The sun came out just at the right time and illuminated the magnolia tree and the ominous purple sky provided a dramatic backdrop - and the rain stayed away.
Hannah and Anthony were relaxed and looked really natural in the photographs and weren't bad looking either!
I've got to say nice things because they very generously included me in the gorgeous meal at Tom Brownes in Gunthorpe.
It's a very special time being pregnant and a quick photoshoot captures it forever.
Sophie was in a rush and we had to work quickly - as these were taken only three days before her "due" date!
We always visit every venue a few weeks before each wedding - even if it is one we know well. If we can combine that with the pre-wedding meeting with the couple it means all the details of the days events can be discussed and the backdrops for any formal photos decided upon. It also means the shots for the mounted photograph for guests to sign, are taken at the same location as the actual wedding. I have to be honest - it isn't everybodys idea of fun! But most couples quite enjoy it and it is great way of getting used to being photographed.
Here are a couple of photos of Karen and Dan who are getting married just after Christmas at the beautiful Newstead Abbey in Nottinghamshire. Hopefully, the weather will be as nice then as it was last week.
Joannes green dress looked really fabulous in the beautiful setting of Quenby Hall in the Leicestershire wolds.
Andrea and Chris were married in the hideaway hotel that is The Priesthouse Hotel near Donington. Sumptuous colours or timeless black and white - at eyephoto we can't help loving both!
Oh, bye the way - I've had real stick from friends and family about my "negative" post re formal group shots!
In my defence:
a) it was not negative - if they'd bothered to read the full blog they would have found out I have a soft spot for the old fashioned "family photo".
b) I have full editorial rights and censorship is not an option.
Well, if you are reading this - I hope you have realised that eyephoto ltd is about free thinking, creative photography and if that means a guilty pleasure re formal photos - then so be it!
Breadsall Priory Hotel is a really nice hotel for a special occasion - it has fountains, lawns and enough "wild areas" for a quiet walk. Photographs of the newly weds by themselves capture a lovely moment and give them time to be alone and reflect on the day so far. But time is precious and so ten minutes is usually enough - they want to be with their family and friends (and not the photographer!) so less is more in my book.
Caroline and Ed were a handsome, fun-loving and generous couple and their wedding was a pleasure to cover - is that enough to get me some tickets for next years FA cup final, Ed?
I must be mad posting these group photos - don't get me wrong - it was a beautiful wedding with two lovely families and a great couple to work with; but they're hardly cutting edge, arty wedding photos are they? I have never seen a group photo on a competitors website but it's weird, every couple that book us are really keen to have informal photographs that record the fun of their wedding - but they take those as a given - it's the formal photographs that we get asked about.
Do we do them? How long do they take? Do we allow guests to take a shot with their cameras? We do - but we advise you to keep the list fairly short. As the newly-weds are in (nearly) every shot - it's important to have the next group lined up ready for the next photo to capture natural and not fixed smiles. And how long do they take? it depends on the length of your list but being organised and quick workers, thirty minutes is usually more than enough time.
Anyway, I actually like the formal shots - it's not a very fashionable position in this age of "Reportage" style work but I have photography books with "formal" shots of family groups taken throughout the last two centuries throughout the world - they provide a great social history. Just as long as they are done quickly!
There's something about weddings that take place in a city centre. Passers by wave, shout out their congratulations, cars toot their horns and it has a realness that is often very special - the gritty urban environment really adds to the romance rather than detracts from it - though the Lace Market Hotel itself is hardly "gritty"!
Also - several couples have remarked how lovely it is to drive past the same area to work or whatever and be reminded of their wedding day in that place.
I would recommend a city wedding to anyone - even if there isn't a bar like The Cock & Hoop, next door!
We have had a lot of enquiries recently about wedding galleries and when are they available for view?
Well, unless the couple have expressed a preference, we only put them online after they have received their proofs - so that they are the first to see them. This usually means a delay of a week or two (depending on the length of Honeymoon)
So, contrary to popular opinion, it's not a delay because we are sunning ourselves in our enormous cottage garden - it's just plain, old-fashioned politeness!!
Well, there's no hiding the fact (from my webmeister, especially!) that I have neglected this blog for over a month...since my last entry, at the end of July, we've photographed ten weddings and travelled 100's of miles - visiting some of the most impressive halls and hotels in Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. That's my excuse anyway!
Though Quenby Hall and Langar Hall and The Priesthouse Hotel are some of our favourites - Emma & Gavins' wedding yesterday (images to follow) at the stylish Lace Market Hotel, in Nottingham city centre was a beautiful and touching occasion. Although smaller wedding parties sometimes have a different dynamic, they are just as lovely and it was a privilege to be there yesterday.
My New Years Resolution is to update this blog more often - so, considering my past performance of sticking to NYR - next Blog due in about 6 months!
The weather hasn't been great and we have had several worried emails about it from some of our "August" couples. One of the strengths of our service is the fact that we stay all day and so can remain flexible about the timing of any group or formal photos. it often brightens up in the evening and so if there's time we are happy to do them then.
We always keep two cream umbrellas handy - just in case it rains!
Sometimes it seems that the weather is becoming our sole topic of conversation - but for Tina & Mark it was all positive - they were lucky enough to get the one day of sunshine in months!
