It's Christmas!!

Christmas, that very special time of year has raced round again.

Can it really be a full year since last Christmas? By my reckoning it should still only be about May or June.

It's been a busy year one way and another, Bob and me have had a ball at the various weddings we've photographed. We've met Belinda, Melinda, Melissa and Miranda this year so we did get our our names fuddled a time or two!

The studio has been working overtime photographing all your bumps, little cherubs and angels - and one or two little demons if I'm honest!!

The studio has also had a bit of a revamp, why not pop in  and take a look at the new gallery?

We have some lovely new designs and if your looking for something unique for your wall then you really need to see our new range of acrylics. They are AMAZING.

Anyway, back to Christmas:

The decorations are up:

The table has been set:

The crackers put out:

The napkins folded (what a faff that was!):

The glasses are ready for filling:

All that remains to be done now before putting our feet up and eating mince pies is for Bob and me to wish you all a very happy Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year.

Happy Christmas!!

Now. Where did I put those mince pies.....?

John and Fleur

Here are a few photos from John ad Fleur's recent wedding in York.  I was delighted to be photographing this one as York is one of my favourite places, Bob and me made the most of it and decided to stay for the whole weekend.

The wedding took place in the gorgeous St Olave's church, after the ceremony we all walked round in the late autumn sunshine to the museum gardens. It was just about perfect.

We're back!!

Did you miss us? Didya? Didya?

What do you mean, have we been away?

Bob and me have just been on holiday with the family, the reason we went was to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary by re-taking our vows, big pair of hopeless romantics that we are.

I'll post you some photos and tell you the full story as soon as I have got organised.

The Dunkenhalgh

This Sunday we'll be exhibiting at The Dunkenhalgh, Clayton le Moors.

Why not pop in for a chat?  We've got lots of new stuff to show you from this years weddings.
See you there!

Happy families

back all nicely refreshed after our hols I kicked off my return to work with a brilliant photo shoot this afternoon with a little boy and his new baby sister.

York

Yesterday me and Bob went off to York to shoot the wedding of John and Fleur.   York has long been a fave of ours as we spent many a happy hour there a few years ago so it was nice to go back.

The wedding was in St Olave's church and we all trotted off to the beautiful museum gardens round the corner for the photographs.  As soon as Fleur and John have seen their photos I'll put some on here for you to enjoy.  The lucky things are touring Europe for a couple of weeks before rejoining the real world.

Actually, now I come to think of it, there are loads of things to I want to share with you - and I am aware I've been neglecting you lately, it's just been so very very busy!!!

I'll bring you up to date with all the gossip and goings on at all our recent weddings, along with a few photos as soon as I can catch my breath. Speak soon!!!!!

Haighton Manor

Have you missed me?  No?  Tsk,  oh well.

It's been full steam ahead getting wedding albums designed and out of the door before the Christmas rush starts (yes, really, so early).

Many thanks to this year's brides and grooms who all seem to have chosen their album photos in record time!!  Big round of applause for them!!! Yay!!!!

We're exhibiting at a wedding fair at Haighton Manor tomorrow evening, the first of this season. Why not pop in and say hello? We've got some fabulous new stuff to show you.

See you there!

Toby and Katie

What a fantastic wedding this one was. Unusual in oh, so many ways it really kept Bob and me on our toes the whole day through.  Unusual in a good way, I hasten to add. A more relaxed and laid back bride and groom I have yet to meet.  Although.......

Toby, the groom, was feeling the nerves a little bit before the ceremony.



Miles away from home, we'd travelled to Leysters in Herefordshire for the wedding in a gorgeous little church hidden down a country lane.

 After the wedding we took the bride and groom off to Rapunzel's Tower for a few photos.

The bride and groom stopped for a chat on a nearby tree before we headed off back to the reception.

 Which was held in the village hall, where there was all kinds of silliness going on.  During the group shots a woman's face appeared in a bush and asked us if we'd like to take photos in her garden. I nearly had a heart attack!!

