Archive for hertfordshire
Rachel and Niall – St Albans and Knebworth Barns
Posted by: | CommentsThe motorway lights flicker as a the first 30 second spell of silence descends over the car. The armco barrier sits but a few feet to the right and the stillness of milk tanker trucks pass to the left. A small cough and then a question? “Rob. Do you like watching animal documentaries?” For an instant I sat there…silenced by this most bizarre question. Thinking perhaps I was caught up in some sort of ‘Airplane!’ comedy moment I replied “do you like watching gladiator movies? Have you ever seen a grown man naked?”. You guessed. THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN.
Darren said what I had only been thinking…No…not about animal documentaries, but rather Rachel and Niall’s wedding, despite being the 3rd of the year actually felt like the first. Perhaps it was coming out of winter, the longer days, the gap over February…who knows. But it was refreshing and uplifting all together and that’s a great way to start a ‘new year’.
The wedding itself took place in the heart of St Albans. If you’ve never been to St Albans and are planning a Saturday excursion let me give you a piece of advice. Leave Tuesday. That or cycle from the outskirts. Town planning missed this gorgeous city and traffic proves its point. Not that any of this has any impact on the day itself. I’m just sayin’.
This was another Anglo-Australian matrimony and the first of a number of cross cultural harmonies to which I’ll get to witness this year. Can you call this cross cultural? Not sure…but since Brendan (brother and best man) can talk about walking around with thongs on your feet I’m guessing there’s a least a vocabulational (new word…MASSIVE Scrabble points) dichotomy. Whatever you call it it was a glorious day with good friends and family and a rare sighting of English winter sun. And if you say that with a David Attenborough voice we will have come full circle.
This post is a slightly abbreviated…well…not really. The post is full its the Facebook ‘afters’ that are a bit truncated. I’m off for 4 days and have, with a bit of haste, put this post together. However, there will be a link later on (after the images) to a few more on Facebook. Only fitting, for reasons which will become abundantly clear in a few moments time.
A gel free zone
Rachel, little Rachel and little little Rachel
Like the Crazy 8 ball, intelligent questions were asked of it, but the dress only answered with ambiguous replies
FOB Macro
‘They’ said get closer…
An odd time to stair dive
From Neil to Niall — it was tough day I tell you
Stalls
For PhilRak
Despite urban legend Aussies don’t Hi-5 from a different direction
Royal Circle
Honey and ginger?
Sugar high
Off the two, this is the more flattering (sorry)
Here in Blighty we have the most interesting caravan parks
My very first ‘official’ Facebook Status Update Ceremony
tiny bubbles
Stand in the place where you live
Just a little bit to the right and he would have had horns!
That moment when you think the DJ said ‘Bon Jovi’ and accidentally plays ‘Bon Iver’
As promised, here is a link to a few more images on my Facebook Business Page. Why not become a keen follower? Its good karma. Rachel and Niall’s Facebook Preview.
Jo and Mark’s Moor Park Golf Club Wedding Photography
Posted by: | CommentsBetter late than never. Jo and Mark’s wedding at Moor Golf Club took place at the beginning of the month. It was one of two clients, who upon getting married, were moving off to the southern hemisphere within weeks of the wedding. Because of this I decided that I would take the time investment in blogging upfront and use it to push on to complete images so that they could take the final product back with them to Oz and NZ. The first of these is Mark and Jo who were married at Moor Park Golf Club. This golfing oasis inside the M25. Its hard to believe you are as close to London as you are when you look out over the rolling hills, fairways and greens. Moor Park itself is very exclusive. Houses the size of Tesco and the area comes complete with its own London Overground station. Membership has its privileges.
