Emma Case Photography

what it really means..

2012-01-27T19:47:00.009Z

Oh my. We've won an award. It sounds funny saying it... and all night I thought someone was going to tap us on the shoulder and say 'Sorry, we've made a mistake...' but a few weeks ago me and Pete got all dressed up (I had my hair blow dryed and bought sparkly shoes and everything) and we went to a pretty posh do. It was the Wedding Ideas Magazine Awards in London and we had been nominated for 'Best Photographer 2012'... mental. We arrived and it was friggin' massive. A 3 course meal for around 300 people.. a proper stage bit, a big screen and lots and lots of people.

We managed to find our table, had dinner, sat and chatted and then the award ceremony started. I was sat next to the lovely Jo from Mandalay Wedding Stationery and we chatted about what you would say if you won... but I just want to point out that at this point I did not think in a million years that it would be me.. so... I took literally none of this information in. None of it. Instead, about 10 minutes later I was stood on that proper stage bit with a microphone and 300 grown ups in front of me. Here's a clip of what happens when a) you are in total shock and b) you don't prepare anything.

The night was then made even better by my good friends Lucy Ledger winning Best Stationer and Rachel Simpson winning Best Bridal Shoes.. I was so chuffed! I know just how hard these girls work and I was just so proud of everything that we'd all achieved... we were all crying when each other won!

After the ceremony the party started and everyone was so lovely, coming up and saying congratulations and Twitter went mental.. there's actually no way to describe how you feel when people show how chuffed they are for you.. it means so much. What also means so much is that a large part of the award is through votes.. from Brides, readers, other vendors.... so I just want to say a MASSIVE THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT VOTED.

We now have our little award sat in our house reminding us of how far we've come and I'm going to admit that I'm really proud of us. Emma Case 'In your face' and 'Bring the party' Pete did alright... :)

We also might have to publically apologise for maybe chipping our award before we even left that night...

...and they all lived happily ever after...

2012-01-08T20:51:00.005Z

So Saturday was the last show.. it was a lovely one to end on, with friends and family cheering us on, a little girl in the front row trying to offer us popcorn at every opportunity and me trying to hold back tears saying our last lines.. "..and they all lived happily ever after..." It's been two months of total hard work, joy, commitment, giggles, endurance, happiness, stress, freedom.. all rolled in to one.... and now, suddenly we're on to the next chapter...
2012 seems to be, for lots of people in our little wedding community a pretty big year.. lots of exciting plans, positive changes, a better work/life balance, bigger and better goals.. it feels good, like there's an exciting buzz in the air. I too feel really positive with what this year could bring. Me and Pete have a bit of a break from Weddings to take stock, re-organise, plan and also, most importantly, have some 'us' time.. so it might be a little early but we're having a little (well, actually quite a big) spring clean.. both personally and with the business. We'll still be available on email but we need to step back just for a few weeks... and I promise that when we do come back.. we'll be all sparkly with lots of exciting stuff to share...

caroline & stuart

2012-01-04T12:47:00.002Z

Caroline and Stuart are one of those couples that make my get butterflies... we hadn't actually met each other before their wedding day but the emails back and forth about giant tea cups and Elvis had me pretty much running to that field! You see Caroline and Stuart make stuff... giant tea cups, bouncy castles, giant light up initials.. you name it and their wedding was filled with their amazing creative talent!
The wedding ceremony was at St. Annes Church in Littleworth Common, Burnham, which was a stones throw from Caroline's Mum's house.. they then headed across the road to the marquee where a huge confetti gun started the party and the fun began! They had also made an old fashioned wooden stage with footlights, 4 giant funfair teacups, 1 giant funfair teacup cake table, giant wooden light up initials, an old fashioned funfair stall drinks bar, giant lollypop table numbers, an old fashioned style high striker to play on and a huge bouncy castle!! Caroline also had her talented Mum make her gorgeous dress and Caroline customized her shoes with 2400 swarovski crystals (which she put on herself!) and Stuart looked sharp in a gorgeous Stuart Hearn suit. It was incredible! They had wonderful speeches, a gorgeous cream tea and then we had dancing! Now ladies... if you ever get the chance to see Lee Jackson as Elvis then DO IT!!! He came on with his band and I swear all the ladies in the room went all swoony (is that even a word!?!?)! He was fantastic and everyone was up dancing!
The day was fantastic and both Caroline and Stuart had worked so hard to put it all together and it totally paid off.. such a talented pair... and bloody wonderful news.. they've now set up their own business called Vowed and Amazed where you can hire their amazing props or commision them to create bespoke pieces!!
Thank you Caroline and Stuart for letting us be a part of your amazing day... we loved it.. and I think I am actually in love with Elvis.
You can also see their wedding over on Rock n' Roll Bride too!! Cheers Kat!!

