Portrait of the Week

This weeks image is from Rick & Laura’s Country Wedding. You might not think you can get cute couple photography on a farm tractor?! Well, here is proof that you certainly can! Rick & Laura were an adorable couple and high school sweethearts so this was an important factor when it came to the couple portraiture as I wanted that to come across in the images. The idea of using the chalk board came to me when thinking of school and while they are showing the world how in love they are they still manage to keep a kinda innocence when hiding their shared kiss from us.

Image of the Week ~ 49

I really enjoyed showing a set of detail shots a couple of weeks ago from Phil & Gem’s Wedding in June and I think it is something I would like to do more of.  These scrummy detail shots are from Laura & Martins big day in my hometown, Liverpool, U.K.  Sometimes, I feel I could say so much about one image, that it tells such a big story on its own terms, that I can only show one image at a time. Other images work better with other images, like they are hand in hand and through a series of images you can get a ‘bigger picture’ of the overall. That’s exactly how I feel about the gorgeous details I see at each Wedding. They are always different to another, even if two different couples start with similar ideas on paper (i;e colour themes) each wedding will be as individual as the couple are. I think these details are some what a clue to the characters of the couple, so to me, it is the sentiment of the couples personalities and fantasies that are hidden in the details that I find so fascinating! 🙂

Image of the Week ~ 48

This image is taken from Laura & Martin’s September Wedding as Laura arrives with her father at the venue. It is her last moment with her father as an unmarried women and a special moment for any father and bride! Although my focus is on the gorgeous bridal bouquet it is the warmth shared between the two that makes this image special.

Image of the Week ~ 45

This portrait of a bride is probably my best bridal portrait yet! It was taken at yesterdays Wedding, Saturday 14th September that took place in Crewe. I shot for approximately 10 hours maybe a little longer and I went back to shooting in natural light (apart from the evening reception were flash is necessary)  which I am so glad I did! I feel my most comfortable with natural light and I think when the light is available plus you get it right it technically, the light and shade makes for such a painterly finished photograph.

This is the first time I have ever done this as a photographer but this photograph is totally un edited! I have not touched its exposure levels or contrast or colour. I really think this image is best left un touched. I love it and it is one of my favourite portrait shots to date. For me after personally spending time with this bride, I know that she was not just thinking about marrying her beloved Ossie on that day but there was a lot of emotional room for her grandmother who passed away last October. There were several points in the day were she was mentioned or her photograph was placed by the cake and so forth. I feel that this really comes through in this image.

Image of the Week ~ 36

For me being a Wedding Photographer entails so much more than taking the pictures on the day. Don’t get me wrong, this is by far the most important part of the role and the part to focus on, as if you get that bit wrong, then everything else will fall short too. But once you have captured all the luscious photographs, with the backdrop and details of the wedding, which has usually taken the couple and their families over 12 months to master, why would you then just stick all the images on a disk?

 Once your wedding day is over, the cake has been eaten, the dress has been put away, what is left? The photographs of course! I am a photographer who believes in editing all my own work and creating something physically beautiful for you to hold and keep from your big day.

Do you remember the days when people would of saved their family photo albums? Those days seem to have passed us due to a digital world and the stream of all the digital copies and recopies of images along with how easy it is to access them. I am trying to create a Wedding photo story book that holds that sentimental value that people used to have with their photo albums. I am trying to create something that is not only beautiful, filled with images of your day but I try to carry on the thread of your wedding and with I being inspired by each individual couple, this only creates unique work each time. I make all the boxes myself by hand and I customise each package to suit the couple I am working with!

Image of the Week ~ 32

As I am about to start editing almost 2000 photographs from yesterdays stunning d.i.y. recycle & sunflowers Wedding which took place in Bakewell, I thought I best get some pictures out there from my previous weddings, as I still have a lot I want to publish for your eyes! This image was taken this May, in the Isle of Anglesey. The weather had not been great and there was a little concern that it may be grey and drizzly. I believe that I have or maybe even bring good luck with the weather at weddings. It always shines even if, as it has happened, had rained for three weeks solid or its an October wedding with the hottest day on record! This wedding was no exception.

For me, this image is so great as it captures the Groom’s expression as the Bride is placing the ring on his finger. It is one of the most important moments of the whole wedding. It’s the moment you become ‘married’. It’s always a very emotional part of the journey. Here Steve clearly shows us how he’s feeling and it creates a sense of actually being there. He explained to me he was thanking god for his beautiful wife! Awww…

Image of the Week ~ 31

This weeks image is taken from Vanessa & Peter’s wedding in April 2013. This is what I like to call an ‘abstract portrait’ of the Bride and Groom next to the bridal car as they have just arrived at the reception venue. I have stated before that I do like to create images that are not traditional but of today. I take photographs of what is happening already so every image is a ‘real’ scene. In this image I am focusing on the form and colour, the details. The sharpness of the design of the car to the softness of the brides lace dress and flowers. Vanessa particularly loved this image.

Image of the Week ~ 30

The Brides Bouquet. This is the first of Julie & Steve’s Wedding Photographs. The Wedding took place on the 11th of May, 2013. It took place in the most beautiful scenery of the Isle of Anglesey in a cosy and friendly Inn. The whole day was relaxed yet filled with lots of stories from family members all sat around together, in turn sharing their own stories through word or song. This image was taken in the Bridal Suite, just as Julie the Bride had finished getting ready and was just checking the finishing touches. She rested on the side of the lounger and I captured her posture, form and details. I like to photograph the details, like the bouquet, in action, being used as they were intended to be and what you’ve paid your good money for.  Julie particularly loved this image as the flowers are now longer living so this is her window to them.

Image of the Week 29 ~

I have chosen this weeks image from Vanessa & Peter’s Wedding from 27th April 2013. They recently came for the ‘Showing’ of their images and collected their Photographs on disks and Polaroid Style Postcards. I could not find cute enough presentation boxes for either the c.d’s or the postcards so I decided to design and create my own. It is very important to me that the product that I place in my clients hand feels just as unique and special as their photographs so this was a very important finish to me. The home made box’s were designed to be colour coordinated to the Wedding. On the Disk box, I used for the outer layer a beautiful, baileys in colour, poka dot card with a burnt orange (colour of the couples VW that the groom travelled in and also the wedding cake, which was created as a VW with the bride and groom in it!) canvas like texture on the inner of the box. An Orange ribbon is worked into the box so that it ties the whole thing up in a pretty bow. The postcard box was made in the same way but in vice versa colour to the c.d. box. Vanessa was delighted to say the least. She commented that the ‘showing’ of the photographs, which are played on a slideshow with a soundtrack to your day (I often play the 1st dance song etc) was such an emotional thing for her to experience, as “it takes you right back to the day!” and “it was such a passionate and personal touch”. I do not finish a photography job when I finish shooting, or when I finish editing. To me the job is only done when I have personally delivered the images and showcased them to the client. I want if not need to know that my client is happy with the work I have done for them. Thankfully they always have been!

Image of the Week ~ 28

This weeks image is chosen from Chris & Jessica’s February Wedding. Here the bride and groom had just stepped out of the bridal car at arrived at the reception. Chris was the gentleman and without her having to ask, he lifted the trail at the back of Jessica’s dress and was carrying it to make sure she didn’t get it dirty. Now that is Love! I particularly am attracted to graphic shapes, circles and lines created within an image so this composition pleases me.  The couple later chose this image to be printed on a fine Art 100% cotton Canvas.