Archive for Manor Barn
I was at a loose end on Friday, so I popped down to Manor Barn, tied up their booked photographer and pretended to be a friend filling in. Strange thing is….they bought it. How else would I have got the chance to spend a day with Peta (pronounced Pete-uh) and Philip (yes, Philip, not Phil). Peta figured Murphy’s Law would catch up with her with the run of good weather coming to an end hours before the wedding. Luckily for her (and Philip) it was just a misplaced moment of anxiety and the weather (much to the shagrin of 100′s of thousands of tourists trying to get around or into Europe) stayed fine and dry. Manor Barn was its usual inviting self with its warm sunshine and open courtyard lending a hand in setting the scene for a wonderful Hampshire wedding reception. Of course it can’t go unmentioned that behind the oven and in front of house was the magnificent Sean and Sue Denny from Dennys Catering. Simply wonderful food from an exceptional Hampshire wedding caterer. I know that Peta and Philip were due to head out to Morocco yesterday. I’m guessing Ehjjsdkljsdfjjdjsdf (that volcano thingy) put a downer on that. Fingers crossed they can get something wonderful as an alternative! Good luck guys…
I can’t vote, but I reckon the shoes are going Conservative
My Just One — become a fan for this one off introductory offer
Objects in mirror are no closer than they appear
Even mini-Bridesmaids can ‘clasp’
Less clasping

There might be clasping – or giants

Dress me up (before you go go)
bow-n-arrow
Tissues — seriously – to wipe the ash out of your eyes
Good cop, bad cop

waiting for brido
At first I thought Philip was just distracted…then I realised he was obliging the pap
MIL gets in first
its a complete aside…but as I’m trying to think of something witty, ‘Club Tropicana’ by Wham comes on my iTunes…God’s way of telling me more Tequila?
That’s just daff(odil)
Stranded but unlikely to be rescued by the Navy

Tequila makes everyone smile
He’s clasping the Tequila — at least I thought it was the Tequlia
..wonders where the Tequila has gone
I’m guessing I’ve solved the mystery

Checking his trouser pockets I can now reveal…I was wrong

Its never who you thought it was…just like a good episode of Scooby Doo

Confetti — 6 hours late
Doppleganger-tastic – - Ladies and Gentlemen — Bob Newhart!
And a few the celebrated Kerang photographer, Darren

Give the English 5 minutes of sunshine….
Darren is the master at stealing Point and Shoot flash light
The bouquet is loaded and she’s not afraid to use it
Darren quickly discovers why not using your real name is a good idea in this business
Darren, from his unique vantage point, learned all about Philip’s rubber hand gag
Muffins
Suddenly my travel chaos on Wednesday seems pale in comparison to Volcano-gate. What a mess…metaphorically and literally. I’ve got a friend stranded in Barbados. Sounds fun, but when you’ve got nowhere to stay I’m sure the lustre wears off…
As for Peta and Philip…they lost two guests to the travel chaos. Not bad going when Peta’s mum is from Boston. Getting home…well, that might be a little different. Peta and Philip also were planning on starting their honeymoon in Morocco on Sunday. Sadly that seems unlikely at the moment. Fingers crossed for everyone.

