Suzi and Brian, whose wedding I’m very much looking forward to photgraphing in May, didn’t fancy the traditional pre-wedding photo shoot. Opting for something really different, Suzi opted to have me come and shoot some pictures of her and her bridesmaids as they talked plans for the big day. Not being one for ‘looking whimsical by a lake’, Suzi made some fresh pizza dough and then invited me round to capture the girls as they created their own pizzas. Couple of great bonuses for me here – firstly a beautiful kitchen with perfect morning light coming in through the windows, and secondly a lovely pizza all of my own to enjoy once I’d finished photographing. Very tasty it was too, thank you again ladies!

This little break between Christmas and New Year has given me a chance to catch up on a bit of website action and share with you some of my portrait work from a very busy December!! I had a great time doing all of these shoots – capturing children is very much like fishing I think – you have to pick the right spot on the bank (studio), have good weather conditions (lighting set-up), set up some good lures (teddys, mum and dad, whatever works!) and then have the patience to wait for the right moment and be ready when it comes!

Here are some of my best catches from the the last month.

Dress rehearsal photography is similar to wedding photography in many ways – nervous subjects trying to appear calm, only one chance to get each shot, constantly changing light and environments and most of all unpredictable! The only key difference, and one which adds a real element of challenge, is that flash is absolutely not allowed. Imagine a burst of white light from a dark auditorium – the actors would quickly become dazed and confused, or distracted at best.

Below are some of the shots I took for Nottingham Operatic Society‘s production of Fiddler on the Roof this week, from a selection of those that have been on display in the foyer throughout the run of the show. This is the society’s last production at the the theatre before the move to Nottingham Playhouse for next year’s production of Hello Dolly.

On September 25th I was a the beautiful Lace Market Hotel photographing the wedding of two very lovely people – Nick and Amanda. Our Indian Summer was just a little late on the scene for the wedding, but the Autumn wind and rain certainly didn’t dampen the spirits of the guests, or the happy couple who lit up the day with their wonderful love and affection for each other. Just a small selection of my favourite pictures from their day below. Enjoy!

Busy with the wedding season, it had been quite a while since I’d been able to let myself loose in the studio and try to be creative. What more enjoyable way to do it that in the company of 3 fab models, hairdressing guru Danielle Porter and make-up artist extraordinaire Natalie Stevenson. Armed with our respective kit bags, a large tin of Quality Street and some Haribo we set about beating away the Sunday cobwebs and making some images for our portfolios, and hopefully for your enjoyment. This is what we came up with, comments welcome as always.

I was very excited to find out that a number of my good friends were going to be involved in the world premiere of Saturday Night and Sunday Morning – A New Musical, and was even more excited to have the opportunity to shoot some publicity photographs for the show.

It was a lovely sunny day down by the canal as I waited down on the pre-scouted location for the principal cast, writer and musical director to arrive which was great news as we were hoping to recreate some of the lazy time that Arthur Seaton used to spend down by the canals.

The shots are still going through a creative process with the director while we search for the right processing style to bring back the spirit of the heady 60s weekend featured in the show, but here are some works in progress to whet your appetite.

I’m sure more pics will be taken as the world premiere approaches in May, not least the dress rehearsal shots at Nottingham Playhouse which I’m already looking forward to. The show is in very talented hands from all involved and I’m sure it will be a great spectacle and a fitting tribute to Alan Sillitoe the author, who sadly passed away last year.

Back in July, in the blazing sunshine in the beautiful Peak District, I had the honour of capturing Ruth and Mike’s wedding day – almost a year after meeting them for the first time at the reception venue, the Isaak Walton Hotel. These guys are just so incredibly lovely, and so obviously perfect for each other. The touching words in the speeches said it all really and it was a real privilege to hear some of the details behind their relationship. I genuinely had a great day photographing Ruth and Mike’s wedding and really hope I’ve done justice to the fantastic day of fun and laughter that unfolded before me.

Nick and Amanda – you couldn’t meet a lovelier couple. From the moment I met them up by Nottingham Castle they were full of smiles and laughter for the whole of our hour together. Time flew by as we messed around in the grounds of the castle. We spent some time talking details of their Big Day of course, but mainly we messed around. We all had great fun shooting some casual snaps (as you’ll see below) and I’m very much looking forward to covering their Wedding  in September at the Lace Market Hotel.

A Pre-Wedding Shoot is included with my standard wedding package, and help builds up important understanding, chemistry and allows some good time to talk Wedding plans before the day arrives and there won’t be time to talk  any more. If you’re getting married in 2012 please get in touch for a quote, or even just a chat.