2011... blimey!

2012-01-02T18:37:00.025Z

So.... in 2011 we....
Photographed 40 weddings,
Shot and exhibited at both the Designer Vintage Bridal Fairs,
Went on two 'From Our Hearts' trips,
Shot Rachel Simpson's new collection,
Spoke alongside Noa (Featherlove), my all time favourite photographer at her London Workshop,
Won Best Regional Wedding Photographer for the Midlands and have been nominated for Best Newcomer in the Wedding Industry Awards (find out in Jan!),
Nominated for Best Wedding Photographer at the Wedding Ideas Awards (also find out in Jan!!)
Performed a five week run of 'The Lost Happy Endings' at the MAC in Birmingham,

Pete joined the business full time,
Moved house... aaaaaaaaand....
GOT MARRIED!!!!!

Shit me.

(Diana image by Joanna Brown)

We've also made the best friends anyone could ever make. A bunch of photographers, bloggers, designers, artists who have all come together because we love what we do and what each other does too. The support is incredible and I laugh, cry, learn and am constantly inspired by you all every day. We love you dearly and are so happy that you are a part of our lives.

I honestly thought our first year was pretty overwhelming but this second year has totally floored me in every. single. way. We've crammed a lot in but taking stock and seeing it all in front of you.. I can't really put it in to words. I'm looking up at my wallplanner at all our couples, thinking back to each of their wedding days. You guys mean the absolute world to me and Pete, we love being a part of your wedding.. we love watching you get married, we love seeing your nerves in the morning, we love our little walk in the afternoon to get some couple shots.. we love your families and we absolutely love that we get to give you memories of your day that you'll keep forever.. what a bloody amazing job and what a bloody amazing year.

My Girl.... Emma Case

2011-12-26T15:19:00.010Z

Hey, Its Pete!
I have hijacked Emmas blog to post something I want to share with you lovely, lovely people. Some folk will know me as Emma's husband, the gurning, bearded, photo bombing toddler with tourettes. Others won't know or care that much. I just felt an overwhelming need to devote a post to my girl, my wife, my soul mate, my best friend ..... Emma Case.
We've been together for almost 6 years now. I am so so lucky to know a girl like Emma. She is an immense package of love, laughter, strength, talent, honesty, modesty and possesses the largest most generous heart anyone could wish to encounter.

Anna Hardy Photography

Steve Gerrard Photography

Turns out she thought I was alright, and we got ourselves married this year! Easily the best day of my life!
In my little round up speech on the day (fumble of words) I intended to devote a whole section to Emma. I'll be honest, I was a heady cocktail of nerves, excitement and on the verge of tears. In circumstances like this I usually look annoyed! So I never did give Emma the full devoted eulogy she deserved. It was to revolve around a note I had written to Emma about five months into our relationship. I think Emma was working on the night. In the note I had said, just how much I would miss her that night, that just lying next to her, talking, laughing and ...... (well this is a family post!) being around her, made the world a better place, that she made me want to be a better person, to chase dreams together, how easy and natural everything had felt the first time we met.
I'll spare you the sick bucket.... My speech would then conclude that I felt exactly the same after five years together...... Awwwwwww

Being a big believer in karma, and the "you get out what you put in" attitude to life, it really is no surprise to me how amazing Emma is at everything she does. She throws herself wholeheartedly, unapologetically and courageously into every element of her life. Be it acting and performing, sign language, support work or even photography ;-)
I don't think Emma realises just how much she means to me, how in awe of her I am. She brings so much love and energy to any situation. Emma carries this immense glow and presence around her, people are literally drawn to her and cannot help but fall in love with her! I am literally bursting with pride that she is being honoured with award nominations for her photography!

