A Homepsun Handfasting Ceremony, Devon: Claudia & Craig

Posted on 03/09/2015 • Posted in Wedding Photography

Craig is a talented musician and Claudia is a business owner and talented Make-Up Artist, there was no doubt that, with such creative careers, they were going to turn out an utterly beautiful day.

This couple, from Northern Ireland, had decided to celebrate their union at Claudia’s family home in Devon…unfortunately, these circumstances meant that the chance to meet beforehand was non-existant! Fortunately, our families have heaps of history together as our parents grew up alongside one-another so I was always expecting it to feel like a family wedding and it didn’t disappoint. We found ourselves almost instantly ensconced in an array of smiling faces and warm hugs and knew that it was going to be a beautiful and memorable day.

Whilst being the given the tour of the house and garden, my eyes lit up at the sight of a gorgeous marquee in the garden! Inside, I found tables decorated with rustic log centerpieces, candles and a delicate array of roses and meadow flowers; there was a stunning four tier cake and a personalised wooden guest book (crafted by Craig’s own fair hands!) I didn’t know what to photograph first! This was my first traditional Handfasting so I was enthralled to hear about the significance of the various rituals within the ceremony… I was also very conscious of the presence of swords and daggers so really felt this was an occasion to be on my best behaviour!! 🙂

Claudia and Craig had a very laid back approach to the day, I shall admit that even I found myself glancing at the time and thinking… ‘wow…this is one relaxed couple!!’ However, this relaxed nature was definitely in my favour as I discovered that their ‘go with the flow’ attitude made for a wonderful environment to photograph in.

I could gabble on at length about how included we felt, about what a treat it was to have such a gorgeous afternoon tea followed by a fabulous Hog Roast buffet in the evening. I could tell you how blown away I was by how great these guys were to photograph and how watching them spinning around on the dancefloor made me giddy with happiness for them. I could share with you how the day was so full of positivity and energy that once my work was done, I found myself laying down my camera and eagerly joining the masses on the dance floor. And, if that wasn’t enough, I could say how this was a day I would happily re-photograph again and again…but instead, let me show you how fabulous it was in the best way I know how…

Enjoy
x

Wickham Railway Pre-Wedding Photography, Hampshire: Karen & Barrie

Posted on 27/08/2015 • Posted in Pre-Wedding Photography

They laugh, they take the mickey out of one another and they are clearly very in love. Karen and Barrie have known one another since childhood and it shows…they have that deep rooted connection that only that amount of history gives you. They tell me that their relationship only progressed when a friend set them up and left them to finish a bottle of wine together, that was when they realised there was something more than just friendship between them.

Seven years on and Barrie swept Karen off her feet with a romantic proposal outside the Princess castle at Disneyland. In just a few days, I will have the tremendous pleasure of documenting their special day at Southdowns Manor in Petersfield.

Here are a selection of images from their pre-wedding session at Wickham Railway line. We had been throwing ideas around for the session and another client suggested this lovely bit of Wickham which suited us perfectly…they even ventured under the bridge which really was quite something!!!! That slope was incredibly steep!!

Enjoy the pictures and keep your eyes peeled for their wedding pictures.

Alice Holt Pre-Wedding Photography: Rebecca and Tom

Posted on 21/08/2015 • Posted in Pre-Wedding Photography

It’s wedding season! You know what that means, right? I’m already chasing my tail!! Thanks to the arrival of my littlest darling at the end of last year, the beginning of this year has taken a somewhat slower start however, I have nearly the same number of weddings in 6 months as I ordinarily undertake in a year…so you can imagine how frantic things are ‘behind the scenes’!

The plus side to the franticness is that having met and chatted at length with all my clients for the year, I am ridiculously excited about each and every one! From garden to church and barn, the venues this year are beautiful and varied and Rebecca and Tom’s is no exception. These guys are marrying at St Mary’s Church in Bildeston, Suffolk and will be celebrating with their friends and family at picturesque Hengrave Hall in Bury St Edmunds.

I shan’t prattle on too much about how lovely it was to enjoy a drink with Becky and Tom before their session, about how they made me laugh as we navigated our way through the Alice Holt woodland and how I loved the way Becky buried her face in Tom’s t shirt when I turned the camera on her… instead I’ll just let you see the pictures.

Enjoy!

Boudoir Photography, Southampton: A Pre-Wedding Treat

Posted on 12/08/2015 • Posted in Boudoir Photography

Last time I posted a Q&A session it went down a storm so I think this may be a new feature!

Lovely Bethan got in touch with me about having a Boudoir session for her husband-to-be. I knew I liked her from the start but it was when, in answer to one of my pre-session questions, she said ‘I tend to smile too much in pictures so I’m not very photogenic’ that I felt I’d found a fellow soul. Do you know what? That’s that’s me all over! Always grinning like a loon and then wondering afterwards why I don’t ‘temper’ my smile for pictures. BUT I love this in my clients and, having realised this, I’m also trying to be a little bit kinder to myself too…who doesn’t love someone that’s super smily?! 🙂

So, having confirmed dates and formulated a ‘plan’, Bethan told her fiance that she was working from home for the day and booted him out of the house telling him not to ask any questions. Genius!

