Kim + Mike // Wedding Photography
Here’s a selection of photographs from Kim and Mike’s wedding held at the Thistle Hotel, in St Helens Merseyside. If you’re on Facebook, we’d love you to like our page
The Blog - Life as a Wedding Cinematographer
Chris + Kelly Jo // ..all I ever wanted from life
Chris and Kelly’s very emotional wedding at the rather grand Abbey House Hotel, in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
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I knew from very early on that Chris and Kelly’s wedding would be a very emotional affair and I really wanted to put this across through their film….I remember speaking to Chris and his Dad on the evening of their wedding about how I would decide on a style to base the film. Read more →
Amanda + Jamie // Polka Dots and Pink
A Beautiful Country Barn Wedding Video in Lancashire.
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Normally it’s a bride-to-be or on the odd occasion a husband-to-be who contacts me to discuss their wedding videography. On this occasion however it was Jamie’s (our groom) Mum who first gave me a call. I still to this day call her my biggest fan as I haven’t yet spoken to anyone as excited and as complimentary as she was!
Jackie + Rob // Vintage Inspired Wedding Video
Ladies and gentlemen I give you Jackie and Rob’s vintage inspired wedding video teaser.
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Kim + Mike // Pre Wedding Photography
Good Afternoon my lovelies. Let me introduce the awesome Kim and Mike. In about two weeks time I shall be forgetting my usual wedding films for the day and will become an actual wedding photographer. Now don’t panic, I have done this before on many an occasion and have decided to return to my roots just for a week or two to embrace what was my first career in the wedding industry. Now, just so I could convince myself that I still know how to take a photograph I decided that I should meet the happy couple and take a few pre-wedding snaps. We met at the actual wedding venue and my aim was simple – to produce a set of photographs in which no one should really be able to recognise where the venue is. For this reason we spent most of the session, finding interesting sheds, porta-cabins and hiding in bushes whilst avoiding strange looks from the hotel guests. Anyways, I’m now happy that I can still take a photo and should be good to rock n roll in a fortnight for the big day.
My feature in Pure Weddings Magazine
Just thought I post a few sneaky pictures of my recent feature in Pure weddings Magazine. I’d completely forgot about submitting the info for this until we were walking through Tesco and I noticed the magazine on a shelf. The rest of the shopping trip was completed with a rather large grin on my face!! Anyway, if you can grab a copy, check it out. There’s quite a lot of information about the latest video trends for weddings, plus theres a few stills from my films in there too.
Gemma + Rob // Pre Wedding Photographs
Just a few snaps from my recent pre-wedding meeting with Gemma and Rob at Thurstaston Beach over in the Wirral a few weeks back. Hope you like them. If you do, then click ‘like’ Ta
x
Trish + Rich // Linthwaite House Hotel Pre Wedding Photos
Trish and Rich agreed to meet myself and Wedding Photography genius Karli Harrison at their gorgeous wedding venue – The Linthwaite House Hotel in the Lake District. The plan was to talk about the details of the wedding video and photography that we’ll be carrying out in June for them, however we ended up strolling around the grounds to take a few pre-wedding photos.
Erin + Mark // The rope that binds us / Dalston Hall Lake District Wedding Video
The day of erin and marks w-day was the kind that you dream about as a wedding videographer / photographer. Perfect grounds, perfect weather, perfect people. Lake District weather around March is usually that of the rainy and windy kind. Today however, was somewhat different with a hazy wave of sunshine sweeping across the beautiful Dalston hall hotel.
When we arrived at Dalston Hall, we were introduced to Jenny & Keith, Erin and Mark’s wedding photographers for the day. This is always a slightly apprehensive moment for me as for most of the day you will be working closely together, often using the same equipment in the same environment and the importance of ‘getting on’ and sharing ideas, is in my humble opinion an absolute must. Jenny & Keith were awesome from the moment we met them. I need not blab about how ace their photography is – you can see this yourself by checking out http://www.mcavoyweddings.co.uk/ but for me, more importantly they were completely fantastic people. From the off they were helpful, full of ideas and were completely willing to work as a team with us for the remainder of the day. Thanks a million guys for making the day even more special.
