Arley Arboretum Engagement Session :: Libby and Ricky
“It never hurts to keep looking for sunshine”
As a photographer, winter can be pretty depressing. The lack of colour can make taking beautiful photographs a real challenge, so seeing Spring come to life is like a creative weight being lifted from my shoulders. This was particularly true when I met with the lovely Libby and Ricky for their engagement shoot at the stunning Arley Arboretum. Libby had chosen this location as it was the place her parent's wedding had taken place, and I am so glad she did. With the greens finally appearing and the daffodils scattered across the ground, the arboretum dazzled for us in the gorgeous Spring sunlight. Libby and Ricky are a truly wonderful couple and I cannot wait to capture their summer wedding later this year!
Photography :: Why shoot film?
“To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child.”
If you follow me on Instagram, you'll have heard me badgering on about my new found love of film for a while now. I purchased an EOS 3 from eBay a couple of months ago and have taken that long to shoot a whole roll of film. Frankly, I found the whole thing pretty terrifying. I am young, and all of my photography experience has existed in the digital world, and shooting film is a lot harder in the respect that you have no instant results and you really have to know what you're doing in order to not have a roll of duffs returned to you on developing the negatives. However, conquering film has been something I have been heavily focused on for a while now, and I really wanted to talk about my reasoning behind it on here, so I can reference future clients back to why I choose to shoot film in a digital era.
1. It makes me a better photographer.
Although shooting digital certainly isn't easy by any means, it can be a tad lazy. If you are in a tricky situation or you are looking for a specific moment, you can take the trusty 'spray and pray method' and shoot like crazy just to be sure you capture what you are looking for. This is easily done when you know you have a limitless supply of memory cards in your camera bag and you can check the back of your screen after to make sure you got what you were after. There isn't really anything wrong with doing that, of course, but it is definitely not necessary. When you calculate the cost of purchasing film combined with the cost of developing, we're talking about 70p per shot, and let me tell you, there is absolutely no way I am spraying and praying and spending £3 pounds in the process when I know I am capable of getting that shot in one if I only concentrate. Shooting film slows you down, forces you to be present in the moment and makes you evaluate each individual shot. You can't shoot film successfully without making every photograph count. I want every 70p to be worth it and however shallow that motivation that may be, it sure works for me! I never shoot for the sake of it on my EOS 3, and I am only ever looking at the subject through the viewfinder rather than the back of my camera.
2. it looks better.
Sound obvious? Well, you'd be surprised. There are a lot of people who feel shooting film is going back in time, and in a lot of ways that is true. Digital cameras can do some amazing things that a film camera could never achieve, and they most certainly have their place. I'd never trade out my 5d mark iii for a film camera at a low lit reception, for example. Digital cameras are freaking awesome. But stick with me here. Film looks better. And that isn't subjective, it isn't an opinion, it is just true. Getting technical here, film processes colour and retains highlights in a way that digital just cannot achieve. Digital sensors just aren't capable of retaining the same amount of highlight information as film negatives are. For this reason, you can overexpose film, which makes skin look amazing, makes grey days look whimsical and bright, and makes the shadows in your image softer. Film also renders colour in a completely different way to a digital RAW file. If you see an unedited RAW (the equivalent of a digital negative.) straight out of a camera, no matter how great the camera or the photographer is, it will not look great. All of the colour correction involved in making an image look great is done in post, the image is completely neutral and therefore the colours are very bland and the images can tend to have a very 'meh' look about them. Each film stock has its own quirks and colour renditions, and therefore the image will often look 'complete' straight from being scanned.
Film Scan
Unedited RAW file
It also has greater density and contrast, which is what gives it that 'fine art' look, and although digital cameras don't have grain (well, they kind of do, but lets not get into that!), I kind of love the grain that you get with film anyway.
3. It's Really, Really Cool
Film is for photographers what Vinyl is for music lovers. It's a pathway to your art form's origins. Its the crackle over the clean. It's the authentic. Having physical negatives to send off for scanning is just so much better than having a memory card to pop into the side of my macbook. Film doesn't just make me a better photographer, it makes me a happier one. I get a thrill shooting digital, of course, but shooting film gives me a kick that I never get when I shoot on any other format. It makes me feel inspired and makes me feel connected to my art. I am shooting in the same way as some of the big guns of times past, I could shoot the same film stock as Richard Avedon if I wanted to, and that is pretty awesome. Here are a few of my favourite shots from my first ever roll of film:
Honeymoon Ideas :: A weekend Retreat
When I came across the quaint Upper Gelli Lodge , I fell in love. After a very busy few weeks, Jamie was in desperate need of some R&R and this modern and romantic little place appeared to be the perfect destination to do so. Set in a little corner of the welsh countryside, with enchanting views across the valleys, Upper Gelli is somewhere that I not only plan on returning to in the near future myself, but will be recommending to all of my lovely brides as the perfect honeymoon destination for anyone wanting to stay a little closer to home.
