Last week I had the pleasure of photographing baby Elsa and her parents Helen and Ben, who are NCT friends and have been going through the same new baby journey as Jamie and I. Baby Elsa was a treat to photograph and here are a few of my favourite images from her session:

little Lara is 2 weeks old now and I can’t believe how quickly time has gone! I seem to spend my days feeding Lara, eating (who knew Thorntons did such amazing chocolate cookies as well as chocolate?!) , drinking buckets of tea, sleeping, taking the dog out for the odd walk, sitting in the garden and that’s about it! The simplicity of it all (not rushing about like I normally do!) is quite refreshing.

I have had my camera at the ready to capture lots of little moments since she was born, but I also wanted to do a proper shoot in the studio. It’s obviously not every day a photographer gets to do a newborn shoot for her own baby and, after photographing so many gorgeous babies for my clients, I was really excited about doing a shoot with Lara and Jamie. Last week we had a spare hour and spent some time in the studio taking a few pics. As with my maternity shoot, it was tricky not being able to see the shots involving me in the camera, but Jamie did a great job and I was really pleased with them. I love the ones with her (already!) totally doting daddy!

here are a few favourites:

Here are a few favourites:

Cue a tripod, a timer set up to my lights and Jamie on hand to help and we got snapping! Normally, I am really aware of tiny differences in the way that people stand, an expression, or the way their hands look that make a picture work – but as I couldn’t see what I was doing it took quite a while and quite a bit of laughter to get what I wanted! I thought I would share a few:

Jan was upstairs getting ready with some of her girlfriends, who were all wearing tiaras from her hen do! The getting ready time before a wedding is always so special and particularly nice to share it with some girly friends and of course a glass of Champagne or two! Janet’s dress was a really stunning asymatrical gown with a gorgeous bow and she looked amazing in it. Her little flower girl Darcey also looked very cute in her little dress and she looked like she was enjoying playing with her fairy wand!

Downstairs, guests were enjoying a drink next to the crackling fire – very welcome at this time of year! Steve was checking the rings, getting sorted with his button hole and chatting to his sons Joe and Ru.

Everyone took their seats for the ceremony and little Darcey made her entrance followed by Jan. Both Jan and Steve looked very happy throughout the ceremony – particularly during one of Steve’s best mate Rick’s reading, which he said was his first forray into public speaking and had everyone laughing!

Afterwards, as it was getting dark quite quickly, we did some pictures outside – despite it being December there was a beautiful red rose in flower which looked lovely against the snow. We then came back in to enjoy the fire and the lovely atmosphere with the Christmas tree and all the decorations.

Here are a few of my favourite images:

It was a crisp bright morning and looked almost like a Monet painting as I drove over to Lindors Country House, set up on the hill above Llandogo village and a really stunning setting for a wedding. I thought the house itself looked a bit like it was made out of gingerbread with the white edges to the roof!

Rani and bridesmaids Claudia and Amber were getting ready with Rani’s friend Kate. It was all go with hairdrying and make up and we were soon joined by Rani’s mum Elaine who decided to get back into bed after a while!

I then headed down to Llandogo to meet James and the boys. The light in the valley was just lovely and I was admiring the views when the bright red London bus Rani and James had organised for guests turned up to drop everyone off.

The vicar was great and pretty much let me shoot what I wanted to during the service which was so nice and made for some great shots. Afterwards everyone completely covered Rani and James in confetti and they headed off in a sports car to Lindors for some couple shots while their guests had a scenie bus trip. As the light faded we came inside and everyone enjoyed mulled wine and canapes before sitting down to dinner. Part way through the meal in a break between courses, I took Rani and James outside for some night time shots which I love doing as they are so atmospheric!

Here are some favourite images from their day:

Jo had chosen a short 1950′s inspired dress which looked amazing – I have not seen a dress quite like that before and it made me think that more brides ought to try shorter dresses – particularly in the Winter if you are going to be spending most of the day inside or are having a black tie dress code – very chic and much easier to move around and dance in!

Downstairs, David and Best Man Guy were chatting to guests in the ceremony room – which they had decorated really well with lot of candles and trailing plants. The ceremony was really intimate with such a nice number of guests and Jo’s friends Steph and Katy both did readings – including the one by Pam Ayers which I love.

Afterwards, as it was about to go dark, I took Jo and David off briefly for some couple shots just along from the hotel and we then headed back to their guests who were getting stuck in to the wine and canapes in the library.

Jo and David had their speeches before the meal and at one point Jo got really emotional after receiving a present from her beloved horse Manny who had ‘sent’ her a good luck shoe painted silver!

Here are some favourite images from their day:

Here are a few of my favourite shots:

Upstairs, Sam was having her hair done with daughter Katherine – who decided to get back into bed after she had had her hair and make up done! The girls then shared that classic pre-wedding snack – chips and spicey potato wedges (well there’s nothing like carbs to calm a nervous stomach!).
Luckily for Sam, a close friend of hers is none other than silk wedding dress specialist Catherine Miller (http://www.silkspecialistcatherinemiller.co.uk/) so she arrived to help Sam into her dress.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Les was chatting to guests in the bar and looking quite relaxed. Everyone then sat down for the ceremony during which Isla, another of Sam’s close friends, did a lovely reading and Sam and Les seemd to really enjoy themselves!

Afterwards, guests enjoyed Champagne and we even managed to take their family photos and some shots of Sam and Les outside in the grounds – not bad for mid November!

Here are some pictures from their day:

When I arrived at Bibury Court, Beckie was chilling out with her bridesmaid Jo and having her hair and make up done. Soon on the scene were her sister Sarah and her other bridesmaid Jo to do last minute nails and get dressed. Just along the corridor were flowergirls Isabella and Olivia who loved getting into their dresses and playing at being princesses!

A great thing about Bibury is that the Church is just through a little wooden door in the grounds of the house so it’s so easy to pop next door! I caught up with Jon and his best men Nev and Duncan and ushers Simon and Jeremy. Duncan and his wife Joanne are portrait clients and I have got to know them photographing their lovely daughters so it was really nice to see both of them.

Beckie arrived fashionably late (just enough to keep Jon on his toes!) and the ceremony got underway with readings by Luby and Sarah. Afterwards, everyone congratulated the (very!) happy looking couple before drowning them in confetti and heading next door for drinks and canapes. It was such a beautiful afternoon that most of the guests stayed outside to enjoy the sunshine and we didn’t really even need the patio heaters! I took Jon and Beckie off for a wander along the river for their couple shots and then everyone sat for dinner.

Here are a few of my favourite images from their day: