Glen Ford Wedding Photography

Prestwold Hall

2007-10-24T12:09:00.000+01:00

I've just put together a slideshow of some pictures from Phil and Fru's wedding at Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire. This is a great venue and makes for some stunning photographs. The show only contains a selection of pictures from the day. Click here to see it:- Prestwold Hall Slideshow

It might take a few moments to load.

If you are not aware, Glen Ford Photography is now part of PureLight by Sam and Glen. You can see our new site at:- New PureLight website

The Barn at Bury Court, Farnham Surrey

2007-10-22T18:46:00.001+01:00

This is the venue for Nick and Clare's wedding (see below). It was a real find. Lovely character, beautiful gardens and very friendly staff and owner. Click here to the right to see a slideshow:-The Barn at Bury Court Slideshow

It might take a short while to load depending upon your connection..

Nick and Clare - some beautiful pictures

2007-10-21T21:20:00.000+01:00

Nick and Clare were married at Bury Court near Farnham in Hampshire.

Clare had seen one of our ads in You and Your Wedding Magazine and liked the natural style of photography and within a few days of speaking she had booked me to take their pictures - that was a year ago. The wedding was on Sunday 7th October. Clare and Nick were not too prescriptive in terms of their photographs, but they love black and white images and more informal pictures.

It was a bit of journey for me, from Nottinghamshire, but we cover weddings all over and I simply arranged to stay at a local hotel on the Sunday evening.

Bury Court is a delightful location. It was previously a nursery, so the gardens are more than wonderful - they are designer gardens, with beautiful long grasses. It made for some great pictures. There are a few below and you can see more at the Client Gallery.

Nick and Clare told me that they tend not to look good in pictures - I've told them to give up the day job with looks like these (above).

There was a cricket theme to the day, so they had a muster of cricket bats held high to walk under.

Clare just looked stunning, as you can see here.

Some of the grasses and gardens at Bury Court.

Such unusual flowers - which make the cake look fantastic.

Phil and Fru

2007-10-08T20:10:00.000+01:00

Phil and Francesca (known as Fru) were married at Prestwold Hall, near Loughborough, Leicestershire on the 22nd September. You can you see their images at the client gallery. I have posted some images below, all of which are in black and white. I just simply love the feel and texture that comes with black and white photography. I use film for weddings, so my black and white images are of course shot on film - and I think the effect is just great. These are the type of images that I love to take.

Mandeep and Sukdeep

2007-10-08T20:05:00.000+01:00

Here are a few pictures from the wedding party of Mandeep and Sukhdeep. Mandeep's family held a party for the couple at their home in Leicestershire and we were asked to photograph the celebrations. This was a truly fantastic evening. There were around 900 guests and the reception was held in a large marquee, with a very large dance-floor. The whole event was planned and organised by Tania Tapel from Leicester, which meant that the organisation and display was just great. We enjoyed ourselves immensely, finishing around 1am in the next morning. Here are a few of the images:-

John and Kelly

2007-10-01T08:43:00.000+01:00

Here are some pictures from John and Kelly's wedding, which was on the 1st September and was held in Allington, near Grantham, with the reception held at Allington Manor.

It was a lovely day, with the service at the parish church, which I have been to before, and the reception was a short walk away. There was very much a village feel to the day. The beautiful weather, a marked change from a month earlier, made the afternoon very pleasant. Allington Manor is a delightful location and we have done two weddings there this summer. There is so much character to the house and the gardens at the rear are lovely. Kelly had some family from China at the wedding too - it always adds a very special touch to a wedding when guests take extra effort for the day, like coming half way around the world! It says so much about the overall commitment and how special the day is to them.

You can see pictures from John and Kelly's wedding at the client gallery.

Make up is a important part of any wedding. Many brides opt for a lighter touch rather than use a trained make-up artist. But good make-up is essential for good pictures - it also makes for some nice, candid moments, like this one, when it is being applied.

I really like the colours and contrast from the bridemaids dresses.

Kelly looked stunning throughout the day and this picture captures her well. We call this type of picture a perspective shot, where one person is in the foreground and the other is in the background. It is slightly different from the more usual mantle-piece type picture.

