Having heard about my award winning wedding photo in a local paper, ITV contacted me and asked to do a small news feature.
Nervously I agreed and found myself facing a TV camera a couple of days later.
I was filmed photographing a bridal portrait in the studio and then a short interview about my work.
Both Julia (one of my brides) and I were really nervous, but I don't think you'd ever guess from the finished results. I think you'll agree she looks amazing.
SWPP Awards
This month I entered the SWPP International Awards of Distinction competition for the very first time – shameful really when you consider I’ve been a professional photographer for over 20 years. Never mind, better late than never I suppose, especially as I’ve just found out that I’ve won Gold Awards in two categories and Silver Awards in six others – so I’m absolutely chuffed to bits!
I thought you might like to see my entries:
This is the picture that won a Gold Award in the Contemporary Wedding Category. It was taken on the 29th December at the Solent Hotel during a real wedding (not using models). It was towards the end of the day, after the wedding breakfast, when I noticed the bar and thought it would make an unusual background. So I shot these as two separate images – one of the bride and one of the groom – then presented them as one picture.
We used a hand held lamp to highlight the faces, and I particularly like the warmth given by the artificial lighting. The image has an elegant feel, with drama created by the distance between the bride and groom, while the bar staff busily go about their everyday tasks.
This image won a Silver Award in the Traditional Wedding category. Quite simply, I love the sheer romance and Italian feel of this image. It was taken in the pouring rain in the front porch of their reception. The bride and groom were of course cosy and dry – while I got completely soaked to the skin!
One of my favourite images, this won a Silver Award in the Monochrome Wedding Category. I love the moody feel and almost haunting atmosphere it has – inspired by the rather dark images of Ryan Schembri for those of you in the know! Thanks Ryan.
This image was awarded a Silver Award in the babies and Children Category. I photographed this cutie’s mum and dad’s wedding a few years earlier. I like to think that most of my clients will become friends and many regularly visit the studio as their families grow. In fact I’m really looking forward to photographing mum’s sister in November this year too.
This was great fun and gained me another Silver Award in the Family Portrait Category. There were so many people that they wouldn’t all fir in my cosy studio so it’s actually three images edited together, but I bet you can’t see the joins!
I love Fine Art photography and take these sort of images when I have a few spare moments just for fun. This is one of a series of flower images and is my favourite. The very simple lighting, background and texture, I think gives this image its strength. I love it even more now as it gained my second Gold Award – this time in the Fine Art Category.
What a beautiful puppy – especially as he won another Silver Award – this time in the Pet Portrait Category! He is a four month old West Highland Terrier. We have a Westie ourselves, though he is a real scruff. This little one was tricky to photograph as he flew up and down the studio at top speed – but we got some super fun shots.
My daughter Vicky kindly agreed to pose for this shot. She’d just washed her hair and as she came down stairs with it still wet, it gave me the idea for this photo. Tight cropping adds an interesting dimension to this simple image.
