The Swan at Bibury wedding venue | 365#124

Posted on May 14, 2012 by nealejames

There are a small number of places in the UK I would consider relocating to if the opportunity seemed right for family and business. One is Dorset, the other, without a second thought, the Cotswolds. It’s just a magical place and Cotswolds wedding photographers should bear in mind just how lucky you are to be living and working in an area so rich in mature historical architecture and landscape. As the years pass and I professionally frequent the area more, my list of Cotswolds wedding venues served grows. One of my favourites is the Swan at Bibury. The term nestled in a valley is appropriate. A river flows adjacent to this cosy venue and as the portrait above suggests, you’re surrounded by frames of reference that remind me how beautiful our green and pleasant land actually is, and why Americans are prepared to wait three hours at border control to sample architectural eye candy they simply can’t match back home. This is England. Hmmm. Someone should write a song about that.

COTSWOLDS WEDDING VENUE: The Swan at Bibury

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5DMk2, 135mm, F2, 1/1000, ISO 200 over exposed by a third of a stop.

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Albums | Wedding 365#123

Posted on May 14, 2012 by nealejames

(Left: the original proof quality photograph – right: scanned and cleaned for 2012)

This is perhaps a slightly unusual 365 posting as it features an image that I did not take, was not present for, in fact wasn’t even alive for the witnessing of. I’ve posted an image or two from this wedding already. The couple photographed are my late parents and this would have been their Golden Anniversary year. Today heralds the official start of a project that is also being filmed. In it I intend to demonstrate the importance of something that is oft not treasured as highly as it could or should be; the wedding album. Be it a book, an Italian style coffee table magazine album, or traditional styled album, the end result is what I believe to be a family heirloom item. Over the next few months I’ll be making a short film to show the recreation of their album in a modern day binding, alongside the production of a wedding shot only a mile or two away from the London location my parents chose, but by me with my cameras fifty years later. The two weddings are undeniably different in gown style and lavishness of backdrop, but one important facet will retain a constant; the album and construction of. I have chosen to mount both photographic records within a Jorgensen album. This album is considered by many in the wedding industry to be within the top three traditional album manufacturers, for it’s quality, simplicity and most importantly for this project; timelessness. So, I’ll post more news of this project as the months pass, but for brides and grooms planning a wedding, although digital files have become the currency of negotiated choice for many, don’t underestimate just how important the final printed product is. More news soon.

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Documentary wedding photography | Wedding 365#122

Posted on May 14, 2012 by nealejames

Capturing detail from the day is a given in my industry but my approach is where possible tangentially at opposites to what often looks like product photography to me. Take rings. Of course they’re important and in my albums they certainly will feature, although usually on the end of a groom’s forefinger and thumb as he exchanges vows with his wife, and a wider angle too. It’s that context that I look for. Today’s 365 image features a lettering accessory I see at many weddings; Mr and Mrs blocks. I could have shot them in situ over the fireplace and claimed context in terms of a venue photograph alone. The fact that a grandfather decided to take a seat mid reception whilst the business of the day carried on around him makes for a far more expressive shot. Detail, family and venue, all in one image.

BERKSHIRE WEDDING VENUE: Donnington Grove

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5DMk2, 35mm, F4, 1/125, ISO 1600

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Wasing Park wedding venue | Wedding 365#121

Posted on May 12, 2012 by nealejames

‘Thinking outside the box’ may be an aging strategy term used liberally by wannabee Rodneys in Alan Sugar’s Apprentice line up, but it does retain a relevance in my photographic universe, though I’d retitle the cliche; ‘Stepping outside the box.’ I shoot eighty weddings a year, or at least this will be my fourth consecutive year shooting that amount. I’ve reached what I believe is the peak I can comfortably handle. It’s a fair while ago, but when I was learning to drive in the 80s, my instructor talked of the ability to be able to do something with unconscious competence. This sermon usually followed half an hour of crunching gear changes and awkward hill stalls. But, it’s a phrase I borrow to this day and apply to a myriad of skills. Returning to the figure of weddings I shoot each year, I think it’s fair to say that I’ve reached both technically and mentally, a point where I instinctively seem to know what will happen next. This image is a case in point. I was reasonably sure that the groom was likely to be emotionally overcome; you just know that of some people. As Emma, the bride entered the room, her husband to be reached immediately for his pocket handkerchief. His best man moved in to comfort and I briskly stepped two to the left to shoot through the gap the boys left. That way I have procession, the intimation of emotion, and a far more interesting composition than centering solely on one party or the other. Stepping outside the familiar box or area we frequent as experienced wedding photojournalists allows us to compose and capture a familiar scene, differently.

BERKSHIRE WEDDING VENUE: Wasing Park

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5DMk3, 46mm from a 24-70mm lens, F2.8, 1/100, ISO 320, overexposed by a third of a stop.

