Happy New Year

We wish you all a very happy New Year, especially if we will be photographing your wedding in 2009.

We start our new wedding season on January 5, beginning with Victoria's pre-wedding shoot.

It's really good to work with couples who understant that taking stunning pictures in low lighting levels isn't for novices. We spend time planning the day so that we make the most of available light and then we use the skills of a professional, qualified and experienced photographer.

And we enjoy the challenge of taking the flash OFF the camera, using our professional kit to create an on site studio for those important family group shots and using low level lighting to make the most of intimate, cosy settings.

Craig and Veronica's wedding photo album at the Richmond Hill Hotel

We really appreciate it when couples write to us after their wedding and say how much they have appreciated us. Craig has just sent us this email:

Dear Susan and Godfrey,

I just wanted to drop you a quick email to say how completely delighted Rohn and I are with our photo album.. It looks absolutely fantastic and we will always treasure it. We have also enjoyed showing friends and colleagues the more portable little books. In summary a fantastic job! We loved having you both as the photographers on our very special day. If ever you need a reference please do not hesitate to ask.

Take care and thanks again

Love Craig & Rohn

wedding photos at The Belvedere Holland Park

Reza and Anjalina have just returned from honeymoon in Mauritius after their wedding at The Orangery Holland Park and reception at The Belvedere.

Theirs was a packed schedule, with Reza up finishing his postdoctoral thesis the night before their wedding. He was just so relaxed and pleased that he had completed it in time, and overjoyed at how smoothly their wedding day went.

Their wedding photographs at The Belvedere are now online - please ask them for the password protected link.

Find out more about weddings at The Belvedere http://www.westlondonphotography.com/Belvedere_Restaurant_Holland_Park_London.php

Harender and Hal Branch - last wedding of the year at Syon Park

Harender and Hal are soon back from honeymoon in Kenya after a very special wedding ceremony and reception at Syon Park.

Harender arrived in style in a Karma taxi, gleaming in her gold sari. Pink was definitely the colour of the day and it worked really well in the darker autumnal light. We loved the Anglo-Indian mix at the Reception. Tony Patti of Sunrise Radio compered the evening and made the whole evening go with a swing. We loved the cake with Harender and Hal riding their elephant.

Their wedding photographs will soon be online - please ask Harender and Hal for the password protected link.

More about weddings at Syon Park http://www.westlondonphotography.com/wedding_venue_location_syon_park_brentford_middlesex.php

Gina or Jimmy Choo? The jury's out

Wedding shoes don't get more glamorous than a Jimmy Choo or a Gina creation. I'm told that they are so well made that they are exceptionally comfortable too.

Fiona told us that she was at total ease in her sparkly Ginas all night - and as these don't look especially bridal, she'll be able to wear them on lots of occasions in future.

For more about wedding shoes visit http://www.westlondonphotography.com/tips_for_planning_my_wedding_day.php

Fiona and John Black's Wedding pictures at St Bride's Fleet Street and Reception at The Stationers Hall

Fiona and John Black married yesterday are now on their flight to Kenya. The sun shone brilliantly for them and St Bride's Church looked magnificent. After the Ceremony Godfrey hitched a lift in the to-die-for white Rolls Royce to take some photos with the couple at different London landmarks while Susan headed straight for the Reception at The Stationers' Hall.

You wouldn't believe how difficult it is these days to park in London, even if the driver is still at the wheel. The situation isn't helped either if there is a demonstration on as streets can be closed off and the open ones become quickly busy with the extra traffic.

Fortunately, The Stationers' Hall is a gorgeous venue in its own right and we were able to take some great pictures in the streets nearby and in the Hall and its Garden.

When Fiona and John are back from honeymoon their wedding pictures will be online, in their own password protected gallery. Please contact them direct for the link.

The most romantic wedding venue in the world?

