A Moroccan Love Story

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to have been asked to photograph a Bridal shoot to help advertise the wonderful Products of Papaver Designs, at the wonderful Black Horse Inn Beamish along with some other amazing wedding suppliers (see their links at the bottom of this blog!)

Here are the results of weeks of preparations, hours of shooting and lots and lots of fun on a very cold February day in the hills of County Durham…

 

Papaver Designs – Wedding stationery and lanterns

.Poppy made all the paper lanterns, tissue paper pom poms, gift tags, paper flower ball (pomander) and wedding menus for the shoot.

Website: www.papaver-designs.co.uk

Blog: poppylee.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PapaverDesigns

Twitter: @PapaverDesigns

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Daisychain Events

Wedding Planner and Fairy Godmother! Kerry also does Candy Buffets, chair cover hire and vintage china hire.

.Website: www.daisychainevents.com

Blog: www.daisychainevents.com/blog

Facebook: www. facebook.com/ daisychainevents

Twitter: @daisychainevent

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Little Town Bakery

.Wedding cake (gutted this wasn’t a real cake, it did look delicious).

.Website: www.littletownbakery.co.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/littletownbakery

Twitter: @littletownbaker

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Mia Sposa Bridal & Menswear

.Supplied us with two perfect wedding dresses.

.Website: www.miasposabridal.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/miasposa.bridal

Twitter: @Miasposa_Bridal

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Flower Fever

.All flowers including the beautiful bouquet, 3 pomanders and lots of loose flowers to go in vases.

.Website: www.flower-fever.com

Facebook: Flower Fever

Twitter: @FlowerFever1

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What Katy did Next

.Three stunning bridal head pieces.

.Website: www.what-katy-did-next.co.uk

Blog: what-katy-did-next.co.uk/blog/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/What-Katy-Did-Next/134193259958547

Twitter: @whatkatydidnxt

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Lauren Crawford Textiles

.Cushions and framed picture ‘All you need is love’.

.Website: www.etsy.com/shop/LaurenECrawford

blog: laurenecrawford.blogspot.com/

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000086968878&sk=wall

Twitter: @LCrawford88

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Little Bundles Bunting

.‘Carrie’ Bunting.

.Website: www.little-bundles.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Bundles-Bunting/158347864189925

Twitter: @LittleBBunting

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Event diva

Mairi donated bird cages, Moroccan lanterns, wooden hearts.

Website: www.eventdiva.co.uk

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Event-Diva/250759014429?ref=ts

Twitter: @divaemporium

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Beautiful Bride Makeovers

Tracey is a make-up artist extraordinaire.

.Website: www.beautifulbridemakeovers.com

Blog: http://www.beautifulbridemakeovers.com/apps/blog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beautifulbridemakeovers/127296127319036

Twitter: @BBMakeovers

North East Portrait Photography- Ethan & Ava

Today I visited the quite brilliant Ethan and Ava to capture some natural moments at Grandma’s House!…..Here is a sneak peek!!!

North East Portrait Photography- Mitchell’s Christening

I was lucky enough to be asked to go along and capture the Christening of Andrew and Claire’s gorgeous little boy Mitchell yesterday, here are a couple of sneak montages of the day…

 

Photography Workshop- For parents

As a parent myself, I realise that..well..sometimes people just want to take photographs themselves. There can’t always be a photographer present for all of those little moments that make life so special, especially with your children. So that is why I have developed a series of fun and exciting workshops aimed at helping you capture more natural photographs of your children with out the need to shout “Sausages” or “Cheeseeeeeee”.

No matter what your skill level, or whether it be a Smart Phone, Compact Camera or DSLR, I will show you how to capture natural moments while having fun both in front and behind the lens.

There are three courses available over the coming months to help you develop your skills and become your families own Ansel Adams! The first course will be;

No More Sausages

6 hours

South Shields- 12 Places per course

£55 (includes tea & coffee and biscuits, a certificate…and a high five!)

The clue is in the name with this one, I want to help you capture those magical moments that make our children so special without those cheesy and forced grins! This workshop will look at fundamental elements of photography, have a studio based shoot and an on location shoot….where we can practice together….yes with real kids! Although there will be some technical elements to the day, this will be a very relaxed session, with lots of fun, lots of tea and coffee’s and even biscuits! The course will include the following sections;

• Introduction and Icebreakers
• Camera Principle Basics- A brief introduction and explanation of your camera settings
• Environmental Vs Studio Portraiture- Pro’s and Con’s of both
• Composition Techniques- The best angles to shoot from, what to avoid (no more big nostrils!)
• A real shoot out on location to practice what we have learnt
• How to set up a home studio for very little cost
• Reviewing of images
• Session Recap and Feedback

So if you think you, your partner or someone you know might be interesting in popping along to this course, please visit the link below to book and as always if you have any questions or queries don’t hesitate to get in touch!