Some might ask the rationale for photographing the backs of people. It is not a picture you would have seen say 20 years ago. But less is more with photography and this picture has a nice composition and is aided by the fact it is black and white. John's pose, with one arm behind his back, helps to define the picture also and you can see the back of the dress, in all its beauty.

The speeches make for some great, candid moments. We spend a lot of money on good lenses for our cameras and this is why. There is a small amount of flash but not so much that it bleaches the picture, and enough light in the background, which is out of focus, to help frame the picture. You need a good lens to take this type of picture.

Salima and Arif

2007-10-01T07:58:00.000+01:00

Salima contacted me around 3 months ago to photograph her wedding. She was looking for something different from the more typical type of photographs taken at Asian weddings. She wanted a fresh and contemporary style, something that would capture the day without taking it over and leave her with some great pictures. Well she and Arif, her husband, tied the knot in Birmingham on the 1st September and had their main reception on the following day at the Marriott hotel at the Forest of Arden.

You can see a handful of pictures below and all of them at the client gallery.

I was not available for the Saturday, as I was already doing a wedding, and so Samantha covered the Saturday and we both photographed the Sunday. We have now photographed three Asian weddings and they have all been great occasions, and this was certainly the case here and was a very enjoyable experience for us. The wedding organiser was Ranjna from Tania Tapel in Leicester - she had put Salima in touch with us. Needless to say with Ranj on the case the organisation was spot on, to the very last detail. And, details are very important with Asian weddings - the major arrangements, the little touches and the overall atmosphere - and this was very much the case with Salima and Arif. We so enjoyed taking the pictures and mixing with their families and guests - by the end of the celebration we almost felt like we had joined them.

This picture, taken by Samantha, captures so much. Hena is symbolic of Asian weddings and is instantly recognised as such. But the delicate light and the composition in this picture, with the differential focus, makes it very appealing.

What a picture! Another taken by Samantha from the Saturday - this could be on the front page of a book! The expression is so warming, it is almost infectious.

I mentioned above that details are important and this applies to the pictures we take. We like to capture the details of the day, especially so for Asian weddings, as so much time, effort and expense goes into the planning for the day. Typically there are many hundreds of guests, so there are lots and lots of details to plan. Here is the inside of the marquee.

This was taken by Samantha on the Saturday. I like this shot. It takes some courage to set this up at a wedding, when the couple might start to wonder what is going on when you lead them into a blind ally - but in this case the picture works really well. The colour and the contrast between the ally, with all its pipes, and the bride and groom is just great. The lighting is also really good.

Dancing is a very big part of Asian weddings. You do not get the more typical situation that is the case with non-Asian weddings, where the dance floor remains empty for much of the evening, except for a few children and the odd bridesmaid. I could perhaps be forgiven for thinking that the highlight of Asian weddings is the dancing! This is a slower version than the more normal bangra music and dancing, but it captures a nice moment of them both.

Recent weddings - Ian and Laura

2007-09-23T09:50:00.000+01:00

And here are some pictures from the wedding of Ian and Laura (26th Aug). They were married at Holme Pierrepont Hall, Nottinghamshire, with their reception held there too. It was a lovely day at a lovely venue. Laura got ready at the Lace Market Hotel in the centre of Nottingham.

I like the light in this picture - there was only just enough, but it adds a certain atmosphere to the shot.

This was a real chance photo. I was walking down to take some pictures of the bride and groom and noticed this little girl wondering in the grass. The composition and light are just great.

A candid shot of Laura getting ready.

More cup cakes!

I like to try and get different shots of the bride and groom, rather than just the usual wedding photograph. You might like this or hate it, but it is certainly different!

Recent weddings - Jo and Nick

2007-09-23T09:36:00.000+01:00

Here are some pictures from Jo and Nick's wedding (25th Aug). They were married in Edwinstowe, Nottinghamshire and they held their reception in a marquee in sherwood forest. The shelter within the trees was very pleasant and it was a very unusual setting. Many of their guests had stayed over in tents - just as well the weather was good for them! You can see all the pictures at the client gallery.

I like to capture natural moments and I find this works especially well for the signing of the register.

I like this shot of Jo and Nick coming out of church, again it has caught a very natural moment.