Asli and Sezen live in Istanbul - both are into banking and know the City well. They decided to get married and set themselves a challenge by fixing the date a few weeks later and in London. the first thing they had to pick was their wedding venue.

They wanted the place where they were to marry to be highly romantic. Not for them the Bosphorous with the moonlight glinting on the water and the midnight air heavy with the fragrance of lemons. Too predictable, and maybe too many friends and relatives might have to be invited?

Whatever the reason, London fitted the bill and Asli soon tracked down 30 Pavilion Road, a quintessentially English townhouse and very stylish, a stone's throw from Harrods.

http://www.westlondonphotography.com/wedding_venues_uk.php

Next, they did an internet search and tracked us down. They loved our style of photography and in particular wanted photographs of just the two of them walking the London streets.

They made time for this to happen and we picked a moment when the weather was ok. It was perfect for us: we appreciate couples who give us the time we need to enjoy the moment and capture the romance and emotion they are feeling.

The couple chose just about all of our street shots for their album - it was a fun to do and we're so glad that they had the wedding of their dreams.

Photographic retouching - when to do it?

We're all so used now to seeing pictures of airbrushed people in perfect settings that reality can be rather disappointing. It's easy to forget that it might have taken an age to set up the shot on location and that quite a bit of postproduction went on before the image was printed.

Wedding day photography, however well planned, can never be like a controlled photo shoot. Perhaps the weather isn't quite what was hoped for. Perhaps you've chosen a really lovely car, like this fabulous white Rolls Royce and then the caterers park their van just behind it. You can see the 'before' set up in an earlier blog entry. Michelle and Andrew particularly liked this photo and wanted a print made. Godfrey worked his magic, and voila, no more van.

Fiona and John are getting married on 20 September

September has started really well with a highly enjoyable pre-wedding photo shoot with Fiona and John who are getting married in less than 3 weeks now at St Bride's Church in Fleet Street, followed by a Reception at the Stationers Hall. They live in a fantastic flat in one of the two (?) white tiled buildings in the country. Best of all is their secluded roof terrace with its spectacular view.

Their password protected pre-wedding shoot is now online and we look forward to their wedding day.

Syon Park Syon House wedding photos

Gwen Jones married her Cyrus at St Anne's Kew Green and red London buses toook the guests to Syon Park for the wedding reception. Drinks were served in the Inner courtyard at Syon House and then the wedding party moved to the Great Conservatory for their wedding breakfast.

The Cracked Pot did a fantastic job with their creative floristry. Again, Jalapeno's superb cuisine, under Charles Howard's watchful eye, delighted all the guests.

Gwen and Cyrus are on honeymoon in Kenya - their wedding photos will be online in the first week in August. please ask them for their password protected website address to view all their wedding photos at Syon.

Wedding photos at Syon Park House

Lisa Bomba (from the US) reecently married Bruno Reinhard (from the Netherlands) at Syon Park.

Their reception was held in Syon Park's Great Conservatory. The floral artistry, by Dominic Hughes of Pot Pourri in Chiswick, was spectacular. Everybody (including us) enjoyed the delicious food provided by Charles Howard and his team at Jalapeno.

The Reinhards are now back from their honeymoon and we've sent them their password protected link to their wedding photographs. Please contact them directly for the link.

Kate Hughes Hair and Make up Design

Kate was the make up and hair designer yesterday at a celebrity wedding at an exclusive Oxfordshire wedding venue. As you can see from the photo, she can be counted on to do more than her bride booked her for. With countless weddings under her belt, Kate is handy with just about every wedding dress fastening, as you can see from Emma's gorgeous Maggie Sottero outfit.

While Kate was busy in Oxfordshire, we were photographing at Cambridge Cottage. But what was really nice for me was Kate calling in on her way to work to 'do' my hair. I loved the five star treatment and Godfrey loved my new look. And even the groom paid me a compliment.

