Archive for Hampton Court House
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.
Hampton Court House Wedding Photography – Stephanie and Tim
Posted by: | CommentsIt seems like every year, in the fullness of spring, I find myself at Hampton Court House. Its a wonderful venue, in a wonderful location with some of the most unique features a venue could ever have. Its not in your face and its never going to compare with some soul-less 5 star venue but its quaint and very English. During the week a day school and at the weekends a A+ wedding venue. I was pleased that Steph and Tim could see the value of it and embraced it wholly. There are some interesting contrasts. The ceremony room, which seems to double as a community area during the week, has the most amazing window light for ceremonies. In my mind it nabs ahead of Clandon Park and Cain Manor for great window lit ceremonies. I have a feeling that Rivervale, a new venue in Hampshire, may also have this but I won’t know until November. Then there’s the 19th century feel of the furniture and adjacent rooms. Add a Miami Vice style patio complete with palm trees and secret shell grotto and you’ve got what you can only described as a tequila fueled brainstorm of what makes a great venue. No matter how you slice it…it works. Lots! As for Steph and Tim…well they were lovely. He never stopped smiling and she can cry on queue…just play a flourish from Cinema Paradiso. Hope you are having a great honeymoon.
Also…if you are interested in being notified when the entire gallery goes live and get a discount code for 10% off an online order do get in touch
Number 437 on the list of things you don’t expect to be doing on your wedding day — emergency sewing on your dress
Saying that, it seems to have done the trick
The Bridesmaids’ flowers. The sweetest, softest, most gentle yet alluring flowers ever. If Carlsberg did flowers….
Minimalist shoes?
Down pub (very Yorkshire)
Tim dishes the duties with no one coming forth to lead on this week’s task. These ushers are destined for the Boardroom
So I walk into the Hampton Court House as I arrive from the pub. I find only a handful a people. This chap says “hey, you wanna take me picture?”. Like a kid sticking his fingers in the bars at the zoo, I reckon he won’t ask that question again :)
Let’s play guess the number of stops difference between the outside and the inside
It was fandabydozy to return to the ceremony room with the best light in the world!
James had been…told them all to ‘Sit Down’
Like most folks, Steph also found the empty hand trick too much to take in
Grot-oh. Find the flash
Smitten
Runaway bride — My Just One
Walking tall
“Ohhh” says Rob. “Yeah, but … um…there’s a filing cabinet and stacks of chairs and random tables” says Step. “And?”
Time to receive some guests
The rather fetching meal room at Hampton Court House — weather balloons extra
“yeah….and there were filing cabinets and stacks of chairs…the lot. It was AWESOME!”
“Damn! Why couldn’t we have filing cabinets” or English Julie Kim
Even after clearing the air there was a still a sense of coolness between Vettel and Webber
The runaway bride keeps her options open during the speeches
Symmetry
And now a few from someone completely different
On Saturday at Charley and Matt’s wedding the Groom’s mother invited along a young chap (18 in fact) to shoot some pictures for practice. Will, that’s his name, has no real interest in wedding photography but is a keen film maker. Following in the footsteps of a director he admires, that being Stanley Kubrick, Will has seen the value of how being a creative photographer can help you immensely in being a better film maker. Of course, I could have gone all prima donna and insisted that I was the only photographer (oh, and Darren too) at the wedding but I’ve found this to be a rather counter productive position. Instead, I had the opportunity to assist and mentor him (even if only a little bit). First thing, get rid of those 3000000mm zoom lenses. “Here…have a 50 1.4″ I knew that Darren couldn’t make it on Sunday so I thought it would be a good idea to invite Will along for a bit more experience and to keep me company :) So here are a few of the images that I like from Will…
Message to Will…how strange that all of the shots above are shot on the 50mm :)
Remember…if you are interested in being notified when the entire gallery goes live and get a discount code for 10% off an online order do get in touch
Hampton Court House Photographer – Stephanie and Tim – Just One
Posted by: | CommentsI’ve managed to barter with Evan and Holly is asleep. Its half term you see and I’ve got both of the kids today. But I really needed to get this out. So whilst Evan is playing Labyrith on the iPad I’ve ducked out quickly to share this. Much more to come on Wednesday (Charley and Matt) and Thursday (Steph and Tim).
