Helen Howard Photography - Weddings/Portraits

I never realised I had such affection for this place....

2012-02-01T16:33:00.000-08:00

.....until I went back the other day....

This was my secondary school (Ashlyns School, Berkhamsted), since I left in 1998 I have not been back, barely given the place a second thought really, but I visited a few weeks back for a pre wedding photoshoot with Sally and Lee, in preparation for their February wedding and it made me realise, that this school is a place that has been quite significant to the person I have become! I say it like that because I didn't much care for the place when I was there, certainly I underestimated what a beautiful building it is.

Sally was also a pupil at Ashlyns, so it was a common ground and familiar place to meet for the pre shoot. Sally and Lee's wedding will be photographed by myself and another ex-Ashlyns pupil Lucy of LN Designs who is embarking on her photography career this year. She approached me for a collaboration which was a really good idea and this will be lots of fun. Working together on the pre shoot, it was very apparent that we will make a very good team and I am really looking forward to what this day will bring and Lucy is a very talented photographer. Lots of ideas to throw to the table (from both of us) a stunning venue and a unique reception venue and a fun couple to work with.....

I tried to limit my favourite shots, but here's a selection, I got a bit carried away!! Congratulations to Sally and Lee, their big day is just around the corner, literally :)

And lastly a farewell to a place that had quite a substantial impact on my life and the person I am today...... a place, which despite any cracks or old age, I will always have a slight affection for you.....x

If you have enjoyed my photographs, please be kind enough to Like my Facebook page, share the link with your friends, Like Lucy's Facebook Page and if you are interested in booking your wedding photography or a portrait shoot, please get in touch either by email or by phone 07877 303172.

Thanks xxx

Fur Coat Required (please note this is not a real fur coat!)

2012-01-15T15:43:00.000-08:00

You probably recognise this pretty lady - my step daughter Keshia - She is the one person who really identifies with me on photography and she picks me up when I am feeling down, reminding me of all the things that are good. Well we are all just getting over horrible head colds, all feeling a bit sorry for ourselves and needing some motivation to get back into the swing of things after a very lovely christmas break!

Today we decided to head of into town (Lichfield) for a mini photoshoot, the only prerequisite - a rather large beehive and a fur coat - basically a sixties inspired shoot. This fits in well with Keshia's stage image, so she is well practiced at 'BIG' hair, I feel this look really suits her. Tiny person, big hair...er I mean big voice, or both you decide..... I'm armed with my 5d Mkii, a baby budget lens for some experimental shots 50mm f1.8, my trusty reflector and oodles of winter afternoon sunshine - happy face!! All images were edited in Lightroom.

Really pleased with these shots, really, really! the fact that Keshia approved so many of them is an awesome achievement, there will be more to come like this in the near future as I think we have got the bug!! I would be really happy for any feedback on these...

Thank you to Keshia for being a beautiful model....

If you wish to contact me please visit my website

Craig and Katie get married at Kingscote Barn, The Cotswolds

2012-01-04T12:33:00.000-08:00

Another beautiful wedding. This time, we are in August 2011, it's dry and sunny and blowing a gale when I arrive at Kingscote Barn (beautiful, stunning venue) in the Cotswolds -still there is plenty of time for the wind to pass. As it was a venue I had not been to before, I arrived super early so I could check out the venues locations for photographs. Set on the side of a sweeping hillscape (I don't know if that is a word, just made it up) the views are tremendous, the area is peaceful and tranquil as you enter the middle of rural england, leaving the town's and city's hustle and bustle behind you. The perfect place for a wedding with the people closest to you. So here is a selection of images from the day, such a lovely couple to work with, congratulations to you both :)

What a superb venue and amazing couple, for more info about my wedding photography please go to my website where you can download my new wedding brochure.

Remember coverage from getting ready to the end of first dance starts from £995.00 which includes your images on disc.

A Very English Wedding in Morpeth

2012-01-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

Back in July 2011, my life started to get a little bit crazy and my regular blogging of weddings got pushed onto the back burner, whilst I emersed myself in my wonderful job. I was booked by Jane and Tuppy to cover their church wedding which would take place in Morpeth, followed by a lovely country garden reception at Jane's parents house. Think bunting, cute little bridesmaids and pageboys, english countryside, summer flowers, lots and lots of vintage gorgeousness, oh and cornfields and tractors - it was such a wonderful day!