 

My next workshop is on July 22nd…

Book Workshop

(Please specify the date you would like in the “special instructions” box of the payment page)

Feedback from the May workshop:

Chris, workshop was great today! I’ve certainly come away knowing more about aperture, ISO, DoF, textures etc. I just now need to put it all in to practise. And thanks for the fun ‘models’ also! Extra treats for those are in order I’d say. I’m about to upload some of the shots from today. When and if you have a mo, have a look and let me know what you think. Again, many thanks….. it was an enjoyable, relaxed, informative day. ))

Had a fab day learning all sorts of interesting things about photography! Came so close to booking wedding things… All I need is for the boy to propose

Portrait Photography- North East

Everybody meet Oliver- this lively little four year old loves his aviator sunglasses, Star Wars, going on adventures and claims he is awesome….which I have to agree with….

Here are some images from our “adventure” at the park…

 

Supplier of the Week: Village Bridal

What is Village Bridal and where are you;

Village Bridal is a family run Bridal Shop in the picturesque Harton Village, South Shields.  Offering a stunning collection of Bridal Dresses combined with an exceptional customer service, we ensure every bride has a truely unforgettable experience.  From Empire Line’s to Fishtales to Ballgowns we have a style aswell as a budget to suit all with dress prices starting from £190.  We also stock a fabulaous range of Bridesmaid & Prom Dresses, with each dress available in a multitude of colours.  Not forgetting the man we offer Hire Wear from Cameron Ross Formal Hire.  The market leaders in Formal Wear Hire offering Morning, Evening and Highland Wear.  Have a go at their ‘Outfit Builder’ available on their website www.hirewear.co.uk

What has been your favourite wedding to date and why;

We could not possibly choose, we find that all of our customers weddings are unique and special in their own way.  We enjoy listening to their stories and being involved in the run up of their Big Day.

What can couples expect from your products/service;

We pride ourselves on the excellent customer service we offer and can ensure that every customer who walks through the door will be treated this way.  Yes the product is important and thats why we individually select all of the dresses in our shop, we have an eye for detail and quality is no compromise.  However, we feel that our brides should be given the service as well as the product, this is a once in a lifetime experience, therefore each and every detail no matter how big or small should be remembered with a smile.

What has been your favourite dress of 2011 and do you have something special for 2012;

This is a tricky one… I can not say I have a favourite as I choose the dresses we have in stock, so although I have to buy dresses and ensure I have a variation of styles, I do tend to like each dress I choose…  As for 2012 our supplier Venus has just launched a fantastic new collection, there are too many to choose from.  Have a look at their website www.venusbridal.com

Do you have any top tips for couples planning their wedding;

Keep within your budget and ensure you have plenty of time to order both bridal and bridesmaid dresses.  6 months is a good time limit as if you do need a quick delivery you may get charged a large fee on top of your dress.

Where can we find you;

You can find us at www.villagebridal.co.uk however our site is currently under reconstruction so visit our facebook page for up to date collections and news www.facebook.com/villagebridal

P.S….

We are currently selling off our 2011 discontinued dresses, grab yourself a bargain as some dresses are reduced up to 50%!!!

Why I won’t “Shoot and Burn”

Now, I’m writing this quick blog as I am receiving more and more enquiries of a shoot and burn nature….by shoot and burn I mean; turn up to a wedding and capture the photographs then hand them over on a CD/DVD without an album.

Let me start by saying I have no problem at all with those photographers who provide this service, nor do I have a problem with people who ask for this service.

I understand the budget constraints which lead to people choosing this as their wedding “package”. I even understand from a profitability perspective of a photographer why they would want to offer this service.

Now here is why I won’t…

Imagine an original Gustav Klimt painting being hung in a plastic clip frame from a DIY store.

Imagine a michelin star chef having their meal served on paper plates.

Imagine a Maclaren F1 racing car being driven in a back lane full of pot holes.

So, when I say I want my images presented in the best possible way, you may understand where I am coming from. When I shoot a wedding I shoot with the design of an album in mind. I see sequences how they will appear on the page, and I think of the layout constantly in my head. I like to think that the way I design albums truly tell the story of the day. This is after all what I tell my potential clients, I want the album to be the most realistic representation of the day as possible.

I have said before in the past when asked, that I don’t believe I would be doing my job properly if I didn’t supply the images I’d taken in a beautiful, bespoke and award winning Bellissimo Album. From my perspective your wedding day is such an amazing day (and I like to think the images reflect this) and I believe your images; the emotion, the tantrums, the fun, the love should be displayed and presented then most beautiful way.

Again at this point I would like to reiterate that I have no issue with people who want this for their wedding day, or the photographers who offer it- I have many photographer friends who shoot a lot of weddings in this way.

There will be people who will agree with me and of course there will be people who want to tell me where to go nicely, but I have written this because of the passion I have to deliver a beautiful product which you will cherish quite literally for the rest of your life!

Engagement Shoot: Kate & Lewis

I was very excited to get out with Kate & Lewis today who’s wedding we are shooting in March this year. Despite the rain and the wind, we still managed to capture some rather funky and fun imagery around the well know Sage area of Gateshead…… here are a few shots from the session today….

