Essential Images Weddings

We are feeling the Valentines Day love - New Forest Wedding Photographers

2012-02-08T12:00:00.001Z

Romance is in the air. Feel it in a kiss!

This was a lovely wedding at the Town Hall Romsey and then a lovely walk through to the Abbey Gardens where we took some very romantic pictures!

New Forest Wedding Photographers

2012-02-05T17:47:00.000Z

I just love this picture! This couple were such fun on their pre-wedding shoot in The New Forest (we have since photographed their wedding which was fun too!)

I thought Valentine's Day coming up was a good excuse to share some photographs of love, moments of magic which we see at pre-wedding and engagement shoots.

Talking about the wedding day never fails to ignite laughter and excitement in couples and it is a favourite time of mine! It gives me a warm glow too! :)

It Saddens me.....

2012-02-03T13:00:00.016Z

It saddens me to hear of yet another professional photographer giving up photographing weddings:(

I had a long conversation with this photographer, a colleague we had met on professional seminars. He had taken the decision not to be a wedding photographer any more. The reason? He felt he could no longer compete with the low prices some photographers seemed to be able to work for!

He said that he felt that couples were choosing photographers on price, rather than the photographs they liked! Also there seemed to be a mindset that wedding photography was all about taking photographs on the wedding day, uploading to computer and then downloading to a CD and handing the CD to the bride and groom! Oh dear, this wedding photographer will be sadly missed, his wedding photography was beautiful and when we were unable to cover a wedding, he was recommended by us wholeheartedly.

It was talking to him that made me want to put pen to paper (or blog actually!) to help you understand why professional wedding photographers' wedding pricing is higher than you may have envisaged.

Professional wedding photographers:

* Have invested thousands of pounds on professional equipment, cameras (not just one - we have back up cameras too), lens for any situation, lowlight, ambience, bounce flash, fill flash and studio lights for those rainy days! Storage for pics like you have never even heard of! In fact, equipment to cope with any situation!

* Belong to Professional Photography organisations and have passed rigorous examination boards and critiques to gain their qualification!

* Has dealt with hundreds of different wedding scenarios in churches, ballrooms, tiny rooms, marquees in gardens, outdoors

ie: for us a wedding on a boat in the middle of the Solent and a church with no lights, just candle light!

* Know the flow of a wedding day, where to be at what time and when and can adjust to changing circumstances and the unexpected!

* Don't just upload images to computer and then download to a CD. We upload images, back up, back up and back up again. We then spend days processing and editing giving relevant images a real WOW factor, creating some in black and white and some with selective colour.

* Listen! We listen to what you want, what you envisage for your wedding day photography! Your requirements will be different to someone elses - some couples want their photographs used in portfolios and others don't! ie: We had two couples last year who did not want their photographs published in any way - their wedding was not a public affair - it was very personal - we ensured it stayed that way!

These are just a few of the things professional wedding photographers do - I could go on much longer!

Professional wedding photography is our job, it is our passion, it is our profession!

This photograph was taken in daylight but given a romantic look with creative lighting.

This bride's personal hairdresser was present on her wedding day - capturing moments like this means a lot to the bride

We were privileged to be the wedding photographers at the very first outdoor wedding at Elmers Court

Black and White conversion with Selective Colour

The most important thing for you to remember is that you get on with your wedding photographers so that you can relax in front of the camera on your wedding day and it is very important that you love the photographs, not only on their website but in their portfolio too.

A truly romantic wedding by just candle light.

Once the dress is packed away and the cake has been eaten - you only have your photographs - Make sure they give you wonderful memories not just for the moment but forever!

Because of the cadillac we converted the photograph to black and white to give it a timeless feel.

When you meet someone - New Forest Wedding Photography

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000Z

When you meet someone who can cook and do housework--don't hesitate a minute--marry him!

-- Author Unknown

Now join hands, and with your hands your hearts.
-- William Shakespeare

New Forest Wedding Photographers - Maybe

2011-12-19T12:00:00.002Z

These words were read at a wedding we photographed and I thought they were absolutely lovely and I have meant to publish them on the blog ever since! The bride obviously read my mind because she sent the words to me!

I have absolutely no idea who wrote them, but if you know let me in on the secret so that I can add their name to the blog!

The wedding took place at Romsey Town Hall.

Maybe...

Maybe we are supposed to meet the wrong people before we meet the right one so when they finally arrive we are truly grateful for the gift we have been given.

Maybe its true that we don't know what we have lost until we lose it but it is also true that we don't know what we're missing until it arrives.

