Yay, it's wedding season!
I've got a few wedding fayres coming up this year and excited to meet lots of brides & grooms-to-be. I really enjoy meeting couples in person and just chatting away and getting to know each other. It's a great way of meeting suppliers face-to-face, ask lots of questions and get a feel for the service and style they offer, especially us photographers! I feel wedding photography is one of those things where it's so personal, we're there on the most precious day of your life celebrating and documenting it all, from the laughter and tears, it's a pretty intimate affair; so it only makes sense to meet in person too.
Wherever you are on your wedding planning journey, at the very early stages and you're browsing for ideas or ready to book your favourite suppliers to help make your day feel that extra bit special, wedding fayres are a great place to start! I love chatting with couples and getting to hear their engagement stories and how they first met. It's a great opportunity to see if I'd be a perfect fit as there are so many different photographers with varying styles, personalities, packages and experience; it's a big decision to make and can be daunting when there are lots of choices.
I'm delighted to be working with PMN Wedding Fayres again this year who select great local suppliers to exhibit on the day so you're assured there will be high-quality businesses offering their services. Also, another good reason to attend is there is no obligation to book, you can simply browse and feel inspired by different wedding ideas, soak up all the knowledge from professional wedding vendors to help plan your day.
I'm excited to be exhibiting at these local wedding fayres this year:
Sunday 10 June 2018
Queen's Hotel, Portsmouth - 11am-3pm
*NEW DATE ADDED!*
Sunday 24 June 2018
New Place, Shirrell Heath, Southampton - 11am-3pm
Queen's Hotel, Portsmouth - 11am-3pm
*NEW DATE ADDED!*
Sunday 24 June 2018
New Place, Shirrell Heath, Southampton - 11am-3pm
I'll be exhibiting my brand new wedding albums and there will also be an exclusive wedding fayre offer, only available when you inquire at the fayre. :D
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| Eeek my new wedding leaflets featuring Jess & Will's (photographed on their gorgeous wedding day earlier this year), has arrived just in time for tomorrow's wedding fayre! |
I'm very excited! Looking forward to seeing you there!
Excited to be featured in the 2018 issue of Dorset, Wiltshire & Hampshire Bride Magazine, a regional bridal magazine celebrating all the gorgeous weddings in the area.
It's amazing to see a selection of my photographs printed in this magazine which I've been following for a couple of years now so it's a fantastic feeling to see my work published. What a cool way to start the New Year! My first wedding feature published in a magazine. I certainly couldn't have done it without an awesome wedding and couple and really loved every minute of Shelley & Ross' Rhinefield House wedding last May which has a double page feature and some fabulous details written by the couple on their big day. Looking forward to blogging about their wedding soon, there are so many cool moments from their hot summer's day. They're super friendly and fun with so much laughter throughout the day, loved documenting their wedding!
This issue is on sale throughout 2018 (yes for a whole 12 months! :D) in all major newsagents e.g. W H Smiths in Dorset, Wilshire and Hampshire and regional wedding fairs, e.g. PMN Wedding Fayres so go on... fancy getting a copy (they also often hand this magazine out for free at wedding fairs).
I also have beautiful moment from Georgie & Ali's stunning wedding last August (below) for the 'Happiness' photos feature. I love the raw emotion with the groom in tears and the bride in giggles just before exchanging their vows. Love capturing little moments like this, they're such a happy, down-to-earth, kind-hearted couple, looking forward to sharing a blog post about their day too!
Additionally, I've shared a few tips in the 'A-Z of Photography' feature for 'E for Engagement Sessions' and 'U for Unplugged Weddings'. I love photographing couple Engagement shoots, it's such a great way of getting to know each other. For unplugged ceremonies, it's lovely for the guests to sit back and enjoy the ceremony without screens blocking their faces and experience the occasion in the moment and let the professional photographer capture those raw moments for you.
There are also lots of great tips from fabulous photographers and editors, definitely recommend a read for some ideas on planning a wedding. There are lots to think about, so a handy little alphabet guide. :)
Lastly, happy to share my first printed advert and decided to choose one of my favourite photos I've taken which happen to be one of the first weddings I was commissioned to shoot at the Square Tower, Portsmouth from Alice & Rory's gorgeous alternative seaside wedding. They're such a fun, cool couple, I feel they epitomise the romance, joy and personality of making a wedding your own which is what they did! Love this epic kiss!
