Happy New Year!

We wish you a very happy New Year, especially if it's your first as a married couple. 2010 was great, with lots to celebrate despite the gloomy forecasts and we enjoyed each and every one of the weddings we photographed.

2011 is shaping up as THE year to get married. We're excited about the ones we're already booked for and still have some dates free, should you make a big decision on New Year's Eve. It's reckoned that's one of the most popular dates for a romantic proposal.

Wishing you well wherever you may be and have a fantastic New Year.

Susan and Godfrey

Real Life wedding at The Hurlingham Club

Eira Jones and Greg Smith have just sent us their account of their wedding at All Saints, Fulham and The Hurlingham Club. They had a fantastic day and made sure they enjoyed the fruits of all their planning and hard work.

Here's the link

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

Just back from holiday in Liguria

Sorry - we've been out of touch for 3 weeks after photographing our last wedding of our busiest season ever. Liguria was wonderful and we'd recommend it highly as a honeymoon destination.

We're now busy getting wedding albums together in time for Christmas and taking bookings for next year. And catching up on the phone calls and emails!

Wedding at St Peter's Petersham

Liz and Mark Pietronave married at St Peter's Petersham on Saturday - they are honeymooning in Peru and later Miami. We've taken some beautiful photographs of their day and look forward very much to showing them.

Their reception was at the Richmond Hill Hotel. Wonderful.

A special mention about their service: the Reverend Canon Tim Marwood was particularly welcoming to everyone. The Church is a gem: most unusually, the service was held in the centre with the bridal party in box pews. A real sense of intimacy, which made the vows exchanged doubly meaningful. The Church is beautifully kept and the Church Warden who attended did his part to make the day go smoothly for everyone.

Heating in the conservatory at Syon Park

A beautiful day in May. Juliet was a gorgeous bride, elegant and sophisticated, her dress stunning and her Jummy Choos to die for. She and Ali are due back from honeymoon this weekend and their Syon wedding photos will be online shortly.

The flowers were by Wheelers of Turnham Green and were perfect. White was the theme which blended perfectly with the black and white of Robert Adam's interior.

The weather was kind but even so, with Juliet in her amazing dress and other guests wearing light clothes, the evening reception could have been on the chill side. The couple asked us for advice and we told them we've seen guests eating their wedding breakfast in the Conservatory with their overcoats on. Help was at hand with the company who supply heating at Syon - Carrier rental express.

If you're hiring this venue or a marquee, it's worth considering portable heating. It can make all the difference to your guests' enjoyment of your wedding day. Speak to Sarah Tropia or David Garland on 0870 751 7002

Real life wedding at The Vineyard Stockcross

The Vineyard Stockcross is a great wedding venue in Berkshire for discerning couples who enjoy the finer things in life. We've been photographing weddings for many years now at The Vineyard and we talk about it on our website.

Last August we were there again for Victoria and David - it was a very wet day and their plans could have been badly upset, but The Vineyard is such a cosy venue that it made no difference at all. The rain cleared up in time for the fireworks and everyone really enjoyed themselves.

You can read about Victoria and David's real life wedding at The Vineyard Stockcross on our website at

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

Have your wedding plans been affected by the volcano in Iceland?

Have your wedding plans been affected by the volcano in Iceland? We had a pre-wedding shoot booked for this weekend but the Bride-to-be is stranded in Ibiza. Hopefully she will be back for her wedding in three weeks.

So what should you do if your plans are compromised? Put in a call to your insurance company as a priority. Some travel insurance policies will cover volcanic eruptions, many don't..

Specialist insurer E&L said, 'Unfortunately E&L Insurance does not offer any compensation or reimbursement of cost through our wedding insurance packages in light of the flight disruptions caused by volcanic ash. This is clearly stated in our policy wording and although it is an unavoidable act of god, we are unable to pay out on claims as a result of this natural disaster. Wedding Insurance however, does cover the vast majority of issues relating to your wedding, both in the UK and overseas, so it is always worth taking out a policy to help protect your special day.'

If you end up paying for extras due to the flight disruption, make sure you hold on to receipts to follow up later with your airline, tour operator or travel insurance agent. Bear in mind, that in most cases only reasonable expenses will be covered.

Best of luck!

Syon Park London wedding venue

Looking for a great London wedding venue? Syon Park's Wedding Diary opened today for the 2011 Season.

The Great Conservatory was the place to be if you're looking for fantastic wedding photos. We were there, showing our work along with other highly recommended suppliers.

Some couples had queued since early this morning to secure their date. And one couple we met had only got engaged last night!