I wanted the location to be a surprise for Jamie, and so directed him (surprisingly successfully!!) alongside the steam railway and off onto a narrow lane, which twisted up to where the little blue lodge was nested. As soon as the amazing host Ros opened the front door, which was adorned with a heart shaped wreath of lavender, I fell instantly in love. The decor was perfect; clean, bright and romantic, with soft neutral hues throughout. Every little detail was accounted for, from the soft sheepskin rug in the bedroom, to the locally sourced products in the bathroom, Ros and Gary have created an experience that could only be described as perfect for each of their guests. I had booked the weekend as an early anniversary present for Jamie, and we were greeted by a bottle of local pink champagne, a little bundle of chocolates and a sweet anniversary card, and from that moment I knew that the weekend was set to be utter bliss.
The Lodge
This stunning display of Il Colle prosecco and locally sourced chocolate's from Just Three Drops in Llanfair was left for us on the table on arrival.
From the welcome hamper filled with local produce, to the beautiful fresh flower arrangement, the attention to detail was flawless. The hamper included some crackers, handcrafted by the incredible Foodies. I honestly didn't know it was possible to love crackers so much, but we polished these beauties off on the first evening!
On entering the lodge I was blown away by the beautiful, romantic and simplistic decor. the neutral hues and big windows through out gave the lodge an overall calming feel, which added to the relaxing vibe Ros and Gary have achieved throughout! It was a truly perfect atmosphere, which was only enhanced when lighting the log burner when night fell!
For me and Jamie, the crowning glory of the lodge was definitely the Hydropool hot tub! This four seater hot tub with hydrotherapy jets was honestly the best hot tub we've ever used! We found ourselves scheduling our days to make sure we took optimum advantage of this heavenly tub with its gorgeous views over the welsh valleys, completed with champagne and colour changing lights after dark, this was the hardest thing for us to leave behind!
The exterior of the lodge is painted in a cheerful turquoise blue, and is surrounded by the most beautiful details, from heart shaped wreaths to plant filled buckets, everything about this place makes you want to return again and again.
Personally, I think the lodge really came into it's own after dark, with the cosy open fires, the cute candle lanterns dotted around and the mood-lit hot tub, it turned into a true romantic haven for us to enjoy. Thank you to Ros and Gary for having us stay at your wonderful little holiday home, we will most certainly be back!
Cheshire Wedding Photographer :: Melissa and Ben
“I have looked at you in millions of ways and I have loved you in each.”
The thing that stands out to me about the wedding of Melissa and Ben is not the fact that Melissa was an absolute vision in beauty, with her breathtaking Ronald Joyce gown, it wasn't the incredible Hyde Bank Farm, decked out in fairy lights with the perfect intimate vibe, it wasn't even the fact that Melissa and Ben had organised the day down to the last second, so well that we spent a lot of the day running early making my job an absolute breeze. It was the love. The overwhelming all encompassing love. It was Melissa's parent's tears as they opened the gifts she had spend tireless hours hand crafting for them, it was the look on Melissa's face as she saw Ben waiting for her at the end of the aisle, it was her dad quoting Toy Story 2 and leaving the whole room with not a single dry eye, it was Ben's speech that left me in tears as he told their love story and how he had waited patiently for the girl of his dreams, it was seeing two people so completely in love that they danced the night away as though nobody else was in the room. My job as a photographer doesn't just allow me to capture time, it allows me to be truly present, and I honestly fall in love with these people, these moments, these stories. I felt honoured to be a part of this special couples day, it felt like a unity that would truly bring extra light to the world, and I am so thankful to have been a small part of that.
For those of you wondering - the Toy Story quote was this: 'Prospector: How long will it last, Woody? Do you really think Andy is going to take you to college, or on his honeymoon? Andy is growing up, and there is nothing you can do about it. Woody: You're right, Prospector. I can't stop Andy from growing up... but I wouldn't miss it for the world.' I didn't know I could be touched so deeply by a quote from toy story, but as it turns out, I could. As he finished his speech with the words 'I can't stop Melissa from growing up, but I wouldn't miss it for the world' I thought to myself, I wouldn't miss this moment or this opportunity for the world either. Thank you, Ben and Melissa, for allowing me to not only capture your day, but for giving me so much love to bottle up and take home with me.
The Tyson Family : A Lifestyle family shoot.
“If I am thinking correctly, a new baby is probably, and undoubtedly, the grandest gift that could ever be.”
Recently, I had the pleasure of shooting the beautiful Monroe Tyson in a lifestyle setting with her gorgeous parents, Kirsty and Lynford. Monroe herself was an absolute joy to work with, at 10 weeks old, she was full of smiles and personality and swaddled up in blankets of lace, surrounded by fresh flowers, she looked like a newborn disney princess. There is nothing I adore more than being welcomed into the homes of families and capturing a precious few moments, merely fleeting memories that will soon grow and change, and turning them into something permanent. This beautiful family have made a mark on my heart, and I hope that they love these moments as much as I do.
