Archive for London
Sophie and David – A Kew Gardens Fall Wedding
Posted by: | CommentsSophie and David are the kind of clients you love to get. Recently engaged as they attended the fantastic wedding of a Natalie and Alex in 2011 they were suddenly more aware of the finer details of organising a wedding. As Sophie was a Bridesmaid it was even more ‘real’ being on the inside. As Robert De Niro’s character in ‘Meet the Parents’ would say…inside the ‘Circle of Trust’. Well, I know you can’t milk anything with a nipple (unlike Ben Stiller) but I did know that I had a great opportunity to not impress Nat and Alex but also these guys. I’m guessing it worked as it was only a couple of months or so until the phone rang and I was over the moon.
I had photographer two different weddings at Kew Gardens before. Both times in Cambridge Cottage. So this was going to be new ground for me. The Princess of Wales Conservatory remains the common bond but being able to shoot both in the Orangery and The Nash Conservatory was just magnificent. As London venues go, Kew Gardens has so much to offer. I really love working there. Their day was filled with unique features perfectly suited for them. Its nice to get something unique for me too. For that I got to photograph the Bride and Groom exit. Pitch black on a cool September night its the kind of photography I don’t often do. Revert to old school. Direct flash. But even direct flash, when seen the right way can be evocative.
What a wonderful day…and if you want to see more after viewing the images below the find the link at the end to a good walloping on Facebook.
David schools one of the Grooms(wo)men.
“Nessun DOOOOORRRRRMMMMMAAAA’
Pin sharp dresser
Proof that there is never a wrong time for a fruit smoothie
One of my favourite shoe photos — EVER
Proof that this job does deserve danger pay
I was rather pleased with this one…mind you Mum did try on the same two pair earrings about 9 times :0)
The gorgeous…and slightly pregnant…Natalie!
The Men In Black visit David one last time just to be sure
Driving Ms Sophie
Quite honestly…this was the toughest lightening scenario I faced in all of 2012 — I’m rather pleased in hindsight with how it turned out.
David never missed an opportunity to practice his imaginary juggling
looks like chocolate cake…feels like chocolate cake…I wonder if it tastes like chocolate cake
The best gag ever…just walk up to a group and shout “Blue Steel”
Geometry baffled me in school
Just what ever is he measuring…the mind boggles
As Dave Grohl would say “its times like these you wish you had your 17-35″….but I love the look on the cake holder
At least she got the Foo Fighters joke
Honestly…I have no idea!
Everyone knows that red ties are better for air guitar
Some people just can’t take a break from their Davina McCall exercise DVD
..see what I mean
Direct flash never looked so … well … interesting
As mentioned above….here is a link to more images from the Kew Gardens wedding of Sophie and David on Facebook
Alex and Simon’s Civil Partnership at Eltham Palace
Posted by: | CommentsI’m guessing some folks may be wondering where I’ve been. Could it be a slow June or has Rob just forgotten to post on the blog. Neither in fact. It all started with the Jubilee and half term and a family trip to Center Parcs and 4 weddings in 8 days. So I’ve been neither slow nor forgetful…just flat out, trying to stay above water.
So lets start with Simon and Alex. Civil Partnerships have always been a favourite of mine. So far, I’ve done 4 with an even split down the gender profile. There seems to be something a bit magical about them. Maybe its the fact that everyone there really wants to be there. There just a vibe that I get and this was no exception. I knew from the moment I met S&A that things were going be fantastic. The planning, the vision…all of it pointed to something exceptional. I wasn’t wrong. Wow. What a day. I was so pleased to be there. Every minute of it. From the 9 Bridemaids all in a rainbow, to the choreographed entrance (how could they not with Alex being a former cruise ship dancer), the elaborately lit main hall and the video messages.
There will be a few more on my Facebook Business page. In fact, there’s been some there for a few weeks now. But I’ve added to it as well the ones below. So have a gander at the images below and then at the end follow the link to Facebook for more.
