From the archive... #10

This caption should read "a slightly nervous groom".

The location is Somerset House and our man in question is Nabeel, who just went with the flow, like so many of us guys on their wedding day.

I particularly like the loose composition of the shot. While the picture is all about the facial expression, it's not too tight as to deny the viewer of the proximity of the best man, and the fact they're clearly seconds away form the bride's arrival. 

A simple moment caught forever. One of many on a lovely summer's day in town... 

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...

From the archive... #9

Wow. That was my first impression at the recce and then double wow come the wedding. Even more remarkable when you consider this is only the side chapel of Westminster Cathedral, not the main body of the church.

The lush nature of the lamp lighting gives this shot so much depth - with the ornate decoration and late ceremony time compounding the sense of atmosphere for Paul & Maria's gorgeous winter service. 

You would struggle to think this is just down the road from the everyday bustle of Victoria train station; it feels like you're firmly ensconsed in Rome.

It was also a bit of a spine-tingler for me because the Cathedral is an oft used location for feature films. This very same view can be seen during the opening minutes of Elizabeth, The Golden Age (trailer link), doubling for Lisbon Cathedral in the mid 1600's, filmed just a few weeks before my shoot. 

Amazing location, amazing view, lovely wedding... 

Kristen & Jatin, Wedding photography at The St Pancras Renaissance

This a great story... I'd been in Berlin for a few days and while checking-in for the flight home my iPhone pings. It's an email from a girl called Kristen who wants me to shoot her wedding, but she doesn't have a date or a venue. Different.

After a few chats and meetings together with Kristen's fiancé, Jatin, it all came together as a wonderful day at The Renaissance Hotel St Pancras. 

Terrific attention to detail, as always, from Georgina Bentley-Leek and her crew at the hotel ensured a flowing day full of great characters and fun. I'm so pleased to be an official supplier at the hotel, next shoot is Christmas week. Roll on December.

As usual, here is a snippet from the selection. Click any thumbnail to enlarge... 

 

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 wedding photographer in London...

If you ask me, London is the greatest city in the world. It has the lot. The streets are filled with a million fashions encased by every kind of architecture and there are places of interest to suit every taste and need.

Much of my time is now spent working in this city and my enthusiasm just grows and grows for our wonderful capital.

My personal relationship with the city began as a very small boy being shown around by my parents. Every weekend is was another sight or sound.

Then, many years later when I started my A levels, it was with tremendous pride that I hopped on to the train every day to attend college near Euston station.

My photographic relationship with the city started a few years later with some PR shoots via motorsport industry sponsors – an area in which I worked for over 15 years.

Leaving that world behind, it came as a big shock to have my very first London wedding commission at the Institute of Contemporary Arts, just off The Mall. Gulp. Nerves = huge motivation.

Since those initial inspiring days I have been so lucky to forge relationships with many truly amazing venues and shoot in some of town's greatest spaces, from the most famous hotels like Claridges, and The Savoy to vast churches such as Temple Church and cathedrals like Westminster Abbey.

I’ve also shot weddings in more than a few of the city’s quirky spots. Variation is key. I believe that being able to shoot well regardless of the location is something a client should demand of a good photographer.

I love the feeling, energy, excitement, drama and heritage of every nook and cranny of our sprawling gem of a city.

So here is a little pictorial celebration of some of my favourite places to shoot... I hope you enjoy them (click to enlarge)

 

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!

Cool stuff : The American...

Absolutely straight, it wasn't until after I saw The American that I found out director, Anton Corbijn, was first a photographer before he came to movies. It shows.

A slow burn, the movie is a terrific example of making every single frame count. Simply beautiful to look at, the story is basic, sluggish, but all the more effective for this approach.  I'm not a movie reviewer (see link above for an overview), but if you have any interest in stylish composition and like your flicks to ooze confidence, this is a must see...

 (Click below for the youtube embedded trailer)

From the archive... #7

I have always really like this moment. Unless you force children to pose, something at which they aren't any good at, you know shots displaying kids are completely honest. 

Here we have some rather late bridesmaids! The bride and her father were already on the landing waiting nervously to enter the ceremony, but the girls had been faffing about in the gardens and lost track of time. All quiet amusing. 

What I love is the body language of each - something only a still photograph can show. The little girl leading the way is clearly in a hurry. To emphasise this point you can see she's almost dragging her younger sister behind her. Lastly, we have the eldest of the three who is more concerned with her dress on the stairs.  Three totally different concerns.

The moment was there... and then gone again, made even stronger as nobody is looking into the lens. It preserves the genuine rush and mild panic, yet it still slightly playful.

Thirty seconds later it was all OK...

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... 

Nicola & Antony, Wedding photography at Andaz, London

Andaz is one of those hotels which gives a photographer more and more, depending on how much you search. Prior to this shoot, I'd eaten there once, met Nicola and Antony there once, but never really had a chance to recce because it's such a busy, public location.

Located right next to London's Liverpool Street Station, the hotel is what I'd call an 'inside/outside space'. The drinks reception was in a very spacious area, lit by natural light, but all inside - therefore weather-proof. This alone makes it a very popular venue with couples and I really enjoyed the commission as I could also use significant elevation and record the feeling of space in several shots. 

Nicola and Antony were fabulously laid-back and just rolled with the day. I was given my usual 'do your own thing' brief and a nice set emerged as a result. I won't overplay the fact that the location was literally 2 mins walk from my train home, but...

So, a stylish couple and a venue at which you don't care about the weather. But what did the weather actually do on the day?  It was warm and sunny. Oh, the irony...

As usual here is a small selection from the day. Click on any thumbnail to enlarge... 

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...