All in all it was a great day with a lovely couple. the added bonus for me and Bob was that we spent the rest of the weekend pottering around Wales and having a lovely time.

Madison Appeal

Have you missed me?  It's been a funny old week. My no1 computer had a nervous breakdown this week due to over work so it had to have a few days holiday while we found it a new graphics card.

It's feeling much more like it's old self now and working flat out to catch up on lost time.

What have I been doing while the computer was down?  Revamping the studio, that's what.  It looks FAB!!

I've put a few new pictures on the wall, added a few spotlights and cleared away  some of the massive pile of props that was threatening to take over the entire space.  It really is looking good now, I'm really pleased with it.

Scotties Snack Bar which is placed so conveniently  (rather too conveniently if you ask me, no wonder I'm not a size 10)  across the road on Olive Lane in Darwen is holding a fundraising open day event to raise money for the Madison Allen Fund. She's  a little girl with a particularly aggressive type of cancer and her parents are trying to raise enough money to send her to Germany for treatment that may save her.

The event is tomorrow Sunday 22nd August from 9.00 a.m till 2 p.m.  There will be stalls, food, raffle, tombola - all the usual stuff. I'm told there will be a few surprises as well.

Bob and me are opening the studio  for the day,  it's directly across the road so why not pop in and take a look at the new surroundings, try your chances at winning a free portrait sitting and framed print and help to raise some money to save a little girl's life.

See you there!

BBe Inspired

That’d be my own trumpet. I’m feeling a bit pleased with my little self at the moment because this magazine dropped through my letterbox the other day:

BBe Inspired  

Hang on a minute, I thought. That’s one of my photos on the front cover!  I’d forgotten about that.  Taking a quick flick through it, looking for my own pictures of course, I soon came across this page and felt even more pleased with myself.  Full page!  Yeah baby!!!!

Whalley Abbey

Ok, I know it’s not Italian Vogue, but it’s a start!

Calming down now......deep  calming breaths...... and relax.

I'm nearly famous!!

Well, not really but a copy of the latest 'BBe Inspired' magazine has just landed on my doormat and one of my photos has been used as the front cover as well as a full page inside.  I haven't done too  much editorial work but I really enjoy it. It is the antithesis of wedding photography which is so fast paced.

Which do I prefer?

It's impossible to compare them as they are so very different and after all, any type of photography is enjoyable in it's own right.


It's a busy, busy weekend this weekend as we are off to shoot a wedding in Ludlow, Shropshire. I'm really looking forward to this one, not least because  the weather forecast is so much nicer down there than up here!!

This wedding is the second of three for this particular family, the next daughter gets married in September.  Bob and me are starting to feel like one of their family now.  I'll post some photos for you when we get back.

In the meantime, many congratulations to Toby and Katie.

Pretty in Pink

"What about...."  I said.    "Oooh, that'll be nice." Said the baby's mum, my daughter.

We love it, what do you think?

Wow!! Newsflash

Ok, now I'm excited!!!

Peter Jackson the Jeweller,  the best jewellers in the area,   are running a fantastic promotion at the moment and have asked Wow! Contemporary Photography to get involved with it.

Peter Jackson the  Jeweller and Wow! Photography in the same sentence!  Wow!  Err ...I mean...well, you know.

The promotion is  a superb  package of all sorts of  lovely free goodies when you buy you engagement ring from them.  It includes, among other things, a complementary ( and complimentary) engagement photo shoot with yours truly and a framed 8 x 12 inch print.

It really is an amazing offer from the best jeweller in the area and Bob and me are really excited to be a part of it, can you tell?

Click here for a link to Peter Jackson's website.

Horse of the year show?

In all the years I've been photographing weddings I've never photographed one with a horse and carriage in attendance - until this year. Just like corporation buses, nothing for ages and then two arrive at once.

This  is from Lee and Miranda's wedding at Haigh Hall in Wigan. The day was glorious, the venue magnificent, the bride beautiful and the horses incredibly well behaved.

I loved how they had their little crocheted 'ear gloves.' I'm certain that's not what their called but in the absence of their proper names it'll have to do.

