I went to the Brighton Gay Pride Parade on Saturday and had a fantastic time, what a great atmosphere there was, so much like a carnival and I got some great photographs here are a couple for now. There was a fun fair and a couple of stages with bands performing live music all free.

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.

Tylney Hall is a great venue for weddings as it has so much land with so many different features which makes for varied photographs (you don’t have to have the same background all the time). There are 2 stone pergolas with stone steps leading down to them whcih can make for some very different images, see the one below:

Rule of thirds, make your photographs look more dynamic by placing the important or focal point of the image appear on a line that cuts either horizontally or vertically through the image at a point 1/3 the width or height of the image either from the left or the right, or top or bottom.

Diagram of the rule of thirds

Look at the next 2 photos and compare them for impact.

Photograph of Basingstoke Gate

The 1st photograph cuts the image into 2 so looks like it is 2 seperate pictures.

Photograph of Basingstoke Gate showing rule of 1/3

Here the image has been cropped so that the edge of the gate is closer to one edge of the picture, it looks less like 2 photographs stuck together and more like a shot of the gate with some of the background in view, a more pleasing shot to look at.

Of course not all images need to be taken in this way i.e. portraits and close ups can be taken such that the subject is in the middle of the photograph, but even here it is worth considering putting the eyes on the top horizontal 1/3 line or other parts of the body on other 1/3 lines, try it and see. I will add other composition improvements to this blog later this month.

The Old Mill at eversley is a beautiful venue with some beautifully kept gardens to wander in. The Old Mill itself has been lovingly restored with many original features being retained and the sound of running water is quite sleep inducing. The food is excellent and the venue can handle large or small wedding parties.

The pond in front of the main entrance

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.

There are hundreds of wedding fairs these days, most venues that hold wedding ceremonies hold at least 1 wedding fair a year, they are usually held during September, October, January, Febraury and March, occasionally they are held in November and April or even July. They consist of suppliers of wedding day paraphernalia of all shapes, sizes and types, including bridal dresses, mens wear, cars, photographers, jewelry, entertainers, cakes, florists, caterers and much more. There is usually at least one of each supplier category and usually in the case of photographers 2 or more. It gives you the oportunity to see the suppliers wares, talk to them, have a look round the venue and get lots of ideas for things you could spend your money on that you never knew existed. It is well worth visiting at least one if you are planning a wedding.

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

Oakley Hall has at least 2 rooms in which it can hold civil ceremonies and the photograph below shows the larger of the 2 rooms. The grounds outside are beautiful and provide some interesting spots for photography. There is plenty of parking and it provides a delightful atmosphere in which to hold your special event.

photograph of Oakley Hall Basingstoke civil ceremony room.

A very beautiful old church near the centre of Alton, this is a beautiful place for a wedding with lovelly flint walls and a great arched doorway for photos.

entering St Lawrenc's Church Alton