After capturing a few moments from both Erin and Marks preparations we headed outside were clusters of guests sat around tables enjoying beers, the beautiful grounds and listening to the music that filtered outside from the ceremony room.
It really was the perfect day for a wedding.
Erin and Mark’s ceremony was a simple and beautiful affair. Tears, laughter and walking down the aisle to ‘should I stay or should i go?’ by The Clash made the whole thing just gorgeous.
After a delightful thirty minutes strolling through the grounds with the newlyweds it was time for speeches. Again, tears were shed, and laughter filled the air. Erin’s Dad, rather poignantly toasted the future whilst Mark, made a heartfelt thank you to Meg the Cat. It was left to the Best Man to wonder what first attracted Erin to Mark, complete with items of Marks, funky 90‘s clothing.
The evening ended with a superb firework display followed by bacon sandwiches and one last cheeky beer with the happy couple. I even discovered that despite now living over 100 miles from each other, i actually grew up just half a mile from Erin.
I need to thank once again the super talented Karli Harrisson for her help with this project. Not only did you capture some awesome shots and invent the ’mono-slider’ but also provided transport and much needed iced coffee.
Enjoy
x
Emma + Matteo // Save the Date Wedding Video
An hour with Emma and Matteo….
Quite simply I love these guys. Not only are they the most gorgeous couple ever but they are also whisking me off for a week in Italy in July to film and photograph their fab wedding celebrations. As a kind of mini thank you, I asked them to join me for an hour one afternoon last week to make a short Save the Date / E-vite / Pre-Wedding Film. We didn’t have a lot of time, but had a great time drinking coffee and running like children along the beach. What more do you need?
Megan + Chris // Same Day Edit Wedding Video Isla Gladstone Liverpool
It’s becoming a regular habit now that following a wedding, I return home, crack open a beer or four and attempt to pen my thoughts for the day. I can’t quite explain why this is and wonder if any other sane person in this universe would ever consider working an eighteen hour day and then returning home to want to do nothing more than write about it.
Tom + Julia // the longer, sensible film // Inglewood Manor Wedding Videography
(Too Jumpy? Turn off the HD if you need to)
Here’s Tom + Julia’s medium format wedding film from Inglewood Manor on 12 Feb 2012.
Wedding Videography // A sepia tainted legacy
If you would have asked me a few years ago, would I ever consider filming a wedding? I would have laughed out loud. In fact, some people did ask, and I did indeed laugh. The thoughts of it were horrifying. Not because of the challenge or the technical aspect, but purely because my own pre-conceived ideas of wedding videos were that they were just pure tat. This changed somewhat when I discovered the results that a handful of new wave UK film makers were producing, not with camcorders, but with professional photography cameras switched to video mode. The ability to change lenses and to control depth of field meant that a truly cinematic look could be achieved without the million dollar price tag. The moment Canon added video functionality to their photography cameras was a moment that changed everything. The wedding video world would no longer be limited to the flat one dimensional videos that had been around for the previous three decades. With the ability to create visually stunning footage that wouldn’t look out of place in Hollywood, the possibilities would seem endless and the wedding industry could now prepare itself for an explosion of fresh talent, providing brides with their own cinematic masterpieces. However, three years on, I find that the internet is still full of wedding videographers that appear to have two feet firmly fixed in the eighties, weighed down by a giant camcorder permanently fixed to their shoulder.
Tom + Julia // whos wedding?….. Inglewood Manor Wedding Video Cheshire
(jumpy video? – turn off the HD)
It’s no secret that I was a little excited about Tom and Jules wedding in the 12 months since we first made contact. Julia’s request for a completely black and white old school rock n roll video with a pretty awesome song inspired me no end. My clients normally offer me the traditional, tea or coffee when we first meet. In Tom’s case my beverage offerings were a rather fine selection of real ales. I opted for a bishop’s finger and we spent the next few hours discussing wedding videos and guitars. It was ace, and I knew immediately that the day would be equally as awesome.
