Karen Townsend

:: Join in the fun on Facebook ::

2011-09-03T17:04:00.000+01:00

Come and join in the fun with us on Facebook!

To see more of my work and get updates on special offers and events,

please click on the 'like' button below :)

:: September Summer Sizzler Offer ::

2011-09-01T20:46:00.010+01:00

As a big thankyou to all my 'Karen Townsend Photography' friends (and as I'm in denial that today is officially the start of autumn), I am pleased to be able to offer you an exclusive £25 off the price of a portrait session (normally £75).

My 'Summer Sizzler' must be booked during September and taken by the end of the year. Please contact me via email/phone if you'd like more details or to secure your booking - open to couples, families, children and animals alike :)

Click on the link to find out more and begin your story...

:: More Wedding Anniversary Congratulations ::

2010-11-07T10:12:00.001Z

I'm not normally one to put personal posts on my blog, but I wouldn't be a proper Wedding Photographer if I let today go unmentioned.

Today is the Ruby Wedding Anniversary of my own lovely parents - 40 years ago today they were married in Australia and the rest, as they say, is history!

I asked them their secrets for a successful marriage and in typical Townsend style, it wasn't easy to give a short answer (now I know where I get it from!), but trust, give and take, not giving up at the first little problem and of course LOTS OF LOVE feature very highly.

Personally I think having such great children is their own personal recipe for success, but then I guess I'm biased!!

Sadly wedding photos from their special day are few and far between (how I wish I could have been there to do them proud), so I've had to resort to a non-wedding image, but I think if you look closely, you will see yours truly featuring highly in it too :)

Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad and I hope you enjoy your afternoon at The Chewton Glen xx

:: MacGregor Golden Wedding Celebrations ::

2010-11-07T08:44:00.000Z

A couple of weeks ago, prior to my well-earned holiday, I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely MacGregor family who were down at The Christchurch Harbour Hotel to celebrate 50 amazing years of marriage.

The sun shone brightly and it could almost have been mistaken for mid-summer!

Ian and Anne looked radiant with their family around them in such a beautiful location and said they could both remember their wedding day as though it were yesterday. As with all my couples celebrating a marriage milestone, I asked them both the secret to a long and happy union.....

A sense of humour they answered in unison!

This was evident throughout the time I spent with them and I think it's a sound philosophy.

We had a great time and as I left to rush home and pack for my trip abroad, they sat down to a gorgeous luncheon. Here is a small selection of some of my favourites and you may recognise one of Ian and Anne's sons as the editor of The Sunday Telegraph, Ian MacGregor!

If you'd like to see the full gallery, please contact either myself or James for the password details.

:: Made By Hand, With Love ::

2010-09-04T14:57:00.009+01:00

Queensberry, the makers of my fabulous wedding and portrait albums, recently showed me a short film they'd produced to demonstrate just how much dedication, passion and precision goes into the making of each and every album.

I always knew they were amazing, but now I've seen it for real, I'm even more blown away.

If you ever wondered what makes them the best in the world, take a couple of minutes out of your day and watch this short film....

If you'd like your very own Queensberry album, please contact me to discuss ideas and options....

Made by hand from Queensberry on Vimeo.

A few words from Queensberry....

We are committed to creating the best bespoke albums in the world. A wealth of history and experience resides in our album-makers and photographic technicians, who live and breathe the Queensberry craft.

Each album is handmade with the finest materials; each photograph printed in the knowledge that our albums will hold treasured memories forever.

We select leathers from the finest tanneries, as well as the best man-made alternatives. Our papers and boards come from environmentally sustainable European mills. These are made to our specifications to ensure their suitability for long-term photographic presentation, and textured to enhance the paper’s natural qualities.

Each page you turn is one to remember.

:: Rave! ::

2010-08-27T18:11:00.000+01:00

What a way to start the day!

I woke up to a lovely email of thanks from one of my recent wedding couples....they've given their kind permission for me to publish a few snippets...

I wanted to let you know that we’ve sent out the (gallery) link to friends/relatives and the feedback on the photos has been overwhelmingly positive, everyone’s saying how great they are and how well they captured the feeling of the whole day. I think you can expect a few orders coming in soon from the likes of my mum/nan/sister…

Overall, we’ve just been so impressed with your service.
The pre-wedding shoot in hindsight helped immensely. At first it sounded a little vain and we were a bit tentative. But actually, it definitely helped us to prepare for the amount of smiling/posing on the day itself, so thoroughly worthwhile and a real ‘value-add’.

The gift of the signed photo is lovely, everyone felt it was a very nice touch. What I really like is that – now it’s hanging in the hallway – we can see everyday our Guest’s well-wishes, rather than them being in a guestbook which we’d probably never look at again.

Everything has been thoroughly value for money. Of course we were always going to hire you, so I can’t actually say how you compare to other photographer’s prices as we didn’t need to check.

The photos are of course superb, really thoughtful and captured in a way that I wouldn’t even dream of thinking about.They are creative, but still with a very classic feel – exactly what we (and most wedding couples I suspect) wanted.

For the most part, where you really add value are the hidden extras – to the point where we feel you’re possibly underselling the quality of your service.

Thanks so much guys for taking the time to get in touch. I get so much joy from all my various clients, but it's always GREAT to hear that the experience has been so positive for them too.

I'm currently booking weddings well into 2011, so please do get in touch if you'd like to meet up for a chat to discuss your wedding plans and ideas. I must stress, this is without obligation and you won't be pressured into signing on any dotted lines or plagued with follow-up phonecalls.....don't you just hate it when that happens?!

I'll also be able to show you the fantastic range of options from my preferred album supplier Queensberry....you'll feel like a kid in a candy shop with all the choices....traditional or contemporary.....matted or digital...the choices are yours!