Here are some of my favourite images from the day, venue styling was by Minnie Sprinkles - I firmly recommend. This is long overdue and thank you to Jane and Tuppy for asking me to photograph their day, wishing you endless happiness together

For more information about booking me as your wedding photographer, please visit my website please keep checking back, as you can imagine, I have many 2011 weddings that still need to be blogged!!! Let's hope that 2012 is just as wonderfully hectic!!

Portraits - something special for Christmas :)

2011-11-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

I'm showcasing my portrait work, finally! Here's a little slideshow of my work, if you want to book before christmas please make sure you book in early!!

Looking forward to seeing you very soon!!

New Flipping Book!! 2011/2012 Wedding Brochure

2011-10-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo I am a tad excited about this little website gadget!!! Whilst rebuilding my website I decided to include an online brochure, I have had fun designing it and even more fun making it into a little interactive flipping book!!

Here it is: (If your device doesn't support flash then unfortunately you won't be able to view it, but the pdf can be downloaded from my new and improved website)

I hope you like it, now that I know about this gorgeous gadget, I feel there will be some interactive wedding albums online very soon!!

Where has 2011 Gone!!

2011-10-23T02:27:00.000-07:00

Just a quick blog post to say I have so many weddings to blog for you, the summer was rather hectic and my blogging took the hit I'm afraid! But I will be back on it soon, once the website is back up and running after it's facelift!

2012 is set to be an exciting year and I have been booked by some really lovely couples, I look forward to getting to know them and working with them on their wedding days.

Here's a quick preview of some of this years weddings.

More coming soon, I promise!! xx

110 days to Christmas!! SPECIAL OFFERS

2011-09-06T02:56:00.000-07:00

Whilst contemplating taking my dog out in the rain this morning, this chilly turn in the weather got me thinking, how many days until christmas?? ONLY 110 days to go!! I really don't know where 2011 has gone, but anyway I thought I would announce my studio offers as I know some of you will be super organised and thinking about christmas presents etc already.

I am offering a range of 'gifts' which can be purchased now in preparation for christmas from Boudoir, to bump, to baby and family shoots which will take place at my studio Unit 60, Mill Lane Industrial Estate, Mill lane, Fazeley, Tamworth, B78 3QD.

SPECIAL OFFERS:

Goddess Boudoir Mini Shoot £25: Treat yourself and your other half to a photo gift that will release the goddess in you. This includes one outfit, 45 mins to 1 hour shoot, 1 complimentary 9 x 6 print of your choice.

- if you wish to book a makeup artist this will require £40 payment on the day directly to our MUA, or you can get your make up done before you arrive :) please specify at the time of booking so we can allocate enough time for you to have your makeup done before.

Enchantress Boudoir Shoot £95: This includes a mini makeover, 1 hour - 1 hour 30 mins photo shoot and up to 3 outfits, you receive a 12 x 12 canvas block with up to 5 images of your choice.

We do have other boudoir experiences available, with wall art, album options, please enquire by email for details

Beautiful Bump Mini £25: You will have a 45 mins shoot and receive your favourite image in a 9x6 print

Beautiful Bump Wall Art £70: You will have a 1 hour to 1 hour 30 mins shoot with 2 outfits and receive a 12 x 12 canvas block with up to 4 images of your choice.

Bump to Baby Mini: £49.99 This is the same as Beautiful Bump Mini, but you will also have a shoot when the baby arrives, the baby shoot would need to take place no later than 1 month after the birth.

Family Fun £15:00 This is ideal for a family wanting a portrait of Mum, Dad and Children or for a Mum and Dad who just want a picture of their children, you will have a 45 min shoot and receive one print in 9 x 6 of your choice, further prints and products can be purchased in addition.

Family Fun shoot only £10.00 A great gift to give, this is for a 45 minute photoshoot and online gallery of images, my client can then choose from any of the print products on offer.

Terms of purchase

-Subject to availability, offered on a first come first served basis and I reserve the right to withdraw the offer when all offer places have been sold.

-If you purchase a photo shoot offer, it needs to take place before 5th December in order to be ready for Christmas, the date will be arranged with you before your card is charged.

