Wedding Shoot: Steve and Carol
May 29, 2009 | Posted Under: Bournemouth photography, Dorset photography, East Cliff Court Hotel | 2 Comments
It was a relatively late start for Steve and Carol’s wedding and as Carol didn’t need any bridal preparation shots we were able to make our leisurely way to St Mark’s Church in Talbot Village and set up at the church. We arrived about an hour before the ceremony started (if you’ve ever encountered the traffic down Wallisdown Road on a Saturday you’ll know why) giving us lots of time to capture the Groom’s party and find out some good spots inside.
After the bridesmaids arrived…
Carol made her grand entrance at the Church.
After the service, the Rev. gave the congregation tips on parking at our next venue.
We then took some formal shots in the church gardens (they were so busy that week there was another wedding half an hour later!) we made our way to the East Cliff Court Hotel along the Bournemouth Overcliff. We were last there in December, just before Christmas, so it was really nice to be able to spend a bit of time in the garden of the neighbouring hotel, The Carlton. Whilst the guests had their Champagne and Pimms in the midday sun we went and snapped up the reception room.
As well as making the bridesmaid dresses, Carol’s mum had made every single chair cover in the room. The attention to detail was incredible!
As was the three-tier chocolate cake. The smell of cocoa hit you as you entered the room and with a sprinkling of individual chocolates on the top it looked mouthwatering!
We left the party to it whilst they had their meal, but returned later to capture the speeches.
Steve and Carol had mentioned they’d like to have some shots taken down on Bournemouth Beach and we’d already decided we were going to do that a little later on in the day when the sun wasn’t so blinding. I’m so glad we did! That Bank Holiday weekend apparently, 60,000 people flocked to the sands. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it so packed. By the time we got there though, we bagged a spot that made it look like we had the whole place to ourselves. It’s quite annoying the beach is so stony now they resanded it, though.
But the beachhuts fitted in with the ‘blue’ theme!
After Carol managed to get all the sand out of her shoes we made our way back the East Cliff Court Hotel for the evening celebrations. Rather than have a DJ, the music was courtesy of a live band, called Dodger. Their music filled the room and everyone got dancing straight away even when the night was young. They also had a really classy lighting set-up!
At the end of the First Dance the parents got pulled in! And we left them to dance their way through the night.
Posted with thanks and congratulations to Mr and Mrs Bartholomew
Categories: Posted Under: Bournemouth photography, Dorset photography, East Cliff Court Hotel | 2 Comments
Blossom Shoot: Kirsty and Mike
May 17, 2009 | Posted Under: Couple shoots, engagement, London photography, Poole photography | 1 Comment
This weekend Ian and I spent a day in London with Kirsty and Mike for a mammoth engagement session. We’re photographing their wedding next year in Poole, but as these guys live in the big smoke and they were keen to have some shots that meant something to them we thought it would be a fun idea to pop up there.
We had a lot to fit in on our day so we started off quite early in Kirsty and Mike’s home district of Archway. We weren’t sure whether or not the rain would hold out so we decided to start off by catching the bus up to Highgate to make use of the open space of Waterlow Park. First of all though, I spotted the bright tiles of a library exterior just by the bus stop. Kirsty’s already informed me there’s a green theme going on for the wedding so it seemed quite fitting.
After a short bus ride…
Mike spotted the telephone box. Gotta be done really…
Waterlow Park had so much space and lots of opportunities for photos. Laying on the grass probably isn’t a good idea if you suffer from hayfever, though.
Does Mike like butter? Apparently he does…
On our way out of Waterlow Park we stopped at Lauderdale House. There was a childrens’ party going on inside so we didn’t get a chance to have a nose, but I think they do weddings here too!
We headed back into Highgate Village after the park. We had an idea in mind that we would do a photo shoot in a nearby, amazing traditional tea shop. Unfortunately though, none of us accounted for the fact it would be rammed by the time we got there at midday. Boo. The Lavender Cake looked really nice as well. Instead, we opted for a pub over the road to rejuvenate with sandwiches, chips and fizzy pop. Look what our condiments arrived in!
Tummies filled we walked back down to Archway tube station to head into Central London. We passed a bit of Banksy art on the way.
Kirsty and Mike first met in a train station, so when we were planning our day we had a few shots at Kings Cross St Pancras in mind. Cue the second costume change of the day (good work on the wardrobe planning, Kirsty!). I’ve never been there before and I was taken by how photogenic it is.
We found a really lovely spot hidden away from view and spent a while there making the most of the lovely light.
Mike - you can really work the camera. From Dave Grohl…
to that bloke from The Feeling! 
We had to make the most of that waistcoat and checked dress. Time for a bit of dancing!
After a trip to Borough Market and a cheeky half, we made our way to Embankment to catch the dusk. Then it was pizza time before Ian and I got our train back to Bournemouth. Considering it was meant to bucket down all day we were so grateful for having a sunny day.
Love this one.. It’s like a film still.
Thank you for such a fun day, Kirsty and Mike. Looking forward to photographing your wedding!
Anyone is welcome to get in touch with us to arrange a Blossom engagement shoot. They’re a really good way of getting some pictures in locations that mean something to you. Get in touch to find out more.
Also, keep your eyes open for more news on our Blossom shoots very soon!
Emma - BB
Categories: Posted Under: Couple shoots, engagement, London photography, Poole photography | 1 Comment
Wedding Prep Shoot: Lisa and Phil
May 12, 2009 | Posted Under: Bournemouth photography, Couple shoots, Dorset photography, The Orchid Hotel | 1 Comment
Remember a couple of weeks ago I posted about how happy we were to hear that the lovely boutique hotel in Bournemouth - The Orchid had managed to escape closure, and that we were due to shoot there in June? Well, this weekend we wandered over there for our wedding prep with Lisa and Phil. It’s such a wonderful place and we’re so pleased we’re going to get a chance to spend the day there very soon.
Weather permitting, Lisa and Phil’s wedding ceremony will be taken place in the hotel’s courtyard, which is where we took these quick Head&Shoulders shots. There’s an indoor ceremony room too if the sun isn’t feeling particularly perky and we were blown away by how stunning the afternoon reception room and honeymoon suite is. It really does feel like you’ve whisked yourself away to the Far East and it was difficult to remember we were still in Bournemouth.
Here are a couple of shots from our Sunday Morning recce:
Emma - BB
Categories: Posted Under: Bournemouth photography, Couple shoots, Dorset photography, The Orchid Hotel | 1 Comment
Wedding Prep Shoot: Nadine and Craig
May 9, 2009 | Posted Under: Bournemouth photography, Couple shoots, Dorset photography | 1 Comment
Just a little incy wincy post here from our prep with Nadine and Craig whose wedding we’re photographing in about a month’s time. We just whisked off to take a nose around Bournemouth Gardens this afternoon after we’d had a sun-soaked lemonade at the Café Obscura so we’d thought we’d do a couple of head shots whilst we were on our recce. Here are the results.
We twigged when we were talking about the day times that when we do our shoot down by Bournemouth Pier on the day we’re going to have to take a trip through the Gardens with Nadine and Craig all kitted up in their wedding finery - how fun! We can’t wait! 
Emma - BB