Cup cakes!

The lighting in the forest was great - these lanterns worked really well.

An informal picture of Jo with one of her bridesmaids.

Natasha and Bruce

2007-09-11T08:14:00.000+01:00

From Natasha:-

"Absolutely thrilled with the photographs. I'm one of life's natural worriers so, since the wedding, in the back of my mind I've been worrying about whether the pictures will be OK (and what I'll look like!). But I need not have fretted. The photographs are amazing. Glen's done fabulously. He's got just the right balance of different kinds of shots, all the more impressive because he did the job in a very short time period. Everyone said on the day how hard he worked. Most importantly, besides having a collection of wonderful photographs, I have about ten that I will absolutely treasure for the rest of my life. And there are a few that I hope my children, and their children, will also treasure as well. Thanks again Glen. We were so lucky to find you."

I was only contacted by Natasha in May this year, and as it happened their date (11th Aug) was still available. The wedding was in Herefordshire, so not exactly local to me in Nottinghamshire. They were going to book a more local photographer, as recommended by the venue, but they were unhappy with the type of photographs they would get. They found me through the internet and we discussed over the phone what they wanted and packages. Natasha wrote to me at the time of booking that she had gone from being just about okay with the photographer they were going to book to choosing someone whose work really excited them both.

I really enjoyed meeting them, their families and guests. Weddings are always hard work for the photographer, but that is what I am paid to do and it is a wonderful privilege to be able to capture something so special for people.

Here are a few pictures from their collection. You can see the rest in the client gallery:-

A quiet moment caught on film.

I love the natural affection between Natasha and Bruce. I simply instructed them where to stand and then stood about 40 yards away with a long range lens, so I was not in their face. Natasha looks absolutely stunning and the moment is perfect.

Black and white can make such great pictures and I love this one. The light, expression, sharpness of the picture and composition really work for me - it is the type of picture that I love to take.

Lifestyle Photography

2007-08-30T23:22:00.000+01:00

We've just started to develop lifestyle photography. For those who don't know what 'lifestyle photography' means - it is photography that captures people in context and a more relaxed and fun way. The main difference, though, is the pictures are done 'on location' rather than within a studio. This provides a more realistic setting and background.

Here are some pictures of a friend of mine. She wanted some pictures for a specific purpose, which I won't go into here - but she wanted professional quality pictures. My friend owns a wonderful old manor house, so the location was already available. We used a professional make-up artist (Rachel Liney) and tried out various things.

We will be doing some portfolio work over the winter, so if you fancy a make-over and photo-shoot then just get in contact.

Here are some of the pictures:-

What defines professional? (post 4)

2007-08-28T21:51:00.000+01:00

Okay, so we have:-

(1) Creative eye, including good composition and understanding light
(2) Professional grade equipment, including lenses (and the know-how to use them)
(3) Ability to cover a range of pictures and so do week in week out

My fourth - and this will be my last - is simply that pictures must have a hallmark of looking professional. In other words, people must be able to look at a sample of pictures and say - 'they look professional'. I know that may sound obvious, but the proof should come through in the pictures, otherwise something is missing. There must be an overall quality of work that speaks 'professional'.

A candid moment that captures so much. I love this picture - it is simple and was taken quickly, but this kind of picture inspires me to take more. I love the feel in black and white, it seems so timeless.

A still life of flowers, yet the colours are beautiful and the soft light and differential focus between the foreground and background make for a pleasing picture. This is straight out of camera - no extra work on the computer.

The lighting and composition in this picture are so very strong, framing the bride and groom. The strong lines from the roof structures offset the expanse in the rest of the picture.

What defines professional? (post 3)

2007-08-27T10:45:00.000+01:00

So far my comments on professional are (1) having a creative eye and (2) using professional grade equipment. It goes without saying that you must have a good grasp of all the technical details for photography, both creatively, exposure and light.

My third difference is being able to capture a range of pictures and to do so consistently. Many people can take the odd picture really well, but doing so on a regular basis across a range of areas is different. That is what you expect from a professional.

Here are a few pictures from a recent wedding (Sally and Nick - 28th July 2007). I hope you enjoy them.
Best wishes, Glen

Details are an important part of the day, flowers especially - but they need to be good pictures.

