Wedding Blog
Planning a Wedding. | “The Devil is in the detail”.
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
Planning a wedding often takes over a year, it can also take under a week. In my many years photographing a weddings I’m always surprised how different each one is. One thing however that is consistent is the attention to detail.
Huge Marquee weddings and very small registry office ceremonies have detail everywhere that the bride her family and friends have spent a great deal of time organising. Sometimes a bride has been thinking about the theme of her wedding for years. So as a photographer it’s very important that the theme and all of the finishing touches are not just documented but photographed creatively in order that these images can be used amongst the album photographs. These photographs are excellent to use as background images to place other photographs on to of when designing magazine style albums, and the photographs of detail can also be used to slow the story down in an album before picking the pace up again with shots with lots of movement.
Detail shots don’t necessarily have to be photographs of things like flowers, place settings, dress detail, button holes etc. Close up shots of rings, holding hands, emotion, confetti, etc etc, detail is absolutely everywhere at weddings.
Pre Wedding Photo Shoot. | Annette and Andy at The Bandstand on Clapham Common.
Thursday, July 28th, 2011
Annette and Andy booked me yesterday to photograph their wedding on the 12th of September this year. On Tuesday morning we met on Clapham Common which is very near where we both live for a relaxed 1/2 hour photography session for Annette and Andy to see if I am the photographer for them. These free, and short, sessions are an excellent way for couples to make their choice of wedding photographer, you can look at albums and lots of fantastic photographs of other brides and grooms but will the photographs of YOU be any good?
On the 12th of September Annette and Andy will join their friends and family at the Chelsea Registry Office, and having had a little time together earlier this week we’ll all be a little more relaxed in each others company when the 12th Sept arrives.
Engagement Photography London. | Rae and George relax on Clapham Common for their Free Pre-Wedding shoot
Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Engagement Photography London.
It’s more or less impossible to choose a wedding photographer if you haven’t been recommended one.
If you key ‘wedding photographers’ into google you get over 124 million results! By about the third page of google you’ve looked at about 50 websites, and they are mostly great, all offering packages that may suit you, some photographers are more expensive than others but are they any better than the photographers offering cheaper prices or deals? You have to meet a few photographers, look at their work and albums, but even if you do like their work the photographs you’ll be shown are of other people not you!
Last Monday George and Rae took up my offer of a free 1\2 hour photography session to see if they like my work enough to book me as their wedding photographer next May. They don’t have to make any commitment, they can try me out and see if I’m the photographer for them. It works for me too, it only takes an hour of my time and I get to know them a little and prove to them that I will do a great job for them on their wedding day. They also get some great relaxed casual photographs of themselves.
George and Rae are getting married at Pembroke Lodge in Richmond next May which is a great wedding venue. It is right on the edge of Richmond Park next to some beautiful gardens and a panoramic view from the outside terrace.
Time lapse Wedding video. | Wedding Photographer London.
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011I’ve been experimenting with HD video along with stills lately at weddings. Something I’ve been having fun with particularly is time lapse video. See if you can guess who the subject of the sketch is!
Photo Booth for Weddings. | It’s like a photobooth only a zillion times better.
Sunday, June 5th, 2011
For the Ultimate in Party Fun book our famous “Pop up Studio”.
‘It’s the high end solution to the Photobooth’.
No corporate event, wedding or large party is complete without a Pop up Studio. The Pop up Studio is great fun and an excellent party addition. Your guests will love it!
Our Pop up Studio is a mobile professional photographers studio run by a professional photographer. The backdrop is 9ft wide so you can get as many or as few people in the picture as you want. We use studio lighting and the photographs are excellent.
Our Pop up Studio service is a quality, high end party solution. Forget about the photo booth in the corner of your event that looks like a smart passport machine in a Post Office. We’ll supply all the silly props you want and even build you a backdrop or scene to fit your specification. We can also make instant polaroid style pictures for albums and books to give to your guests during the event.
The photographs we take for you are beautifully presented and we’ll make the experience fun and entertaining for your guests.
We also have a selection of fun backgrounds to choose from; The surface of the moon, a dinasaur theme, tropical beach, Venice with goldolas, New York skyline, Warzone, Baywatch girls and boys, Underwater with sharks, and many more.
Also ask about our mobile trailer studio, it’s 5m wide and 2m deep with 7ft head height inside. It is the ultimate mobile studio experience the only one in the UK!
