All things new

So it has been half term for me this week, so I have had my two mini munchies at home to keep me busy, so we have been trying to do something "new" every day.  Something that either they haven't done before or I haven't done before.... mine included staying in bed until 8:30am having snuggles and singing songs from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  And any one that knows me will know that I never stay in bed later than 7am, so this was like heaven to my girls.

Any way for get me... new things for Sawtell Photography

Well lets think  ...

... fresh new look coming soon ... watch this space for details

 ....  puppy pictures - yes I have photographed a lovely little pooch - and they said never work with children or animals - now I have done both!!

Meet Fijit ...

I have met Fijit before, however her owners where then dressed in their wedding attire and we popped in for a quick cuddle between the ceremony and reception.  She is adorable and very cuddly, however left with a very sad face, which I hope she forgets and likes me again soon.


... studio shots - yes I have given in and started using my lights !!  I suppose it was either that or cancel everything due to the English weather !!

Chloe-Paige my first newborn of 2014 and so delicate and cute.  Although this picture doesn't show Chloe's cute little face, it is a favourite of mine as she gripped so hard, even though she was asleep to her Daddy's finger - a fabulous bond that will just grow and grow.  Very precious.


Munchie 2, an angelic little demon !!   I can say that she is my daughter.  She decided she wanted her pictures taken, and I never deny her this as it is very rare for either or my children to ask for their picture to be taken.

This is the norm for her ... although not many people get to see this side of her ... until now x


In Munchie number 1's words

"Mummy, life is like your camera ...  when things look all blurry you need to adjust your focus and think about what you are doing and try again"

Too wise for her own good !!

xx

Live music at a wedding ... why not

I have been very quiet APOLOGIES my lovelies ...

This is going to be a quick post ...

1) so people know I'm still alive and
2) my children are currently getting ready for bed so don't have long to type without interruptions



I recently had the pleasure of covering a wedding, which was one of the first weddings I ever booked, however the thing about this wedding was the Groom played in a band and they played at the reception.

The band, Like Water consist of Darren, Dan and Damo and yes I think it has been suggested on more than one occasion that they should have called themselves 3D ;)

They play their own music and do covers and opened their set with an Oasis cover and I think they even sneaked in a Script cover also

Well to get to the long and the short of it, they are a new band and please take a look at their Facebook page and if you like their music - please like their page, you never know when you will need a live band to play at an event

Hidden gem.

I have been fortunate to go to Rookwood House three times in the last two months and each time I go the garden seems to outshine the last time I went.

The first time I went, was a horrid grey day, but the garden was still full of colour with the daffodils dotted around like tiny rays of sunshine poking through.

The second time I went, it was dry, but still grey and again the garden looked stunning with tulips in full bloom and the dark purple ones looked so rich and velvety that I just wanted to be a fairy and dive in like a child wrapping themselves up in a huge duvet.

I was first told about Rookwood by the lovely Kate of Cakes by Katie B. who had been to a wedding fayre at the venue last year, and Kate was right about the stunning location.

Rookwood is the perfect venue if you are getting married and want to have everyone in one place the night before.

With four beautifully decorated bedrooms in a self contained building it's a perfect hide away for the bride and her bridesmaids to get ready.

I highly recommend popping along and taking a peak at their website or Facebook page, because it truly is a hidden gem.

I was lucky enough to go there with Paula and Andy to photograph them in the grounds to celebrate 25 years of married life, and was a lovely private moment.

Thanks Char at Rookwood for allowing me to use the gardens... can't wait to see what images I have from the Bride getting ready at the venue from the weekend xx

Cheeky and Charming ....

Meet Daniel ...  the most charming and cheeky little boy to capture my attention in a long time.

Daniel didn't want to be in the pictures during the day, therefore it wasn't until the evening that I realised what a little gem he is.

As I walked in to the disco area, there was Daniel dancing to the music, he then started to walk towards me with his hand out, thinking he was going to shake my hand, I politely put my hand out to be be greeted with Daniel placing his thumb on his nose and wiggling his fingers whilst giggling.

I was completely taken aback - out witted by this little boy, with innocent eyes and a shy approach.

He completely captured my attention for about 10 minutes chatting and smiling.