If you know what they are called or can think of a fab new name then you can leave a comment and the best answer gets a prize.... of my unending awe at your vast pool of knowledge.

Dan & Joanne

As promised, here re a few pics from Dan & Joanne's wedding. It rained a bit on the day...... WHAT AM I SAYING????!!!   It heaved  it down all day long!

Did that stop everyone having a lovely time?  Did it heck.  They enjoyed every minute of it all.

The whole day was lovely and Bob and me were thrilled to be involved in it.

The bridal prep was lovely, everyone was excited and happy. If there were any last minute nerves they were certainly well hidden.

It rained and it rained and it rained. I did feel sorry for the poor carriage driver.  If you look closely at this photo you can see the rain lashing down.

After the ceremony, a short carriage drive to one of mine and Bob's favourite venues, because they take such good care of everyone, including us, Sparth House.

A few quick shots outside while we had chance. The cars were gorgeous - but not as gorgeous as the bride and bridesmaids, obviously.

 In the chandelier room at Sparth House just before going in for the wedding breakfast.

Cheeky Monkeys

It's no secret that I love to photograph babies and small children. I just love the way that their every emotion is shown on their face and they haven't yet learnt to edit their feelings as adults do.

These two little munchkins came to see me within a few days of each other. The little girl had learnt to crawl the day before she came to see me so as soon as we sat her down she was up and away!!    I had to work at the speed of light to get a photo of her before she disappeared out of the frame for the umpteenth time.

This little boy has the most expressive face and the biggest eyes I've ever seen. he was lovely. A little but unsure of himself at first, he soon relaxed when we gave him a few toys to play with. After a little while he was having the time of his life - until that is his parents decided they'd like to be in the photos as well, then all hell broke loose till he got the set back to himself again.

A future model in the making, I think.

Both of these images  are from our bespoke range.  The images you choose are individually designed by me  to give you  a unique piece of artwork for your wall.  No two are ever done exactly the same so they are as individual as your baby.

Ask me for details.

summer weddings

Weddings always have a certain charm to them no matter what time of year it is.  The changing of the seasons gives each wedding it's own special character and I love seeing how the colour themes and flowers change as the year rolls round.

I must admit though, I really, really love summer weddings. They always conjure up visions of peonies, Kath Kidston style fresh colours, Pimms and  lovely, balmy receptions on the beautifully manicured lawn of a country house.

It is very rarely  actually like that but whatever it's like, you have to love an English summer wedding.

Here are a few of the flowers from our last wedding.  I'll post more later.

Ok, I know this next one isn't a flower photo but I really liked the pretty colours and the depth of field in it.

I've got loads more to share with you over the next week or so but I have to wait til all my couples are back from their honeymoons and have seen their photos before I post them on here.

See you soon.

Sorting out.

I've been having a sort out of my personal photos from last year. I came across this one which was one of my absolute favourites. I know it's not topical at all since it's 25 degrees outside and blazing sunshine but, hey ho. It's a beaut.

Race for Life

Well, I did it. Yesterday was the Cancer Research Race for Life  in our neck of the woods. Daughter in law Gemma, friend, Penny, Me, Twitchy the dog and 1697 other women entered.

Friend Penny set off like a hare and jogged the whole course. me and Gembolina completed it by doing a brisk walk -  this body wasn't built for jogging - in 40 minutes.  Since the dog came along as well and completed the course with us she also got a medal. Sweet!

Many, many thanks to all those who sponsored me, I not only reached my sponsorship target but exceeded it. We've all already put our names down for next year.


Here are a couple of  pics, first:  DIL and me all ready to race.

Next: this is us after the race and  looking a more than a bit  flushed, with us is  our friend Penny and the dog, who's proudly wearing her medal - as are we.

Yes you're right, they are tutus and fairy wings we're wearing. Well, you know, one has to dress for the part and we didn't want to look silly or anything.

English wedding photographers develop webbed feet eventually, you know

So. The weather was lovely on Friday, it was lovely on Sunday and it's lovely today, bank holiday Monday. Saturday however, it threw down what felt like a month's worth of rain in one day.