Maybe the happiest of people don't have the best of everything, but make the best of everything that comes their way.

Maybe the best kind of love is the kind where you sit on the sofa together, not saying a word, and walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you ever had.

Maybe once in a lifetime you find someone who not only touches your heart but also your soul, someone who loves you for who you are and not what you could be.

Maybe the art of true love is not about finding the perfect person, but about seeing an imperfect person perfectly.

and also

When you met, you both had no idea how each of your lives were about to be changed. . . . . .

. . . . . . . But then, how could you have known ?

A love like yours happens once in a lfetime. You are a miracle to each other. The one who was everything you had ever dreamed of.

The one you thought existed only in your imagination.

And when you came into each others lives, you realised that what you had always thought was happiness, couldn't compare to the joy of the love you brought together.

Together, you are part of everything you think and do and feel .

And by each others side, you believe that anything is possible.

Today is your chance to give thanks for the miracle of you. . .

You are and always will be, the love of each others lives.

As you can see the words are quite powerful, especially when read by the groom's daughter!

Words to make us blush-New Forest Wedding Photographers

2011-12-18T14:00:00.004Z

We have received a Christmas card from the father of one of our brides
which actually made us blush! It said...

'I have just seen our daughter's wedding DVD. It's fantastic! I'm so impressed and so grateful for your skill, professionalism and dedication to the detail. I feel quite tearful.' J

How sweet is that? Now I feel quite tearful too!

We absolutely love what we do and when we get such lovely comments I just can't explain the great feeling we get!

Thank you so much for choosing us!

New Forest Photographers play Hide and Seek

2011-12-17T12:00:00.001Z

Cute little bridesmaids play hide and seek at West Lodge Hotel

A bridesmaid story board

We just love to capture the moments and not the poses! A storyboard of pictures makes a lovely keepsake for the bride and groom.

How much of your life do you spend kissing?

2011-12-12T16:46:00.000Z

Did you know that the average person spends two weeks kissing during his or her lifetime?

Wow, I think a lot of that time is taken up on a wedding day!

I love the romance of weddings!

New Forest Wedding Photographers in Lymington

2011-12-01T11:41:00.000Z

A sneak peak into the very romantic candlelit wedding at All Saints Church Milford. Total darkness, except candles.

If we had used flash photography for these photographs the romance would have been lost.

The bride said "These are beautiful, thank you so much"

New Forest Wedding Photography

2011-11-23T14:55:00.000Z

I was out in the Forest on a photo shoot and the fabulous autumn colours of the leaves and trees reminded me of this lovely wedding picture.

Fun in the Autumn leaves

Just lovely natural wedding photography. Great fun!

Our wedding calendar was totally booked in 2011.

Can't wait for next year's weddings, we have some lovely couples and fabulous venues to look forward to, such as The East Close Hotel, Elmers Court and Christchurch Priory Church.

2012 wedding diary is filling up quickly.

For availability

New Forest Wedding Photographers in the dark!

2011-11-08T10:12:00.000Z

Remember remember the 5th November! Well one couple surely will as they got wed in the lovely All Saints Church in Milford on Sea by candlelight! Very, very romantic and incredibly memorable.

A sneak peak into a very romantic wedding!

We always arrive early for weddings as we like to get a few pics of the venue on the day and have a chat with the vicar and anyone involved in the setting up of the day and this time, evening.

We arrived at All Saints Church in Milford on Sea at 16.15pm and the Church was bathed in a very warm early evening sun and we knew we could get a few pics of the couple prior to the ceremony. No, I didn't get it wrong they were arriving together on this occasion.

All Saints Church Milford at 16.15pm

We then went back into the Church ready for the entrance of the bride and groom and walked into total darkness, except for candles! This was the most romantic candlelight setting! It was 16.55pm and very dark! Thank goodness the vicar had been allowed a mini light clipped to the sermon or she would have had to learn it off by heart!

At 16.55pm very dark in the Church and all the lights had gone out!

We are natural light photographers and rarely use flash but on this occasion it may well have been a useful aid, not to spoil the ambience of the ceremony but just to lift faces with a little light! However,we weren't allowed! Whew, good job we have professional equipment to cope with any situation! This truly was a need for our lowlight capability professional cameras!

We then went down to Milford Beach with the wedding party for the fireworks! Well it was, of course, 5th November!

We didn't stay for the wedding breakfast, but went to take pics of the tables! Wow! What a set up! It was the most professionally lit room I have ever seen! Stunning!

