Wedding Photography: Christ Church at Portsdown & Newtown House Hotel, Hayling Island – Robyn & Dave’s Pastel Perfect Wedding

Posted on 13/09/2014 • Posted in Wedding Photography

They met at University whilst training to be Nurses…Robyn found herself utterly fascinated by this guy that rode a Vespa and would always rock up to lectures late. Dave discovered early on that Robyn was a bit of a keeper, primarily because when his alter ego ‘Party Dave’ made an appearance, she didn’t bat an eyelid and would pick him up from obscure locations and ensure he got home safely! Quite simply, they were drawn to one another and a year into their relationship, whilst at a Christmas Party, Dave said that they would get married. Eighteen months later, they found the ring and made it official!

Their gorgeous, quirky, pastel inspired day was everything perfect about a wedding…full of family, light, laughter and unique touches. From the gorgeous stationary, thoughtful gifts and signing guitar (who needs a guest book!) these guys know how to rock a wedding.

These are two of the coolest and kindest people I know and I feel privileged to be able to call them friends.
Venues: Christ Church, Portsdown & Newtown House Hotel
Florist: Fiori by Lynne, Titchfield
Hair & Make up: Missy George (Find On Facebook)
Invitations designed/made by: STN Stationary, ETSY.
The Dress: By Justin Alexander, Purchased from Creatiques, Southsea
Suit Hire: Moss Bros
Entertainment: Greg Valentine, Wedding Singer
Photography: The Cole Portfolio

The most absolute form of flattery is when we receive referrals and when our work is shared on Social Media. If you know someone on the hunt for a wedding photographer (or if you just like what you see!) then why not share this blog! Thank you!

Natural Family Photography, Southampton – The Doherty Family

Posted on 13/09/2014 • Posted in Lifestyle Portraits

James was just days old when I met him for his newborn session last year and unfortunately for me, he did not want to be photographed….that is unless he was laying on his Daddy’s chest or cradled in his Mummy’s arms. We had lots of lovely ideas about how we could photograph him but he was not having any of it! So I re-emphasised the part where I photograph real life and we just went with it…apparently he slept for hours after I left!

Jill and Pip had booked a Tot to Toddler session so I know I’d have the chance to photograph them again and this time? James absolutely redeemed himself! Full of smiles and thoroughly inquisitive about the world around him, we spent a lovely hour or so in the grounds of Southampton Sports Centre where we enjoyed lots of fabulous open space and tree lined avenues.

Thank you, all, for letting me come back again (after the trauma of the first time around) and capture some lovely images of you all!
x

Natural Family Photography, Southampton – The Wilson Family

Posted on 13/09/2014 • Posted in Lifestyle Portraits

I first photographed this gorgeous little family last Christmas when Oscar was just months old and Anna and Chris were still in that lovely ‘early days’ part of parenthood where you have muslin attached to you most of the time and can never quite predict when your little angel is going to go from adorable angel to screaming banshee! Oscar was a dream though (you can check out the session here) and he didn’t disappoint this time either!

We took a stroll at a local park Southampton where Anna and Chris spent a lot of time strolling and playing with Oscar when he was little. The park was pretty busy as the circus had come to town but I got creative with the angles and managed to find a bit of open space and what a great session it was.

It’s always lovely to catch up with families and see how they’re getting on and how the littluns are growing and I always feel so blessed to be invited into peoples lives to document their family time.

Thanks, guys, for another fab session!
x

Wedding Photography: Marwell Hotel, Winchester-Natasha & Barry’s Colourful Wedding

