Aleisha and Ryan - a rocking wedding in Cheshunt and Enfield

It's very much "the morning after the night before for me" as I suspect it is for Ryan and Aleisha, who's wedding I covered yesterday.   A combination of Aleisha's massive hard work & attention to detail, and a truly excellent toast master made this a really easy wedding to cover.    Here are a few, very early samples of some images that immediately stood out for me.


These, and a few more images are also displayed on my facebook page.   If you'd like this quality of coverage for your wedding, then please pop over to my website.

Finally, a message for Ryan - "Thursday Nights, Channel Five!" :-)

Dan

Dodging the showers at West Lodge Park

Being a wedding photographer, the spring of 2012 will go down as one of the most challenging times in my career - simply because of the awful weather we've encountered.  Indeed as I sit here writing this, I can look out of my studio window and see hailstones the size of marbles and listen to the thunder.  Roll on June!

So it was that I ended up dodging the showers last week when Emma and Peter joined me at West Lodge Park Hotel for their pre-wedding shoot.   They're getting married there later this year and Peter had put together a lovely proposal in the gardens some months previously, so there's really nowhere more suitable.

Many wedding photographers will offer a pre-wedding shoot, but for most it's simply a chance for them to sell their clients more pictures.  I really don't want my clients treated like cash cows, so I also give my couples a complimentary 16x16" canvas montage, based around one of three exclusive and unique designs.    Having a montage like this means that there's no pressure sales and everyone knows that the sessions are all about making sure we get better photographs on the big day.

Here are a few of my favourite images, taken under the shelter of trees or when the rain briefly abated:

 

A huge thank you to both Emma and Peter for being such good sports and making the best of a bad situation.   Lets hope that's the last of the rain associated with your wedding guys!

Dan

Why everything gets more expensive when you mention the "W" word

If you are making plans for your wedding, then you've probably felt a little "taken advantage of".  Many brides will tell me "as soon as I mention that it's for a wedding then prices seem to go through the roof".   As a wedding supplier, I'm going to give my perspective on this.

Now, I'm bound to try and deny the existence of this phenomenon aren't I? We can't possibly all be money grabbing people taking advantage of brides desperation and inexperience when it comes to planning a wedding, can we?

Well here's the first surprise.  From my perspective, things do get more expensive at the first mention of the dreaded "W" word, and the second surprise is that I think this is (usually) perfectly justified.

Brides get married (hopefully) once in their life, which rightly means that they want their wedding to be a once in a lifetime experience.  Everything needs to be perfect, "good" is simply no longer good enough.

This means as wedding suppliers we are under even more pressure to make sure that we deliver the perfection that wedding couples rightly desire.
 

Let's consider the florist.   If you pop into a florist and buy a £30 bouquet and 6 hours later the heads have dropped off a couple of the blooms, then you'll be annoyed, but you'll probably just get on with it, remove the stems and "make the most of" the remaining flowers in the bouquet.   A week later you'll probably have forgotten it ever happened.   On your wedding day, "make the most of" is not an emotion that any bride should be prepared to accept.  This means that  your wedding florist will select only the best flowers and spend considerably more time carefully putting the bouquet together, making sure everything is secured in place and that no blooms have been in any way damaged in putting it all together.  With that additional pressure for higher quality, it's natural (indeed a business essential) that your florist will charge more than for their day-to-day flowers.

Similarly, if a seam on a dress you've just bought un-picks a week after you've bought it, you'll probably patch it up "and make the best of it".  If the same thing happens to your bridal gown then you'll likely (and rightly) be distraught.

The same applies to my role as a wedding photographer.  If I shoot a portrait session and the images are "off", I can invite you back at my cost, re-shoot you, offer you an extra framed print and you'll walk away happy.  However, if I miss the first kiss at a wedding, or my group shots are underexposed then you'll never have a quality record of those moments and you'll hate the fact you booked me for the rest of your life.   So my quality threshold has to be higher, much higher.  I need to spend more time and money training, to make sure I have the best equipment, have selected the best suppliers, and even at the end of what is often a 14 hour working day, I need to immediately get onto the computer, even if it's midnight and get the images backed up and safe from any possible damage or loss.  

Your wedding day deserves to have a "premium" feel and you won't get that by paying rock bottom prices.   Do the maths, if a supplier is offering you a price that means that they can't possibly be doing this as their only full time job, then how good a service are they going to give you?

     Dan

Sophie & Will's big wedding day

Saturday saw me happily sharing in and documenting Sophies fabulous wedding to her dashing soldier Will.    Sophie was in every respect the immaculate bride and Will scrubbed up well for a squaddie too!

I'm still working my way through the photographs of their big day, but here are a few that immediately stand out.



Multi Tasking at the Brides Cheshunt pre-wedding HQ

The morning was filled with loads of laughs and more than the occasional cuppa.

Mustn't be late (even the bride was early!) 

A broad smile from Will as he lays eyes on his bride for the first time. 

An impatient groom is too quick with his "I will".

Simply beautiful.

Such joy as Will prepares to kiss his bride.

At the stunning high altar at Christ Church, Southgate. 

What a perfect couple.   

Table manners temporarily forgotten as we cut the cake at the Penridge Suite, New Southgate.

The first dance.

I'd like to extend a huge thanks to everyone involved in Saturday for their fantastic hospitality, to Sophie for being the most chilled bride I've photographed for years, to Will for his generosity and to Sophie's parents for their excellent hospitality, and for looking after one of my lenses overnight(!)