Yes we've had ups and downs this year, and yes we are in desperate need of a holiday! (four years and counting) but just knowing that I get to be with you, laughing, dancing, doing stupid voices, walking in the park, sharing experiences with our beautiful friends is the best thing in the world.
Thank you for everything!
Your Boy....
Pete xxx

sneak peek...

2011-12-16T14:14:00.003Z

We love Romana and John..

dashing...

2011-12-12T14:16:00.011Z

I'll always adore weddings and will forever love to shoot them but it's always a lovely treat when I get to try other things.. so when I got an email from a certain lovely lady, London Bride.. asking if I'd like to do a shoot for a new project I was in.
The lovely Charley has teamed up with the equally lovely Fanni (from Fubu Media) and Josie (from Savoir Weddings) to do a wonderfully ambitious and downright amazing new online magazine 'Dashing' with the tagline 'an inspirational magazine for the stylish and spirited girl'. It launched on December 1st and I'll be honest.. I couldn't be prouder of everyone who was involved. To see all of us doing what we love, working hard, thinking of an idea and seeing it through.. and doing it so bloody brilliantly.. it makes me smile lots. I'm actually not a huge reader of magazines as I've never found one that ticked enough boxes for the kind of things I'm in to or like to read about.. but I'll be honest.. Dashing hits all the right nails on their heads.. within two minutes I had ear marked a pair of shoes and even Pete was reading it!
Girls.. you totally nailed it and thank you so much for asking me to be a part of the first issue... I can't wait for the next one!
You can devour the first issue here which includes my 'Sixties in the city' shoot and a little interview with me too!!
Here a few of my favourite images from the shoot.. a huge thank you also to the incredible Elbie for the fabulous hair and make-up and the stunning Alana Hillenaar for modelling.. :)

from our hearts...

2011-12-06T16:09:00.008Z

Back in September the From Our Hearts' girls (Anna Hardy, Debs Ivelja, Joanna Brown and me)... headed down to Jo's beautiful cottage in West Sussex for a few days of R&R... armed with our cameras we had the most beautiful day in Arundel, finding the most amazing antique shop with one room fit to bursting with cameras... we walked along the beach, me and Jo went horseriding (no photos of that thankfully!).. and then spent the rest of the time sat in our pj's or sitting in the garden eating scrummy food and drinking wine. These girls mean the world to me.. we haven't know each other very long but we love each other dearly and seem to know each other pretty well by now.. they are a constant huge support and often make me laugh so much that I cry... they're a bloody talented bunch too and I'm so proud of each of them..

We all went a bit mad in the camera shop and I bought myself a little Coronet 120 Cadet for a tenner and I've just got my first film back and I'm pretty chuffed with the results... :)

introducing Jub...

2011-12-05T19:46:00.004Z

Meet Jub... she lives in the forest and collects all the Happy Endings of stories to send them out in time for bedtime. This is my Christmas... and I must say I'm having a ball!

These are not my photos (obviously as I'm in 'em)... The Lost Happy Endings by Red Earth Theatre and mac Birmingham
Photographs copyright Robert Day
If you want to know more about the show or want to come and watch then click here... The Lost Happy Endings

what we've been up to....

2011-11-23T11:14:00.000Z

I've been a rubbish blogger recently.. it's been the most wonderful summer with so many beautiful weddings and then squeezing in as much as physically possible in between has meant that there was just enough hours in the day to do the work but not enough to blog about it! So I thought I'd do a bit of a quick summary of what's been going on over the past few months and then I'll try my hardest to be a better blogger and post stuff fully over the quieter months... deal?
So back in September the From Our Hearts ladies got together to mostly sit in our pj's.... and take a few piccies of course... :)

We travelled down to Whitstable and had the BEST time at Sinead and Dan's wedding....

Caroline and Stuart's wedding went off with a bang with a confetti gun and Elvis!

We were back at The Designer Vintage Bridal Show exhibiting and taking piccies...

Henry brought along his parents, Laura and Dan for a shoot in the park.. :)

Beth and Robin had the most beautiful day on Battersea Barge...