 

Supplier Of the Week: Beautiful Bridal Makeovers

What is your business and where are you;

I run a wedding hair and make-up Business called Beautiful Bride Makeovers. Our base is in Sunderland but we are mobile to all of the North East. This was set up in 2006 but i have working with bride for over 20 years.

What has been your favourite wedding to date and why;

There are so many amazing weddings i have been a part of so it is difficult to pick one. I very much enjoyed my Chinese weddings last year as i got to see the differences between European weddings and be part of the fun. I stay with them all day as they have 3 or 4 dress changes with hair and make-up to match each one.

What can couples expect from your products/services;

We are reliable, talented and very friendly. I love being a part of each brides preparations and the weddings mornings. Its like we have been bought into a secret society of friends and family and i am privileged to be a part of that.

What has been your favourite wedding in 2011 and do you have anything special planned in 2012;

I think one of my most memorable was Dot King married 29th Jan. She wanted a very difficult hairstyle and it was a challenge for me to master it. The finished result was amazing and i got great satisfaction from doing it. She was very pleased too . I am looking forward to meeting all of my brides booked for 2012 and getting creative with them. That is the best part for me!

Do you have any top tips for couples planning their wedding;

Book your suppliers well in advance. I often have brides very upset on the phone as they have left it too late to book anyone reliable and experienced for there date and this can be extremly stressful. Before you book arrange to meet up for a consultation so you can meet them and view their work. Make sure you feel comfortable with them as they will be a big part of your wedding day.

Where can we find you;

Find me on facebook under Beautiful Bride Makeovers

Website www.beautifulbridemakeovers.co.uk

    http://www.beautifulbridemakeovers.freeindex.co.uk/

Wedding Industry Awards Feedback

As the official Award Ceremony takes place as I type tonight, there are some phenomenal photographers vying for the award of Wedding Photographer of the Year 2011……….we may not be at the award show, but we feel unbelievably lucky to have received the recognition and feedback from our past Bride’s & Grooms which got us a Nomination for North East Wedding Photographer of the year. In my eyes, the best man (or woman) definitely won!

As part of the voting for the awards, our past customers had to vote anonymously and give feedback as to the level of service they received from Xtraordinary Photography…so unedited…untouched…..unspellchecked…. Here was our feedback!

“Fantastic service, friendly, personal and professional! Photos were fantastic and really captured our special day!”

“The lads at XO Photographhy were exceptionally professional before our wedding and during the day itself. The pre wedding shoot was a great idea and helped us get to know each other much better, whilst they got on with the job on the big day without disturbing our celebrations. Their funky and contemporary ideas for shots on the day were great fun and we were delighted with the outcome. Book these guys fast…..”

“i found the service very friendly and most helpful, i would definatley recommend xtraordinary photography to all of my friends”

“Fantastic guys and superb on the day making everyone feel relaxed. The photos were just what we wanted a mixture of formal and relaxed photographs. Nothing was too much trouble for the guys and they were part of the day. They also stayed right until the evening well after the first dance and even came to the hospital with me so I could have some photographs with my grandad who was taken ill the day before the wedding. The album would not have been complete without him.”

“These photographers are amazing to say the least. They made my wedding! Organising a wedding can be very stressful, I can honestly say that these guys took all the stress away. After meeting them once I trusted them 110%. On my wedding day they were fantastic…..they weren’t just photographers they helped in lots of other ways to. I was amazed at the photographs from my day! The lads told me to “enjoy the day and let us capture it and tell the story!” And that’s what they did……I will never ever get board of looking at the photos. If ever I need a photographer again they will certainly get the job…that’s if they aren’t too busy as I know lots of people that want to use them since seeing their unique work. THANK YOU Xtraordinary photography xxx”

“The guys at XOP are very professional and very friendly. They carried out our wedding is such in a way, that you would not really know you were being photographed. Very personal service. Cant wait to see the finished album.”

“they were excellent through out our whole day fab photo’s so friendly ,professional & helpfull i would recommend them for any ocassion”

“the morning of our wedding they were excellent with our 5 bridesmaids at our home taking fab photo’s of them they level of service never changed all day making everyone comfortable getting there photo’s taken”

“I first me Chris & Sean at my best friends wedding. Knew i’d be booking these xtraordinary boys for my wedding! Very professional & nice genuine lads. Happy to customise & suit each couple’s needs.”

Why They Booked (in random order)

“Being maid of honour for my best friend & having already met these guys at her wedding, knew i couldn’t find any better. Most importantly loved the final product they produced for the Lattimer’s wedding. ”

“booked for wedding photography , this was arranged through our wedding venue and i am so pleased that it was as they did an outstanding job”

“On reccommendation from a friend! I seen her wedding album and fell in love with it!”

“We booked on recommendation after seeing a friends album and cost.”

“Recommendation”

“Very professional and helpful. Nothing was too much trouble for them. They listened to what was important to us and delivered with a very friendly and easy going manner.”

“my friend used them for her wedding & i loved her album & photo’s”

“we saw friends album it was fab”

“We received a recommendation and saw their gallery of photos. We were also very impressed with the financial package that they provided us with which was so much more competitive than any others we met.”