Gimme gimme, more All Boo's ideas we just fill in the gaps...

A quick shot of Boo just about to leave for the church with dad looking very dapper

Ther bride arrives at the church. Beautiful raindrops on window.

The Lakeland fells in background over towards Ullswater as Boo & Dad make their way in

All hell breaks loose as the rain comes down outside the church and wind picks up.Look at the those cold faces.

I cleared the room, and spread out the dress bringing in Danny (the groom) to produce this beautiful shot, Boo & danny look very happy. I have cloned the dress in the outer edges to make the dress look like a sea.

'To the bride & groom'!

A little bride in the making

I like to create shapes in my compositions

A nice shot by Kevin as they run to the car for cover.

rollover image to see before post production, at this point it was lashing down with rain we literally had 5 secs
to get something with the car, church & couple. The light was soft and warm with the setting sun.

A little Princess

Photographer 2
A fantastic shot by Kevin my 2nd shooter today. What I tend to do is stand in front with my camera as 'director'
(see below image) whilst Kevin moves around the subject with his 70-210 vr getting close ups (above).
For any b&g wondering this style of shot requires an extra photographer from £250 for 6 hours its worth it.

Photographer 1 (rollover img)


High contrast Venture style, mad for it bridesmaids ;-) Beautiful outfits btw

Danny takes his hat off for Boo, a true gentleman.

A nice tight composition with the early evening suns rays on Rebecca's lovely green dress

Dark going in/ light coming out

As Mike & Rebecca prepare to leave the building 'just married' I rattled off a quick shot showing the guests clapping.
The natural lighting in this building is superb for a civil wedding the design, architecture & detail-wow, 'this is my house!'

As it was very nippy outside we decided to do the smallers groups inside

Everyone on the steps outside, it was cold, thanks everyone you were all great.

A warm winters glow. Slightly artifical he-he, rollover for more natural version

Tricky lighting 1/4 power manual SB-800

Is this forever and ever, Im in love whoa. 2 hearts are beating together.....Kylie


The first of the 2 images had an expression I wasnt totally happy with, so to make what is quiet a spectular shot better,
I took the 2 heads from the below image and merged into the above scene not an easy task but worth it, voila!
All part of the Martin Crombie attention to detail program. The above image has just been awarded a merit at the SWPP
gaining 80 points. November month was a bonanza to be had many photographers gaining awards this month.
I think what makes the shot work so well is the green/ blue combination is unususal, and the sun hit the building to allow me to alter it in the computer to bring out its features, I love this place and its so unique!

Rebecca was very brave it was an extremely cold day.

Full of Eastern Promise (Turkish Delight)

SWPP Awards October Awards
SWPP Awards brings in another merit award this time my highest score yet of 84, curtosity of Adele & Roy again.
They helped me win an award in September, and now they have come up trumps again for me. The other award winners also have some excellent images this month especially good to see the USA wedding photographers making the effort. I loved marc lloyd shot on the beach 'jump for joy' and Hardik Pandya portrait in purple.
I have to say Adele & Roy as a couple to photograph are possibly the best I have had to pleasure to photograph as a wedding photographer they represent everything I could hope for as a photographer. Heres a design I did for them



Nikon Expo, Veladrome, Manchester 14th November
The all singing and dancing camera from Nikon the D3 was on show along with many other exhibitors, so I popped down on my way to Grays labs to get my printing done and rattled off a few frames at 3200asa which is claimed to be this cameras strength. Many of my weddings are done in dark lake district hotels where available light is poor so i was keen to see the D3 +24-70 F2.8 FX lens in action at high asa. 3200ASA below!! wow 1/250th

3200asa F8! 1/250th (rollover)
100% crop Considering this is 3200, and such a massive crop I should say this is very impressive and I can only look forward to dark winter weddings now, I have 3 weddings in December to do.

3200asa

3200asa

100% crop @ 3200 F7.1- 1/200th | rollover for 250asa crop shot at F3.5 1/50th (much smoother)

My hand at 250asa 1/25th F2.8 using fluro available lighting (look at that shallow depth of field a full frame camera provides)
all shot at medium jpg 12x8.5

Conclusion
As can be seen in examples this camera is definately capable of producing very useable clean files at high asa's.
Whether it justifies a layout of £3500 is another story all together.