The One That Got Away (TOTGA)
Posted by: | CommentsLast night we were watching “The Apprentice: You’re Fired” and something hit me. We love “The Apprenctice” and have grown to love the follow up show on BBC 2 just as much. In fact, is there a funnier man anywhere than last nights comic guest, Rufus Hound? Anywho, the thing that hit me was the concept of “The One That Got Away”. That being the once other candidate who could just as easily got the swift finger from Sir Alan but didn’t. I then thought about the shots that I select for the blog (remembering that the blog happens within days of the wedding and the remainder of the images aren’t dealt with for a week or more) and how some shots are better than those on the blog. If pushed, and I could do a Wayne’s World style ‘do-over’ what one image would I select with the benefit of hindsight. So in light of that, here is my first “The One That Got Away”
Surrey Wedding Photography – Sarah and Michael
Posted by: | CommentsYes…its very late. Nicola is staying over with the kids at her sisters tonight. I’ve come home and decided to get today’s blog on the site ASAP. I’m taking tomorrow off and as we’re away 3 days next week I felt it was best to just get on with it. The only thing I don’t like about blogging so fast is that I’m forced to pick my images from either memory or small thumbnails. Invariably I always find a few in the next stage that I wish I would have put up instead. But with so many images to choose from it made sense to find the ones I like and get on with it.
Today I made it back to Hampton Court House. Its hard to believe when you’re there that this is actually a working private school. It almost seems made for weddings. I first visited HCH last year and the time away did nothing to convince me how much I love working there. It easily ranks in my all time top civil ceremony rooms in respect to fabutastic light. My other faves are Cain Manor and Clandon Park. Some of you, if you look close enough, may actually recognise Sarah. If you don’t…tough noogies :)
Just a photo of the Jenson Button-holes (we call that foreshadowing in literary circles)
Somewhere…over the Rainbow (that’s kind of an in-joke amongst us photographers)
Dad practices his speech 3 floors down…brides dress in the foreground
See…there’s the answer to the foreshadowing…if all brides could kindly put the F1 qualifying on for me I would be grateful
Kung Fu Curlers
Well..it had to happen sometime didn’t it
On the way down the stairs…a mirror…(said like that nodding dog advert)…Oh Yes!
Meanwhile, over at HCH (the ushers/best men) closed the door and locked me in. So this is the only thing I could get of the brides-mates arriving
Sarah had told me “yeah, um, Mike…he blinks..A LOT…in photos”. So I took a brave yet sensible decision and decided that I would simply omit his face in every shot. As you can see from the example above, problem solved!
Dad (FYI)
(The smarter amongst you will probably already realise this) Mum
Its (fabutastic) light Jim…but not as every venue knows it
All you need is some clay and Patrick Swayze and you’ve got a scene out of ‘Ghost’ (this wee bridesmaid — and BTW, I only use words like wee when I get Scottish guests…they love that stuff…no, honest — was into everything and fodder for all of us with cameras)
I did ‘occassionally’ break the ‘No Mike/Face’ Rule
No posing…just set her off down the stairs — snap, snap, snap
Without Mike, Sarah seemed freakishly small
Crikey…I can hear the Traditional Wedding Photo cops knocking on the door…I’ll grab the ammo, you lock the door
Speech!
Dancin’ in the Ceiling
Just look at his eyes…he looks like Daniel Craig
Not what I would call a keeper…but check out the big head on the dress. The challenge with off camera lighting is sometimes knowing when to get out of the way…I look quite dashing in silhouette, no?
Electric Light Orchestra
Throw the dog a (trom)bone
Night, night
And A Few the Boy Wonder — Darren, The Tenacious (5) D (perhaps some of Darren’s best I might add)
Yet another one for Mumm
Great shot D
I left him to his own devices and he organises a Flower Tattoo
This may well be…my most favourite shot Darren has ever taken.
From the balcony
Again…just snap, snap, snap.
I find this image a hoot…sorry if not everyone does
Crackin’ stuff Mr D
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