Gillian + Michael – A Sneak Peek
May 18, 2012
Gillian and Michael got married yesterday at the lovely Holdsworth House near Halifax. What started off as a drizzly grey morning cleared up just in time for the wedding (HOORAH!!).
Gillian said from the moment she laid eyes on Michael that he was going to be her husband but it took her 4 years (yes you read that right) to get round to texting him to ask him out!
What a great story to a wonderful couple! Congratulations Gillian and Michael it was a pleasure to capture the day for you guys.
Paul
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A couple of weekends back the weather was on/off constantly and for us photographers that is not a good thing when you have outside shoots planned but we always try and get what we can whatever the weather.
Jenny and Antonio booked us when they saw the pictures of Sarah and Russell They were guests at their wedding and decided that they wanted us to capture their wedding day. We were so pleased. Not only are Jenny and Antonio awesome people but they are both truly gorgeous and fun to be around.
Jenny and Antonio decided they wanted their love shoot to be out in the hills around Haworth which is well known from its bronte connections. They both like to go walking and in their spare time and thought it would be great to capture some shots of them doing what they love. Jenny suggested Griffe Mill in Stanbury as they had stumbled across this place on a few walks.
The plan was to meet at the Friendly pub in Stanbury ( I see a trend here!) and had a quick beer before we set off to the mill. On the way up to the pub it hailstoned! It was so bad that Paul and I began to worry that we wouldn’t be able to do the shoot.
As soon as we finished our first drink the sun shone (we seem to be sooo lucky with the weather)
We headed from the pub down to Griffe Mill. It only took about 20 minutes, through some sheep fields (where they decided they wanted to become friends with Jenny), over a few stiles and there we were. Wow this mill is full of history, it’s in ruins but you can just feel the aura around the place from back in the day when it was a working cotton mill.
Jenny and Antonio were quite nervous so we started steady as we usually do. These guys after just a few clicks of the camera were a dream to shoot and barely needed any instruction as they were so into each other.
After the shoot we headed back up the hill for another drink but this time in Wuthering Heights puband a chat about their final wedding plans. They are getting married at The Alma Inn at Laneshawbridge which is such a lovely intimate venue.
During our chat Jenny said she had brought along a book that was over a hundred years old and contained a picture of Griffe Mill from way back when it was still in operation. The book was musty smelling and a bit tatty but beautiful so I decided to use it to get a couple of pictures with Jenny’s engagement ring placed on it.
We’re really looking forward to their wedding now!
Here are a few of our favourites from the day…
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Great work guys – lovely photos!
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Bex + Grant – A cold, sunny, windmill Love Shoot
May 1, 2012
A sunny day in March (yes we know hard to believe) we headed on over to the windmills near Ogden Water for the Love Shoot of Bex and Grant. Armed with our walking boots and warm coats we walked out into the moorland. The views up there are amazing BUT be warned it’s also very cold. Bex and Grant love walking with their dog up there so it was an obvious pick for their shoot. We can see why. A quiet, peaceful and serene place (check out the Racoons line…) with lots of stunning views as far as the eye can see.
We thought we would add a little fun to this shoot so asked Bex and Grant to bring 2 feather pillows with them. At the end of the shoot they had a pillow fight and wowsers!! We never realised how many feathers them pillows can fit! It was good fun to finish with.
We’re now super excited about their Wedding in June.
Here are a few of our favourite shots…
4 Comments
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Gorgeous photos again.
Love the pillow fight & feathers everywhere at the end! -
Great stuff guys, not sure I would have dared put the ring on that grid!
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The ring on that grate caused my heart to flutter a bit….lol. Love the pillow fight. Gorgeous lighting and gorgeous photography as always….
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LOVE! Can’t beat a good pillow fight. Bet they were picking feathers out of their hair for ages afterwards. Tee hee. The ring shots are ace and I really like the intimate b&w hug shot. All cute’n'that
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Sarah + Russ – a Scottish winter wedding
April 5, 2012
Back in December we headed across the border and into Scotland for Sarah and Russell’s wedding at Comlongon Castle just outside Dumfries.