Pics to follow as soon as our romantic couple have seen them! They are now away on a very romantic honeymoon!

This was a wedding to remember for a very long time.

New Forest Wedding Photographers at South Lawn Hotel

2011-11-04T11:33:00.000Z

The ceremony took place at Ringwood Registry Office and then we followed the bride and groom to Milford on Sea, first to the beach and then to South Lawn Hotel.

We were to take photos of the bride and groom on the beach at Milford but it was such a hot October day the car park and the beach were absolutely packed and our bride was too shy to get out of the car! Bless her!
So after some pics of them in the car at Milford beach car park we went back to South Lawn Hotel. Fortunately the Hotel has some lovely grounds so we took the bride and groom photographs in the gardens there!

Bride arrival at Ringwood Registry Office in glorious sunshine

Exchanging of rings - bride's first

And then the groom's

Ah! Time to lay down whilst all the boring stuff is going on!

Now we follow the wedding car to Milford Beach

ah ha! The bride and groom think they can sneak a kiss! We miss nothing!

Milford Sea front and the bride and groom may not want to get out of the wedding car but I think everyone on the beach wanted them to!

Cute wedding cake!

The wedding breakfast at South Lawn Hotel

And our lovely bride and groom get their pics together in the gardens of South Lawn Hotel!

The groom was slightly dishevelled at this point - not at all sure what went on in the back of that car!!!

Oooh lovely, the first dance! I do believe the bride has her hand on the groom's bottom! As I say, we miss nothing!:)

Always we do photos with and without flash so that we can be sure to get the ambience of the first dance!

And, of course, me being me when there is an old car involved I just have to give at least one photograph a sepia finish!

And our couple sent us a lovely message 'The photos are amazing, we are over the moon. You are both so good at what you do. The DVD is amazing! Thank you so much!'

All our wedding packages come with a DVD slideshow of your wedding day at no extra cost.

New Forest Wedding Photographers at Beaulieu Abbey

2011-10-24T11:10:00.000+01:00

Another beautiful day and another beautiful bride! Bathed in glorious sunshine meant Beautlieu Abbey was lit up and enabled us to get some wonderful shots inside and outside.

A very proud Dad and his daughter

A glimpse of the radiant bride before she enters Beaulieu Abbey

Ah and here comes the bride

The beautiful Beaulieu Abbey Church window lit up as the sun shone outside

We work together as a team ensuring we get all angles and special moments of a wedding

The choir move to the back of the Abbey ready for the bride and groom's exit

And everyone lined up outside the Abbey for the wonderful confetti shots.

New Forest Wedding Photographers come up for air!

2011-10-18T18:35:00.000+01:00

My goodness it has been a busy busy time for us - hence no time for blogging! However, lots of lovely New Forest and Hampshire Weddings to share with you so will make a start!

And where better to start than with the pink cadillac at the wedding which took place at The Mayfair Hotel in Bournemouth!

A very pink wedding! The groom did manage to get his way and wear a very conservative suit!

A lovely couple, great fun!

Congratulations and thank you for allowing us to share your gorgeous pink wedding day with you! :)

New Forest Wedding Photographers at South Lawn

2011-09-25T14:30:00.001+01:00

Gosh I just don't know where to start as have had such a manic few months and lots of posts to catch up with!

Anyway I thought I would start with this lovely pre wedding shoot at The South Lawn Hotel a few weeks ago. This lovely couple are getting married in a couple of weeks' time at Ringwood Registry Office and we snatched a couple of hours for a chat over a cuppa about their wedding day photography and then we went out into the gardens for some pics. We were going to the beach but it was so windy the bride to be went off the idea!

Pre wedding shoot at South Lawn Hotel

Picture under the canopy at South Lawn

We kept the bride to be out of the wind as much as possible for the shoot!

I thought the groom to be looked kind of french with his scarf so thought this picture leant itself to be converted to black and white!

2011-08-30T14:30:00.000+01:00

The bride and her father arrive in a lovely blue cadillac.

Many hands required to arrange the stunning bride's dress with its full skirt and hoop! Dad watches patiently!

We held the bridemaids back so that we could get the requested photograph of the back of the bride's dress going up the aisle!

In the archway on exit from All Saints church

A few adjustments to the hair before the photographs by the bride's personal hairdresser.

Just couldn't resist a black and white photograph of the bride, groom, cadillac and driver!

Bride and groom in cadillac - no room to sit together as the dress just could not be manipulated into the back seat!

The Marquee all set up ready for the bride and groom arrival. Flowers by FlowersbyDesign in Highcliffe.