(BTW, I was without Darren for this wedding, but I did have the image making talents of Yorkshire Wedding Photographer, James Stewart. Now…I think that all of the images below are mine. I know for sure that everything up to the speeches are. Once we get there its all a blur with both of us moving around often shooting similar people at different times. There, I lose it. So he may well get some credit as well).
Don’t adjust your sets…I spent the first hour shooting women!
Sweet sights in the rear view :)
Girls of all ages
Windy
Finally…they arrive!
2 horseman of the apocalypse and a country and western singer (my own take on old Jonny Carson joke)
Proving Alex really IS ‘down with the kids’
Rehearsal…the time now is 2:35pm and the ceremony should have started at 2:30…
Talk to the hand
SHE’s BEHIND YOU!
Alternate lane traffic in the round room
Gauntlet of colour
Your Song…the Moulin Rouge version! Oh yes
Joleen, Joleen, Joleen, Joooleeen
What happens in the hats, stays in the hats
Rainbow Pride
eyePhoneIphoneograhy
At least his name wasn’t Matthew
Contributing to easiest the best original one liner in speech history!
Its raining….really, I hadn’t noticed
Now all I want is chocolate
Disco fever
Wow…what a venue!
As promised, more images from Simon and Alex’s Civil Partership at Eltham Palace over on Facebook.
Grace and Adam – Chelsea and Surrey Wedding Photography
Posted by: | CommentsIts been a while…nearly a month in fact…since the first wedding of Grace and Adam in Chelsea followed by a reception at Horsley Towers in Surrey. Since they were also getting married in Chicago at the end of April and wanted to present a slideshow of images from the UK wedding it made sense to hold fire on postintg until after the US wedding. That way you wouldn’t have a room full of folks who have already seen the surprise presentation. So. Step back in time, to the end of March, when we actually had sunshine and warm weather (eh?), before the apocalyptic rain fall and my own holiday. In one way it seemed like yesterday…in others a lifetime ago (although I’m guessing thats to do with the weather).
Grace had an ambitious plan. Get ready at Horsley Towers just outside of the M25 and then bring her, the Bridesmaids, parents and a load of guests to Chelsea for a magical service at a truly beautiful church. What they hadn’t expected was the FA deciding to move the start time of the Chelsea / Tottenham match. Throw in an overturned car on the A3, a bus driver who ‘knew a shortcut’ and thousands footie fans and you’ve got Grace and Adam’s ‘first half’.
All’s well that ends well as they say and despite her wedding car not making to the first leg of the journey and a number of guests (and yours truly travelling with the aforementioned guests) arriving 30 minutes past the scheduled start time of the wedding and you’ve got that this wedding photographer isnt going to forget in a hurry.
We got the best of everything. A Mother of the Bride speech as well as Bride’s speech. Sparkling sunshine and a comfortable 70 degree day (Fahrenheit provided for our transatlantic visitors). Plus the coolest evening wear ever in traditional African dress
Horsley…NOT Fawlty…Towers
Technically this was slightly premature
Preparing for my secret career as a mother’s entertainer
That’s one seriously cool set of make up widgets
Google Bracelet View (about as well known and used as Google +)
Shortly finding out what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immoveable one
Image By Darren! – Sweet!
If Carlsberg did stairs…
“Trust me!”
Grace and her Father – this church is amazing. From the street you wouldn’t even know it was there. This is just the entry hall!
Umm…deep breaths
Top 40
Sorted
I love this!
Eventually the wedding car made it. Adam could actually see it stuck in the stationary traffic on the A3 just after the incident.
Damn logo!
Horsley was originally a family residence .. there’s a common architectural theme which runs throughout
Hi Five :)
Smashy AND Nicey
Grace and Adam – London and Horsley Towers – A Fab 4
Posted by: | CommentsWell…5. I couldn’t really count Jimmy in there and I know how much Grace’s mum wanted to see Jimmy!
This is a short one from Saturday’s wedding. Short because we’re holding back on the blog post until after the 27th of April. Why? Well, Grace and Adam live in the States. Adam is a fellow cowboy. As such we didn’t want to spoil the surprise as I’m pulling together a slideshow of images to be shown at the Chicago wedding. However a few couldn’t hurt…I promised 4. Here’s 5.