The team told us that they are accepting reservations by telephone, email or letter from Monday 12th April 2010. The number to ring is 020-8758-1888 020-8758-1888 or email events@syonpark.co.uk

We're now taking bookings for wedding photography at Syon Park. Please contact us on 020 8932 6309 or look at our website which features a real life wedding at Syon Park. Here's the link

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

Weddings at The Athenaeum Club

You can choose to have your wedding at a central London Hotel, of course. There are many to choose from. But can they compare with The Athenaeum Club in Pall Mall.

Saturday last we photographed a high profile wedding reception at The Athenaeum. We were struck by the wonderful service offered to the bride and groom by Nick Spike and his staff. Understated, sophisticated and very special.

The Athenaeum is closed to members at the weekend so you can have the full run of the venue including bedrooms. It is extremely central for your guests and just wonderful.

Highly recommended. Please visit the following link for more information on The Athenaeum Club

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

Blenheim Palace wedding venue photography

We're very fortunate to have an Oxford base as well as a London studio. From Susan's college LMH Oxford (a wedding venue in itself) to Blenheim Palace within easy distance, we can offer you a first class wedding service second to none.

The Orangery at Blenheim Pallace is fabulous for wedding photography, full stop.

You need to see the beautiful double vaulted ceiling in the Marlborough Room to appreciate how good this room will look in your wedding photos. Just consider those a-list chandeliers and a massive fireplace.

Not quite big enough? With two professional wedding photographers at Blenheim Palace, you are guaranteed great coverage if you book the Great Hall, The Saloon and the Long Library. You're sorted for evening drinks receptions and wedding celebrations from 60 up to 300 guests.

To know more about wedding photography at Blenheim Palace , please contact us on 020 8932 6309 www.westlondonphotography.com

Wedding venue The Vyne Hampshire

The Vyne wedding venue in Hampshire? Do you know it?

We made a private visit it on Sunday - it had just opened the day before and it's absolutely enchanting. The info tells you that it was a Tudor power house, but what comes over is the charm of a much loved family home.

The volunteers 'on duty' were so welcoming, with just the right amount of information to tell you about a strange portrait. And there were a few of those - a scene of a father and mother receiving a letter telling them their son had died. Or a 6 year old called Chrysostoma done up like Queen Elizabeth 1, deathly pale and bejewelled.

There were fresh spring flowers in most of the rooms, a volunteer playing a forte piano beautifully adding to the period note and carpets of snowdrops and crocuses in the grounds. The Tudor Brewhouse did a great local blue cheese quiche and there was a free cup of tea an slice of Victoria sandwich for all Mums - it was Mothering Sunday of course.

And it's a great wedding venue. I'll add some pictures soon to show you. Meanwhile, you can google the National Trust link for wedding photos at The Vyne

Syon Park Open Day 2011

Syon Park will be holding its annual “Exclusive Wedding Open Day” on Sunday 11th April 2011 this year.

For anyone considering holding a civil marriage, partnership or celebratory reception on the Estate, this will be an unique opportunity to view Syon House and the Great Conservatory – and also to meet some of our excellent, approved suppliers.

Entrance is free but places are limited, so please make sure you book with Victoria in advance.

email victoria@syonpark.co.uk or call 020-8758-1888 to confirm you can attend.

Wedding photography at The Athenaeum, London

What a wonderful destination for a wedding reception! We love the fact that you can have the complete run of The Athenaeum for your wedding photography at the weekend, even if you've held your ceremony elsewhere.

We look forward to returning to The Athenaeum this month to photograph the Wedding Reception of a couple who recently married abroad.

Please contact us on 07860 736 845 to share our experience of wedding photography at The Athenaeum.

Visit us at www.westlondonphotography.com for our contact detalis and information about our London wedding photography service.

Wedding photography at Claridges Hotel, London

We love Claridges Hotel in London. It's a terrific venue for wedding photography. the dedicated team give you all the attention you deserve and we can make the most of this wedding venue since we know it so well.

Jane and Simon loved its romance - the glamour, the elegance, the fabulous setting. If you are holding your Wedding Breakfast at Claridges, please get in touch. We are more than happy to share our experience of wedding photography at Claridges.

Susan and Godfrey Johnson 020 8932 6309 www.westlondonphotography.com

London photographer doing photo restoration

We've recently been asked to make a complete album from a set of old photographs for a client who wants to surprise a much loved family friend.

We love a project like this. Often the photographs are damaged by light or they're torn or scratched. We've got the technical know how and can repair these precious images, restoring them to their original pristine state.

Please don't hesitate to ask us more about this service.

studio@westlondonphotography.com

Syon Park wedding Open Day: Hold the date

Sunday 11 April. Be there

Brides who love being photographed

Most brides are rather shy, we find, and don't particularly look forward to being photographed.

It sometimes seems strange to us, as pretty much without exception, all the brides we've photographed look amazing on their wedding day.

