Archive for category Pre-Wedding
Ben & Barbara’s pre-wedding session in Southampton
Posted by Paul in For Website, Pre-Wedding on March 2nd, 2010
Is it just me, or do I appear to laugh for a living?
I don’t mean to sound criminally chirpy (believe me I’m really not – I do like to think I have a cool, dark and mysterious side though, admittedly, I could be well wide of the mark here) but there aren’t many things that make me happier than being out with a client and a camera. Being with my family is top of the list of course, just ahead of photography and closely followed by (in no particular order) Guinness; roast dinners; curry; snowboarding; skiing; loud music (Lady Gaga’s Fame Monster 2009 sounds pretty good at the moment with the volume pumped way too high); a hot beach (to be precise, a good book with a beer on a hot beach); Single Malt; mountain biking and maybe just a little traveling around the globe thrown in for good measure.
Actually, that now sounds like a very very corny CV. Still, it’s irrelevant as we’re working flat out at the moment and photography is pretty much the only thing I get to do. It’s a good job it’s high on the list then!
Ben and Barbara had the full force of me being chipper I’m afraid. I can’t help it. The weather for this, their pre-wedding shoot, was dire, but they’re very funny to be around so we just laughed a lot. And occasionally stopped to take a picture or two. Both Ben and Barbara (‘Bird’ to her friends – I had to refrain from using her nickname as if anyone overheard me pointing a camera and saying ‘that’s it Bird, you look perfect’…) are ultra-fit. I don’t mean kinda normal go-to-the-gym-once-a-week-and-play-squash-when-I-can-be-bothered sort of fit. I mean international yachtswoman (Barbara) and alpine mountain bike guide (Ben) fit. Which left me feeling embarrassingly out of shape. Still, I can take a good picture so, given both Ben and Bird are into their photography, maybe they forgave the eagerness with which I accepted a cup of tea after a couple of hours’ shooting!
It’s really nice when our clients are fun to be with like this. Makes the trip down to Southampton completely worthwhile. Even in the pouring rain.
Loved the shoot, love the images, can’t wait until the wedding!
Nancy, Phil & Oscar: Pre-Wedding session in Greenwich Park, London
Posted by Paul in For Website, Pre-Wedding on March 1st, 2010
I love working in London. I think I love it more now than when I used to travel into the city every day. And I loved it then.
There’s always a sense of style, of drama. A kind of feeling of history everywhere you look. And it’s utterly fantastic. The only other city I’ve loved working in as much is New York. Only for us, London is on our doorstep which makes things a little more accessible than The Big Apple!
It’s going to be great this season as as we have a number of clients in our famous capital city so I’m going nipping in and out a lot!
This particular shoot is with a couple whose wedding we’re going to be photographing at The Crazy Bear in Stadhampton. Now I’m always excited about our Crazy Bear weddings but with the added twist of working with a client in Greenwich, well, things couldn’t be better.
Greenwich park, like many of London’s vast green expanses, is simply fantastic to work in. Even with the world’s tourists – having seemingly broken into some kind of odd-ball clothing shop – amassing tera-pixel upon tera-pixel of self-portraits around you, the parks feel fresh and open – and quintessentially London. And with Canary Wharf and the Millenium Dome (or is that now the O2 Arena?) just in the distance you couldn’t feel closer to the vast metropolis.
I loved this shoot. Even in the pouring rain (have a look at some of the images!). It was a wonderful space to play. And, as is so often the case, the client – Nancy & Phil and their little boy, Oscar, were brilliant fun. A very very fine way to spend an afternoon in lovely company. Oh, and we captured some beautiful images too!
And, once we’d finished and packed the cameras away, we had the added benefit of nipping down the road to some of oldest (a.k.a. long-suffering) friends’ for bit of tea’n'cake. Had I not been driving, it would have been a beer. Or two. Still, pretty much a perfect end to a perfect day.
