I'm sure every parent wonders where the time goes but on Sunday my little girl celebrates her third birthday. Every job has it's benefits but being around for Dylan and Rheya's early years has to be my best one.
Dylan celebrated his fifth birthday last month and for his party invite he became Speed Racer but for Rheya only a fairy princess would do. There is a wonderful bluebell wood in Eversley that helped us create this picture of my beautiful daughter for her invite.
On Saturday I photographed the wedding of Lisa & Dan at Wotton House in Dorking. A gorgeous Spring's day graced their beautiful wedding which was filled with lovely personal touches including a first for me of a Chinese tea ceremony.
Their full wedding story will follow shortly but for now here is a picture of a thousand pictures of Lisa & Dan made into a collage of the logo Dan created for their wedding stationary. This was on show alongside a couple of other images made the same way. A unique and really interesting way to display your history to your guests.
On a gorgeous sunny day, Valerie and Sean tied the knot at the Sacred Heart Church in Caterham followed by a reception at the beautiful Penshurst Place. Valerie got ready at The Nutfield Priory and then made the short journey to the church where the guests had been ferried in on a wedding red double decker bus.
After a lovely service the couple enjoyed some time outside the church and then made their way to Penshurst Place. We had the opportunity to make use of the grounds to capture some beautiful pictures of the newlyweds in some of the formal and country gardens at the venue. After dinner and speeches the party began in a marquee in the garden and soon the dance floor was swamped with guests celebrating a perfect wedding day.
No better way to start the review than with the Jimmy Choo's
The bridesmaid getting some rest before the off
Valerie looking amazing during the getting ready
I absolutely love the light in this shot
A very sensual picture, lovely light and detail in the dress
Valerie in contemplative mood
Surely that doesn't mean me?
Sean awaits his bride
The guests all arrive
Closely followed by Valerie
A wonderful moment between Father and Daughter
The service gets underway
A quick fun shot on the bus
Ready for their entrance to Penshurst Place
Some of the pictures from the walk around the grounds
I do like the abstract overhead shots at weddings
Speeches underway
One of my all time favourite first dance captures
Launched in August 2008, Fresh M.I.L.K was a US $125,000 online competition that challenged photographers to capture spontaneous and emotive moments shared between friends, families and lovers around the world. After receiving nearly 35,000 entries from photographers in 112 countries, a judging panel has selected 150 general winners, and eminent Magnum photographer and Chief Judge Elliott Erwitt has selected the Grand Prize-winner.
The 150 winning images are to be published in a new book entitled Friendship, Family, Love & Laughter in November 2009, and on selected licensed products.
It goes without saying that I am delighted to say that one of my images was selected as a general prize winner and will be published in the book and on various licensed products. To feel that one of my pictures has been selected out of 35,000 entries from all over the world is absolutely amazing and an achievement I am immensely proud of. My winning picture was of my daughter Rheya which is just the icing on the cake.
The winners have now been officially announced and you can see all the pictures on the Fresh M.I.L.K website - FreshMilkPhotos.com.
My picture appears here.
If your a regular reader you'll have seen this picture before and know it is one of my favourites. All the more so now.
The book is to be published in November this year.
I'm very aware I have not written for quite a few weeks now and the reason being that before the full wedding season hits me I'd managed to keep a couple of weeks free for some family holidays and a few golf trips. Fortunately the sunshine decided to be generous for most of the days of the early Spring trip to Cornwall, but the usual mix of sunshine, showers and gales were still the main ingredients.
I don't need to tell you how beautiful Cornwall is but here's a couple of shots from the trip, there are many more but at least this will break my posting drought for now. A couple of full wedding stories are coming in the next few days too.
I was amazed at how well this one came out as Dylan was chasing me through the wind on the beach as I ran backwards snapping away.
Rheya appears a bit shell shocked as she appears out the bottom of a big metal tube ride.
This building was part of an old mine that had been turned into a family park based around steam trains, as you can imagine this was the kids favourite trip of the holiday.
The rock formations on the Cornish coast were simply amazing as were the colours. I now have a lovely collection of abstract rock photographs as well as a dream destination for any bridal/engagement shoots, the only issue being it's pretty far from home.
On Saturday I photographed the beautiful wedding of Valerie and Sean at the Sacred Heart Church in Caterham with a reception at the magnificent Penshurst Place. Blessed with a beautifully warm and sunny April day the couple and their guests enjoyed a truly memorable wedding. Their full story will follow shortly but for now this is a shot of the inside of the church and the music to be played for Valerie's arrival.
