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 ~ 35

This weeks image is chosen from the very inspirational Recycle, D.I.Y. & Sunflowers Wedding that took place at the end of June 2013.

I have been working hard on creating their perfect Luxury Wedding package, which Mr & Mrs Dunne have just collected and I know, they are more than pleased with, due to their messages to me as well as publicly on facebook.

“Husband and I couldn’t be more pleased with Sharah Smith’s amazing wedding package. Every meeting has been thoughtful and lovely and both the photos, the book and the extras are far better than we had even hoped they would be. Highly recommended.”

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 ~ 27

This weeks image is another church scene taken Saturday 27th April at St. Elisabeth’s Church, Stockport, U.K.  This is a personal favourite photograph as the lighting is finished darker than that I would normally work with in wedding series but artistic documentary style allows this image to tell a story through the light. The little bridesmaid is lit up brightly as she is cared for by the older bridesmaids. The lighting makes her seem more precious. This bridesmaid is the only daughter of the Bride and Groom, who are at the alter in the middle of their Wedding ceremony.  The bridesmaid is watching her parents make this commitment not only to one another but to her too.

I have recently just finished the final edit and cleaning up of the images and sent 20 Polaroid Style postcards for print. I am working on finished products and I am currently experimenting with different postcards and prints and presentation boxes. I intend not to only create beautiful imagery of your special day but to present them in the same standard of beautiful products.

Image of the Week ~ 26

This weeks image is taken from Chris & Jessica’s Wedding this February. I had wanted for a long time to photograph the Bride walking down the isle from a balcony persecutive, so when we went to the church rehearsal, I  knew this was my chance. When I asked the priest if I was o.k to photograph from the balcony he said that it was closed off to the public. I explained to him that it was a perfect photographic opportunity for the Bride whom had been part of the church her whole life. I then reassured him that I would be as quite as a church mouse and only up there for a matter of minutes so he kindly agreed. And thank goodness, as I know that this shot is a personal favourite of the brides. You see, that is as much as my job as actually taking the pictures, finding different angles and perspectives, giving my customer not only a visual diary of what they remember about their big day but also seeing it in ways they had not seen it themselves.

Image of the Week ~ 25

I am currently editing last Saturdays Wedding, 27th April 2013, which took place in my local area, Stockport, Cheshire, U.K. and this weeks chosen image is from that day. I started my day with Peter the Groom and his best-man and ushers in the getting ready stage. This was a rare opportunity as there were two photographers working on the day and Vanessa the Bride had her own photographer with her too! I have wanted for a long time now to shoot a barber scene and create this type of image so I was delighted when the Groom informed me that they were going for a traditional turkish shave. The boys were all being playful and there was typical excitement in the air but they were all in turn brought to a state of calm with the hot towels and steam not to mention all looking fresh faced!

Image of the Week ~ 24

‘The Bride wins her King of Hearts’ is this weeks image and this is the closing image to the series I have posted of Adam & Sheena’s Wedding which took place in Wigan, last May 2012. This image was taken near the end of the night when the magician was doing his rounds leaving the guests stunned as he did different tricks around the edges of the dance floor. Here he’s entertaining the bride and fittingly she wins the Kings of Hearts, which impressed our bride and delighted the bridesmaids!

Image of the Week ~ 22

This weeks image is ‘Dinner Serving at Dusk in Tuscany’.  What a relaxing and well fed wind down to a very emotionally charged day. It was so atmospheric with the Tuscan landscape, the colour of the sun setting across it and the old Italian architecture, the good food and good wine served by good men. The bride and groom choose not to have a centre piece table but instead to go round each table and join the guests and have a dish there with them. It to me, was so personal to the couple, the day being about them spending their special time with all of their family and friends. Everyone there was very important to the couple and this was one of the ways they shared their love.

Image of the Week ~ 21

This image is from Chris & Jessica’s wonderful Wedding, my most resent work, which took place 1st February 2013. I particularly love this image as this is real photojournalism, a real moment in time. Jess looks so beautiful as she is being done up by the makeup artist and I have never seen her eyes sparkle so much. I have had the pleasure of knowing this couple for many years and watching them grow together. The little face peering behind her is their son, Lennon, who is looking on with wonderment at his beautiful mother.

Image of the Week ~ 20

This Weeks image is from Adam & Sheena’s May wedding in Wigan, U.K. This was the first dance and is a very important moment for all couples who take part in this tradition. Adam’s Fathers band played live at the reception, playing for his son was ‘an honour’ he told me. So in this case, it was a very important and nervous moment for the Father of the Groom. That is why I photographed and chose this image, taken from within the band’s performance area. It was the view of the grooms Father and band and I love the way all the guests are romantically looking on, reminiscing or fantasying about their own wedding story.