Rhinefield House New Forest Winter Wedding

Rhinefield House in the New Forest was the wedding venue Emma and Mark chose for their magical winter wedding. There's something special about Christmas even for big kids, so having a winter Christmas themed wedding worked perfectly within the setting of the oak panelled Grand Hall at Rhinefield Hotel in Hampshire.

Even though we have photographed many times at Rhinefield House, we always like to scope out wedding venues a little ahead of time if we are able. About 2 weeks before the wedding I popped down to see the wedding co-ordinator and have a good look round. At that time the large curtains were closed behind the Christmas tree in the Grand Hall and I asked if on the day they could be opened. This worked out perfectly for the ceremony images as from the back the Christmas tree was illuminated against the large window and from the front there was beautiful soft natural light for the couple throughout the wedding service.

We love photographing weddings and environmental portraits in the New Forest, Rhinefield Hotel is known as the "Jewel in the Forest" and though there are other great wedding venues in the New Forest the tree lined approach and romantic Gothic facade makes a beautiful backdrop for wedding images.

Emma and Mark picked the shortest day of the year for their wedding, the winter solstice (December 21st) the weather on the day could not have been better. Based on the rain through the summer we would recommend a lot more winter weddings! I think Mark was secretly wishing for a bit of snow but in the end it was very mild and we were able to use the outside for both the romantic alone shots and the semi-formal family images.

After the first dance we went outside with Emma and Mark to take some evening images with the hotel in the background and even then it didn't feel cold! A perfect finish to a magical day in the New Forest :)

Teri Gets Her 'L'!

Teri is now a Qualified Master Photographer as recognised by the Master Photographers Association. This achievement recognises Teri's ability to photograph weddings to an established level of skill and competence.

The Licentiate (LMPA) Wedding category award is gained by submitting a panel of images from recent weddings. The panel is then judged by respected members of the MPA and if of sufficiently high quality the award is given.

The gestation period on Teri's wedding panel was longer than most applicants, Teri first joined the MPA in 2006 but held off submitting her qualifying panel until this years Focus on Imaging. This patient approach reflects more than anything Teri's overriding passion to present only the very best work of which she is capable. Kudos to her for taking the plunge and putting up her images to be judged. I don't think the verdict was ever in doubt but me believing her panel is award worthy and her gaining the award itself are worlds apart!

It's not often I get the chance to write about Teri's work so I will take this opportunity to say what it is I find special about her images. I count myself as good with people (I'd be in the wrong job if it was otherwise!) having said that I count Teri as amazing with people. She has a rare ability to instantly connect with wedding guests, family of the couple and the wedding couple themselves that is very special and I would say pretty unique, it always shows in her images and I am very lucky to work with her.

Sandwiched somewhere between the details of the day, the story telling of the getting ready, the wedding ceremony, the formal group images, the cool portraits of the newlyweds, the evening reception and first dance are the relaxed intimate portraits of the couples family and close friends. It's this last type of image that are often overlooked in a lot of the wedding coverage we have seen and it is those very images that become more and more special over time. Beautiful informal portraits of the people that really matter, not just because they were there on the day of the wedding, they are valued as images in their own right and become treasured pictures of loved ones.

A small selection of Teri's successful panel below :)

2008 Quicky Review

2008 been an amazing year and we'd like to thank all our couples, past, present and future for letting us be part of their wedding days and trusting us to record one of the most important days in their lives, it is special to us and a privilege, thank you :)

The first thing which springs to mind about the 2008 weddings is how much it rained in the summer months, mid-week would be fine and come the weekend it rained, luckily there was always a break in the weather when we could go outside for some shots. One of the outdoor ceremony weddings the heavens opened literally just as champagne was served after the ceremony, enough of the English pre-occupation with the weather though! We're both looking forward to a drier 2009 :)

Though Teri and I rarely enter our work for competitions I decided to enter the MPA (Master Photographers Association) Wessex region print competition, neither of us really expecting too much on the first time of entering. Truly in shock when I was awarded 3 of the top honours, MPA Wessex Wedding Photographer of the Year 2008, MPA Wessex Licentiate Photographer of the Year 2008 as well as a Highly Commended in the Fashion and Glamour section of the competition.

I really didn't expect to win anything and I was struck speechless when presented with the trophy for the Wedding Photographer of the Year and seeing the names of previous winners, all Fellows of the MPA, including photographers who have mentored Teri and I and who inspire us to create Art as well as improve our craft.

There is always more to learn of course, during November we attended a 3 day seminar with one of Australias most talented photographers David A. Williams (Master of Photography and Accolade of Lifetime Photographic Excellence WPPI). We have some cool things we are working on for 2009 ;)

Teri's Bridal Boudoir Photography has become even more popular and she continues to produce amazing work (the ones I'm allowed to see!). I hope she enters some of the images into next years print competition as she deserves recognition :)

Wedding venues, one of the questions occasionally asked by prospective clients is "have you photographed at our wedding venue?", very often the answer is yes and we can show images or a sample album. We have become preferred suppliers to two of our favourite Dorset venues, Kingston Maurward and Compton Acres Italian Villa. Not only are they both leading Dorset Wedding Venues but they are exceptionally well run and photographing at each is always a pleasure.

Remains for me to thank again all our 2008 couples and their families and wedding guests for letting Teri and I share in their special days. We're really looking forward to 2009 (already we are way ahead on bookings!) and look forward to taking more great images of amazing people :)

Wish all a happy and healthy 2009!

Return of the Teri (Jedi)

It's not often we take images of each other at weddings (most of the time we don't appear in any of the wedding images!) but as we were setting up the lighting to take a couple of Darrell with the light sabre Teri volunteered to be a stand-in.

Claire and Darrel's wedding images are also on the blog: Lillibrooke Manor Wedding Berkshire

It's currently her facebook avatar :)