-Payment is non refundable

-I have allocated a few dates October 22nd 2011, November 27th 2011, December 3rd 2011 and December 4th 2011 for offer photoshoots, if you need an alternative date please email for details and where possible please consider dates Mon-Friday, the studio gets very busy at this time of year so it is important to book in early.

- If you purchase a gift voucher (either £10.00, £50.00, £75.00 or £100.00) this must be redeemed before 1st April 2012 and standard pricing for shoots/products will apply unless there are any current offers on at the time of booking, payment is non-refundable. Email me for standard pricing.

Further prints can be purchased in addition to these offers before 31st January 2011 - 7x5 -£7.50, 9x6 -£9.50 and 8x10 -£10.50 or 10 mix and match prints bundle (no more than 5 of any one size) £69.99

THESE OFFERS CAN BE PURCHASED VIA GOOGLE CHECKOUT BELOW , Just ADD TO CART :)

A pre wedding meeting and photoshoot at Tamworth Castle - Jamie and Lisa

2011-07-04T05:49:00.000-07:00

Just catching up on some blog posts today, because Blogger has been playing up recently and everytime I have gone to post something it's not let me, maybe I should take the hint? Blogger trying to tell me something? Anyway, with recent feedback from new clients, my blogging is apparently very useful to you in helping to decide on your photographer for your day, so I take on board such useful feedback and will blog, blog away.

Got a few weddings and pre wedding shoots to blog, but for now, may I introduce you to Lisa and Jamie, who I met last year at Neil and Helen's wedding. Jamie was Neil's best man and he approached me and asked me if I was free for their date pretty much straight away, so I knew that if they loved Neil and Helen's photo's then it would be lovely to do their wedding too as it is so nice photographing people you have met at previous weddings, it automatically puts people at ease because they know what to expect of you and the way you work and there are already the foundations of a working relationship to build upon rather than starting from scratch. Happy Days, I know their wedding is going to be beautiful and fun, I am really looking forward to it. Here are some of my favourite shots from yesterday's meeting at Tamworth Castle.

Thank you to Lisa and Jamie for being really easy to work with, cannot wait for your amazing day!! :)

A Dedication to all the Dad's out there and to one in particular - My Daddy

2011-06-19T08:39:00.000-07:00

I don't really need a Father's day to remind me that my dad is no longer here, because you have that feeling every day, just some days it's easier to think about him and be happy for the fact that he was ever once here at all, but then some days it's hard to think about the memories of someone without feeling just a bit gutted that they aren't here anymore.

This is not intended to be a sad post - far from it (despite the single tear that is at this moment running down my right cheek, but that is just because at this moment in time I do feel a little bit sad), I just wanted to share - because it is Father's Day - some of the photos that my Dad took and just a couple of photos of me with him. The biggest issue with Dad being that he was almost always behind the camera and there are not that many photos of him, less recent ones anyway.

I don't know where this was taken, and I am guessing it was around 1986 judging by my bowl haircut and the fact that my little brother's are not in tow! But I like it - how small I look next to my Dad!

This is one of my all time favourite pictures of me, my big brother and sister, even though it depicts me as the naughty little girl pulling my sister's hair, I guess I must be about 2/3 in this picture.

This is my big brother, it's one of those pictures that could have just happened, but I love it.

I know the picture above was a Christmas time, and I remember the doll and it's magic bottle! The one below is definitely 1988 because I remember this holiday very clearly, the only thing I can't remember was if this was taken in the Isle of Wight or the Channel Islands part of the holiday! I remember my step mum being very tolerant of me putting her hair in pigtails!

These shots of my sister and I in the bluebell woods are also some of my favourite, I don't remember it, but I think that just shows the importance and relevance of photography in our lives.

I know in my heart that my Dad is the reason I have found a job that I love so much, I think I still would have found that if he had been here - and no doubt he would have been really happy to talk photography all day, still I can hope that he somehow knows.