It all started about a year ago. I’m in the safe confines of pub when an email arrives. The specifics elude me but it goes something like this: “umm…I feel like a stalker because I was in town before Christmas and see this little boy and immediately I go ‘hey, that’s Evan and his mummy’…I feel like a stalker”. Yes, Gemma, you kind of are BUT in a really good way. So it goes that when your face hits the blog its always a possibility you too may be famous :)
The last time I made my way to Manor Barn it was warm, sunny and Christmas was a distant thought. On Saturday it was all about tinsel, trees and twinkling lights. Christmas weddings are always wonderful. Often prospective December clients get in touch in September and say “hey…how about a discount…its December and you’re not busy”. I love to say “well…actually…I booked your date a year ago and I’ve got more weddings in December than May but have a nice time anyway.” Quietly satisfying…
It was great to work with some old favourites. Obviously Manor Barn and the entertaining Jan and Tim. Dennys Catering did their usual magic with amazing food and hospitality (who knew pigeon could taste so good). Last but not least another ‘Liss-ite’ in Heavenly Scent flowers provided a splash of colour on a cold winters day. It was quite satisfying when I mentioned to Gemma about working with old friends that she tells me she used the list of suppliers on the site as the framework for her choices…sensible when you live in Amsterdam (make mine a Royale with Cheese). My list isn’t random…I’ve worked with everyone and totally endorse their work.
I buzzed by Matt’s room when I dropped off Darren…
…little did I know he had a fetish for rubber (ducks)
Pack your bags…(you’ve pulled)
I have a rule for bridal prep shots…NO BUSH!
I show this image NOT because I like it…in fact, the next image is the image in the sequence I really like…no, I show it merely so that I can share with the world the towels left on the railings that Gemma’s mum prayed for me not to include! Mind you she found 1000s of things she didn’t want me to shoot…most of which I had no intention of…but its nice to see reality in these things…eh?
Buy it Now
Gemma helps the Matt’s sister and Bridesmaid
Just spray it Gemma…I’ll quickly walk through!

Gemma gives Dad a big hug…she thought he was teary…but we both know about the eye drops don’t we!
…its dark, its moody…kinda reminds me of film

This was nearly my Just One

Matt cracks a smile safe in the knowledge that some 19 million people are going to be watching (oh, wait…wrong statistic)



I’m such a softy…Matt’s sister finds it all too much
Gemma and Matt exchange a warm embrace…meanwhile the set of Twister 2: Havant Bites It gets a little too close in the background
..no seriously…perhaps we should run for cover!

Jack and Rose
Low tide
Just add lightening
Grandad reckons he’s pulled
The Calendar Girls (yes, that’s what they called themselves)…I’ve been invited to be Ms June!



Manor Barn at dusk

Manor Barn in Wide-o-vision
My entrenched fascination with security lights looks set to continue
As predicted!…hey Join the Hampshire Wedding Photography Facebook Fan page — then you can see this as well as all of my Just One FB images
Apparently this is the bit where they decided if I was going in with a thong or a pair of Bridget Jones’

Strictly

And now a few from the Tenacious D – Darren
I love this image…mum pokes her head out to wish Matt good luck
We’ve stepped back in time…damn you dodgy camera clock!
Its where all the cool kids hang out! Palm tree, cocktails and the smell of coconut vegetable oil…it is HAYLING ISLAND!

One of Darren’s top images. Sweet!




Another angle on the Just One
Today’s just one brought to you by Gillette…because if you’re like Tiger, you want the best a man can get…no matter how many you can handle…
Using my OCS (off camera security-light)
Hiya blog stalkers — and hi to all you newbies as well. Its a glorious Monday morning (OK, its a bit grey and overcast, but remember Lucy and James are in the Indian Ocean and we want them to think that they’ve left the best weather all summer). My Sunday was pretty glorious as well…mostly because I figured out how to rid my facebook newfeed from those stupid Mafia Wars updates. Seriously, I was sitting in my porcelain office reviewing the weekends happenings on Sunday AM with my iPhone (luckily for you I didn’t accidently hit the ‘take picture’ button) and one person filled the entire newsfeed with the crap. I Googled…I won! I even posted it on my FB status and by the time I got back home later that night I had a ton of ‘thank yous’ from other friends who hated them as well. But let’s be honest, we don’t really give two hoots about that now do we. We’re here to wax lyrical about the wedding of Lucy and James in Winchester and Manor Barn, Buriton.
As Hampshire weddings go, we pretty much traversed the county by starting out at St John’s in Winchester. Its the church just up the street from Lucy and James. Of course Lucy got ready in Chandlers Ford. M3 south on a sunny September Saturday is always dubious so I travelled via the A3, M27, M3(n). All in all, I simply never made it to Basingstoke or Andover, because if I had I would have covered every council in Hampshire. Its not a problem…I’m just sayin’.
A lovely couple…she a classic brunette with stunning eyes and he…a former Army officer with a fledgling pop career..oh, sorry, wrong James. A happy couple with lots of fun friends, wonderful parents and a mum with a fatal attraction for wedding flowers :) But thanks goes to everyone, parents, friends, Aunt Maude, for making us feel welcome. Also a big thanks to Nick, a press jock and boyfriend of the Bride’s sister, who let me relive the old days on his Mark 2(n) and let me borrow his 70-200 as I rarely use mine but found the table layout sorta required it.
So, its now time to review some wedding photography in Winchester and Manor Barn, Buriton, Hampshire.
Window dressing…literally
Honestly people…what do you do with flat shoes when you’ve got ‘the addiction’?
Danish

