A guide to Gypsies and the Criminal Underworld of Hedgehogs

Well, I've finally managed to get some time to start my new project - a book.

I'm writing a guide for the Wedding Photographer and, man, do I have a lot of interesting highs and lows to write about.

The book is a step-by-step guide of everything I've learned in the last 4 years in the industry including all the pitfalls to avoid. Some of them very expensive.

I've been meaning to write this since January and have the outline defined. I wrote the Chapter on Websites last week and finding that free-flow writing seems to work - at the moment - has spurred me on to get the other chapters completed.

I'd like to complete the book by mid-Nov for publication and into the Christmas market. Signed copies will be available. Unsigned copies will be available too at an additional charge. You'd need to see my ghastly signature to appreciate that.

There will be stories, both funny and tragic, included. Alas, the wandering gypsy who solves hedgehog-related crimes is not in this book. That's next years project.

I'll keep you updated on the progress.

Thanks for reading - and feel free to post a reply.

Trying something new - Jo & Lee

I'm a big fan of trying new things when it comes to creating art from wedding and portrait images and this year I decided to add a series of darker images to the collection.

I took a series of shots at Jo & Lee's wedding with this idea in mind and I got what I was looking for.

This image is an example of the more artistic imagery I am looking for - and the beauty of this is that this shot took about 30 seconds to set up, 30 seconds to edit in Lightroom 2 and 60 seconds to perfect in Photoshop - two minutes.

I created a number of other images in a similar vein and am pleased with how they all turned out. Of course it really does help when the couple are as good looking as Jo & Lee and the wedding venue as beautiful as Ardington House, outside Wantage.

My next wedding is next Thursday when I'll be shooting Katharine and Simon and am very keen to create a similar theme.

It can't rain all the time - Katharine & Simon

For the first time this year I've had to postpone a shoot due to really bad weather. Thankfully Sunday proved to be a lot nicer to us and it didn't affect the mood as Katharine and Simon came to the studio for their pre-wedding shoot.

I knew when I spoke to Katharine on the phone last week that we were going to really enjoy this shoot - I've rarely heard anyone laugh so much - even at my terrible attempts at humour. And, as you can see from the image, Katharine's laughter was infectious.

Both were great fun to shoot and I'm really looking forward to creating the same fun-filled images at their wedding.

Bride Over Duck-filled Waters

Congratulations to Jo & Lee who were married on Sat 7th Aug - and what a fantastic day it was.

I shot Jo & Lee's wedding freelancing for Blenheim Photography and had an amazing time doing it.

The weather report for the day was not good and looked to threaten the plan for an outdoor ceremony on the island at Ardington House. It was very touch and go and despite a number of showers earlier in the day it was agreed the wedding could take place on this beautiful location.

The bridge to the island was not only slippy but not that wide. Any slip one way or the other would have turned the wedding into auditions for the 2012 Olympic Swimming team - assuming the locals, in the forms of ducks and swans, would have let you do anything more than a doggy paddle to get back out. Fortunately, we all stayed out of the river.

After drinks outside Ardington House, speeches were made. Uniquely these were done outside and made a nice change as I got a lot of great shots using the natural light.

Jo & Lee, themselves, were very much up for the flow-posing shoots and we ended up splitting into three seperate sessions to accomodate the weather. I tried a few new ideas for the flow-posing images the result of which is above.

Everyone at the wedding was great fun - and for a moment I feared for my own safety when the "guys" swayed into me with threats to throw me in the river.

Add in croquet, football and a game of Aunt Sally and this was a great deal of fun for everyone.

Thanks to Jan of Blenheim Photography for the contract and thanks to Jo & Lee for being such a great couple.