Author Archive
Pippa and Alec – Merton Park and Hampton Court House
Posted by: | CommentsPippa and Alec. Bless. Sometimes a couple really make you smile. There’s a warmth about them that perhaps may just come through a little brighter than others. For me it all came together at a red light. Eh? Yes, a red light. As the wedding car pulled away I raced back to my car and began my journey back to Hampton Court House. I figured I would catch and pass them and I was right. Just before we merged to the A3 south we were both stopped at a set of traffic lights. Their Jag pulled up next to me. I looked left to see them both laughing, Pippa eyes transfixed on Alec. She was facing me so I could see exactly what she was thinking. I sat there, staring at them, feeling a bit giddy. Pippa eyes briefly left Alec and drifted just a little to the left and basically right at me. I smiled. Pippa knew nothing. I didn’t even register. Her eyes returned to Alec and she smiled even bigger. I think that about sums them up.
It was great to get back to one of my favourite venues in Hampton Court House. Its got a certain feel that you won’t find anywhere else. Its kitsch…its old school…its unique. That’s why I like working there. Here’s to getting back there again this fall! Hopefully sooner.
Finally a big thanks to Pippa and Alec…to Ally and Chip (Pippa’s Parents)…Alec’s parents and all the family and friends for welcoming Darren and I into this amazing day. If you’re on Facebook you will find a link at the bottom of this post to more images from the day. Do visit and if you like what you see, why not follow my page. So have a look, scroll and later click for more on Facebook.
Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Shoes
I took this because I was amused at the Empty Nest article. I’m sure Chip was bemused at my interest in the fridge.
She’s gonna love me for this…no…honest….BUT!!!!!
….she’s going to love me even more for THIS!
See no evil
I love the caricature on the left
I often bang on about not repeating myself. A gallery of unique images. But sometimes a sequence is worth a good look. I’ve included two this week and this is the first. Lovely light and space!
A Farmer and His Wife
True Blood Red
Here’s sequence two…I just love the story being played out
Your country needs YOU!
With darkness comes some light
Check out the animal shapes…nice. The cake layers were made in Kenya by family and brought to the UK in 3 separate suitcases
And now a few from my most trusty assistant…the dazzling Darren
I totally LOVE this!
Darren’s great isn’t he!
OK…as promised, some more on Facebook. We had such a fabulous day there is so much to see. Here is a subset of the final images (not to be complete for a few weeks). But now, enjoy my Hampton Court House Wedding Photography gallery on Facebook.
Alex and Simon – Civil Wedding Engagement Photos
Posted by: | CommentsA few weeks back I got the chance to meet up again with Alex and Simon. Their civil partnership is coming up in June at Eltham Palace. A wonderful venue I can’t wait to get back to. These guys have a real eye for detail so I can’t wait to see what they come up with in styling the wedding. I’m guessing there may be a few more ‘details’ than normal with this one.
There are some more on my Facebook Business Page.
Jessica and Kavian – Swanmore and Tithe Barn
Posted by: | CommentsJamaicain-me-crazy. Just a wee pun for my weary travelers who have today arrived on honeymoon in the glorious sunshine of Jamaica. Jealous? Me? No? OK…I lied. Now we’ve broken the intense cold spell here in the South its been replaced by rain. Drab. But to brighten the day here’s a little something from a venue you may have seen before. Tithe Barn.
Winter weddings often come with earlier starts. Earlier starts mean earlier prep and this day it was 10am. Frost was still the main feature before a late arriving Jessica made it to the church. The usual calm before the storm of peace at 10 gave way to a wee bit of hussle come 11:40 and the dress just going on. All in a day’s work.
Swanmore church, whilst lovely, had a tough policy on photos. So coverage was a little light there. Shame really. Its kind of in and out with the coverage but that’s the rules. The rest of the day, however, is an open book. And what a book too as I returned to my old haunt, Tithe Barn. Despite its cathedralesque ceilings the place is warm. No…literally. I’ve never known such a large place to be so warm. Great for me, great for guests.
As is often the case, after these images here you’ll find a link to a Facebook gallery of even more examples from their day. So have a look, then find the link at the bottom.
a simple three light setup
Pt 5…Thursday…I can concur that this was indeed completed by Kavian
Toes
Skyscrapers
Dad phones a friend – only two lifelines remain
I like this one…something different and random about it all
Relief…she’s made it
This was, in fact, taken by me…as in both of them.