Go on, get in touch, you know you want to ;)

:: Welcoming Beautiful Emilia Grace ::

2010-08-08T10:46:00.000+01:00

Here are some more of my faves from Emilia Grace's Newborn Session....I know I always say it, but I really, really, REALLY had a hard time narrowing them down. She is soooo cute and just like her big brother.

If you'd like to discuss either a maternity or a newborn shoot (or both of course!), please do get in touch - I'd love to hear from you and share in your special moments.

It's worth noting that, to get the best results from your newborn shoot, we need to plan the session when the littl'un is about 7-10 days old. They tend to be a lot more sleepy during the early days, which helps with the posing.

Maternity shoots are best booked around 7.5 - 8 months into your pregnancy so you have a nicely defined 'bump'. These can be with or without the Dad-to-be...whichever is your preference.

:: Baby On Board ::

2010-08-07T23:13:00.000+01:00

As mentioned recently, I've really been enjoying the maternity and newborn shoots I've been involved with - it puts a whole new perspective on life and makes you feel blessed to be part of such a wonderful process.

Now that Corinne and family have had the opportunity to see the results from their recent trip out with me, here are some more for you to see.

As the weather was so glorious, Corinne, Chris, Owen and I headed down the road to the local park. When things got a bit too hot, we decamped back to the house where things were less hectic and a heck of a lot cooler....

If you're interested in either a maternity or newborn shoot, please do get in touch (either directly or via the contacts page on the main website) and I'd love to discuss plans and ideas with you.

For those who'd like to see the whole gallery, please contact either myself or Corinne for the password details.

Until next time.....

:: Wigg Newborn Sneak Peak ::

2010-08-06T14:34:00.000+01:00

Corinne, who featured on the blog recently, gave birth to the most beautiful baby girl - Emilia Grace - and guess who had the privilege of being her chosen Newborn Photographer..??

Here is a sneak preview of what's to come...once the proud family have had a chance to see all the pictures themselves of course....

:: A Special Day For Sandi ::

2010-08-03T11:34:00.000+01:00

As promised, now that Sandi has seen her images, here are selection for you to see too.....

As always, if you'd like to see the full shoot, please get in contact with either myself or Sandi for the Gallery password.

:: A Truly Relaxed Occasion ::

2010-08-01T09:58:00.001+01:00

Well now that Katie and Mike, have had the opportunity to view all the images from their beautiful wedding day and make their album selections, I can now share some more of the images with you.

They had glorious weather with bright sunshine and an almost cloud-free sky. Although the temperature was in the high 20's, it didn't seem to phase any of the wedding party as 'relaxed' was the aim of the day.

It was the first time I'd been involved in a wedding at the wonderful Gordleton Mill. Already a firm favourite as a restaurant venue for me, I couldn't wait to see how it transformed during the daytime for a wedding. I wasn't disappointed! It has a truly magical feel to it and the team were amazing. Sadly, the infamous 'Crispie Duck' wasn't in residence that day, but Katie & Mike had chosen to recognise him by providing every guest with a cute, yellow duck to float in the water after the wedding breakfast.

Katie was the epitome of calm as she got ready, despite the palpable excitement of wearing a Vera Wang dress. Yes, you heard me correctly - A VERA WANG DRESS - or 'The Wang' as it became affectionately known during the day! It was THE most delicate dress I have ever seen and was so, so beautiful.

When I first met with Katie and Mike to discuss their wedding plans and ideas, all those many months ago, it seemed a lifetime away. However, before we knew it, the day was upon us and it couldn't have been more perfect. During that initial meeting, I always ask my couples what single word they would use to sum up the wedding day they are planning.... the word they chose was 'friendly'..... and I have to say, they got it spot on. I couldn't have wished to have spent the day with a more welcoming family and a more fun bunch of guests.

Thanks guys, it was fantastic and I hope you remember the details for many, many, MANY years to come :)

If you'd like to see the full gallery, please contact either Mike, Katie or myself for the password details.

:: Sandi Sneak Peak::

2010-07-30T10:52:00.000+01:00

Sandi is a very dear friend of mine and I was truly honoured when she asked me to take some pictures of her to celebrate a special Birthday. You see, Sandi is a photographer too. We met years and years ago at College whilst studying Photography and I knew the minute I met her we would be firm friends for many years to come. We have the same cheeky sense of humour, which seemed to appeal to our tutor at the time, despite his attempts to remain ultimately professional!! He is now also a very dear friend of ours and 2nd-shoots for me on occasion too!

Anyway, I digress....

Sandi and I headed down to Hengistbury early one evening in search of the sunshine, but it was not to be. As soon as we stepped out of the car, the wind whipped up and the raindrops started to fall. Undeterred, we said 'PAH!' to the weather and forged ahead. Much fun was had and a cheeky nod to our old tutor also helped Sandi to re-produce that infamous twinkle ;)

Here's a sneak-peak (see how those beautiful blue eyes literally POP from the screen!!) and there'll be more to follow this week....

:: Katie & Mike Sneak Peak ::

2010-07-20T19:59:00.003+01:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing Katie and Mike's Wedding at The Mill at Gordleton (you may have seen my post below about their wonderful interview in The Times).

So, for those of you who are eagerly waiting to see their photographs, here's a sneak peak.

As always, all images will be available to see/buy via the 'client area' once Katie and Mike have seen them and made their album choices. If you'd like to be notified when this happens, please get in touch (either via the comments field below or the contact page).

:: Times out.....and I'm in it !!! ::

2010-07-03T11:50:00.001+01:00

I was literally OVER the MOON to see that my lovely wedding couple from last weekend were chosen for an article in today's Times Register and even MORE over the moon when they asked if they could use their signature frame image to illustrate it!!