We were extremely excited about this wedding as Sarah and Russell are an awesome couple who are so in love. We knew from our first meeting with them and also their Love Shoot that their wedding was going to be a day to remember.
Comlongon Castle is gorgeous. When we first approached we were impressed! A long driveway with trees running alongside then the castle at the end. It is a fantastic venue to get married. When we met Sarah and Russ they told us the time they were getting married. 5pm in December. It was going to be dark. A very dark wedding. I must say we were a little nervous about not having any natural light but then again we were really excited about testing ourselves with flash.
Sarah, her mum and bridesmaids got ready in the honeymoon suite, a very impressive place for a bunch of celebrating ladies to hang out. The champagne was flowing and everyone was really relaxed. So relaxed even one of the bridesmaids let us take a picture of her in the bath. There was laughter and crying in the room. The bridal preps is one of my favourite parts of the day with all the different emotions that happen.
Comlongon Castle is full of so many delights. Just like any castle should be its got flags, moose heads, spectacular wallpaper and plenty of ancient ancestry portraiture pieces adorning its walls.
The food was to die for. We were in Scotland so haggis surely had to be on the menu (its the law isn’t it?). It most certainly was!
During wedding breakfast I was racking my brain for what I was going to do for the bridal party shot, it was dark outside so it was either flash or the use of another light source, that moment I looked across the table and saw all these lovely candelabra’s on the table, bingo just the lighting source and prop we needed for the shot. Following the light from the candles and all our mobiles phones we found a spot by the trees in the woodland. While we were outside I decided to get some shots of Sarah and Russ under the moonlit sky it was so cold but these guys weren’t bothered. They are so in love that we didn’t really have to pose them. True Love.
The wedding was very romantic, personal and laid back. Only 31 guests and it was just perfect for Sarah and Russ.
There was a duo band after the meal in the bar area and they really started the party off. These guys were absolutly brilliant! They got the guests up doing sword dancing and there was a smile on everyones face! In true Scottish traditional style lots of whiskey was being handed around and everyone was merry.
Sarah and Russ also had an evening do when they returned to Yorkshire. We have included some of these pictures at the end of our blog.
Sarah and Russell are about to embark on a trip of a lifetime and we would love to send them our best wishes. Have a great time guys, we’re not jealous at all….
Paul + Kelly }
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4 Comments
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Love this blog guys! Brilliant set of shots and it looks like a fantastic wedding
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SUPERB!! Loved the shot outside with the bridal party….totally amazing!
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Amazing! What a beautiful setting and atmosphere. You two are so creative. Love it!
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Great shots guys! Considering what little light you had to play with, you’ve done a fab job!
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Bex + Grant – Love Shoot sneak peek
April 1, 2012
A couple of weeks back we headed up into the moors for Bex and Grants’ Love Shoot. We got some amazing shots of pretty landscape backgrounds mixed with ultra modern technology at a wind farm. They also had a pillow fight in and amongst it all.
For our sneak peek we decided to go with a little grime and found this old rusty container that is currently being used as a sheep shelter (full of sheep s*@t may I add). There was some beautiful light from the sun as it dipped down above the horizon so we had to make use of it.
Bex and Grant get married in June at Hoyle Court near Baildon and are then having their reception in a marquee on top of a whopping great hill in the countryside, We can’t wait for it!!
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Dolcie's Christening
April 1, 2012
It's my Christening today…
March 11, 2012
Meet little Dolcie, she listened intently as the priest told her all about why she was being baptised. She’s the cutest little thing and was a little angel all day.
Paul }
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Tom and Katy – A Utopian Wedding
February 9, 2012
Last year was an epic year for us, we made massive leaps forward in all kinds of areas of our business and we are striving for much more this year. It’s going to be sweet!