The Civil Partnership of Adrian & Max, Royal Toby Hotel & Restaurant, Rochdale, 30th September 2007
2 great guys Gill, myself and Kevin had a fun day getting these two in many different positions as the below image will show.

rollover by Kevin

the ring, by Kevin

By kevin my no.2 shooter gets close ups

by Kevin and different angles

from my straight on shoots

by Kevin

by Kevin 2nd shooter

The Samling, Tuesday 30th October 2007 Chris and Sophie Smith
We arrived at The Samling one of my favourite haunts on a cloudy Tuesday, one of the good things about the lake district is that the weather generally changes from 1 hour to the next, unfortunately this wasnt to be today it stayed that way.
Chris and his party had the Tartans out and everyone was in high spirits despite the rain.
A quiet family civil wedding was a nice change to the hustle and bustle for us

Bonnie Lads!

The Wedding of David & Sara, Samlesbury Hall, Nr.Preston, 14th September 2007
First time out at Samlesbury Hall, what a wonderful location for photography. Just how I like them dark with tungsten lighting. Sara from the US had her family over and made it a special and fun wedding to be involved with. David is a really laid back bloke and they were both great to work with. Here are a few of my favourites. More fisheye images.

Break the back pose

I especially like churches, civil services that allow photographers upfront to show 'everything' going on its useful picture to include in the album and helps to combine many faces in one shot other than a plain 'group' photo. This paster was flown over from the states and was super cool 'Tom Cruise' lookalike!

A nice touch of decoration on tables for variation.

Very dark inside 'haunted Samlesbury Hall is' whooooo.

Some of you will may remember Adele & Roys wedding back in August, well this image has just won an award
in the SWPP monthly compettion for September so thanks to them for being great to photograph! I gauge this particular competition as being a significant indicator of where I am, many of the UK top names in wedding photography regularly contribute not just NW regional. Its good to know others can respect my interpretation of artistry.
i'm no Keith Thompson or McGowan yet but I live in hope!

I do groups as well , I love me line-ups folks!!Chests out gentlemen, and similar for the ladies ;-)

I even do reportage said with a french accent! Pronounced Rep-por-tah (as in taj mahal)

Whats the strapline here? The grooms waiting for you! or 'Come on dont make hard work of this...'

A pose we men know too well-the 'begging' or the puppy dog!

Me going a bit crazy

I can do Cartier Bresson when the mood takes me....

No David didnt get hit over his head as the shadow would suggest...

Poirot?

A beautiful room with daylight pouring into the large windows makes for good photography picking up the period decor.

  

A nice close up of Rebecca.

The Wedding of Alan & Angela Frank, Brathay Holy Trinity Church, Ambleside, 22nd September 2007
A quiet wedding away from all the hustle and bustle nr. Skelwith Bridge, Lake District on a lovely autumnal day.
Angela & Alan were both great to photograph and the scenery was spectacular from the hill tops.

Angela got out her walking boots for this shot ,no not really the driver kindly took us to the top for 20 minutes and took in this breathtaking vista over looking the Langdales. In case you like your peaks heres the map.

To an extend photography is easier in the beautiful lake district but sometimes you have to let the scenery do the work, where less (posing) is more, beautiful soft warm evening rays with a burst of fill flash for the couple. The colours have been enhanced somewhat, the original is a rollover state below main image.You just dont get views like this anywhere this viewpoint is literally 5 minutes from Ambleside and I wasnt aware of it until Angela told me about it.
Alan has been coming here since he was a lad with his dad.

Black & White variation Ansel Adams style :-) a touch of the the Becks there Alan.....
For the photographers technical details 1/500th F9/ 12-24mm Nikon(hired Calumet Manchester) D70 SB-800/
One of my old mentors Terry O 'Neil famous portrait photographer hired everything apart from his Hassie 500CM

a Couple of ramblers out on their travellers bump into us...

A kiss on the tops

I thought this was funny, as the bride and her dad walked down the isle up comes the vicar and says to me ' get this shot and then your done' well never one to upset a man of the cloth I get the shot again for the 2nd time to allow her to actually go down the isle and then another one of these without the vicar, and is a better shot so thanks Vicar will have to try and work that manoveure into more weddings...

Skelwith Bridge

The Howbeck, Windermere was my last port of call for Angela & Alans wedding where she wanted a few outside the lovely lakeland slate and flowers, her dress was very beautiful and I like using stairs to accentuate the flow.

