Jayne & Baron Engagement Shoot, Hardy’s Cottage

It’s high time to post these lovely images of Jayne & Baron’s Pre Wedding shoot at Hardy’s Cottage, near Dorchester.  Taken a few weeks ago when the weather was gorgeous and the Bluebells had just broken into bloom.

We met at Hardy’s Cottage, Dorchester – the birth place of the writer Thomas Hardy who penned Jude the Obscure and Tess of the d’Urbervilles. The woodland that surrounds the property is lovely and provides a beautiful backdrop for these E-shoots.

Jayne & Baron plan to marry later in August this year in Yeovil. Both are teachers and have been smart cookies with arranging  a mid week ceremony  thereby being able to keep costs down !  I am assured this will not be at the expense of their guests not being able to make it – as many of them are also teachers 🙂

A fun couple, I am very much looking forward to documenting their day in August.

Kim & Rob Engagement Shoot, Palm House, Weymouth

Wednesday was scheduled for my meet up with Kim and Rob in Weymouth.  The preceding week to 10 days had been beautiful dry, crisp weather – perfect conditions for location photography.  So what happened on Wednesday – the heavens opened, temperature dropped, the winds howled – in fact the driving rain was coming at you horizontally  !

To avoid the inclement weather, once more I found myself arranging the meeting at the Palm House in Weymouth.  It’s probably one of the few locations that offers a great backdrop for pictures and great soft even light even when the weather is diabolical.

Not wanting to reproduce similar work to a previous Engagement shoot meeting at this venue, we decided to get a little crafty!  Gone Potty – a ceramic painting workshop had opened and offered us the chance of an activity themed shoot.

Kim got into her stride quickly, picking sponges & paints and getting creative ( apparently she used to be a primary school teacher and used to do such things all the time !)

With the illustration on the plate resembling a bear, Rob took it upon himself to engrave the edge with a witty inscription.  Several moments of Uming, arhing, erhing ensued before I found myself muttering the old tale about bears in the wood.  That was enough and moments later the plate was complete!

Rob and Kim are great match together with Rob cracking jokes every minute and Kim reeling with laughter.  I can tell that photographing their wedding will be a hoot with so many great opportunities to catch the fun that will be had by all present !

Kim & Rob Engagement Shoot – Sneak Peak

Hers a quick sneak peak from the shoot on Wednesday with Kim & Rob.  The weather was surprisingly diabolical, so we sought refuge in The Palm House in Weymouth.

Having recently installed an arts & crafts area for painting ceramics Kim & Rob found the lure too strong to resist.  Painting plates, bears, woods and a great set of pictures ensued !

These images just stuck out from the rest of the set, think I captured the moment…..?

More to follow………

Stourhead Pre Wedding Shoot

Stourhead has to be one of the most magnificent locations I have had the pleasure of visiting.  I am grateful to Hailey & Cade for introducing me to the location and for suggesting it as the setting with which to shoot their Engagement Photographs.

The Stourhead setate is managed by the Nation Trust and has 2,650 acres of eighteenth century landscaped gardens to explore.

The area has been used extensively for various film shoots including the 2005 film version of Pride & Prejudice.   A matter of fact & trivia is that the last pictures of Hailey & Cade striking a pose on the stone plinths, were taken at the Temple of Apollo which is the scene where Darcy proposes.

Hope you enjoy the post and I hope to go back again to Stourhead to explore some more.  I only had the afternoon when a visit could certainly fill the whole day.  I didn’t go near the main house or King Alfred Tower ( from which there are views over three counties ).

So till another time…….

Hailey & Cade Pre Wedding Shoot – Sneak Peek

Here is a quick appetisser from my second shoot over the weekend with the wonderful Hailey & Cade.

We had a great afternoon shoot at the beautiful Stourhead Estate in Wiltshire.  The estate is the perfect place for these meeting / pre wedding shoots as it has such an abundance of backdrops to utilise.

One such background was the Temple Of Apollo, so perfectly decorated below by Hailey & Cade !

More to follow……

Mary & Steve Pre Wedding Shoot, Durdle Door, Dorset

Saturdays shoot with Mary, Steve and their little boy Benjamin was a real joy.  The weather was glorious and everything was just perfect for a Engagement Photo Session down at one of Dorsets most distinguished landmarks, Durdle Door.

You cant beat the rich freshness of the spring season sea air coupled with the crisp sunlight that so willingly offers forward a beautiful deep blue sky. ( Scene set … !)

