Lights, camera... couture!

It took a nanosecond to email back after Maria Yiannikaris at Mirror Mirror Bridal asked if I was available to come and shoot some catwalk couture material. Alongside some the biggest names in bridal fashion, Mirror Mirror was showing its latest collection and needed to document the evening for press and PR use. 

The event was a lavish affair in conjunction with Brides magazine. Combine a runway full of models and freedom to shoot whatever against the spectacular backdrop of the ballroom at The Mandarin Oriental in London's Knightsbridge - it was a pretty good gig for a weeknight!

It also shows that wedding photography isn't all about actually being at weddings. There are so many areas within the industry to explore photographically. From specialist supplier shoots through to portraiture of company bosses, it's a varied world offering rich detail and flamboyant personalities.

I have always loved working in an environment with strong lighting. There are endless opportunities to use the light in front and behind your subject to create something with great contrast and visual punch. Add to this the buzz of excitement in the room as the girls strutted their stuff and you have a dramatic canvass on which to paint with the camera.  

Here are just a few from the event. Click any thumbnail to enlarge or navigate with the arrows...

Janaina & Rory, Wedding photography at Claridge's

Claridge's needs no introduction. It is one of most famous hotels on the planet and an iconic brand. A new generation was made aware of this via the excellent BBC2 documentary last year which provided a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes and highlighted the hotel's amazing attention to detail.

Working at the hotel always fills you with motivational nerves. At this wedding, my main concern was to capture as much detail of Janaina & Rory's day as possible. There was so much going on and photographs seemed to pop up again and again, all of them feeling absolutely vital at the time. Below is just a snippet from the final set.

Once back from Mayfair's spectacular Farm Street church in Mayfair, a swift drinks reception paved the way for the wedding breakfast in the ballroom. I found myself trying to pack as much into the shoot as possible, very keen to provide an accurate memory of the obvious work that had gone into the preps. Below is just a sample from the final set.

And I nearly forgot to mention the 'supplier meal' of Dover sole. It arrived, beautifully presented, from Gordon Ramsay's Michelin-starred kitchens. I felt very lucky that day. Perfection.

Click any thumbnail to enlarge... 

From the archive... #8

This is probably best filed under 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em'.  They say photography is all about capturing the moment - and this was about capturing somebody else's.

Smartphones. I couldn't live without mine, and they just get people shooting more pics, which makes them brilliant in my book. To the many photographers who moan about wedding guests whipping them out at every opportunity, I say: get over it.

I really think this shots sums up the fun side of a wedding reception. When a few friends get together and smile for somebody else, it's a shot. But this example came at the end of the day and my work was almost done after a terrific shoot at The Renaissance Hotel, St Pancras. With this in mind it was just nice to get into the huddle and create something a little different..

Illustries...

Over the last few weeks I have been collaborating with Sam and Emma at Illustries on a new product to add to their gorgeous range of bespoke books.  So it's great to be able to reveal a few of the pages from the soon to be released range aimed squarely at wedding photographers who want to offer their clients something new and exciting.

The concept of an Illustry is pretty simple. It's an optimum quality wedding album, but with all the essential, personal facts from the wedding day designed to dovetail with the images. The speeches, menu, a fun relationship 'timeline', etc.. The end result is unique giving a very personal feel of wedding day.

The new product differs from the current range  because rather than going to the girls direct, couples work with the photographer on the content.

Illustries will, as usual, ultimately handle the printing, but at all times the clients deal with their photographer on proofing, changes, etc.. The spec will be 60page, 33x28cm case-bound books designed to incorporate around 90 images. There will be a choice of heavy coated matt paper or luxurious uncoated stock. Samples will be available very soon and I can't wait to include them in my own range of books. Because I know the feel and quality of the existing range, I have no doubt the photographer's range will be a hit with clients who seek that extra personal touch.  

In addition, there are some amazing other products available, from tote bags to guests books to tea towels. All terrific ideas which, for me, elevate Sam and Emma's designs and create something truly different...

A work of art...

Prior to receiving the link I had no intention of blogging this film. I assumed I'd want to keep it very private.

Then, within seconds of viewing it for the first time, there was an urge to shout it from the rooftops.

