Returning to the SWPP convention last month here are some images from a superclass I took with Morag MacDonald and the gorgeous model Illy.  Morag is a master at using light, creating light and finding light where many people would never even start looking.  The object of the session was to make use of available light sources and experiment with adding in different kinds of light when necessary.  We were to be found shooting in the most peculiar places around the hotel.  The most entertaining spot was in a lift doorway, which required someone to keep an eye on the indicator above the door and Illy to be prepared to leap out of the way at a moment’s notice!

This first shot returns to the famous stone wall, much beloved of all photographers at the convention.  Halogen down lighters are a frequent problem in venues, so we experimented with how to use them to  your advantage with this shot.

This next shot is all about the eyes and the lips.  Illy had the most amazing eyelashes and her shiny lips really sing out in this quiet, contemplative shot.  This shot was taken on the floor – Illy was lying alongside a counter that had a strip light along the bottom.  The light was reflecting off the floor into her face.  This was shot in the lobby area of the hotel, yet it has such peace about it.

This next shot is light entirely with the available light inside a corridor.  I love the reflections in the big mirror that Illy is leaning on, again showing those amazing lashes and lips.

After darkness fell we ventured outside to see what shots could be captured on the dark city streets, that are in fact not quite as dark as you might think.  This next shot is lit purely from the light off an illuminated advertising panel.  Illy was a great model, very patient and even coped well with the unwanted attention of a local who decided to try and get in on the shots!  I suppose we must have made quite a sight – a posse of photographers all lying on the floor around a girl who was posing in front of an advertising board!

Another advertising hoarding provided the backdrop for this final shot.  In this one we did add in a little light from a continuous light source, as Illy’s face a was a little too dark.  I love the warm glow it brings to Illy, in contrast with the slightly blue light from the board behind her.

Last Saturday I met up with Liz and Richard to chat about their wedding and to do a pre-wedding shoot.  I love doing these as it gives me some time to get to know people a little better before their wedding, find out more about them as people, not just a bride and groom – their likes and dislikes, their passions, their interests and their story.  This usually means that by the time I meet them again on their wedding day I am more like a friend and so fit in more naturally to the day.

This particular meeting was slightly unusual in that it was the first time we had all met – Liz is returning home for her wedding, but they do not live locally any more, so this was the first time we all set eyes on each other.  This meant that we had a lot to cram into the time we had available, so less time than I would usually spend wandering around, chatting and taking photographs.  Oh and it was really, really cold, so nobody wanted to be outdoors for very long.  Another unusual step for me was to meet the couple at their wedding venue – the fabulous Royal Oak in Yattendon.  I generally like to meet with couples in a place that is special to them personally and perhaps significant within their relationship so that we can create some images that have meaning to them at the same time as having some fun and putting them at their ease with my camera!  But in this instance time was not really on our side, so we headed out into the garden behind the pub.  Of course at this time of year it is not looking its best, but I know it is going to be stunning by April when Liz and Richard are getting married.

The garden at the Royal Oak happens to feature a rather splendid Boules pitch (is that the right word?!) and I managed to convince them (without too much persuasion) to have a few games. And then the sun came out, oh the glorious low, warm winter sun.  I am afraid I did get a little geeky about the fabulous flare, but I think Liz and Richard were laughing with me

We also popped into the church where the ceremony will be held – an exquisite, tiny old church – think original frescoes and 12th century tiles, I was one very excited little photographer!  I really can’t wait for Liz and Richard’s big day, it is going to be gorgeous

January is traditionally a quiet time for photographers so it is when we all head off to trade shows and conventions.  There is plenty to feast your eyes on with the latest gadgets and gizmos alongside the newest offerings in presentation.  I usually browse through this quite swiftly taking the chance to catch up with people I know, but the main aim for me is to meet other photographers and to learn.  If I ever feel that I have nothing left to learn then I hope that someone will be kind enough to tell me to retire, but I am fairly sure I will never find myself in that position.  The fantastic thing about the Societies convention, held mid January every year at the Novotel in Hammersmith, is that there are some truly amazing people there who are ready, nay eager, to share their tricks and tips with anyone who is prepared to listen!  Masterclasses and Superclasses run on every topic imaginable from social media to mastering Lightroom taking in a whole range of photographic skills into the bargain.  The Superclasses are of a more practical nature with some amazing photographers showing just how you can get stunning results in really any circumstances.  In all honesty the location is not pretty (practically under the Hammersmith flyover), but this lends itself so well to classes demonstrating just how you can get fantastic results even in the most challenging of locations.

So I headed off to Hammersmith early one cold Sunday morning all geared up ready for two 4-hour sessions with some fantastic photographers.  The morning session with Michael Turner www.turnerphototraining.com was all about how to get the most out of pre-wedding shoots.  Although the morning was still below freezing we just had to get outside and see what we could find in this most urban of landscapes.

Our models for the morning were Raphael and the gorgeous Vivienne and they did an amazing job of not looking freezing for most of the shoot!  This type of workshop is also a great opportunity to bounce ideas around and try new concepts out on professional models who will patiently pose and follow instructions, managing to look stunning even when they must have been going numb!

These first shots were taken against the side wall of the hotel car park.  I love the repeating uprights and the spots of sunlight dappling in the background.

We then headed up the spiral fire escape on the side of the car park.  I love the pattern of the sun through the fence behind Raphael, which hides the fact that the steps really were quite grubby!

I think this image has a feel of Grease about it, but the concrete pillars really show that we are in a city.

This old, rusty service access made a great backdrop for close in portraits

We did venture inside to get warm a couple of times and eventually we gave in and started to explore inside the building for more shooting opportunities.  The walls inside the hotel are amazing and this one was particularly popular with photographers, for obvious reasons.