How could I say no?! Being 'in print' and 'online' in The Times! Hell yeah!

Here's the article for those of you who didn't catch it.....rest assured I cleared the local newsagent of all their copies of the paper today!!

Whilst Katie and Mike relax on honeymoon, I'm beavering away on their wedding photos and album design, so for those of you who are eagerly awaiting the online gallery, you'll have to patiently wait until the happy couple return to the UK and have the first viewing.....can't wait to see them.... and get their autographs now they are celebrities!

If you'd like to discuss wedding photography, or indeed any portrait photography, please contact me either via the contact page or on 07736 036682 and I'd be over the moon (again!) to discuss your requirements.

Until later.....
Karen x

:: Wigg Maternity Sneak Peak ::

2010-06-12T14:53:00.000+01:00

I've recently been dipping my toe in the waters of Maternity and Newborn Photography - please do pardon the pun!!

In May, I had the pleasure of spending time with Corinne and her lovely family as they patiently awaited the arrival of the newest addition.

More to follow, but here's a sneak-peak of what we got up to....

:: Katie & Mike Pre-Wedding Shivers ::

2010-05-15T09:23:00.006+01:00

I admit I have been a very bad blogger so far this year, but things have been soooooo busy...anyway, I'm going to make up for it by sharing Katie & Mike's Pre-Wed Shoot from last Sunday with you :)

As always, I give my clients hints and tips about what to wear during their shoots, but fashion-conscious Katie was one step ahead of me. She'd chosen a fabulous tea-dress and wanted my advice as to whether it was too 'posh' for a relaxed shoot down at the beach. I say 'bring on the posh clothes!!' as they look extra fabulous when you're in a very natural location. Mike then had the dilemma about what to wear to make sure he co-ordinated with his beautiful bride-to-be. Cue a few emails from him and a bit of teasing from Katie! I wonder who demands more time in front of the bathroom mirror every morning ;)

Anyway, considering it was May, the weather was a tad cold, but they were troopers and modelled superbly through the cold. We wandered down to Hengistbury Head; a place close to their hearts and then warmed up back at Katie's parents house, while we all discussed the final wedding plans over a cuppa.

Kathy, Katie's Mum, told me how she 'never takes a good photo' and as a photographer I always see this as a challenge. So up to the balcony we went and I couldn't resist taking a couple of Kathy.....I'm sure you'll agree, from the sample below, she has nothing to worry about!

The big event is planned at one of my favourite places, The Mill at Gordleton, and I'm sure it's going to be a FABULOUS day....can't wait guys.....

Here are a few faves from the session and if you'd like to see more, please contact either myself, Katie or Mike for the password details to their gallery....

:: Signature Frames - My Gift To You ::

2010-01-28T12:10:00.001Z

Back in the day, when I was a wee, small thing (sigh), I remember the valuable 'please, thank you and take your shoes off' lessons my mother taught me when venturing round to friend's homes. These gems of etiquette have stayed with me until this very day, although I have to be honest and admit that I never take my shoes off in my own home!!

As I grew older (sigh again), a new lesson was instilled in me - 'a guest should never arrive empty-handed'. So, taking this onboard, I have decided to give my wedding couples a little something extra - a gift from me on their special day.

Step 1 - I ask my couple to choose their favourite image from the 'pre-wed shoot'

Step 2 - I have it printed nice and large

Step 3 - An extra-deep mount is added

Step 4 - I encourage their guests to leave personal messages around the mount during the wedding day

Step 5 - While the couple are off on honeymoon (and I'm beavering away on their album design), I arrange for the picture to be expertly framed (with non-reflective glass, naturally) so it's waiting for them when they return home.

A simple touch I'm sure you'll agree, but one my couples can keep on show for years to come.

Better than a guest book hidden away in the bottom of a drawer somewhere wouldn't you say?

:: Yayyyy! It's Not a Secret Anymore!! ::

2009-11-26T13:52:00.006Z

Well I'm pleased to say that the cat's out the bag now and Mum has had her Birthday surprise! What a relief! The kids were fantastic and didn't let a thing slip....even when quizzed mercilessly by their Mum....they stuck to their of the bargain and kept schtum!

So, here are a few more images from their fun shoot on the beach....if you'd like to see more or place an order, please contact either myself or Mark for the gallery password.

:: Sue's Family Day At The Beach ::

2009-10-11T17:54:00.005+01:00

You'll remember the recent post about 'Sue's Special Day' in Mudeford at the fabulous Christchurch Harbour Hotel and I was over the moon when she asked to meet up again during her stay to have some relaxed, family fun on the beach in front of my trusty camera. I obviously jumped at the chance, especially as I'd got to know the boys and they had a real sense of fun, with a little dash of cheekiness thrown in for good measure…which results in great photographs!

So, here are lots of my favourites and if you'd like to see even more, please get in touch with either myself or Sue for the gallery password details.

:: Katharine & Co Hit The Beach ::

2009-10-02T09:59:00.005+01:00

So, as promised, here are some of my favourites from Katharine, James, Amelia and Oliver's Lifestyle Session(s). I had a real hard time narrowing them down!

If you'd like to see more, then please get in contact with either myself or Katharine for the password details.

:: It Takes Two ::

2009-09-21T17:50:00.002+01:00

I had the recent pleasure of meeting Katharine, James, Amelia and Oliver not once, but twice!

Unfortunately, five minutes into their first Lifestyle session James received a call to advise his father had toppled off a ladder and was on his way to hospital. Luckily he only needed stitches and we all re-arranged to meet the following weekend.

