Holiday
Back from the edge AKA Majorca (or that Mallorca).  Anyone planning on holiday'ing in the Euro-Zone beware its bloody expensive.  I've never felt so ripped off than this year.  High prices, crap service and questionable product.  We visited one place that sold Magners for 5.90Euro.  That's not hotel prices...that's just a run of the mill bar/pub in a Spanish resort.  Laughable really...saying all that we did have a great time. 

I'm sure some of my photographer friends are saying "what? Holiday...in June?".  I know...it seems odd that a full time mostly wedding photographer would book a holiday at the end of June.  Last year I had to because the entire family went away for my Mother-in-Law's 60th.  I wouldn't have chose to go in the first week of July.  But when I came back I was really rather refreshed.  I saw enough benefit to do it again this year and I'm glad I did. 

As for holiday photos...I'm perhaps the WORST holiday snapper ever.  I mean...I love what I took but you could be anywhere.  So let's just pretend the photos of the kids below were taken before holiday and no one will be any the wiser!

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Our bedroom had some amazing light...sadly I didn't have quite the right focal length lens...so cropping was a major part of the photo

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Blowin' bubbles...or rather, laughing after blowing bubbles

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Holly is SO expressive these days.  All you have to do is walk into the room and her little face lights up

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chillin' with Grandad

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This is my boy...in fact, as I type this he at his 4th swimming lesson...he still a little timid around the water as proved above! (not)

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Wiggle your woggle

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yes...I know I cut off her hands and that his arm is gone...She's got a bit of dribble and he still has a milk moustache.  As mentioned I had the wrong focal length lens for this but you know what. 
Sod your rules because his mother, grandmother, aunties etc won't give a damn!

Clandon Park Wedding Photography - Lucille and Richard
It's been a few months since I was last at Clandon Park.  Back then I was wearing multiple layers and getting frostbite waiting for guests to arrive.  Yesterday was a bit different.  Hot, sweaty and in need of a drink.  No, I'm not describing the Best Man shortly before his speech but yet yours truly.  A few margaritas later and I reckon my photography went to the next level...floor level that is.  OK, I'm lying, but it was great to be in the warm summer breeze without the sun completely tossing every shot.  A bright overcast day and I'm loving life.  I started with Richard and the boys at the pub and theme of drinking seemed to carry throughout the day.

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How can we dance when our earth is turning?

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RamboCam

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You're probably thinking that Mr Collina is the groom....but you'd be....

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WRONG!  Because I only shoot Grooms in the loo!

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Home Sweet Loo!

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Guests in waiting

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Taking the expression 'foot in the door' a little too literally


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Gorgeous Bride .. and if you closely balding photographer!

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Lucille and her Dad took the slowest walk down an aisle in wedding history.  I wish more did the same.

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Clandon Park's amazing Tapestry Room

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Apart from being one of the best ceremony rooms in Wedding-dom, its also one that affords me the opportunity to get the first kiss...which is something that often you can't get (fact)

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Richard gets a little too excited over his ring...

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...and the best man shows his displeasure accordingly (not really, but its amazing the bull I can spin with still images eh?)

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Uh-maise-eng

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This is from my "guests shots that could get you killed" range

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Nevermind, Lucille found it funny

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Ohh...something new for me CP

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A wee bit gothic

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4000ISO never looked so good

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Eye-C-U

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Richard speaks

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Lucille was kind enough to visit the folks on table 2...the only table with real light

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More from Table 2

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My two favourite things...abstract photography and alcohol

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The Good, The Bad, The Bazen

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Hah...no bridal prep and I still get a shoe shot on the blog

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Richard found his reaction to the June hayfever a little more severe than first thought

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G&MOG

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Proof that if I lie on the floor its not to shoot up guests skirts (although that gives me a idea...nevermind)