Me and Anna Hardy shot the (marathon) spectacular wedding of Aneesha and Ed....

Amber and Steve were married in Nottingham and even popped on a tram with the wedding party!

There's also a few more shoots that will be revealed soon including a bit of a boudoir shoot with someone you might just recognise... :)

The Lost Happy Endings

2011-11-14T23:51:00.006Z

If you've read my 'about me' section on my blog you'll know that before all the photography thing started I used to be an Actress (we use this word loosely and no I've not really been on TV at all)... but when bookings for weddings started to come in I had to make a decision... I couldn't be available for months to tour as I was committing myself to weddings so in my head I had actually thought that I had given up Acting and although it's been amazing and I've been really busy the past 18 months deep down I was starting to really miss it.
A few months ago I got a phone call from Red Earth, a fantastic Theatre Company I toured with a few years ago asking if I was free over Christmas... I knew I had weddings booked and didn't think it would ever be possible to fit everything in... but we've managed it!! It's going to be the most hectic Christmas ever BUT I'm acting again and I couldn't be happier!
The play is called 'The Lost Happy Endings' and it's a beautiful story based on the book by Carol Anne Duffy... and even though it's a children's show I'd definitely recommend it for adults too... (we haven't stopped laughing for a second in rehearsals!)
The play starts on the 3rd December and runs through until the 7th January so if you want to book tickets or find out more info then click the link below...
The Lost Happy Endings
...and I thought it might be nice to take a photograph a day all through rehearsals and through the run so you can see what we're getting up to...

Wednesday 9th November
First day of rehearsals and we get a glimpse of the set already!

Thursday 10th November
Every day after lunch a game of 'keepy uppy' should be compulsory in every work place...

Friday 11th November
I'm introduced to Little Red Riding Hood...

Monday 14th November
Caro got a lovely surprise for her Birthday...

Would be so lovely to see some of you there... :)

Bonnie and Chris {Elopement}

2011-11-03T23:03:00.031Z

I haven't blogged a full wedding in a while.. it's been such a busy few months and actually quite refreshing to just get on with taking pictures, but I've just finished this wedding and I had to share it.
Bonnie and Chris got in contact a little while ago saying they were coming over from Hong Kong, by themselves to get married in Edinburgh. They were having a simple ceremony in a hotel and then wanted some pictures around the city... I loved the idea and as I was sat on the train up to Edinburgh I felt excited... excited about their story, the love but most of all the intimacy of the day.
The morning of the wedding came and they both started to get ready, Bonnie with the help of Hannah and Claudia (Hair and MUA) and Chris on his own. I honestly don't think there's anything more beautiful than both getting ready on your own to make a promise to each other. It had a different feel to it... a real atmosphere.. and the cutest was that Bonnie was super excited and Chris was incredibly nervous.
Me and Chris made our way into the ceremony room and along with the Hotel Manager (both myself and him were witnesses), Hannah and Claudia (Hair and Make-up) and the Registrar we waited for Bonnie. Chris turned to me with a very serious face and said "Emma are you nervous?", I said "I think I'm excited"... he then said "Are you going to cry?".. and I said "I might.." With that Bonnie entered the room in the most amazingly beautiful vintage dress and headpiece with a great beaming smile and Chris burst in to tears.
The ceremony was beautiful, just writing about it I'm smiling... it was so intimate and real and the love that came from them both was incredible.. they were really saying their vows to each other, nothing else mattered and by the end we were all crying, even the Registrar had to stop as she got choked. They did it, they declared their love to each other... and now Chris had a beaming smile to match Bonnies... :)
After the ceremony we went back to the room as Bonnie had a birdcage veil (two incredible veils in one day!)... and then we headed out by bus with coats and umbrellas to brave the Edinburgh weather. We then had the most amazing few hours wandering around the city taking pictures. We stopped for lunch and were given a free glass of champagne each and ended up in a well known Supermarket where Bonnie just kept picking random things up off the shelves to have a photo with..
It really was an incredible day. I actually feel that in some ways it's changed me as a photographer. It gave me time to concentrate on their story, their love and what's important and I maybe feel that I travelled back on the train with a slightly different pair of eyes...
I will always be a big part of Bonnie and Chris' wedding day (as a witness, their photographer and being, for the majority, their only guest) and for that I feel incredibly lucky and truly honoured. What a magical thing to experience.