I always give my families and couples a guide on 'what not to wear' as experience had shown me what works and what doesn't. I stress that it's not necessary to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, but I appreciate that us girls like to use it as an excuse!! So I was impressed to hear that Katharine had put a lot of thought into what they were all going to wear and how they co-ordinated with each other. I gather there were a few shopping excursions including a last minute dash to Castlepoint the night before!!! They also chose to bring a change of outfits, which is always a great idea. The end result was a set of images that look fabulously well colour co-ordinated. I especially liked Katharine's dark pink t-shirt which brought out the colour of her pink eyeshadow, which in turn made her eyes leap off the screen.

So you'll see, it's worth putting in a little thought beforehand for amazing results!

Here's a sneak peak of their session and I'll be putting more up on the blog as soon as the family have seen them all.....

:: Ssshhhh! It's a Secret!! ::

2009-09-18T17:59:00.010+01:00

I am terribly behind on updating you all on news, but the last couple of months have been soooooo busy and I've had work queued up. I'm not complaining at all though - great to be this busy in 'credit crunch' times'.

Anyway, a couple of weekends ago I met up with Mark and his adorable kids, Jack and Zoe. It's Mum's Birthday coming up soon and they wanted to give her a surprise Birthday present. So early on Sunday morning, they rounded up their favourite clothes, brushed their hair extra-especially well and snuck out to meet me. Mum was understandably a bit suspicious of this early morning activity, but Mark had prepped the kids to say 'nothing' when asked what they were up to and 'nowhere' when asked where they were going. So far so good.

We headed off to the Mudeford Sandbank, which is fast becoming my clients favourite shoot destination. I'm more than happy to oblige as I love it over there and there are loads of interesting backdrops to work with. The weather stayed dry and we had lots of fun.

Can't say much more than that at this stage as I understand the secret is still safe....ssshhhhhh!!

:: Rachel & Brendan Wedding ::

2009-09-14T22:29:00.008+01:00

You'll remember the fun I had with Rachel and Brendan during their Pre-Wed Shoot and Planning Session and the promise of some special touches during their Wedding Day…? Well here are the results from that amazing day at The Christchurch Harbour Hotel…

Brendan, undeterred by the tide restrictions that forced him to rethink his 'grand entrance' plan, came up with another idea to wow the guests…The General Lee from '80s favourite The Dukes of Hazzard! I'm not sure Rachel was overly convinced, especially when her husband-to-be suggested that she lounge across the bonnet during the photos, but the men certainly appreciated the excitement of it and hurriedly searched for their shades to intensify the cool factor!

The morning started off with the Bride's preps at the house and I don't think I've ever seen such a relaxed bridal party. The flowers, from Arcade Flowers, were truly beautiful and the dress was stunning. The love between Rachel and Brendan is palpable and was never more clearly demonstrated than when she programmed in Match of the Day to their Sky + for her Groom on the wedding night :)

Rachel and Brendan have been through some trying times over recent years and it's obvious that it's helped to cement an extra-special bond between them. The way Brendan looks at his wife literally makes your heart melt and I have to confess that both myself and my trusty male assistant shed a few tears through the ceremony and again during the speeches!! He swears he had grit in his eye, but I know different my friend ;)

Anyway, I wish them MUCH luck for the future and I know they'll have a life full of love and laughter….thanks for being great clients.

As always, reprints, frames and canvasses are all available from the client gallery, so please contact either myself or the newly-weds for the password details.

:: Sue's Special Day ::

2009-09-02T21:30:00.003+01:00

A couple of weekends ago I met up with Sue Palmer and her family as they celebrated her Birthday at the fabulous Christchurch Harbour Hotel. Very local to me, this hotel is fast becoming one of my favourite venues - lovely decor and amazing views across to Mudeford Sandbank - and the food's not bad either!

Sue, a keen photographer herself, wanted some informal photographs of the occasion so she could put her camera away and concentrate on catching up with family members. Many had travelled from various parts of the UK to be with her on her special day. The weather was on my side for a change and the sun came out and it was gloriously warm up on the balcony.

It was lovely to meet you all and I look forward to catching with with Sue, Simon, Joshua and Joseph for their Lifestyle Portrait session down at the beach very soon.

As always a few images below to whet your appetite, but friends and family can contact either myself or Sue for Gallery password details to see the full shoot.

Enjoy!

:: Mr & Mrs Harvey - Sneak Peak ::

2009-08-30T20:02:00.002+01:00

I couldn't resist putting up a little teaser for all those who were at the wedding of Rachel and Brendan this month. Rachel was the most calm and serene of any bride I have worked with and I think this image sums up her quiet anticipation as she waits for the car to arrive.

More to come once the newly-weds are back from honeymoon and have seen the full set of images from the day.....

:: A Shining Example Of A Golden Album ::

2009-08-30T18:32:00.003+01:00

I just had to share the latest Queensberry album I received with you!

Every time I take delivery of one of the brown boxes, which has winged its way to me from New Zealand, my heart races a little faster. You see it's days, weeks, months worth of love and devotion that goes into the making of one of these beautiful keepsakes. Firstly it's the actual shoot, then the creative process of designing the layouts themselves, ensuring that the finished product is a real eye-catching, page-turner with endless, cherished memories inside. Then Queensberry continue the magic with their careful craftsmanship dedicated to precision and quality. The end result is always something that fills me with anticipation as I remove the packing tape - so much so, that I have to stop and take a deep breath before I can finally open the box....I kid you not!

I know I've waxed lyrical about my Queensberry albums before, but I'm just so chuffed with my choice of supplier and they never let me down. This time was no exception! You may remember Brian and Barbara's Golden Wedding Anniversary, well the individual details chosen by sons George, Johnny and Jason, without doubt, emphasised the cause for celebration.

They opted for a 14x10 vertical album, which gave me plenty of scope for creativity. The cover material was a gorgeous golden buckram and they chose the gold 'pagemount' to enhance each individual image giving a traditional album a very modern twist.

The whole effect was finished off with gold page trims to compliment the ivory page overlays.