Ruth and I have been utterly captivated and pleased with these ten minutes of pure cinematic storytelling. The film has become the definitive account of our wedding and I think it is something that can be enjoyed by anybody, whether you know us or not.

We found Hungarian filmmaker, Roland Mihalszky, on a wedding blog. He had filmed a sumptuous wedding at Kensington Palace in 2011 and made it look like a movie. I was convinced he’d be too expensive. Ruth emailed him anyway - it's the way many things seem to work in our house!

Now we hold this amazing 10-minute film of our wedding day – filmed with the help of his wife, Helga, as something utterly priceless.

His editing skills are nothing short of amazing, (people spend their entire lives trying to become brilliant Final Cut Pro editors) but what impresses me even more is his eye for detail. The human detail. The people.

As a photographer, I often see couples get perilously carried away with Bridal Stuff.  The look of the day, the laser-cut detail on the stationary, whether their shoes have those all-important red soles.

Ruth and I were lucky to have a beautiful wedding. Yet, when I watch this film, it is not the styling that I see.

It is the smiles between cousins who’ve grown up together, a lump in the throat, a blink of concentration, a sip from a glass. All these things make the film a truly remarkable family memory. That was our only direction to Roland: that he captured our families – Ruth’s brother who’d flown in from Sydney, our parents, Ruth’s 87-year-old grandmother. All the people who really mattered.

Because people really are the most important part of a wedding day. Not stuff. Something I have long suggested to clients when I meet them.

Roland – who is also a trained architect (check out his love for our local viaduct!) - is based in Budapest but is regularly in London.

His work can be found at http://vimeo.com/rolandmihalszky or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/roland.mihalszky

He can be contacted on farolfilmz@gmail.com

Enjoy!

From the archive... #6

This shot could easily be a caption competition. For now I'll leave it as a little preview to a post I'll upload soon after a really enjoyable shoot with Team SKY Pro Cycling.

The rather uncomfortable looking gent in question is Aussie rider, CJ Sutton. The various lumps and bumps around his person are actually water bottles, about 25 if I recall correctly. 

In between TV and stills set-ups they were practising swapping bottles from support car to rider and then back again. On event stages where the support team can't be near the rider (usually they are in a chasing pack), fluids needs to be carried and readily available. This was an extreme test to see just how much the poor guy could manage. Rather him than me! 

A proper overview of the day to follow very soon... 

Roland Mihalszky...

With my own wedding only a fortnight or so away, one aspect which really excites Ruth and myself is bringing cinematographer, Roland Mihalszky over from Hungary to film the day. We came across his work quite by chance and he immediately went on to the 'must have' list. 

I ultimately don't plan to upload our own film to the blog, but at the same time want to draw attention to Roland's skill for not just his on-the-day work, also his editing and understanding of how a soundtrack can add another significant layer to the footage.

In the example below the way the music builds during the evening dancing is very clever. The capture of tiny moments especially wouldn't be out of place in a carefully crafted Tomas Alfredson movie. His cuts flow with grace and attention to detail, all effortlessly telling the story.

Watch and enjoy. I would suggest it's the woman with the cigar which makes it art...

From the archive... #5

his shot has always been a personal favourite and brings back so many memories. Not just of the shoot, but of a previous career path and also of a time when working as a photographer was very different.

I'm going to write a post soon about the way working as a pro has been transformed y technology, so don't want to touch on that too heavily here, but this photograph feels like something from a bygone era. And it was only 1997! 

Not to dwell, but this is a colour transparency - remember those? That funny age when a hinged back opened up on a camera and you had these little cassette things(?) Weird. However, interestingly, it made you think more because of the limited frames on a roll. Plus there was no instant checking on an LCD, we never needed it. When a picture is right you just know.

The setting is Macau, southern China, and the event is a season-ending weekend everybody is motorsport loves : the Macau Grand Prix. Here motor sport fans are enjoying some late afternoon track action from a lofty grandstand viewpoint.

Your eye is first drawn the spectacular sky, very typical for Asia at that time of year. But as you look closer you see various different sub-scenes : a father and son, a guy with his binoculars, wo people leaving, and a few other random little mannerisms.

The photograph is simple, easily composed and for sure a moment in time. All those things timeless photography should be...

From the archive... #4

This is a nice little shot that's always been one of my favourites. But while it's simple, the picture also says a lot about the day in question. That 'photo is worth a thousand words' thing.

