Rachel and Chris at Cooling Castle Barn

Cooling Castle Barn

I finally made it to Cooling Castle Barn, this is a very popular venue owned by Jools Holland and is located in Rochester, Kent.

Because of it’s location Cooling Castle Barn is remote but accessible from all sides. Rachel and Chris were married last October the 20th and as you can see from the image above, we had some lovely low sun because of the time of year!

The Bridal Suite at Cooling Castle Barn

Because of the number of weddings that take place at Cooling Castle it’s highly geared up for them. Not in the conveyor belt sense but in their smooth running.

There are distinct areas, the large garden, the hotel rooms, bar, ceremony area, reception room and dining area are all well defined.

It was also nice to have everyone getting ready in the same place too as I lose shooting time when travelling between locations and whilst getting shots of the boys in prep don’t take up many frames it was still nice to do.

A lovely day at a great venue!

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Rachel and Chris at Cooling Castle Barn

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Rachel and Chris at Cooling Castle Barn

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Cooling Castle Barn Wedding Photography

Hedingham Castle Wedding Photography - Sarah and Darren

Hedingham Castle Wedding – Sarah and Darren

I had 5 weddings in December last year, 5 of them. This month seems to be the new April in the wedding world!

I met Sarah an Darren almost a year before their wedding day, in the spring of 2011. We had a little shoot on the grounds of Castle Hedingham and got a good feel for the day to come.

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Hedingham Castle and the house are situated very close to each other with lots of space in both. It’s nice when a venue is away from the main drag, it’s nice and private. On this occasion myself and Laura stayed the night before in case of snow, which we got, but not until the morning.

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The ceremony itself was candlelit, the drinks reception and dinner were held in the house but the evening reception and party was held in the main marquee….which is huge.

The only drawback on the day was the absence of light. At this time of year twilight is at 4pm and with the ceremony being at 3pm I had to really think on my feet and push the limits of my camera as I was shooting in almost total darkness. But, I knew this and was prepared.

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Overall, Hedingham Castle is a great venue but more importantly, Sarah and Darren were a great couple (and still are). It was a lovely day for all involved and I look forward to being there again.

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Hedingham Castle

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Shot in almost complete darkness

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Hedingham Castle Wedding Photography

Kate and Andy

Kate and Andy’s Wedding at the Rickety Barn, Bassmead Manor

September the 17th last year was the wonderful wedding of Kate and Andy in Cambridge.

This was an all day event for me, starting at the home of Kates parents and then moving onto The Registry office in Ely (The Old School House in Market Street).

When Kate and Andy booked me it was due to a referral from the wedding photographer Chris Geary who was already booked on that day (thanks Chris).

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Another thing, when they booked me Kate wasn’t pregnant so I received the good news a few months prior to the wedding.

Because of this Kate wore flat shoes and she said they might not be worth using for photos as they were a bit boring,…. sure thing…..

.... not so boring now.

The weather on the day was really changeable, that sunny but ‘could really chuck it down any time’ sort of weather!

And it did, boy did it really throw it down! It had the best timing though. It rained heavily at the registry office and stopped during the service, the sun came out and lasted until an hour or so after arriving at the Rickety Barn in Bassmead.

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Due to the weather we had a double and triple rainbow appear. (ref: Double Rainbow Dude)

After the fun and games in the grounds we went in to the reception itself. The Rickety Barn doesn’t look very big but it is. The actual Barn itself is used for drinks and dancing but sewn onto the back of it is a massive marquee.

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I’m not exaggerating, it’s an awesome venue. Everywhere you go there’s a nice spot to either have privacy or be part of the group. It’s big enough to fit everyone in and small enough to feel cosy. It’s also in the middly of nowhere, I couldn’t hear any cars, just wildlife and as far as the eye can see….. fields, sky and trees.

I’d get married here.

Kate has since given birth to a beautiful baby girl named Orla Sky, ace.

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Possibly my favourite Wedding Bouquet of last year

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I liked a lot of the nice touches at Kate and Andy's wedding

The bar was an open one so everyone had the option of name tags for their glasses. Cool idea.

Note to grooms... if your best man gives you the above look, you're in trouble.

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'...and then I said to him, give me back my toy car or I'll use the other hand to...'

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I didn't know what this was but I want one.

I never realised the the Cambridge area was so flat. (I'm not used to it down here)

The Ricketty Barn Bassmead, a wonky image of a wonky barn!

This is the coolest way to deal with couples who have a two foot height difference.

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Wedding Photography Cambridge

Awesome

Bailiffscourt Hotel Wedding Photography – Jennifer and Hayden

It’s always with trepidation that I start the year. You have no idea what it will bring and you never know who you’ll meet but if Jeniffer and Hayden’s wedding is anything to go by it’s going to be amazing.

They were married at St Mary the Virgin in Climping in the first week of January. It was cold. Winter wedding photography always has a certain set of things to deal with but the wind wasn’t up and the sun was out and this really took the edge off things!

Oh no! It's the Rev!