It all started at Heathrow. Very appropriate. The new Sofitel at Terminal 5. A rather impressive hotel. I could spend a few hours in there with my camera and a Bride. Sadly this wasn’t to be as things ran a little later than expected. Best laid plans and all that. I have to say I was a bit nervous hitting the M25 on a Saturday afternoon at 1:15pm. Luckily Tom Tom live said it was all good and .. it was. Once at Moor Park we could get down to business. The mansion house is, and I don’t mean this with an disrespect, a bit too grand for a golf course club house. It wouldn’t be out of place in a period drama to be honest. That’s not to say its all about the golf. Inside, the entry hall is grand to say the least. There are some spectacular spaces. The golf and the wedding don’t ever bump into each other (minus the toilets). So it really doesn’t matter. In fact, none of it matters, I’m just thinking out loud.
The wedding was heartfelt and personal with family flying in from Colombia. Nothing more surprising than meeting Jo, hearing her London-esque accent, hear a knock at the door and within seconds she’s going at 100mph in Spanish. Even more surprising when you didn’t know this before hand. Amazing really. Mark is a Doctor. A flying one. Specialising in helicopter based medicine. Why does MASH come to mind. Perhaps not. In any event Mark pulled a rabbit out of hat with personal video messages from family in Colombia and friends from their previous stint in Oz. I suspect that they are already there (Oz that is). How could you leave this lovely English summer :)
As always there are more on my Facebook business page. Follow the link after these taster images.
James Choo Choo
You lookin’ at me?
Mum and the dress
Dad, left in the hall, practices his speech
Seeing Jo for the first time
FOB gets greedy
Bambalaya
See…I said it was pretty cool inside the Moor Park Mansion House
This is the first floor mezzanine…below us is the entry hall. Spectacular architecture
Not sure Mum is impressed (bottom left)
Frank!
Fill up my cup…mazel tov
When in doubt as to what to include in your Best Man’s speech…consult Bob
Watching those emotional home videos from the absent friends
I’ll have what he’s having!
As always, you can find more images on my Moor Park Golf Club Wedding Photography Facebook Gallery. Feel free to tag yourself. Facebook rules mean you will have to ‘Like’ my page first (I think…they change the damn things weekly).
Jo and Mark – Moor Park Golf Club – Fab 4
Posted by: | CommentsAnother busy double weekend. With so much to do as well as Jo and Mark emigrating to Oz in a few days I’m going to post a quick taster and get down to the business of getting their images to them ASAP. Thanks for a great day at Moor Park! It really ‘flew me to the moon’.
More on this wedding in a week or so!
Wedding Photography Hertfordshire – Saara and Rob
Posted by: | CommentsI fully expected to be employing the use of an Ark on Saturday. The forecast was not looking good. I was desperately disappointed for Saara and Rob because the weather has been exceptional (for Britain) over the last few weeks. Despite the heavy overnight rain the sky cleared and the ground was still hard as a rock. Not a bad thing when you have a marquee in the Hertfordshire country side.
Saara and Rob came as a recommendation from some of my favourite folks, Helen and Ben. Being neighbours it took Helen no time to recommend me and for that I am very grateful. The only bummer came in the fact that they weren’t able to attend due to new arrival of Ted. But then, that’s not a bad excuse is it? What’s more intriguing is that Saara’s Bridesmaid, Katie, has also booked me for December independent of knowing they were both hiring the same photographer. Small world and all that.
Saturday was an exceptional day. Lovely weather, lovely friends and family and a stunning location. The church was in a most idyllic village of Drayton Beauchamp and a wonderful location for a church wedding. Travel back to Tring and through the fields to find the marquee set up on the hill overlooking some amazing countryside.
Some business now. First, I did a more robust post production for today’s blog and Facebook post. Rob and Saara and not only exceptional people but also taking a rather unique honeymoon. 7 weeks away in South America. So in light of this I wanted to give them a little extra. Something more to chew on for the next 50 days.
Second…you can see even more by visiting my Facebook Business Page and clicking on their album. Don’t be shy, add my page to your ‘Likes’. You’ll be glad you did.
Third…if you would like to receive an email when all the photos are ready to viewed plus get a 20% discount code for an online order, get in touch via email and let me know.
Saara’s wedding boots. Thankfully not required!
You’re in good company Rob — mine was 20 minutes late
Tentastic!
Devils
Rob con Queso (but it worked didn’t it)
For those about to rock….we salute you!