Amy & Jonny: Pre-Wedding shoot at Wendover Woods, Buckinghamshire
Posted by Paul in For Website, Lifestyle, Pre-Wedding on February 21st, 2010
OK, so you may have noticed our titles are quietly getting longer (and distinctly less ’snappy’) well, this is due to a push to help our rankings on web search engines. We recently won a couple more weddings at The Crazy Bear simply because the client searched for ‘Crazy Bear Photography’ and this blog came up on Google’s first page which is always good. We’re also recommended by them which is an additional help of course!
We don’t advertise anywhere (though look out for our new soon-to-be-branded Land Rover Defender!) so it’s always reassuring to hear that people are finding us online as well as through the many recommendations we get. And modifying our cryptic titles to be something a little more, well, useful is just another small step we’re taking!
Anyway, onto the subject of this particular blog: Amy & Jonny’s pre-wedding session at Wendover Woods. This Buckinghamshire setting (d’you see what I did there?!) is almost certainly our most-visited location along with Coombe Hill and our home village of Haddenham. I must make an effort to find something more industrial this year for our fashion clients but, well, if you have beautiful locations right on your doorstep then why not go with it?!
The weather wasn’t exactly easy to deal with – but it was suitably dramatic! Although the snow wasn’t sticking, it was coming down at quite a pace for a period!
Amy & Jonny are getting married at Nether Winchendon House later this year and we’re unbelievably excited about working with them both. So early this Saturday before the crowds arrived (actually, given the weather, I’m not sure there’d be much in the way of crowds except for dog-walkers, mountain-bikers and photographers but still) we found ourselves on the hillside of this amazing forest.
The session was brilliant fun (they brought their two very lively pet labradors with them!) and the photos are just what I’d hope for. Lots of character and a lot of fun. Can’t wait for the summer to photograph the whole family in such a wonderful setting as Nether Winchendon. Perfect.
Donna & Phil’s Pre-Wedding Session
Posted by Paul in For Website, Pre-Wedding on September 7th, 2009
OK OK, I admit it. We’ve already shot Donna & Phil’s wedding (it was last week and it was utterly gorgeous!) I’m trying to catch up on our blog backlog and their pre-wedding session was so lovely, it would be a shame not to give it a mention!
This was one of those pre-wedding sessions that we’ll remember I think – beautiful venue (Hunton Park in Hertfordshire), stunning weather, great company and a really very nice pub snack (at the Clarendon – a venue I can heartily recommend!) to break the session up nicely. I think my family may have thought I had managed to get lost on my way home given I was missing for the best part of 5 hours! Still, it was worth it as the pictures are beautiful and besides, Donna and Phil are really lovely to be around which made it a thoroughly enjoyable way to while away a sunny June Sunday!
Ah, I do so love my job. 
Neil & Nikki Pre-Wedding Session
Posted by Paul in For Website, Pre-Wedding on August 2nd, 2009
Ah, this was just magic. One couple very much in love, their wonderful character of a boy and some beautiful weather. Marlow is always a beautiful town but, when you’re having such a ball it seems somehow even nicer.
Neil, Nikki and Tom were fantastic to photograph – very easy going and very much a close family unit. Tom, in particular, loved being in front of the camera and the photos we have of him are just stunning. It’s going to be an absolute pleasure to photograph their wedding!
PS. I should just add that we had the pleasure of photographing Neil and Nikki’s wedding on Saturday (we’re a bit behind on our blogging – but I didn’t want to miss this one out) and it was every bit as gorgeous as we knew it would be!
Elizabeth and Dave bring some California sunshine to Haddenham
Posted by Paul in For Website, Lifestyle, Pre-Wedding on July 11th, 2009
Ah, so you may have noticed. The blog has been quiet recently. Sorry about that. Been busy having fun with a camera!
And the irony is that we have sooooo much to talk about it’s untrue! We have a load of sessions and a load of fantastic clients to show you.