What? Another sneak peek? Geeez...

2011-10-21T00:09:00.003+01:00

Just a little peek of Laura and Will's wedding.. they are ace. Laura emailed me a few weeks ago and attached a picture of her in a hot tub.... in her wedding dress.

an elopement sneak peek...

2011-10-16T21:56:00.005+01:00

I could photograph elopements every week.... and I could photograph these two every day...

Happy Birthday Petey Pete...

2011-10-06T17:53:00.001+01:00

Your first birthday as my husband... I love you stupid amounts...

sneaky peek...

2011-10-02T10:29:00.003+01:00

Yesterday was the cutest, the funniest and the fastest wedding with Bridget and Boris... we love them so...

The Feather Love Workshop (a sneak peek...)

2011-09-23T10:40:00.004+01:00

A few weeks ago I had the most surreal, wonderful, humbling, enjoyable, nurturing, exciting, funny, unbelievable and memorable day speaking at the Feather Love Workshop in London... for now here's a little sneak peek of the shoot.. a full blog post is coming soon...

Designer Vintage Bridal Show is back!!

2011-09-19T14:30:00.002+01:00

Wanna come to a wedding fair that you actually like? Well the fabulous Designer Vintage Bridal Fair is back with amazing vendors, fabulous dresses, shit hot entertainment and a lot of stuff that you would actually want at your wedding. It's a goodun and me and Petey Pete are gonna be there again eating cakes, taking photos and chatting to everyone!! Wahooooooooo!
This year it's at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground and it's on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th October... it's gonna be ace!
Please check out the website on how to buy tickets etc.. oh and did I mention that a bunch of great bloggers are gonna be there too!! Rock n' Roll Bride, Love My Dress, Boho Events, Beyond Beyond and OMG I'm getting Married are all gonna be there! Wahoooo! Other fantastic vendors include Magpie Vintage, Rachel Simpson Shoes, Little a Floristry, AVA Event styling, Lucy Ledger Stationery, Boutique Baking Company and The Couture Company to name just a few!!
So... who's coming? :)
Here's a few images from the promo shoot we did a few months ago...

Nifty thrifty...

2011-09-17T19:09:00.006+01:00

The best day off has to be a car boot or browsing a charity shop or two.. you simply cannot beat it... these are a few recent purchases.. although one or two high street shops might have also crept in here too... I'm pretty much trying to compensate for the lack of holiday this year I think.. retail therapy for sure...
My bestest recently has to be my pale green fan.. me and my friend Zoe went to the BEST car boot on Wednesday and came back with loads of great stuff.. the fan is beautiful and we both grabbed hold of each other and squealed when we saw it. Zoe also managed to get a typewriter for a quid.. get. in.

1) Blue tool box from etsy 2) 1950's kitchen Dresser from ebay
3) Pale green fan from Car boot 4) Slippers from Accessorize
5) Vintage frames from Car Boots, Charity Shops and my Mum's house
6) Clothes from Topshop & Miss Selfridge
7) Shoes from Charity Shop 8) Typewriter from ebay

Look what we got...... :)

2011-09-15T10:42:00.006+01:00

Our gorgeous friends were amazing on our wedding day. Everyone helped out enormously and happily accepted roles of DJ, celebrant, hall stylist etc and a few others pitched in in their own little ways without us even asking.. for example.. where did the smoke machine even come from???
One of these peeps was Tom Slee who came along with his video camera and filmed THE. WHOLE. NIGHT. Like all of it... even filmed himself buying a drink.. that's just how much he filmed. So here is a couple of minutes.. it's the surprise bit too and makes me soooooo happy every time I watch it...

Our surprise Wedding! from Emma Case on Vimeo.

So, so happy........

sneak peeks...

2011-09-05T10:16:00.004+01:00

What we've been up to lately... (having a ball!)....

sneak peek...

2011-09-01T10:19:00.003+01:00

cute little wedding video..

