I’m a real stickler when it comes to first viewings as I really strongly believe that it should be the bride and groom that get to enjoy their images before anyone else sees them.  And I’m taking in private – not in some jazzy studio environment – but snuggled up together on their own comfy sofa often in a road weary state after just having walked through the door on their return from honeymoon.  I always make sure there’s a lovely package of a DVD slideshow of highlights set to music waiting for my clients on their door mat as they arrive home as I think it’s such a perfect thing to counter that post wedding / honeymoon back to earth with a big bump feeling.  For this reason I never publish any sneak previews either- whether as an on the day slideshow or on Facebook or on the blog.  I want the experience to be just about the two of them reliving their gorgeous wedding day.

It’s one of the best things to receive texts from clients who have just seen their DVD slideshow – here are two of my most recent..

“We are back from honeymoon!  Back to reality.  Saw your DVD this morning it is gorgeous, made me feel all tearful, it was such a good day and you have captured it perfectly!  Thank you!”

“We have just watched the slideshow and it was absolutely wonderful.  I was in tears as soon as the music started and loved loved loved reliving our day.  Thank you so very much x”

To get a feel for what the DVD experience is like it’s worth having a look at my showreels page…

I’m still bringing in weddings from last year onto the blog which although is a bit naughty on my part for being so behind it at least means I get to gaze longingly at hot days and blue skies.  Laura & Oli was one said tropical day.  Their wedding venue setting at Hey Green near Marsden was perfect for such a day with hot spots for the sun worshipers along with shaded areas of trees and a beautiful lakeside area.  The day was lots of fun and featured a very popular sweets table and some great speeches to round things off.  Here’s hoping for some more gorgeous blue skies this year!

I’ve worked closely with Joanna from Twisted Willow Floristry for some years now on shared weddings and her work never fails to amaze me.  Clients are always delighted and she seems to have that knack of really listening to a brief and creating something that exceeds expectations.  So I was delighted when Joanna asked me to come along to The Wedding Affair’s ‘Wedding for all seasons’ show at Newburgh Priory in North Yorkshire to document her work.  Rather than have the usual exhibition stands four florists were selected to each represent a season in what was termed ‘The Design Quarter’.  Joanna was representing Autumn and I’ll just let her work do the talking…

Just wanted to share some recent images of Holly having a fun time in the garden with her Granny & Grumpy…  It’s so lovely to see her pottering about now she’s on the move.  Collecting the eggs is one of her favourite jobs.  Watch out for a guest appearance by Alfie the whippet x

I spent a fantastic day at a very sunny Harewood House on Sunday exhibiting at the Harewood Wedding Showcase.  The Spring sunshine brought lots of visitors keen to view the venue in all its glory and it was fantastic to speak to lots of brides and grooms to be about their exciting plans.  It was lovely to catch up with some favourite suppliers as well as meet some new faces.  Leafy Couture dressed the ceremony and reception room beautifully with their fantastic flowers and there was some jaw dropping staging by Grace and Tailor with chair decor by Ambiance Venue Styling.  Bettys were also exhibiting and as you can imagine their wedding cake range was to die for.  They also had the most gorgeous ideas for favours.  A huge thank you to the Harewood team for making it such a fun and inspiring day.  Here a few portfolio images taken for the venue that show off everyone’s hard work and amazing skills.

There are some weddings when the fun and laughter just doesn’t stop and Peter & Neepa’s out day at Ripley Castle near Harrogate was no exception.  Their ceremony was full of giggles and the chilled out vibe they’d worked hard to create  was felt right into the late night party.  Neepa’s dress was just beautiful.  The stunning cupcakes were provided by Homebaked Heaven and I think it has to be one of my all time favourite cake cutting images.  They also win the prize for most individual and cheeky thank you card image – you’ll know it when you get to it !!  xx

A quick date for your diary – I’ll be exhibiting at The Harewood Wedding Showcase Sunday 11th March 11-4pm.  It’ll be a fantastic opportunity to see one of Yorkshire’s finest wedding venues decked out it all it’s glory.  There will be an exclusive bunch of suppliers too including Leafy Couture florists, Grace & Tailor event stylists and Ambiance room dressing.  Do come and say hi and enjoy a glass of fizz and canapes.

THE HAREWOOD WEDDING SHOWCASE

One of my favourite January jobs is looking back on the previous year and pulling together a showreel of wedding images.  It’s always a mammoth task as it inevitably finds me reminiscing through hundreds of images just to pick out that handful of key moments.  I hope you enjoy the slideshow – it’s got a bit of a folky vibe this year as inspired by one of my couple’s music choices for their DVD movie.

2011 SHOWREEL

I’m really looking forward to the coming year with lots of gorgeous weddings booked in the diary.  I’ll be shooting at some regular haunts across Yorkshire including Allerton Castle, Hazlewood Castle, Harewood House, Ripley Castle and Oulton Hall and am looking forward to photographing some new venues alongside some fab marquee weddings.  Here’s to a fantastic 2012  xx

I’m really not sure where a year has gone to but on Saturday it was our little girl’s first birthday!  To help mark the occasion we held a chilled out afternoon tea party for family and friends at home.  Holly had a fab time and loved hanging out with her little friends.  I didn’t take as many photographs as I’d have liked as I was busy in hostess mode but here are some absolute favourites of my little baby girl and one special one with her Grandma (thanks to said Grandma for capturing the candle blowing out moment).

I must say a huge thank you to the very talented Sarah from The Sugar Monkey Cake Company from York who created Holly’s amazing cake.  One of Holly’s first words was “woof” well actually “oof” and so it seemed fitting to go for a dog theme – she “oofed” away at the cake all afternoon and still does everytime she sees the cake board which now just holds an icing tail in the kitchen!

A lovely part of my work is staying in touch with wedding clients and then helping them to record the next big event of their lives – the arrival of a baby.  I photographed Catherine & Mark’s lovely wedding in 2009 which was held at Rudding Park near Harrogate.  Catherine and I were pregnant at the same time and in fact we have a couple of similarities – the first obvious one is that we both called our little girls Holly – and the second is that the girls were born within a day of each other!  Catherine & Mark decided to have a relaxed photography session at their home and here are a handful of my favourites.