- Published on
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
Ferris Bueller
Whilst its always nice to try and shoehorn in the eminently quotable Ferris Bueller wherever possible, the guy does talk a lot of sense. We're all so busy with our lives and routines, its good to stop for a moment and appreciate the world around us and the people in it. Never is this more apparent than when doing a family shoot. Its a good opportunity to run around, be goofy and generally blow off all that steam. It's even better when its an extended family. Siblings, cousins, Aunts and Uncles - it's rare that everyone has the time to stop what they're doing and to get together and just enjoy being in the moment of appreciating each other's company.
I'm only mentioning this as I recently took some pictures for a family who I've done photos of before. This time though, it was a big family celebration and it was great seeing all the cousins run around together and exploring the grounds of the Lainston House Hotel near Winchester. It was even more poignant as they knew it would probably be the last time that they would all be together for quite some time as one part of the family is soon heading back over to Australia. Hopefully these pictures will help with that difficult transition, slow things down and remind them of a beautifully cold and Autumnal day in Hampshire (whilst they're in sunny Sydney).
If you're interested in a family photo shoot, especially with Christmas looming on the horizon, then now is the time to contact me and book a shoot!
Ferris Bueller
Whilst its always nice to try and shoehorn in the eminently quotable Ferris Bueller wherever possible, the guy does talk a lot of sense. We're all so busy with our lives and routines, its good to stop for a moment and appreciate the world around us and the people in it. Never is this more apparent than when doing a family shoot. Its a good opportunity to run around, be goofy and generally blow off all that steam. It's even better when its an extended family. Siblings, cousins, Aunts and Uncles - it's rare that everyone has the time to stop what they're doing and to get together and just enjoy being in the moment of appreciating each other's company.
I'm only mentioning this as I recently took some pictures for a family who I've done photos of before. This time though, it was a big family celebration and it was great seeing all the cousins run around together and exploring the grounds of the Lainston House Hotel near Winchester. It was even more poignant as they knew it would probably be the last time that they would all be together for quite some time as one part of the family is soon heading back over to Australia. Hopefully these pictures will help with that difficult transition, slow things down and remind them of a beautifully cold and Autumnal day in Hampshire (whilst they're in sunny Sydney).
If you're interested in a family photo shoot, especially with Christmas looming on the horizon, then now is the time to contact me and book a shoot!
- Published on
When booking a family shoot, if the family is based in South-West London I'll often suggest Richmond Park as a location due to its size, photogenic landscape and lots of places for kids to run around and explore nature. The family this weekend was a repeat client as they wanted some updated pictures of their boys (repeat bookings happen often and its always amazing to see how much kids grow!) but we all got a rather noisy surprise when we realised that it was mating season for all the deer that roam freely around the park! Every minute you'd hear the mating call of a stag ring out around the park as well as the clashing of horns as two stags would go head to head in a good old rut for the right to impress and win the affections of all the lady deer*. It really was fascinating to watch as well as be so up close and personal to it all. Boys being boys though, these two brothers weren't phased by it at all and carried on running around and playing whilst I snapped away! Well done them!
If you're interested in a family shoot, Autumn is a great time of year to do it with its rich tapestry of colours, and Richmond Park is the perfect backdrop so, if you fancy it, drop me a line!
*I realise they're not called lady deer but I can't for the life of me remember the technical term. Is it a doe? Answers on a postcard please...
If you're interested in a family shoot, Autumn is a great time of year to do it with its rich tapestry of colours, and Richmond Park is the perfect backdrop so, if you fancy it, drop me a line!
*I realise they're not called lady deer but I can't for the life of me remember the technical term. Is it a doe? Answers on a postcard please...
- Published on
During the Loseley Park wedding fair on Sunday October 2nd I ran a competition for a Free Engagement Shoot. These kinds of shoots are great as its an opportunity to bond with a couple who you'll be working with and it also helps them to relax and get used to having a camera pointed at them. That way, come the big day they'll be totally relaxed and hopefully not notice I'm there. With weddings, that is my aim, to go unnoticed. I've had brides say to me in the past "our guests didn't even know we had a photographer there!" which is music to my ears as it means I've done my job properly and have managed to get a great set of pictures without getting in the way, just how I like it.
Anyway, going back to the draw on Wednesday 5th I put all the names of everyone who entered into a hat (it was an actual hat, of the bowler variety) and pulled out the name of Emma Morrison who is getting married in June next year. Rather fittingly, the day of the draw was also Emma's birthday. So congratulations to her and her fiance!
If you're at all interested in booking an engagement shoot or indeed to talk about photography for your wedding please don't hesitate to drop me a line!
Anyway, going back to the draw on Wednesday 5th I put all the names of everyone who entered into a hat (it was an actual hat, of the bowler variety) and pulled out the name of Emma Morrison who is getting married in June next year. Rather fittingly, the day of the draw was also Emma's birthday. So congratulations to her and her fiance!
If you're at all interested in booking an engagement shoot or indeed to talk about photography for your wedding please don't hesitate to drop me a line!
- Published on
I don't normally do wedding fairs but when the folk at the magnificent Loseley Park in Surrey asked me if I'd like to exhibit at theirs I thought "why not?" Small, intimate and in a great location in their Tithe barn, it was a great opportunity to meet lots of happy couples who are in the process of planning their wedding. Events like these can be a little daunting with lots of information to take in but everyone seemed to have a great time and I spoke with lots of couples who are just enjoying the process of looking for ideas and not going in all guns blazing, which is a great way to be. An engagement is to be savoured and enjoyed, all the hard core planning will happen organically, if you let it and don't become too overwhelmed by it all.
It was also a good chance to connect with some suppliers that I haven't had a chance to work with yet, people like Kim at www.kimberleyshawflowers.co.uk, www.dotty-rose.co.uk, www.white-lilac.co.uk, the excellent lighting team at www.oakwoodevents.co.uk, Katherine and her amazing cakes at www.ladybirdcakes.com and last but not lease Loseley's amazing on-site caterers Caper & Berry.
If you're looking for a venue that oozes charm, class and has that quintessential essence of British history thrown in then Loseley is well worth investigating. Having shot weddings there before I can attest that they really do a top notch job of looking after you and your guests and providing the best wedding service available in Surrey.
For all wedding photography bookings in Surrey, the Home Counties, London and beyond contact me at matt@mjhpictures.com
It was also a good chance to connect with some suppliers that I haven't had a chance to work with yet, people like Kim at www.kimberleyshawflowers.co.uk, www.dotty-rose.co.uk, www.white-lilac.co.uk, the excellent lighting team at www.oakwoodevents.co.uk, Katherine and her amazing cakes at www.ladybirdcakes.com and last but not lease Loseley's amazing on-site caterers Caper & Berry.
If you're looking for a venue that oozes charm, class and has that quintessential essence of British history thrown in then Loseley is well worth investigating. Having shot weddings there before I can attest that they really do a top notch job of looking after you and your guests and providing the best wedding service available in Surrey.
For all wedding photography bookings in Surrey, the Home Counties, London and beyond contact me at matt@mjhpictures.com