Masks on!
By nealejames | June 24, 2008
Sunday night, we found ourselves at one of Oxfordshire’s premier wedding venues, Notley Abbey for a masked black tie event. We’ve photographed weddings at this former residence of Sir Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh, but this was somewhat of a special party thrown in honour of two of the owners’ children as they celebrated respective milestone birthdays. It’s inspiring to see the lengths some people go to sport a mask fit for a joint 18th/21st, but I do remain slightly in awe of the chap who felt a welding mask would be an award winner.
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Those black and white moments
By nealejames | June 24, 2008
Without sounding adversely sickly about why at Breathe we choose to shoot weddings, it’s the candid moments that make our industry so exciting. It’s hard to tell on a two inch screen how you’ve captured a scenario until the day’s work is downloaded later on the same evening. Purists may argue that a download doesn’t carry quite the same excitement as seeing an image chemically appear before your eyes under red lights in a darkroom, but for me, that download lays bear as many truths about the day’s photography as a good few hours swathed in toxic fumes. (For those that ask why I [Neale James] use so many smaller memory cards, I’ll repeat a blog entry from much earlier. Smaller cards mean more changes during the day for sure and if you shoot raw, you need to keep a far closer eye on the shot counter as it runs ‘dry’ that much quicker. But smaller cards also mean if one corrupts, you’ve not lost a whole wedding. Part maybe, but not a whole. Good wholesome tip.) This image is taken from the weekend’s wedding just gone. Congrats to Katy Locke and Andrew Williams, wed at St. Mary’s in Aldermaston - a venue that holds dear for the simple reason it was my own wedding venue. It’s a dark church, smallish windows, lots of tree shade and the normal rules apply; no flash during the ceremony, low key and unfussed. But the rewards are high when bride and groom exchange time with no attention paid to the 200mm lens poking out from a pew three or four metres away.
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A stranger wedding image
By nealejames | May 24, 2008
First of congratulations to Nigel and Sarah Shepherd upon their wedding celebrations at Ufton Court in Berkshire. I don’t know, maybe it’s a touch of self indulgence when photographing at Ufton that I [Neale James] find myself in a tiny priest’s vestry within this 15th Century house. Maybe it’s the fact that this incredible house is linked by many secret chambers and passages that persecuted Romish priests would have frequented to escape meeting their maker all too early. I’m not one to feel unusually sensitive in otherwise ’spooky’ surroundings, but this is one of the few rooms that persuades the last remaining hairs on my air conditioned head to point north. The walls seem hollow and I comedically sense that it wouldn’t take too much to lean unwisely and find yourself spinning through a concealed trap entrance to dank untrodden anti-rooms, Scooby Doo style. Don’t let me put any prospective bride and grooms off of choosing this as a venue for their special day; it can be a truly fabulous setting, but spend some time on your own navigating the rooms of this historical house and even the most ardent para-sceptics will admit to feeling just a tug of self doubt. Still, with the luxury of safety in numbers I gathered with bride, groom, assistant photographer and a bride’s brother to capture these wedding images. Unusual yes, but who said wedding photography should be a formulaic list? By the way, following our shots I was last down the stairs from this first floor chapel, but it sure did feel that someone else was behind me!
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Alex and Emmie at Silchester House
By nealejames | April 11, 2008
When we’re asked what our favourite photographic venue for weddings is, I’ll [Neale James] personally respond with; “They’re all elegant and absorbing photographically for their own respective reasons and features.” Now I realise that must sound like I’ve perched myself atop a very comfortable fence and is one strong step towards a career in estate agency, but I really do mean it. That’s what makes my job of photographic wedding coverage so incredibly compelling. Last year in ‘07, I photographed weddings at a varied collection of venues, from stately homes that are the playgrounds of the rich and famous, to good honest ‘no frills but plenty of character’ public houses. However… (you could sense a ‘but’ about to be popped into the column) Silchester House remains an exceptionally precious wedding venue, due to the simple fact that I enjoyed my own wedding reception there. I often comment to couples in football terms, that it feels like we’re ‘playing at home’ the moment we pull into the driveway. It’s a light and welcoming house, with sizeable grounds for photography. Here are some shots from Alex and Emmie’s recent Silchester wedding.
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Our Jack’s first photoshoot
By nealejames | April 8, 2008
You would have rightly expected us to be champing at the bit to pop our boy Jack (Baby Breathe) into the studio for his first official shoot. Arguably one of the best times to photograph a baby is in his or her first few weeks of life, when they’re floppy and retaining their foetal position. They’re also quite relaxed about the whole thing at this age, especially if they are post feed. I’m not expecting a very young baby to photograph wide eyed and smiling, their real emotions influence a shoot at this age; sleep, some tears even. Features also play a strong part in a baby shoot; little feet, little hands, little ears. I usually prefer to keep shoots fairly short at this age. We are using studio flash, so I keep a watchful eye on how baby reacts to short bursts of visually stimulating light. Here are a few shots from Jack’s shoot.
