Tonight Matthew I'm Going to Be... Twiggy!

Hello there!

Long time, no blog post so lots to tell you about!

The wedding plans for myself and Mr Sam are coming along nicely and we're even hoping to invite some people in the near future. Andy and I spent a lovely few days in Prague, having lots of meetings, so it feels like it's really happening now. Andy did have a bit of a "moment" when trying on wedding rings but he didn't actually pass out and I think he's got over it now...

















Other than that it's been a pretty busy time here. At this time of year I tend to take on a bit more commercial and generally non-wedding type photography. I thought it might be fun to share what I was up to yesterday so here are a couple of shots I did for the wonderful make-up artist Rachel Liney. She is producing a new portfolio of work, showing classic looks made famous by celebrities. Yesterday we started with a great model, Celia, who became Twiggy for the day. It was so much fun and I can't wait to see what Rachel's got up her sleeve next.


However, I'm still loving the weddings! Wedding-wise the year started with Donna and Martin's beautiful winter wedding at the brand new Stubton Hall, Newark. And what a great way to start the year it was too! The Hall provided a gorgeous backdrop for their ceremony, with a wonderful view of the grounds. Donna has a great sense of style, which meant that everything (including Donna herself) looked perfect.

Even though there aren't too many weddings to shoot at this time of year, I still have lots to keep me busy. Wedding albums are now arriving daily and it's so lovely to see the finished article (although I don't really like parting with them!) I've also been meeting with a few of the couples that are getting married later this year. All have braved the cold for some very wintry pre-wedding shoots and all have been brilliant. I am now so excited about the images we'll be creating on their wedding days.

See you soon!

S
x

Milans Commercial Shoot

Hello again,

Just thought I'd give you a break from weddings and wedding photography and share with you one of our favourite commercial jobs. We work with a wonderful company from Leicester called "Milans" who, amongst other things, supply the most beautiful scarves and pashminas to stores like John Lewis.

Yesterday was the shoot for Milans' Spring and Summer 2010 catalogue and I was lucky enough to be joined by fab photographer and friend of PureLight, Paul Saxby. Usually I shoot these jobs with Glen but when he wasn't available, Paul very kindly stepped in. Working with other photographers is such a great way to grow and develop new ideas and is always good fun too! I've never worked with Paul before and it was such a pleasure to bounce ideas around together and his creativity and skill really added something special to the shoot.

Milans are great to work with as their products are just gorgeous and they have a favourite model, Sara, who is so brilliant, we always know we're going to get some great shots.

Completing the team for these jobs is Jane from Yellow Duck Creative, a graphic designer based in Melton Mowbray. Again, this is someone I'd never worked with before and, as you'll see, she's done a fantastic job.

Calling All Musketeers!

Hello!

Well it's now February (and f-f-f-freezing). If you're anything like me that steely determination to become a paragon of fitness and virtue has seeped away. Never fear, help is at hand, with a unique way to keep fit whilst learning how to be the next C'pn Jack Sparrow.

A couple of years ago myself and Andrew (him indoors) decided we wanted to learn something new and do "something" vaguely sporting. We found a fencing club in Nottingham. We'd started out looking for dance classes, well I did, hoping to turn Andrew into the next Anton du Beck, but Andrew had different ideas and thought that attacking each other with swords was much more our style. It turns out he was right. Since then Andrew has started our very own club, right here in Newark on the Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire border. And now we're recruiting a brand new team of budding musketeers to join us in our new beginners' course.

Fencing is immense fun, and surprisingly hard work! It also looks pretty cool, which always helps! And it's a great way for couples to let off steam together. There's nothing like a sword fight to restore domestic harmony.

The Newark Advertiser has run a feature on the club, which you can find here

So what are you waiting for? We're taking new members up until 10th February and you can find more details here: www.fernwoodswordclub.co.uk or email us at fernwoodswordclub@hotmail.com

Sam
x

Wedding Shows

I hope you've all had a good week. We've still been quite busy - finalising pictures for some weddings we did just before Christmas, sorting out albums, reviewing our marketing plans for the year and getting the photobooth section live on our site - and for those in the know then you will appreciate anything related to websites consumes time big style.

It is that time of year for wedding shows and we have several lined up. So if you're around then feel free to call in and say hi.

We have an Asian show tomorrow (Sunday) in Leicester - www.shagunexhibitions.com.

We are attending two shows next Sunday (25th January) - one is at the Priest House Hotel, Castle Donington, and the other will be at the Village Hotel, Nottingham.

On Sunday 8th February we will be at Goosedale Hall - north of Nottingham.

On Sunday 1st March we will be at Prestwold Hall, Leicestershire.

On Sunday 29th March we will again be at two shows, one at Hodsock Priory and the other at Stamford Hall, Leicestershire.

On Sunday 5th April we will be at Stoke Rochford Hall.

I'm looking forward to all that Asian food tomorrow - although my wife is never that impressed when I come home...I wonder why?!

Hope you have a good week.

Photobooth by PureLight - is here....

I've created a section for Photobooth on our site - why not have a look. The pictures are really fun.
Glen

StumbleUpon

If you see the above sign on a page within our website and you really like it then just click the button and your selection will be registered on StumbledUpon. Neat, eh!

Ps - for those unsure or unaware, StumbleUpon is a site that enables people to select their favourite websites and find popular websites based on how many people have rated them. Think of it like a Top of the Pops for websites - the more people rate a particular site then the more it shows in searches, and so the more people get to see it. You have to sign up but it is free and hey you might find it useful too.

What's Happening at No. 16

Those of you familiar with Newark may have noticed a lot going on at No. 16 Castlegate. This fantastic (and huge) Georgian building, next to Cafe Bleu, has been a hive of activity for some weeks now and we've been lucky enough to play a very small part.

A few months ago I first met Celia and Dean of Public Hair in Southwell. Having built up an enviable reputation as one of the area's leading salons, demand for their services is now huge. Their answer is to transform a fabulous but sadly neglected Newark landmark into a retreat for mind and body and a place to be truly pampered. Public Hair and Spa will offer the very best in Aveda facial and body treatments as well as world class hairdressing.

The work being undertaken to create this oasis of relaxation is on a massive scale and the final result will be truly breathtaking.

You can follow their progress at www.whatshappeningat16.co.uk . In the meantime, here are a few of the shots we took for the website, to create a little excitement about what's happening.