March 08, 2016
Nibbles 2 Nosh - Caterers to Upwaltham Barns
2nd March 2016
Last Wednesday evening was a date firmly etched into my diary; I had the pleasure of photographing one of Nibbles 2 Nosh's 'Wedding Experience Evenings.' I have been asked to photograph two of these evenings before, and I always look forward to them. They are an opportunity for couples who have booked Upwaltham Barns as their wedding venue to experience a 'sneak preview' of their big day, and consider decor, music, and of course, what food they might be serving up to their lucky guests. The evenings are always such a pleasure to attend; impeccably organised, beautifully laid out and great fun for me. I shoot a large percentage of my weddings there, and now know many of the lovely staff and am really starting to feel like part of the team.
The atmosphere they create at Upwaltham Barns is one of effortless efficiency, coupled with warmth and attention to detail. The fact that it is a family run venue really shows; Tim owns and manages the venue alongside his wife Nicola; his sisters Claire and Kate are the Nibbles 2 Nosh catering manager and wedding co-ordinator respectively; and brother Steve is the bar manager. They work together like a well oiled machine, but with immense pride and consideration, not only in managing and looking after their staff but really going that extra mile for their guests. Together they are friendly, accommodating and fun, and I feel very lucky that they keep inviting me back to be a small part of that!
The last time I photographed a wedding there was back in December and the team had been hard at work since renovating Jasmine Cottage where brides often prepare on the day and the couple spend their wedding night, and adding new details to the bar and outdoor areas. I can safely say they have done a fabulous job! The atmosphere was tranquil yet full of focus when I arrived before the guests showed up, at around 4.30pm. I managed to capture a few images of this 'calm before the storm'; here is the lovely Donna striking a pose beside her newly emblazoned chalkboard, and a couple of the team lighting tea lights to set the ambience outside the barns.
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February 18, 2016
Olly & Abby's Wintery Upwaltham Wedding
Olly and Abby chose Upwaltham Barns in West Sussex for their magical wintery wedding on 4th December last year. They were blessed with the perfect winter day; cold, crisp and clear, and though the weather was chilly, the day itself was filled with heartfelt emotion and warmth. Right from the outset I knew this couple were going to be great fun to photograph. We always had a good giggle together, and from initial meetings to the engagement shoot they would always arrive with their hilarious dog in tow, a dog they fully acknowledged looked a lot more closely related to a fox!
I started out at Flintstone Cottages in Aldingbourne with Olly and his two Best Men. I managed to lure the gents out into the gardens for this atmospheric shot showing off the sweeping winter light. I love how the long shadows emphasise the rather 'catalogue model' or even 'James-Bond-esque' poses the guys are strutting!
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February 10, 2016
Laura & Jack at Field Place
Laura and Jack presented me with a different kind of wedding shoot when they decided to split their special day into two halves, one at Field Place in Worthing, and the other in sunny Jamaica! Being the British photographer I definitely drew the short straw (!), but I was really excited to be involved in manifesting their vision; to create some British contrast to the tropical, sun-drenched magic of the Caribbean.
The Jamaican section was a very intimate affair, and Jack and Laura wanted the chance to invite all their family and friends to a big bash in Worthing not only to celebrate their marriage but to help them get over the shock of returning to the grey UK at the very end of November.
The couple had really liked the modern and artistic edge to my work, and were after a striking contrast to palm trees and golden sands. Lucky that they felt this way, as we were not blessed with the brightest of late-November days for the shoot! We were all keeping our fingers crossed for a sunset shot, but our luck was out. We Brits are not ones to be outdone by the weather though, and with a stiff upper lip we braved the rain and cold to grab a small sliver of daylight. We used the imposingly large window to frame the couple against the moody darkness of the sky, and I had my assistant crouch behind them to compensate for the non-existent sun and provide a romantic glow in this dramatic shot.
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