Archive for May, 2009
Rachel and Philip’s Wedding at Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons
Posted by Paul in For Website, Weddings on May 29th, 2009
You know sometimes when you have to pinch yourself? Just a little pinch. Just to remind you that this is actually work? Well, this was one of those days.
I’m stood in the familiar surroundings of Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons, camera in hand. And I have the nicest group of people to photograph. Oh, and the sun is shining – at least momentarily.
This was Rachel and Philip’s gorgeous and intimate wedding at Raymond Blanc’s famous venue. And it was everything you could wish to photograph in a wedding. Except for a little rain. Actually, quite a lot of rain, but it didn’t seem to matter too much. Besides, pictures of kids with umbrellas always look fantastic!
Rachel was particularly insistent that we captured a lot of images of the younger members of the wedding party and that the images overall were relaxed and informal. Given our approach, I suspect that’s exactly why she chose us to take the photos in the first place!
I reckon I have fulfilled the brief and I had a fantastic time doing it – and I suspect that Rachel, Philip and all of their guests did too judging by what I saw unfold in front of my camera. We have loads of images of the kids running around (with and without umbrellas!), a chilled groom, a stunning bride and a newly-married couple looking, well, like they’re unbelievably in love!
Is there more you can ask from a wedding day? If there is, I am not sure I know what it would be! Except, just maybe, a little less rain. But hey, that’s just nitpicking.
Let us know what you think of the images.
Cheers
P.
Waddesdon School Prom at Bicester Golf Club
Posted by Paul in Events, For Website on May 19th, 2009
It is true, you do need a lot of energy for this job. Particularly when you photograph a school prom.
This was the leaving prom for Waddesdon School which was held at the Bicester Gold Club. And it was awesome.
I’m always blown away by the job that the organising committees do in putting these things together – even ignoring the fact that the committee is formed entirely from the guys themselves which means that not only have they had to deal with the pressure of A-Levels and interviewing for universities – which would clearly be enough for most of us – they’ve also taken on the process of creating, planning and delivering a ball for 150 or so eager guests. Awesome. Seriously, this was a brilliant evening and that’s all credit to the guys that pieced it together.
We’re very lucky in that when we’re asked to cover something like a ball (which is not something we specialise in) we’re usually left to do it in our own inimitable fashion. Which is to say, VERY chilled. Actually, I wouldn’t take a ball on if that weren’t the case – the idea of static lifeless photos would drive me nuts. I know, I know, we do still have a huge white background but that’s just to give us a well-lit predictable area in which to mess around. And mess around we do!
The photos from this ball are fantastic. At least, I think that the photos from this ball are fantastic. The guys at Waddesdon were are really nice crowd – excited (who wouldn’t be?! It’s the end of school for good!), enthusiastic (possibly a little overly so in the case of one guy in particular – Sarah couldn’t stop laughing as she filtered the images out as he kept appearing. And reappearing. And then appearing once again. And once more for luck) and hugely amiable which actually makes the job of getting cool images really easy.
Nice way to spend an evening 
Let us know what you think!
Cheers
P.
Presentation to Princes Risborough Photographic Society
Posted by Paul in For Website, News on May 19th, 2009
Last night I had the greatest pleasure of presenting some of our work to the Princes Risborough Photographic Society.
We’ve been asked to do quite a few talks and presentations this year and I have to admit I love doing them! Can’t help myself: a room full of interested or, at least, captive photographers is always going to bring out the worst in me!
So, I talked through everything we do, showed some slideshows, described what we do, tried to antagonise traditionalists and generally laughed my way through two hours of experiences and anecdotes.
These things are always just a little daunting as the collective knowledge in any good photographic society (and these guys are good – they’ve just won the Chiltern Camera Clubs print competition and having seen their prints I can absolutely see why!) dwarfs what any one person can know but, I am happy to say, they were pretty gentle with me (even the Canon users) and I think – or at least hope – everyone enjoyed it!
So a HUGE thank you to everyone who came to hear my idle musings – I had an absolute ball and loved every minute of it and I really hope it was at least a little useful
I am now thoroughly looking forward to the next presentation for the Metropolitan Police Photographic Society!
Cheers
P.
