When I received an email from Emma & Ian asking me if I would photograph their wedding I slid off my sofa and collapsed onto the floor. I managed to type out and send a “yes” from my prone position and an hour later I responded more fully. It was somewhat akin to having Gordon Ramsay call and ask if you’ll do the catering for his wedding, except they’re not sweary like Mr Ramsay. You see, Emma & Ian constitute Bournemouth wedding photography outfit Big Bouquet. My initial reaction wasn’t simply based on the fact that they are wedding photographers but did have a great deal to do with the esteem in which I hold both their work itself and the outlook they present to the world via their Web site. When I first set about my venture in this field I researched the local market extensively and kept returning to their site. Eventually I found an entry on their blog mentioning the fact that they themselves would be getting married in October of this year. On reading this a concurrent chain of three punctuated thoughts ran through my head in rapid succession. The first was, “I wonder who’ll be photographing their wedding?”, the second was “I … would … so … love to shoot their wedding!” and the third was “Dream on Phill” and I laughed at my fleeting notion.
Over a period of several weeks I left the occasional comment on various of their blog entries, appreciative of what I was gaining from them in terms of learning, I received some comments on my blog in return, then I received their email and herein lays the outcome.
In the interim period between our making touch online and my photographing their wedding day Emma & Ian have provided me with immeasurable help with my practice. Emma’s guidance on post-processing has helped me rapidly raise the bar on the quality of my image making output. Ian’s advice on search engine optimisation has, in application, seen my Web site rise within a few small months from page seven of Google for my preferred search terms to a position where it bubbles around the top of page two and the bottom of page one. Both have advised me on work flow practices which have seen my turn around times shorten significantly. On top of all this they’ve also referred enquiries to me for dates on which they are already booked. All these are indications of their nature but also make fantastic business sense because there’s no doubt where my efforts will be directed in return as my venture develops.
Emma & Ian married at The Willows in Bournemouth Town Hall, celebrated at Ink Bar on Richmond Hill before sharing an intimate meal with their families, then partied into the night at Langtry Lodge.
I can’t express how happy I was to document their special day.
Unapologetically, this is going to be something of a long post! :~)
Err... so what's all this about then? Well, Emma didn't book me in for bridal preparations. Documenting of this aspect of the day, aside from the fact it can lead to some highly evocative images, makes for a significant opportunity for a groom to be able to witness that which grooms ... rarely witness, in retrospect through the resultant images of course. There was a sound logic in this case though for photography of the preps to be set aside in favour of coverage of another aspect of the day, as will become apparent. Still, I needed something to get me into the swing of things for the commission so I photographed my daughter preparing for her day. She wants to be a wedding photographer too, by the way.
A week before their wedding day Emma & Ian called around and presented me with a Wedding Photographer's Survival Kit, which also included a bag of cookies for my daughter and a thank you card for me (I hadn't even taken the photographs yet; I like optimistic types :~) This should not be taken as an example of a practice run on my behalf for wedding day detail shots by the way! Alors, on with their story...
Emma & Ian :~) ... not in that order I hasten to add. I was stunned by the choice of green silk; utterly fantastic. It worked spectacularly well for Emma's dress too ;~) And while we're here, check out the gold purse!
They've been stood where I'm stood plenty of times before but indeed it's the first time they've been sat where they're sat (I bet they've had a sneaky sit down though when nobody's been looking).
I've often wondered what the registrar is writing throughout the ceremony. They do appear to take copious notes. Emma is also wondering ... something. Scribble, scribble... "Agenda item one: Supt. Reg. asks if anyone present knows of any lawful reason why the marriage can not take place". I can't for the life of me interpret what's going through Emma's mind at this point.
The DJ of Honour, Charlotte, and the Best DJ, Lee. It'll make sense later.
"Gent sat behind groom whistles mis...chi..ev..ously. There's always ... one".
No legal impediments so ... it begins for real :~)
I'm continuously enthralled by the ability of the still image to speak so clearly of a broader moment. Emma seems enthralled by Ian's ability to do likewise.
"He puts the ring on her finger..."