They opted to start the album with a 'wing' page, which provided a fantastic opening to the story of their family.

All these carefully chosen details, came together to produce a completely unique album not offered by any other album supplier in the world. George also had a 5" digital copy of the main album made for his family to keep - also a popular option for parents and grand-parents of my wedding couples.

If you'd like to own one of these fabulous albums filled with memories of your own, drop me a line or give me a call to arrange a viewing of the various options, without obligation, but I guarantee you'll be smitten.....just like me!!

:: No Access To Email ::

2009-07-10T18:34:00.004+01:00

Hi all - I will have no access to email from now until Sunday 19th July, but I will reply to enquiries and orders on that day.

:: Rachel & Brendan Rock Mudeford ::

2009-07-05T17:55:00.001+01:00

Well, last weekend I met up with Rachel and Brendan prior to their August wedding at The Christchurch Harbour Hotel. We had a good catch-up session, going through all the finer details of their big day (including the dress, once Brendan was out of ear-shot!). Then it was back to one of my favourite locations for their pre-wed shoot - across to Mudeford Sandbank via the ferry.

I first met up with them both last Sept.... when August 09 seemed such a long way away...but it's amazing how quickly time flies by and here we are, about 6 weeks away from the main event. They've both been super busy finalising their plans and sadly, due to tide restrictions, Brendan won't be arriving by jetski (that would have been a Townsend-first I can tell you!). However, that hasn't stopped the creative juices from flowing and they both have some rather special touches up their sleeves. I'm 'keeping Mum' about them so as not to spoil things, but put it this way, I'll have plenty of scope for creativity that day!

The weather was boiling hot and so the beach was quite busy. We had quite a laugh with some of the beach hut owners as we 'borrowed' the brightly coloured 'walls' for backdrops and if I had a £1 for every cute dog I wanted to smuggle home with me.....!!

Anyway, here are some of my personal favourites - if you'd like to see more, then please contact Rachel or Brendan directly for the Gallery login details...

PS Top marks for the frequency of blog posts these days don't you think??!!!

:: Five Absolutes When Choosing Your Wedding Photographer ::

2009-07-03T18:30:00.007+01:00

I like to keep up-to-date with what my fellow Photographers are up to .......... okay, okay, I admit it ......... I blog-stalk the competition!!!

Anyway, during a recent stalking session I came across this GREAT article written by Grant Perry! I'm sure you will have read many, many hints and tips on how to choose your Wedding Photographer, but I think this one sums it up perfectly.

I know that if I were choosing, I wouldn't care what kit they used or how many images they took.
I'd want to know that they were in love with my Wedding as much as I was; interested in every detail.
I'd want to be sure they were in love with Photography; not the paycheck.
Above all, I'd want my Wedding to be special and unique .... not follow a set formula applied to 100's of other Weddings before mine.

So, have a read and see what you think.........

So you're meeting your prospective wedding photographer for the first time. You found them on a Google search, and their site seems nice enough. But how do you really know they are the best for you?

The easiest answer is also the most ridiculous; in 30 initial minutes you can't. BUT ... there are a few things you can look for to become more comfortable with your decision.

1. Relationship - Relationship - Relationship
The absolute most important aspect to you reaping the results you desire from your final wedding photography is that you fall in LOVE with your wedding photographer(s). And by LOVE I don't mean you'd ebay your rings, cancel your date and marry them - but I do mean you feel so comfortable that you'd be able to brag about them to your closest friends or have them over for dinner at your house.

A wedding photographer worth hiring doesn't take pictures, and that sounds totally weird, I know. A great wedding photographer isn't really a photographer at all but an artist who uses a camera and lens to paint and CAPTURE MOMENTS in digital files filled with emotion and passion. Their images - each and every one - CAPTURE a narrative or story that with one glance creates an emotion from the viewer; namely you. ANYBODY can take a picture, especially with the advances in today's geeky low-priced digital cameras. But only true wedding photography ARTISTS can capture your story with passion and emotion.

Someone who is bestowed such a precious and significant task as being your ONLY wedding photographer must be someone you absolutely love and admire. In fact, a true wedding photography artist will almost always be easy to be comfortable with because they themselves are depending on building a strong relationship with you so they may better understand what is important to your final outcome.

2. Passion
Ask your prospective wedding photographer if they take their cameras with them to family birthday parties or if they shoot pictures of their niece's soccer games. Only someone passionate about their craft integrates that passion into their lives - and a great wedding photography artist always integrates their passion into their lives.

When you're sitting across the table from them, how do they make you feel? Are you getting excited about your day as they talk about their involvement? When they talk about their product, do they exhibit a kind of giddiness or are they just selling? What adjective comes to your mind to describe them if you were asked 5 minutes after you've left the appointment?

Passion HAS to at least be a likely adjective you could choose. If not? Run - do not walk - to the next photographer.

You see - any great wedding photography artist is in the "game" for more than just the coin. They are always - and I mean always - looking to become your wedding photographer because they are passionate about painting your special story with the lenses of their camera that tell the story through fine art photography. In fact, a passionate wedding photography artist will always be a remarkable artist.

3. No new stress - please!
The wedding photographer sitting across the table from you has no idea what your plans are for your upcoming fairy-tale day. In fact, just because they've taken pictures for hundreds of brides before you, there are no other weddings even close in style or substance as yours, period.

If your prospective wedding photographer isn't asking the right questions of you, questions pertaining to your day, how YOU plan it to unfold, how many bridesmaids, groomsmen, the venue, is there going to be dancing, will your dad walk you down the aisle, who your maid-of-honor is and who she is to you ...

If they are insisting on showing you their previous work, and how awesome they are, and who they've photographed before ever asking about how YOU envision your day? RUN - do not walk - to the next prospective photographer.

