Some of you are probably thinking you can get a friend or relative to take your wedding photographs, yes you can, but I have heard so many stories from people who are disappointed by the end result, that when they come to the second marriage or the wedding vow renewal one of the first things they book is a professional wedding photographer. So why do we do it so much better than your friends or relatives?

well where do we start:

1/We have all the right equipment for the job, including spare camera, spare flash guns  (in case the main one stops working (things do happen)) and studio lights in the event that we have to take the photographs inside. What will uncle Fred use if his camera breaks or he drops it or he forgets to charge the battery. I also have a camera with a battery that will take over 2000 pictures before needing re-charging, does uncle Fred? How many will his take (with flash)?.

2/ We take most photographs with flash to ensure that all are beautifully lit with highlights in peoples eyes. Will Uncle Fred make sure you look that good?

3/ We are fully trained in how to take superb wedding photographs, we know how to arrange the people and how to deal with the awkward members of your family that never want to be photographed.

4/ We have often been to the venue before and so know the best places to use, will uncle Fred go and reconnoiter the venue? I doubt it.

5/ We make sure that all the images when printed are colour corrected, i.e. take the redness out of those indoor shots, make those awful grey days seem a little warmer than they really were.

6/ We have a vast array of poses that we can use to make for more interesting photographs, not just stand you all in a line like Uncle Fred will. I know how to use differential focus to make things more artistic and when to use a fast shutter speed to capture that moment in motion.

7/ We can supply the end result as a beautiful album or a CD/DVD with your picture printed on the front, to treasure for ever, that you will want to view time and time again, not just pass on a pile of 6×4 inch prints that end up curled up in a box for ever more, unloved and un-viewed.

8/ We are fully insured for public liability (in the event someone falls over me or the equipment I use) and I am fully covered for professional indemnity.

9/ And in the event that we cannot make the day due to unforseen circumstances,we have an array of excellent photographers that we can call on in order to make sure that you have someone there that can do the job for you just as well.  What will you do if uncle Fred doesn’t turn up?!!! End up like the couple I met last week who are performing a vow renewal and insisted on a professional photographer because the only picture they have from the original wedding is stuck to the glass of the picture frame it is in and so cannot be removed to be cleaned or put in a better frame.

I have finally choosen the albums to replace those supplied by Spicer Hall field who recently liquidated, they are now populated and prices sorted ready for the new wedding fair season. Call me to arrange a time and date to view them. Basingstoke 01256 333205 or the mobile 07818 858217, photographs coming soon on the prices page to show youwhat they look like.

wedding album photograph layout

As some of you may have heard the album manufacturer Spicer Hallfield has liqudated. Most of my albums were supplied by them so I have had to look for a new supplier. I am very pleased to announce that I have chosen the Italian handmade albums supplied by Mario Acerboni. Beautiful albums that come in 4 sizes and 4 colours. All these albums have a one inch border around the pages and take real photographs as either montage prints or with overlays. Sizes are (approximate inches) 10×10, 8×8,  A4  and 7×5 colours are iced diamond (silver grey), perl (cream), black and burgundy, the iced diamond colour is only available in the larger sizes. I shall also continue with the madison albums which do not have a border and come in black or white covers with a window on the front for a small photograph and 3 sizes, 12×12, 10×10 and 8×8 inches (approx). For the top end packages I shall be using the Australian Seldex albums, these have printed perspex covers or brushed aluminuim covers and are large albums (approx 11×14 inches ) with real photographs with overlays on them. Coming soon I shall put photographs of each album on my website so that you know what all the terms mean and what the albums look like.

What a super unusual venue! Milestones Museum in Basingstoke is open for wedding receptions and events. You can wander amung the exhibits to your hearts content. They even open the 1940’s pub so that you have access to beer and spirits during the evening festivities, unfortunately the prices aren’t 1940’s! There are some great places to have photographs taken, like this one outside the green grocers.

Just got back from Italy, Monopoli Near Bari on the North Coast by the ‘heel’ of Italy, a beautiful region, with some excelent food and wine and extremely friendly people. Will post some photos latter as I have problems with my computer at present and it now needs a rebuild (doing that today).

What a great time we all had a Milestones museum for the wedding reception of Jenny and Stewart. Milestones made for a great atmosphere, with plenty of room for guests to wander around. The old style pub was opened and serving beer for the evening and the disco was held by the village green. The lighting is difficult, but make for some interesting shots. see below:

Great day on Sunday lots of brides through the door and a couple deffinitley seemed interested in me as their wedding photographer so lets hope the phone rings in the next couple of days.

The Hilton is a lovely modern hotel, some can be a bit cold and soleless, but the Hilton at Newbury is lovely, a nice chandalier as you come in the main door and lots of wood panelling give a warm cossy feeling. THe main room used for weddings is light and airy so good for indoor photogrpahy as well.

outside the Newbury Hilton Hotel

Just a reminder that there is a wedding fair on 13th September 2009 at  Donnington Valley Spa Hotel,  I  will be exhibiting there if you want to come and meet me before booking an appointment.

I have a new website that will be up and running soon specifically aimed at boudoir and maternity photography. Boudoir photography can make you feel so special and provide you with a gift never to be forgotten or bettered. Maternity photography records that very special period at a time when you are growing a new life inside you, nothing can beat that feeling, so it really should be recorded in the most amazing, fun and relaxing way possible. I can now offer a service which includes a day in a gym with a suana, swimming pool and spa all included in the cost of your photographic session, so why not pamper yourself for the whole day and then receive an album of beautiful photographs of you as you have never been seen before, beautiful, sexy and stunning. The new website is at www.desirephoto.co.uk please take a look shortly it should be operational by the end of this week (6/1/09).

boudoir photograph

I photographed a pregnant lady in the nude on Saturday, which was a very different experience to any other photography commission I had done before. It was great fun but very scary as the lady was due to give birth the day before the actual shot (so not the best time to be photographing a pregnant lady), the ideal time is about 7 months as the bump is large and still round rather than low slung like my lady’s is. One of the ones with clothes on is shown below. If any one wants to be photographed naked and is prepared to let me put the shots on the website I would happily do it for free.

photograph of pregnant lady - maternity photography