Got Something to Say? -
Hampshire Wedding Photography - Sam and Dean, New Place
So I shot Gene and Stu's wedding in 2005...then I shot Gene's daughters wedding in 2007...then I shot Gene's daugthers friend's wedding in August 2008...now I shoot Gene's daughter's friend's friend in June 2009.  To complicate things I will shoot Gene's daughter's friend's friend's former boss in July 2010.  As for the apostrophe...well, I gave up on where the hell that was supposed to go a long time ago.  In any event Darren and I popped down the Emsworth to cover the prep of Sam (or Samantha to some) for her wedding to Dean before returing back to New Place, Shirrell Heath (why do I always want to type Squirrell in Heat?).  With the wife being out at her school reunion and kids at the grandparents I found myself home alone at 7:10.  So I did what any respectable batchelor would do.  Downloaded my cards, raced to play 4 holes at the golf club and came back to blog myself into Sunday.  So without further delay.... 

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It seemed a perfectly natural place for them to 'hang'

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Torturing a fly or glueing eyelashes...its a judgement call

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The only bride I've ever known to be dressed 2 hours prior to the ceremony

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shocking

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Willy Wonka was no match for my photographic charms

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Amazing what you can see through the gap in the door jam

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Not Dean...but rather his twin brother

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alas...its Dean

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The guests were comforted by the fact that in the event of an emergency Lassie could be summoned at a moments notice

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Twin brother again...and the sucking of the cheek is an ancient tear stopping technique

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Strangely, I've never actually done one of these

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The wicked entry way into New Place

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Doin' the Kate

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"I hate having my photo taken" - Sam, 20 June 2009 -- What-evah!

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Gothic architecture - £1,000,000
Using a £30 dome light in the toilet foyer - Priceless

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And a few from the soon to be short haired Darren


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I'll give him credit...he did, at least, admit he STOLE the idea from me :)

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and hello to you as well

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Anyone else thinking Dennis the Menace?

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Darren is Young Jerry

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Got Something to Say? -

Lorna and Charlie at Cain Manor - A Brief Encounter
Another quick client meeting.  This time with Lorna and Charlie who booked me from Singapore.  After we dispensed with the details I offered them one of 15 minute turbo sessions.  Just a laugh and chance to see what I get up to on a wedding day.  Most clients get worried about this (although champagne often quells any concerns) but its nice to say "that's it guys...nothing more complex than that".  So, with all of us dressed for a day at the beach we buzzed through 3 locations in 15 minutes chatting along the way.

F!lm -- AGAIN!
Finally got around to developing a few more rolls of film from my Konica Hexar 'faux' rangefinder camera last week.  Life with a max shutter speed of 1/250th is great fun (NOT).  But it is kind of cool to shoot and not have a clue (OK, I do have a clue) until the disc comes back (yep, disc...don't bother with prints).

All the black and white images are shot on Ilford XP2 which is a 400 speed film.  Most shots needed a 3 stop ND filter to keep it under the 1/250th of second.

The colour is Kodak Ektar 100.  With a my 3xND it makes it a 12 speed film.  Hilarious concept to a digital photographer.

As with all my film scans I will remove dust and scratches and I will use a few levels adjustments.  But that's it.

First are some photos of Evan and friends etc:

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Freakishly like a digi image

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Under South Parade Pier

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As well as family and personal projects I have taken the camera to a few weddings.   These are some fun images taken in lax times or after the digital shot was taken.  I don't know how I feel about mixing film and digital as the look is quite different. 

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The first three are from Nicola and Ben's wedding at Tithe Barn

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Here's Mike and the boys at Chilfont St Giles church

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Finally, Sarah and Mike at Hampton Court House


Film...its not necessarily a 4 letter word (well, it is actually, but in the way one usually thinks of a four letter word).  But for now I'll keep in the hobby end of the business.

Surrey Wedding Photography - Katie and Mike - Bury Court Barn
Back to The Barn at Bury Court (or is that Bury Court Barn...I can never remember) on Saturday.  It was about 4 weeks since I'd been there.  Not much had changed...it still one of the best venues in Surrey...scrap that, perhaps in the country.  Of course I might be a little biased (close to home, on the recommended suppliers list and have a great working relationship with the folks there).  As usual the barn was in top condition which meant that everyone could simply get on with having a great wedding.  Luckily Mike turned out in his 5 o'clock shadow.  Apparently this a plus point in his house...I simply get moaned at.  Oh how the other half live.  Thanks to Kaite and Mike as well as their guests for making us feel welcome. 