The most counter-productive and stressful situation is to have your wedding photographer not clearly understand your time line. And the best scenario in this situation is to have a needy, whiney, and question ridden person running around taking pictures creating more stress. The worst scenario? They don't ask and subsequently don't GET the pictures you envisioned. In either scenario? Stress and disaster.

Actually, the absolute BEST scenario is a wedding photographer who sits across the table and interviews YOU. That's right, you've invited them to the table to choose them - but what you really want is someone who wants to work with you because you both click. Someone who asks you a bunch of questions, and diligently writes down YOUR answers about YOUR day as they interview YOU. Why? Because when they truly understand YOUR day, and how it will unfold, you have found someone who doesn't need to create stress on your day (or before), you've found someone capable of discovering and understanding what you want prior to your day. Someone who can click with you (and hopefully - FOR you - wink).

4. Show me your stuff
More than likely, you've seen a lot of your prospective wedding photographer's work (and probably their best work) from their web site. And having a look at an album or prints or canvas or ... is a good thing too. But understand this, nothing they show you across the table is going to be what you get - ever. You are seeing a compilation of work from perhaps their best work, which is understandable. But even on a perfect day, no two weddings are the same, nor are any two wedding albums, or prints, or ... the same.

Obviously your wedding photographer needs to be able to nail their focus, and exposures, and all of those technical photography details in order to even be considered. But, going back to the number one "must" - other bride's relationships with your photographer have got to be great.

Ask your potential wedding photographer to give you a couple of brides you can contact. And when they provide those names, call those brides and ask one question; "What do you remember most about Photographer xx?" That's it! You'll get the whole story from that one question. And the best part? You'll also get your answer overall from that question.

5. It's gotta be fun
Ask the wedding photographer this question; "So what do you do for fun?" Not that you need to care WHAT they do for fun - but you do care if they do anything that IS FUN.

Just because your wedding photographer will be working as a "vendor" on your awesome day does NOT mean they have to portray it as work. They have to have fun at it - and you've got to have fun at it - and that does NOT mean it's up to you to make it fun. THEY have to make it fun - the whole day. It may be 98 degrees in the shade or 2 below zero - but THEY have to be able to roll with the punches or change direction at any given time and still make it fun and stress-free for your entire party.

And there is really no way to know if that person you just met is that person other than to know they know how to have fun on their own, hence "So what do you do for fun?"

Fun = happy. Stress = ugly. Which do you choose?

:: Multi-frames By Design ::

2009-06-28T18:30:00.001+01:00

You may remember the Lifestyle Portrait shoot I did with Jon, Denis and Shannon last year....well Jon recently got in touch and asked whether I could design up a huge multi-frame for his lounge with some of his favourite images! My answer was 'of course!' I LOVE LOVE LOVE design!

So, using Jon's favourites of the two kids together, I got to work creating an eye-catching layout that summed up the fun we all had on the day. The end result was a 23" square frame made with an oak moulding to match the look & feel of his lounge furniture - well he said he wanted it large!! I must admit, it looked stunning!

So, it just goes to show that you don't have to limit yourself to multi-frames of two or three images - anything is possible!

:: Queensberry - Albums of Choice ::

2009-06-28T10:41:00.003+01:00

In years to come, you want your wedding album to look as beautiful and perfect as the day I delivered it to you.

You want it to be timeless - representing the love and emotion from your special day.

That's why I toiled endlessly on your behalf to find THE best album-maker in the world. End result? Queensberry of New Zealand! No question! "Every album a masterpiece of love"

At Queensberry we have taken great pride in creating beautiful albums since 1972. We are conscious that every book we make is an expression of love and family pride.

It takes many skilled specialists to create a Queensberry album: designers, image retouchers, colour correctors, printers, and teams of page-makers, mat cutters, assemblers and bookbinders.

Our skilled craftspeople hand-make your albums to order so that we can customise them to your personal requirements and truly reflect your personal style.

Design is a poetic balance between beauty, craftsmanship and functionality. Our attention to detail and classic approach will ensure our albums retain their appeal and integrity down the generations.

You can look forward, with confidence, to reliving your special day when you see your Queensberry album for the first time.

I couldn't have put it better myself! I have been working with Queensberry for a while now and I find their service and products to be second to none.

Of course, albums aren't just reserved for weddings - with many sizes, cover materials and layouts to choose from, you can commemorate any occasion. They make fabulous gifts for grandparents and parents alike.

If you would like to see samples of all the various options available to personalise your album and fully appreciate the outstanding quality for yourself, please get in touch and I'd be happy to wax lyrical about them!

:: Much Needed R&R !! ::

2009-04-30T22:42:00.005+01:00

Hi all

A quick note to say that I will be 'out of the office' from Friday 1st - Sunday 10th May.

Feel free to drop me emails or leave messages on the answerphone and I will pick them up when I'm home.

Until then......Bon Voyage To Me !! :o)

Karen

:: The Rea Family ::

2009-04-23T22:06:00.012+01:00

I know, I know, I have been fairly lax in my blogging of late, but I aim to redress the balance over coming weeks as I have lots to 'show and tell'. Starting with....

I had the absolute pleasure of meeting the Rea family last week as they'd travelled from around the globe to help Brian and Barbara celebrate 50 years of marriage. As always, I'm obsessed with the weather and was avidly checking the forecast for days beforehand. After weeks of glorious sunshine, I was disappointed to see that we were due for heavy rain on shoot day, but luckily it held off and we were blessed with pleasant sunshine. So off to Highcliffe beach we trotted....

It was a joy to get to know Brian and Barbara and of course, I couldn't help but ask what their secret for 50 happy years of marriage was..... Brian told me that it was a case of him spending his time at one end of the house and Barbara spending hers at the other!! Barbara's reaction proved that he was obviously pulling my leg and he went on to explain that it was a case of sharing interests, but also taking time out for yourself once in a while. Sounds like a recipe for success to me!