Clearly Jimmy is good for the ‘sole’
Rachel and Tom – Bromley Wedding Photography
Posted by: | CommentsWe waited all summer for…well…summer…and it chose to arrive just as we started Autumn. Oh the irony. It was sun like you almost never see and light that never stopped being there. Welcome to September in England.
Rachel and Tom came to me through Jess and Bob (who you will see later). A lovely referral from another wonderful day. Instead of the country setting in Cambridgeshire for Jess and Bob it was the little bit rural and a lot of town of ‘near’ Croydon and Bromley. Its one of those weird places that are in one county yet called London. I won’t pretend to understand.
For me it all began at the hall. No bridal prep means I get to see the whole build up before the ceremony. I got to learn a bit more about Tom’s side of the family. Not a bad thing as Tom’s father presented the ceremony. This was the second Jehovah’s Witness (Jess and Bob being the first) wedding I had photographed. Both experiences were so warm…warm in a cuddly way (albeit both day were actually quite sunny and warm). Its very personal, very passionate but at the same time thoughtful and well meaning. I’m fascinated by religious culture and the similarities and differences between them. I’ve been lucky to see Catholic weddings in Italy, Jewish weddings in Tel Aviv and Sikh and Hindu weddings in…well…London. Maybe its the not knowing exactly where you stand at any given moment. I’ve seen enough (and be in) Church of England weddings to know the game plan pretty well. I’m rambling.
There will be a link to a few more images on my Facebook Business gallery…that link will appear at the end of the images below. So scroll, look and click.
I was the first person there. Call it insurance when dealing with the M25
Wonderful light…with a fill light to boot
This little archway was just spectacular for light shaping. PLUS……
…the other side bounced light back to those walking towards it. Life is a studio as they say.
Movember came early
I don’t know
Throwing a brick at the couple isn’t exactly what I had in mind
Babe-o-rama
Never trust a man you find in an alley — or a tennis court
Its like Close Encounters in there
Table diamontes should come with a health warning (bottom two images)
First day with his new hook! You had to be there
I leave those kids for 5 minutes and I come back to a line dance
OK…well…this was a test. Only a test. I had seen this idea before but hadn’t ever tried it. With winter on the way it seemed a good time to find something for those dark nights. Not knowing if this would work or just be a waste of time I borrowed Jess and Bob figuring if it didn’t work then I hadn’t wasted any of the Bride and Groom’s time (not that Jess and Bob’s time is any less valuable but it wasn’t their wedding day…you know what I mean). Well…it did work. Thanks to Jess and Bob!
As promised, you can find a few more images from Rachel and Tom’s day on my Facebook Business Page
Sex and the City – A Ladies Photoshoot Around London
Posted by: | CommentsAfter spending something like 12 years in London it was time for one of the Aussie lasses to make their way back down under. During that time Nina had made some wonderful friendships and this gave them a idea. What better way to always remember the amazing London years than to get together for a Sex and the City style photoshoot. A lifelong keepsake of their town and their friendship. So, last Friday I hustled to London to do that…no, not wear a skirt and take part but rather take things in from the other side of the lens.
Throughout our multi location shoot I often found myself trailing behind the fabulous 4 as they strode through the masses on the South Bank and St Pauls. It was most interesting watching the eyes of the blokes walking the other way. What a great job I have. I even noticed the ladies having a look, but to be fair more were drawn to their shoes and each had that ‘ouch’ look on their face. Me…I had sensible footwear.
Here’s a few of some of my favourites from the afternoon. Unfortunately the wind was rather spirited which made things more difficult…but I reckon it all worked out just fine!
Proving 8 IS better than 4
A personal favourite of mine….but I would say that wouldn’t I
Phwoah!
Well…it was London after all!
Ben…Big
It only took about 40 frames to get one where the 30mph wind didn’t kill the hair
St Paul’s never looked better!
No Brooklyn bridge…but we still go it covered