Version 21 was a cracker!
I wonder what version Rob was on?
Drama King
The song was called “put your hands up”
And a Few From Darren
Beats me
Rural!
Remember…you can see even more by visiting my Facebook Business Page and clicking on their album. Don’t be shy, add my page to your ‘Likes’. You’ll be glad you did.
If you would like to receive an email when all the photos are ready to viewed plus get a 20% discount code for an online order, get in touch via email and let me know.
Saara and Rob – Hertfordshire Wedding – Just One
Posted by: | CommentsWhen I wake up (oh I know I’m gonna be) each wedding morning I never know what I’m going to get. Forrest Gump was right…weddings are like a box of chocolates. Fortunately for me all of mine are dark chocolate based with a gooey inside with at least one big nut. No, that wasn’t a veiled reference to Rob but if you had seen him dancing wearing his sisters fascinator you could be forgiven for believing so. I can’t stop thinking about chocolate now.
Just One’s are meant to be short so in that spirit let’s just get to picture. Each week I’m always faced with some dilemma. Do I take the easy route and show something that Mum would like? Do I find a perfectly composed, well thought out couple shot? Do I show something a bit more thought provoking…something with a bit of emotion to tug the heart strings? Or do I just go for a Bride with a seriously rumbly tummy gobbing whole wheat bread down only minutes before stepping into the Rolls for her most wonderful wedding day. Oh baby…you guessed it!
Buy why? (cries the mothers of Brides the UK over) Because it was a wonderful moment, a magical tension release, a collective uplifting of all of us in the room. A moment you could never rehearse, coordinate or even plan for. That is, at least in part, some of the idea behind Just One. Want to see more, visit my Facebook Business Page for a full gallery of my favourite Wedding Photography moments.
More photos on the blog tomorrow (I can’t wait).
Even more interesting is the laughing Bridemaid…completely independently they both booked me…we’ll see her in December at Bury Court
Luton Hoo Wedding Photographer – Donna and Mark
Posted by: | CommentsOK…not your average wedding. But then again, what is. This was, technically, their third wedding. Having been married in Vegas at The Bellagio, then following on the next day at an Elvis Chapel off the strip and now to Luton Hoo. I suppose, if you’re being picky this wasn’t even a wedding. No ceremony….but it did have speeches a reception, disco, preparations, formals….most things a wedding does.
Donna is Ben’s brother. Helen and Ben were married last year in Wales….I was lucky enough to shoot their wedding. Moving on, Hels is pregnant and is beaming. Not that she didn’t always beam. When I asked Ben’s mum “how do you feel about being a Granny?” her response was “I can see myself as a Granny…but Ben as a Dad…oh dear”. But then, she’s mad (in a good way) and there’s always Richard Gere aka Ben’s Dad to throw him a few hints at doing the right thing.
Today’s blog is going to be short and sweet. Just my photos as well (although the Dazzler did come along). I’m still recovered from a hard cold (that being not flu but still pretty rotten).
One aside…Donna did mention that in the Elvis wedding one of the vows was to ‘not step on his blue suede shoes’. I can’t top that really!
On the line now James Choo from London
Helen, Helen, Helen…really, you get in too many of my pictures!
Mum right, baby left, Helen practicing
Look into my eyes, not around the eyes, but in the eyes…snap….you’re under!
She loves me…she loves me not
The bonus of already being married is that you get dressed in the same room
A Whiter Shade of White
I love the MUA’s expression!
Yep…that’s right…its the couple shots first
Hoooo are you…hoo hoo, hoo hoo
Le Grande Entrance
Mums love speeches. Proof.
In a stroke of irony Mark had interned at his Father In Law’s company when he was 14. Let’s just say that Mark’s initial assessment was less than favourable. Time heals all wounds.
Beats me…protecting themselves from either cosmic rays from the iPhone or gaseous emissions from the Best Man
Perfect timing (yeah…um…well…ok)
Yes…these two will be someone’s parents in a few months
Blame it on the boogie
Someone’s fly is down…his or mine?