Without knowing the couple or anything about their wedding you can instantly tell it was a relaxed affair with a rustic feel - hence the chairs. We also know they have a sense of humour and thought it would be mischievous to coordinate shoes and socks - the focal point of the shot. The brogues tell you the groom is his own man and not swayed by the need to conform totally to the occasion. And you sense the bride loves the idea of being little daring with scarlett shoes. 

The wedding was in Shoreditch Town Hall, with the emphasis on fun, and the couple are as laid-back as they come. It was a tiny, personality-rich affair - which is always brilliant to shoot.

This shot has also directly led to more than one subsequent commission. The image sticks in people's minds and has even led to one couple copying them (see second shot). It just goes to show that you can chuck all the marketing and strategy you wish at your business, but it's the smallest things to which people respond...

Mirror Mirror...

You've got to love a business that's only beaten in a search engine by a Hollywood movie... Punch Mirror Mirror into Google and the first thing you'll see is a Julia Roberts film. But right next to it is Mirror Mirror London, the UK capital's best-known bridal atelier. 

With shops in Angel, Islington and Crouch End, Mirror Mirror have their own couture dress line as well as stocking leading ready-to-wear designers such as La Sposa, Cymbeline, Paris and Yolan Cris. Their dresses have been worn by celebrities such as Amanda Holden, Zoe Ball and Tamsin Outhwaite. 

So it's really great news that I've just become a photographic partner and somebody, quite literally, that Mirror Mirror 'loves'. The business was formed in 1989 and since then has established tself as THE go-to outlet for brides. Numerous awards from the wedding industry press has cemented a reputation for excellence and ensured a bursting order book.

We'll be working together on numerous shoots in the coming weeks/months and it's terrific for me to develop new commissions and relationships via Mirror Mirror clients. Partners, Maria Yiannikaris and Jane Freshwater, are market leaders at what they do. I believe that when you are striving to be the best, you need to work alongside the best, so this makes me incredibly proud and excited.

It has also totally taken my mind away from having eaten too much Easter chocolate...

Fiona Leahy feature shoot...

I'd never met Fiona Leahy before, but a quick visit to her home in London immediately propels you into creativity. Then via some form of osmosis you leave with far more energy than when you arrived.

No point going into detail here, you can read all about the lady via the lovescarlett.com feature for which I was shooting. Suffice it to say that Fiona is an event planner extraordinaire, with Royal clients and celebrity friends, and I had a ball playing around with detail and some fun portraits shot very quickly indeed, all with natural light, no flash at all.

Consider this a blog-let which just touches upon the final selection produced. As usual, I'm not one for scores and scores of shots on a blog, you get the picture (boom boom)...

From the archive... #3

It always intrigues me why people like certain pictures within a set. This little sequence is one on which clients always linger in my portfolio. Here's a little background...

The commission was a Christmas wedding last year with the drinks reception in a private residence. I had worked the room a little in search of off-beat and candid portraits, but kept noticing the little flower girl nipping away into one of the downstairs rooms.

didn't really pay much attention to this until I heard the piano certainly not making a great sound. After putting two and two together it was suddenly obvious that the little rascal was making her own entertainment...

Adopting my very best stealth approach, I let her just play around nd tried to shoot frames as she hit the keys, so as not to disturb the scene. It wasn't until she'd finished that my presence had been sensed, and she immediately scurried from the room. It's the last image and the look on her face which absolutely makes the set.

(Canon 5DMK2 body, 85mm lens, 1600asa, 60th @F2)

From the archive... #2

I'm often searching through my photographic library and repeatedly stumble across files from jobs past. Most of the time I just drag them back into the folders, but sometimes they have a little story attached...

Since 2004 I have enjoyed a brilliant working relationship with SEAT UK. Initially it was on the motorsport side, but this soon spread to studio portraits and event coverage. Great people with get-ahead ideas. They're also fabulously collaborative, which is always nice.

So it tickled me a little to come across this image, mainly because it was the very first thing I did, now almost exactly 9 years ago. I recall a perishingly cold Rockingham race track; the brief to shoot car-to-car shots for publicity material to promote the marque's one make championship.

