So last week I had the pleasure of meeting up with some familiar faces that I photographed about 18 months ago- this time we decided to head up to the beautiful Gibside for some fun family portraits with all of these lovely kids who meet every Thursday!!
Here are some of my favourites from the session…
If you’re interested in Portrait Photography- drop over to my website to get in touch
I was asked to give a talk today at Vallum Farm Wedding fair, on how to make the most of your wedding photography. Now what I didn’t want this to turn into was me talking about Xtraordinary Photography, I wanted to get across the importance of choosing the right photographer, ensuring the day is planned and what you can do to make your images extra special.
Here is a snippet about what I talked about;
Communicate with your photographer regularly, building a strong relationship based on trust, build a strong rapport and ensure your photographer knows what you want from your photography. Ask your photographer for recommendations on suppliers, venues and styles. They will have seen a lot over the years and should have good contacts and relationships with other suppliers in the industry.
Let your photographer know of any changes in timings from the original plan, keep them in the loop they will appreciate it!
Minimise stress on your day by thoroughly planning your shot list- if there are specific group shots you may want, let your photographer know. Group shots take time to set out and organise and can cause distress to your guests if they are standing around for long periods of time. Try to minimise the number of group shots rather than going for “The usual set”.
A lot of photographers now offer engagement shoots which are a fantastic tool to help you feel relaxed on your wedding day. Your photographer should walk you through some of the things they may ask you to do on the day and try to make you feel as relaxed as possible about your wedding day photography.
The more you get to know your photographer, the more you should feel at ease and able to enjoy your day- remember the photographer is there to record your day- not dictate it. Set out what you want right from your first meeting and then you can relax knowing nothing unexpected will creep up on the day. Remember- Don’t worry, be happy!
Bridal Preparation can either strike fear in the heart of those who don’t want or understand the benefits of it, or, be just another part of your wedding photography. If you’re having full day coverage from your photographer, the bridal preparation is a huuuuuuuge way to start telling the story of your day. It can give the most real emotions of excitement, nervousness and often the need for Champaign!
If you afford to it is worth trying to get ready at a hotel- this gives a feel of luxury and helps with the relaxation of certainly the Bride and Bridesmaids. Pamper yourselves, order some Champaign to the room and enjoy the space and freedom that most Bridal suites allow. These rooms also allow lots of light with big windows and beautiful furniture which can again add another element to your images. But don’t fear, if a Bridal suite in a hotel isn’t an option- use the largest and brightest room of your home- draw the curtains and do exactly the same- enjoy the space and pamper yourselves have fun and relax- this will be evident in your images if you feel relaxed.
Detail. Detail. Detail. One of the biggest travesty of any wedding is that all of the hard work and planning that goes into the little details is often lost in the day itself and they often go unseen. Make sure you have all of the little details out and ready for your photographer arriving such as your shoes, jewellery, cards and presents from the hubby to be, and good luck charms.
These details are another great way to tell the story of the day and show all of the hard work that has gone into the planning
Make the most of the Light. Unfortunately we are not blessed with the best light in the UK, however, we can still make the most of what we have…even if it rains. Some of the best light you could hope for is around an hour before sunset- this is known to photographers as the “Golden Hour”. This is when the sun is just starting its decent and brings a beautiful golden glow and can create a sensation sunset with the correct conditions. Speak to your photographer about utilising this light and nipping out with them even if only for 5-10 minutes and get some shots in this light. It really will add another dimension to your images.
Hiring Professional Hair and Makeup can be another way to minimise stress, save time and ensure that you (and your bridal party) look amazing. Although lots of brides are 100% comfortable with doing their own hair and makeup, a professional will know exactly how to design your hair and makeup and also how to implement in the best way for longevity and to ensure it photographs beautifully. Have a trial for your hair and make up, tell them what you want and listen to their suggestions and come up with a plan that will match the style of your day.
The most important message I have is, be realistic about your photography- if a price seems too good to be true, most of the time it is. If you want a top quality photographer with amazing products you WILL have to pay a premium for it. Speak to lots of photographers and meet lots of photographers to ensure you get what is right for you. Ask questions and be upfront about what you want.
All images taken and owned by Xtraordinary Photography
Designer Glasses…Check
Fantastic Models…Check
City Centre location…Check
So yesterday I was delighted to be shooting at Wade Opticians in Durham to help find the face of the William Morris brand for Wade Opticians. We had a huge amount of interest and people coming through the doors to try on a range of gorgeous glasses and have their image taken with the hope of making it into the judging process.
We had lots of fun letting these models strut their stuff in these frames, so is a taster of who we had come along…
If you’d like to get in on the voting process, drop by Wade Opticians Facebook page and LIKE the image you think should win!
Today I was truly honoured to have the opportunity to photograph Mr & Mrs Pattinson to celebrate their amazing 50th wedding anniversary. We choose the South Causey Inn for our location today as it was a stones throw away from our couples home and not to mention it is a fantastic location!
We sat and had a pot of tea and I listened to some of their lovely stories about their life together over the last half century. I could have sat there all day listening….Here are a few of my favourite shots from todays session…
After several unsuccessful attempts to get together with this lovely family, we finally managed to make it to Chester le Street Park this morning in County Durham, despite some slight rain we still had loads of fun and captured some beautiful images…here are my favourites…
I recently team up with a whole bunch of talented wedding individuals at Kingston Park in Newcastle to shoot a “Themed wedding” shoot with the idea of sports and sweets at this Rugby stadium… Here are the results….
Styling, chair covers, candy, vintage crockery from Daisychain Events
Bunting & Chair bunting: Emma Weston Scott from Little Bundles Bunting
Hair accessories & garter: Katy Howieson from What Katy Did Next
Photography: Chris Ord from Xtraordinary Photography
Stationery: Jamie Higgins from Sweet Pea Paper
Dresses: Joy from Mia Sposa Bridal & Menswear
Lanterns & paper pom poms: Poppy Lee from Papaver Designs
Cake: Shona Morland from Little Town Bakery
Hair & make up: Tracey Taylor from Beautiful Bride Make Overs:
Table runners & feathers: Mairi from Event Diva
Venue: Shelley from Newcastle Falcons
Model: Ellis Bartlett Tyne Tees Models
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• Husband to a gorgeous and rather hilarious Laura
• Father to Oliver- quite literally a carbon copy of me (it’s scary how much he acts like me...or me like him, haven’t quite figured that one out yet) and our brand new arrival Noah (born October 17th) who is amazing just like his big brother...and Dad..
• Loves Dr Pepper- the drink not the practitioner, Parma Violets and pineapple juice.
• Hates coleslaw (even though I like all of the ingredients separately), traffic jams and any kind of celebrity reality TV!
• Is 1.98m tall- that’s 6ft 5 ½ in old money
