I’m sure some of the ‘regulars’ will have assumed silence on the blog means baby in the house.  Well, you’d be wrong.  In fact it was a week away at Centre Parcs with the family.  Perhaps not the best timed trip given Nicola’s current state but it was booked up well before ‘Junior’ had anything to do with it.  So, we’re still waiting.

Evan has been settling in to his Christmas toys.  The Playmobil Pirate ship has been the one thing that has captured his imagination most.  Clearly the Grandparents know best.  It has led to more than a few pirate accents around the house.  The best is Evan’s incorrect phrase of ‘ahoy me hair trees’.  It gives him satisfaction and makes me giggle everytime I hear it.

The first wedding of 2009 kicked off on Saturday.  We’re now in the depths of winter and boy don’t I know it.  Although bright on Saturday, it was just too cold to go outside.  It made the family group shots interesting…and actually quite different.  With the wedding being so close to the baby it made sense to take along a little support just in case I got ‘the call’.  It was probably a bit overkill to have two photographers there (and to the guests I apologise) but its difficult to have someone there and place him in a glass box which says “Break Glass in Case of Contractions”.

My support came in the form of Simon Kemp from Hyde-End Studios.  Simon and I have worked together before.  Some may remember it was Simon who stepped up to help me in August when I was rather poorly.  I was truly grateful for him taking a Saturday afternoon out to help.  Like a bonehead he refused to be paid for his time.  Whilst gracious I can’t just let it ride…so a little top up to his iTunes account seems in order.  Check your email Simon.

Simon has threatened to post a few of his favourites on his blog later this week.  So stop by again and have  a look.

Sally and Noel — The Elvetham — Saturday, January 10, 2009

Seats were at a premium…perhaps not on the same scale as the Obama inaguration…but close

Winter weddings, with no bridal prep and a B&G not particularly fussed about ‘couple’ shots means lots and lots of people watching…hug?

A patented technique…honest!

“Oh me so….” — I think I’ll stop there

As Midnight Oil once said…”the time has come”

Each week…its either one or the other…but not usually both

Submit your captions now

Now I see where she got ‘that look’ from

A vain attempt at redemption (see the image a few ticks ago)

I like images with lots going on…and not a single person blinking

Between Eric (the fab Elvetham toastmaster) and I, we did convince them 3 minutes of ‘couple’ shots wouldn’t kill’m

Orange slice

“I like to move it, move it”

Multi-generational imaging

Noel went walkabout

Still perfecting ‘the look’

Handwritten….nice

What two photographers get up to whilst you eat pudding…here I’m saying “Simon, you da man”, Simon replies “No…you da man” and so it goes

More than just a pretty face, Simon assists me in setting up the lights