Yagnesh and Tina - pre-wedding shoot in London

For a Hertfordshire based wedding photographer, I seem to be spending most of my shooting time in London these days - not that I mind of course, London is a great place for any kind of photography.

Yagnesh and Tina will be married in Hitchin in August and wanted some shots taken in London and specifically in front of the famous lit displays of Picadilly Circus which I did with my portable lighting gear. Because the weather was a little inclement (to say the least - the rain was lashing down) we ended up at the Barbican under cover and out of the rain. After it dried up we made our way to Picadilly for the end of the shoot. You’ll see Yagnesh and Tina’s wedding photos in the next couple of weeks!

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Debi and Phil - pre-wedding shoot in North London

Last Thursday saw me back in London for a pre-wed with Debi and Phil who get married next month. Because they asked for an area of North London I know very well from when I lived there, I knew where to take them for some really interesting places, including Holly Village - a very gothic styled private estate in Highgate, built by the founder of Coutts Bank (where the Queen keeps her overdraft).

We walked from Hampstead Heath to Parliament Hill for some panoramas of London, then up to Kenwood House where we had a well deserved cup of tea!

Please enjoy!

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Robyn and Jamie

Robyn and Jamie are a great couple whom I have come to know very well over the past few months, undertaking a pre-wedding shoot in London and shooting a boudoir session with Robyn a few weeks ago. They had their wedding on Friday, which was a pretty dismal day for weather - and that’s the very first time this year I’ve had to say that - I suppose my good fortune had to end sooner or later!

Even though the rain came down as we left the church in Royston, it cleared for a long period for the reception which took place in the regal setting of Fanhams Hall Hotel in Ware, Herts. We had plenty of time for the all-important bride and groom portaits before the wedding beakfast got underway and the rain returned. Jamie is a sergeant in the Rifles Regiment and had just returned from a field exercise on Salisbury Plain the day before! He looked fantastic in his No. 1 dress uniform complete with campaign medals but I’m sure you’ll agree that nobody could have upstaged the beautiful Robyn in her wonderful dress. The couple had booked a Toastmaster at this wedding (Dennis Ruttledge) who is a great character and did a great job of helping me by rounding up family and friends for the group shots. In red formalwear for the wedding breakfast, he’s shown here in his evening suit announcing the bride and groom’s first dance.

I always take loads of detail shots at my weddings as couples spend many hours and cash on them and they help to make the day what it is - I loved the message on the small boxes of matches that were at each place setting. 

Please enjoy these images from Robyn and Jamie’s day.

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Stephanie and Matt - pre wedding shoot in London

After the calm greenery of last Saturday’s country shoot, Sunday saw me in the capital with Stephanie and Matt, who tie the knot in October. They met at a club called Eros - hence the Picadilly Circus shot with the famous statue. After that, we moved East to Spitalfields and its surroundings which offer many characterful spots for great images - London is such a good place for shoots as there are so many different sides to it - urban, green, derelict - if you’re booked with me, where would you like for your pre-wedding shoot?

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Skye and Liam - pre-wedding shoot in Bedfordshire

The Swiss Gardens is part of the Shuttleworth Collection of vintage planes in Bedfordshire and was the location of choice for Skye and Liam, who get married in October. The grounds are lovely and feature many species of birds, including a few peacocks who were relaxing in the shade on a very hot day. Skye and Liam are a very funky couple and were pretty much relaxed and up for anything - I got some really cracking shots of the two of them to celebrate their engagement and upcoming wedding.

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Laura and Rob - A scorcher of a wedding!

Phew - this is my second post of today - I have been extremely busy over the past week, with pre-wedding shoots, a boudoir (scroll down to see shots from this) and two weddings!

Well, yet again my luck continues to hold as the sun shone - in fact it was around 28 scorching hot degrees last Saturday for Laura and Rob’s wedding. I started the day at Rob’s Mum’s house getting Laura’s and her bridesmaid’s preparation shots and then dashing off for the service.

St. Mary’s church was the venue for the service in the town of Old Hemel in Hertfordshire. Not to be confused with Hemel Hempstead (its new town big brother), Old Hemel is a beautiful little place with a picturesque high street full of quirky shops and lots of little characterful alleyways. I shot Laura and Rob’s portraits in and around the town, after which we finished off the day at the reception in St.Albans.

Laura and Rob’s gorgeous little son Leo is pictured here too - and what a smart well behaved chap he was!

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Kate and Martin - Midsummer's wedding

By the time Kate and Martin got married on Midsummer’s eve on 20th June, I had seen them many times - not just to discuss their wedding but also to share a day with them in a beautiful part of Norfolk doing their pre-wedding shoot. The wedding itself took place within Offley Place country house hotel in Great Offley near Hitchin, Herts. with the ceremony held in its lovely orangery.

The wedding itself was very informal, with Kate and Martin happy to do the Bride and Groom portraits BEFORE the ceremony when they had no time pressures. The food consisted of a hog roast with a huge barbeque followed by a sit-down buffet. The cake was mouth watering…..I have posted a few detail shots here as the details at this wedding were just so good! 

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