Some kind words….
Really wanted to share with everyone the most amazing comments that my clients from last year left for me. Click on the image above of the lovely Karen to see the kinds words that everyone had to say.
The 2012 Wedding Industry Awards – A Hazy Recollection of Events……
This is very strange. In fact, this whole thing is very, very strange. I don’t really know what to say and to be quite honest I’m only penning this summary of the last 48 hrs events because I am a little tipsy and feel that my creative literary juices may be able to flow just ever so more freely as a result.
Basically, I have just won quite a big award for what I do (filming weddings), and have been recognised by a panel of industry experts as the best in my particular field in the whole entire land (well England at least). Over 2200 suppliers entered the awards and through each stage of the voting – from regional shortlist, regional winner and now national champion, I have remained victorious and here I stand with a most splendid trophy and a slightly embarrassed (although mega chuffed inside) look on my face.
2011 – a reflection
Wow, I guess that was 2011 then! A complete rip-roaring, roller coaster ride of a year. I always get quite reflective at this time of year and find it quite cathartic to simply sit down and just type a few words about the journey made over the last 12 months. On a business level, I started 2011 with just one wedding film under my belt and a whole load of ideas. It ended, 30 amazing weddings later with me being recognised as the best wedding videographer in the North West and one of the top six shortlisted film businesses for the national wedding industry awards in London next year. I feel like I’ve learned so much this last 12 months. Not just about my trade, but about weddings in general. I suppose if you attend a wedding every week, you’re gonna pick up a few ideas on what works and what doesn’t.
Lara + Adam (+Holly) // Save the Date Wedding Video
A few weeks ago, we were just about to get into the car to go on a short family holiday when my inbox suddenly pinged as it normally does about fifty million times a day (well quite a lot, anyway). Normally, I would of dealt with whoever was trying to get in touch on my return, however this time I noticed the words ‘vintage’, ‘barn wedding’, and ‘giant Jenga’ in the enquiry. Read more →
Lisa + Kevin // Medium Format
This is Lisa and Kevin’s longer wedding film. We used a more classic film score which slowed the pace down and allowed us to use a lot more of the audio from the speeches.
Lisa + Kevin // just walk beside me // Hilton Liverpool Wedding Video
Very short highlights film from Lisa and Kevin’s wedding at the Liverpool Hilton.
Fancy previewing your Wedding Film in a real Cinema?
We’ve had this idea for a while now but at last we’ve teamed up with some local independent cinemas to put the whole thing into practice. Once we’ve finished the production of your wedding film, rather than bring it to your home or post it online, you now have the option to have a one night only private screening of your beautiful day. You can choose to watch it alone, or even make a night of it, inviting friends and family along to experience the event.
Interested? Just get in touch and we can tell you all about it.
Jo + Barry // A Wedding Shindig in Neon // Close House Wedding
Today was a beautiful affair at complete opposite ends of the wedding spectrum. A really beautiful church situated in an idyllic village, complete with vicar of Diblay style choir singing ‘here’s to you Mrs Robinson’, Ice creams at the ready for guests to devour in the glorious sunshine, and a vintage London Wayfarer to sweep everyone of to the reception. Read more →
Helen + Steven \\ Hillbark Hotel Cheshire Wedding Video
Helen and Steve called me only a few months ago to discuss their wedding videography requirements. As Helen told me that she had cried like a baby watching my other wedding films, this now became my main aim when making their trailer. I think I may have succeeded. Read more →
Laura + Antony // Ten Storey Love Song // Crowne Plaza Liverpool Wedding Videography
Within the first 10 minutes of meeting Laura and Anthony, they told me that they had ‘already decided on the music’ they wanted to accompany their wedding trailer. Initially my heart sank, as usually this sentence is followed by words that strike fear into my sole - Celine Dion, or Take That. This in turn normally results in me sitting with an awkward look on my face as I try to convince them to change their mind. This time however I was delighted. I grew up listening to the band and the chance to do something different was really quite inspiring.
