Reflecting on the past 3 months

Well it is nearly 3 months since I joined business with Samantha and that's a good time to think back and reflect a little. There is no personal connection between us, we are simply two professionals who have chosen to work together for professional and business reasons. So what have the positives been over the past 3 months:-

We have both learnt a huge amount from each other and that has been a real plus. Working as a photographer on your own can become a bit lonesome, being able to share ideas and learn new things is great. Most of all the best part is the pictures we have been taking.

The business has been really successful. We've taken 15 bookings over the past 3 months, we have just under 40 weddings for this year and already 8 for next year, which is more than expected. The response from couples has been great. Most people that come to see us, like what they see and book. We have not set ourselves out to be the cheapest, but people like our style of photography and approach. When you're already spending a large amount on your wedding it pays to get the photographs you really want.

We've recently started with Asian weddings, and this has been a welcome change. We have started to work with Tania Tapel, an Asian wedding planner based in Leicester. We really enjoyed taking the photographs at Dipti and Vinesh's wedding. It seems that more and more asian couples are also wanting a more contemporary approach to their photographs, but they don't just want snaps - they also want good quality, contemporary pictures.

The main frustration is the time it takes to get the marketing, admin and all of the non-photographic aspects right. You would be forgiven for thinking that a photographer spends most of the time taking photographs. The reality is there is a lot of business stuff to do too. We have sorted out the branding for the joint business and we will be producing a new website in the coming months too, so watch this space.

My Daughter's wedding

Well I could hardly take the pictures, but my daughter asked me if I would take a few and the photographer was gracious enough not to object. So I took a few but only the odd one, as most of the time I was happy to enjoy the day and the celebration. I do like taking photographs though and capturing special moments, so it was nice to do so on this occasion. The wedding was on last Sunday in York and thankfully before the heavens really opened. There were a few showers but nothing that spoilt the day.

Being a parent and a photographer is interesting, as I get to see what makes a picture for me. I like simple pictures that capture people as I know them - pictures that stir a small emotion and make me think of them, who they are and what they mean to me. I have to say, I really do like pictures that capture people in a natural way.

Oh, we had a near panic on the Friday evening, as the vicar informed my daughter that the choir would not be there during the ceremony as they already sing twice on Sundays and so she could have £55 back. Well it is always nice to get some money back, but this was not welcome. Fortunately, I know some friends who are very musical and know people in that trade, so we swiftly arranged for a string quartet to play during the signing of the register, and they also came back to the reception (Hazelwood Castle, which is a delightful and very friendly venue) and played during the drinks reception and canapes, which worked out really well, especially with the weather and so many people inside. They are called Quintessential String Quartet (Click here for their site - opens in a new window) and they come highly recommended!

Here are a few pictures:-


As I said, it was a little wet but not enough to spoil the fun. These are two of my other daughters and my other son-in-law.


The bride herself, having fun.


I love the skin colours in this picture, even though it is a rather thoughtful expression. She looks radiant and a picture of beauty (am I allowed to say that?)


This is Neill, the groom. He is normally happy to avoid the spotlight and so I am especially pleased with this picture, the pleasing contrast really sets it apart.


I know it is a straight to camera shot and will not be winning any awards, but it captures a nice moment of mum (otherwise known as my wide!) and daughter, with those obvious emotions between them on such a day.

If you would really like to see a few more, then here is a link to an online show - again, just a few of my snaps. Dinah and Neill picture-show (it might take a short while to load).

Dipti and Vinesh Gallery Live

Just a quick note to say that the on-line gallery for Dipti and Vinesh is now live and you can see the images by clicking the client gallery selection.

The first page has a slide show using a selection of the images. You can see this show anytime from within their gallery by clicking "View Photographer's choice slideshow".

Happy viewing.
Glen

Dipti and Vinesh

Just to say for those who are eagerly awaiting the images from Dipti and Vinesh's wedding (27th May) they will be live on the client gallery from next Tuesday (26th June).

They had a lovely day and I am really pleased with their pictures, Dipti is a true picture of beauty and Vinesh is pretty dashing too - but most of all the day was fantastic and hence the pictures tell the story of a wonderful day.

A few 'teaser' pictures below:-


I love these pictures, very much a case of less is more.


I really like this picture, it is a nice abstract.


