Goodbye 2021!
A round up of my favourites from 2021
Not quite as bad as 2020 ,but not as good as we’d all hoped for..
However, I got to photograph a number of weddings this year, both solo and as a second shooter for the talented Simon Butler and Imogen Eve.
Here’s a selection of my favs. Thank you to all my couples for booking me!
Some of the amazing suppliers involved in these gorgeous weddings…
Chafford Park Estate HD Hair designs R.M.MUA Rebecca Tolton MUA The Floral Workshop Maggie Sottero Go Bridal Maya Dress Next Moss Bros hire Jeys Heavenly Events Hire Your Day Leave it to us Boutique Balloon Studio Mint DJs Shakedown Emily at the Hairbarn Ringmer Slayed by Sophie Florist on the Farm Fross Wedding Collections Suit Supply Barns JJs House tfnc London ASOS Moss Bros Flowers By Design MDFood4Thought A Single Shot Production Disco fever Meryl Bridal The Anchor Inn Savoir Faire Hair Balcombe Place Boship Lions Farm Hotel Leeford Place Hotel Wed2B The Ravenswood Blackstock Country Estate East Sussex DJs Rory Jackson Hendall Manor
Clare & Luke's Wedding at Chafford Park Estate, Tunbridge Wells
Clare and Luke’s wedding at Chafford Park Estate
The last day of July saw my first ever wedding at Chafford Park Estate (and also first of two weddings there).
Clare and Luke booked me in early 2019 for their New Year’s Eve wedding in 2020. Which of course didn't happen. It was rescheduled to July 2021 and it was worth the wait!
I met Claire, her parents and bridesmaids getting ready at The Royal Wells Hotel to capture a little bit of bridal prep before they headed off in a friend’s vintage VW camper to the venue - Chafford Park.
Chafford park has two beautiful barns available, Clare and Luke were having their wedding in the smaller one and the reception in the bigger barn.
The weather was a little bit of a mixed bag but it held off enough for Clare to make a dry entrance!
The ceremony was beautiful and joyful and went without a hitch!
After the ceremony it Clare and Luke went for a very short drive in Luke’s beloved and balloon filled, VW Golf Mark 1 before being covered in confetti (the couple not the car!)
The it was drinks, relaxing, chatting and a little bit of magic!
…interspersed with group photos….
…. and also whisking the bride and groom off for some portraits in the beautiful grounds of the estate, and with Luke’s car.
The delicious wedding breakfast was hosted in the bigger of the two barns after the speeches.
Such a lovely day. Congratulations Mr & Mrs Bookham!
Here’s a list of Claire and Luke’s incredible suppliers:
Venue - Chafford Park Estate
Hair - HD Hair designs
Makeup - R.M.MUA and Rebecca Tolton MUA
Flowers - The Floral Workshop
Dress - Maggie Sottero (Alaina) purchased at Go Bridal
Bridesmaid dresses - Maya Dress - Next
Suits - Moss Bros hire
Cake - Jeys Heavenly Events
Venue styling - Hire Your Day
Catering - Leave it to us
Balloon Wall - Boutique Balloon Studio
DJ - Mint DJs
Band - Shakedown
Toni & Ben's wedding at Blackstock Country Estate, East Sussex
Toni and Ben’s wedding at Blackstock Country Estate
I stepped in to photograph Toni and Ben’s wedding very last minute, due to their booked photographer catching the dreaded C (and I had some big shoes to fill as their original photographer is amazing).
My first time at Blackstock Country Estate and what a delight! Toni looked just stunning as she walked down the aisle with her lovely son.
After drinks and greeting their guests, the newly weds and I went for a quick spin on the safari jeep to take some portraits by the lake (and the kids had a go too!)
The gorgeous barn was set up ready for speeches and the wedding breakfast (a very good BBQ!)
Cake cutting (delicious cake made by the groom’s sister), relaxing and another quick couple’s portrait session before the evening party kicked off.
And what a party! After the first dance as a surprise for the couple’s son, who is mad about Michael Jackson, they booked an MJ impersonator! (Rory Jackson from Briton’s Got Talent)
Congratulations Mr & Mrs R!
Toni & Ben’s Amazing Suppliers:
Hair - Emily at the Hairbarn Ringmer
Makeup - Slayed by Sophie
Flowers - Florist on the Farm
Dress - Fross Wedding Collections
Suits - Suit Supply
Venue - Blackstock Country Estate
DJ - East Sussex DJs
Michael Jackson! - Rory Jackson
Alice & Will's wedding at Hendall Manor Barns, Uckfield
Alice and Will’s wedding at Hendall Manor Barns
Alice and Will hoped restrictions would be lifted enough to go ahead with their wedding in April of this year as originally planned, but it was not to be so it was moved to August - and to a Monday (first for me).
I knew I was in for a treat when, upon arrival at the picturesque Hendall Manor Barns, I was greeted by an absolutely gorgeous and very colourful floral display and an amazing and slightly quirky wedding cake. Oh and a Fuji Instax camera for the guests to take pictures of themselves for the guest book - such a great idea!
Alice’s bridesmaids all looked stunning in their different colour dresses, as did Alice who also wore a beautiful crown of flowers.
Instead of confetti the new Mrs & Mr had bubbles. (Top tip if you’re thinking abut doing this - get a couple of bubble guns for maximum bubbles!) And then drinks, canopies and congratulations on the lawn of Hendall.
I took the newly weds off for some portraits in the beautiful grounds of Hendall.
Before rounding up the guests for some group photos
Then back inside the barn for a delicious dinner, speeches and to admire the beautiful stationery created by the bride’s sister Nancy.
After the wedding breakfast, it was time to take advantage of the lovely warm evening, fun with the Instax camera and a bit of a rest before the evening party started.
And then first dance and party time!
It was time for me to leave them to it but when I left there was a beautiful evening sky so I had to grab them for a few more portraits.
Thank you for booking me! It was an honour to be a part of your day.
Alice & Will’s incredible suppliers were:
Venue - Hendall Manor Barns
Hair and Makeup - Leigh Goodson
Dress - JJs House
Bridesmaid dresses - tfnc London and ASOS
Suits - Moss Bros
Flowers - Flowers By Design
Venue styling - Hire Your Day
Catering - MDFood4Thought
Cake - Kelly Mileham
Videographer - A Single Shot Production
DJ - Disco fever
Question - How do you want to see your photos?
The joy of prints
Answer - On paper not just on screen, right?!
Ok so that was a bit of a rhetorical question really as I love to see photos printed, which is why all 3 of my wedding photography packages and my family portrait session includes a small standard photobook. But I also offered a number of other books that you can upgrade to.
However….
I’ve had a bit of a rethink about the other books I offer and slimmed it down to just two. The Dreambook and the photo album. The main items I have dropped are the Deluxe photobooks in the different sizes. The reason for this is because the Dreambook is a far better product. The print quality is superior, the lay-flat design means there is such more scope when designing the books - and you can have a huge image printed across two pages. The production of it is more environmental friendly too as the printing press it is printed on uses no harmful chemicals. Plus it looks gorgeous and it is my favourite!