Lucy at Harrowden Hall

After attending the SWPP (Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers) annual convention in London, which I went down to last Thursday and came back from late on Sunday, I spent a few days catching up before getting back behind a camera today when I went to Harrowden Hall with fellow photographer Carole Kelly for a bridal shoot with the lovely Lucy.

I haven't worked at Harrowden Hall before and when Carole asked me to come to a shoot at the golf club I had visions of a club house surrounded by the golf course. How wrong could I have been! Harrowden Hall turned out to be a magnificent 18th century hall and a location that gave plenty of variety inside and out.

Lucy was a natural, and the session was great fun.

Here are a few of my initial favourites:

Thanks to Carole for organising, and to Lucy for braving the elements inside and out!

More old friends

Just before Christmas I went to help fellow photographer and friend Sarah Vivienne at the wedding of Craig and Debbie at Whittelbury Hall in Northamptonshire.

Not having worked at Whittlebury Hall before I had no idea that the regular MC for a number of their weddings is none other than Lincoln, a fantastic pianist who, several (cough) years ago provided the entertainment for my 120th birthday celebrations. Actually, it was my 40th and I had a joint celebration with a couple of other friends who were 40 in the same year. I almost didn't recognise him as he seems to have got younger, but it has been a few (cough) years...

The man himself, in action:



And a couple of Craig and Debbie, firstly with their lovely daughter, Millie, and then during their first dance:

Patrick and Liz

Patrick and Liz are old friends who I haven't seen in absolutely years, and we finally got to catch up at the weekend when they braved Middle England from the South.

With the promise of some fine wines that I'd been keeping for their visit (Patrick previously worked in the wine trade and his father used to have a fantastic wine merchants in Hove, where many a social evening was spent) I managed to tempt them out even through it was so cold, and we went down to my favourite location in Market Harborough; one of the little alleys that gives a fantastic backdrop to portrait images.

Great to see you both and we mustn't leave it so long next time!

Who let the dogs out?

I can't confess to being a pet photographer, but when I do get to photograph pets, especially dogs, I tend to treat them as I would a portrait shoot i.e. after finding some nice soft light I'm looking for an interesting background, a bit of colour and or texture being ideal. I then like to shoot a nice, tight head and shoulders image before thinking about wider pictures.

So, a few recent images of a couple of dogs.

Firstly, Bo, the chocolate Labrador, photographed this afternoon. It was bitterly cold so it's amazing any images where sharp as I'm sure my hands were shaking so much (!):







And then Lilly, the Hungarian Vizsla, photographed late last year:





Thankfully there was some texture in the wall behind Lilly in the first image. I wouldn't want to be caught photographing her against a white background ....

Next week I'll hopefully get some hints and tips on pet photography as my good friend, and terrific pet photographer, Paul Walker is giving a couple of seminars at the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographs annual convention in London.

Happy new year!

Welcome to 2009!

2008 was a great year and we photographed some lovely weddings and portraits. It’s always a privilege to be trusted with the responsibility of capturing a bride and groom’s special day, and we photographed some great weddings for some great couples in 2008.

2009 promises to be even more exciting as we have many more fabulous weddings booked at some glorious venues. With some exciting portrait promotions to come (watch this space), 2009 is shaping up to be even busier!

So here’s wishing all family, friends, and clients - present and future – a very happy and prosperous new year.