Pictures that capture the essence of the day, such as this shot from the back of the church, help to tell the story of the day. Good composition, good timing and the right lighting are key.

Formal pictures seldom make promotional images, but they are an important part of the day for most couples. Selecting a good background and working well with people are key, plus a good understanding of light.

Of course posed pictures of the bride and groom are normally a must - getting people to relax in front of the camera is the key here, as well as being able to direct people in terms of how and where to stand.

Candid pictures that capture the moment are normally favourites - but this must be more than a snap, you need to be in the right place at the right time, and know how to use composition and light.

What defines professional? (post 2)

2007-08-16T09:05:00.000+01:00

Okay, so here is my second post on this topic and it is about the type of kit you use. There are two grades of photography equipment, those targeted at the high street and those targeted at professional users. Professional equipment is (1) more expensive, (2) higher spec and (3) more robust and durable. The one that I will focus on here is the higher spec. So, just what exactly does this mean?

Well it means when a manufacturer is making something then fit for purpose is the measure of quality - in other words quality needs to be sufficient for the intended purpose. In terms of cameras the difference is generally in how robust they are, although professional cameras do have more features. The big difference, though, is in the lens and lighting. Let me explain.

Professional grade lens are made to a much higher specification and they let in much more light, which makes then heavier and bigger. This all goes to make for a very heavy camera bag but some top draw lenses and some great pictures. The downside is the cost and weight - you are talking about around £1,000 or more for each lens, and each one can weigh a pound on its own. A photographer can easily have 5 or 6, to cover different situations. That is a lot of money and weight in glass.

The other area is lighting. The use of artificial light is key; too much and you spoil the picture, and too little and you will struggle to see anything. Professional grade equipment is designed to give a balanced picture, using a mixture of natural and artificial light. Of course you have to know what you are doing, but that applies anyway.

Here are a few pictures as examples:-

This picture was taken by Samantha and shows what can be achieved using a professional grade lens. The combination of the sharpness of the bride's (Dipti) face and the out-of-focus necklace is a hallmark of a good lens. It is a beautiful picture made so to a large extent by the quality of the lens.

This picture demonstrates the ability to combined natural and artificial light, to give a pleasing, balanced picture.

This picture uses a differential in the focus to create an artistic effect. The place card is in focus but the rest of the picture is blurred, even though the distance between the items is very close. The lighting is also very soft and natural. This picture was entirely created in camera, no soft focus lens, no computer adjustments - just a very good, professional grade lens. It has turned a very simple and not-so-interesting scene into one that really appeals to the eye.

This picture was taken using a tripod and an ultra-wide angle lens. The lens costs around £1,500 and you can see why when you see the result it can produce.

What defines professional? (post 1)

2007-08-14T07:56:00.000+01:00

I thought that I would do a few posts around a particular topic, which means that if you follow this blog then you can read the series!

So what is the difference between professional and non-professional pictures, in terms of the finished picture. In the era of digital cameras you might be forgiven for thinking that anyone with a good quality digital camera could pass as a professional, and herein lies part of the trouble - it is not as easy as it was to separate an enthusiast from a professional.

So here are my thoughts.

Creative eye. I used to think that the best pictures had to capture a wonderful subject - such as a shaft of light coming through woods illuminating a single flower; catching that special moment, or being in the right place at the right time. Well, that is part of the trick - but more often than not a good creative eye is about taking a very ordinary scene and capturing it in way that makes for a good picture. More often that not that means thinking of something less obvious. Clearly the composition of the picture has to work, the same applies to art - the overall picture must have a look and feel that makes for a good picture, but the creative eye, in my view, is more than just composition - it needs to capture something more than just a technically good picture.

Below is a picture that in my mind uses the creative eye to take a very standard scene and makes it much more interesting. You cannot see the bride's face, but the picture so very clearly speaks volumes to me: the picture instantly says "wedding", but not in a boring way; the composition works, with her on the left, a few table details in focus and the expanse of the room out of focus; her veil and hands make a nice still life subject and your eye is drawn to them in the picture; and finally, I am left wondering what she is thinking about as she listens to the best man's speech. The fact that I cannot see her face is not an issue - in this case, less is more: she looks beautiful as she is in the picture, with her hair, dress, hands and veil.

