1st August 2009 - Wedding photographer

Sadly, due to unforseen circumstances, one of my brides is having to postpone her wedding until next year. Which means I now have the 1st August this year available.

It's one of the busiest months of the year for wedding photography and to have such a key Saturday available so late in the year is a first for me. So, if you are planning your wedding for on the 1st August and were worried about finding the right photographer.....don't panic! Just give me a call or drop me a line.

Venetia xx

Judith & Jon.....are really pleased!

If you've been following my blog you may remember that I went 'up North' to Mere a couple of weeks ago as Judith & Jon chose me as their wedding photographer for their big day....hey exciting.....next weekend! We had a fabulous time photographing their pre wedding shoot....it was so much fun and I got his email from Judith this week.

" Thank you so much for putting up the photos, I love them! You are very clever! Especially like the ones where we are sat down. You can really see how much fun we had! Jon got back from the stag in one piece thank goodness! He loves the pictures too, you are a very clever lady! Jude. xxxx"

Judith is one of those lovely brides who is bursting with excitement about her wedding day and I can't wait to photograph it for them.

See you next weekend guys!!

Venetia xxx

Cinderella shall go to the ball...!

Unsung heroes from offices across the South West attended a stunning showcase event in Bristol last Thursday at Brunel’s ss Great Britain, supported by....yours truly!

Secretaries, personal assistants, marketeers and event organisers are regularly asked to do all the work for events, but like Cinderella do not always receive an invitation to attend. And if they do.....there is little opportunity for enjoyment.

The event gave 200 event planners from across the region the chance to see the stunning ocean liner for themselves, without the pressure of work, and to taste fine food and wine. Starting with a champagne reception and canapés on the Promenade Deck, guests were able to experience different function styles throughout the ship and discuss special new packages, designed to make life easier for events planners.

Guests planning to marry also had the chance to discover why the ss Great Britain is Bristol’s most popular wedding venue outside of the registry office, with wedding ceremonies held on the Promenade Deck and receptions in the First Class Dining Saloon.

The team at Brunel's ss Great Britain work closely with a number of key suppliers, including myself, and wanted to show event planners and potential bride & grooms what could be achieved with flowers, modern technology, lighting, furnishings, entertainment and photography.

It was a pleasure to be invited to and be part of such a magical evening....a big thank you to Bronwen, Dagmar and the whole team on board. (I've already taken one wedding photography booking as a result!).

Venetia x

I obviously couldn't chat and photograph at the same time so below are a few pictures from the night taken by Bristol press photographer, Stephen Lewis.

Me (far left) doing what I do best....talking!




Lots of goregous photography products....

Looking at new album ideas....

The great Brunel himself....

Not bad for a stand-in wedding photographer!!

I had a lovely email today from Susie & James whose wedding I photographed on the 20th March. As you may remember the local wedding photographer Susie & James had chosen fell ill and she contacted me in the hopes I was free.

"Everything was just perfect on the day - we couldn't have wished for it to be any better. We were both every happy with your services, you did an absolutely great job. You were very easy to work with and we were having fun (especially with all the kissing you asked us to do!).

I always wanted to be a model but after spending the day with you I think I have decided against it as my cheeks hurt too much with all the smiling..! Thank you so much.

Thank you for a sneak preview on your blog - we were straight on there, having a look.....they are fantastic and we can't wait to see the rest of them. All the best, Susie and James xx"

Thank you both for your lovely comments.....it was a beautiful day and a total pleasure! I'm glad you got back to the States safely and enjoy the decorating!

Venetia xx

Busy weekend.....but lots of fun!

I had a very busy end of the week last week and this weekend was hectic with lots of meetings and a trip to the North West to do a couple of planning meetings and pre-wedding shoots. I will blog all the lovely details when I get a spare minute in the next couple of days (as it's past my bed-time now!) but as I'm out all day tomorrow at a portrait shoot I had to pop a few pictures up before Judith bursts with excitement.....hope you like them!!


Venetia xx

Destination wedding - Martin & Leanne in Cyprus

As you may remember I did a gorgeous studio portrait for Martin & Leanne and their four beautiful children back in July this year. Whilst chatting to them Matin & Leanne told me they were getting married in Cyprus and we got round to wedding photography. Having looked at the work of a few wedding photographers in Cyprus they were keen to find someone who not only had a more contemporary style but also who could offer a more comprehensive service from Leanne & the girls getting ready right through to their first dance. The benefits of having a UK based wedding photographer was also paramount in their mind and before long my bags were packed and I was off!

