Wowzers, what a blast 2017 has been! It’s been jam-packed with weddings and family shoots and even an award nomination, so here’s my review of the year…
I’ve had the pleasure of being part of more than 25 weddings in and around Berkshire and the home counties over the past 12 months and they were all spectacular in their own way. BUT this year’s highlight was certainly doing my very first destination wedding in the gorgeous Tuscan city of Florence. (Read the full blog post).
That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy every other wedding I’ve photographed as I have, I really have. What you notice the most about weddings (after photographing more than 100 over the past few years) is that each one is special in their own way and, more importantly, each one represents true love and it’s that beautiful, raw emotion that I love capturing. Each 2017 wedding has been filled with love and it’s been a joy to see it and capture it through my lens.
My most photographed venues this year have been Cantley House in Wokingham and The Casa Hotel in Yateley. The lovely Rivervale Barn has also been a favourite and is looking popular for 2018 too.
The hardest wedding to get right was Paula and Edd’s at The Casa Hotel in July. Why was it so challenging? Simply because it rained all day and I mean all day! Usually we have a break in the drizzle but July 22, 2017, was not playing ball – the heavens were open all day long. It took determination to get it right but I think the results and the couple’s reaction were worth it. Thankfully, the Osler wedding at The Casa Hotel just a few months later faired better weather-wise and we left the brollies at home!
I loved every minute of Matt and Lynn’s wedding in beautiful Florence in September – it really has sparked a love-affair with Tuscany and I couldn’t be prouder of the resulting images. This was my first destination wedding and was a pure 2017 highlight personally and professionally.
I’ve enjoyed capturing weddings at some new venues this year, including Charlotte and Rob’s big day at The Mill House in Swallowfield; Greg and Munaza’s wedding at Riverside Venue in Hounslow; Steph and Ray’s beautiful small wedding at The Crazy Fox in Hurley; Yojong and Darryl at The Red Lion in Henley; Paul and Lucy and The Royal Berkshire Hotel in Ascot; and Maria and Pete’s nuptials at Barton Mill in Basingstoke. It’s always lovely to experience new backgrounds and it was upon exploring these new venues that I finally found a graffiti wall to pose one of my couples against – it’s been something I’ve been looking for for a while as it creates an editorial backdrop.
Other venues I’ve shot at this year include: Wokefield Park in Mortimer; Rivervale Barn in Yateley; The Elcott Park Hotel in Newbury; Donnington Grove Hotel in Newbury; Bird Hills Golf Club in Maidenhead; The Harte and Garter in Windsor; Old Luxters Barn in Oxfordshire; Ufton Court in Ufton Nervet, Trunkwell House near Reading; Wasing Park in Aldermaston; and Easthampstead Park in Bracknell, to name just a few….
Family-shoot wise, the year started off with sweet little Mabel back in January, who was only a few days old. I don’t usually photograph newborns as my style is lifestyle rather than posed, scrunchy newborns, which are really popular, but I’m so glad I got to take some editorial photos of her and her proud parents.
I’ve also enjoyed a whole plethora of outdoor family shoots at various parks and gardens – sometimes in bluebells and sometimes in sunflowers and sometimes in the rain! I’ve also hosted a number of studio days too – so local families can gain some good quality photos without taking out a second mortgage.
To top it all, I was also nominated in the best Berkshire photographer category in the Muddy Stilettos 2017 awards. Sadly, I was piped to the post but the nomination was a real honour and so thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for me.
And, on that note, I’d like to thank each and every person who has supported me throughout 2017, whether you’ve booked me for photos or just spread the word about my business then thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support means the world to me and enables my business to thrive. Here’s to an even better 2018!
