As a wedding photographer, you are always on the look out for the venues which match your style.  I’m not talking about my bell bottom trousers and enormous sideburns (both a lie by the way) but rather a venue that plays to your strengths.  Fascinating architecture, wonderful window light and character driven interiors are all things that I think help accentuate the way I like to look at things.  Great Fosters is one of those venues.  Of course a venue is only a venue unless you fill it with great people and a warm couple.

Lisa and Duncan came as a recommendation from Nicky and Steve.  If you want to reminisce about another wonderful venue which sadly has stopped doing weddings, take a look at this.   It was wonderful to see them both and to see the bump of expectation.

The weather flirted with us all day.  One minute it was stonking sunshine, the next rolling clouds.  Thankfully it stayed dry, if not a little chilly, but it was enough for everyone to enjoy the gardens and see all the wonderful flowers.  What’s interesting about Great Fosters is that you are only a hop off the M25, quite near Heathrow yet in a secluded estate in what feels like the heart of Surrey.

Hey friends and family.  If you are interested in a 20% off discount code for the online gallery and to be notified when it goes live you’ll find a link at the bottom of this post.

ALSO, if you would like to see some more you can visit my Facebook business page…again the link follows all the images below.

One last things before I roll out the images for the benefit of Lisa and Duncan who may not have seen their Fab 4…go here!

Can I now present, a few images from Lisa and Duncan’s wedding…wedding photography at Great Fosters.

Its Great…but its not the exceedingly large can of lager I was expecting

Some may call it foreshadowing…I love this hall and the window ain’t bad either

No matter how hard they stared, they never did see Jesus in the dress

This would happen to you to if you were reading the ‘Order of the Day’ as presented by your solicitor sister!

Phwoah!

Me and the registrar were close…rather close

girls…

It had to be done really

Not content with keeping it to herself, Lisa’s sister clearly shared the Order of the Day with little regard to it relative impact

James Brown

It seemed an odd place for a lorry to park with its headlights on…but there you go

K-Lee

A reminder…if you would like to be notified when the full gallery goes live and get a 20% discount code for reprints, get in touch.

ALSO…more images can be found on my Hampshire Wedding Photography Facebook Business page.

Remember Fab 4….from last summer.  Its what I do when I can’t blog the full ride quickly but I’m keen to give my couples something to chew on.  These guys are off to Zambia in the morning so here is their Fab 4.

I had worked at Great Fosters once before.  I knew it was going to be a sensational venue but I was struck at just how sensational it was.  Simply lovely spaces to work some incredible images.  Of course having Lisa and Duncan as the Bride and Groom certainly helped.  Thanks for being open to my suggestions.  The ticking watch and soothing tones of my voice had nothing to do with it.    Have a great honeymoon and remember to check back in Jo’burg.

Sorry Duncan…just realised that you only appear as a small Lego figure in the second image.  Trust me…I have loads :)  Besides…I don’t want to tempt the ladies too much!

Its always a moment of slight hesitation.  “Hi, my name is Andy, I’m a photographer and I’m getting married.”  Oh dear, here we go again.  In some ways, shooting the wedding of another wedding photographer is quite easy.  They know the score, the challenges, the rules.  But we’re all a little bit different.  They also generally get a different type of package to the general public…one that includes handing over the files and letting them do all the work.  My only problem is that I feel a significant part of what I do that makes me interesting happens in the second part of the phase…that being at the computer.  I care more about content then composition…emotion more than exposure…candor instead of colour.  As a result I always have to fiddle with a few files.  Just so everyone knows what I saw and the way I saw it.  So…in a break from tradition….in futile quest to ensure that poor Hazel gets to see some of her wedding photographs sooner rather than later (yes, we photographers are the worst at processing our own images) I have created a wee secret slideshow.  To view it you need to have been at the wedding or know the couple.  To access it type the following into your browser:

http://www.shootinghip.com/slideshows/[ANDY'S LAST NAME]

clearly, replace [ANDY'S LAST NAME] with the his last name…

However, for everyone else…here’s a normal blog entry

A full head of hair…

…but only half a face.  Brides go to such extreme lengths!

As Barry Benson Bee would say … “Box Light”

Totally Rad(iator)

Perhaps my most interesting flower shot ever…and for the record, they flowers were there to begin with

Case in point…in the original Hazel’s arm is also in the reflection…not any more!

We’re goin’ on a … Autumn Holiday

Fare dodgers!

TFL would be so proud

At least someone bought a ticket

The bus lady has to stand there to stop people from hopping on…the fact that Routemaster busses are no longer in service should be a clue.

Same to you … pal!

A moment’s silence at the closure of the Brass Rubbing Centre

Pre ceremony drinks — YES WE CAN!

Push Bar To Open

Shooter to the left of me, shooter to the right…here I am, stuck in the middle with you

You just know he’s thinking “if I was shooting this wedding….”

HOT (el)

Ye Olde Windsor Guildhall Motion Blur Exit Shot — Opus # 4

I’m ‘stuck’ (groan) for words

The lovely Great Fosters Tithe Barn

Whilst wondering around I came across this room…from the outside.  I then became that dude out of Die Hard in an attempt to find access to it.  Cha-ching!

Andy, whilst being the biggest camera mug of 2008, was able to turn it on like an underwear model at any time

H&A — remember what I said to you whilst I was lying on the floor

Fantastic Frank Sinatra impersonator…English as you like and once the show started as convincing a New York accent as I’ve ever heard

Hmmm…can I have a flake with that?

Smooth tones…soft served!

Frank managed a rare thing…dancing — BEFORE — the dancing

Shooting the speeches wasn’t what I would call…easy.  With a 3ft 2in ceiling on hobbits could stand up under there!

Speaking of which…meet Grigory Brandybuck of Buckland

Bloody hell…these days, everyone thinks they’re a photographer…although, I suppose with this wedding…they actually were!

Guest flash cake shot rim light yummy yummy

Don’t forget the secret slideshow folks…