The day itself was super. Speke Airport (of Beatles arriving back into the UK to thousands of screaming girls fame) was a cool venue that offered us the chance to film alongside some big swanky aeroplanes. However, as most couples (including another couple on the day) chose to pose alongside the new shiny planes at the front of the building, Laura and Antony allowed us to be creative, and shoot with the battered old burned out jet that lay on the hotel’s disused runway. The only downside was time limitations. We had just 10 minutes light left before it went dark. The opportunity was amazing though and I always love a wedding film that features something different.
Thanks a million guys for allowing us some creative freedom (and for choosing a cool song) xx
P
Jenna + Lee \\ Suites Hotel Wedding Video Liverpool
Lee and Jenna were married at All Hallows Church in Allerton, Liverpool with their reception held at the Suites Hotel in Knowsley.
We had an amazingly fab day making this wedding video with the sun shining throughout.
As a wedding videographer, It’s not often that the bride and groom approach you before the wedding with the song and theme that they want to accompany their wedding video all ready and organised. This time however….. Read more →
Laura + Chris \\ Thornton Manor Wedding Video Cheshire
It’s not that often that you get to create a video for a wedding that just seems to tick every single box. A wedding that combines classic and modern, and really has the bride and grooms stamp on it. Well this one did.
After driving through Cheshire, down to Thornton Manor to capture Laura’s preparations the atmosphere was one of the most relaxed i’ve ever encountered as a wedding videographer. Whilst Laura and the bridal party listened to music and ate cupcakes, Chris was out enjoying a round of golf with the boys. Perfect. Read more →
Sample Guest Messages // would you rather fight 10 duck sized horses or 1 horse sized duck?
Just a little taster of what can happen when you ask your guests to leave the bride and groom a message.
Sally + Chris \\ Hard Days Night Hotel Wedding Video Liverpool
Wow!! What more can I say about this wedding. A proper Liverpool wedding, just without the scousers!! Sally and Chris used two of Liverpool’s best wedding venues for their big day. I’ve made wedding videos at the Isla Gladstone Conservatory a few times before but had never worked at the amazing Beatles themed Hard Days Night Hotel before. The place really lived up to its reputation and is a dream for any wedding videographer. The bright open space that the Isla Gladstone provides almost gives the impression that you’re outside. Again, perfect conditions for a wedding video. Read more →
Kath + Amanda \ Civil Partnership Video
I’ve photographed quite a few civil ceremonies before but this was my first time making a civil partnership video. It was also my first time working as a wedding videographer at Kilhley Court. What’s going to be different I thought? Two people stood at the front exchanging vows and rings. Everything should be exactly the same. Apart from trying to find someone to clip a radio mic and transmitter to. Needless to say, both Kath and Amanda declined to clip the transmitter to the backs of their lovely dresses. Maybe I could bling it up for my civil partnership video? Maybe not!!! Read more →
Tamsyn + Ade \\ Wedding Video Northop Hall Cheshire
Tam and Ade invited to their home in Hoylake on the Wirral to discuss their wedding video and photography requirements just a few weeks before their wedding. The wedding was to take place at Northop Hall, a beautiful country house situated between North Wales and Chester. After a cold beer and a good chat about their options, we decided that despite original reservations about old fashioned wedding videos, a modern wedding film was the way forward. Read more →
Lucie + Dan // Wedding Video Port Sunlight
Lucie and Dan originally invited me to their home in Port Sunlight to discuss wedding photography. As I hadn’t filmed a wedding for a month or so, I was keen to convince them that wedding cinema was the way forward and would enable them to get both their photos and wedding video for the one price. My arm twisting paid off and on the day before the wedding we agreed to go for the wedding film option. Read more →