Did I think through all of that when I took the picture? Of course not, the picture took my eye, I would have looked through the viewfinder for a few moments, taken time to compose the picture and adjust any settings on the camera, then I pressed the shutter. But when you do this professionally you develop an instinctive sense of what the creative eye is all about. The black and white finish adds to the overall tone of the picture. This was taken using film, black and white film, but I knew that when I took the picture and so this was a deliberate step on my part.

The picture is more special to me, because the bride in question is my daughter. I was not of course the official photographer, but it was nice to capture a few moments myself.

Another busy weekend..

2007-07-29T19:38:00.000+01:00

Well it has been another rather busy weekend, with Sam and I covering 3 weddings on Friday and Saturday between us and a client meeting today in Birmingham.

The weather has been so wet recently that it was a very nice and welcome change to get some sunshine on Saturday. Below are a few pictures from a wedding in late June, where it was wet for most of the day. It does not ruin the day, as some may think, but it does make for a different type of day. They still had a lovely day and we captured some really nice pictures, despite the weather. The pictures are from Tina and Simon's wedding and congratulations to Simon and Tina if you are reading this.

Flowers make for good pictures, especially on weddings. The reds and whites of these roses are lovely and the few spots of rain make for an even better picture.

I like taking the 'boys' pictures, and this type of shot works well, with a simple composition and depth in the picture.

This picture sums up the British summer for this year - two bridesmaids having a giggle in the rain.

It was raining quite hard at this point, but the raft of umbrellas worked well for the throwing of the confetti.

Getting Tough

2007-07-22T23:16:00.000+01:00

Well it has been another busy weekend. My youngest daughter (14) has gone to Croatia with a friend and her family for 2 weeks - so it was a goodbye on Friday; a wedding near Milton Keynes on Saturday, which was a bit damp in parts but a really enjoyable day, made so by the bride and groom, who were lovely; and then I had a couple - Neil and Kelly - over on Sunday to view their pictures from a few weeks ago. They have got some really nice pictures (you can see them in the client gallery) and it was nice to meet up with them again.

On to the subject, we have been looking through our pictures recently to select our own favourites - the ones we consider for promotional purposes. When you take so many pictures, it becomes tough picking out the ones you really like. Here is a link to a selection of just under 200. They are a nice mixture and I really like them. They describe really well what we do best. You will need broadband to make the process not too slow.

Click the link (the text in bold) to open a new window with our favourites Our favourite pictures (it might take a short while to load).

I have included a handful below.
Glen

This is from a wedding last September. The bride was truly beautiful and this candid picture when she was putting in her earrings is delicate and lovely. The subtle colours and texture make it one of my favourites - the picture grows on me the more I look at it, wondering what is going through her mind at that point.

Learning to put yourself in the right place and to wait for a special moment is a skill that comes with time. This picture captures that. The light, the veil and the soft black & white colours make this picture for me.

This is one of Samantha's pictures from a recent wedding (June 2007). Looking and finding the right angle is so important in photography - this angle is magic and it makes for a powerful picture.

Many couples want us to capture the details from their day; as one person told me, you spend so much time planning all the details but on the day you often miss them - so it is really nice to capture them in the photographs. But you want more than factual records, so our task is to be creative, by using our skill and professional lenses to photograph them in a way that makes the picture stand out. I like the strong spot colour and the blurred background in this picture.

This has to be one of the best pictures I've seen from a wedding, although not obviously a wedding picture. The expression, the soft colours, composition and simple background really make this a cover picture. I can say all that because it is not mine - Samantha took the shot at a recent wedding.

Stapleford Park

2007-07-16T21:52:00.000+01:00

You can see the images from Neil and Kelly's wedding at the client gallery. The wedding ceremony and reception was held at Stapleford Park, Leicestershire on 9th June 2007. It is a great location and makes for a lovely setting.

I've been out to Northern Ireland recently. It is always interesting how much time it takes for perceptions to change. When I asked my wife if she wanted to come with me, she was a little unsure. As it happended, she did not for practical reasons, as my trip was mostly work rather than pleasure. As for me, I had a very pleasant time.