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Our little baby boy Jack
By nealejames | March 29, 2008
Baby Breathe has arrived! Pictured above; the first few moments of our baby Jack’s life in the outside World. His our firstborn and so understandably we’ll be taking a few weeks to adjust, even though the brand new Breathe shop opening is imminent. He was born Wednesday morning (26th March) at 12.05, weight 7lb 4oz. I have to say as I write this blog of a Saturday morning, he’s found himself a healthy set of lungs, that’s for sure! For every father who has those early days aspirations of his son one day lifting the World Cup for England or becoming a famous surgeon, I think perhaps we have just bred a booming broadcaster; the next Simon Bates perhaps? Obviously far better looking. Anyway, he’s quite rightly the apple of our eye even at 2am of a morning when he decides to really come alive! Thanks to all our friends, clients and suppliers for your good wishes and pressies - and Jack I am sure echos that. Loudly. (Neale and Sam James, March 2008)
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Tasoulla
By nealejames | February 28, 2008
The setting was a superb restaurant in Camden called Gilgamesh. I’ve certainly never set foot in a restaurant quite like it; I’ve certainly not seen bespoke wood carving of the quantity and quality on display in an eaterie. Trust me, I’m a man who likes his food - so it takes something for the furnishings to affect me quite the way Gilgamesh did. The influences are a real mixture of Far East meets Goa meets… and so on. The restaurant was bathed in a mixture of soft pin spot illumination and natural light from large windows looking out on to Camden’s famous market, some of which sadly disappeared under a blanket of flames only a fortnight or so ago. I knew instantly that I would be setting the strobe units aside that I had brought along, to favour utilising the natural and artifical light offered up by the location.
The shoot was to build musician Tasoulla’s pictorial portfolio. Her voice is rightly described as ‘youthful Bassey’ with the range and pitch Mariah boasts. She’s got incredible presence on camera and to be fair, did not need too much direction. As a photographer, I work in a somewhat more subtle way than some of my peers. There’s no right or wrong way, there’s just ‘my way’ when I photograph. It works for some snappers to bark orders at their subjects. I prefer mature reassurance, where between capturing each frame you’ll look up and comment on how good the images are turning out, or how well the subject is ‘performing,’ without the requirement for me as a photographer to dance across the set like a Whirling Dervish, shouting “BELLISSIMO BELLISSIMO!!!”
Incidentally, Tasoulla was that close to being the voice behind the Bond theme for Casino Royale. A little birdie tells me that we should watch this space for the next time!
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Connor’s shoot
By nealejames | January 26, 2008
We’re always trying new approaches at Breathe to produce portraits that are unique and unusual. Here’s Connor. His mum MJ is a good supporter of our work, so thanks for the opportunity ‘guys,’ and I hope you like the results.
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Ashley Bruce shoot at Reading’s Forbury Hotel
By nealejames | January 25, 2008
Last July we shot some cover images for Ashley’s forthcoming 2008 material. Ashley Bruce is a Reading based musician trying to carve out a career in the world of music. The photography was captured in Reading’s luxury Forbury Hotel. My favourite image from the shoot remains the picture above. The Forbury has some fabulous backdrops within it’s four walls; this image being taken under ‘natural light’ conditions only in the hotel’s private cinema. Best of luck Ash for this year, I hope it’s the year you finally get a deserved contract.
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A rainy wedding in Swindon town
By nealejames | December 29, 2007
For any couples with a slight concern over what the good ole British weather will do on their wedding day, take a leaf out of the Zachans’ book. Ashley and Clare were hosting their wedding day in Clare’s original town of residence, Swindon. The couple now live in New Zealand and were back to share part one of their wedding celebrations with British family. Friday December the 28th, 2007 in Wiltshire was not exactly the kindest day on the year’s weather diary. By 3pm, the time of the couple’s ceremony, the rain was appearing in sheets. But, and this is one stormlashed ‘but’… far from letting the rainfall dampen any spirits, Ashley and Clare embraced the storm as part of their wedding day. They informally gathered outside the reception venue with their wedding party to howl with laughter as the rain descended at right angles in the strong wind. It was one of those moments where everyone forgot about neatly pressed suits and beautifully presented wedding dresses, to just BE. The photographs that resulted show a couple totally at one with their day. A set of pictures that demonstrates spirit is what makes a day special and not tailoring. Congratulations guys; I only wish I could be with you for part 2 in NZ.
Topics: Blog journal, Wedding day tips, Wedding general | No Comments »
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