So if I recommend Kate wholeheartedly, I speak from personal experience and from the feedback I've had from many of the brides we've both looked after.

http://www.itsallaboutyou.uk.net

Wedding photos at Cambridge Cottage, Kew Gardens

Wanji and Henry have fixed their date and have chosen Cambridge Cottage, Kew Gardens for their ceremony and reception. We really enjoyed their pre-wedding shoot in Kew Gardens - if you find this particularly attractive wisteria bush, be careful! If you get carried away photographing it, you might fall down one of the massive holes around. It sits on a vast badger set and probably no one ever spots them, since visitors leave well before they come out to play.

For more on wedding photography at Kew Gardens please visit

http://www.westlondonphotography.com/Wedding_photographer_wedding_location_Kew_Gardens_Cambridge_Cottage.php

Wedding photos at the Richmond Hill Hotel

Sarah and Michael's wedding photographs are now online in their own password protected Gallery. We were so lucky with the weather - it decided to be cold and wet for most of the day, apart from just before the wedding breakfast when the sun made a most welcome appearance.

There's a fantastic panorama just across the road, over the Thames. We're so glad we could make the most of it. It was fun.

Wayne & Sally's wedding at Syon Park

Toyko based Wayne and Sally are now back home, after an amazing wedding at Syon Park. Their wedding photos are now online in their password protected Gallery. Please ask them for the link.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of photos to show how magnificent the Great Conservatory looked during the evening. The pale gold theme gave a fantastic gleam to the venue - it was most unusual and really worked.

Yes Events weddings at Syon House

Just one photo from Becca and Angus' wedding. The rest are password protected- please contact us if you want more information.

Nick at Yes Events did a brilliant job with the lighting - and it's not everyday that we get to photograph a full kilted groom with an amazing bride at Syon House, showing the full beauty of Syon Park beyond the Great Conservatory.

http://www.yesevents.co.uk/

Highclere Castle wedding photos

If you're still looking for a fabulous wedding venue for next year, it's worth checking out Highclere Castle. Highclere Castle, Grounds and Gardens are open on Sunday 4 May and Monday 5 May. We're planning to pop in for a pre-wedding shoot at Highclere that weekend. Let's hope the weather keeps as good as it is now. And if not...there's always Egyptian Exhibition to take in.

Wedding photos at Syon Park House

The restoration work is nearly finished and the Great Hall looks fabulous. The new colours match the Bath stone of the exterior and look warm. Victoria and Becky told us that the scaffolding on the exterior will be down in time for Wayne and Sally's wedding next Saturday. Wayne flies in from Toyko next Tuesday - watch this space next weekend for our posting of the refurbished 'new' Syon House at Syon Park.

But before that, we have Sarah and Michael's wedding at Ealing Abbey and Reception at The Richmond Gate Hotel.

The 2008 wedding season has begun!

Wedding photography at The Landmark Hotel, London

Not all staircases are the same. We're looking forward to returning to the Landmark Hotel in London where great wedding pictures are to be had all year round. The glass atrium in the winter garden is renowned for its natural light and THAT staircase, flanked by huge palm trees.

But a word of warning for staircase lovers - by their very nature they are in public areas and hotels are of course protective of the privacy of their other guests. We find that with a bit of planning and using photographers who know what they are doing, you'll be allowed to use the staircase for five minutes or so. That's perfect for some special couple shots or for a larger group. Check out the Landmark wedding photos on our website

http://www.westlondonphotography.com/Landmark_Hotel_London_wedding_venue.php

Syon Park Wedding Open Day

It's on Saturday 19 April. Come check it out: Syon Park is a world class fabulous wedding venue. You'll be able to meet recommended suppliers, including the excellent caterers Acclaim and the talented florist Dominic Hughes from Pot Pourri in Chiswick.

We're looking forward to a busy wedding season at Syon Park. But if you haven't booked your venue yet, try Syon Park for late availability. You may be lucky.