And so we start with Elizabeth and Dave who, it should be noted, live in California. And have elected to get married later this year at Notley Abbey deep in the heart of ’sunny’ Britain.
Hmmm. Given the typical British weather, you do have to ask why would someone would trade Californian sunshine for Britains inclement lottery? Well, I can’t entirely answer that – except to say that getting married in Britain is magic (there’s something hugely romantic about it!) and Notley is a stunning venue. And, whatever the reason, I am hugely glad that they have chosen this as their location because I have the opportunity to work with a couple who are simply fantastic to be around.
It doesn’t help that Dave is the spitting image of Lee Mack, a very funny comedian/actor. I can’t help it. Every time I’ve met them we have sat and laughed. And this session was no different. We spent a very happy hour or two in glorious sunshine messing around and capturing images. Something that is not entirely straightforward when you have to stop every two minutes to wipe your eyes from laughing so much.
So a heady mix of hilarity and utter romance (I think you can see it in the images) and add to that the excitement of a wedding day and this is one amazing day that I think everyone is going to remember!
Absolutely loved this session. Can’t wait till September to photograph them both again – along with their Californian guests who I hope don’t arrive thinking the British weather is always like this. Though for Elizabeth and Dave? I think it’ll turn out suitably perfect!
Let us know what you think of the images
Cheers
P.
Catharine and Jon
Posted by Paul in For Website, Pre-Wedding on June 28th, 2009
Ah, for the eagle-eyed out there, you may have spotted that we photographed Catharine and Jon’s engagement party last year – and we’re thrilled to say that we’re going to be photographing their wedding later this year.
There’s something particularly magical about photographing a couple’s pre-wedding images partly because it’s such an honour to be involved in the build-up to the big day but also because I think there’s a real emotion to the images we capture. And this seems especially evident in the pictures we captured from this session!
I’m not sure why, but you can really feel the excitement and romance between them both. And how nice is that?
Just brilliant.
And if this is just the pre-wedding session, you can only imagine the images we’ll capture on their wedding day in September. And I, for one, can’t wait!
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.
Marc & Rebecca Pre-Wedding session in Regent’s Park
Posted by Paul in For Website, Pre-Wedding on April 30th, 2009
Oh wow, it feels like summer.
The daffodils are out (though I do have to admit to a secret and irrational dislike of them – something to do with them taking over your lawn every spring I suspect – and they’re not even particularly pretty. I am worryingly beginning to sound like an old git…), birds are singing, kids are guzzling ice cream like it’s gone out of fashion and the great British public has taken off a little too much clothing and is quietly going pink. Ah, the sound of sizzling and the smell of coconut oil.
And all of this in the middle of London.
I love shooting up in town; there is just something about it. The area around us here in rural Buckinghamshire is beautiful and tranquil and everything I’d ever want to live in but I still get a real buzz from being back in London, camera in hand.
This shoot was the pre-wedding session for Marc & Rebecca who we’re going to be working with in a few weeks’ time. And it was glorious. The weather was simply too good to be stuck in anywhere stuffy so we headed over to Regent’s Park. Bit weird, it has to be said, as it happened to be the G20 conference that week and it seemed like the park was the site of a Policeman’s Picnic. There were stab vests and blue lights everywhere (something to do with the American Ambassador’s place backing onto it) and it did feel a little weird being watched given I was clearly holding the terrorist’s weapon of choice – a camera. Sigh.
Still, this was an absolutely beautiful shoot! Marc and Rebecca were (are) great company and clearly very much in love. Ahhh. A great set of photos and the exciting prospect of shooting them again at their wedding back in London! Can’t wait.
Let us know what you think.
Cheers
P.
Bob & Rachel Pre-Wedding Photography in Haddenham
Posted by Paul in For Website, Lifestyle, Pre-Wedding on April 25th, 2009
We’re now into the full swing of our summer season – you can always tell it’s busy because the blog goes quiet for a week and then there’s a whole string of entries thick and fast. I’ve just finished another shoot today, which is now quietly being backed up to DVD, so I thought I’d sit down and get things a bit more up to date!
