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 :)

A Pink Wedding Gown and a Star Wars Lightsabre

Darrell and Claire's wedding at Lillibrooke Manor in Berkshire, was one of the most heartwarming wedding celebrations of the summer.

We knew that Claire and Darrell's wedding was going to be a blast when we first met them, due to the fun pre wedding engagement session with did with them in April. The idea of featuring their dogs Flo and Mavis, and the Star Wars recreation image was a big clue.

I don't know who was more excited and anxious for this wedding day to arrive, Claire or myself. It's always amazing when a Bride chooses a dress that is out of the ordinary, but Claire took it to another level with a gorgeous Maggie Sottero gown in a rich dusky pink with beaded corseted bodice. On the laces of the bodice, Claire laced in two rings you will see in the photos below, one was her grandmother's wedding band, the other was a little toy ring Darrell gave her when he proposed. A very unique and sweet touch. But that dress! She was breathtakingly beautiful in it.

The inside story about the Pink Wedding Dress, is that Claire loves anything Pink. Anything. Seriously. So much so that Darrell teased her weeks before the wedding saying "You didn't get a pink dress now did you?" Kudos to Claire for keeping that secret as well as she did, LOL. That wasn't the only secret Claire kept from Darrell however, more about that later ;)

The day of the wedding, was one of the rare Saturday's in August 2008 that didn't get rain. There was a strange orb in the sky that glowed bright and warm. We arrived at Claire's house as the Best Man, David, had just finished styling Claire's hair. Yep, the Best Man. Even before I did Claire's make up, she looked incredible. Claire and her Stepfather Chris waved the bridesmaids off as they zoomed away in the skyblue VW 1960's Camper Van that Darrell arranged as the wedding car from Dubs & Bugs. Then David and I followed them to Lillibrooke Manor where the wedding was to take place.

There was so much excitement in the air, as we all waited outside the venue for the van with Claire to arrive. When the music was cued for the bridesmaids (The Prime Minister's song from Love Actually), the guests thought it was to be a nice, subdued ceremony. But once the bridesmaids were in place, The Theme from Star Wars started, and that set the tone for the rest of the day, joy, fun and happiness for two very special people. So much laughter, it was very infectious.

There were just too many wonderful moments to write about them all here, but a few favorites for me were the speeches, When Chris (Claire's Stepfather) finished his, I don't think there was a dry eye anywhere, including myself, Darrell's speech really showed the deep love and playfulness he has for his new wife, and David (the best man aka hairstylist extraordinaire) killed us all with his speech, which included all of Darrell's former partners/lovers/romantic interests turning in their key's, raised eyebrows as a couple of dudes turned theirs in reluctantly, lol.

Another great moment was the cake cutting with Darrell's light saber, that was a first for us, and it was great!

David and I love to capture images of all the little details that went into the day, from the flowers, the table settings, favours, place cards, etc. But as we were photographing the interior of the Barn where the wedding breakfast and reception was to be held, we noticed that a female guest had laid her black hat on the bar. It made for a fun photo we thought. Later we found out that it didn't belong to anyone there and no one at the venue knew where it came from, it actually ended up vanishing by the end of the evening, so this is the 'haunted' wedding hat below, lol.

Both Claire and Darrell have families that were just amazing, especially Darrell's grandad (who is nearly 100 years old), who was one of the youngest at heart on the day. I lost count of how many sweet young things I caught him flirting with! I was so pleased that there were 5 generations represented at the wedding on Darrell's side.

Lillibrooke Manor in Berkshire was such a wonderful venue, the owners of the manor, Joseph and Mary (yep, for real), were the sweetest people ever, and so welcoming. Just lovely people.

Congratulations again to Claire and Darrell, can't wait to see you when we Trash Claire's gorgeous pink wedding dress!!!

*Update* More Stunning Pink Wedding Dress Images :)

Much Love Xx
Teri (+David)
Murakami Photography, Award Winning Wedding Photography






































































































If you are planning an amazing wedding and would like beautiful romantic wedding photography, perhaps we can help, get in touch via our new website at Murakami Photography :)