A day with wedding photographer Damien Lovegrove

Fashion photography in Hoxton, shooting urban fashion portraits with top international wedding photographer Damien Lovegrove - who could resist the invitation to spend a day with him and 8 other fantastic photographers?

We met in The Hoxton Hotel http://www.hoxtonhotels.com/ which is a great place for us photographers to meet clients or relax in a contemporary atmosphere. And then we hit the streets, together with Rachel and Lucy-Ann. The streets around Old Street Tube offer fantastic photo opportunities, if only you have the eye and technical skill to capture them.

Damien shared his knowledge and expertise most generously. His aim was for every delegate to come away with photographs they could be proud of - and just as importantly, images that they could re-create in their own urban landscape.

Everyone was using professional kit, of course, with a good mix of Canon and Nikon cameras. Damien explained what he was doing and took care to ensure that every delegate had feedback on just about every image taken on the day. It was quite a steep learning curve for most, but top professional photographers today are providing timeless images for discerning clients.

Here are just a few of the scenes Damien set up. Those you see on this blog were simply captured on a small Canon Ixus and don't do justice to the images taken by the other photographers. But it gives you an idea of the treat in store if you book a training course with Damien. You can see what's on offer at http://www.lovegroveconsulting.com/.

We at West London Photography can't recommend Damien and Julie more highly for the contribution they are both making to the photographic industry. We wish you well in your tour down under, Damien.

More about family photographs

The past week has been spent sifting through piles of old family photographs, some dating back to pre-First World War. It's quite a collection and most of them are in good condition, lovingly mounted in period photo albums by my late parents.

Others are loose and faded, or they're badly damaged by the light. Some are incredibly battered, as if they've seen active service themselves. It will be quite a job to make them good again, but very satisfying to do.

Then there are the images in different formats, such as 35mm slides or photographic negatives. I'm not too concerned about all these because at least there is something physical there to work with later, when we have more time, hopefully.

No, the thing that most bothers me is the digital images. They're so vulnerable and hardly future proof. And there are so many now.

This last week I've started to tackle the problem, beginning with family holiday photographs. I gathered together the ones I liked the most from past happy summers in Gascony and I've made them into a book. It arrives tomorrow and I'll be happy knowing that I've got something tangible to share with my family.

Family photographs

One of the most inspirational speakers at the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers conference in Hammersmith last weekend was the hugely talented Australian photographer David A Williams.

He took us through an emotional tour of his own family photographs, going back to the 60's. The most important question he asked was, 'Do you have enough family photographs?' He then showed us his own personal archive, featuring those where there was a clear emotional connection between parent and child.

There weren't nearly enough, and of course, the parent taking the photographs was rarely on record. What a disappointment for a child revisiting his/her childhood in later years, desirous of that loving evidence of human attachment.

The message was that we should all take more family photographs. Record the daily quotidien, however mundane it may seem at the time. That picture of a well loved toy will be a treasure to your child in 20/30 years. As will that loving arm around a shoulder, or a parent cuddling a toddler.

We should all take more family photographs and we photographers should offer this service to our couples. And why don't we? Pressure of time, maybe. Or it needs to be a grand occasion. And perhaps it seems expensive to pay a professional photographer to capture the moment.

Thank you, David A. Williams http://swpp.co.uk/members/goto/rd.cgi?redir=http://www.davidwilliams-heartworks.com

January is a busy time for us

Our weddings start again with a bang next Friday and we've been able to make the most of the post New Year break to prepare for the season ahead.

Firstly, we've invested over £6k in new camera bodies. It's important to keep up with the latest technology and Nikon have great products. It's also reassuring to have top quality back up bodies in our bags.

And then there's the very important Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers convention at Hammersmith. Spread over a long weekend, it's a fantastic opportunity to be inspired by photographers who've flown in from all over the world . There's a tempting trade show where the leading suppliers display the latest prints, gizmos and albums. We'll have lots of up to date ideas as we start shooting weddings again next week.