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On the list of shots that get you killed as a wedding photographer...this ranks quite high

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Shoe(s)

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SumpinOuttaNuttin

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Driven is one work you could use to describe Katie...

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....Pleased is another

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No great photo...just Katie helping Gran with a drink of water

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Oh no!!! Not those big little Bridemaid eyes...I'm such a SUCKER!

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Mum finished the croqueting...or is that crocheting....let's just call it buttoning up

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Peeping Bob

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Dresses to thrill

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Ade attempts to keep a safe distance whilst Rebecca goes bananas at the first glimpse of Katie in her dress

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There's a magic light spot in the processional at Bury Court Barn.  Got it!

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IMHO, the more interesting signing of the register shot

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Any harder and her head might just pop off

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It seemed only I got the celebrity significance of Katie's dad being sat next to her at the top table

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When I see a laugh like this I think of that chap from the Apprentice who admitted to peeing in the boardroom

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Two naturals

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Revisting me 'new' spot from last time

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Damn Kate (not Katie)...not a reflector in sight

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Copyright Kate Jackson - 2009

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When I was a wee boy photographer, I hated receiving lines.  I was so naieve :)

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See what I mean!

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Checking out the dodgy photo wall of shame


The one thing about when Darren and I work together is that Darren and I work magnificently together.  We rarely ever turn up in each other's shot and never get in each others way.  I suspect those few times I took a ruler to his forehand really did the trick (only joking...geez people).  But as I watched Nicky from Jacaranda close the curtains I knew I had a chance for a great framed shot.  The curtains slowly started to close and just as they got to the A+ spot some knucklehead walked in front of me.  OK...as you can see it would have been a waste anyhow as Mike's eyes were closed and a split second later I did get another shot.  I just thought it was highly amusing -- and you...well, you're bored to tears.

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Get a haircut :)

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OK..its never going to be a Rob-art (sigh) collectable but its a recording shot

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With little hesitation, this chap raised his hand with pride when the question "raise your hand if you've filled your trousers" came from the other side of the table

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On second thought...I may just crop that a bit...but for now, this is still a winner for me

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I just loved the attention everyone had during the speech

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Separated at birth

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Oh Mike...please don't tell me you raised your hand too?  Ewwww!

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Toilet humour runs a muck

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Elvis has left the building....

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....carrying a cookbook

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I get this look from women all the time...no...honest

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Watching a grown man eat string really is a great pastime

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Proving Katie is the Ace in the pack (groan, groan, groan)



Now a Few From Darren

Speaking of the peeing and the Apprentice (and most notably James from the Apprentice) I was struck by a comment that probably helped James get dumped from the show.  In the question "what can you bring to Sir Alan's company" James answered, "ignorance".  Of course this got old Clive the interviewer's jerk juices flowing and he ridiculed him senseless.  But I do appreciate what James was trying to say.  Wisdom is something that is valuable but at the same time crippling.  It can stop you from taking a risk or chancing a situation which, if it comes off, will make you seem as if you're a magician of sorts.  Darren is my ignorance (yes, that is a compliment).  He tries things without the fear of failure or the wisdom to know if it will work.  I see so much of myself in Darren that its quite scary.  In that, I try to always remember that ignorance as a way to stay fresh.  For that I hope I he stays ignorant for a long time to come. 


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He's now officially the Bury Court Barn Gallery Master

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Pure Ignorance!  I Love IT!

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Its an iPhone luv :)

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I'm glad I've finally got him out of taking photos of the camera taking the photo...but here are 3 shots of people take photos of other people that all work

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Great scene setter

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Mike was well aware of the plan to kick him in the ....

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As they said in Top Gun "Darren...you can be my wing man anytime"

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I was keen to remove the car park...Darren had other ideas.

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Learning the values of receiving lines

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The entrance of Casper, the friendly ghost, and his beloved bride

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Nice shot

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The fact he likes shooting the kids is fine by me



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