What made it so epic was that we had a few firsts, namely our first wedding. Tom and Katy are an amazing couple in so many ways and since shooting their wedding we have become great friends.
The start of the story goes back 28 years to the months before I was born. My mum went to anti natal classes together with Tom’s mum. They stayed friends and they ended up sending Tom and myself to the same primary school where our friendship blossomed we spent many years playing sega mega drive, football, tennis and WWF. I don’t think we missed each others birthday parties from the age of 4 to 9! We even went to wembley to watch the mighty British Bulldog take on Brett the Hitman Hart in the 1992 WWF (now WWE to all the young un’s) Summerslam. We still talk about this day as one of the greatest days in our lives as children.
Through our school years we went to different schools but remained really good friends. At upper school we were still great friends but still at different schools. Tom asked his parents if they would allow him to change school to the same one as me and thankfully they agreed.
In those remaining school years we unfortunately drifted apart a little we never fell out but we just hung around in different crowds with the occasional cross crowd gathering namely a bit of a sleepover party at my mum and dads that involved a rowdy bunch of boys, loud music and possibly a little alcohol too.
Once we had left school we didn’t really see too much of each other, an odd passing here and there but no-where near as much as we should have.
With the rise of Facebook and our photography journey we were brought back in touch with each other.
Tom asked us if we shot weddings. We knew we wanted to but it was just finding the right couple to entrust us to capture the biggest day of their lives. Luckily for us Tom and Katy are way cool and were more than happy to give us the role.
Here is a picture I found of Tom and myself at my 6th Birthday party, can you see just how cute we are and how we managed to bag two lovely ladies in Kelly and Katy.
This is where I hand the keyboard to Kel and she’ll tell you all about the amazing day…
When Tom and Katy started telling us about their wedding we were really get excited about the day. Katy wore a gorgeous Pronovias dress bought from Ava Rose Hamilton the same designer and shop as my dress (This place is AMAZING!), our shoes were the same make and even our wedding rings were picked from Kath Libbert Jewellery the same place we got ours. I am sure we were always supposed to be the ones privileged to shoot this wedding!
When we first went to look at Utopia with Tom and Katy impressed was written all over our faces. This place is gorgeous! So airey and spacious and a perfect place for a wedding. Right from that moment we knew that we had been spoilt with our first wedding booking.
On the day both Paul and I were so nervous. It was a mixture of nerves, excitement and the unknown. We were greeted by a very excited Katy and two cuppas (note to all brides we love a good cuppa). The bridesmaids and Katy’s mum were all getting their hair and make up done. Laughter and nerves filled the room. It was such a lovely atmosphere. Katy’s dad even bought us all fish and chips before we set off to the church. We had a really relaxed morning with them all.
Tom and his groomsmen were getting ready at home and although looking super cool in his suit you could see he was both nervous and excited about the day ahead.
They were married in Oakworth Church by the most relaxed and down to earth preist. Big love to John you rocked!!!! and had Bradford cathedral choir on hand to aid in the beautiful service. We then moved on to Utopia where we took most of the pictures. There are so many hidden gems in this place. We got to know Tom and Katy’s Ushers and bridesmaids pretty well and knew they would be up for doing a few fun shots. My favourite definately has to be the posed shot.
The details were perfect. The ushers and bridesmaids looked gorgeous and I just loved the cornflower bridesmaid dresses. Good choice Katy! The flowers and the table decorations were stunning. I loved the vintage teacups idea so much that I bought myself a teacup pandora charm the day after the wedding to remind us of what a cracking day it was! (sorry Paul I know you don’t know about this). The food on the day was all taken care of by FINE catering and it looked and tasted out of this world! I move onto the cake. How awesome is this cake? It wasn’t made by a professional either. A family friend made it!! Can you believe it. So much detail and so much cake. Can you tell that I loved it?
We always knew we wanted our wedding photography to be as relaxed as possible and we managed that really well for our first attempt. We now have two very good friends in Tom and Katy and I am so glad that the wedding brought us together Wedding photography is definately for us.
