Babies, babies and more babies

I love babies!

It's a good job really. There's been a steady stream of them through the studio recently.

That's because I recently became the local MPA Cherubs photographer and I'm loving it. Not least because it means I've been able to go out and get lots of lovely props to make all these gorgeous babies even gorgeouser (gorgeouser? really, Lesley?)

This little lady came in to see me last week and stole my heart clean away. She's obviously modelled before. What do you think?

I know which my favourite picture is, which is yours?

Wow! We're at Park Hall!

Hello and welcome to our new readers.

We're on the brink of the wedding fair season again. The first one is this Sunday at park Hall, Charnock Richard.

All day today I've been 've been busily getting everything ready, polishing, primping and preening - and that's just on me!

I'm really looking forward to chatting with lots of brides - and just a few grooms this weekend.

Drop by and say hello, won't you?

Autumn, Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness - and Steve and Tracey's wedding

It was a bright, dry and unseasonably warm sunny morning when I set off in one direction to do the bridal preparation photos at Tracey's Mum's and Bob set off in the other to do the groom prep pictures at Steve's.

Having been to Tracey's Mum's a few days previously when I'd been to do a recce, as I always do when I'm not sure where a place is, and found the road closed because of roadworks I was glad that my belt and braces approach to navigation meant that I knew what to expect on the day.

On the day of the wedding the roadworks had all gone and I was there with the larks! Oh well, better early that late!

The house was a hive of laid back and relaxed activity. I discovered that Tracey's Mum is a genius. It turned out that she'd made Tracey's veil and it was stunning. All lacy, vintagey (is that a word?) and cathedral length. Flipping heck, if I'd have tried to make that I'd still be doing it now!

Tracey was in the conservatory having her hair and make up one as I was in the bedroom going "Oh My God! Jimmy Choos!"

Have you ever seen the perfect pair of shoes? You have now. Here they are, gold, sparkly and gorgeous.

The flowers arrived and Tracey's Mum set to again. 

This time with some ribbon which tied in exactly with the colour scheme of gold and blue.  Isn't the little flower girl's basket cute? I thought it deserved a photo to itself.

Meanwhile, back at Steve's house, one of the two cats had decided to make a run for it, the other one stood on the stairs wondering what on earth was going on.

I'm not sure he was quite as excited as everyone else, he looks totally unimpressed to me.

Bob and myself made our separate ways to the church, the parish church in Higher Walton and as normal we had a chat with the vicar to ask what his rules were regarding photography in church, often a heart sink moment for us. 

 This vicar wins the prize for being the most obliging vicar EVER!

His views on photography during the ceremony and ours were exactly the same. We are both of the opinion that the ceremony THE most important part of the day and therefore must be captured for posterity. Yay!!.

While it's vital that the photographer doesn't cause any disruption by moving about or by using flash during the ceremony I think it's that it's the one part of the day where we really should be able to take photographs and it's very often the one part of the day we get stopped.  (I'm trying really hard not to get on my soapbox and start ranting just now) so moving swiftly on....

Tracey and her Dad arrived at the church. She looked radiant. 

No sign of nerves, just a happy and excited bride who couldn't wait to get inside to marry the man she loves. 

I think it's fair to say Steve wasn't looking quite as radiant, I do believe there may have been a small amount of nervousness about him.

The nerves soon dissipated when Tracey got to the alter and they looked into each others eyes. I have never seen a bride look at her groom with such a look of love in her eyes. I was getting quite emotional just watching them. 

The little flower girl decided that she was bored halfway through the ceremony and decided to go for a little walkabout.  

All too soon the ceremony was over and after a quick kiss on the steps of the church it was off to the beautiful Samlesbury Hall for the reception.

Oh how I love Samlesbury Hall. What a magnificent venue. It's reputed to be haunted but I never saw or felt anything. Tsk. Fancy myself as a ghost hunter (not!!) 

The wedding breakfast was held in the Great Hall. The fire had been lit in the huge stone fireplace, the huge chandelier was glowing, the candles had been lit in the superb candlabras and the atmosphere was altogether lovely.

There was much hilarity during the speeches but I couldn't possibly tell you what was being said. All I can tell you is that the lady looking down from that huge picture frame above the bride and groom didn't look at all amused. That made me laugh behind my camera even more!  