Did that make a difference to Dan and Joann's wedding?

Not one iota. They flatly refused to let the weather get in the way of their celebrations and carried on regardless.

What's the point of telling you this?

Well, pin back your ears.

Sometimes things don't always go according to plan and people react to it in different ways. Some will get upset if every little detail isn't perfect and let it blight the most important day of their lives.

Others,  like Joanne and Dan remind everyone that it's good luck if it rains on your wedding day and take it as a good omen. Then they carry on regardless and enjoy every second of the day - rain and all.  They even wanted photos outside when it eased off a bit because the rain was part of the their day and they want to remember all of it.  Their smiles were brighter than the sun could ever have been.

So the moral of the story is;  go with the flow,  relax, party and enjoy every minute. If something isn't right you can't change it at this point so just work round it. You certainly can't control the weather but you might find it makes your wedding a little bit different and even more special as a result. It'll certainly give people something to talk about.

As for me, stormy weather gives me an opportunity to get creative and that's the bit I enjoy most. It's a good job really. As an English wedding photographer I've paddled around at many a soggy wedding, I'm rapidly developing webbed feet!

Stormy weather? Bring it on!

Photos soon.

Sigh. It all seems so long ago

Less than a week since we got back from our hols and we hit the ground running. Its been BUSY!!!

Just to keep you amused are all 600 holiday photos  - only kidding - really there's only 573!

Hahaaaa fooled you - I wouldn't really make you look through all our holiday photos but if you'd like to see a few I've put some on Flickr, the link's on the left.  I'll be adding more as I get a bit of free time.

Congratulations to Joanne and Dan who are getting married in Baxenden tomorrow.  I'm looking forward to this wedding, they are such a lovely couple I can't wait to see them again.  I sincerely hope that the weather forecast is wrong and we get a bit of sunshine for at least part of the day.

This next photo is from Toni-Anne and Mark's wedding a couple of weeks ago. they win the prize for being the fastest couple EVER to pick the images for their album. I was soooo impressed!!

Isn't she gorgeous?

I know it's in the wrong order but this image was taken just after the wedding ceremony ended.  The pair of them look so much more relaxed. Not that they'd been nervous or anything beforehand...

back to reality

So, Bob and me are back from our holidays, a nice cruise round a few Baltic countries.

Since the wedding season is well and truly under way we only had a small window of opportunity to get away before September. We really didn't want to fly incase we couldn't get back again courtesy of a certain volcano in Iceland so we booked a last minute cruise instead.

I'm sure I must have been a Viking in  a previous life. Bob always wants to head south on our holidays and I always want to head north east.  Anyway, we're back and raring to go.

I'll be posting a few holiday snaps for you (not all 600, don't worry).

Bye for now

Far be it from me to beg.......but

You may or may not have noticed the little pink logo jobby at the side of the page.

That, my friend is your invitation to click on it and donate money to the Race for Life.

For the first time in  err....ever, I will be doing the Race for Life with my daughter in law, commonly known as Gemolina on account of her being a tad petite.  The training has been going on for months, me and Gembolina's dog spend every available moment yomping over the moors getting fit for the event.

It's not for nothing that I want to be trotting (ok, walking briskly) for 5km wearing a pink wig and tutu, it's going to cost somebody money and I'm sincerely hoping it's going to be YOU!

I'll even post photos as evidence if it will help you to make the decision to donate.

One has to wonder though at the thinking behind the organiser's plan to have us all do aerobics before we start the race, are they actually trying to kill us off?

Please, please, please click on the link and sponsor me. Any amount will be very much appreciated.

Lee and Miranda's Wedding at Haigh Hall

Lee and Miranda got married a couple of weeks ago at the amazing Haigh Hall in Wigan a couple of weeks ago. What a brilliant day.

They had a carriage and horses on the day because they both ride and have horses on their own so it was only fitting that they had horses at their wedding.  I have to say that these were the most well behaved horses I've ever come across.