Nan’s candles
Aviator man (i never did get his name…but we laughed a lot together)
BTW…picture left…the orange stuff…that’s lentils…picture right…the reaction one gets when pummeled with lentils
I don’t always get it right…but I can salvage something almost Banksy
As Alexandra Burke would says “bad boys are always catchin’ my eye”
Name the movie
Kavian asked me to put this in…honest
Mission Impossible 5 : Frost Protocol
Inside my barn
Shortly after she realised where the missing contents of the super glue bottle had actually gone
Apparently Kavian didn’t know there was no such things as a Gruffalo
Nice!
For those interested in seeing even more images you can find them on my Facebook Business page by following the link to a Tithe Barn Wedding Photographer.
Gill and Simon – Jewish Wedding in London
Posted by: | CommentsSometimes this job takes you to places you’ve never been. Sometimes you see things you’ve never seen. Sometimes you find yourself in situations you never expected to be in. Last Sunday I found all three. Walking through Spitalfields market on a Sunday at 5 trying desperately to find a toilet…luckily this wouldn’t be the only place I hadn’t been (or perhaps had been…if you see what I mean). Of course the real place I hadn’t been that deserves the kudos is the Sandy’s Row Synagogue. From the outside an unassuming and quite frankly almost miss-able location. Once inside that all changes. Add this to a midnight amble through Petticoat Lane and you’ve covered the places I’d never been. Now to seeing things I’ve never seen. Top of the list would be an entire wedding party, some carrying candle lanterns walking en mass through the streets of E1 from the Synagogue to the restaurant. Being a Jewish wedding you have to add in the clarinetist who ‘serenaded’ us all on our journey. Its days like this you learn to travel light. Finally, being in the situation you never really expected to be in. I suppose the fact that Gill is Claire’s mum would top that list. I photographed Claire and Richard’s wedding a number of years back and now I was back to photograph mum’s wedding. The Circle of Life? Maybe more a trapezoid. Either way I was flattered and grateful to be back amongst familiar faces and even some new ones…thinking specifically of Claire and Richard’s Benji.
With a 6:30 ceremony (yes…that’s PM) and a Sunday night finish I will say that the blog will be a shorter. How could it not? But I think what you find is still a lovely memory of a special evening.
a game I like to call…Where’s the Synagogue?
A tish…apparently
The Three Basses
London baby
The World Record Conga Line attempt fell slightly short
indeed…
Crazy dancing in what had to be the smallest space in crazy dancing history
Holly asks me to cover her eyes when the bad lady comes on the screen in Tangled…that is all
Showstopper
Winter Wedding Photography at Tithe Barn – Sarah and Russell
Posted by: | CommentsThere’s no business like show business. For today’s post that’s not just random sentiment. It is, in fact, true. There’s a chance you may have seen Russell and Sarah on a stage near you. From some fantastic West End shows like Miss Saigon and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. These guys are performers. And its true what you think about stage and musical artists. They are grounded and exceedingly great people…well, at least this bunch are.
The day started for me at the amazing Old Stables in West Marden. For those familiar with Tithe Barn you’ll know it as Gaynor’s place. Gaynor has moved on from TB and now part of the family business. Its truly a unique place and one well suited for Tithe Barn as well as a number of other wedding venues in the Hants, Sussex area. It was great to see her, even if only briefly. Next stop Tithe Barn. If you’ve never been there you need to check it out. Its that time of the year when a bunch a folks get engaged and the hunt for venues begins. Barns are literally surrounding me and I’m proud to be a recommended photographer at Tithe Barn. The weather didn’t cooperate entirely but we did get some images of the Sarah and Russell in before the scheduled rain clouds arrived, spot on time, at 3pm. JJ at Jacaranda (and all the team to be honest) did an amazing job at making the barn look the best it could be. Jacaranda really are some of the finest caterers in the country and with JJ at the helm on Sunday it was never going to be any different. Thanks to them.