Kelly got to work on Bethan’s hair whilst we chatted through how we like to work (whilst discussing all manner of other things along the way) and once our cuppa’s were drunk and Bethan was ready to go, we set about creating the gorgeous pictures you see below.

But first, a Q&A with Bethan…

1. What inspired you to want to do a boudoir session?
My husband had mentioned not long after we met that he would love me to have a boudoir shoot done some day as he is a keen amateur photographer himself – and it just stuck in my head. So when we began to organise our own wedding it was an obvious choice for a surprise present.

2. Did you have any worries or concerns?
I don’t like having my photograph taken as I always appear to have my eyes wide open or I’m blinking or pulling a silly face so I was really concerned that I wouldn’t like any of the photographs.

3. How did you feel on the morning of the session?
I wasn’t sure what to expect at all and had never done anything like it before so I was a bit nervous and a little apprehensive about taking my clothes off to be photographed!!

4. What happened at the session…
Abi arrived at my house I was immediately relaxed. She is such a friendly, bubbly person that there is no way you can feel nervous. Over a cup of tea, Abi completely put me at ease and explained how the session would work so I knew what to expect. Abi will help direct your poses as she knows what works best in front of the camera so you are not necessarily expected to come up with lots of ideas. All the poses you see in the edited pics are not necessarily the most comfortable or easy poses to get yourself into and I actually found myself laughing a lot and really enjoying myself during the shoot!

5. How did you feel afterwards?
I was actually a little sad that it was over! When Abi had gone I kept looking at my hair and make up in the mirror to check that it was me! I couldn’t wait to see how the photographs turned out!

6. What about those concerns you may have had?
Didn’t give them a second thought!

7. What did you think of the pictures?
I loved them and couldn’t wait to show my husband. It was really hard to keep it a secret until our wedding day!

8. How and when did you present the images to your partner and what did he think?
My sister in law gave Matt the album on the morning of our wedding. In his own words he thought it was “Super hot! ” He loved the presentation of the album which I had chosen In one of our wedding colours and which Abi had designed.

9. What would you say to someone who’s thinking of having a Boudoir session with The Cole Portfolio?
Do it … You won’t regret it! And your partner will love it too!

St Jame’s Park, London: Pre-Wedding Photography – Marzena & Jose

Posted on 05/08/2015 • Posted in Pre-Wedding Photography

They met at work, he thought she seemed fun and she loved his sponteneity and how easily he made her laugh. Though language may have been a barrier for some, this was not the case for these two; in fact Marzena admits that it ‘just felt right from the start’. Nine years, a mortgage and a romantic dinner proposal later and they are embarking on a whole new journey as they plan to marry this September.

I first ‘met’ with Marzena and Jose many months ago with the wonder of Skype! It was so lovely to see them cosied up in their home environment together…I quietly observed the way they looked to one another to confirm they were in agreement about everything and I was touched by how considerate they were of one another’s thoughts and opinions. In return, they were able to see a few of my album samples and my crazy animated face when I got excited talking about Hill Place!

A month ago (I’m sorry, time just runs away with me!! I MUST blog more often!) I met with Marzena and Jose in St James’ Park, London, to hear more about their day and document a little of their time together. I was absolutely gifted with glorious sunshine during July’s fabulous heatwave; the people of London were out soaking up the sun and we did the same! As we navigated the crowds, I was delighted to find a few gorgeously picturesque spots but what charmed me most was my lovely couple. Together, these guys happily went along with everything I suggested, made a few suggestions of their own and didn’t bat an eyelid when I suggested a dance under the bandstand…it turns out their Salsa moves are really quite impressive!

Thank you, both, for such a wonderful session – I’m so excited to see you again and document your special day at Hill Place next month.

Jessie & Brad’s Beachy Pre-Wedding Session

Posted on 15/07/2015 • Posted in Pre-Wedding Photography

I laughed out loud when Jessie and Brad sent over their ‘more about them’ information. In particular, I couldn’t help but smile at the thought that, for three weeks, they sat back to back whilst Jessie thought to herself ‘Hmm…he’s pretty good looking’….meanwhile, Brad was more likely to be contemplating the surf conditions! I gather he’s pretty surf obsessed…I mean, what girl isn’t going to fall for a good looking guy with a great sense of humour and talent on a surfboard!?

I asked Brad what his firsts thoughts were about Jessie: My first thought was that she was a Mute. I barely heard her say a single word the whole first week she was in the office! Then, one day, I walked past her and thought, Wow! Where did she come from? I must have been too wrapped up in my work until then because, when I finally saw her, I was blown away! How had I managed to avoid noticing this amazingly beautiful girl in the office until now?

Apparently their relationship progressed from Brad getting Jessie to laminate endless sheets of paper for him, Jessie getting stuck in a bike box (!?!) and the Ironman Asia Pacific after party. It would seem that, after getting every possible, freebie, item of clothing from the Ironman expo, Jessie got the ultimate accessory…a (surf!) Ironman. I feel like I want to break into a round of applause or something. 🙂

Having met, worked and lived together in Australia, these guys are marrying in Micheldever, Hampshire and will be celebrating with friends and family at, the beautiful, Priory at Wherwell. I’m ridiculously excited to be a part of it and can honestly say that it’s just as well Brad opened his eyes and noticed Jessie that day or else I wouldn’t be just a week away from photographing their big day.