'The Family'

The Wedding of Kath & John, The White Hart, Lydgate, Nr.Oldham, 31st August
A game of 2 halfs nice and sunny whilst at Kaths lovely home, and then just as Im about to start the group shots the rain and wind decides to show up. Unlike the lakes where rain is more than likely to last 15 mins and then go for a while it tends to linger in Manchester once it arrives. Ah well, Johns boys proved that the weather wasnt going to put a dampener on spirits.

3 little blindmice, well 2 anyway. Kath's bridesmaids 3 of 6, these 3 are so sweet!

Getting ready at home

Going in at The ceremony at The White Hart

A great capture by Kevin Lindeque (my 2nd shooter)/ rollover4bw

We got a cat
Gill and I found a cat on the web and we love her 'Fluffy' this cat seriously knows how to keep herself clean and loves
cuddles, Gill getting a bit jealous i think. Never had a pet before should have done it years ago great fun.

The Wedding of Dominque & Richard, Smokies Restuarant nr, Oldham, Lancs, 11th August


Bohemian Rhapsody Richard, Best Man and Ushers look to the heavens for last minute prayers.
Wins an International merit award SWPP in monochrome section only 20 awards this month/ 600 entries
For this image I had pre-arranged the men to bring sunglasses, I stood on a small wall in front of them with a Fuji S2+10mm
fishy lens on and bascially asked them to look up, the fact I was able to get all the church in behind them was a bonus.
Then shading, lighting and good old melchanotron filter again, best £15 I ever spent.
The reflections in the glasses was just a case of asking them to move their heads for me.


r

Vintage Bentley outside Smokies with Richard & Dominque (6 months pregnant) She looks good!

The Wedding of Adele & Roy, The Gibbon Bridge Hotel nr, Preston, Lancs, 9th August

An amazing day was had by all at what can only be described as possibly the most lavish weddings I have ever been to.
The amazing Adele had her dress imported from Israel, and Roy looked 'super-fly' in his white outfit.
The weather was very hot and bright the colours were simply stunning everywhere you looked, the Gibbon highlighted Adele's wedding superbly. During the service Adele & Roy had arranged for a Hawk to fly in with the rings landing on the best mans arm, and shortly afterwards Adele released 2 lots of white doves, followed by a 20ft Chimmney sweep which we all fell in love with.

Wow

wow, again..

Adele being led up the garden path by Roy

Adeles make up team 'Peaches and Cream' from Liverpool stayed all day keeping Adele 'Uber-Cool'

I have you, just where I want you now flower! Rollover to see Roy having the last laugh....

Image taken this way, on my back in the name of Art! Taken by Kev


Me 'Chimping' and Roy 'Pimpin'. No tie on, sorry but it was a hot day.
(Chimpin a photographer whom likes to look at the shots for oohs and arhhs)

A nice shot by Kev my no.2

Candelabra, Liberace style!

So-Solid Crew----'Roy- The Gov'nor'

The Hawk arrives with we are led to believe the rings, and then takes off rollover file..

And from the heavens they both appeared.rollover

Overview of wedding party

It was late, and I asked Adele to strike 1 last pose for me, what a natural.

Them cheeky scousers were mad for it! We all had a blast, me on my belly getting cheap laughs.

As the night wore on.... chinese lanterns came out Stage 1 waiting to be lit.

Stage 2 Take off!

Stage 3 These things go up for miles, they look like stars they are so far away...Adeles Dad has a big smile

An amazing day was organised by Adele, no wonder shes going into Wedding Co-ordination.. u go girl!

a couple of great shots by kev lindeque

The Wedding of Crystal Riches & Lee Berridge, Holbeck Ghyll Country House, Windermere, 6th July
Saw me up at The Lakes again an early start 11.15am.
The Ghyll is position up on a knoll on the right hand side of Windermere tucked away like so many of these wonderful wedding venues with spectucular views, ableit slightly far away from the lake but with sweeping vistas.

The front of the house

The 'Pikes' human settlement began in the lakes around 5,000 years ago i.e stone circles in Neolithic times these mountains were a source of stone for axes and circles etc. (Sorry history lesson over back to the wedding)

Looking out to the Langdales, the view from The Holbeck (Samling Hotel is visable bottom right)

A moment before leaving.

May

 
An adjustment of the shoe...

A sway of an ear-ring

Into the service to be wed. by Tim

On top of the world.........!