2011-08-24T16:40:00.004+01:00

My husband Pete made this little video on his iPhone at Ian and Jo's woodland wedding... I don't know about you but I think it's rather cute.. :)

Ian & Jo - Wedding in the Woods from Pete Smyth on Vimeo.

little gift giveaway...

2011-08-24T11:26:00.006+01:00

I ran a little giveaway over the weekend for anyone who left a comment on my kapow! post that they would get a little gift of my cute little magnets in the post...

Well ten peeps were picked at random and here they are...

http://www.campbellphotography.co.uk/

http://racheltweeddale.blogspot.com/
http://www.candysnaps.co.uk/
http://michellewaspephotography.blogspot.com/

http://bestofbuttons.blogspot.com/
http://www.elliegibbons.blogspot.com/

http://kirstenmavric.co.uk/blog/
http://vintage-appeal.blogspot.com/
http://www.xantheberkeley.com/
http://bethdoodles.blogspot.com/
Please take a look at this talented bunch... it's so lovely to see who follows your blog and how creative everyone seems to be.. makes you feel good!

If your name is on the list then you should be getting an email asking for your address and you should be getting your magnets very soon!!

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!

I like doing giveaways.

kirsty and rob

2011-08-21T22:33:00.029+01:00

Having met Kirsty and Rob about a month before their wedding, wondered the streets of York, took some gorgeous pre wed pictures, then spent the evening in one of their favourite pubs, drinking, eating and admiring the taxidermy strewn walls.... stuffed shrew anyone? Well, I knew what a beautiful couple they were and what a gorgeous wedding they would be having....an outdoor service on a gorgeous farm location in Ripon, just north of Harrogate, Yorkshire. Add in a stunning marquee scattered with hay bales, garden games, humongous cheeses, delicious pork pies, music by a beautiful acoustic duo....polished off with an amazing mobile chippy wagon and Thai Lanterns set off around an open fire. I'm in Love with this wedding and this beautiful couple and I have a feeling you'll fall in love with them too.
I also have to mention the wonderful Linda from Dresses at No 9 who made Kirsty's beautiful dress. Linda has made a few of my Bride's dresses and not only are they amazingly beautiful but Linda is too. It's such a pleasure being able to photograph other people's talented work... it always feels such a lovely team effort for our brides...
Kirsty and Rob... your wedding day was absolutely beautiful from start to finish and me and Pete are both so honoured to have been a part of it... :)

kapow!

2011-08-19T19:45:00.009+01:00

We're moving. Yep.. in the middle of peak wedding season we're moving house... in a week to be exact. This is probably the busiest I've ever been in my life but I'm so excited! We have a bigger house waiting for me to fill with all my stuff and I'm already pinteresting and designing each room to within an inch of it's life.

So many good things are happening right now and I'm worried that I haven't got time to take it all in and appreciate them... so I'm going to write them down.. I always like going back through old blog posts... especially one's like this from October 2009! You suddenly realise how much has changed!!

So fast forward to August 2011 and I definitely have a lot more 'good times' than bad....

My couples are ACE. Massive FACT.
Pete passed his driving test yesterday and I am so happy for him!
We're moving to a bigger house with a park next to it.
I'm a guest speaker at my all time favourite photographer's workshop (Feather Love) in September.
It's a month until I sit in my pj's for four days with my 'From Our Hearts' girls.
My hair is growing and is finally past my shoulders.
I am completly in love with my new website and am so excited to launch it in about a month! (watch this space!)
I get to watch Edward Sharpe and the magnetic Zero's at the end of the month.
I found another typewriter in a charity shop (that is now five we have in our house)
I think I actually might be organising an 'Emma Case couples' little party! (mental)
I get to work with my husband.
I have some very exciting projects coming up with another photographer, a designer and my album company :)
I'm doing a childrens play at Christmas which has Sign Language in it.
My friend is back from her travels in India (I missed her lots)
I've been married 5 months this Saturday... :)

I feel so lucky right now... and grateful... and happy...