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Guests with cameras | Wedding 365#120

Posted on May 12, 2012 by nealejames

I’ve written about this before, but guests with cameras are photographic draws for me. Here’s a wedding image from earlier on this year captured at Botleys Mansion, a wedding venue in Surrey. Actually taking this one step further, giving guests ‘permission to photograph’ is one of the most important elements of my approach. Let me explain. The signing of the register is perhaps the first ‘formal’ of the day that would, if there were one, appear on the guests’ photographic must haves tick list. I’m not quite sure what guests do with these signing register captures as they are in essence ‘grip and grin’ moments, but respecting their wishes, regardless of my wedding photojournalist stance, this is a shot I’ll set up – and often it’s a pose that’s orchestrated for the guests. I will have hopefully captured my own take, in a more natural way. Mentally guests see me ‘give’ this moment as a pictorial gift; “There we go, they are all yours Ladies and Gentlemen.” Experience tells me that this kind of behaviour buys you into the guests’ fold, just a little, and as the day proceeds they’ll give you back their own kind of permission at moments where you may need it most. Indeed I favour a hands off approach for documentary wedding photography, but the theatre I work within does have it’s own differences, and subtle guest engagement can be one.

SURREY WEDDING VENUE: Botleys Mansion

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5DMk2, 24mm, F1.4, 1/1600, ISO 1,000, underexposed by one stop.

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Bearwood College wedding | Ollie and Laura

Posted on May 7, 2012 by nealejames

Pictorially my post begins with this split composition image at Wokingham Town Hall, though expand to see more documentary wedding photographs from Ollie and Laura’s reception at the incredibly photogenic Bearwood College, a relatively new wedding venue in Berkshire. Few things photographically lift my heart more than clients who desire me to; ‘with great respect, melt into the background best you can,’ and registrars who ask how I would like to cover the event, instead of firing a list of don’ts, won’ts and can’ts disarmingly across my photographic bows, the moment I walk into their environment. I’ve only photographed a handful of Wokingham Town Hall wedding ceremonies, but I reckon you could ask any photographer who has had the pleasure of working here their thoughts, and they’d praise this institutional island in Berkshire as a haven for incredibly soft warm natural available light with equal warmth in the welcome extended by those that preside over the ceremonies. WTH could be a natural light photographic studio, it’s that good. Okay, a couple of images to look out for from the town hall; the split composition above, bridesmaids and groom awaiting arrival of our bride separated by a wall and their thoughts. And then the groom showing quite an emotional embrace for one of the ushers, who only an hour or so previously had been a feature of Radio 2′s travel bulletins for spinning his car from a blowout on the nearby M4. I also have a soft spot for the beautiful emotion displayed by the father of the bride, enveloped by emotion during the ceremony comforted by the eye’s of his wife. Then from Bearwood College, a number of natural group portraits set by guests that work all the better for my capture as a ‘guest,’ and the first dance shot with a cavernous perspective of height.

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Wedding photographer in Berkshire at the Beaumont Estate | White House

Posted on May 7, 2012 by nealejames

Although the lead picture in this post features a moment from earlier during the day at church, click more below and you’ll get an idea of the majesty of light and photographic opportunity afforded a wedding photographer when working at Windsor’s Beaumont Estate. The White House is one part of this estate and boasts a large neighbouring chapel that’s now used as this Berkshire venue’s banqueting room. Some particular memories from Rikki and Gemma’s day, which you’ll find within the click through – the cheeky lads playfully engaging in a little horse play during the prayers, the banqueting suite of course and the groom’s surprise; a car that his wife thought had been bought by a rival bidder recently.

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London wedding venue Inner Temple | Stills film | Wedding 365#119

Posted on May 3, 2012 by nealejames

So, where do I start? I arrived at the Apex Temple Court Hotel for bridal preparation pictures to find the most amazing light in not just the bridal suite, but the hotel lobby, bar area etc et al. Directional, muted and moldable. I’ll let the film do the talking, although on this occasion it should be noted there is a documentary mix down of the groom’s speech only. Listen for the two minutes of bridal march. Our groom was close to bursting as he felt her draw closer. Overall I hope your find the movie subtle and understated. Further photo editing by Natalie Shaw.

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Kingscote Barn first dance | Wedding 365#118

Posted on May 3, 2012 by nealejames

Oooh, look at the grit, look at the grain. I’m almost (note I say almost) rubbing my legs at the experience of posting an image into this feature that is as filmic as I can muster out of digital capture. Technical wotnot aside, the emotional charge of this photograph is what I savour most. No direction, just simply heads touching, shared thoughts through physical closeness in a narrative composition. I have a feeling I may have asked an usher to hold a video light to the scene here, as from the metadata, I see the flash was not employed to fire. There certainly had to be some form of illumination to give me a half chance of recording this moment in the style of capture you witness with the camera data noted below.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE WEDDING VENUE: Kingscote Barn

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 1D Mk4, 24mm, F1.4, 1/400, ISO 10,000

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Esseborne Manor wedding venue | Wedding 365#117

