Elle Hitchens - Wedding make-up

As a wedding photographer I've come across lots of wedding make-up artists in my time. But at a wedding about a year ago I came across the best yet....Elle Hitchens.

Not only do I consider Elle THE most amazing make-up artist but she has the perfect personality. She is friendly, relaxed and a true professional. On the wedding day itself she is a hugely calming influence and the one thing I REALLY love about her is the fact she doesn't impose her ideas on people but works 'with' her wedding clients to come up with a look that not only suits them but they love.

Make-up is a very personal thing and it's a fine balance to get something that looks stunning for your wedding photographs but doesn't look 'plastered' on 'real-life'. Elle gets that balance right every time.

I recommend her to all my wedding photography clients and every time the results (and the feedback) is fantastic. Elle.....we love you!

Here are a few photographs of her in action at Kate & Morgan's wedding.

Venetia xx

For fabulous wedding make-up drop Elle a line on elle@ellehitchens.co.uk.

New, exciting wedding photography service.....

I'm not going to disclose too much as I'm still perfecting the final details but I promise to add more details shortly.

It will be an extension to my wedding photography service and comes following a great deal of client demand and hours of research. It will be fully launched by the end of next month and will be available as an extra to brides who have book their wedding photography with me and also as a stand alone service to those who have booked with other wedding photographers.

Watch this space!!

Venetia xx

Bristol & Somerset wedding magazine

Look out for this months issue of Bristol & Somerset Your Wedding magazine....very exciting for Firetop Photography.

As the resident wedding photographer expert I have been answering readers wedding photography questions about those all important group shots at weddings and the etiquette of dressing room wedding photography.

They have also featured a wedding I photographed at Cadbury House in Bristol. You can read all about Mark & Lucy's big day and maybe even get some inspiration for your own wedding too!

And....you may recognise the bride on the front cover?! And no, for all those wondering she isn't a model! I photographed Claire & Adam's big day last year....pick the right weddng photographer and your wedding photographs could look beautiful!

It's packed with lots of great features, giveaways & competitions too all for £2.95!

Venetia xx

Happy New Year....!

Well as the first evening of 2009 draws to a close I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

2008 was a fantastic (hectic!) year for me especially as a wedding photographer. I had the pleaure to work with some fantastic clients and photograph some beautiful weddings at some gorgeous locations. I've photographed weddings around Bristol, the South West and as far afield as London, Manchester and even Cyprus! I had the pleasure to photograph at some of the countries finest venues; The Matara Centre, Cadbury House Hotel, Mere Golf & Country Club, St Mary Redcliffe, Priston Mill, The Celtic Manor Hotel, Guyers House, Belton Woods Golf Club and also some lovely intimate venues such as Coed-y-Mwstwr and the beautiful Glassboat in Bristol....to name a few. I've also had the pleasure to work with some superb suppliers and been featured in some great magazines, web-sites and venues.

On the portrait front I've photographed a record number and the end of the year ended excitingly with the launch of my new portrait studio near Taunton, Somerset. The new studio is attracting a lot of attention and I've already welcomed several new and long-standing clients there already. Gift vouchers were flying out the door before Christmas and I look forward to welcoming clients new and old in 2009.

As a wedding photographer 2009 is looking to be a very exciting year too. I have been booked by some lovely wedding photography clients and I am looking forward to seeing them again and photographing their big day. I have also being approached by a number of well-known wedding venues to work with them as a recommended supplier and also a number of high-profile magazines and web-sites to work with them on wedding related features....more about that soon!

Anyway enough from me.....I hope everyone had a fun filled Christmas with their loved ones and that 2009 is one of fulfilled dreams for everyone. I love every minute of my work and look forward to the exciting year in store.

Venetia xx

Bristol & Somerset Your Wedding magazine

I've got very exciting news! I got a call last week from the editor at Bristol & Somerset Your Wedding magazine. She had been browsing through Folio magazine last month and spotted the wedding feature I had photographed for them. After visiting my site, browsing through the photographs and reading all about me, my style & approach as a wedding photographer she contacted me and asked me to be on their panel of experts. My work has been published on many occassions but with so many great wedding photographers around Bristol & Somerset it was a real privilege to be thought of and chosen as a expert.

The magazine is bi-monthly and they also have a web-site with lots of helpful information and tips on planning your wedding. I was asked to answer a couple of questions that readers had submitted about wedding photography and these will go into the magazine and also on the web-site. Readers are then able to submit more to be answered by me personally. There is a little biography about me and even a picture of me for those of you who have never met me!

I hope to have much more involvement with the magazine going forward and really look forward to answering more wedding photography dilema's.

Look out for your issue of the magazine in popular venues across Bristol & Somerset in the next week or so.

Venetia xx

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