They're so happy and excited that they go with the flow and if they've allowed enough time for us, we get some great shots.

And some, like our glamorous Russian bride Ekaterina, love the camera and the camera loves her. It's partly about being relaxed and enjoying the moment.

But some brides just aren't relaxed. Often it's because everything has taken much longer than planned and time has run out. And others are so organised, like the bride who had her day planned by 5 minute chunks, all worked out and on view on an Excel spreadsheet. Nothing was left to chance, and actually a bit of spontaneity is essential on your wedding day.

PTO inspiration from Llewelyn Robbins and Su Kaye

One of the big discoveries at Photo Training Overseas was the pleasure of taking macro photographs of flowers using a pocket camera. Su Kaye was due to give a seminar on macrophotography but at the last minute she couldn't make it and Llewelyn Robbins took her place.

His session was the highlight of the week, as far as I'm concerned. He showed us some of Su's work which was stunning. Each image was a work of art and would look fantastic on any gallery wall.

This Turkish alpine flower was minuscule but makes a great picture against the sky. I found it in the ruins of the ancient city of Perge. It's going up on our wall, together with the best of the images of all other delicate blooms we saw.

Llewelyn Robbins can be found at http://www.lrphotography.co.uk

Su Kaye at http://www.sukaye.com

Romantic Scottish castle weddings

There's nothing more romantic than a wedding in a Scottish castle and Pittodrie House in Aberdeenshire is nothing if not romantic. We flew up for Nadia and Ryan's November wedding

We find that some London based brides and grooms like to work with a London based photographer - it's more convenient for pre-wedding consultations, the pre-wedding shoot and album selection.

And we love to travel for our work. It keeps us fresh and up to date. Pittodrie House is a short drive from Aberdeen airport and only a cheap flight away from Heathrow.

In fact, it could be a more pleasant experience for you and your guests than many a London venue with its traffic and noice.

And you get a great honeymoon destination too.

Susan and Godfrey have been to Photo Training Overseas

This time of year, with the start of a busy wedding season only weeks away now, it's very refreshing to take a week out and visit Photo Training Overseas. This year it was held on the Mediterranean coast in Antalya, Turkey.

The training we get updates our skills in many aspects of photography, particularly advanced lighting, composition and image manipulation skills. Top professionals from around the world share their knowledge with participants and time is set aside for special hands on workshop sessions to allow us to try out new techniques and ideas before returning to our studio in Ealing.

In the photo you see Lyn and Jeff Ellis who displayed a fabulous collection of Albums Australia. These beautiful albums are world class with beautiful covers and dynamic pages. Mike Roper set up this shot for the delegates to take in a useful exercise on how to take an excellent PR photo for the press.

So though our chosen expertise is wedding photography, we benefit from watching other photographers at work. And the couples who choose us as their wedding photographers are guaranteed to look their very best in their wedding pictures.

We only have 10 more dates available for wedding bookings this year. Please visit our website to read more about our wedding service. You'll find an availability checker to see if we are still free on your date.

www.westlondonphotography.com

A Barbeque summer? Hardly

Well it wasn't. Umbrellas were the order of the day. Some are very fetching - we always carry a good supply of white ones which let the light through. Here's Julie at the Danesfield Hotel, keeping calm and carrying on.

A comforting feature - at no wedding last summer did we find we were unable to shoot all the photographs the bride and groom had requested. It never rained the whole day long and by everyone being flexible, we beat the weather.

New wedding album - Syon Park weddings

We're just blown away by the quality of the newest album, the Bellissimo, which has arrived in our studio. We feature Katie and Patrick's wedding at Syon Park last September and these photographs are of them practising their first dance, away from their guests, who are partying in the Inner Courtyard.

They made the most of the Great Hall, without chairs and loved just getting away from it all for a few moments rest.

We're offering a special rate to Syon Park wedding couples who book early, before St Valentine's Day

Happy New Year to all our couples - and future newlyweds

We're back from our far away travels and preparing for a busy and happy 2010. Last year was one of our busiest ever, with weddings at our favourite venues and some new to us. Maybe the highlight was Theresa and Ryan's wedding in Albany, Western Australia.

Here they are just married, about to go to their wedding breakfast and then on to their honeymoon in Cairns.

It was their spring, our autumn and the setting just out of this world. We couldn't believe the size of these enormous gum trees. The specimens in Kew Gardens, just across the river from us, are minute in comparison.

It was a 23 hour flight from London to Perth with a short stop over in Bruneii. And after all that travelling, it seemed a good idea to make a proper break and get to know Western Australia really well.

And now, after a couple of months away, we're back after the long holiday and ready for the new wedding season which begins for us in April.