For four hours attendance prices start from £425.00 if your guests buy or download their prints online. If you want to supply prints at your party or event prices start at £595.00.
Why do we wear engagement rings. | Wedding Photographer London.
Monday, March 21st, 2011
Why do we wear engagement rings?.
The modern Western practice of giving or exchanging engagement rings is traditionally thought to have begun in 1477 when Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond ring as an engagement present.
Customs for engagement rings vary according to time, place, and culture. An engagement ring has historically been uncommon, and when such a gift was given, it was separate from the wedding ring. Romantic rings from the time of the Roman Empire and from as far back as 4 AD often resemble the Celtic Claddagh symbol (two hands clasping a heart) and so it is thought that this was used as some symbol of love and commitment between two people.
In the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and many other countries, an engagement ring is worn on the fourth finger of the left hand. The tradition of wearing a ring for engagement originated from the Egyptians who believed the circle was a bond between the two people who were to be married, but was initially first practiced on the fourth finger/ring finger by the Romans, who believed this finger to be the beginning of the vena amoris (“vein of love”), the vein that leads to the heart. The custom in Continental Europe and other countries is to wear it on the right hand; one historical exception arose in monarchical regimes, in which a nobleman entering into morganatic marriage (a marriage in which the person, usually the woman, of lower rank stayed at the same rank instead of rising ranks) would present his left hand to receive the ring (hence the alternative term “left-handed marriage”.
In other countries like Argentina, men and women each wear a ring similar to wedding bands. They are made of silver when manifesting an informal “boyfriend-girlfriend” relationship. The gold band is given to the bride when the commitment is formal and the optional diamond ring is reserved for the wedding ceremony when the groom gives it to the bride. The gold band that the groom wore during the engagement – or a new one, as some men choose not to wear them during engagement – is then given to the groom by the bride; and the bride receives both the original gold band and the new diamond at the ceremony. The bride’s diamond ring is worn on top of the engagement band at the wedding and thereafter, especially at formal occasions or parties. At the wedding, the rings are swapped from the right to the left hand. In Brazil, they are always made of gold, and there is no tradition for the engagement ring. Both men and women wear the wedding band on their right hand while engaged, and, after they marry, they shift the rings to their left hands. In Nordic countries such as Finland and Norway, both men and women wear an engagement ring.
Some women’s wedding rings are made into two separate pieces. One part is given to her to wear as an engagement ring when she accepts the marriage proposal and the other during the wedding ceremony.
Wedding Photographer London. | Group Shots- do’s and don’ts
Monday, March 21st, 2011
How do you combine traditional group shots with the reportage photo journalistic style of photography? It’s a question that many couples ask me. Brides and Grooms want group shots but they don’t want them to take too long and they don’t want to be taken away from the party for extended periods to work through a huge list of group photographs. Often parents are the driving force behind lots of group photographs but it is easy to fit them seamlessly into the day without any disruption.
I always plan with a bride and groom in detail how the photography on the day will be structured. The reportage aspect of the photography just happens and good photographers will produce great results without the bride and groom having to be too involved. The group photographs however need careful planning.
Generally the larger the wedding the more groups there are. I think a session photographing groups should last no more than about 15 minutes. Any longer than this the principle players start to run out of smile. Splitting the list into smaller manageable sessions is a solution; immediate family and bridal party at the church or just after the ceremony, and remaining family and friends at some point during the reception. Many informal group shots will be taken throughout the day and evening so you may find quite a number of group shots don’t have to be added to the list .
Remember too that some of the best photographs of the groups are taken when the group comes together and when it breaks apart. This is a good reason for someone responsible in the bridal party to help assemble the groups and tick them off the list while the photographer concentrates on capturing the fun.
So, my ten do’s and don’ts:
1. Do have group photographs don’t be put off by photographers telling you that their modern style doesn’t suit groups. Everyone has group photographs at their wedding, why shouldn’t you. Group photographs are great if they are fun and creatively shot.
2. Do split the groups up into two 15 minute sessions rather than one session that lasts too long. About 10 groups is the norm for a typical wedding.
3. Do have a tight list that can be ticked off but make sure you’ll have flexibility to make changes depending on weather and how it goes on the day.
4. Do appoint a responsible member of the wedding party to get the groups together leaving the photographer to catch the fun stuff that happens before and after the group all look at the camera.
5. Do talk to your reception venue about group photography, where are the best places etc, and be conscious of their timings, chefs hate it if you are late for food service.