The kids were impeccably well-behaved and there was much running around and 'high-fiving' going on - goodness knows where they got their energy from, but it made for some really great shots (even though I do say so myself!!). In fact, we had so much fun, that we all met up again a couple of days later at The Royal Bath for another session in their 'glad-rags'....including exquisite dresses made by Barbara's own fair hand.

Anyway, I hope you all got back to your various corners of Europe safely and here are a few of my favourites as always....
Friends and extended family can contact either myself, George, Johnny or Jason for logon details to the full gallery.

:: Denis and Shannon Battle The Winds of Mudeford!::

2008-11-24T13:20:00.002Z

So, once again, I battled against the gusting winds of Dorset and dodged the showers to meet Denis and Shannon with their Dad, Jon, at my favourite Lifestyle Shoot venue, the Mudeford Sandbank.

I'd never met Denis and Shannon before, but there was plenty of time to get to know them as we walked along from Hengistbury. They both have eclectic music tastes, much like their Dad, but I was relieved to hear that High School Musical is a firm favourite!

We had to dodge the showers; sheltering near the beach huts and sand blowing in our eyes was a bit of problem sometimes too, but they were both real troopers and I got some great shots. I even managed to persuade camera-shy Dad to have a few shots taken too!! We finished off the session with a warming hot chocolate, together with calorific whipped cream and flake - fantastic - then hitched a ride on the Noddy train back to the car!

Anyway, here are a few of my personal favourites as a taster. Friends and family can contact Jon or myself for logon details to see the full gallery.

Until next time....and don't forget to leave your comments below :-)

:: The Crotty's Do It In Style! ::

2008-11-22T09:42:00.003Z

Well, after much excitement and anticipation, the big day finally arrived! Imagine my disappointment for the lovely Anne and Nick, when I peered out the window in the morning to see grey skies, gusting winds and torrential rain which was obviously set in for the day. Still, nothing was going to dampen our spirits.

Anne looked absolutely stunning in her beautiful wedding dress, hand-made by Michele at Society Brides here in Christchurch. The greens and blues of the shot-silk were captivating and it suited her to a tee. I was impressed at how relaxed she remained throughout the preparations as she was obviously soaking up every moment.

Nick looked equally as fetching in his Armani suit with co-ordinating tie also from Society Guys in Christchurch. Unfortunately, however, nerves may have got the better of him and the result was a cut lip....nothing a bit of Photoshop magic can't sort out though ;-)

Despite the weather, it was the perfect day. All those carefully-planned details came to fruition; the cake was gorgeous (both to look at and to savour!), the Swarovski crystals on the tables for the ladies were a constant talking-point and Anne's orchid bouquet by Parkwood Florists was exquisite.

Thank you, dear friends Anne & Nick, for inviting me to be part of your truly special day.

A few favourites below (click on image to see a larger version) and the full shoot can be viewed here (username/password details available from Anne, Nick or myself).

Enjoy and feel free to leave comments - always nice to read!

:: Anne & Nick at Knoll Gardens ::

2008-10-19T21:28:00.017+01:00

I recently met up with Anne and Nick for their pre-wed shoot at Knoll Gardens; a place which has special memories for them. It was a bright, sunny day and the Sunday morning dew was still glistening on the grasses, which are a speciality at Knoll.

Anne and Nick are dear friends of mine and I was truly honoured when they asked me to be their wedding Photographer. Sometimes photographing friends and family can be tricky, but they were a joy to work with and very relaxed. It's heart-warming to see that romance is still alive even after the 19 years they've been together!

They get married shortly at the stunning Harbour Heights Hotel in Poole and I can't wait. Anne, a gal after my own heart, has organised every last detail (although I understand Nick is taking credit for arranging the Photographer!!) and it's certainly going to be a day to remember.

As always, here are a few of my favourites from the shoot....until next time.

:: Dream Weddings Cover Shot ::

2008-08-07T21:15:00.005+01:00

If you're in the planning stages of your wedding this year, essential reading will undoubtedly be a copy of 'Dream Weddings' magazine.

And, you've guessed it, the reason for this shameless plug is that yours truly has the cover shot for the Autumn/Winter edition! It's packed with tips on how to plan your special day with a great feature on cakes and flowers. More info to be found here.

:: Introducing....Multi-frames! ::

2008-08-01T22:48:00.007+01:00

I thought I would introduce you all to an increasingly popular product that I offer - the MULTI-FRAME!

For each shoot, whether it be a pre-wed, a wedding or a lifestyle portrait session, I always shoot with the design of multi-frames in mind. As I'm sure you'll appreciate, simply putting a selection of your favourites together, doesn't always produce the wow factor! Therefore as part of the presentation of your images from the day, I will design a selection of multi-frame options for you. Of course, I am happy to advise if you want to swap an image out for an alternative.

You can choose from 3, 4 or 5 images - in a horizontal or vertical format - square or standard images...the choices and possibilities are endless.

Standard frame choices are the solid beech or pewter finish - prices start from £100.

I also offer a bespoke service, if you'd like to match the frame to a specific colour or finish - POA.

Here are some recent multi-frames I've produced for clients and they create a real focal point in any room.... (click on the image to see a larger version).

Until next time...

:: Molly's Baptism ::

2008-07-21T22:40:00.009+01:00

Having previously got to know Molly on her Lifestyle shoot earlier this year, I was delighted to be invited to her Baptism. However, this was no usual church Baptism; we all congregated down at Southbourne beach while Revd Jenny Nightingale from St Barnabas church conducted the ceremony.