West Midlands Wedding Photographer :: Naomi And Kurt
“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart. ”
Naomi and Kurt got married in what could be described as a whirlwind. From the word go, they knew their destination. They knew that no matter what, they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. So when Kurt asked Naomi to be his wife in mid December, they set the date for the end of the following month. In doing this, they saw the true beauty of the love of their family and friends, as everybody came together to give them a beautiful and special day regardless of the short planning timeline. We were blessed with blue skies and golden sunlight, so even though it was incredibly crisp (AKA absolutely FREEZING) we were able to capture some truly beautiful moments. Naomi's stunning gown was a completely bespoke piece by the incredible Jenny at My Little Wedding Shop, which she turned around in six weeks, making Naomi's dreams of her perfect wedding dress come true. All other details of this day were bought to the couple by family and friends.
I have decided to try something a little different with this blog post. With every wedding I shoot, I provide my bride and groom with a slideshow of around 12 minutes, and thought I would create a shorter version to share this day with all of you wonderful people who check in and read my blog. The music was produced especially for Naomi and Kurt by my crazily talented husband. Let me know your thoughts! (Make sure you watch it in HD)
3 Tips for Getting Started in Photography...
“The artist is not a special kind of person; rather each person is a special kind of artist.”
Something I get asked A LOT is for tips on getting started in photography. I always find it pretty crazy that anyone would want my opinion on the matter, but I thought it would be easier to write a blog post summarising the things I think are the most beneficial in getting started, rather than having to try and explain it in a few words in a direct message to each person that asks. So here are 3 Tips for getting started in photography:
1. Research
Okay, so this might sound pretty dull. But one of the main things you can do straight away, before you think about buying a camera, before you even move from the exact spot you are sitting in right now this second, is start doing some research. Is their a certain style of photography you are particularly drawn to? Head to flickr or Pinterest and look it up! Find out exactly what images make you buzz, if landscapes make you weak at the knees, if their is an image that makes you internally exclaim ‘I want to be able to do that!’. What is the image coming to your mind as you read through this post? That will probably be the style of photography that means the most to you. Once you have found some photographs that you love, analyse them. Write down what it is about them that makes them great. This will work as an amazing reference to help you document your progress. You will look back at these notes and think ‘I know how to do that now!’ and it will honestly feel awesome.
2. Invest
This is something you probably haven't heard before. One of the most famous things you will hear photographers say is ‘You don't need an expensive camera to take good pictures!’. True, you can work on things like composition on an iPhone camera, and you can also get a pretty great shot. But the problem with this is you are completely limited. You are using a camera that is fully automatic. Do you know how many stops over or under exposed this image is? No. Do you have any control over (or idea at all) what the aperture is that you are using? Nope. The fundamentals of photography just cannot be learned on an iPhone or a point and shoot. The idea that you don’t need to invest in good equipment comes from a generation of photographers who don’t want you to be better than them. They will tell you that you can get a great photo on your iPhone, and then post an image of the same location taken with their camera which looks a million times better. Its a nasty trick, but the photography industry isn’t particularly kind to newcomers as a rule. I’m not saying you need to spend thousands, just get yourself an entry level SLR and a lens that suits your needs. You will find out what that lens is by applying my first tip. Of course, don’t think that having a good camera will make your photographs automatically professional, it just adds extra height to your limits. It gives you a much fairer platform to learn with. You won’t take it out for the first time and take the best photo you’ve ever taken. In fact, you’ll probably have much better images sat on in your iPhone photos folder. Sound contradictory? This takes me to my next point:
3. Practice
Research is incredibly valuable. Equipment makes all the difference. But the main thing you need to do is combine the two with practice. Something I have heard a lot since starting out is ‘You are amazing! You must have a really fantastic/expensive camera!’. As discussed before, this is partially true. However, I can guarantee, if I handed my camera to the next person they couldn’t get the same photograph out of it that I do. I am not saying this to blow my own trumpet, it is simply fact. Why? Because they don’t know how it works. The only way you can find out is by practicing. As soon as you get your camera, turn the dial straight into manual mode. Don’t even think about shooting automatic. Your camera is a device, it is not as smart as you. It is a piece of metal that makes it possible for you to create. Don’t assume that your camera, or anyone else’s camera, is doing any of the work. You absolutely need to spend a lot of time learning, practicing, failing, then trying again. For a while, you will wonder why you put your point and shoot camera down and picked up a manual SLR. But trust me, one day you will pass a point where you will never pick up your iPhone camera unless you absolutely need to. Knowing that the images you take are completely created by you, the settings you choose, and the ideas you come up with is a really great feeling.
So there are my 3 tips, I really hope that somebody reading this finds them helpful! I loved writing this piece and plan on writing similar tutorials/tips in the future. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments!