Weddings at Silchester House
Wedding food photography
Saturday, October 17th, 2009It’s not possible at every venue I visit and Chef decrees the verdict as to whether my macros can come anywhere near his or her souffle. That said, if I have the right access and when working with a documentary album in mind, part of that wedding photography work may be something akin to a cookbook. Now as most of my friends and certainly my wife will testify, I ain’t no Jamie Oliver! So my inspiration for food photography shots comes not from my knowledge of how a dish comes together, but how I can make it glisten on a window ledge, or perhaps more importantly how I can shoot it within 20 seconds before the commi whips it away for the top table. Like most things in a wedding photographer’s day, there’s a limit to how long you have to capture. This is certainly not the life for a commercial photographer! Every year I maintain that a wedding photographer’s work should mature and develop. I’m trying to think back to how this has happened in my own portfolio. My memory being consistent with that of a 40 something year old, I can think back 24 months! Two years ago I was shooting brides under street lamps after tiring with the stark napalmed look of flash – Nikon became Canon in my kit bag. Last year it was fast lenses and close up portraiture. This year has definately been the year of documentary and food. Next year? I may even learn to cook.
Dishes prepared by chefs at Cain Manor, Notley Abbey and Silchester House, venues within the Bijou Wedding Venues group.
Where are they now? Freddie and Steve at Silchester House
Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009It’s been two years since their Silchester House wedding and thanks for your note guys to let me know how things have been coming along since then. For private reasons to the couple, this wedding was a wonderfully emotional experience; I remember there being a lump in my throat for much of the speeches. ‘Nuff said’ on that note, the couple have some amazing travel plans afoot for the next year; trips to Australasia and the Americas to name just two continents. It’s been a commercial journey in the last year too, as Steve has launched his own business in the online search engine optimisation field, that dark art where we all battle to become Google’s favourite friend!
Where are they now? Emmie and Alex, Silchester House
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009I shoot a reasonable amount of weddings each year for professionals in the creative field, so being requested by a fellow wedding photographer to shoot her Silchester House wedding was flattering indeed. In Emmie’s words; “Our wedding day was the best day of our lives (we’re supposed to say that aren’t we?!) It was such a good day though and we enjoy looking back and remembering it all 16 months later. Alex is still counting bricks for a living (quantity surveying) although of late has been trying his hand (or should I say fists) at boxing and winning! I am still in photography and education. We still live in Tilehurst in our lovely little house with Mr Jinks the cat. No kids yet, we are far too busy enjoying ourselves!” So a few shots from their Silchester wedding that I enjoy, and my thanks to you both for keeping in touch. Don’t let that guard down Alex, jab jab and then… oh, you know.
Where are they now? Sian, Matthew (and Jack!)
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009About a year after our own wedding, we covered Sian and Matthew’s day, also at Silchester House near Reading. I’ve really enjoyed catching up with the lives of those couples we photographed on their own wedding day. I’ve been sending out mails gradually and have a stack of stories to tell. So to continue the ‘Where are they now’ feature, in their own words (well, Sian’s…) “Since 6th Oct 07, what’s happened? We went on our six week honeymoon to Oz; fantastic. We’re living in the same house with an extension on the way. The most exciting development has been the birth of our baby boy Jack Christopher Hart, born 9th May this year weighing in at 8lbs 13. He’s now ten weeks old and a gorgeous boy, who likes to smile and talk. (Sian it gets even more amazing. Our 15 month old has just brought me a frozen pea that Mummy dropped on the floor. To him, it’s the most amazing thing in the World. His delight at sharing this tiny object with me just makes my heart dance!) We’re loving being parents; the best thing we have ever done. Coincidence that your little boy is also called Jack, it’s such a cool name. (I agree Sian!) Our wedding pictures are our pride and joy – the photos were so lovely and really helped us to capture our memories. I can’t believe it was nearly two years ago – time flies!! We both turned thirty this year and we are having a fancy dress party dressed as rock and pop stars. The band Target will be there, they played at our wedding. Very excited about reliving that part of the wedding again.” Matt, where’s the invite? Have a great time, your wedding was a brilliant party from start to finish. Loved the old bus too. Made for some bus-tastic photos. Didn’t want to use the fab word again… my English teacher would roll his eyes and that weird tobacco he kept, and then smoke it in a Shakespearean tragedy. He was strange like that.
Silchester House wedding photography
Saturday, May 2nd, 2009Just in the final stages of presenting an album design to Chris and Natalie from a wedding shot a couple of months ago at Silchester House, Berkshire. Thought I’d take a moment to share some of my favourite black and whites from the day. It was a privilege being there for you both!
So good to be back in the ‘office’
Monday, February 16th, 2009
January and February are usually quiet months in my diary and a time devoted to marketing, sample album design and the odd private client shoot or three. There’s been a touch of fashion and even some time in front of food with a macro lens. Having said that, the last three Saturdays have seen a return to weddings ahead of what will be our busiest year in the nuptials industry since launching this side of the business. So, congrats to Valentine couple; the new Mr. and Mrs. Sharp (above), married at St. Mary’s Silchester. It’s always intensely satisfying and flattering to be selected to photograph a wedding for a couple who on any other weekday would be artistically directing high fashion or commerce shoots for a range of worldwide advertising clients. Well done Mr. and Mrs. Scales (below left). Here’s an image from Brentwood Cathedral from their day. There was a reflective moment before we all boarded coaches bound for the reception venue. One well lit cathedral, a pool of light striking the bride, a groom, a symbol of the church, and hey presto. Finally, congratulations also to Mr. and Mrs. Barker, married at Silchester House last Saturday 7th February (below right). Silchester holds fond memories for me, as it was the venue for my own wedding reception only two and a bit years ago. The second image of Silchester in the snow is courtesy of assistant photographer Adam on the day.
Silchester with The Slatterys
Saturday, May 5th, 2007[photopress:Wedding_pose_hips.jpg,full,alignleft]Boy does it feel good to return to the venue that hosted our own wedding reception; Silchester House in Berkshire. It always feels like we’re returning home and that’s a special emotion. So it was a real pleasure to follow Jennifer Newport and Martin Slattery through their day, from St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Saturday morning, to the reception at S.H. There is a particular location within the house I absolutely love, for the following reason. I was mentored at the start of the year by a highly acclaimed Australian wedding photographer who encouraged a room full of enthusiastic professionals to start seeing light differently at venues, to put down their flash units and use ‘The Force.’ If Obi-Wan had been a photographer I imagine this is exactly how he would have worked. Downlighters are fabulous sources of light. Many are really quite powerful and in all respects, become mini flood lights. Forgive me for the technical shooting data, but since this appears within the ‘techniques’ category too, indulge me please. 800 ISO, just under the threshold where Nikon gets a little noisy, a shutter speed higher than the focal length of the lens and a nice sexy hip and stretch pose; this is the result. This also appears in the ‘Wedding day tips’ cat, only because as a couple, sometimes as you look round your venue, you’ll no doubt spot fresh photographic opportunities. I don’t expect couples to look with a photographer’s eye; after all, that’s why they are employing us. But I’m never offended if you see a prop or a light that you think could add a fabulous page to your album. Congratulations to two very special people, it was an honour to spend the day with you.
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