After a few rainy days, it was great to see the sunshine out again on this special afternoon. Armed with car rugs and picnic baskets we set up camp down near the water's edge and joined in prayer and song (no mean feat while you're trying to hold a camera I can tell you!).

Then the main part of the ceremony took place in the sea itself. The congregation all huddled in the shallow part, trousers rolled up to their knees, whilst Mum, Dad and Molly joined the Revd in deeper waters. Being the UK, the water wasn't quite warm enough, so Molly's Baptism outfit was a rather nice mini-wetsuit as she'd opted for the 'splash' rather than the, I quote, 'full dunking'.

It was great to be part of a very traditional ceremony performed with a modern twist; a truly memorable day for all involved.

A few favourites below (click on image to see a larger version) and the full shoot can be viewed here (username/password details available from mum Lisa or myself).

Enjoy in the dry...!

:: Emma and Ali Wedding ::

2008-06-30T11:57:00.006+01:00

Emma looked stunning and I think you'll agree that Ali scrubbed up rather well too! It was a glorious day and I enjoyed every minute - they call this work?!

All nerves had been previously banished during their pre-wedding shoot and so it was easy for them both to relax on the big day. Emma was especially keen to try some poses that Kate Moss would have been proud of, but there was still a relaxed element to the day and everyone agreed it was a day to remember.

Ali has a subtle, but rather wicked sense of humour and I think it definitely comes across in his pictures. Thanks to you both for asking me to share in your amazing day.

A taster below.....

:: Kate, Freya and The Windy Day! ::

2008-06-23T18:41:00.003+01:00

Yesterday I had the pleasure of Kate and Freya's company on a Lifestyle shoot, but my, what a WINDY day it was!!

We all boarded the Mudeford ferry across to the Sandbank and had to hold onto our hats - quite literally! Where has summer gone?! Despite the challenging weather, Kate and Freya were good sports and we had lots of fun, using the wind to our advantage. Never let it be said that I don't relish a challenge!

I think Kate, who is rapidly approaching teenage years, enjoyed the more adult poses I asked to her to play around with and what results! She looks amazing and you can see I've used one of the shots in my main website.

Freya used her creative streak to draw pictures in the sand and make glamorous ladies out of seaweed, shells and driftwood - watch out for this girl in years to come - Picasso eat your heart out!

Anyway, as always, I've added some of my particular favourites below for you to see (click on each image to see a larger version). Friends and family can view the whole shoot here (contact mum Joanne or myself for username/password details).

Until next time....enjoy!

:: Sarah and Paul's Wedding with a Touch of Nature ::

2008-06-05T09:05:00.005+01:00

I was truly honoured to be asked by my cousin Paul to travel to Canada to capture his wedding to the beautiful Sarah....family weddings...no pressure eh?!

Sarah and Paul were adamant that their wedding would be a relaxed event with the emphasis on friends and family rather than pomp and circumstance. Guests from all corners of the globe arrived in the preceding week (including myself) and everyone rolled up their sleeves to help with table settings, flowers, decorations, cakes - you name it, we made it! A very natural feel was the order of the day and for me, it was the special touches that added the wow factor.

The ceremony itself was set on the banks of Cultus Lake with the stunning mountain scenery as an impressive backdrop. I know I'm obsessed with the weather (us Photographers have to be clued up), but the week was the wettest (and coldest) they'd seen for some time....however, about an hour before the ceremony was due to start, the clouds disappeared and the beautiful summer sunshine shone through.

There are so many to chose from, but here is a small selection of my favourites....

Thanks Paul and Sarah for an amazing week.

:: Sarah and Rob's Wedding At Highcliffe Castle ::

2008-05-26T13:29:00.004+01:00

I always enjoy weddings at Highcliffe Castle mainly due to the great light- all those windows - a photographer's dream! It makes a great venue and the expertly manicured gardens are a beautiful backdrop.

Sarah and Rob are a fantastic couple and it was such a shame that the Great British weather let them down. Just as Sarah arrived, looking beautifully serene, the heavens opened and the wind whipped up a storm. Wedding Photographers try to deal with every eventuality, but sadly we are yet to work out a way to guarantee perfect weather...one day!

Anyway, as we all reached the reception at The Old Vicarage the sun streamed through the clouds and everyone was able to gather on the lawns to raise a toast to the happy couple.

A few to whet your appetite...(click on the image to see a larger version).

:: Emma and Ali Pre-Wed Shoot ::

2008-05-04T16:16:00.004+01:00

I recently met up with Emma and Ali for their pre-wed shoot and what a great morning it was too! They brought their inquisitive son Jacob along with them and as you'll see, he couldn't help but sneak into some of the pictures!

Emma seemed perfectly at ease in front of the camera, but Ali was a bit unsure initially. However, after the first few shots he relaxed completely and by the end of the shoot I had a hard job packing my camera away! It just goes to show what a great way to relax even the most camera-shy of clients a pre-wed is. I recommend them to all my couples and we never fail to have fun and get great results.

A few of my favourites below and I look forward to the 'main event' in June....(click on the image to see a larger version)....

:: Molly's Lifestyle Shoot at Moors Valley ::

2008-04-29T12:51:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I met up with 3 year old Molly for her Lifestyle Portraiture shoot at Moors Valley Country Park - a great place to keep kids occupied. The weather was overcast with the odd burst of sunshine, but luckily the rain held off and we were able to explore the park together.

Molly took to being a photography model like a duck to water and we had a great time; she even came up with a few poses of her own! She was a joy to work with and one of the most polite children I've ever encountered - she even apologised when dropping my cuddly dog prop in the dirt!!

Here are a few of my favourite shots from the morning, including one of mum Lisa joining in at the end (click on each image to see a larger version).

Friends and family can view the whole shoot here (contact Lisa or myself for a username/password).

Enjoy!