At one point we found ourselves in a lobby area that was little more than a huge glass box – there was nothing for it but to get in close and shoot into the light.  This is one of my favourite shots of the day, maybe because it was entirely my creation but also because it is totally my style – bright, light and romantic.

Huge thanks to Michael and Janet of Turner photo training for this session and to Vivienne and Raphael for their endless patience and good humour.

Things I learned on this session:

There is beauty to be found everywhere;

If you can’t avoid the grunge then celebrate it;

All photographers love that amazing wall inside the Novotel;

Vivienne is truly crazy, providing us with great entertainment throughout the morning.

It is always fantastic to get a 5 star review, and no more so than when you have had so much fun photographing a wedding.

“Hilary is such a wonderful and very talented photographer, she really added to our special day as our photographer at our August wedding. From the start to the end, she captured the whole day for us with her brilliant photos- they bring back so many happy memories. She has a knack of capturing those special moments, in such a friendly and unobtrusive way. (She’s also very organised and on the ball with everything, so you know your wedding day is in safe hands!). Thank you so much Hilary for everything- you really captured our special day for us and we were so impressed with the results. 5 star +++ Love Lauren and Dave”

Thank you so much for your kind words, Lauren and Dave. It was an honour and a delight to photograph your beautiful day.

Last week I introduced you to Kate and Nick who are getting married in March.  Between them they have four boys aged between 8 and 14 (poor Kate – all that testosterone!) and naturally they are to be a very important part of their big day next year.  So we decided to meet up for a family shoot in Sulham Woods, a familiar haunt for all the family.  After some acrobatics and posing inside a rather splendid (and completely silly) Victorian folly we headed up into the woods for some tree climbing.  The boys were excited to find and explore a World War II pill box from which I declared acorn war.  Naturally I had to remain neutral to protect my camera equipment but I hope there were not too many bruises the next day.

We had loads of fun taking these pictures, I hope you get some sense of that when you look at them.  Don’t forget to leave a comment and tell me your favourite image

Last month I met up with Kate and Nick.  I will be photographing their wedding at the fabulous Elephant Hotel in Pangbourne in March.  I usually meet up with couples around 2 months before their wedding for a pre-wedding shoot, but Kate and Nick were keen to do something when the trees were in their autumn finery, so where better to head than Windsor Great Park.  Kate really rose to the occasion, dressing in beautiful autumnal colours, but the two really need no styling.  They are so in love and so natural together that they were a joy to photograph.  I can’t wait for their wedding next year, I hope you like the pictures as much as we all do.

Tamsyn and Andrew got married last month in the gorgeous St James the Less in Pangbourne. I love this church, as it is where I got married and we can see the tower and hear the bells from where I live (it is great walking to a wedding  The church looked beautiful, as did the bride and her two gorgeous bridesmaids.  The reception was held at Hillfields Equestrian Centre in Lower Basildon, a venue that I love for its stunning views over the Thames Valley as well as the simplicity of the barns that still look like barns with original beams and barn doors.  The venue lends itself so beautifully to a highly personalised wedding and this one did not disappoint.  Allium Designs once again provided a stunning floral heart, the tables were decorated with flower-filled teapots and to cap the day off the guests were graced by a visit from Tamsyn’s horse, Jackson.  He had been polished and preened to perfection and even deigned to allow Andrew to hop on his back for a few photographs!  The evening was in full swing with a barn dance when I slipped away – what more could a photographer ask for?

When our good friends Lauren and Dave announced their wedding I was very excited.  I was also cheeky enough to ask whether they had a photographer yet and I was thrilled when they asked me to fill that role  I knew from the outset that they would never do anything on their wedding day just because that is what you are supposed to do.  It was going to be a personal celebration of their love and anything that they included was there because it said something about them.  The bride’s beautiful outfit was together from different items that she loved, the groom’s kilt was handed down from his grandfather, the bunting festooning the hall and the fences and trees outside, the Lancashire hotpot and sherry trifle, the seating plan that was overlaid on a map – each table was named for a place that they loved to walk together and featured a watercolour painted by the groom, every detail meant something to Lauren and Dave and that made it such a special day.

It started with Lauren arriving in her Dad’s beribboned pickup.  The Dave’s ring was a family heirloom, and Lauren made her own floral headpiece.  Naturally there was plenty of champagne, as it is Lauren’s all-time favourite drink and what better excuse to consume it with gay abandon?  The village hall was in a beautiful spot and Ingleborough top was visible in the distance.  All of the music played throughout the day was personally chosen by Lauren and Dave and was an eclectic mix indeed – from Tudor processional music to something to mosh to!  The evening ended with a barn dance, which is almost as much fun to photograph as it is to take part in.

Thank you Lauren and Dave for allowing me to photograph your beautiful, special day.  It was truly an honour and I hope that the photographs portray some of the joy and love that was so visible to everyone present.

I love to hear what people think, so please feel free to leave a comment

Earlier this month I photographed a beautiful wedding at Hillfields farm in Lower Basildon, Berkshire.  This is rapidly becoming my favourite venue, as it has so much potential for personalisation and the location is truly stunning.  Tamsyn and Andrew’s wedding had heaps of gorgeous details including flower-filled teapots and the groom on horseback that I can’t wait to share with you, but for now here are just a couple of images to whet your appetite.

I saved this blog post some weeks ago then forgot to post it, so here it is.  Enjoy!

I did post a little sneaky peek of Lauren and Dave’s beautiful summer wedding a couple of weeks ago.  However, the happy couple have just returned from their honeymoon right into the middle of hurricane Katya, so I though I would post a few more images.

Lauren and Dave – I hope these brighten a dismal day for you.  I can’t wait to show you them all  Welcome back to sunny England.