I never throw away files as bad as they first seem, rollover above image to see the original....
Approx 3 hours additional work £90 for this image in album if client likes it.
This shot came about by on arrival I decided to look around, I liked the shape with my 10.5 fisheye, and at the end of the session before I left I got 3 shots of them on the stairs, and a few of Crystal lying down by herself. Strangley enough I did bounce flash but it failed to recycled in time - perhaps just as well... 1 of my all times favourites :-)
Even the mighty Gordon McGowan would be proud of this one I think. It ALSO wins an award SWPP

Getting down on bended knee



Stand to attention, this is a 'Love' Match folks

Here comes the bouquet....which lucky lady will be next?


Its Lee's sister who catches the bouquet


Claps all around for the winner...

Sequence by Tim my assistant
  
     
A poignant moment

At the end of a long day after 8 hours photography and rain! we all went outside for 20 minutes of photography, Tim my assistant for the day had a brolly over me and one of the bridesmaids partners had a brolly over the b&g so thanks to him.

Ian has a look of David Beckam and Nick Faldo and I especially like this stance he adopted with Kate peeping over his 6, 3 frame is very sweet.Using an 85mm lens to blur the bandstand in the background and a touch of sepia tone.

A very low light composition of Kate's shoes and bouquet along with some champagne glasses and daylight coming into the background hence the blue cast colour.

The happy couple again

Walking into the ceremony Ian waits on the other side for her hand in marriage.

Up close and personal

I love my wavey group shots as well as a straight no waves.

The Wedding of Michelle Blow & Alexander Hill, Brackenbank Lodge, Lazonby, Nr.Penrith 28th July
I was travelling north again for a change this time to a new venue for me. Michelle and Alex were very relaxed all day and the weather threw everthing at us. Sun and wind in the morning, rain and wind in the afternoon, and then cloudy during the group shots, my camera didnt know what it was doing. More to come soon.

The Wedding of Jonathan Hester & Laura Woods, The Inn on the Lake, Lake Ullswater, Nr.Penrith 29th July
A very happy smiley bride, the beautiful Laura was fun all day long, we all struggled to keep up with her. We had an amazing day the weather was sweltering hot by Ullswater Lake, not a cloud to be seen.

Laura and bridesmaids getting ready in the bridal suit

A hole-in-one!

In comes Laura and Dad captured by Kevin my no.2 photographer/ informal- reportage, just love the middle expression Laura

Laura gets her man, the lads are happy! One of Kevins

A little princess arrives..arrrhhhh.

A Group photo ROLLOVER 4 color




50mm 1.4

The Wedding of Elizabeth Dobson & David Norcross, Storrs Hall, Windermere, 27th May
Gill, Kevin my assistant for the day, and me at the lakes again, this time Storrs Hall for the first time,a beautiful Georgian mansion on a bright but cool day on the shores of Lake Windermere. I must say this venue has an incredible intake of the lake, and also provides excellent vantage points allowing the b&g up to the waters edge.

We had 2 great people in David & Elizabeth to photograph in the beautifiul grounds, with maple trees, rhododendrons, and the lake.


The bride and dad make there way forward to the ceremony room down from the top floor.

These guys were really great all day long, when I told them the drinks were on me they were 'well up for it'.

My first ever 'jump' shot in 5 years of doing weddings, I should have started earlier....

The centre of Storrs Hall,Windermere, one of the interior hallways.Wins an SWPP May Award
Before and after my post production..

Mike's Dad makes a toast to the newleyweds whilst Elisabeths dads finishes his speech (off camera)

(Large file) The large colourful grounds on an overcast day help bring out the subtle hues of green and red.

'The Menu' in the Marquee before the b&g arrived.

 
Gill is very good at straightening dresses for the bride and has a good eye, plus she prompts me for the shots I have
pre-planned to do if I ever forget!

Part of the design inside the marquee

A still-life shot in which I had 1 minute to do before the bride left the bridal suite.

We walked down to lakeside for 5 minutes for some moody black & white shots

.
The bestman Paul nervously waits his turn


I like these 2 thought they were a bit different.

A tapestry on the wall as Elizabeth and dad plummet into the depths of Storrs Hall to wed.

Rollover for b&w version

Camouflage rings.

The b&g make their way to the marquee, via a canapy Storrs provide, watch the carpet thou its very slippery as Kevin field tested.

Within seconds he'd dusted himself down but like a true professional got on with the 2nd shooter role.
Kevin always looking for new angles to photograph from.Respect for doing a great job.

The obligatory group shot with mum & dad.

Above 1 was taken by my Gill Im sneaking around the back there... he,he.