And this is one of my favourite pics of the bride catching her veil in the wind!

This beautiful wedding took place at All Saints Woodside and then the wedding breakfast was in the bride's grandparents' garden in Lymington. The marquee was absolutely out of this world. The bride designed everything herself and the florist was absolutely brilliant and even turned her hand to decorating the cake with roses in an emergency! Well done Natalie at Flowers by Design of Highcliffe!

A day in the life of New Forest Wedding Photographers

2011-07-24T17:29:00.000+01:00

What a fabulous wedding yesterday and certainly a wedding with a difference!
Meeting the bride at the Captains Club Hotel in Christchurch for getting ready pictures, leaving one car there, then a drive to St Leonards Church in Bursledon to capture pics of the groom and best men (he had two!) and ushers etc, guests arriving, groom with mum and dad.

Bride arrival - and because of the long drive from Christchurch to Bursledon in a limo, and first day of school holiday traffic, bride and bridesmaids made a mad dash to the ladies prior to ceremony!

A very sweet little church, our couple were getting married at 12noon and the next wedding was booked for 13.30! Hence not a lot of time for the group shots that our bride and groom had requested along with the confetti shots and they had also wanted some pics of just the two of them in the Church grounds.

(Jan make a mental note to ensure other couples know that nowadays even churches book weddings one after the other and with any delays - ie traffic hold up, pee breaks there may not be the time after the ceremony for the shots they really want outside the church!)

So from church to Swanwick Marina to board the party boat Ashleigh R, one of the Blue Funnel fleet. There we left our other car to be picked up later, after our day's photography was over.

The weather was on our side - well most of the time, until the boat passed a huge ship and we got caught in the wash - a few wonky horizons (well some photographers do those anyway as a modern day thing!) we don't usually specialise in these and a couple were purely accidental! May straighten them in photoshop just in case anyone gets seasick looking at them! :) Anyway, that was enough going up and down to make most people go down below!

Fish and chips on Ashleigh R (and we were very kindly catered for too). All serenaded by the lovely Mosaic_Jazz, Richard and Mandy both on Saxophones! Brilliant musicians, definitely recommend them!
We got some lovely shots of the bride and groom and some fun group shots too on the boat.

Off the boat at Lymington, Berthon Marina where we had arranged for a colleague to take some photos of the boat coming in as a special treat for our bride and groom - they were thrilled! We always try to give a little extra!

Malcolm then boarded the launch, Nauti Girl, with the bride and groom and back to sea for them! I boarded one of the coaches with other guests to return to The Captains Club, where I would need to take pics of the tables settings etc. The flowers were lovely and done by Tanya at Floral Creations and the wedding cake gorgeous with red hearts and a lovely icing bride and groom sitting on the top created and made by Inspiration Cakes.

And then another delay not expected - Nauti Girl was an hour late getting to Hotel because of, shall we say, less than calm seas and people aboard getting rather wet!

Finally they returned to land, and we quickly did some shots on the small beach and a fake cake cutting before they sat down for their wedding breakfast.

I have to say that The Captains Club staff were absolutely brilliant! Even though everything was running late they remained professional, calm and efficient.

We found time to do all the shots as the day progressed, but sometimes there are constraints that no-one is aware of until the day ie.another wedding immediately after yours, or the wedding car driver saying he has to go off to another wedding about 100 miles away and needs to be gone at a certain time - let's hope he got to the next bride in time!

When you book us for your wedding, rest assured the day is yours and we are always flexible with our time knowing only too well that things don't always go according to plan and we are ready for anything!

Finally we went off to pick our second car up from Swanwick Marina!
We enjoyed every minute of our day and have some stunning images to show for it!

We may be able to share pics of some of the lovely wedding suppliers soon. Unfortunately, we are unable to publish pics of this lovely couple as they have asked for privacy.:( Such a shame as they are stunning!

New Forest Wedding Photographers at Ringwood Registry Office

2011-07-10T12:40:00.001+01:00

This was a real fun wedding! Everyone was laughing and having fun! The colours were truly amazing, so bright and cheerful just like the couple and their guests!

En route to the bride getting ready shots, we saw some girls who looked like they could be bridesmaids, going into Tesco stores! I jumped out of the car with camera and took a shot just in case! Took the shot first and then asked them if they were the bridesmaids! Yes! was the answer! Whew! I must have looked like the paparazzi!!

There was no posing just everything happened naturally and the pictures told the story just the way they told it! These are just a few of our favourites, although to be honest we have many more!