I asked him if he was cheeky and his head nodded so fast I thought it was going to fall off.

"Are you this cheeky?", I asked him as I place my hands about 5cms apart "or are you this cheeky?" and moved them to about 50cms apart to which he started nodding and said "yes" repeatedly.

Daniel is definitely special, because when he looks at you his eyes sparkle, he has this complete sincerity about him, along with a glint of cheekiness and a smile that could melt the polar ice cap.

Daniel loves to dance, although refused point blankly to dance with me - which to be honest I don't blame him, after all I am old enough to be his MUM !

I'm just glad my little friend Emily wasn't around to meet Daniel as I think they would have been inseparable and got into loads of mischief together.

I am very glad I got to meet you Daniel and if I ever meet you again, I will remember to put my thumb to my nose first.

Thank you for entertaining me, making me smile, and just one thing from me keep dancing xx

Tears of joy ...

Weddings ...  a roller coaster of emotions

• excitement
• nervousness
• laughter
• tears of joy
• relief
• happiness
• admiration
• pride

Alex and Jade's wedding was no different.

The house was calm and full of giggles on arriving at the Bride, the two Bridesmaids were sat cross legged on the floor putting the finishing touches to favour boxes and the Bride was having her make up applied.

The hair dresser came and went and left all three ladies, looking beautiful with just the finishing touches of make up to be applied before getting dressed.

Jade came down stairs to put her dress on and the emotion kicked in, "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias was playing - "their song"  ... tears welled in her eyes and it was like a sign that everything was perfect.

The Groom mean while was nervously waiting at the church with his Best Man and Woman and his grooms people.

The service was full of smiles, laughter and tears, with Alex's Mum, finding it hard to hold back the tears as her baby boy said his vows.

Alex and Jade who were once full of nerves, finally looked relaxed and calm knowing they would be spending their rest of their lives together as man and wife.  They smiled freely as they signed the register and laughed and joked with the Pastor and family members.

The newlyweds posed for photographs with family and friends outside the church in the beautiful sunshine before venturing off to celebrate with a few glasses of bubbly and some very emotional and heart felt speeches.

All the speeches were great, and the nerves within some of the speakers were running high, especially with Jade's Dad and the Best Man.   Jade's Grandparents were so proud of their son when he stood up and spoke about Jade, and it was a really moving time for all.

However, the best line in the speech goes to Alex and it has stuck with me for the last week, during his speech he thank Jade's Mum and Dad as said that they never had to give him another birthday or Christmas present ever again, as by allowing him to marry Jade was the best present he could ever ask for ever.

For young people, they have wise hearts and very full hearts that are bursting with love and affection for one another and family and friends.  If there was ever a couple destined to be together, it's Jade and Alex.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Rawkins,  and

Ten un buen viaje y disfrutar de sus vidas juntos

xx

and more weddings :)

So as I said in my previous blog, I seem to be getting more involved in weddings, which is lovely to have a varied side to my work.

Last week I received an email from a Groom to be asking whether I could go and talk to him and his lovely bride about photographing their wedding, he said he had been recommended by a previous Groom I had photographed.

I always get a warm glow when I hear these words, because it meant they liked what I did at their wedding, which then in turn that glow automatically turns to nerves as I think ... the pressures on !!

Anyway back to the wedding ... the couple are lovely, relaxed and very lively and think the wedding will definitely represent their personalities.

I'm really looking forward to seeing them again for their pre-wedding shoot, which I can only imagine will be entertaining.

I've also had a lovely pre-wedding shoot with a "camera shy" couple, which reminded me of myself when I went to Bristol for mine.

I remember being very stiff, and nervous and extremely aware of people staring at me - whether they were or not was a very different thing.  I struggle at best with looking at a camera and find lots of pictures of the palm of my hand, or with my tongue sticking out, so being asked to pose in public was very unnerving.

I think the pre-wedding shoot is really important as it enables me to see how people are in front of the camera and making slight suggestions to prevent instructions on the day, because I believe the best images are when someone is relaxed and comfortable and not necessarily looking directly at the camera.

On two occasion's I've been told by the Brides to be "Just don't ask him to smile, he looks like Chandler from Friends when he tries to smile"

So to end my blog for tonight ...