6. Don’t have too many large groups. Large groups take much more time to assemble than small ones. Maybe go for an ‘everyone shot’ rather than several large groups.
7. Don’t take the groups too far away from where the reception is. It always takes longer than you think to move people away from the comfort of a drinks reception.
8. Don’t forget the elderly relations if you have any in your group shots, remember wheelchair access and provide chairs if needed. Ornate furniture outside can look great.
9. Don’t rely on the weather, Have a wet weather plan if you can’t take the groups outside.
10. Finally, Don’t get stressed on the day. It’s your wedding day and everyone around you will available to get you what you want.
Wedding Photographer Battersea. | Designer Wedding Show in Battersea.
Monday, February 14th, 2011
Wedding Photographer Battersea.
Last weekend saw the arrival of the Designer Wedding Show to the exhibition space inside Battersea Park, very close to our studio on Northcote Road, here in SW London. The show design was stunning – when I first arrived, I was greeted with the sound of a pianist playing across the floor of the Champagne bar and saw many beaming brides, browsing and talking to the wonderful collection of exhibitors. I spent many happy hours at the show – there were so many fantastic stands and suppliers to see; here are some of my favourites:
The beautiful Bespoke Wedding Flowers by Master Florist Alexandra Lyons, who was exhibiting her amazing arrangements on the equally stunning and soon-to-open wedding venue stand for London Syon Park, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The hugely talented milliner: Edwina Ibbotson who’s studio is on Queenstown Road in Battersea, had an enormous stand, which was flooded with brides-to-be and her incredible collection of hats and fascinators, not least the magnificent red number she was herself wearing on Sunday afternoon. My eyes were particularly drawn to Emmy’s stand of custom made wedding shoes, as their stand was a vintage-style bride’s dream dressing room. Another feast for the eyes was the wonderful stand shared by bespoke event designer Mandy from Mango Pie and the equally lovely Emily, from Purple Grape Catering. The offering from The Turquoise Holiday Company was a wedding service which was new to me: giving wedding guests the opportunity to buy “gifts” from the honeymoon wedding list, to be added on to their booking, such as spa treatments, sports activities and safari trips. Near the entrance to the exhibition, was the stand of fellow Tweeter, Jeremy from Ivy Ellen, luxury wedding stationer, who’s collection is packed full of gorgeous invitations and save the date cards. Special mention is reserved for wedding cake baker and designer: Rosalind Miller, who creates “edible works of art” and was one of the loveliest ladies I was lucky enough to meet at the show; Rosalind’s career includes a host of design roles and now her wonderful creativity and clear talent, can be a magical piece of your wedding.
We hope you enjoy these photos from the show.
“It’s all about the wedding dress”, Vogue Bridal shoot. | Wedding Photographer London.
Monday, January 31st, 2011
It’s all about the dress!
For the last five years Australian Vogue magazine have used me to photograph European bridal collections and accessories. The photographs taken last week will be used in their “It’s all about the dress” feature in the autumn magazine published in Australia. The article will be aimed at grooms as well as brides. They are hoping to get grooms to appreciate how important the part of the wedding dress is in the mind of the bride and her mother and friends.
We shot most of the photographs in a fantastic flat in Kensington. Unlike a wedding where the photographer must work quickly and efficiently to get the shots the couple want, we were able to take our time with the photographs and even then there was a lot of hanging around waiting for the stylists and the dress people to make sure things were absolutely right. January is a good time for us do this sort of work as the wedding season is almost upon us starting with the UK wedding show this weekend on the 5th and 6th Feb at Excel Docklands.
London Wedding Photographer.
Wedding Photographer London. | My stand at the UK Wedding Show.
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011
On the 5th and 6th of February we will be exhibiting at the UK Wedding show at the Excel in Docklands. It is a huge event; in fact one of the largest wedding shows of the year.
I will be one of 13 wedding photographers attending and I’m hoping my stand will represent my style well and I will get to meet lots of new brides and their mothers, their friends, and the occasional groom. My stand is no. 200 and it’s next to the champagne bar, the stage and the goody bag area.
This is the first wedding show that I’ve done I must say that I’m now looking forward to it. Many of our twitter connections will be there and Emma Jane who helps me with my digital marketing will be hosting a Tweetup on Sunday the 6th Feb which means we have found a legitimate excuse to hang out at the champagne bar.
So come along to my stand, it will be great to meet you. Follow our tweets and join the Tweetup on the 6th and enjoy the show.