A few more of the day's top images are also available via my Facebook page, why not pop over there and take a look!

Dan 

Sue & Scott Take over Tower Bridge

Another hot Saturday in Central London and another trip to beautiful Tower Bridge for a wedding.

I was really looking forward to this one, Sue & Scott had been great fun on their pre-wedding shoot and the chance to actually shoot within the Tower was a major bonus.

I'm still working my way through the images from their day, but here's a few early favourites.

Is this what they call "a room with a view"?

Scott's feeling the pressure as he waits for Sue's arrival.

With only seconds to go, it's time for a final tidy up for the groom to be.

Groom, Bride and a happy Dad!

Time for a few words from a very proud father.

Eyes front Scott!

It seems I had some competition when it came to the "most professional photographer" contest.

A well earned breather for the beautiful bride.

Wow - what a view!  Tower Bridge is a sensational place to get married.

Anyone for a Gherkin?

The Olympic Stadium Nears Completion.  

Time to head back down from the heights.

Strolling, Just Strolling!

   

Sealed with a Kiss

A few more of the day's top images are also available via my Facebook page, why not pop over there and take a look!

Dan

Sue and Scott Scope out Tower Bridge on their complimentary pre-wedding shoot.

I spent a lovely evening last week with Sue & Scott, who are fortunate enough to be hosting their wedding next month in the gorgeous interior of Tower Bridge.

We decided between us that we'd get to know the area a little better by using it as a backdrop for our pre-wedding shoot.       I insist on these shoots for every wedding couple as I truly believe that they really build our relationship and make me far less of a stranger when it comes to the wedding day.   This leads to fewer nerves & therefore better photographs!

Many wedding photographers will offer a pre-wedding shoot, but for most it's simply a chance for them to sell their clients more pictures.  I really don't want my clients treated like cash cows, so I also give my couples a complimentary 16x16" canvas montage, based around one of three exclusive and unique designs.    Having a montage like this means that there's no pressure sales and everyone knows that the sessions are all about making sure we get better photographs on the big day.

Here's a few highlights:























I've put a few more of the day's top images up on my Facebook page, why not pop over there and take a look. Whilst you're there add yourself as a fan to be kept in touch with all my latest news and offers. It won't cost you a penny and it may just save you pounds!

Dan

Louise & Marc - the stars come out in Chelsea!

I had the enormous pleasure to join Louise and Marc for their wedding this Saturday at the famous Kensington & Chelsea Register Office, on the Kings Road.

It's still a little early for me to have processed all of their pictures, but I have had time to have a first look through their images, and have picked out a few that immediately caught my eye.




Louise's beautiful bouquet complimented her dress superbly.

A loving look as Marc places Louise's ring onto her finger.


Fabulous Louise... almost a model pose!


A huge cascade of confetti for the newlyweds.


Another highlight came when Ben Di Lisi, who just happens to have designed Louises fabulous frock, strolled by.  Huge kudos to Marc for booking him to come by bang on time!


After the wedding we headed into Battersea Park for some portraits, however we did get disturbed on more than one occasion!


Louise and her beautiful sister & bridesmaid.


A joke between Marc and his best man.


Even the fountains burst into life on schedule.


To keep you going whilst I process the remaining images, I've put a few more of the day's top images up on my Facebook page, why not pop over there and take a look!

Dan

Sealing the Entente Cordiale

Sunday saw a slightly different day's wedding work for me as I covered the beautiful Fran's wedding to her dashing French beau Nick.    We began at the Highgate Scientific and Literary Institute where I was ready to meet the newlyweds as they stepped away from their quiet, private wedding ceremony.

A quick champagne reception (well we were never going to have some dodgy cheap Cava were we!) followed for friends and family, before we decamped in a fleet of Taxi's and headed to the lovely Knight's Templar in Chancery Lane for a larger reception (and more champagne).

With Fran and Nick wanting an exclusively candid account of the day, I was freed from the responsibility of shooting anything in any way "formal" and had plenty of time to capture a feel of their day.  I hope I've succeeded.   Here's a few of the images that stood out to me on first viewing.






The newlyweds grab a quick kiss as they celebrate with champagne.

With the weather so gorgeous all day, the windows at both venues were acting as beautiful "soft boxes".  It seemed a shame to spoil the mood with a battering of on-camera flash, so instead I took lots of images using this natural light only.   Here's Fran chatting with a very proud Mum.



Nick clearly adores his new bride.



On moving to the Knights Templar, I kept my eyes open for images that told the story of the day - not just of people, but - as here a "still life" to illustrate "the happy couple".



Guests deep in conversation - whilst enjoying the champagne, naturally!



Nick, relaxed and happy.



Essential information for the French guests - left here on a bar stool.



"First Class and Abroad" - the perfect description for Fran & Nick?



Even the oldies had time for a little tenderness.



Fran & Nick deep in conversation.



An animated moment from another guest.



More chat, and more beers - perfect.



Everyone was in a loving mood.



The bride holds court.



On a humid day like Sunday, why not!



Time for a little dancing.

It's been a huge pleasure over the last few weeks to spend time with some couples who's weddings have felt completely authentic.   Every thing that has been done has been done with thought and meaning, and there's been no compulsion to do other things just to show off, or because that's what convention says you should do.     It's been great to be a (small) part of and I wish you all very long & happy marriages.

A few more of the day's top images are also available via my Facebook page, why not pop over there and take a look!

Dan