Well, it is a bit busy at the moment with weddings, enquiries (which is good) and client meetings. We have just taken on our second Asian wedding, which will be in September this year. The couple in question are looking for a more contemporary style of photography, which is not that common within the Asian community, and they liked our approach.

No pictures to post here, but you can see plenty of recent pictures at the client gallery.

Lets hope the weather improves!

My Daughter's wedding

2007-06-26T22:04:00.000+01:00

Well I could hardly take the pictures, but my daughter asked me if I would take a few and the photographer was gracious enough not to object. So I took a few but only the odd one, as most of the time I was happy to enjoy the day and the celebration. I do like taking photographs though and capturing special moments, so it was nice to do so on this occasion. The wedding was on last Sunday in York and thankfully before the heavens really opened. There were a few showers but nothing that spoilt the day.

Being a parent and a photographer is interesting, as I get to see what makes a picture for me. I like simple pictures that capture people as I know them - pictures that stir a small emotion and make me think of them, who they are and what they mean to me. I have to say, I really do like pictures that capture people in a natural way.

Oh, we had a near panic on the Friday evening, as the vicar informed my daughter that the choir would not be there during the ceremony as they already sing twice on Sundays and so she could have £55 back. Well it is always nice to get some money back, but this was not welcome. Fortunately, I know some friends who are very musical and know people in that trade, so we swiftly arranged for a string quartet to play during the signing of the register, and they also came back to the reception (Hazelwood Castle, which is a delightful and very friendly venue) and played during the drinks reception and canapes, which worked out really well, especially with the weather and so many people inside. They are called Quintessential String Quartet (Click here for their site - opens in a new window) and they come highly recommended!

Here are a few pictures:-

As I said, it was a little wet but not enough to spoil the fun. These are two of my other daughters and my other son-in-law.

The bride herself, having fun.

I love the skin colours in this picture, even though it is a rather thoughtful expression. She looks radiant and a picture of beauty (am I allowed to say that?)

This is Neill, the groom. He is normally happy to avoid the spotlight and so I am especially pleased with this picture, the pleasing contrast really sets it apart.

I know it is a straight to camera shot and will not be winning any awards, but it captures a nice moment of mum (otherwise known as my wide!) and daughter, with those obvious emotions between them on such a day.

If you would really like to see a few more, then here is a link to an online show - again, just a few of my snaps. Dinah and Neill picture-show (it might take a short while to load).

Dipti and Vinesh Gallery Live

2007-06-26T08:37:00.000+01:00

Just a quick note to say that the on-line gallery for Dipti and Vinesh is now live and you can see the images by clicking the client gallery selection.

The first page has a slide show using a selection of the images. You can see this show anytime from within their gallery by clicking "View Photographer's choice slideshow".

Happy viewing.
Glen

Dipti and Vinesh

2007-06-23T12:18:00.000+01:00

Just to say for those who are eagerly awaiting the images from Dipti and Vinesh's wedding (27th May) they will be live on the client gallery from next Tuesday (26th June).

They had a lovely day and I am really pleased with their pictures, Dipti is a true picture of beauty and Vinesh is pretty dashing too - but most of all the day was fantastic and hence the pictures tell the story of a wonderful day.

A few 'teaser' pictures below:-

I love these pictures, very much a case of less is more.

I really like this picture, it is a nice abstract.

All the details that Dipti had arranged were just beautiful, like these flowers and this necklace.

The array of colours was great, this is one of Vinesh getting ready.

The first dance.....

My weekend

2007-06-18T08:35:00.000+01:00

Well I did not have any weddings over the weekend, but I met with two couples. Georgina and Trevor, who were married on 19th May, came across on Saturday morning for a viewing session. It was a chance to see all their pictures - all 432 of them - on big screen (I have a projector set up, which is used to play back the images), and also to think about their album choice and images for the album. We made a lot of progress on the morning. When left to their own devices most couples find the task of picking out the pictures for their album difficult and often lengthy. I have recently introduced viewing sessions for couples - I leave to them to sit back on a cosy sofa to view the images and then we talk through albums and picture selections. It takes a few hours from start to finish, but it saves time later and it is a nice way for couples to view the images, in addition to having them on CD for home viewing.