We want to thank Tom and Katy firstly for trusting us to shoot their wedding and to the whole appelbee/Symonds clan for making us feel so welcome at the wedding. We had a fantastic time.
So, our first wedding under our belt and what a top notch one it was. I am sure the images speak for themselves but please do let us know what you thought about our first wedding.
Paul + Kelly }
12 Comments
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Fantastic pictures mate. You nailed this one.
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Really great job Paul and Kelly! They must be thrilled! Love that group shot with the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
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Very well done guys, looks beautiful!
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Love it guys! Brilliant work for the first one, you’d never tell. Love that posed shot of the bridesmaids and groomsmen.
P.S – I was also at the WWF 1992 Summerslam! I came home with some Brett the Hitman Hart pink glasses
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Excellent set of photos guys! Can’t believe this was your first one. You should be extremely proud of yourselves. I LOVE the group shot with the groomsmen and bridesmaids.
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Fabulous first wedding! Well done guys!
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Really lovely collection of images – well done!
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Awesome job guys. So many great images. Love the shots of the bridal party and the boys doing shots. Well done.
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Oh wow, you guys. This is such an awesome wedding and you totally rocked it like you’d already shot a load of weddings and felt completely at home. Great work. So impressed! x
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Connie doull
Superb set. Incredible attention to detail xxx
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You guys! Bloody lovely work indeed. Loving the group shot of the bridesmaid and ushers – totally rocking. Well done kids. Keep it up! x
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Some good photos!
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Harkins Bike Band Shoot – Sneak Peek
January 8, 2012
This is Harkins Bike, a great covers band based in Selby. We are friends with Gary their Front man and he asked us if we would do some promo shots of them all together. This is a Sneak Peek from the shoot.
Paul }
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Sarah & Russ – A woodland Love Shoot
December 14, 2011
Today we are at Comlongon Castle near Dumfries in Scotland shooting the wedding of Sarah and Russ. A couple of weeks back we did their Love Shoot at St Ives near Bingley.
We started out the way all shoots should, with a nice cup of coffee in a local cafe. We chatted about all their wedding plans whilst sipping away and eyeing up the chunky wedges of cake they had on display. From the cafe we headed out up the valley to the top of the tree line. We pulled out the camera and got the shooting going. Not long after starting the heavens opened so we took shelter under a huge rock where aparently the former land owner died many years ago, Nice!!
The rain didn’t stay for long so we headed into the woods where we were getting the most amazing sunlight shining through the trees I just had to get a few flare shots here. Soon the light was dropping off so we headed back towards the pond. On the way, there was what looked like a shortcut but in fact lead us through overgrown bushes and towards a bog! Although we all enjoyed the exploration we decided to head back to the path we were originally on. We strolled on until we got to a bird watching hut but rather than watching birds of the flying variety it was us that was doing the watching of the two love birds Sarah and Russ, by now they were bringing the love in huge doses and it was so much fun to photograph.
Before the sun totally disapeared I wanted to get some shots at a local disused pumping building. I have been itching to this place in a shoot for a while and Sarah and Russ were more than up for the idea so we headed down to it. Pushing the boundaries is all in a photographers nature so we had to do a little law breaking to get the shots I wanted (don’t worry I gave myself a serious reprimanding for it later that evening) While here I decided to do some flash trickery and I am more than pleased with the results.
By now we were all a little cold and damp and the light was almost gone so we called the photography a day and said “what the heck! Lets head off to yet another cafe and drink Tea, eat good food, and devour a pudding while talking about their wedding plans some more.”
We had a great time that day with Sarah and Russ but today is going to be even greater.
Paul }
One Comment
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Lovely work guys!!!
2 Comments
Look at those SHOES!
Gorgeous photo!
Nice shot. Looking forward to the whole wedding – Gillian looks like she has some pretty funky shoes!