I also wanted to dedicate this to my very lovely and amazing Step Dad, my gorgeous husband, and anyone else who is a Daddy, maybe celebrating your first Father's Day or waiting for your first child to arrive, this is your day and also for anyone who is missing their Dad today and every day......xxxxx

Freya and Matt's Gorgeous Wedding at Latimer Place, Bucks

2011-06-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

I've been spoilt recently with fabulous and amazing venues, and Latimer Place in Buckinghamshire is absolutely no exception. It's a De Vere Venue, I have been blessed to photograph 3 De Vere Weddings in April and May, first at The Belfry and then at Hunton Park, so I am really starting to become very fond of this hotel chain, they really know how to do weddings!!

So I went back to my roots for the wedding of Freya and Matt, not 25 mins from where my parents live and I grew up, only now my accent sounds slightly out of place as the odd word with a slight midland twang occasionally slips out! I notice it much more when I am surrounded by the local accent that I grew up with! Freya is the sister in law of one of my closest school friends Katie, here she is on the left, with one of her gorgeous boys!! I love this picture, no doubt I will be told off for putting this up!!

Freya and Matt asked ages ago if I would be able to photograph their wedding and of course I was really happy to.

You may recognise Matt's best Man, Tim as I photographed his wedding at Hunton Park (see link above) and although I had moments of deja vu (because there were lots of familiar faces from school days and similar groups of friends etc) it's lovely to see how every wedding is unique and personal, even with a similar group of people the day can be completely different and individual.

I cannot shout loud enough about how wonderful this venue is, truly beautiful and the food was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!! Really spoilt this year for some absolutely scrummy food!!

I won't waffle on anymore, here are a selection of my favourite pictures, I've already had some very positive feedback from the bride and groom, so now I can look forward to designing their wedding album.....

Enjoy :)

Freya looked stunning and I will not forget the look of adoration in her dad's eye's when he saw he for the first time in her dress, made my eye's fill up!

Here is Matt with the other beautiful lady in his life :)

The speeches were very funny, hard to take photograph's when your splitting your sides!! Tim's speech in particular was delivered with perfect comic timing, but then he has had some practice quite recently!!

The first dance was another emotional time for me, because it was the song I walked down the aisle to at my own wedding, good choice guys :)

Congratulations to you both, fantastic day and I was so lucky to be a part of it xxx

Pre Wedding Meeting with Simon and Gavin

2011-06-10T03:46:00.000-07:00

I met with Gavin and Simon yesterday and their dog Muffin, at Chasewater for a pre wedding meeting and a few photos. I was really pleased that Simon and Gavin decided to book me for their day, because to date I haven't photographed a civil partnership and I think sometimes it is just really nice that people are willing to take a leap of faith in what you do. They have obviously seen my work and I am photographing the wedding of Simon's sister next year, so they had contacted me on her recommendation.

I can guess from meeting them on two occasions now that their wedding is going to be a lot of fun and it is at the beautiful Clearwell Castle in The Forest of Dean, what a tremendous and beautiful place!! So this is a wedding I will really look forward to, and they have planned it in record timing, all in all about 6 weeks!

Here is a snapshot from yesterday, Muffin of course took centre stage. Not long to go until the big day, there will be a sneak preview available as always so keep checking back for updates.

Gorgeous couple, amazing venue, fun loving friends and family - it's gonna be a good'un!! xx

New Arrival, congratulations Becci and Paul

2011-06-10T01:17:00.000-07:00

Last week I met with Becci, Paul, their dog Rocky and their baby bump! Just had a text to say that baby Harry was born this morning!! Cannot wait for the next photography mission to go an photograph this precious little newborn. I photographed Becci and Paul's wedding reception last year after they got married abroad, it is lovely when people come back to have photograph's of their new family members - makes me kind of their wedding photographer turned family photographer and it is just one of the many things I love about this amazing job! For which I am thankful every day!

The purpose of meeting up last week was to get this first shot below, which Becci had been talking about for sometime, wanting to put the picture onto canvas - so I took the opportunity (as most photographers would!) to take a few pictures for them of their bump before he (although we didn't know it was 'he' at the time) arrived.

Hopefully I will be posting some precious little pictures very soon!!

Keshia's Music Video

2011-06-07T07:36:00.000-07:00

Most people I know will be aware that Keshia, my step daugher has recorded her debut album 'Circles' and it will be released on iTunes very soon.

We spent sunday afternoon 'ghetto blasting' it around Digbeth with the awesomely talented Simon Clarke and his lovely (and also very talented) wife Anna - we commissioned Simon to shoot Keshia's debut music video, it was so much fun, we hope we will be doing more soon! I think after about 20 takes we were done for the day and I made myself useful by carrying stuff around, pressing the play button on the very high tech music system that we had for Keshia to sing along to, but I couldn't resist taking the odd 'behind the scenes' shots. Keshia, Simon and Anna were the ones who worked hard tho! Simon and Anna work very professional, they are just nice people to be around and hopefully they enjoyed the shoot as much as we did, because they live and breathe their work and are always looking for that next creative vision.

Simon also shoots wedding video's and I would happily recommend him to anyone and Anna's photography has been a source of inspiration for me for a while now, so it was great to meet them at last and put faces to the amazing work that they put out so frequently.

Thanks to both of them, the video is going to be amazing!!

Amy and Oliver's Gorgeous Pre Shoot - Hogarth's

2011-06-07T01:13:00.000-07:00

I am feeling very lucky at the moment, to have such lovely clients, Amy and Oliver are no exception, they are fun, beautiful and in love, and their wedding venue is sooooo beautiful!! I met them last week at Hogarth's , there's something magical about this place. It is extremely peaceful, stunning gardens and just the ideal place for such a gorgeous couple to entertain their friends and family.

It was nice to meet up with Amy and Oliver as they booked me some time ago, and catching up closer to the wedding is always great because practically all plans are in place now, so there's more to discuss about the actual wedding. I am looking forward to their wedding in July and here are some of my favourite pictures from the pre shoot. I got a text from them last night to say they love the pictures, so I am a happy photographer today!!!

The pre wedding shoot is complimetary when you book me for your wedding photography, mainly so it gives us a chance to catch up, work together before the big day and iron out any nerves or worries about having photos taken. The feedback from this shoot was'they are absolutely gorgeous' and 'getting really excited now' so I think we can safely assume that any pre nerves about photography and posing and being natural have diminished. I am very excited about working with Amy and Oliver, their day is going to be fantastic!

Here's a few:

Thank you both of you for being so much fun to work with :)

Claire and Kyle's exceptionally gorgeous wedding at The Ashes, Endon

2011-05-31T15:47:00.000-07:00

This is a blog post I have been wanting to write for the past couple of weeks but I have been too busy to do so, and the venue is worthy of some very high praise, because I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE photographing weddings at The Ashes, Near Leek.

The day started off with some light showers, and an amazingly moody looking sky, however it proceeded to brighten up as the day went on and the evening was pleasant - the skies looked more blue as the day went on and some of my favourite shots show the pretty sky scapes.

This is the view as you drive into The Ashes, it has a sweeping, winding driveway that leads up to the rather impressive looking, and beautifully converted barns. The venue has a very grand yet homely feel to it (Yes I could happily live there!!) but all in all it has that family run feel to it, which adds to the atmosphere and is what makes it seem all the more special.

The first time I met Claire and Kyle I immediately warmed to them and knew that they were going to be a lot of fun to work with, they were so generous with their time and I am thankful to them for putting so much thought into the details of their day that made it so much fun to photograph, they were gorgeous, fun to work with and completely in love with each other and their adorable children.

Claire got ready in the Old Dairy at the venue, which is such a lovely space to get ready in, the ladies from Contour, Leek were doing her hair and makeup, which they did beautifully.

The best kept secret of the day was the horse and carriage hired as a surprise by Claire's parents!! Beautiful and graceful horses by Classy Carriages.

Each table had an unknowing designated carver! They were all awarded with a chefs hat, personalised apron and carving knife to serve their tables with a delicious joint of beef, I was so thankful to receive the most tasty roast ever! Thank you for including me, the food was rather special!

Love this shot - and I love the fact that Kyle carried Claire to this spot, just so I could take this shot without her getting her shoes dirty!

I am really proud of these images, and I would like to congratulate Claire and Kyle and thank them over and over again for being so amazing to work with xxxx

Abbie and Carl's Baby Bump

2011-05-31T14:00:00.000-07:00

Abbie and Carl's baby is due imminently, and I am hoping to get the call very soon to say 'we need newborn photos' because I cannot wait to meet their little girl, she photographs very well, don't you think?

