Jess & Dave's pre-wedding shoot

She has a ‘larger-than-life’ personality. Which he clearly loves. She’s beautiful and sassy, but I don’t think she knows it. He knows it. He’s totally head-over-heels in love with her and smiles ALL the time she’s around. And she looks at him in a way that just says it all. I love you.

Jess and Dave are clearly in love. From the first time I met them they couldn’t stop looking at each other in that way that even the ‘coldest-hearted’ person couldn’t fail to be melted by. You know, where a couple keep eye contact just that little bit longer than normal and you feel somehow your interrupting something. They seem totally ‘together’ on everything, consulted each other on every decision and had no sign of any stress or nerves about ‘tying-the-knot’.

They can’t wait to get married next month at the gorgeous Maunsel House near North Petherton and are planning a casual, relaxed wedding with the emphasis on ‘getting hitched’ and giving their guests a fabulous few days to remember. Starting with a ‘get-to-know-each-other’ dinner on the Wednesday night through to a gorgeous breakfast on the Friday morning, they’ve clearly focused on what’s really important. Family. Friends. Love. (Oh and maybe the odd bottle of wine thrown in!).

Jess & Dave – I can’t wait to capture your big day in….eeeeekk….10 days! But for now, here are few images from your pre-wedding shoot yesterday.

Venetia xxx

P.S. I sent you an email about petticoats and suitcases – hope it helps ;-) ! xx

It was a chilly day yesterday so we started inside….I loved the light in this room…so fitting for their winter wedding

 

 

 

A slight adjustment of location

 

 

LOVE this series……couldn’t decide…

 

 

I like to get a couple used to be photographed on their own in preparation for the wedding. No guesses who Dave’s looking at over my shoulder?! Just look at the smile on his face.

 

 

Love this image…..see I told you she was sassy…go girl!

 

 

Just before we started shooting Jess confessed how much she hated having her photograph taken. I hope images like this will show her how beautiful she is and give her confidence for her big day.

 

 

Eventually we ventured outside….the grounds are too beautiful not too

 

 

Love the top left image in this group :-)

 

 

A Firetop Photography classic…..

 

 

 

 

I just love the way Jess is looking at Dave before she grabbed him for a kiss. See….sassy…..I knew it! I love a girl who know what she wants.

 

 

The front door is simply beautiful and I love the mistletoe still hung up

 

 

 

 

 

 

We came round the corner to find about 8 peacocks sat in a little ‘hideaway’ it was amazing..

 

 

We all loved the rustic charm of the courtyard which is in fact a storage area and overflow carpark! It’s still beautiful though isn’t it?!

 

 

January 24th, 2012 | Category: All posts, Pre-wedding shoots | Leave a comment

Smile...

…and I did. No, really! Honestly. There were witnesses. And it was a real smile too. And….the most amazing bit…..I actually really enjoyed it and had proper fun.

The difference. I was warm. I was in beautiful and inspiring surroundings I had chosen to be in. I had my favourite people around me. And I’d chosen the right photographer. Someone who I’d built a relationship with, someone who made me feel at ease and someone I was confident knew what they were doing and had a proven track record in producing stunning images. Pretty much like choosing your wedding photographer really. (Well….apart from the warmth, as I us photographers may be miracle workers, but unfortunately the weather is out of our control!!).

Oh…and OK….I couldn’t ‘part’ with wearing black….I look good in it though don’t I?!

Venetia xxx

Thank you Nicola for your patience and making me laugh!!

January 16th, 2012 | Category: All posts, Personal | 4 comments

Photographing the photographer?!

If you’re a photographer then you need to have a good photograph of yourself, right?! Well….that’s all very well, if you don’t happen to be scared stiff, turn into a ’shrinking violet’ or pull all sorts of random faces!

Getting a good photograph of me has always been a ‘challenge’. About two years ago Your Bristol and Somerset Wedding magazine commissioned me to be their ‘Photography Expert’ and needed to have an image of me for their site and magazine. The photograph was a last minute request, so I threw myself upon the mercy of a good friend of mine, with a decent camera, who was quite good at photography. I tried desperately to look relaxed and smile normally, in the hopes we’d get an image that wouldn’t have all the readers and potential clients running for the hills! However, after a few frustrating hours (definitely him frustrated at me not the other way around) and pulling lots of well-known tricks ‘out of the hat’ we only managed to get one half decent photograph of me not even looking at the camera!

About a year later, my blog was re-designed and again I decided that it was time for a decent image of myself. Having met Nicola by then and remembering my last, somewhat scary experience, I decided getting a professional ‘on the job’ was the only way forward. I was scared stiff, made all the excuses under the sun about why I couldn’t do it that day, went to the toilet about 20 times before we started and generally was ‘a photographers nightmare’! However, after a cheeky glass of wine with my lunch we had a much more relaxed session but….I’d definitely worn the wrong clothes and chosen the wrong season. Black?! Coat?! Scarf?! Winter?! Cold?! Stiff?! The images were great (and the little Photoshop ‘face-lift’ she gave me was even better) but, upon reflection, still wasn’t the type of image I was really looking for.

Having talked about it for soooo many months now, embarking on a new project has given me the ‘ummmpphh’ I’ve needed to ‘take the leap’ and get some new images done. So today I’m meeting the fabulous Nicola Horton (now Proctor (well she does have a favour to return after all!!), once again, on the docks in Bristol and this time we’ve booked somewhere warm and snuggly where she can hopefully get some fab, smiley images of me minus the big black coat!

I’m nervous, I’ve been to the toilet again about 10 times, I’ve tried having ‘wardrobe crisis distractions and I’m sure I’m going to drive her insane with my ‘I’m scared’ notion but…..I’m going ahead with it.

So….to all those bride and grooms out there who are scared of having their photographs taken….even photographers get nervous!

Wish me luck!

Venetia xxx

Here’s the last attempt….fingers crossed for today!

Here’s the first attempt. Lovely….but no eye contact!?!

At least this time I’m looking at the camera….but I can see the fear in my eyes LOL!!

January 10th, 2012 | Category: All posts, Personal, Photography | Leave a comment
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