My second shooter Kevin has done very well, capturing these images for me.
For more candid style of capture & natural wedding photography we can also offer this service (2 photographers)
to existing and new clients. £250 10 hours / £200 up to 8

Brides and Grooms of Shaw, Bridal Wear
My partner Gill has recently acquired an established wedding bridal business in Shaw, nr.Oldham its a lovely shop with very helpful & friendly staff in. So any brides to-be still undecided please have a look in, of course a selection of my work is also on display there.;-)

The Wedding of Pippa Stanley & Mike Claffey
Saw me driving up 'norf' again to the beautiful lake district, this time The Merewood Hotel just before you hit Ambleside on the right side of the A6. This week I had Tim with me who has shown some very early promise with my arsenal of cameras, 4 at the moment. I feel like a camera dealer when Im out on assigment these days, like a pack horse mule.With around 5-6 lenses, 3 flashguns its all good fun though. (Many will know I was living in Lancaster last year hence doing so much business in the lovely lakes, Im now based in Rochdale spreading my wings a little... anyway back to the wedding. Here's a few of my favourites so far, and there will be a link to more later on in the coming days....stay tuned.I hope you like them. Im doing more informal photography currently with a 180mm lens I picked up S/H from Greys of Westminster for £280 its a real sharp lens,sitting on my Fuji S3 mostly.
However I still love shapes, colours and lighting fundamentality, and also nice expressions!

Pip looked a double of Princess Diana, absolutely stunning and Mike had a suit that echoed the colour
details of the wedding. A nice orange/ cream theme running through it worked very well.

One of my early favourites so far although not everyone is smiling I love the composition in this photo. The lighting is quiet nice, one of the advantages of having an assitant is being able to get these 'not looking at the camera shots'.

Pip looking beautiful and very elegant a shot at the head table during speeches, a timeless moment from the back with a 180mm lens daylight.The skin tones are very creamy with the Fuji S3 ideal for this type of work.

A quick shot from me as Pip walks down to the civil service at The Merewood with dad, using a 10.5mm fisheye lens. In to the unknow.....

My assistant waiting gets a very nice shot of Pip and dad waiting at the door before coming in. The tungsten indoor lighting plus a video-lit (not mine, aka yervant) also illuminating the room helps achieve a sense of antipication.

After the service we travelled down to the shores of Lake Windermere for some posed shots, opposite The Low Wood Hotel and we had a duck gate crash the wedding party wanting to do Mikes job, very cheeky duck! You can see him at the bottom of the shot and wouldnt leave poor Pip alone...

We did have to dodge the rain clouds in the early afternoon of the day, the lakes is famous for throwing all types of weather conditions at you in 2-3 hours. Below is a 'creative image' Mike borrowed my sunglasses and the yellow ties/ blue toned Merewood go well together, again the fisheye lens bends the building for a wacky look.

We eventually had some lovely weather in the late afternoon after group photos were done indoors but no one seemed to mine. Seldom do modern wedding photographers show off their group photos on their websites. I think they still form an integeral part of any wedding album.

'Your names not down'......Hit me baby one more time...rollover

The evening reception area/ seating plan with details from the tables.The cake inside individual boxes wrapped up in orange ribbon.

The guests congregate in the bar area and have a few laughs with each other before the wedding starts at 1.30pm.

This black & white style of photography has become very popular in recent years, natural expressions and daylight using an 85mm lens processed in Lightroom.

There are 2 rooms used for civil ceremonies at The Merewood Hotel, this is the smaller one of the 2 rooms they use for around 55 guests it was very cosy, and helps to aid with the mood here. A delicate shot with soft muted colours adding to the 'romance' of the shot, the ring can just be seen going on.

The offical first kiss as they are pronounced 'husband and wife'

A picture on the jetty with the Langdale Pikes in the background.
Pippa was a real trooper walking the 'aisle' again the slates needed extra careful feet manoverures.

   

Mike's friends decide to 'focus' their attentions on him

Greys of westminster

The Merewood Hotel

           
Brides and Grooms in the local 'rag' paper
Gill had a nice feature in The Oldham Chronicle with me on the other end of a camera for a change.
Just read the article below, its Gills second time round again in the Bridal business, and to say she happy is an understatement.
Being self-employed myself I know how hard it is but ultimately very fulfilling business to be in. Gills is very much a people person and is often out with me on sunday and weekday weddings, brides love her fun attitude

23rd May 2007