The day after each of my wedding commissions I set about editing the images as soon as I wake up. It’s typically at this point in the editing process, the point we find ourselves at now, that my eyes start to well up a little. On this occasion, that certainly was the case.
I think it’s because it takes my brain this long to register that I’d been on my feet all of the previous day, and that’s when the pain kicks in. Anyway, please continue with the feature while I compose myse… stretch my aching legs.
I can't muster wit to express how such scenes get me. It's always my sincere hope that they serve my couples well.
In an Internet age of rapidly browsed imagery I really think it's worth lingering sometimes and wandering around a frame, an onlooker's anticipation, a moment of profound connection, a point of realisation bursting to the surface and spreading deep into the scene.
And the deed is done. Congratulations Emma & Ian. I hope you enjoy reliving the moment time and again.
I've no idea why the Star Wars fanfare music springs to mind. All the way through image editing I've been listening to Ian's musical innovations (more of which later).
The signing of the register. We all know by now that a dummy register is used for this stage of photography, don't we? It's all about data protection. Whilst unstaged documentary is my forte however, I'm happy in the knowledge that when they're in their nineties they'll look back and think this was the actual point of signing on their commitment to each other ;~) Actually I'm including this because I love the light and I love the way Emma & Ian sit so majestically in it, and how their green silk matches the green edging of the registration book (due credit to Ian for pointing this out to me, but I did notice how your tie matched Emma's dress!)
From time to time in looking at the Web sites of other photographers I'll come across cases where one has been commissioned to shoot a wedding photographer's wedding (much as in this case really). In each instance I've come across thus far, mention has been made of the additional pressure brought to bear in delivering the results for such discerning clients. I fully understand the rationale behind such sentiments but this really was a dream assignment for me. I mean, the bride took charge of populating and lining up the formal group shots!
I've had some fantastic help with the group shots on my previous commissions, from bridesmaids and ushers volunteered to help me out with crowd wrangling, but when it comes down to it nobody but nobody ignores the bride on a wedding day ;~)
After the ceremony (and a few group photos in nearby Bournemouth Gardens), bride, groom and guests headed to Ink Bar on Richmond Hill for a celebratory drink. As it happens I'd been in here a week earlier photographing a groom and his guests waiting to adjourn to a church just across the road for his wedding day. I photographed this same board on that visit (it's an expositional imagery thing, a scene setter if you like) but being avowed to present my couples with original imagery unique to them, this time I shot it with a counter-clockwise Dutch Angle rather than the clockwise tilt I'd employed last week.
Big Bouquet's first bride no less, back for Emma & Ian's wedding!
Guinness, white wine and the pièce de résistance, Lait au Glacé. I almost mentioned bouquet in there somewhere but caught myself just in time.
Ian's Dad offers to Wu Shu my paparazzi posterior. I jest :~) Actually he was asking me if Canon autofocus was anywhere near as fast and accurate as Nikon autofocus and if I could lock on to the palm of his hand as he waved it about. Coming to think of it, his son and daughter-in-law are wedding photographers; he's likely just tired of cameras.
I was in that church the week before, photographing a wedding.
"The party retired to the Langtry Lodge to continue celebrations..." Did the registrar follow on? I wonder does anyone invite registrars to join in the wedding party? Anyway, before I slip too deep into philosophising ... the guests start to arrive at Langtry Lodge, a truly fantastic venue.
I’m not usually in the habit of adding single vertical format images to my Web site features (they don’t fit the flow of the medium so well) but I think this one deserves its own space…
Emma & Ian built a prototype photo booth for their business and tested it out at their own wedding party. From a professional standpoint I was mightily impressed. It was a thorough hit with the guests and the results are profound. Whilst Emma & Ian wouldn't mind in the slightest if I showed more, I've self-imposed an embargo on revealing their trade secret until it's unleashed on the market ;~)
An improvement on my Wedding Photographer's Survival Kit photograph if I say so myself. I have to stop looking at this set of images before I drive myself to distraction with wanting to bite the screen.