Posted on 10/09/2014 • Posted in Wedding Photography

They met through work and a deep rooted friendship grew from a slightly unusual conversation about pants. Yes, literally, pants. From colleagues to friends, from friends to falling in love…it was at a Christmas work party in 2006 after drinking, dancing and Barry’s phone getting run over by a dodgem that they finally realised the depths of their feelings for one another and they’ve not looked back. I couldn’t help but laugh when Barry told me that one of the first times they spent any real time together was when Natasha had cooked a ‘dreadful’ meal for him and his colleagues ..she admits that her ‘French Bread Pizza’ was hardly a triumph but was rather upset to find him picking tomato off the top of her carefully made master piece. That said, Barry cannot deny that this quiet, beautiful, girl that made him laugh so much was worth eating a few bad meals for….though he adds that the quality of her cooking has never improved! Following a starlit proposal by the Pantheon in Rome, Natasha agreed to the honour of being Barry’s wife and they cosied up in a piazza cafe to relish the wonderful prospect of a lifetime together. Natasha and Barry’s wedding had a special significance for me as I have had the pleasure of knowing them for some years. I’ve enjoyed evenings out with them and have seen first hand how great they are together so to document such a magical day in their lives was truly a HUGE honour. Here are a selection of images from their gorgeous day at Marwell Hotel, Winchester. Enjoy! With special thanks to: Event Styling – By the Bride and Groom themselves Florist – Jenni & Michelle Harris Make Up – Pure Beauty By Sarah Invitations – Designed and Made by Tony Standley (Father of the Bride) The Dress – By Ellis Bridal, purchased from JC Brides, Portsmouth The Suits – By Cameron Ross from JC Grooms, Portsmouth Pianist – Lee Mathews via Alive Network Entertainment – DB Disco’s

Recommendations are the highest form of flattery…if you know someone getting married and you think they might like my chatty nature, share my love of cake and appreciate my style of photography then why not share this post with them?

Thank you for stopping by! 🙂

Family Lifestyle Photography, Lee On The Solent – The Pennington-Bennett Family

Posted on 08/09/2014 • Posted in Lifestyle Portraits

This lovely family got in touch at the end of last year and purchased one of my Christmas Voucher offers…and I’m so pleased they did!

On a slightly moody day a week or so ago, we dodged the rain and enjoyed a lovely hour on the beach at Lee On the Solent. The littluns did amazingly, happily watching the gliders, throwing stones into the sea and eating rice cakes they literally couldn’t have been more well behaved!

I did feel a smidge bad that with the weather closing in (isn’t the moody sky fabulous!) so we couldn’t just stroll at leisure in the sunshine and instead had to run for cover at one point but even then, these guys happily allowed me to gently direct them to get a lovely selection of images to decorate their home.

It’s always lovely to watch families together and whilst it’s great getting the close-ups, I do love backing off up the beach and just quietly observing from a distance. With the iffy weather on our side, it was really lovely to be able to do this and not have a beach full of strangers between us.

We wrapped up the session with hugs goodbye and I waved them off to dinner …then I snuck over the road and met up with my own little family for an ice cream on the sea front. You can’t beat that.

Enjoy!

Pre-Wedding Photography, Bishops Waltham: Barbara & Paul

Posted on 01/09/2014 • Posted in Pre-Wedding Photography

We met in early February when the trees were still bare and the early evening was dark and cold enough to warrant the fire being lit at the little pub we met at. As I walked in, both Barbara and Paul turned to me with the warmest, most welcoming, of smiles and any fears I had about tripping over the snoozing dog, dropping my sample albums or worse, falling in the fire(!) quickly evaporated.

We chatted easily over a drink and discussed the merits of different styles of photography and how I approach photographing a wedding. We’d been emailing back and forth before the meeting so I had a good idea of what they were looking for but it’s important to me to meet in person and make sure we get on!

Numerous emails and 6 months later and there were those same, warm,eager smiles greeting me across the car park. Paul’s son, Elliott, joined them for their pre-wedding session and we romped off through meadows and over stiles on a stroll to the river…avoiding the fields with the cows along the way! Sundays are special to me and this particular day was perfectly blended as my family joined me for the session. Elliott and George ran off together picking blackberries whilst my man kept an eye on them so that I could chat away with (and photograph!) Barbara and Paul. Amidst the blackberry eating, family pictures and looking for cows, we talked through the plans for their day and chatted about almost anything and everything…frankly I was kind of sad the session had to end!

I’m so excited for their big day this Saturday when they will marry in Bishops Waltham and celebrate with family and friends in a relaxed, homespun, affair at The Hampshire Bowman. Six days and counting!!!