With so many lovely historical buildings & churches in Paphos, you can be over-whelmed with choice but having seen the beautiful Town Hall on the internet Leanne was certain that was where she wanted to be married. Once they said their vows and were showered in confetti, the wedding party headed off to The Avanti Hotel for an intimate wedding reception. I had worked closely with Martin & Leanne & their wedding coordinator on the timings for their wedding day and we left enough time for some beautiful photography of the two of them. Going down to the waterfront promenade gave them some time together and us some great opportunities for some wonderful wedding photography of the two of them.

Obviously the good weather was a big attraction for both of them and we all hoped that we would be blessed with a sunset. We arranged for us to dissapear to the beach between courses at dinner and although the sun didn't set in a spectacular fashion they still got some intimate moments to themselves and we got some amazing pictures.

Wedding abroad often tend to be quite initmate affairs and even though you try to be unobtrusive you can't help but be a part of the day and this is why it is so important you feel realy comfortable and happy with your choice of wedding photographer. I had some fantastic feedback from both Leanne, Martin and their guests and we were even invited to stay into the evening. Everyone was wonderfully warm and welcoming and the children were, as always, gorgeous (we had lots of fun playing with them when we had finished!).

I hope you both have a very happy life together and wish you both all the happiness in the world.

Venetia xx

P.S. Leanne, I hope this keeps you going...!

Of course having three girls.....everything came in three's...three pairs of shoes, three tiaras, three little bags and three bouquets....

The gorgeous shoes.......

The beautiful Leanne getting prepared....

Martin looking handsome........

They had a really funky & brightly coloured old Bedford van to take the guests to the ceremony........

Three gorgeous girls waiting for their beautiful mum......

Leanne arrived realy early and we had some time before the ceremony to capture some beautiful portraits of her......this was a fantastic opportunity and one I never get normally!!

The stunning Town Hall........



I captured this beautiful casual moment between Leanne and her eldest daughter Jade....

In even the most croweded tourist hotel, if you have the eye, you can find some lovely places for photographs....a few feet away behind me where lots of bikini-clan holiday-makers!

Our walk to the beach.....

An initmate moment.....

But where was the sunset....?!

Matt & Helen's Wedding

As a wedding photographer I look for beauty in everything and think all season's are perfect to get married in as they each have their wonderful unique aspects. Winter.....cold crisp sunny days, frost on the ground and if your lucky even snow on your wedding day; Spring....the crocuses, daffodils and gorgous new growth; Summer......the flowers, the trees, the warmth and sunshine (we have to be optimistic!!); and Autumn of course with it wonderful warm light and gorgeous colours.

So far this autumn I have had the pleasure of photographing a number of gorgeous autumn weddings and Matt and Helen's was no exception. Despite having lots of bad weather the weeks leading up to it the 20th September was a gorgeous, warm autumn day and the colours were out in force for it. Matt and Helen (who were a recommendation from Ruth & Simon) chose a lovely church in Redland for their ceremony and then Redland High School for their reception.

I had a lovely time in the morning having breakfast with Helen and her bridesmaids (thank you for the coffee & coissant girls they were wonderful!) and then right through to the evening. After the group shots in the garden at Redland High School I took Matt & Helen off from some time to themselves and this is what I have focused on in the blog as there were so many lovely pictures to show you! We even went out inbetween main course and desert to catch the best of the evening sun setting and captured some fantastic shots in the maze there.

It was a wonderful day and I hope you both have a wonderful life together.

Venetia x

A very personal wedding to me.....

I had the great pleasure last month to photograph the wedding of someone very special to me. June & I have known each other since I was a baby as her mum was my mum's best friend & my god-mother. I have to say that although it was a great honour to be asked it was one of the most difficult weddings I've ever had to do as my emotional side kept taking over & I kept wanting to cry...oh I am so soppy!

Here are a few of the beautiful pictures we created:

The Arnos Manor Hotel makes a gorgeous, very gothic looking venue.....



June looked so beautiful I was really battling back the tears.....



Jon appeared very at ease & not at all nervous (a sign he knew he was making the right decision!)



The ceremony was beautiful, made me cry again....!



After the ceremony I took June & Jon off to Arnos Vale Cemetery for some beautiful pictures of the two of them. It seem a strange choice for a Bristol wedding photographer but the architecture is so amazing & June's mum is buried there so it seemed appropriate.....









