Jennie & Mike's Wedding

Here are just a few reportage wedding photographs of Jennie and Mike's wedding at one of Leicestershire's premier wedding venues, Prestwold Hall at Prestwold, near Loughborough.  With such a stunning venue, it didn't matter that the April showers decided to make themselves known as everyone had a great time enjoying the wedding inside the beautiful stately home.  At  least Jennie's family from Sri Lanka got to experience some typical British weather!  The sun did come out later in the day, allowing the guests to explore the beautiful grounds at Prestwold Hall.


The hair and make-up was expertly done by Rachel Liney of Rachel Liney Hair and Make-up.  Rachel had an early start as she started work at 6am that day.  Rather her than me!  Jennie's wedding dress was supplied by Sonas of Ealing Road, London.  Jennie told me that it was the first the dress she has worn for about ten years as she is the practical outdoors type of girl who is normally to be seen in trousers and walking boots.  You would have never guessed that on Sunday as Jennie looked stunning.

Two 1950's Bentleys were supplied by Lenton Limousines, although  Mike arrived in his own lovingly-restored Citroen 2CV.  The wedding flowers were supplied by Flowers by Sarah of Quorn and the chair covers were supplied by Event Angels.  The wedding cake was from Cakes Etcetera and the gent's suit hire was from Moss Bros.  Videographer Rob Gallery of Premier Video (based in Surrey) filmed the day, alongside me.  I found Rob really easy to work with and we made sure that we didn't get in each other's way.

Fizzy the Fairy Clown entertained the children with her expert balloon-modelling skills.  She even made balloon bracelets for the Prestwold Hall catering staff, who entered into the spirit of the day by wearing when they served the post-dinner coffee.  The wedding guests had a surprise during the wedding breakfast as they were entertained by three singing waiters from Encore Management.  It was great fun watching the faces of the guests when they realised they weren't real waiters or chefs, but actually very talented and superb singers.  They went down a storm and the guests loved them.  Guy Morris of Media Location Services provided the disco in the evening, which was started by Jennie and Mike performing a very complicated dance routine.  This was their final surprise as they had been to dance lessons and had been practising for weeks.  All in all, it was a day full of surprises.

N.B. This blog covers just the wedding and portrait side of my business.  Please see my Commercial / PR Photography Blog for up-to-date news about the PR, commercial, corporate editorial, architectural and aerial photography and videography side of my business.

Wedding Fair at Catthorpe Manor, Leicestershire

I will be exhibiting my reportage wedding photography at a wedding fair at Catthorpe Manor, Lilbourne Lane, Catthorpe, Near Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE176DF, this Sunday (15th April) from 11am to 3pm.  As well as having a rolling slideshow of documentary wedding photographs, I will have both traditional matted wedding albums and modern storybook wedding albums  on display.  


Catthorpe Manor is a magnificent wedding venue and there will be over 35 wedding specialists present on the day, so if you are planning a wedding, there is no better place to be this Sunday.  Entrance is free.    


N.B. This blog covers just the wedding and portrait side of my business.  Please see my Commercial / PR Photography Blog for up-to-date news about the PR, commercial, corporate editorial, architectural and aerial photography and videography side of my business.

Valerie & Richard's Wedding

Here is a small selection of reportage wedding photographs of Valerie and Richard's wedding at St. Peter's Church in Aston Flamville, near Hinckley, Leicestershire.  

After the glorious sunshine of the past few weeks, the day started off quite overcast.  I reassured Valerie while she was having her make-up expertly applied by Rochelle O-Brien, that overcast conditions are the best for wedding photography as it provides much more flattering lighting than harsh sunlight.  However, I knew Valerie really wanted sunshine on her big day.  She needn't have worried, as the sun came out as soon as the Richard and Valerie came out of the church after the wedding ceremony and it continued to shine for the rest of the day.  Considering that I am writing this blog during a snow storm, I think they can consider themselves very lucky to have such a beautiful day to get married.

After a lovely wedding ceremony, led by a very friendly and humorous vicar, the happy couple left in a vintage Jaguar for for their reception at the beautiful Leicestershire wedding venue Sutton Bonington Hall at Sutton Bonington, near East Midlands Airport.  This very classy country house really is a stunning venue for a wedding.  It oozes charm - as do the staff who are always on hand to look after the wedding guests and provide an unforgettable wedding day.  Richard and Valerie held their wedding breakfast in the conservatory which gave the guests a splendid view of the gardens and it gave me some great light to work with - always a bonus!

At the end of a perfect day, the guests joined Valerie and Richard to dance to the excellent covers band Likuidblu.  The guests loved them.  Smiley faces all around - just what wedding photographers like to see!

N.B. This blog covers just the wedding and portrait side of my business.  Please see my Commercial / PR Photography Blog for up-to-date news about the PR, commercial, corporate editorial, architectural and aerial photography and videography side of my business.

International Wedding Photography Award

I have just received an award for one of my reportage wedding photographs in an international wedding photography competition - the Wedding Photojournalist Association (WPJA) 2011 Q4 competition.  


The WPJA is a world-wide organisation that only allows true reportage wedding photographers (also known as wedding photojournalists or documentary wedding photographers) to be members, as many photographers say they shoot reportage, but they clearly don't when you look at their work.  Just being accepted for membership of this esteemed organisation is a compliment, but to receive an award from them is the icing on the cake.


Talking of cakes, here's the photograph...

Wedding Showcase at Ullesthorpe Court Hotel

I will be exhibiting at a wedding showcase at the fabulous Leicestershire wedding venue Ullesthorpe Court Hotel near Broughton Astley this afternoon from 2pm to 5pm.  I will be showing lots of examples of my unobtrusive style of reportage wedding photography  as well as sample Graphistudio storybook wedding albums and traditional matted Jorgensen wedding albums.  There will be other recommended suppliers at the showcase too.  

Melissa & Andy's Wedding

Here are a few photos of Melissa and Andy's wedding at The Warwickshire Golf & Country Club in Leek Wooton, near Kenilworth, Warwickshire.


Despite the wedding being in the middle of January, Melissa and Andy were very lucky to have a beautiful sunny day - even if it was a bit chilly (understatement!).  Melissa's wedding dress was from True Romantica Bridal and her make-up was expertly done by Bernadette of Aromatics of Kenilworth.  Bernadette really went beyond the call of duty as she volunteered to help Melissa and Andy's 2.5-year-old son Henry, to get dressed while Melissa put her dress on.  Henry was quite happy for his "new best friend" to help him get dressed as they really hit it off, so Bernadette was able to save Melissa a lot of time.  After the wedding breakfast, the guests' children were entertained by veteran children's entertainer Wizardy Woo.  Apparently, Wizardy Woo entertained Andy at parties when he was a child, so he was the obvious first choice for their wedding.


The prize for pageboy-stealing-the-show moment of the day just had to go to the afore-mentioned Henry.  He was standing with Melissa and Andy throughout the wedding ceremony and during the exchange of rings he stood between them, put his hands in the air and said in a very loud voice just one word: "STOP!"  It was so funny.  It brought the house down.  A classic moment.  These are the sort of moments are the reason I love photographing weddings as you never know what's going to happen until it happens.  Love it, love, it, love it!

This was the moment Henry said "STOP!"

N.B. This blog covers just the wedding and portrait side of my business.  Please see my Commercial / PR Photography Blog for up-to-date news about the PR, commercial, corporate editorial, architectural and aerial photography and videography side of my business.