The cheekiest smile which she wore…ALL DAY
The moment just before the MUA (make up artist) applied the pencil thin moustache
Lucy’s mum gets her dress on, whilst Lucy gets her game face on…
…unfortunately she left half of it in the other room
She seems to be losing bits on each photo…soon she’ll be just a blob in a mirror…
..but not before this important safety announcment – SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES
It the BIGGEST cliche in wedding photography. A Bride comes down the stairs, a father stands in awe waiting, the bloody photographer sets it all up with a mirror. Shocking really…but what if it simply happened in front of you. Would you shoot it knowing you didn’t do anything to manipulate it. Answer = YES. Of course I would, and to prove my honesty in knowing it ‘just happened’ I’ll even leave the make up lady lounging against the dining room door. Edgy eh!? Nice blob though.

A candelabra…with real candles. Go figure!



Not to be Blunt…but James…you look like someone famous. Not entirely who..but don’t worry mate…You’re Beautiful.

Squuueeeezzzzeeee
Happy Chapp-ette
Everyone loves a good receiving line. I know I do

Best man waits to announcing in the new Mr and Mrs
Dirty! (they’ll know what I mean)
Mr and Mrs Pac-Man entrust me with their current wearabouts
Rock-Paper-Finger (and a chance to see James’ life threatening injury)
Man-her-bharn
Its where all the cool kids hang out
I pledge allegiance…

Recipe: Sit on floor next to best man during speech, rest camera on knee, hope man at next table congratulates him, shoot from the … knee
Dancing to their favourites from ’1973′
Always lending a hand to help show you where to look first
double bass
My next interlude takes me to the world of Charlie. Charlie, abandoned by his girlfriend (but only for the wedding apparently) is free to drink as much as he likes and do whatever he wants. And on this day, that meant getting his photograph taken by me…more than a few times. Every wedding has a ‘Charlie’…please give generously to the ‘Help Charlie’ fund. Below is my contribution. Sorry Charlie.
On balance tho’…he is a damn fine looking man!
Now a few from the Big D…aka Darren
when you hang out with the ladies, its all MTV, bucks fizz and salmon sandwiches. With the boys its Soccer AM, Red Bull and one sausage split 8 ways
Lucy gave me the brief…”can we have a nice shot of the church and our road” — does this count Luce? By the way…your house…its in the middle of the street
Darren…SHAME ON YOU.
To be fair, it was a different church layout. D was in position A leaving me (R) 90 degrees opposite. Now my algebra is a bit rusty but I reckon that D+A~[R]/90 = just let Darren shoot it from the back
Add you’re own caption…but I reckon I’ve got more than a few ideas that won’t make the chap stage left that happy with me
I know he didn’t mean this…or maybe he did…but it rounded off the sequence rather well
Stealing my set up and making it…(damn you)…BETTER!
He’s got a thing for grannies you know

Check out the light bouncing back off the house. Sweet!
Why? Because if you can figure out what the heck they’re up to you’re better than me!