All the details that Dipti had arranged were just beautiful, like these flowers and this necklace.


The array of colours was great, this is one of Vinesh getting ready.


The first dance.....

My weekend

Well I did not have any weddings over the weekend, but I met with two couples. Georgina and Trevor, who were married on 19th May, came across on Saturday morning for a viewing session. It was a chance to see all their pictures - all 432 of them - on big screen (I have a projector set up, which is used to play back the images), and also to think about their album choice and images for the album. We made a lot of progress on the morning. When left to their own devices most couples find the task of picking out the pictures for their album difficult and often lengthy. I have recently introduced viewing sessions for couples - I leave to them to sit back on a cosy sofa to view the images and then we talk through albums and picture selections. It takes a few hours from start to finish, but it saves time later and it is a nice way for couples to view the images, in addition to having them on CD for home viewing.

I also arranged to meet Tina and Simon, who are getting married at Lambley in Notts on 30th June. I met with them at Simon's parent's house in Lambley, then to the parish Church and then onto Cockliffe House Hotel, where the reception will be. Cockliffe House is a delightful hotel and they will have the run of the place on the Saturday. All the arrangements sound great, so I am really looking forward to photographing the day for them. It is very helpful to meet with couples after they have booked, as we can finalise the arrangements for the day and it is a chance to build a rapport, which helps immensely on the day.

I've picked out a handful of images from Georgina and Trevor's wedding, the full set can be seen in the client gallery. Pictures by me and Samantha Hook.


Samantha took this picture - I love it. Georgina looks completely stunning, the contrast in black and white is compelling


This was taken whilst I was walking backwards and trying not to fall over. It has captured a nice moment and I like the long line of guests.


This is also a picture by Sam, taken whilst I was setting up a group photograph. It shows the strength of two professionals at the same wedding. The light and the expression are timeless.


In flow during the speeches - sometimes it all works for the photographer, as it did here - lighting, composition and expressions.


This picture was taken by Sam and what a picture. It is like someone has cut the end of the marquee off to enable the picture, like on a film set - only it was taken from the inside.

Client Blog - only 2 months to go!

(from Natasha - 11th Aug 2007) - I'm very excited. Only two months to go and it seems there are so many things left still to arrange and we are having a slight panic about all the stuff we have to do. So I'm going crazy and drawing up lists. Lists of things to do. Lists of lists to make. Glen is cool though. We are meeting up the day before the wedding to confirm all the arrangements for the day. Now all I have to do is find slow moving confetti for that perfect post-wedding shot!

It's been a long time...

...since I last posted and a lot has happened. My two elder daughters bought my wife and I tickets on Eurostar to Paris for Christmas - which was very nice and a big thank you. So, we went in late May and Paris was great: we enjoyed walking around the city, taking in the culture and the change of scenery was good. The food was very expensive - you can easily pay 250+ Euros for dinner for 2, but suffice to say we found some better value but still very nice restaurants. There is a great McCafe on the Champs Elysees which does a very nice coffee and a cake for 2 euros, with free wireless internet, which was a good alternative to 60 euros for breakfast at the hotel.

Then we came back and Samantha (my business partner) and I had 4 weddings on the run - Saturday, Sunday, Monday and also Tuesday. We've been busy ever since getting all the pictures sorted. One of the weddings was asian, a hindu wedding - Dipti and Vin (hi to Dipti and Vin if you're reading this) were lovely and so were all their guests. We had a great time and I'm really looking forward to seeing all the pictures.

I've recently been working on the pictures from a wedding in mid May, Georgina and Trevor (hi to Georgina and Trevor too if you are reading this). You can see the images in the client gallery - please do have a look, they have some really nice pictures. They had a really lovely day - it was very much a village style wedding, Georgina was able to walk from home to the church and then back home for the reception, held in her parent's garden, complete with marquee and sunshine, which was remarkable as it was rain all around except there. It is always a nice feeling to have captured someone's special day and to see the pictures when they have all been put together.

I have another wedding this coming weekend, one of my daughters (I have four daughters, all of which I love immensely) is getting married on Sunday 24th June. They are getting married in York. Obviously no official photographs from me, but I am looking forward to the day - it will make a change from being behind the camera.

Off to do some shopping, which makes a change for me on a Saturday.