Such shots are truly hair-raising to produce. You are strapped into a people carrier (with the back door wedged open) or, as in this case, put in the boot of a car with an assistant holding the boot lid open.  Either way the racing car is under your control, via various graphic gestures. Enough said.

Technically this is hand held at about 1/10th of a sec, which is slower than you'd usually opt for. But it's essential to obtain the feeling of speed so the track feels like it's rushing past - which is kind of is anyway! I chose to shoot this at the end of a January day because it was a lovely sky and the closing light added to the effect.

20 (and a bit) new things I learnt in 2012...

I'm an only child, which means I know everything, right?

Absolutely not. During a pretty brisk 2012 I picked-up a few new things. Notable among them are:

1) Talking to a brain surgeon is intimidating. And that's before you get into the 3D pics of the inside of your fiancé’s head.

2) Watching sport is not the pleasure it was when I was a kid. Sadly, only 1 in 10 sports men and women are actually proper role models. If that.

3) Living in an Embassy with infrequent trips out onto the balcony is no life.

4) London 2012 medals are very heavy. 

5) A 74-year-old man can stand on a new knee within 36hrs. Impressive stuff, Dad.

6) Sorting out a London crash pad is becoming a real issue and avoiding the subject is not a solution.

7) In an age where numerous methods of communication are amazing, actual communication is worse than ever.

8) Like everybody, I enjoy Instagram - it's cute. But, it's about as relevant to real photography as a microwave oven is to Michel Roux Jnr.

9) Women's mags are miles better than bloke's. Vogue makes GQ look limp.

10) Working hard is fine; thinking hard is far more profitable.

11) I still have no idea what 'fine art photography' means. And if I did, it's probably not a label for photographers to give themselves. It's for others to decide.

12) In recession there is more opportunity, not less. 

13) Social media is useful in its own way. But careers are built on relationships, not 140 character blurts. How can anybody feel satisfaction when their 'friends' or 'followers' are largely a group of people they've never met? #suckers

14) iPads are brilliant, but laptops still rule.

15) Meat should be expensive and a treat. Cheap meat is bad for you. There's a reason KFC comes in a bucket...

16) When an oncologist says chemotherapy makes you tired, they’re lying. It actually means you can't do anything. Nothing at all. It's a bewildering fog.

16a) Chemo is hard. But it can give you your life back. Still don’t understand why a guy as savvy as Steve Jobs didn’t get that. Tragic.

17) Berlin is the breakfast capital of the world...

18) I seem to read more than ever, but only managed one novel this year. Biographies and magazine features dominate. No idea why the pattern has changed.

19) It's the greatest pleasure to buy boat-loads of Green & Blacks in the knowledge the (85%) stuff is good for you. In moderation.

20) No news means, well, no news! But I remain the eternal optimist.

20a) ... I'm the luckiest person in the world.

 

A little spot of cancer...

On November 26th, 2011, I wandered into and an Ear, Nose & Throat clinic to see about my swollen glands. They looked at me, whispered in the corner, then suggested a needle biopsy was done there and then. It turned out to be Hodgkins Disease (cancer of the lymph nodes). This isn't the place to get into treatments and associated issues, but it does raise a very interesting situation re: freelancing when facing a serious illness.

At the time of the diagnosis I was thinking about refreshing my website, I had lots of project ideas and ongoing discussions with potential new clients. Then for months, nothing moved forward. Nothing. In 2012, I have had, on paper, a lesser output than for many years, mainly due to the time out for chemotherapy, but also because development of my career halted. Almost overnight everything I knew and took comfort from became somehow provisional. My own wedding was postponed. Nothing was certain anymore. It happened very, very quickly and was incredibly frightening.

Only now, a year on  - and thankfully in good health - am I building again. And it's deliberate that this blog post is the first as the new site goes live.

My mind is back in the swing of cultivating new opportunities and forging new ideas. I'm way behind compared to where I'd like to be but things are moving, gathering momentum again. It's cathartic to address this in writing. It's the first time I feel brave enough to admit and then address the career side of cancer. The process seems to rid my system of the bad memories and allows me to move on. Never again will I take everyday things for granted, and that's no bad thing at all. I'll push like never before. Be a better photographer than I was before. Make things happen.

It can pour with rain, flights can be late, traffic can snarl up and software can crash. I don't care. Because I no longer have cancer.

Look out world, I’m coming through. Again.