07-07-07 ..Roy and Jill's Wedding Day.

Something about the date made the 7th July 2007 a busy one for weddings.

It was a brilliant sunny day and Roy and Jill were enjoying every bit of it. An older couple than average but still well in to the excitement and celebration of the day.

The rings were engraved 07-07-07 on the inside, and carried by their young page boy on an embroidered cushion.

07-07-07... Hi Jules!!

It is not often I meet another local photographer at work but this was the day for it. Julian was waiting to photograph "his" bride arriving, with the bridesmaids sitting in the car. Meanwhile I was photographing Roy and Jill getting in to their car as we prepared to leave the church grounds from the other side.

Tom and Anna at All Souls, Langham Place.

It was a great joy to be invited to photograph Tom and Anna's wedding in London. Anna reminded me that I had previously photographed her as a bridesmaid aged four! She has matured into a beautiful young woman since then. It poured with rain during my entire journey to London, and was still wet when I arrived at the church, and it was the first time I can remember starting work in my waterproof coat. All was calm when I arrived at Anna's parents house just up the road from the church, so I was able to get some nice pictures using daylight from the windows.

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The rain stopped just long enough to gather some groups on the steps of the church after the service, and then off to a nearby garden for a few family photographs. The rain resumed just as we were finishing, and there were plenty of umbrellas around. A tea party followed at St Pauls in Robert Adam Street, and then on to the Oriental Club later.

Restoring Painted Clock Dials

Every now and then something different comes along. I have recently learned a huge amount about the process of restoring painted clock dials - used in a lot of longcase or grandfather clocks - with a commission to photograph for a presentation on this subject by David Buxton, who is a UK specialist. It has been fascinating to see the processes involved and the materials used, and to photograph a lot of the details.

Yervant and Joe Buissink.

I spent the day with two of the worlds top wedding photographers yesterday. (Along with about 50 other photographers).

The photo is of Yervant from Australia and Joe Buissink from USA.

It was really inspiring to experience their passion and enthusiasm and hear them talk about some of their different styles and techniques.

Dougal & Vicky's Wedding.

I had a great time at Dougal (Neil) and Vickys wedding recently. The weather was wet and windy unlike a number of unusually good weekends recently, so we did well to get some shots outside.

It was unusual to be told I could not stand at the back of the church to take a photograph during the entrance of the bride or the first hymn. The parish clerk told me it would be a distraction, and that I had to go to the front of the church and take pictures of the vows.

I did pause for a little rest "on my way to the front of the church" during the first hymn, and somehow managed to get one picture. As I was well behind everyones back and they were all singing a hymn I am confident I caused no distraction.

Dougals shoes were interesting.

And so was the response of the parish clerk when I took this photo!

Thanks to an old friend.

I have had a few "odd jobs" recently which have appeared through all sorts of contacts and connections. It was a pleasant surprise to hear from a friend from 20+ years ago. Mike Smith had been interviewed for a Norwegian Nursing Magazine who wanted some photographs taken in the Southampton area. So I got a call out of the blue and ended up at the NHS Direct national call centre meeting a Norwegian journalist to take some photographs.
Thanks for the contact Mike.