Bob & Rachel’s wedding is going to be this village’s event of the year. Can’t wait. The pre-wedding shoot was fantastic! I’m hoping the year carries on like this ’cause we’re having an absolute ball. And that’s pretty much critical for the type of photography we do. You gotta enjoy it. That way our clients enjoy it and, hey, you get beautiful pictures of people looking natural and comfortable.
Bob & Rachel (and Alex who came along for the shoot and turned out to be pretty handy with a reflector!) were fantastic to work with and I think we have some gorgeous images! I know we’re in a recession (the press do keep reminding us!) but with sessions like this one, it’s looking like 2009 is going to be an absolutely classic year for us.
Let us know what you think.
Cheers.
P.
Claire & Nick Pre Wedding Shoot
Posted by Sarah in For Website, Pre-Wedding on March 11th, 2009
We met Claire when we photographed Rosie and Adey’s wedding in August 2007. Claire was one of the ushers and one of the prettiest ushers we have ever photographed! We were thrilled to bits when Claire contacted us last year to say that she was getting married to Nick and would like us to be her photographer. We have been looking forward to their pre wedding shoot and seeing Claire and Nick again.
One of my roles in the business is the difficult task of selecting images from a shoot, which we will show to our customers. We aim to reveal about 100 to 150 shots from a session and add 10-15 to the blog. I spend a considerably amount of time ensuring the selection reflects different emotions, a good mix of everyone at the shoot, a variety of locations and some strong iconic images for our customers to deliberate over! The advantage of me selecting the images as opposed to Paul, is that I look at the images with fresh eyes and I am also separated from what actually happened on the shoot. Coming from a marketing background, I am used to choosing images I like which fit with the overall positioning of a company and at Paul Wilkinson Photography this is no exception. Except a lot more fun and I love the images!
Claire and Nick’s pre wedding shoot presented me with a really lovely set of photographs. The light was beautiful and photographing in Haddenham offers such a variety of interesting backgrounds; witchert walls, old wooden doors, windy footpaths and old fashioned streets. As with most couples, I think Claire and Nick were a little apprehensive before the shoot but Paul has a very relaxed style and I couldn’t pick up on any nerves in the shots. I really like the first shot as Claire’s face is highlighted by the sunlight and the look in her eyes is so engaging. But my favourite from the whole shoot was shot 4 where the location, light and closeness of Claire and Nick presents both a touching and striking image. A very lovely set of shots.
Paul really enjoyed the shoot and we are looking forward to the big day later in the year.
Let us know what you think.
Sarah
Debbie & Kit Pre-Wedding Session
Posted by Paul in For Website, Pre-Wedding on February 26th, 2009
Now I’m excited.
I’ve known Debbie for a few years now, having first photographed her for the CD Cover of the band she fronted – Tamarind Sun – so I was somewhat thrilled when she rang to ask if we’d consider photographing her & Kit’s wedding. Fantastic!
The weather on the day of the pre-wedding session could not have been more ideal (especially given it’s so early in the year) as it was beautifully sunny and warm. Well, it wasn’t frosty anyway. Maybe ‘warm’ is over-egging things a tad but you get my point.
So with the brief ‘we quite like black & white’ (something I always like to hear from a client as, frankly, so do I) we wandered off into the rural film set that is Haddenham. And just look at the shots! Admittedly, tinted images are not, technically, black & white but these images seemed to lend themselves to that beautiful feel you get from toned monochromes. Just gorgeous.
I think the two things that leap out at you when you see these images are the fact that we were having a really good time (we laughed a lot!) and that Debbie and Kit are really really lovely together.
Now I just can’t wait to photograph their big day. It’s going to be a ball!
Let us know what you think.
Cheers
P.
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