Little Giveaway...
It's funny... whenever I get something through the post to do with the business... business cards, packaging etc it always really brings home how far we've come and today another batch of my little magnets arrived. I love these little magnets and they really do symbolize everything we've achieved.. sounds silly but amidst the chaos they really make me smile. So I thought I'd give a few away.. it's only a little token but I love getting something in the post so want to do the same for someone else... so if you'd like some cute little magnets for your fridge then leave a comment below and I will choose ten at random on Monday...

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

sneak peek...

2011-08-17T13:01:00.003+01:00

Blogging these beauties on Monday.... :)

ian & jo

2011-08-13T19:08:00.082+01:00

To be honest.. I'm not sure I want to write too much about this wedding as I've filled this post with images so I think they should definitely do the talking. But I do want to say that Ian and Jo's wedding was quite simply unbelievable. They, for me are the epitome of doing things 'their way'... but not to try and fit in or be cool or any of that... their wedding was completely them and every one of their family and friends embraced it. From the amount of support they had putting it all together, to their incredible outfits (Jo made her headdress herself) to their wonderfully unique ceremony... it was simply beautiful. Me and Pete had the most wonderful day and from now on I'm adding 'stealth poses' to my couple shoots ;)
Thank you Ian and Jo for your wonderful, colourful, fun and imaginative vision and I have no doubt that your future together will also be filled with all these wonderful qualities too.
But then again nobody should have expected anything less from two people that were dressed as a strawberry and a banana when Ian proposed? ;)
There are a lot of images in this post so you might need a cup of tea or something... think I might even have one and have another look... :)

rachel simpson

2011-08-12T16:00:00.001+01:00

When you think of Rachel Simpson you think of the most beautiful, elegant and femine shoes.. shoes with a slight vintage feel.. gorgeous colours and cute little accessories... but when I think of Rachel Simpson I also think of the most wonderful, sweet, kind hearted, funny and most genuine lady you could ever meet. After first meeting Rachel when I was involved with the Designer Vintage Bridal Fair last Feb I now consider her a friend and when she asked me to photograph her new collection I was completely touched but at the same time... shit scared. Within the industry her brand is really well known.. in all the Bridal mags and on a lot of my Bride's feet on their wedding day so for me this was pretty mega. Rachel wanted photographs of her new collection (which I have completely fallen in love with!) for her new look book and for other publicity. I've never shot anything like this before and when she mentioned that we had the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton as one of the locations I was doing both a happy dance and an "Oh my god.. can I do this?' sort of wiggle....
I had such a great time on the shoot... Rachel is wonderful to work with, the models Lana and Verity are bloomin' wonderful too and we had great hair and make-up from Make-up by Jodie. It's funny as it was also the first time I'd really worked with models and a brief and also the theatre was very interesting with regards to lighting. I'm more of a natural light photographer and although I did bring extra lighting I ended up not using any of it. It made me really work with what was there and I'm actually glad I didn't use any. The whole shoot was completely out of my comfort zone but it is true about jumping in with both feet... you can really surprise yourself with what you can achieve.
A few weeks ago Rachel presented me with the look book. I honestly cannot describe to you how it made me feel. To see my pictures in a book that I would have looked at not too long ago and thought of as completely unreacheable.. I'm not afraid to say.. I was absolutely filled with pride.

Please check out the Rachel Simpson Shoes website and she's also offering free delivery for the whole of August so I'd bag a pair now!!

sneak forest peek..

2011-08-08T11:40:00.002+01:00

There are no words really...

charlotte & dan

2011-08-03T00:12:00.020+01:00

Charlotte and Dan were married in good old London Town... we started the the day at Charlotte's hotel and although the rain clouds threatened nothing was going to stop that wonderful smiley face of Charlotte's from beaming! She is like THE happiest bride. And her gorgeous multi-coloured dress matched her bright personality too and when she finished it off with the most wonderful flower headpiece I'm sure the sun thought he'd better join in the party!
We all then headed to Wandsworth town hall in a London bus (which would be the transport for the whole day) to meet Dan and THE most wonderful registrar.. seriously this smiling lark was catching. The ceremony was warm, funny and of course, smiley and as we headed outside for a big group photo the rain decided to make another little appearance.. so everyone hopped back on the bus with their cans of pimms and headed to a pub while I grabbed the couple for some shots in Battersea Park. Another short bus ride and we arrived at Bolingbroke Pub and was greeted with the most beautiful table settings of flowers, menus (designed by Dan) and name places with the worst jokes on the other side.. oh and the cutest little owl cake toppers!
Speeches were given (stood on benches) and food was eaten.. including the biggest chocolate cake I've ever seen and all in all everyone had caught the smiling bug. It was a lovely wedding from start to finish and Charlotte and Dan were such a beautiful couple... relaxed, happy and colourful... just like a wedding should be.