The night drew in, the cold got colder, but the fun of the speeches were only around the corner. A fantastically presented (but let’s be honest, their actors too) Best MEN speech delivered by my favourite Doppleganger of the day in Matt Damon and his sidekick (let’s call him George Clooney but really he didn’t look like him). Great stuff…especially if you’re a bird watcher.
To get the evening really rocking they made the best choice they could in hiring the super cool DJ Ashley Riggs. He’s got the best DJ rig around and some fantastic up-lighters, which are perfect for Tithe Barn. Not to mention he’s ace at his craft and a top professional.
A couple of other thank yous. First to Chris Geary. Another photographer who second shot for me covering guests on a day where logistics, weather and formals were certainly putting a strain on that end of things. He’s a great professional. Finally to Alex Cameron and his wife from Camera on Films. A specialist wedding films creator from Suffolk who were fantastic to work with. Thanks guys.
As always have a look at the images and observations below. Following this there will be a link to more photos on my Facebook business page.
Ladies…really…you could dress for the occasion
FWIW, the location is The Old Stables in West Marden. Only a few miles from Tithe Barn and a haunt of Gaynor who used to work at Tithe. Its fantastically presented, wonderful maintained, charming and perfectly placed for weddings in the Petersfield area.
its a duck…its a pair of shoes…nothing to see here
you’re welcome
More fantabulous work from the amazing Tiger Rose
What…a…smile!
Contrasting the previous image
Once one went, they all soon followed
Russell and the Talented Mr Ripley
well aisle be
You could say dramatic…but then that’s pretty much a compliment with this lot
it seemed a strange time for a head butt
Oh Mandy!
The 3 Groomsmen of the Apocalypse
Good Will Hunting spills the non verbal beans on how he nearly lost it
Bet he never thought he’d make the blog!
Promotional material for an aluminum siding firm
Ocean’s Five
The barn in its glory…again helped by Tiger Rose
I like an usher who comes prepared — cardboard…seriously?
Neal…just go with it!
They’re now serving cake at the Golden Arches
Walk like an Egyptian
Speechykeen
Croissant
Delivering the Bourne Ultimatum
CYO (cut your own)
Dancing to the best DJ around, Mr Ashley Riggs
Goodnight Benjamin Button
As promised, her is a link to more images from their day on my Tithe Barn Facebook business page
Christmas Wedding at Bury Court – Kate and David
Posted by: | CommentsHo Ho Ho…ITS CHRISTMAS! Thankfully no ears were damaged in that shout…but I’m guessing you can’t get Slade out of your head now can you? Its time for cheesy Mariah Carey songs and a universal distrust of Egg Nog by the British..seriously, its GREAT! Time for special takeaway cups at Starbucks and screaming children who would really rather think of Santa as the chap in the story and not the one who smells of a fake beard and Old Spice in the Grotto in the city centre. One of the best things about Christmas is a Christmas wedding and Kate and David will now always have a bumper month of December. I started off in the wonderful village of Odiham. Home of the Army helicopters and Kate. I wonder what the connection is that eventually she’d meet and marry a man in uniform. Following a fabulous ceremony at the church in the village (thanks to Gary, the vicar, for a unique and uplifting ceremony) it was back to one of the best wedding venues in the UK, The Barn at Bury Court. As a recommended photographer at Bury Court Barn I see weddings throughout the calendar year. Whatever the weather its an exceptional place to work.
As always, there will be a link to more images on my Facebook Business Page. But for now, have a look at these and when you get to the bottom, find the link to more.
Aretha Franklin might say “think”
Its a bit like comparing apples and … well … forget it
All you need is a little David Attenborough voice over
Run Forrest Run
Do not adjust your sets…twins and both in the Army
Fabulous church
Rev Gary
Not what most Brides would do…but I get the sentiment
not more than 35 minutes married and already in the dog house
Some random shots from a tough part of the barn…it defines you (including bottom left, its Rob from Saara and Rob back in May)
Fantastic styling
You won’t often find 4 verticals in a row – its gotta be a sign
By this point I was counting medals to determine who was the groom and who was the best man — 4 = best man
Beats me
A fantastic day! Thanks for having both Darren and myself along. I wasn’t able to include any of Darren’s today or in the FB gallery due to logistical reasons. Sorry.
Speaking of the facebook page, if you want to see more images go to my Bury Court Barn Facebook Gallery Page.
