There’s a first time for everything or so the saying goes and for me, this weekend saw the first time I’ve rolled a consultation in with a pre-wedding planning session and a booking on the same day, at least with all three involving the same couple. No point hanging about when you know what you want, I suppose. It seems that Meleza & James feel likewise.
Meleza is from South Africa and James grew up in Dorset. Skipping past a great deal of detail (in my case, not theirs) they got engaged, planned for a wedding two years hence in South Africa followed by a ceremony back in the UK, realised things might not work out with time lines, the trans-hemispherical seasons and all else that goes on in life and decided to start in the UK a year earlier than envisaged and follow on in South Africa the following year.
They’ve pulled together a fantastic wedding day at short notice with a ceremony at St. Nicholas Church in Studland followed by a celebration into the night at Studland Bay House.
Despite being a prospective consultation and a pre-wedding planning session at the same time I thought it might be best if I brought my cameras along too as the imminence of the wedding date would preclude finding time for a pre-wedding shoot beforehand, if things did proceed to a commission. A well made decision. I'm not certain if this is part of the consultation; it's certainly a key aspect of the planning; the end result is some photographs so it's possibly a hybrid form of pre-wedding shoot.
I wouldn't want to wake up bleary eyed in whatever room it is up there.
Planning. Definitely. All part of the story.
Meleza is an instant natural with the camera. She dances with the lens effortlessly, always a smile or laugh ready to break out, then turns on a sixpence into Laser Focused Strategy Woman as circumstances demand. We managed to get James from Rabbit in Headlights to Man of Quintessential Poise in the space of six seconds (I'm not publishing the shot before this one) so it's all going to roll marvellously on the candid photography front come the wedding day.
Processing.
Twigged.
So the plan was for the majority of the wedding party to walk from church to house via the shoreline and up a modest bank, led by the Bride & Groom (and me sprinting, scrabbling and stopping in repetitive sequence as inconspicuously as possible). Perhaps a good thing we took a walk along the planned route then. The ferns on the lower (steeper) section weren't quite as deep and thickly woven last time Meleza & James passed this way. Wedding dress, heels and wearer of both, the slightly longer route by car it might be then! Then again, the option is always there :~)
Field notes: Group photo backdrop. Check.
James see's the right hook coming a mile off.
I think they're practicing their first dance.
A swift change of photographic tone. Not a pose. A quick switch back to intensive planning mode.
I bet that threw some of you. It threw me when I returned to editing this piece. Meleza & James are fans of this image, from my very first wedding commission. Same area, same beach, different time of year.
"Here's an idea. How about we do the group shots in there?"
By this stage in the shoot almost everyone was completely relaxed.
And that's a fun packed August all booked up for me.
Contact Purbeck wedding photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248
by Phillip Allen
show hide 13 comments
Mark - These guys look like they had a blast!! Great job!!
Timothy E Kaldas - Phill, beautiful work capturing this couple’s intimacy. The shots on the beach are beautiful. Also, the last shot of them walking barefoot down the wooded road is a perfect ending to the story.
Brad Ross Photography - Just another fun day hanging out with Phill :) I can easily see why your clients feel so comfortable with you and it shows in every picture. Amazing work.
Meleza - We had a fabulous day with our fanastic photographer and very much look forward to our wedding shots! Thanks Phill.
Alex - Top notch work. It’s obvious that you interact very well with your subjects – your pictures are both natural and well composed, as usual.
Ryan Brenizer - Very nice of you to do this, I’m sure they loved it. That church is GORGEOUS.
Lisa Novakowski - This shoot is just stunning! Your running commentary is, all on it’s own, highly entertaining, lol, and your ability to put people at ease is obvious. Not to mention I am a big fan of your photography style.
Sally - How fun!!! These are amazing – bright, vibrant shots of a gorgeous couple and I love your commentary, too! :)
Kyle - They’re so cute! She really does seem like a natural in front of the camera!
Dani K. - Yay for short notice weddings! How fun to get photos of the planning, and great job doing it!
Sarah King - Again, brilliant Phill, love your work and the location is amazing. Studland is one of my favourite places and the church is indeed GORGEOUS. Can’t wait to see the lovely couple in the wedding shoot.
Stuart Cooper - Great shoot Phil. So natural and fun. Bit of a strange deadline for everything but you did a great job!
Phillip Allen - Thanks you twelve times and Meleza thrice over. Very much looking forward to this one! :~)