featherlove workshop

2011-07-29T13:11:00.011+01:00

This is a such a big deal for me. When I started my journey into the world of photography, there were many things that inspired me and kept me determined to be true to myself, to look for the alternative, the quirky, the individual. And most of all to be brave and believe in ME.

Noa Azouley-Sclater aka Feather love is a massive source of inspiration to me. The first time I saw her work was like an explosion went off in my head. The images had such strength and honesty. Although they captured beauty through a dreamlike fantasy, it also was filled with a gritty, dirty truthfulness. So unique and here’s that word again... ‘Brave’.. she was nothing like I had ever seen before or since for that matter. You feel the picture, you know its real and true to who Noa is. There is no gimmick or trend.

It is very important as a creative artist to find the real you and what makes you unique. Yes look to others for inspiration and encouragement, but ultimately if what you do is not ‘real’ it will show, you will not feel it, and this will be reflected in your work.

I was lucky to meet Noa last year when she was in London with her husbands band. She shot mine and Pete’s engagement shoot in a simple little church and I will forever treasure these images not only as beautiful pieces of art but also as a reminder of my own personal journey. Since then we have kept in touch as friends, mutually admiring each others work and I always dreamt that one day I would get to work with her…. and now it's happening. Noa is running a workshop in London and Belgium in September and I've been asked to be a guest speaker. Even just skyping with Noa for an hour gave me so much fire in my belly to really celebrate and push my own creativity and I'm so bloody excited to be a part of this...

The Feather LoveWorkshop

The Feather Love workshop is an artist workshop and is focused primarily on understanding yourself as an artist, increasing your connection to your creativity, staying inspired and innovative. Noa covers blogging, the wedding industry, getting featured, getting clients you want, artistic integrity, artistic philosophy, breaking rules and branding yourself along with your work.

Workshop Dates

LONDON - Wednesday 7th September 2011

BELGIUM - Friday 9th September 2011

INFO

There are many incredible technical photography workshops out there, but THIS workshop will be focused more on inspiration, finding your own style and voice in the industry and being fulfilled as an artist. Noa has compiled many questions that she receives from photographers and has put together a talk to cover all those questions. This will NOT be some class on how to make your work like Feather Love; instead it WILL be an inspiring talk and a shoot that will help give direction on how to find your OWN unique style and voice and also how to do so unapologetically! Noa strongly believes that each artist has their own path. If you lose your entire grip on reality when you see a beautiful photograph and you want your OWN work to give you that same feeling - this workshop is for you!

Included in Noa's talk:

* How she started in the industry and what step-by-step changes she made to increase

personal fulfillment

* Using the blog world to get 'free' advertising

* Getting the clients YOU want

* Finding your own influences and artistic style

* Artistic integrity

* Keeping inspired

* 'Shooting from the hip'

* Breaking rules to get what you want

* Finding and creating processing that you like

* Being the Art Director of your shoots

* Intuitive shooting

* What is the artist creature? Noa also discusses her philosophies on what it means to be an artist and how to merge your life, art and work together....

...and lots more!!!

Guest Speaker - Emma Case Photography

I will be discussing the UK industry, how these approaches can be made within the UK wedding industry touching upon how I started, what decisions I made to be true to myself, managing client's expectations as well as your own and how we can create our own path on our home turf by helping to break the mould.

There will be opportunities for you to discuss and ask questions and you will also be given time to shoot alongside Noa so bring your cameras (and also your dancing shoes as the workshop will be followed by what is more commonly known as an 'after-party'!!!)

Full day workshop €500 (£438)

To book your seat for London please follow the link... LONDON

To book your seat for Belgium please follow the link... BELGIUM

Think I might need to lie down.......
Shit me.