 I had my instructions to make sure that their ears (the horses, not the bride and groom's) were forward in the photos.  That old missive, never work with children or animals, certainly wasn't true in this instance, they were clearly used to being photographed and performing for the camera. I could have sworn they were even smiling for me at one point.

An elegant carriage ride down the l-o-o-o-o-o-n-g drive at Haigh Hall down to the woods and the canal.

Down at the canal, on the bridge. A couple for swans came by for a look at what was going on.

The bride and groom had added lots of personal touches to their wedding to make it extra special for their guests, the weather was perfect, the venue was superb, everyone was lovely.  All in all, pretty much the perfect day.  It was a delight and an honour to be able to photograph it for them..

Congratulations!

It's Toni-Anne and Mark's big day today. Congratulations.

We've been keeping a close eye on the weather all week, it's looking like we might get away with avoiding the torrential rain that has been forecast all week. I've just checked the forecast again and it's been downgraded to light showers and sunshine. Fingers crossed!

Wedding guests

Tomorrow, Bob and me are off to Bradford with family and friends to our very good friends, Vicky and Kevin's wedding.

It's a rare treat for us to be attending a wedding as guests and I can't wait!

Will I be taking a camera? Professional etiquette says I don't take a big professional camera but I may sneak my compact camera in so I can lean out of my seat and take the occasional photograph in between sips of champagne.

Excited? I may very well implode with excitement before tomorrow!

Ta daaaaaaaa!!!!

The new website is finally, after many a false start, live!!  (covering my ears to lessen the noise of the fanfare)

It still needs a tweak or two but up to now feedback has been good.

We are working on getting password protected clients' galleries on there so you and your guests can log in to look and order photos online.

I'm so excited!!  Why not check it out:  www.wowphotographic.com

Bridal Boudoir

I have a bride coming round this morning to pick up her photos from her bridal boudoir photo shoot.

It's a wedding present for her hubby to be. I have a feeling he may like them!

It was all very cloak and dagger, the bride, Vicky, had to sneak everything out of the house and make excuses about where she was going.

She brought the under pinnings, shoes  and jewellery she is planning to wear on the big day and we spent a happy afternoon in the studio creating some beautiful and very special images for her husband to be.


I'll post some pics from the shoot after the wedding, just in case hubby to be landed on this page by mistake.

My gorgeous boys (sniffle)

I think it's fair to say that the Mother of the twin boys I worked with the other day was pleased with the photos.  She just kept repeating "My gorgeous boys," while having the odd discreet sniffle. Oh how I love it when Mum's get emotional over the photos!

Isn't it funny how sometime you need to see a photograph to really see something objectively?  Several times while she was looking through the  images she commented how much they looked like her but that she'd never noticed it before.

I'm might be wrong but I have a sneaky feeling we might have a couple of Dr Who fans here.  Mum tells me that this is how they usualy are at home - with their noses in a book. Aah, bless 'em!

A little something I threw together

Did a great shoot in the studio yesterday with 8 year old twin boys. What a hoot!

I don't often get to work with older boys, it's usually babies, and I've never worked with twins before I did eventually work out which was which but it took me a while.

I've been experimenting a lot lately with these composite style images, even the Photoshop Queen needs to keep her skills up to date! What do you think of it?

Portraits seem to be keeping me busy lately, tomorrow I'm photographing another little baby and again on Friday.  Busy, busy, busy, love it!

Spring has sprung!

Finally, spring has arrived, I'm not even wearing boots or woolies!!

Our new advert is going into the brilliant  County Brides magazine, be sure to pick up a copy, it's full of really useful information and contacts.

All the major ie. bank holiday fates are filling up fast  for next year.  A couple of dates we could have filled five times over!!!  It's dead easy to underestimate how fast peak dates fill up, you haven't got as much time as you think so don't hang about - get all your major suppliers booked in plenty of time and avoid being disappointed!!

Congratulations

A HUGE congratulations to Miranda and Lee who are getting married this Saturday.

I'll post a few pictures next week for you to take a look at.

And were off!!