The evening party had a beach holiday theme running through it like Bournemouth through a stick of rock. In place of a traditional guest book Emma & Ian elected to have guests leave messages on the back of picture postcards which were then attached by clothes pegs to a line. They'll be keeping the cards in a pretty box for future reminiscing. Now here's an example of how to react when you detect someone photographing you at a wedding, especially someone sporting a couple of oversized cameras (unobtrusive, sadly, doesn't mean invisible until I get my suit made from carpet and curtains). He or she, the person with the oversized camera or two, has likely been commissioned by the bride and groom to deliver them memories of how much their guests enjoyed their special day and there's no better example of someone happy to be there than this :~) That or I've caught her writing something really naughty.
Postcards schmostcards! We'll write them a message on our arms!
I'm about as bothered by the 'noise' as I am by the tilted picture ;~)
Langtry Lodge; lovely light and the ultimate in elegant and enigmatic subjects (also the writer of one of the most insightful and personally pleasing blog comments I've received to date which in turn was a highly pleasing coincidence for me :~) Furthermore she's another Big Bouquet bride, though the wedding's not until next year.
Did I mention I love the light at Langtry Lodge? Quite intriguingly it also doubles up as disco lighting.
Ah yes, the DJ of Honour Charlotte and the Best DJ Lee. Groom Ian along with Lee represents renowned, successful and highly talented DJ combo Geek Chic Soundsystem. There's a Web link for them towards the end of this feature. I've been listening to their creative efforts ceaselessly as I've worked on the images from the day.
Crossing one's legs might help for a while but sinking a pint surely won't ;~)
Great things about shooting a wedding photographer's wedding #2: you can ask without fear of embarrassment if you can borrow them for a minute to test out some settings, check the result on the back of the camera, show it to them whilst saying "Didn't work" and they're entirely un-phased, knowing that's the way it goes (then you get home and come across the image during editing and realise it reminds you of a style once considered avant garde and you actually find it somewhat enigmatic once you divest yourself of the shackles of technical orthodoxy).
In my wanderings I happened upon the chill out room where the real party was taking place. I love spending a bit of time hanging out with the more senior revellers at wedding parties. When experience and wisdom blends with joy and a sense of fun there's always a great deal of value to be derived from hanging out with them, and quite often they have better staying power than the nippers.
The middle room was claimed by Generation Facebook :~) ...
... while the main function room was dominated by the vanguard of Generation X. Who straightened that picture on the right?! I'd come looking for some synchronised wonk.
Hoorah! Spontaneous Laughing Guest Lady spotted me again! If you start seeing her appear in my images from future weddings you'll know that I've managed to track her down and book her for guest slots.
And it's time for the traditional first dan... *sound of needle scratching across record* What's that you say? Well, Emma & Ian's wedding day was very much about who they really are, throughout, so in place of the first dance they performed a 'first set' on the decks. Fantastic!
The traditional his and hers ring shots couldn't have been more fitting really.
Oh noes! I've turned into Nightclub Photographer Man! No disrespect to nightclub photographers whatsoever though; I've often wondered how they do that streaky streaky thing and now I know how :~) And look! It's Spontaneous Laughing DANCING Guest Lady! Hoorah encore! :~)
Congregating at the end of the night to view the results from the Big Bouquet Photo Tent.
As the evening drew to a close I hauled Emma & Ian out into the corridor to give them a sound talking to about overly subtle use of Totally Rad Actions. Emma retorted by pulling me up on my lack of a light reflector. Where's the covered snooker table when I need it? It was a very narrow corridor. My apologies to the ladies, in the Ladies, for the fact they had to find me backing in to their domain to get the shot.
Congratulations Mr & Mrs Cakenport! I'm really truly impressed by how you did your wedding your way; it really did sing out about who you both are and what you represent, individually and to each other.
And now for a slideshow of images from their special day. Please click on the opening image or on the > play button below.
- Ceremony Venue: The Willows
- Evening Reception Venue: Langtry Lodge
- Music: Geek Chic Soundsystem and friends (and wife)
- Cakenport Brooch and spontaneous laughter: Zoe Larkins of Love From Hetty & Dave
Contact Bournemouth wedding photographer Phillip Allen : phill@misterphill.com : 07870 696248
by Phillip Allen
show hide 34 comments