Jane, Michael, Katie and Sophie in the Bluebells at Christmas Common
Posted by Paul in For Website, Lifestyle on May 16th, 2009
Well, it’s Saturday morning as I’m sitting writing this and we’re (gradually) catching up with ourselves on the blog front (it was the Waddesdon school prom last night and, having got back home in the small hours after shooting several thousand photos I do admit to typing this at a considerably slower rate than normal!)
Anyway, this shoot was a gorgeous session we had a couple of weeks ago over in the Bluebells at Christmas Common.
It’s always an ‘interesting’ place to shoot up there because it’s invariably crowded – particularly when it looks as pretty as it does at this time of year. But, with a little bit of scouting around, I managed to find a spot that had beautiful light and was really quiet.
Jane, Michael, Katie and Shophie were absolutely lovely to work with and I think, in particular, you can see the spirit of the two girls in the images. One of the reasons I love this job so much is that I get to meet so many different characters and personalities and I can happily report that, after a brief (and I do mean brief) moment of uncertainty, Katie and Sophie got right into it and probably suggested more images to take than I did! Fantastic! I really love it when that happens because it shows that no-one felt uncomfortable or under pressure in front of the camera. Just a lovely afternoon, great company, stunning light and a bag-load of beautiful images.
Life is good. Busy. But good!
Cheers
P.
Helen, Alf, David, Joe and Naomi
Posted by Paul in For Website, Lifestyle on May 15th, 2009
Why is it that I always seem to be writing our blog at some ridiculous hour in the morning? The Mac clock is reliably informing me that it’s nearly ridiculous-o’clock and I really should be asleep. However, it’s been another full-on week and tomorrow we’re photographing the Waddesden ball so I just know I won’t get a chance to sit down and do an entry.
This shoot was an absolute ball. Helen contacted us a while back to arrange the session with her brothers and sisters. And then rearranged it rapidly when one of them (no names, no pack-drill) double booked and went off to some far-off climb. A holiday in Rome I believe. Some people have no sense of priority. 
So it was with some degree of anticipation that we eventually did this session – you know what it’s like: the weather was stunning, the location is the ever beautiful Haddenham, and all five of the guys were great company and easy to photograph. It was all well worth the wait! And so, as usual, I’m a very happy bunny. Ah, how the summer will simply sail on past!
I love these pictures. You really don’t need very much to create images like this – a good eye for light I suppose (particularly when the conditions are as bright this) and, crucially, a relaxed client. It seems, on this occasion, we had both. I know I’ve gone for black and white images here but I’m still having an ongoing love affair with monochrome. Even though the colours on this particular day were stunning, there is something about the simplicity of these black and whites that works so well!
Let us know what you think!
Cheers
P.
Claire & Iain’s Pre-Wedding Session in Wendover
Posted by Paul in For Website, Pre-Wedding on May 8th, 2009
Or should I say, Claire, Iain, Joe, Saskia, Imogen and Heather’s session in Wendover?
I think you can see from the photos here that, well, we had a reasonably good time. Possibly. Just a little. Laugh? No. Not really. Oh go on then, I admit it. We laughed. A lot. Actually, I don’t think we did anything other than laugh.
Not a bad day at the office then!
I loved this shoot: lovely family, beautiful location, stunning weather. Best job in the world. And we have soooo many images to choose from it’s unreal.
We’re well and truly into our wedding season for this year and we’re having an absolute ball – but I can’t help but think that Claire and Iain’s will be one that might well be a highlight of the year!
I’ll keep you posted.
Let us know what you think.
Cheers
P.
Sir Roger Bannister for Oxfordshire Life Magazine
Posted by Paul in For Website on May 7th, 2009
An absolute legend!
There is simply no other way of describing Sir Roger Bannister of the 4-minute-mile fame.
We were asked to capture some natural portraits of Sir Roger to support an interview that had been done for The Oxfordshire Life magazine, so we popped around to his house in Oxford and spent a very happy half an hour in the presence of one of the most inspiring characters ever to walk this earth.
Even at 79 years of age, Sir Roger was everything you’d expect from someone who once obliterated the greatest athletic barrier of all time – which is to say hugely modest! A lovely guy who would, on the whole prefer to be known for his work in medicine.
And for the first time in my life, I was truly nervous about photographing someone. I don’t think it shows in the images though!
Let us know what you think.
Cheers
P.
PS. Shameless plug – the magazine is on sale now
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