This shoot had taken weeks to arrange and pull off.. Its not that there was anything particularly difficult involved, its just that our timing hadn’t been good. Either the weather was against us or we had been jinxed with young Benjamin (15 months ) being taken ill with a virus.

So when we finally had the all clear, the pressure was on to bring in a great set of knockout images.  We had the Hollywood set backdrop, the models, photographer, and ready assistant.

Well, I think we did it !  I received this brief email last night from Mary upon her viewing the images for the first time.

” WOW!!!!!
They are amazing!! So pleased with them, I can’t believe that we are all so photogenic!
Thank you Linus!
………..
Thank you again : )
Can’t wait for the wedding pics now!! Yey!

Mary : ) ”

What more could a Wedding Photographer wish for ?

Mary & Steve Pre Wedding Shoot – Sneak Peak

With the weather finally being on side and glorious, I kick started my season of Engagement shoots with two sessions on Saturday.

First of the day was a meeting with Mary & Steve and their little boy Benjamin.

Here is a quick taste form the session – looking forward top posting the others up shortly.

London Olympics 2012 – Pr Shoot for McDonalds

Last Tuesday I saw myself shooting my first Olympic Games related PR shoot.  It was at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy on behalf on McDonalds.

McDonalds are a major sponsor behind the 2012 Olympics and have donated their facilities and expertise to help train up all the required Voluntary helpers needed to host the games.

The photo opportunity in Weymouth was the start of the regional interviews for the selection of the ‘Games Makers’.  In attendance was: Chris Holmes, LOCOG Director of Paralympic Integration and 9 times Paralympic Gold Swimming Medallist. Nick Maybour, local McDonald’s franchisee and Chris English, McDonald’s Head of Volunteering.

The brief was to shadow the main photo call so that McDonald’s has copies of all the official staged shots, as well as to record as many relaxed and informal shots of the McDonalds Execs mixing & chatting with ‘Games Makers’ and interviewers.

Heres a few from the edit.

Portland Castle Weddings Open Day

On Sunday I was privileged to be involved in a new venture.  I had been invited to  exhibit at the first Bridal Open Day being held at Portland Castle in Dorset.

The castle was beautifully decorated by local florist Fiona Penny, the ceremony room being decked out in a traditional Tudor arrangement – plenty of ivy & lit candles.  It really set the atmosphere along with the harp music, canapes & Mulled wine being served.

Being a relatively small venue ( the ceremony room holds around 50 people) it was a more personable venue than some of the bigger wedding show venues.  It really lent itself to being the perfect location within which to display my photography, along with providing the ideal opportunity to talk to everyone about their photographic needs and what I can 0ffer.

I am very much looking forward to meeting with many of the couples again in the next few weeks and hope to be booking & arranging their engagement shoots.

One important big draw for the crowds on the day was the prize draw run by English Heritage.  One lucky couple, Jessica Luxton & Paul Wittman  won a wedding package worth nearly £2000.  It included the venue hire, along with a Pre Wedding shoot from yours truely, stationary, canapes, bubbly, flowers, limo hire for the hen night and even wedding day makeup artist.

Something funny to add here, prior to the draw Jessica & Paul has not got round to naming the day apart from it being sometime next year.  Well, I am sure that this wont remain the case now with the win of this dream wedding under their belts !

Dorset Wedding Fairs

Last Sunday I was exhibiting at a Wedding Fair for the first time.  I was at Lulworth Castle, Dorset which is such a stunning & beautiful setting for any event, wedding related or not. It was a great experience meeting so many couples in one place and having the chance to discuss my work along with their own plans for their upcoming weddings.

I was really pleased to speak to so many  Brides that share my love for pure and unadulterated Black & White photography.  Presented in traditional bevel cut album mounts  – it is so classical.  The power of the medium is huge but saying that I feel it is important to include a balance of colour within reportage wedding photography to record the all too important colour schemes & details that often take so much time in sourcing and arranging for a wedding.

Many couples took us up on our free to enter competition to win their wedding photography – more details here.

I am looking forward to speaking to many of the interested couples again over the next few weeks and arranging booking their Pre-Wedding Photo shoots.

Looking forward to next weekend will see us again exhibiting at another castle – this time Portland Castle Wedding Fair on 6th March.  If you are still undecided on what Wedding Photography coverage you are looking for, why not pop along and have a chat ?  I would love to talk through what I offer and how I can be of service.