The wedding took place at Ringwood Registry office and then back to New Milton Rugby Club for the reception.

Thank you to a lovely couple for allowing us to be the photographers on their lovely wedding day!

Button Bouquets

2011-07-06T08:28:00.000+01:00

Button Bouquets

In my search for something different for my Charity Event I came across this lovely website!

Vintage Button Bouquets! You definitely will be keeping these after the wedding!
Visit the website for more information
http://www.iheartbuttons.co.uk/

New Forest Pre Wedding Shoot

2011-07-05T14:19:00.000+01:00

This lovely couple are getting married in August in Lymington. So we met up at The Careys Manor Hotel for a drink and a chat about their forthcoming wedding day. All very exciting!

After our chat we went off into the New Forest for some lovely pics for their pre wedding portrait shoot!

A sneak preview!

New Forest Wedding Photographers

2011-06-29T15:04:00.000+01:00

We have been rushed off our feet lately with weddings and pre-wedding shoots - hence the lack of blogs!

Our latest pre-wedding shoot was in the New Forest last night and the light was just amazing. We met at Careys Manor Hotel for a drink and had great fun chatting about the wedding day preparations and wedding photography, then we went into the forest for some pics.

Will share some pics with you once the lovely couple have seen them!

New Forest and Hampshire Wedding Photographers

2011-06-24T13:37:00.000+01:00

Ah when I got up this morning I was greeted with the most amazing text from a recent bride and groom!

"Have just got home about an hour ago and you have had me in tears.....the DVD is the best thing I have seen in all my life, thank you so much to both of you!"

What a lovely way to start my day! Thank you for that lovely text and for your lovely comment online too!

As promised here is a sneak peak into the lovely wedding at Ringwood Registry office.
This couple were so happy and were such fun, we came home on a high after doing the wedding photography!
More pics to follow!

The happy couple after their ceremony at Ringwood Registry Office

They won't mind me sharing this pic as it was on the cover of their DVD! :) But I can't wait to share more of their wedding photography with you - such an amazing smiley fun couple!

New Forest Wedding Photographers at Ringwood Registry Office

2011-06-19T09:46:00.000+01:00

"Jan, I have seen the forecast and the weather doesn't look good for my wedding day!"
This sent to me by the bride several days prior to her wedding day! Bless her, I kept telling her that all would be fine, rain or shine!

Whew! The wedding day was yesterday and what a lucky couple..
Sunshine at the bride's home for pics with her mum, dad and bridesmaids..

En route to Ringwood Registry office, the heavens opened..
But then out popped the sun as she arrived at Ringwood Registry Office..

Ceremony over and rain was absolutely pouring :(
But, just a few minutes to wait and as she stepped 'outside came the sunshine and dried up all the rain' (as Incy Wincy Spider rhyme goes!)
Just time for the large group photograph and confetti pics before the next wedding party arrived at the Registry Office!

Then the bridal car journey back to Milford Beach was in torrential rain!
On arrival at Milford and the sun returned!
A very feisty bride and groom indeed as the wind was blowing old boots but they got out of the car, hanging on to veil and everything else!! And we got some fabulous fun shots of the two of them which I am sure will bring back some wonderful memories of their lovely wedding day!

Back then to The New Milton & District Rugby Club when the rain had once again showed itself! We did all the group shots indoors where the club had been prettily decorated in red and white.

Just before we left the Rugby Club the sun shone once more and we got a few more pics of the lovely bride and groom before we left for home.

Sorry, no pics yet - as always, bride and groom must see them first!

Bridal shoot...New Forest Wedding Photographers at Bradgate Manor

2011-06-11T10:29:00.001+01:00

It was a lovely sunny afternoon, luckily, and my model and I whizzed off to do a bridal shoot for Bradgate Manor's portfolio! The grounds of the manor are absolutely lovely and it doesn't seem to matter what time of year! Last time we visited there were bluebells and this time the trees were lush and the roses were gorgeous!

Here is a sneak peak!

A chance to get that wedding dress on again! A lovely bridal shoot at a beautiful location!
Contact Jan for more details 01590 610549
OR
Email Jan to Learn more
or to view more images of Bradgate Manor and our bridal shoot visit Our Website

Bradgate Manor is situated very close to Netley Abbey and is available for wedding receptions, special celebrations and they also do bed and breakfast!

New Forest and Hampshire Wedding Photographers

2011-06-05T10:22:00.001+01:00

On your wedding day you have your very own unique and special story to tell. We will tell your story in wedding photographs just the way you told it.

or give us a call on 01590 610549