After the ceremony and confetti we took some shots by the church and then on the way to Bailiffscourt Hotel we stopped for some shots at Climping beach (this is a gem of an idea), got heckled by a truck driver (nice heckle) and then off we went to Bailiffscourt for the reception.

I liked this venue, it really works. The sun went down early and we couldn’t get all the shots around the grounds as it was too dark but we already had so many on the way there that nothing was missed.

Jen and Hayden themselves are a lovely couple too and really really easy to work with so it isn’t just Bailiffscourt that gets the recommendation!

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In the evening we used inside Bailiffscourt for photos, the Bridal Suite has two massive roll top baths stuck together which they both got into and an underground tunnel along with the fairy lights outside the main entrance.

If you go looking there’s a lot of opportunities for photos there. They were such a lovely couple and it was an awesome day.

Bailiffscourt Hotel Wedding Photography

Run!

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Ballifscourt Hotel Wedding Photography

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Bailiffscourt Hotel Weding Photography

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Bailiffscourt Hotel Wedding Photography

Bailiffscourt Hotel Wedding Photography

Gerry Wicks

I’ve merged Booheads Headshot Photography with CGP

Part of being a photographer means you have to not only take and deliver great images but you also have to promote yourself in ways that get you noticed.

One of the things I do to accomplish this is Blog. For those that know me quite well you’ll be aware that whilst the core of my business is with Wedding Photography, the more leisurely side is with my Actors Headshot Photography site ‘Booheads’ ( www.booheads.co.uk ).

Trouble is, 2011 didn’t just take off…. it went parabolic and because I give priority to taking and delivering client images over blogging both Booheads and this blog began to suffer a lack of content. Not only that but with portrait photography there is only so much you can really talk about!

So, I’m merging the Booheads Headshot Photography blog with this one. It’ll be easier to manage, more up to date and fluid.

Gerry Wicks

Hannah Scarlett

Hannah Scarlett

Headshot Photography - Hannah Scarlett

Jack Jacey

Jack Jacey

Headshot Photography - Jack Jacey

Coltsford Mill Wedding Photography - Andy and Jess

Coltsford Mill Wedding Photography – Andy and Jess

I was at Coltsford Mill for Andy and Jess’s wedding last year. This is a very, very good venue to hold a wedding. The Barn, located in Oxted, Surrey, is made up of the Watermill Barn, Mill Cottage, Mill Room and of course the gardens.

Often with wedding venues you find they are either too large or two small but at Coltsford Mill everything is in proportion. The Watermill Barn, which holds the wedding breakfast and dance area is perfect for photography. Being higher off the ground the sun shines through the copious amounts of glass there illuminating the room.

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The staff are also incredibly friendly, well organised and helpful at all times and the food on the day was lovely as well.

Outdoors there is a large heated patio area and the gardens have plenty of variety for photographs. I did find myself standing in some bushes for a group shot though and a couple of the guests have a few funny photos of me poking out from behind some foliage!

Coltsford Mill is a great venue, one which ticks many boxes and I fully endorse them as somewhere to consider when looking at wedding venues.

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Coltsford Mill Wedding Photography

Coltsford Mill Wedding Photography

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Coltsford Mill Wedding Photography

Shoreditch House Wedding Photography - Claire and Jeff

Shoreditch House Wedding Photography

This was my first time at Shoreditch House in London and I was there to cover the wedding of Claire and Jeff from LA.

Most of my enquiries come from the UK but Jeff is a Columnist, Journalist and Author based in Los Angeles so it was great to know my work has that kind of reach!

The date of the wedding was the 30th of December, early in the evening. It was challenging to work so late in the dark but Shoreditch House is of a decent size which helps things greatly.

For weddings Shoreditch House is split into two rooms. The Biscuit Pin and Biscuit Tin. The former being a two lane bowling alley with a bar attached and the latter being the main area for the ceremony, dinner, speeches and dancing. This also has a large bar inside.

Lots of shoes in the Bowling Alley (but which never seem to get worn)

Shoreditch House Wedding Photography – What I missed

There is hidden value in the surroundings of Shoreditch House. You’ll find a wealth of artistic Graffiti on the outside of the building and up the street… it’s everywhere.

It’s a shame that due to my start time I couldn’t take advantage of this as it would of made a great set of images.

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Shoreditch House Wedding Photography – As a venue

Shoreditch House is a great venue, they even have a pool on the roof with a view of the London Skyline (members only). It’s very chic and oozes class. When I was there is was really well run, everyone was attentive and polite and really made an effort with the guests. There is parking all around. The Europarks next to the Texaco garage is your best bet and nearest place. For those that want to see a map, the Shoreditch House postcode is E1 6AW.

The decor inside is lovely and very complimentary, both in the Biscuit Tin and Biscuit Pin. This makes for great Wedding Photography at Shoreditch House.

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Shoreditch House Wedding Photography

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Shoreditch House Wedding Photography

The Photo Booth Strikes Again

The return of the Photo Booth,

Well it’s back, kicking and screaming from the darkest depths of the studio after a few winter months. THE photo booth as I like to call it. Although, more of a portable studio in it’s truest form (because it takes up some space).

