Just a little update before I continue; my laptop is being repaired and will take between 7-10 days. Meanwhile, I can edit no pictures or send out contracts. Not good! So I'll continue to answer emails and write blogs from my trusty iPhone.

Right then...

On Monday, I received a very nice phonecall from Condé Nast publishing, the company who publish all your favorite magazines such as Vogue, Glamour, GQ, Easy Living, Vanity Fair, House and Garden, and also Brides magazine.

The gentleman that spoke to me was the man in charge of Brides Magazine media promotions (or something along those lines)
In the June/July issue of Brides mag, a CD will acompany it and inside will be a well presented list of reception venues, bands and photographers.
I have been officially asked to be the only recommended photographer for my county!
It was such a huge honor to be asked and also to have that level of recognition from a very well known publication!

On a completely unrelated matter, I have politely, but not regretabily declined the offer.

"Why?!?" I hear you shreek!
Well, Jessica and myself were talking about it and aggreed that I don't actually need to be listed on this free CD.
At the moment, we have enough work coming in so that I can give carefull attention to each couple so that I get to know them as people, rather than pound signs.
I feel that each of my couples is now my friend.
You might think that sounds corny, but they've asked me to be present on the most important and happiest day of their lives. To become their friend isn't really an option, it's a necessity. A very easy one at that!

Another reason I declined their offer; they wanted a very large amount of money from me.
Money that if I spent on getting my name listed would indeed be an investment, but not an investment where I was sure of the outcome. I'd rather invest my money in oh, I don't know, Rent??

Another reason.
I googled something along the lines of: "brides magazine recommended photographer" and looked for photographers who had also been asked by Brides Mag to be a featured photographer.
I rang 6 photographers then I gave up.
100% of the photographers I spoke to had indeed all paid very large amounts of money (but funnily enough, all a lot less than what I had been asked to pay)
100% of the photographers I had spoke to had received NO bookings from being featured!
Nothing!
And they were all pretty bitter about it too!

My very nice gentleman friend who had asked me to be featured accepted this shocking revelation and made little effort to defend whoever it was he was supposed to of defended.

So thank you Brides Magazine.
I honestly do appreciate the offer, I felt like just the offer alone of being the only recommended photographer for Avon did my confidence the world of good! And for free too!

And look! I'm going to tag this blog with "brides magazine recommended photographer" so that not only brides stumble across my blog (for free) but also other photographers!

As some of you may of read on my twitter or facebook updates, I've been making some changes to my portfolio and shooting style so that I can get accepted into a wedding photographers organisation who I admire very much. They're called the WPJA. They're an organisation made up of wedding photographers whose work focuses mostly on capturing moments as they happen, rather than setting up shots.

I've admired the work of the many different photographers for quite a while now. Some of which are very big names in the world of wedding photography.
If you're looking for a wedding photographer who can capture the real moments of your wedding, then I highly recommend that you invest in any of the wedding photographers listed on the WPJA website.

On  a slightly related note, on Thursday night, on the way up north to shoot Andrew and Julias wedding, I received a very nice email which went something like this:

"Hi Joseph,

Please excuse our delay in getting back to you. We are in the midst of making three contests live on our site(s): WPJA Q2, AGWPJA Q2 and the annual WPJA/BRIDES Magazine contest.

It is our pleasure to have you as a new WPJA member! Great images in your portfolio!
...
[blah blah blah].
...
Welcome to the WPJA!

David Roberts
WPJA"

So....yeh, I got in!
I've put so much effort into getting into this association and I am SO thrilled to be welcomed in!
I've had allot of backing from brides and grooms, photographer friends and of course so much support from my family and my beautiful wife!
Thank you everybody!

I felt like after receiving that email, I couldn't be in a better place than a wedding!
So I shot Andrew and Julia's wedding, and I shot it good!!!

Thank you Andrew and Julia for being another couple who liked my work enough to let me capture your special day, and thank you also for being a perfect couple. It's couples like you that make my job so much fun!

Why not enjoy these pictures hey?

Thank you Dan for your help!

Now get this, and prepare your saliva glands...
a Krispey Kreme tower as a wedding cake!!!
Honestly, the smell hit you as soon as you walked in the room, it was a beautiful thing!
(my wheat and egg allergies on the other hand....hmmm, not so beautiful)

Andrew and the family had arranged some suprises for Julia, one being the Krispey Kreme tower of Joy, and another was to have an old music teacher play Sax for them during the meal! Lovely stuff Neil!

And Julia was thrilled!



The boys went out for a spot of football, Victorian style by the looks of it!


Not too sure what Julia will think when she sees the state of Andrews shoes!

The Hill girls sure know how to rock a wedding dress don't they? I think Julia looks fantastic here!



The Speeches were sweet...

..and very funny too. Well done Luke!



Congratulations Andrew and Julia.
I hope you enjoy eternity together.