The wedding season starts next weekend, coinciding nicely with the start of spring.  We'll be at Haigh Hall with Lee and Miranda. I'm really looking forward to it. In preparation for their wedding:

I've booked the weather
Checked all the kit
Charged all the batteries (mine included)
Got some horse treats at the ready (don't ask!)

Looks like we're ready to go!

Facebook

So.....

Carrying on with the social media theme....I've also created a new Facebook page for you to come and chat, ask questions, post some of your photos.

Tweet me!

It's been a few years now since I was dragged kicking and screaming into the digital age but now I'm here I'm thoroughly enjoying my little self.

Keeping in touch has always been important to me so now to make it a bit easier I've decided to join Twitter to make it a bit easier for us all to stay in touch.

Let's all tweet together at Twitter.

Fancy a great night out?

My old buddies at Sparth House in Clayton le Moors have arranged a fantastic evening to raise funds for the Justine Hargreaves Appeal .

The evening is on the 19th March at the hotel and it looks like it's going to be a great night.  As well as the excellent food and entertainment laid on there is a mega raffle with lots of great prizes provided by local businesses, you might even win yourself a photo shoot by your truly. It's got to be worth going just for that!!!

Why not treat yourselves to a night out and raise some money for a great cause at the same time?

Wow!

It was sooooo busy at the Dunkenhalgh on Sunday.

Most of the major dates are now  booked for this year and next year already. We could have booked 28th May 1011  four times over!!

If you're thinking of booking us to do your wedding photography with us then please don't wait too long to do it as it really is getting busy and I'd hate for you to be disappointed.

So. The show. What a lot of exhibitors.

There were a lot of old friends and quite a few new ones.  Of course my priority is always to check out the food stalls and there were plenty to choose from, including one that did the most gorgeous looking chocolate dipped strawberries you've ever seen, and  they tasted as good as they looked.  I lingered for a while round there!

That's the end of the wedding fairs for us for a little while. It was lovely chatting with so many of you, please don't hesitate to get in touch if we can help in any way with your wedding, or indeed any other photography, you might want.

Out and about again.

This Sunday we will be  exhibiting at the wedding fair at the  Dunkenhalgh Hotel, Clayton le Moors.

Stop by and say hello, it's always lovely to see you.

In the meantime and carrying on with our recent theme of looking at the details:

It's easy to concentrate on the big things at a wedding, however, Bob and me like to take a peek at the details and make sure that we get lots of photos of them so that you won't forget about them in years to come.

This first photo is of a locket and wedding ring sewn onto the inside of a bride's gown. Both items were of huge sentimental value as they belonged to the bride's grandmother who had recently passed away. It was the bride's way of marking her respect and love for her Nan without making a song and dance about it.  I was really touched when I discovered what it was about. What a lovely gesture.

This next  photo was taken at Sparth House in Clayton le Moors.

It was an early May wedding and the cherry blossom was out in abundance. I thought it would be nice to pop the rings onto one of the trees because it would be a nice background picture in their album and a reminder to them of how pretty everything looked at their wedding. 

The petals fell like confetti from the trees in the gentle breeze, giving us lots of gorgeous, romantic photos which are featured in earlier posts on here. This photo is one of my very favourite detail pictures, mostly because it gives the impression of blossom and spring time but the stars of the show are the all important wedding bands.

Things are on the move

It's all exciting stuff round here at the moment.  The new website should be live by the end of this week. I'm so looking forward to it. Not only that but our new advert is ready as well. What do you think?

Chop chop busy busy

Many thanks to all those who came to chat at the wedding fayre at Sparth House yesterday.

Wasn't it busy?!

 Bob and me thought the snow might have kept you away but we got that totally wrong.  It's weather like yesterdays that make me so glad we invested in a 4WD or we would have been stranded at home while the party went on without us.  Now we can go anywhere in any weather, it's brilliant!!

It's all hotting up for the wedding season so if you are in the process of organising your wedding please don't leave it till the last minute to book as dates are filling fast.

Just to get you in the mood, here are some pages from Nick and Rebecca's album.