Jon, you are a wonderful man & just you make sure you look after my Juney-Pooney!

I wish you both all the happinest in the world & I hope you have a fantastic honeymoon in New Zealand.

Love, Venetia xxx

Adam & Claire's destination wedding

I had the pleasure last month to fly to North Cyprus to photograph the wedding of Adam & Claire. Adam & Claire chose a destination wedding as they wanted a beautiful, relaxed wedding in a goregous setting and that's exactly what they got.

They took their vows in a gorgeous ceremony in the grounds of the boutique style hotel the Bella View, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Five Finger Mountains and overlooking the beautiful mediterranean sea.

After a relazing drinks reception, complete with Mojito's and canapes, we took Adam & Claire to the historic Bellapais Abbey for their photographs. The beautiful ruined monastery was a perfect location for some goregous pictures of the two of them and a part of the day that Claire particularly loved.

After a champagne reception and a delicious 8 course hot & cold mezze they boogied the night away to a local jazz band in the grounds of the floodlit Abbey which provided a stunning backdrop. Here are a few pictures...more to follow.

It was a fantastic day.....thank you for inviting us to be part of it. Here are a few pictures.....more to follow.

Venetia xx

P.S Adam & Claire's wedding was organised by Zeckye Yucel from The Discovery Collection who specialise in tailor-made weddings, honeymoons & holidays. Thank you to her and her team on the day for certainly making our jobs easier!

Destination wedding photography

Each year many Bride & Groom's are attracted by the idea of a destination wedding. Whether on the beach in a hot & exotic country or a stunning hotel set in beautiful countryside it can be for a variety of reasons. It might be for personal or family reasons, the thought of the mammoth organisational task ahead or simply the lure of guaranteed sunshine.

Years ago 'running away' abroad to get married was frowned upon but more and more people are discovering the appeal of a destination wedding. There are a number of companies out there offering either hassle-free 'packages' including the basics like the venue, flowers, photography, transport etc or a totally bespoke service where couples can tailor a beautiful, lavish wedding to their individual requirements with all the gorgeous details and thought that would go into any English wedding.

A few times a year I'm lucky enough to be asked to photograph one of these gorgeous destination weddings and have been to France, Spain, Italy, Greece, South Cyprus, North Cyprus and am currently talking to a couple about their wedding in the Maldives. Location weddings tend to be quite intimate affairs and it's always a great honour to be asked to accompany the wedding party as a destination wedding photographer.

Although I have known some brides fly out their own hairdresser most of the other 'suppliers' like florists etc, tend to be local. However, for many, photography is a different 'ball-game' and something they place far too much importance on to be left to someone else to choose and organise and I think there are many reasons for this.

Firstly, style and service. The majority of local photographers have a very formal style focusing heavily on set up shots of individuals and groups and not really much in the way of reportage style photography. However, many clients are looking for more than this and a mixture of photography; informal, candid shots, pictures capturing the details of the day such as flowers, the wedding dress etc, a few groups & some beautiful, semi-directed portraits of the two of them.

Also there is the level and breadth of service. On a recent trip to Cyprus the wedding coordinator was amazed at the coverage provided on the day and the planning and detail that went into the photography. Her local photographers tend to meet the couple on the day and simply cover the ceremony and an hour afterwards. She was amazed to hear about pre-wedding meetings, location visits the day before and the fact we were shooting from the bridal preparations right through to the fireworks capturing the story of the day and the essence of the location.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, as a wedding photographer I invest a lot of time building up relationships with my clients and I always tell people to choose their wedding photographer not only because of the beautiful pictures they take in the style they like but also because they like and feel comfortable with that person. If your using an overseas supplier you might not get to do that or even meet them before the day.

Lastly and very basically, distance and language. The actual photography on the day is only a relatively small part of the whole process and once the photographs have been processed then comes the fun part of choosing & producing albums, DVD, frames etc. The process tends to work over the Internet and by e-mail when using a local photographer but many couples prefer a face to face meeting to view their photographs and choose which ones are beautifully presented in the products of their choice.

It sounds like a perfect option but surely it's too expensive and only for the rich & famous?! Actually, no. If possible I combine my destination wedding photography with a holiday & therefore you do not pay the full travel cost. It obviously works out slightly more expensive than a English wedding but many couples feel that the benefits and the standard of photography that they get makes this a worthwhile investment.

To view my full portfolio of destination wedding photography, discuss your requirements and for a quotation please do not hesitate to contact me. It is within your reach.

Venetia x