Yay for print! I always find wedding photos look awesome in print.
P.S If you're looking for a wedding photographer, I am currently booking 2018-2019 dates so please inquire to see if I'm available on your date.
It’s been a rollercoaster year and certainly been an exciting 12 months! One of the major things that has happened this year has been taking the plunge into going full-time with my photography business. It’s been one of the most nerve-wracking decisions to have made but couldn’t have done it without the support and love from my partner, friends, family and of course all the wonderful clients I’ve had the pleasure of working with this year. Wow what a year it’s been! Not only to mention being full-time freelance but to have been crowned Young Freelancer of the Year 2017 by IPSE (The Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed) at the glittering awards ceremony on National Freelancers Day in June. A huge thank you to everyone for making 2017 an epic one!
With over 100,000 images taken...
Having looked over this past year 2017 has been a year full of ‘taking the plunge’ so I thought I’d dedicate this blog post to just that. It’s crazy to see how far I’ve come just 2 years ago from starting my business. A few personal highlights of mine have been:
- January - Photographed my first ice-cream gelato commercial shoot and discovering the art of food photography.
- February - First engagement session of the year in the unique setting of The Spinnaker Tower - my highest engagement shoot to date at 110m high!
- March - kicked off the wedding season with my first wedding in East Sussex for a Back to the Future themed wedding at Buxted Park Hotel. Also introduced my new range of bespoke luxury wedding albums which was super exciting!
- April - Took the plunge into exhibiting at my first English wedding fair at Houghton Lodge Gardens showcasing my work and selling to clients in person for the first time. Also first time photographing an Engagement Session in a rapeseed field which I’ve always wanted to do - love that vibrant yellow!
- May - My first New Forest wedding at The Bell Inn and what an fabulous day it was! One of my favourite confetti shots of the year photographed here. Also this month, first time photographing a family/engagement shoot which was fun, love to do more family shoots in the 2018.
- June - Being awarded UK IPSE Freelancer of the Year Aspire 2017 which was an extraordinary feeling and encouraged me to think bigger and take the plunge…
- July - TAKING THE PLUNGE! In the height of wedding season, I decided to go full-time with my business and leave full-time work with the opera company as a graphic designer behind. It was a tough transition and keeping up with the workload but the best decision to make to fully commit to all the weddings and fabulous clients. The start of a new chapter!
- August - Visited Lake Como, Italy and my gosh was it beautiful!! Would love to shoot a wedding/ elopement there!
- September - My first magazine feature in Some Such Magazine. Amazing to see my photos published. Also found out I was shortlisted as a semi-finalist for the Hampshire Venus Women Awards.
- October - Photographed more weddings in Somerset & Dorset than Hampshire this month and getting to travel to new and breathtaking places such as Brympton House is magical.
- November - First time winning a photo competition with a nature/landscape photo. Documented my first Hindu ceremony in Southampton. It was also the first time giving a talk about entrepreneurship & freelancing in London. Also my first time delivering albums to a client’s home and seeing their reaction opening their wedding album. It was wonderful!
- December - My first wedding magazine feature in Dorset, Wiltshire & Hampshire Bride magazine… (I’ll be sharing a blog post on this soon! ... ooh here it is!)
- PLUS... I've just found out that I've been shortlisted for the UK Wedding Awards for Best Wedding Photographer!! ARGHGHGH, the notification came over Christmas so it's a lovely New Year surprise to be shortlisted amongst some amazing photographers across the country. I'd never thought I'd be shortlisted for this in such a tough category but it's a wonderful feeling to be recognised by industry judges. It would be fantastic to have your vote please and help me along on this journey. You can cast it here:
This has also been my first full wedding season and I'm so thankful to my amazing clients and wonderful and unique people I've had the pleasure of getting to know this past year. I can't wait for more exciting things to come in 2018!
P.S I still have availability for 2018 weddings so do get in touch if you're looking to book your wedding day. :)
Happy New Year folks!
Thank you!!
