December, Chalfont St.Giles

A wedding in the snow – what could be more romantic or pretty?

Nicola was hoping for snow and on this occasion the weather did not disappoint – the 19^th of December was a beautiful crisp day with clear blue skies. The snow that had fallen heavily on Thursday night settled and stayed put for the wedding.

Nicola arrived at the church for a 3.30 ceremony as the sun was setting, casting the whole village in a beautiful warm light. But by then end of the ceremony the sun had gone and I was left with the challenge of using enough flash to see Nicola and Brian clearly but also allowing maximum use of what little daylight was left so that the snow could be seen in the background.

Confetti shots in the dark? The results are really magical and very atmospheric.

There can definitely be a very special magic in weddings just before Christmas and this one had it in spades.

As I drove back to the reception my car helpfully told me the temperature was already minus 3 degrees, not great for battery life, but back at the marquee in the garden you would never have known and a wonderful evening following. There was even just enough light in the marquee to show the ‘stars in the sky’ lights on a black background that formed the ceiling of the marquee.

I was pleased to be asked to stay to photograph the dancing – it added another dimension to the story of the day with its sheer happiness and exuberance. There can definitely be a very special magic in weddings just before Christmas and this one had it in spades.