I also arranged to meet Tina and Simon, who are getting married at Lambley in Notts on 30th June. I met with them at Simon's parent's house in Lambley, then to the parish Church and then onto Cockliffe House Hotel, where the reception will be. Cockliffe House is a delightful hotel and they will have the run of the place on the Saturday. All the arrangements sound great, so I am really looking forward to photographing the day for them. It is very helpful to meet with couples after they have booked, as we can finalise the arrangements for the day and it is a chance to build a rapport, which helps immensely on the day.

I've picked out a handful of images from Georgina and Trevor's wedding, the full set can be seen in the client gallery. Pictures by me and Samantha Hook.

Samantha took this picture - I love it. Georgina looks completely stunning, the contrast in black and white is compelling

This was taken whilst I was walking backwards and trying not to fall over. It has captured a nice moment and I like the long line of guests.

This is also a picture by Sam, taken whilst I was setting up a group photograph. It shows the strength of two professionals at the same wedding. The light and the expression are timeless.

In flow during the speeches - sometimes it all works for the photographer, as it did here - lighting, composition and expressions.

This picture was taken by Sam and what a picture. It is like someone has cut the end of the marquee off to enable the picture, like on a film set - only it was taken from the inside.

Lucy and Dean

2007-05-14T07:16:00.000+01:00

It is always nice to meet up with couples after their wedding and see how they are getting on with life. I met up with Lucy and Dean on Saturday, who were married last May. I dropped off their wedding album (yes, it had taken them a while to choose their pictures).

Anyway it was very nice to see them again. They had had a lovely new kitchen fitted, which was a present from all the guests at the wedding - which I thought was a rather nice and very practical gift. It is a very homely and inviting kitchen.

For their album they decided to have an art book album, which I have made using photographic paper. The album is laid out liked a matted album but you can also have pictures that cover the entire page. Lucy is very into creative design - being an art teacher - and so she took my initial layout, which gave her a basic idea how to layout an album, and then made her own changes. The resultant design is very nice and is personal to them. Click on the link below if you want to see what I mean:-

slideshow of Lucy and Dean album layout

Here are a few pictures from their day:-

Fleur

2007-05-09T17:32:00.000+01:00

Some light relief from wedding photos:-

Now for those who have read my earlier posts you will know that Fleur is a 6 month old small poodle, a very small poodle. She weighs in just over 2 kg, that's a couple of bags of sugar. She had fits when she was a puppy, a very small puppy, and again about a month ago. She has to take drugs each day to keep her stable, but apart from that she is fit and well.

Now she may be small, but she is no angel. You could call her a minute T-rex or a small dog who thinks she is really a big dog. Here are a few pictures of her in the garden this afternoon.

For those technically minded, about cameras not dogs, these pictures were taken on an Olympus E1 with a 35-100 f2 (70mm -200mm for 35mm equiv). They were taken at F2.8, 1/200th and ISO 200. The last picture was taken on a 11-22mm wide angle (22mm-44mm for 35mm equiv) at f2.8. The Olympus camera produces some real nice colours and the f2.8 aperture throws out the background to give a nice pleasing feel to the picture and some depth.

Pictures during the service

2007-04-19T21:23:00.000+01:00

The service can be a great time to get some spontaneous photographs, especially during church services, which are normally longer and the setting provides more scope. This is of course the first time the bride and groom meet and there are normally exchanges in body language between them. If there are two photographers, then one can be at the front and one at the back. The contrasting views can make for some really nice pictures. You obviously need to check with the person conducting the service, but most are okay so long as there is limited flash and you do not distrurb the proceedings.

Here are a few of my favourites:-

(above) this is a lovely candid moment, with the bride looking up at her new husband.

I use this picture quite a bit for promotion, as the soft tones and the gentle holding of hands portrays the mood and atmosphere of a wedding so well.

I love this shot, again a candid moment, using a slow shutter speed, so there is a bit of motion in the picture.

The expressions on the faces of the newly weds make this picture. It is a nice informal moment caught as it happened.

The first kiss. I thought this looked better in sepia, as it takes away some of the harshness from the white.