Here are some of my favourite shots from Abbie's maternity shoot or bump shoot as I prefer to call it, well done to Abbie for being very brave and 'bloomin' gorgeous with her perfect bump :) Carl got roped in for a few shots, but he didn't think he would get off lightly did he?

Congrats both of you, I can't wait to meet her soon!!

For more details on maternity portraits please get in touch 07877 303172

Harry's 1st Birthday Photoshoot at the Studio

2011-05-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

I met with Liane, Dan and their little boy Harry a couple of weeks ago ahead of their wedding in a couple of weeks time, but we were hit with the worst downpour I have seen in a while, and whilst we can normally negotiate umbrellas for a pre wedding shoot, it didn't seem fair on Harry to be standing around in the wet conditions. So I invited the three of them to the studio this week to get some pictures and it just happened to be Harry's first birthday on the day of the shoot!

He is a lovely happy little chap and I am really looking forward to working with the three of them again in a couple of weeks for the wedding.

Here are a few of my favourite shots from the shoot:

Harry was so well behaved and very happy, he didn't seem to mind posing for the camera at all!!

Thank you to Liane and Dan for allowing me to use the images for my blog xx

Love Letters and Helen Howard Photography Disc Sets

2011-05-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

It's the last of the big spenders today, I found these rather gorgeous 'Love Letters' in a shop in Lichfield, Sally Nash Interiors ( They are having a massive closing down sale so everything is reduced)

They set me back about £14.99, but worth it I think, they are beautiful. Just got to find somewhere nice to keep them and I am pretty sure they will feature in an engagement shoot at some point!

One thing I get asked a lot by clients, or prospective clients, is how their images will be presented to them on disc. All my wedding packages include a high resolution disc of images for you to print from, so this is how! (I've been doing it like this for a while now, but this is the first time I have blogged it or put images online to show you, so I hope this is useful for anyone considering me as their photographer.

I've just received a new box of discs with my shiny pink logo on and 'client images' - you will also receive a licence to print your images and for all wedding clients you get a gorgeous presentation disc case, which will hold either a single or double disc set, depending on how many discs are required.

Wedding packages include the presentation case as standard, portrait clients can purchase this as an optional extra.

If you opted for a disc only package for your wedding, it is likely that you will want a beautiful wedding album to go with it, so there are some really lovely options available and I have samples to show you if you want to feel and hold them to see how heavy they are and how hard wearing and timeless they are. I design my albums in a storybook format so that it tells the story of your day as it unfolded before me, there are digital albums and flush mount albums, but if you are unsure what's what then please pop by and see me so I can explain the differences.

Here are some of my most popular albums:

Albums are available in a variety of sizes, special rates for parent albums and extra copies....

Contact me for further details...

xxx

Laura and Mark Tie The Knot at Somerford Hall, Brewood

2011-05-17T23:23:00.000-07:00

I am always excited to photograph weddings at Somerford Hall in Brewood, it is one of my favourite Staffordshire venues, it's such a beautiful place and so well cared for and it is the quintessential English Manor House, the Bride and Groom become the Lord and Lady of the Manor for the day, but it has a really homely feel to it and the rooms are light and airy, yet cosy!

I met with Laura over the Wedding Ideas Magazine Forum and she enquired some time back about the possibility of me photographing their 2011 wedding, I cannot believe how quickly time has gone by! So after coming to see my work, her and Mark booked me straight away, I knew the first time I met them that they would be good fun to work with and this was confirmed when I invited them for their pre wedding shoot in Lichfield. I always like to spend a bit of time getting to know my couples, because then they will be able to relax with me on their day and the photos will happen so much more freely.

Their wedding was a mid week wedding and it was such a beautiful day, even the threat of rain could not detract from the stunning scene set by these lovely people. I loved all the little details of the day, so much thought had gone into personalising the venue, service and reception.

Thank you to the staff at Somerford Hall who are always accommodating and helpful, thank you for keeping me hydrated on the day, and thank you to Laura and Mark for being a great laugh and just for being so in love and happy, makes my job the best in the world!! Here are some of my favourites from the day, enjoy:

I received the biggest compliment from Laura and Mark, when they received their images, they immediately text me to say they loved them and could I photograph their 5 year vow renewal, so I have to say that my apologies to anyone who might like to book me for 12/05/16 as I am already booked that day, lol!!

