Kate & Stuart’s Wedding – 30th May 2009

A beautiful wedding on a beautiful day at Packington Moor in Lichfield. The weather has been so kind to all the couples whose weddings I have photographed so far this year – and let’s hope it continues!!! Kate looked amazing and her bridesmaids wore gorgeous teal coloured gowns. Kate and Stuart had planned everything so carefully right down to the last detail and everything went just beautifully. All of Kate’s bridal preparations took place in one of Packington’s beautiful cottages and their civil ceremony was followed by their wonderful reception – all at Packington Moor. Weddings like this, where everything is at one location are so welcomed by any photographer.

Charlotte & Declan’s Wedding - 23rd May 2009

Another beautiful May day for the gorgeous wedding of Charlotte and Declan. Their ceremony was held at the really contemporary looking Our Lady of the Wayside Church in Solihull, so different to any church I have photographed in before. They then travelled by open topped Rolls Royce to celebrate with their families and friends at Hogarths, also in Solihull. Charlotte looked amazing, her beautiful gown was complimented by a fabulous lily bouquet – just so elegant. Charlotte and Declan booked with me almost 2 years ago and it is just so lovely to see all their wedding plans finally come to fruition. What a great couple with really lovely families who all made me feel so welcome.

Lisa & Dan's Pre Wedding Shoot

A great pre-wed shoot in the lovely Spring sunshine with Lisa and Dan at Birmingham Botanical Gardens. They are really lovely couple and we had a great afternoon just wandering around the gardens, chatting and getting some really gorgeous, relaxed, natural shots. I love this location for shoots and it is obvious that Lisa and Dan do as well. They have chosen the Botanical Gardens as the venue for their wedding reception which follows their marriage ceremony at the stunning Shrugborough Hall later this Summer. Another fab wedding which I am really looking forward to, as it is so nice working with such lovely couples.

Real Life Wedding – Perfect Wedding Magazine

Great news again this month!!! Perfect Wedding Magazine have chosen another of my weddings to be featured in the June issue of their fabulous magazine. This is the third wedding of mine that has been featured in 'Real Life Weddings' in the past six months and it is such a compliment. I’m so pleased and I know that my couple – Emma and Steve will be over the moon!!! I photographed their wedding aboard a gorgeous yacht in Cyprus last September - my first destination wedding and I absolutely loved it.

Tristam - Lifestyle Portrait Shoot, Ilkley, Yorkshire

Another journey up the motorway to Yorkshire on Wednesday for a lifestyle portrait shoot during the half-term holidays with Tristam. I have been to Yorkshire several times in the last few months for weddings, pre-wed shoots and portrait shoots and I think I've actually picked up a bit of a Yorkshire accent!!!. Tristam is such a great teenager and he really enjoyed the shoot, whereas most teenagers have usually reluctantly agreed to ‘suffer’ a shoot because their parents have insisted!!! He was a pleasure to meet and to photograph, and what a talented young man. I used to play the violin but after talking to Tristam and hearing him play, it puts my playing to shame!!!

Kerry & Peter's Wedding - 2nd May 2009

A beautiful May day for the wedding of Kerry and Peter. The ceremony was held at the fabulous St. Chad’s Cathedral in the centre of Birmingham, and just to add to the splendour, Kerry’s cousin was the priest who conducted the service and their eldest son was an alter boy. They also received a wonderful surprise from the Vatican, a special blessing from the Pope - how cool is that ! As I mentioned in an earlier blog entry, Peter’s family are originally from Scotland and 25 male members of his family wore kilts. After their beautiful ceremony, Kerry, Peter and their guests travelled to New Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield for their celebrations. Everyone had a fabulous day and the although the guests in kilts were an awesome sight, nothing compared to just how beautiful Kerry looked – she was stunning. Truly a wedding to remember.

The Further Adventures of Dylan

Dylan "my puppy" has been the talk of all my friends and clients for weeks now and I have been promising to post some new photos of him. He is now 16 weeks old and he has grown so much recently. He is definitely a proper little character now, really showing his own personality, sulking when he has been told off and crying when I have to go to work. He is absolutely into everything, he especially loves chewing my dining room furniture and tearing up the pansies in the pots at the bottom of the garden!!! The trouble is that he only has to look at me with those puppy dog eyes and I can't stay cross with him for long (take a look at pics 2 & 3 - see what I mean!!!)

Gemma & Jamie’s Wedding – 25th April 2009

My second wedding this weekend and another beautiful sunny day after quite a showery start. Gemma and Jamie were married at the the lovely Blackbrook House in Derbyshire. I think I called it a ‘little jem’ in an earlier blog entry, and a jem it certainly is – it’s just gorgeous! It was such a lovely ceremony and I got to meet up with Gemma’s little nephew Oliver again. I was lucky enough to do a portrait shoot with Oliver last year (followers of my blog may recall the adventures of Oliver and Indie the dog!) It was lovely to see him again and hear all about Indie – Oliver has grown so much. Back to wedding mode now! – Gemma’s dress was stunning and her bridesmaids wore gorgeous cerise pink. Each and every Bride’s gown this year has been so different in style and yet they have all been so beautiful. I love to photograph weddings, but think that perhaps had I not been a photographer I would have loved to own a beautiful bridal boutique. My lovely friend Bev owns a gorgeous bridal boutique called ‘Honey Cole’ in Abbots Bromley and I just love it there!!