This time it was for the Chilston Hotel’s staff Christmas bash last Sunday. For those working in the hospitality trade Christmas is a no go for parties and they usually get put forward to January instead.

Photo Booth Bookings

I get asked about the booth a lot and usually for weekends but unfortunately I’m usually covering weddings at those times. But, I can supply wedding photography and the photo booth as a package.

This particular booth needs a floor area of 3×3 metres and the resulting images are professional looking, high resolution and studio quality which can be printed up to A3 in size.

I cannot unfortunately do prints on the day but it’s one less thing to carry around!

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Lauren and Peter

Stanmer House Wedding Photography – Lauren and Peter

Stanmer House has a particular attachment to me as  I live literally two minutes away from it and am often there with my dog Harvey chasing birds in Stanmer Park (him, not me).

So, it was lovely to be there for Lauren and Peter’s wedding at the beginning of June. This lovely couple who had known each other since school had an amazing day from start to finish.

The inside of Stanmer House has a very grand and spacious reception area to welcome guests awaiting the bride and grooms arrival which spills into another smaller waiting room and again into a bar area.

There’s adequate seating everywhere for those that want to take the weight off their feet and as with every Stanmer House Wedding the doors are closed to the public to avoid anyone wandering in.

There was a lot of love (and nerves) at this wedding

Stanmer House Wedding – The Ceremony area and Marquee

All of the lower floor rooms have very high ceilings, the ceremony area has an old oak wooden floor with 4 strong pillars at the end of it with lots of light coming in from one side. Thanks to the high ceiling it turns into very even light so no flash was necessary.

Some dramatic settings created the uniqueness for this Stanmer House Wedding

After the ceremony Lauren and Peter went off for a drive around Stanmer Park before returning for confetti and drinks in the large garden around the back.

The wedding breakfast and evening reception was inside the spacious marquee (of which the sides open up for access to the garden).

Inside the marquee there is a permenant bar and at the other end space for a disco setup and / or band. At this Stanmer House Wedding Lauren and Peter had both and they fitted together perfectly.

Yay!

Stanmer House Wedding – Other bits and pieces

As with every wedding, there are certain things that happened which made this wedding their own. There were tears, laughter, fear……

Run for your life!

…. a standup comedian, a horses head mask etc.

The disco was also very good, Lauren and Peter chose Beach Entertainments LINK who I’ve worked with before…they have the biggest glitter ball you’ve ever seen, are always genuinely happy to be around and use really powerful lighting to colour the dancefloor.

It was great working so close to home, for such a wonderful couple who I now consider friends on such a special day. Congratulations Peter and Lauren!

If you would like to see a larger collection of this Stanmer Park Wedding click the LINK

Just as the sun set.....

Laurens Bouquet

Grittenham Barn has some really cool (and useful) Fairy Lights on the Walls

Grittenham Barn

So, here we have one lovely Barn, Grittenham Barn in Tillington.

This was the venue for Jody and Michaels Wedding. There were so many nice touches I don’t truthfully know where to start but there was a blue wedding cake, a sweet table and cake tier all full of pastely goodness, baubles as name holders, mini bottles of Glenfiddich, sweet dispensers, paper bags with lights in, a cocktail bar, a magician, Frank Sinatra impersonator and a live band to name most but not all.

Some lovely shoes for the day

Jodie's Wedding Dress

So I started the day at High Hampstead which is five minutes away from Grittenham Barn and is a Cottage that can be rented out. Jody wasn’t from ’round these ere’ parts’ so it was convenient to place herself there the night before.

The wedding car was a lovely Vintage light Metallic Blue Jaguar….simply gorgeous. We then all headed off to the Barn for the Wedding itself.

The Wedding Car was a beautiful Blue Vintage Jaguar

Grittenham Barn – The Wedding

There was a bit of a sad background to this wedding. Michael was serving in Afghanistan and stepped on an IED about 9 months ago and as a consequence lost both his legs.

He vowed to walk down the aisle on his wedding day and he did so.

The ceremony area in Grittenham Barn

The inside of Grittenham Barn is lovely to work in. There’s lots of light and in the ceremony area itself the fairy lights on the walls balanced things out nicely.

After the ceremony we went into the wedding breakfast, speeches and the evening reception.

Michael and Jody

Jody with her Dad

Grittenham Barn  – As a Wedding Venue

Grittenham Barn is up there as one of the greatest barns I’ve worked in. Whether that was because of the various suppliers there, the guests, the entertainment or the way it was run I don’t know. Everything just seemed to ‘come together’ really well. Even as the sun was setting the lighting inside the barn increased to compensate!

A Blue Wedding Cake .... oooooooh

The Top Table

If you are thinking of taking on a barn for your wedding venue this is a very good choice. Just nice touches everywhere before you’ve even put a stamp on it.

Bunting at Grittenham Barn

The Cessnas played some live sets in the evening at Grittenham Barn