Is it wrong of me to enjoy the weddings we shoot so much?

Normally at a wedding there is a bit of a lull after the wedding breakfast and before the evening reception. 

Not so for Tracey and Steve. They decided to get in a proper casino!  Wow!

Here's Tracey's Dad deep in thought watching the proceedings. Maybe he's trying to work out a winning system. When you do, let me know, I'll be your new best friend!

Looks like these two have already worked it out. Loadsa money!!

The time eventually came for the first dance. A little bird told me that it may not have gone exactly as planned but it looked good to me and everyone in the room seemed to enjoy it. Especially Steve and Tracey.

Congratulations Steve and Tracey.  I'm certain you're going to have many happy years together.

Matthew and Lynsey's Wet Wedding

People often ask us how we cope when it's raining and we have a wedding to shoot.

My answer is always the same. As a wedding photographer in the north of England we have more than our fair share of wet weddings. Rather than wring our hands and complain bitterly about our bad luck we are more inclined to say. "Wow! We're going to get some lovely shots today. Bring out the brollies!"

We have a little stash of brollies that we always take with us when it wet so we are more than prepared to have some fun in the rain without ruining anyone's outfit (except ours).

Puddles, reflections, umbrellas and a good dose of creativity all help to give us photographs that are  not only lovely but just a bit different to everyone else's.

Rain? Bring it on!

Matthew and Lynsey's day started off very wet. It was that really fine, summer rain, you know the one, the one that soaks you through.

Rainy as it was, it was still a warm day so Bob and me were stood out in it catching the guests as they arrived at the church, St Mary Magdelene's in Burnley. Not a lot to look at outside but stunning inside. The priest was lovely, warm friendly, welcoming and very photographer friendly as most Catholic priests are.

"Five second photo call!"  Most of the guests were happy to stop for a five second photo call on their way into the church. I think they felt sorry for us with the rain dripping off the end of our noses.

I loved the blue umbrella with the pink dresses.

The groomsmen were on hand to help anyone who was brolly-less.

Eventually, all the guests were safely in the church and Lynsey arrived. I don't think the rain did much to spoil her day. She was radiant. She never stopped smiling.

Her dad was working really hard to keep that gorgeous dress off the ground though.  While all this was going on, the bridesmaids watched from a safe distance.

While a groomsman peeped through the curtain to see if it had stopped raining.

The service started. I got in position at the front of the church, as normal keeping as low a profile as possible.  To my horror, I realised part way through the service that I was actually steaming! Oh my gawd! That's attractive!  Must have got wetter than I thought. Luckily, all eyes were on Lynsey and Mathew.

Aaawww, look at Lynsey's face. She's almost beside herself with joy. How lovely.

The picture below is my favourite one from the whole wedding. How I wish I'd taken it. Bob took it from the back of the church with his super duper long lens. I love this photo.

After the ceremony we set off to Mitton Hall for the reception and formal shots. You'll never guess what happened next.




The rain stopped!

Put the brollies away!

We managed to get all the formal shots done in the gardens. Wow! That was unexpected. I'd been mentally arranging all the wedding guests inside in the hall that was the main  part of the old house. I was almost disappointed (almost).

We got some cracking shots outside.

I think Lynsey liked that car, she wasn't letting go of it!

Yay! It's not raining!

During a lull in proceedings, Bob came across Lynsey's dad having a quite moment of reflection. "You look deep in thought.  We could have some fun with that." Between them they cooked up an idea for a photo.

Bad Bob, naughty Bob, cooking up schemes is wrong!

Hehe. Funny Bob.

While Bob and Lynsey's Dad were plotting and scheming in the garden. Matthew, Lynsey and me were in the hall on the gallery.

Lynsey's dress was stunning, as Lynsey is. I shot a few detail shots just as they were ready to go in for their wedding breakfast.  This type of  shot is one that only I can get away with, being a woman. Bob would get a slap (from me) if he did it.

 The detail on her dress was amazing. I could have spent half an hour just photographing that. I didn't though, that would have been really boring for them - and it was time to go in for the wedding breakfast.

The room sparked, It was light, elegant, pretty  and had an lovely ethereal feel to it. As normal, the staff at Mitton Hall had worked really hard to make sure everything was absolutely perfect.

Congratulations, Lynsey and Matthew.