Esther & Lee’s Wedding – 24th April 2009

It was a beautiful sunny April day for the wedding of Esther and Lee on Friday. Their wedding ceremony took place at St. Chad’s Church in Lichfield and was followed by a reception at Swinfen Hall. Esther looked just like a princess in an absolutely gorgeous dress which had masses of floaty skirt and a beautiful train. Her two bridesmaids wore teal coloured dresses and her little flower girl Hannah wore a white ballerina style dress with a teal sash – girls you all looked fabulous. Esther and Lee’s evening celebrations were made complete by a wonderful surprise firework display. The happy couple are currently honeymooning in New York and Mexico.

Louisa & Stuart’s Wedding – 18th April 2009

I had the great pleasure of photographing the beautiful wedding of Louisa and Stuart last weekend. The weather was lovely, the ceremony was beautiful, the reception venue was stunning and Louisa and Stuart have to be two of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet – what a fabulous day! Their wedding ceremony was held in the private chapel of Abbots Bromley Girls School, where Louisa was once a pupil, and their reception was at the stately Somerford Hall. Louisa and Stuart are now honeymooning in the sun, but before they left, they found the time to send me a really lovely email. The very kind comments from themselves and their guests are so greatly appreciated. Thank you Louisa and Stuart – see you soon.

Tom & Sam - Lifestyle Portrait Shoot

Another great portrait shoot last week. This time I travelled up to Derby to meet up with teenage brothers Tom and Sam. Both are very sporty young men and they love the great outdoors. Tom who is 17 years old was even recently amongst an expedition who climbed Mount Everest!!! This really puts the mountaineering attempts that I made earlier this year at Bradgate Country Park (see an earlier blog entry) to shame!!! It is so refreshing to meet such fab young people who spend their time striving to achieve such great heights (no pun intended!)

Ellie – Lifestyle Portrait Shoot

I loved meeting up with Ellie for her portrait shoot in Warwickshire last week, and what a really lovely, talented young lady she is! She was such a natural in front of the camera and a pleasure to photograph. Ellie is very musical indeed, playing a number of instruments and is also a chorister at an prestigious cathedral school. I think that her sunny character really shines through in these images and I hope that Ellie and Mum love them!

Becky & Adrian's Wedding - 11th April 2009

What a wonderful wedding and one I’m certainly going to remember! Becky was an absolutely stunning Bride and her dress has to be one of my all time favourites. Becky and Adrian’s wedding took place at the beautiful Prestwold Hall in Leicestershire, a venue I had not photographed at before, and one I hope to be able to shoot at again as it is just fabulous! Becky and Adrian both live and work in London but are originally from the Midlands, and chose to return near to home for their wedding. Becky works for a radio station and Adrian is an actor, writer and stand-up comedian. Adrian and his best man Tom, gave what has to be the funniest speeches I have ever heard at a wedding – but as they are both comedians then I should have expected nothing less! The wedding went like an absolute dream and during the evening celebrations Becky and Adrian were treated to a very special surprise – a display of beautiful Sky Lanterns. This is the first time I had actually seen these personally, and what a truly magical sight they were, and quite emotional to see! Becky and Adrian are honeymooning in Borneo and I can’t wait to show them their wedding day pics, on their return.

Alison & Dean Pre Wedding Shoot - Kingsbury Water Park

We had to rearrange Alison and Dean’s Pre-Wedding Shoot because of bad weather, and decided to reschedule it for Easter Monday. We hadn’t banked on there being quite so many people wanting to go to Kingsbury Water Park in Warwickshire at the same time as us though! Once we were inside the park however it was a different story as there are so many woodland walks and lakes to wander off to, and we had plenty of space for our shoot. Alison and Dean were a little nervous about the prospect of their shoot, but they soon relaxed and by the end they said that they had really enjoyed it. I am photographing Alison and Dean’s wedding at Packington Moor in July, when Packington will be at it’s most beautiful, so one I’m really looking forward to.

Kerry & Peter (& Family) - Pre Wedding Shoot

On Tuesday I met up with Kerry and Peter whose wedding I am photographing in May. We wandered through the grounds of New Hall Hotel in Sutton Coldfield, their reception venue, with their children Logan and Hennessey and Kerry's mom and had a really great family shoot. Kerry and Peter’s wedding ceremony is being held at the magnificent St. Chad’s Cathedral in Central Birmingham. I just can’t wait to photograph inside the Cathedral as it is just beautiful! Kerry and Peter’s wedding is certainly going to be a fantastic event. They will be celebrating with over 200 guests, and as Peter’s family are from Scotland, there will be 25 of his male family and friends wearing kilts!