Nice weather for it

Heading towards my first wedding of the year I turned into a bit of a weather freak - checking various weather web sites every few hours.  Hardly surprising given the shocking weather we have had for the last few weeks.

Luckily, for Kelly & Neil's wedding, we had a dry and sunny/cloudy day.  While that brings challenges of its own everyone was happy we had a dry day even if, as most of the ladies experienced, the ground beneath them didn't favour high heels.

Never underestimate the love a lady has for her shoes.

pete

If you love someone set them free

That is the theme we were playing with here during this bridal fashion photoshoot in Essex.

The gorgeous model Francesca and the talented make up artist Jean worked with me to create a sense of a bride looking to escape.  Any bride organising a wedding will be familiar with that moment when the organisational demands make you stop and think - 'let's escape to Vegas and get married'.  The moment passes and the day is always worth the effort.

So for Francesca escape wasn't an option but I think she conveyed the feeling beautifully.

I did set Francesca free at the end of the shoot, honest.

pete

Something old, something new

If you are a bride or a bride to be I am sure you have come across the old Victorian saying;

'Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue'

For the bridal portrait photoshoot with Francesca and make up artist Jean we had an old wedding dress that I had purchased last year and we had some new high heels (well Francesca did).

We also had something blue as it was a bit cold in this fantastic photoshoot location and we had to keep pilling warm jumpers onto Francesca between shots.  Alas we failed on the complete set and didn't have anything borrowed. 

Three out of four isn't bad.

pete

Come fly with me

I sometimes hear from brides that veils are felt to be old fashioned.

From a wedding photographers point of view they offer a range of creative opportunities and add to the mystery of the bride - both parts of great story telling.  However it is always good for a wedding photographer to remember they are there to capture the day and not to impose their own preferences upon a couple.

Which is where bridal model shoots come in as they allow a photographer to explore ideas for their own satisfaction and hopefully create ideas they can bring with them into a brides big day if it is appropriate.

So thank you to the gorgeous model Francesca and the wonder make up artist Jean for a) sporting the veil b) 'throwing' the veil to create the look you see.

So consider a veil for your big day and make your wedding photographer happy ;-)

pete

Stressed

I should point out I am referring to the background in this image rather than Emma or Bev.

Like most couples approaching their wedding both are experiencing a reasonable amount of stress.  Lots to do and a rapidly shrinking amount of time to do it in.  Add in the prospect of a pre-wedding photoshoot and who can blame them for being a little stressed?

It is hard to visualise the results of a pre-wedding photoshoot if it is your first time taking part in one and that is where your wedding photographer comes in.  In this case I had been to the location an hour before, found the best spots and already worked out what we would shoot and where.

So when Emma & Bev turned up I wasn't stressed which meant they had less reason to be.

Stress can be a good thing but I think the less of it there is the better.

pete