Posted on May 3, 2012 by nealejames

It’s the pure honesty of human interaction that draws me to image capture and weddings in particular. Compositional rules thrown out, these are simply giants among men enjoying the moment. A groom and his friends tucking into the spirit of a day, no requirement for formality or posing. It’s a funny old business being a wedding photographer. I can often go several hours without interacting with anyone. I simply watch, observe and raise a camera when I see something beginning to strike a chord, be it physical or emotional. I like to think I’m pretty gregarious by nature, and I probably get that from my late father. Yet I also find solace in the solitude of wedding photojournalism. I met with a couple this evening who are planning a typically British style of civil ceremony to be followed by an equally typically Indian service. Upon hearing that this documentary excursion is two hours in ceremony time alone, I practically salivated at the thought. Whilst some photographers may be engaged in the business of recreating emotion or creating crafted set ups, the idea of wedding reportage for me as I mature constantly in this genre, is simply captivating. A photographic friend of mine quotes ‘observation, not orchestration’ within his web pitch. I so wish I’d have coined that phrase, because I think it fits with the desire I have for honesty of capture.

BERKSHIRE WEDDING VENUE: Esseborne Manor near Andover

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5D Mk2, 200mm from a 70-200mm lens, F2.8, 1/1250, ISO 640

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Wasing Park bridal portrait | Wedding 365#116

Posted on May 3, 2012 by nealejames

It must be my subject of the season that I return again to natural portraiture, almost as a Spring mantra. Initially there may be a contradictory call that this looks a little staged, after all, it’s not often that an ‘embrace photograph’ captures such an obvious ‘eyeballing,’ to use stark commentary. The bridesmaid reactions to the right of frame secure the photojournalist sense of shot for me. Having them there brings compositional context to this wedding photograph, though clearly a veil underlines sense of occasion. If I had to pick a favourite portrait from this Wasing Park wedding, it would be this. It’s a real; “He’s all mine” capture.

BERKSHIRE WEDDING VENUE: Wasing Park

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5D Mk2, 85mm, F4, 1/200, ISO 800

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Colour colour colour | Wedding 365#115

Posted on May 3, 2012 by nealejames

There are some captures that can only ever be colour and here’s a perfect example. A familiar scene unfolding before me, but what draws me to this simple composition are the nails; the simplicity of colour, form drawing the eye top to bottom. There’s a little more happening too as a record shot; detail of the dress close up, and a jewellery gift given to the bridesmaids by the bride.

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5D Mk1, 70mm from a 70-200mm lens, F2.8, 1/160, ISO 640, plus one third of a stop exposure compensation.

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Berkshire wedding photographer | Wedding 365#114

Posted on May 2, 2012 by nealejames

Three stories in one picture. Our bride; “I can’t believe this is happening!” Father; “Too late now!” Bridesmaid; “How do I get to vote in the X-Factor tonight?” Alright, element of flippancy, but if there is an ‘X-Factor’ to capturing photojournalist style signature shots, it’s leaving the viewer wondering what’s being said or creating their own story.

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5D Mk1, 28mm from a 24-105mm lens, F3.5, 1/80, ISO 1000.

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Kingscote Barn wedding venue | Wedding 365#113

Posted on May 1, 2012 by nealejames

Get down low, assume a camera position that puts you on a plane with the subject. That way you live the story with that subject. That’s pretty solid advice I was given in my formative period as a social photographer, particularly when photographing children. That way you envelope yourself in the setting, rather than assuming a ‘spotlight’ Godlike position which sees you looking down on the scene, rather than being a part of it. I think this documentary wedding photograph achieves that stylised goal. Of course, this isn’t a golden rule, and what are rules if not to be twisted, broken and often generally ignored? But here, the composition is stronger for the chair height engagement in the moment being captured. I don’t recall exactly what was said to draw this reaction, and that’s the beauty of recording the speeches in audio terms, as I am often commissioned to do.

COTSWOLDS WEDDING VENUE: Kingscote Barn

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5D Mk2, 180mm from a 70-200mm lens, F2.8, 1/200, ISO 5000, under exposed by a stop.

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Notley outdoor ceremony | Wedding 365#112

Posted on April 30, 2012 by nealejames

I’m quite a fan of ‘horizon composition,’ and the practice of using negative space there-in. I was a little uneasy about using this photograph in terms of juxtaposition, having previously posted a 365 piece about Notley Abbey in the rain, but it’s the people and the character of the wedding itself that maketh the day, and natural elements don’t impact in quite the way some may fear. This for me is a scene setter. Including a couple of obscured bodies and a baby in chair, there are 32 guests from the day in this photograph, so it works on another level too; record shots of the guest list.

OXFORDSHIRE WEDDING VENUE: Notley Abbey, Buckinghamshire

SHOOTING DATA: Canon 5D Mk2, 24mm lens, F6.3, 1/2000, ISO 320, under exposed by a stop.

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