A beautiful hall with absolutely fantastic gardens was the location for their wedding and the weather since has made it all the more remarkable and memorable.
Kate and Neetin are back from honeymoon.
As a welcome home treat, their family and friends can view a selection of photographs from their memorable day.
Welcome home guys!
http://www.eyephoto.co.uk
Kate & Neetin had both their marriage ceremony and their reception with their 100 guests in West Bridgford.
Like Kate said "It will be so nice to see all the venues as we pass everyday and remind us of our wedding day." (or words to that effect!)
The rain even stopped just for that one day and was it sunny for a while? I may have been dreaming - you can check by viewing the web gallery which will be online as soon as they have received the proofs, this weekend, I think...
This was the smallest wedding I have covered for a few years and one of the most touching - proving size really doesn't matter!
Good luck to you both!
Lisa & Chris were married in the beautiful village of Thorney, in Lincolnshire, last week and their web gallery will be online as soon as they get back from their Honeymoon.
It was a bright and blustery day - but the sun shone for most of it!
A couple of shots here outside the local, very unusual, church.
Wedding photography is undoubtedly our main activity - but we love taking portraits - of children, families, brothers and sisters and even of grown-ups.
Chloe needed a shot for her website (I need to ask her about putting a link to her newly updated site) and we have included a shot here. I hope she won't mind me saying that she wasn't the most enthusiastic sitter (far too modest, for a start!) but her inner calmness shines through and made it a pleasure. I bear an uncanny resemblance to Stan Laurel and so am eaten up by jealousy of such good looks!
Our new look website seems to have gone down really well with everyone we've met in the last few weeks.
If you have any comments on the look and usefulness of the eyephoto site, we would really welcome any feedback, as it helps us to know what works well and what doesn't.
Feel free to post a comment on this blog entry to let us know your thoughts.
Well, we've had an unusual number of enquiries and bookings for April 2008 and we can only put it down to the great weather over the last few weeks. The lack of wind and rain has certainly made the blossom last but will it be as good next year? Although, having said that, our worst ever wedding weather has been in July - so you never can tell in England.
The good news is that informal, spontaneous photography actually benefits occasionally, from a (short) downpour, as at Lorena & Allans wedding where everybody made a quick dash for cover and minutes later were walking in the September sun again; or a gust of wind that catches a veil (Ben at "One Fine Day" videos filmed Emmas veil flying through the air and landing on yours truly) and helps create an interesting shot. Not convinced?
This is Emma - having dispensed with her veil, I did give it her back!
The wedding exhibition is now over - it did seem like a lot of work at a time when we are producing the remaining album orders from last year, but it was great to see some of our photographs in that setting.
The last time we really exhibited in a "gallery" was in Sheffield in an empty Woolworths. A bunch of us persuaded the authorities to allow us to clean it up, erect and paint exhibition stands and put on a showcase of recent Graduates art.
If you haven't yet booked a photographer, we are more than happy to come to your place after work (some weekends are free) with our portfolio and discuss your day - and we may even bring some of these framed works, now cluttering our office up!
Our parents album prices have changed recently and if you order two albums the price is significantly lower. We have also upgraded the albums and they are now in cream leather- made by Barbara Wiggins, supplier to Heals, Paperchase and Liberty.
Oh, I forgot to mention - if you were a guest at Julie & Haydens wedding - the images on the web gallery will be online at the weekend. You are welcome to contact us directly with any orders.
We got back from a "cultural" trip to Berlin with all its' cold war austerity and currywurst to head straight to Newstead Abbey in Nottingham which was warm and beautiful in the hazy spring sunshine.
Julie and Haydens wedding was blessed with lovely weather and had a very special, intimate feeling. We haven't covered a wedding at Newstead Abbey for two years, then two come along! We wish them both all the best for the future.
Berlin, by the way, was a really exciting city, with loads of turbulent history but the currywurst was no where near hot enough!
It was a real pleasure to see Rosie and Michel together in the grounds of Newstead Abbey. Not only did they never stop smiling - he could hardly put her down!
They were married at the Shakespeare Street Register Office but I suggested a quick walk around Newstead (which was near their family home and reception) for some shots of the two of them by themselves. It only took 15 minutes and provided them with some lovely images and some priceless memories!
We are currently exhibiting in The View from the Top Gallery, which is on the top floor of Waterstones, Bridlesmithgate in Nottingham. If you are looking for a photographer there are a few to choose from and it's nice to see some work framed and in a gallery setting. It's on until Sunday 15th April and on the 14th/15th there is also an exhibition of wedding designers.
Our work is by far the best - but I would say that, wouldn't I?
Hope you had a great Holiday!
A selection of your photos are now available for you to view and share with friends!
What a fantastic choice the Guildhall in Coventry was for a wonderful wedding. With a romantic backdrop of light snow, the day was magical.
You can enjoy the photos on the eyephoto website in the coming days.
Wedding photography is an increasingly competitive business and there are far more photographers offering a less formal style.
When we left the world of sculpture and painting for wedding photography, almost ten years ago, most wedding photographers were still obsessed with formal shots and demanded the undivided attention of their clients for at least an hour - and that was only the photographs of the couple!
Apart from the obvious group shots which most couples require a few of, we pride ourselves with working quickly and capturing arty shots without impacting on your day.
We will try to use this blog to give you an extra insight into us and our work - without making it too cheesy!
