Finally, something local!

Jessica and myself travel all over the country to shoot weddings, I guess that's just something that you get from being so good looking.
Ah well.

Shooting all over the country does have it's benefits. We've made some new friends and we can stay in contact with old friends too.
But, it tires us out and we can never wait to get back home to our own bed!

Moses and Sabrina are getting married early next month in Thornbury, Bristol. Then on to Caldicot Choir Hall.

Like the majority of my couples, Moses and Sabrina chose to invest in having an engagement shoot around Clifton where Moses popped the question.
You might recognise Sabrina from the Hornby Photoshoot back when it was freezing. You can see the Bristol pictures here and here.

As I'm super busy at the moment (Two weddings this weekend; local too!)...so I won't be inundating you with pictures from their shoot. Enjoy this little collection!

We couldn't believe this sunset when we were shooting next to the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Hope you enjoyed

This post is a follow up to my previous, and similarly titled "Brides Magazine Recommended Photographer" post.

I recommend that you read the above mentioned post before reading this one, it'll just make more sense!
...
I'm guessing you've read it now, I'll continue.

The other day, on the way up to Adam and Lorna's wedding up in the Midlands, I bought Brides Magazine.
I often buy it as I actually enjoy reading it, it gives me plenty of inspiration and being in the wedding industry I think it makes a lot of sense to read the same sort of material that my brides are reading too. I keep on top of some of the trends that I might of missed previously on the interweb.
I also like to laugh at the adverts.

So, like I said, I bought it. £4.90 please. Ouch!
I failed to notice, until I was taking the glossy magazine out of the packaging that there was a DVD in there too.
The Sherlocks upon you will work out that this was likely the same DVD that I could of been featured on as the recommended photographer for my region.

Inside the magazine, lots of pretty pictures, plenty of dodgy adverts (some taking up 5-6 spreads, and one certain company showing a model posing as a bridesmaid who I can only presume previously had a career as a boxer)...but no mention of the scores of information and links found on the free DVD.

I pop the disc into my laptop and follow the appropriate links to find who was the photographer for my region, and I get this;

...Ta-da

This photographer paid £495 for that advert.
Nothing else, no additional links, no extra pictures and no slideshow. Infact, when I typed into everybody's favourite search engine "three acorns photography brides magazine" and even "Thornbury Brides Magazine" (this photographer is based in Thornbury, a little town down the road), nothing came up.
So Brides magazine don't even have the time to put together a simple online directory for their paying customers!

What am I saying?..or not saying for that matter...

I'm not saying that Brides magazine is conning photographers out of money.
I'm not saying "don't invest in having your business listed on their free DVD"
I'm not saying I'm bitter, because I'm not. I consider myself pretty lucky actually.
I'm also not saying that every single photographer  listed on the DVD will get no bookings, they just might...in fact I really hope they do!

I'm saying, if you're a photographer, then research these things first so that you don't end up spending a lot of money on very little.
If you're a bride looking for a photographer, then the DVD might be perfect for you.
Probably not though. It wasn't that good to be honest!
Just use google.

But again, I thank you Conde Nast publishers, and Brides magazine for asking me to be one of your recommended photographers.
Very kind of you...I'm still on page one for "Brides Magazine Recommended Photographer"

hehe...

Finally!

You wouldn't believe how desperate I've been to shoot my first wedding of the year.
The fact that it happened to be Chris and Victoria's made that desire even more sweet.
I was so nervous, which isn't anything too different, but when it's been about 3 months since your last wedding, you start to lose touch!
I met up with Chris and Victoria back in September if you remember... (remember when that big ball of fire was in the sky?!)
We met up for a photoshoot which, in case you hadn't noticed, I go on and on about, is thee best way to get to know your photographer.
We had so much fun taking pictures at Ashton Court in Bristol.

As the shoot went on, I really grew to love Chris's "sense of humor"
Chris is clearly a very intelligent man and also very quick witted, which I loved!
Victoria loves him so much, and you can see this by their wedding pictures.

I love how Victoria scrunches her nose up when she laughs at what Chris is saying.
So I hope that;
1) Chris never stops making Victoria laugh,
2) Victoria never stops doing that nose thing.

Onto the wedding!
As I mentioned in the teaser, Victoria got ready at her parents house with her mum Christine, her dad Bob, Bridesmaids Summer and Jennifer along with uber-cute flower girls Molly and Amelia.
The hairdresser and I both agreed that this was one of the calmest pre-wedding houses we've worked at!
A little too calm if anything! (perhaps it was the Barry White that was playing?)
We were made very welcome though. Thank you.
(If anyone knows the full name of the hairdresser, I'll link to her here, thanks.)
Let's see some pictures!

Victoria rocked a pair of Jimmy Choo's.
Apparently, girls like his shoes!
(also, after you've got married in them, Mr Choo will dye them black! There's a pop-fact for you right there!)
Clearly a very popular couple! Wedding Acceptance cards everywhere!
Molly was a little shy but she was good as gold!
Victoria and her mum!
Start 'em young!

And here's Amelia. By the end of the day, Molly and Amelia were best friends.
Victoria is a real trendsetter, but I did encourage her to wear the wedding dress that she had bought, rather than the Ugg-slippers and dressing gown.
C.U.T.E.

Bob was so proud of Christine, his wife.
A special moment as Mum helps daughter with her wedding dress.
And her grandmothers bracelet...
Another special moment. After Christine helps Victoria get ready, Her dad sees her for the first time in a wedding dress. Lovely stuff!
Molly and Amelia FTW
Nothing to say here.

Summer...

And Jennifer. Great Bridesmaids. Really Great.

And here's Chris and Craig waiting patiently for Victoria. Let me know if you get bored of seeing previous brides and grooms on my blog!
An epicly beautiful Roller with an epic sky.

Here comes the bride!

I always love taking pictures of people using their cameras. I'm not sure if this finger and order of service image stabiliser technique works, but I'll certainly give it a shot at my next wedding.
Married!!

Such proud parents.
We've got a similar padded ceiling in our Rolls Royce too.
I love the lines in this picture!

As close as possible.
I can't get enough of this picture. It's a style that I don't usually work in, but I was so happy with it.
I'm sure you'll all agree that Victoria looks incredible here.

The boys, keeping it simple.
For a 700 year old building, Samlesbury Hall was looking pretty good, I'm sure you'll agree!
Chester! Another familiar face.
Michael did a grand job of welcoming in the top table.
The same thing was done at Matt and Yvonne's wedding last year; each person or couple sat on the top table were introduced to the guests by means of a 2-or-so minute speech about them, usually pretty cheeky but loads of fun. I'm not sure if other couples have been doing this at their weddings but I highly recommend it.
I always like the master of ceremonys, but this is something a little more personal. Well done Michael!
I really love this shot of Craig with his mum, Chris's Mum and Matt's Dad (I think).
Blue steel!!

That was nice wasn't it?

Thank you so much Chris and Victoria for asking me to be your photographer.
Without getting soppy, I love this job so much and couples like you (and guests like yours) make it feel like I'm not working at all.

For the photographers reading;
I used almost entirely prime lenses and flash for just 10 of these pictures. I shot on a cropped sensor body.
And remember those business cards? I had 100 printed up.
They all went.
I gave out very few personally, they were just passed from table to table without me even realising it most of the time. Seemed to be a great talking point!

Thank you to Timothy Armes who helped my blog this week.