Night xx

I love weddings ....

I'm sorry, I went quiet again !!

I've just been really busy with wedding related work.


So I ended March with a lovely, intimate wedding with a white and red theme.  The bride looked lovely in a toga style flowing dress.

The older bridesmaids looked stunning in a deep red strapless dresses and the flower girls wore white dresses with a sparkly bodice to match the theme of the sparkly shoes that they were all wearing.

The setting was a lovely Hotel in a tiny village just outside Romsey, where the Groom, the Best Man and the Page Boys waited patiently in the stunning, modern yet cosy bar.

A lovely day was had by all attended, and there were a lot of smiles, and even more laughs.

Mr and Mrs Barker

In my previous post, it mentioned a wedding that I was going to have the pleasure of photographing ... and yesterday that day arrived.

The wedding of the super-organised and wonderfully creative Dave and Shelley, the new Mr & Mrs Barker.

Idioms can be over used or used inappropriately, however this one seems to sum up Dave and Shelley .

"two sides of the same coin"

Two people that share the same passions, dreams and thoughts.  Who asked me the same questions when I entered the room after leaving the other.  Who got each other similar presents without realising.  Both different, just fused together through mutual love, admiration and respect for one another.  Shelley is bubbly and outgoing, where as Dave is quite shy, however they compliment each other beautifully and one doesn't overshadow the other.

Dave and Shelley chose to have a beautifully intimate wedding in a Black and Cadbury Purple theme, in which most of the guests also followed the theme.

The Civil Ceremony closed with the lighting of candles, where both Shelley and Dave lit named candles and then lit a larger candle simultaneously with their individual candles... twin flames joining together to burn eternally as one.

Every part of the day was filled with detail from the fleur de lis on the brides nails and grooms belt, to matching chalices, to the coat of arms by the tower of sumptuous cupcakes topped with a single tier cake delicately decorated in black damask.... perfection!

I can honestly say that I believe they rivalled the best wedding planner with their planning, attention to detail and execution.  They say that the build up and planning of a wedding is supposed to be as much fun as the day itself, and judging by the fun everyone was having yesterday, Dave and Shelley must have been in their element planning their wedding.

It was a joy and an honour to capture their day and I wish them both a long, happy and healthy marriage.

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Barker, I hope your twin flames provide you with light when you see dark and warmth when you feel cold.

First wedding of the year...

With love in the air, I am very lucky to have my first wedding of 2013 on Saturday, to a very special couple.

I thought I was organised when I planned my wedding, but I have been out-classed by this couple, they have intricate detail planned, designed and organised down to the last leaf on the floral arrangements.

The time, detail and effort which has gone in to planning their wedding will certainly make it  a wedding to remember for them and their guests.  The personalisation of everything to represent a piece of them and their lives into the day is amazing, and I am honoured to be capturing their wedding.

Congratulations Dave and Shelley and look forward to seeing you both on Saturday.

First post of 2013

Hi all,

It feels like ages since I have posted on my blog, I should really get my act together, especially as this time next week we will be in February!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas, New Year and enjoyed the recent snowy weather.  Did you get any nice pictures?

My craze over Christmas was Bokeh ... and this was my first attempt  ... do you like it ?

It was quite easy to do with the christmas lights twinkling, now I have to find another way of creating this style of image, (or I could just cheat and down load images off the internet... )

So a couple of weeks into January the snow decided to fall ... did you manage to get out and build a snowman ?  Or try your hand with sledging ?  No injuries I hope!

Where we live, we have never had much snow previously, so have had a brand new sledge in the garage for about 3 years UNTIL the snow and we managed to take the labels off.

My little munchkins loved being dragged around in the snow

... I know it doesn't look like they are enjoying themselves, however they did... trust me, the smaller would is quite disappointed the snow has all gone.

So today, I did my first shoot of 2013 and it was a lovely pre-wedding shoot at The Newbury Manor Hotel, which has beautiful grounds, although most of the grounds were currently underwater do to the expanding river and melting snow...

believe it or not there is a path from where I was standing to the white building, however today it was under quite a lot of water.

Oh never mind, three weeks until the wedding, so hopefully it will have dried out by then ..

Enjoy your evening and the rest of your weekend

xx