For more information on my wedding photography please visit my website

Whilst I was photographing Laura I asked Mark to hold one of my camera's, he had a go with my camera, so maybe he will be taking bookings quite soon! Here is his shot which I promised I would publish:

Many, many congratulations and lots of love to the Happy Couple!!!xxx

The wedding of Tim and Michelle at De Vere Hunton Park

2011-05-17T15:41:00.000-07:00

I consider being asked to photograph the wedding of a friend's younger brother or sister such an amazing honour, and even though a little more nerve wracking than normal, it is really nice to work with some familiar faces. I was very good friend's with Tim's sister Lucy at school and we had recently got back in touch through Facebook after a few years of doing our own things, so it was really nice when Tim and Michelle contacted me to say they would like to talk to me about me photographing their wedding. It was a good chance to catch up with some old friends.

Tim has a family of keen photographers (in a professional capacity) so no pressure there then! But with such a fun couple to work with, a fantastic group of family and friends and an absolutely gorgeous venue (Hunton Park, Near Watford) I am so happy with my work on this wedding; I joined the wedding party for dinner on this occasion and it felt like I wasn't really at work! It was such an amazing and happy day, I would like to wish Tim and Michelle a very happy and long life together, they laughed all day and no doubt they have lots of happy times ahead.

Everything about their day was perfect and referring to the gorgeous weather, in the brides words "Tim, we are such jammy b**tards" - I think that was just after dinner and a few glasses of bubbly and I promised I would quote her on that one!!

I just wanted to say about the venue WOW! Loved it, and the staff were so friendly and helpful and OMG... I love registrars in Hertfordshire!!!!

Here are some of my faves, I couldn't narrow it down anymore than this so it's a long one today :)

I am back in Hertfordshire in just under two weeks to photograph the wedding of another friends sister, and who is best man? Tim, so I will be catching up with Tim and Michelle again at another De Vere Venue, Latimer Place in Chesham. Looking forward to seeing you again soon!!

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Swaby!! It was such a "Good" Friday!!! xxxx

Nikki and Joe get Married at The Belfry

2011-04-27T15:28:00.000-07:00

I've been really lucky with the weather for all my April weddings, so much for April showers!! Not that I am complaining at all!! The weather can stay as it is that is just perfect and fine by me!

Nikki and Joe got married at The Belfry, (two De Vere venues in one month - see next wedding blog post!!) on a beautiful (slightly overcast) day, the wedding was an array of purple, even the guests were perfectly colour co-ordinated (but I am told they were given a heads up on that). Please have a look at some of my favourite shots from their beautiful day.....

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Booth!!! xxx

Pre Shoot at The Custard Factory with Judy and Dan

2011-04-26T04:03:00.000-07:00

Judy and Dan were bridesmaid and usher at Judy's Sister's Wedding (Helen and Neil) in summer last year, so it was really nice to meet up again, I did have some fun with them last year at Ardencote, which is where Dan and Judy will also get married in August this year.

We decided to meet up at The Custard Factory for some different types of shots, it is always nice to meet somewhere different for the pre shoot, so that the wedding pictures do not resemble the pre shoot pictures too much, you cannot get a more different location than the streets of Digbeth!

It was a fun shoot, here are some of my favourites, looking forward to trying some new things with Judy and Dan in August, I know they are on my wavelength when it comes to the photos, so it should be a good laugh all round!!

The below picture is a Steve Gerrard inspired picture from his workshop that I attended in March, he talked about how anonymous portraits are good for promotion, advertisements etc. I quite like my willow hearts!!

Congratulations to both of you and thank you for booking me for your wedding, so looking forward to the day!! xx

Keshia's Album Photoshoot - She's a Tiny person with a big voice!!

2011-04-24T15:35:00.000-07:00

One thing for certain is that I have two step children to be proud of, well I use the term 'children' very loosely because they are both now adults and making their way in life. One thing they have always been encouraged to do by both their parents is follow their dreams, pursue their talents to the highest level they can and more importantly to do the things that make them happy. My step daughter Keshia decided to take a year out this year from Education, after doing really very well at A Level, she decided it was time to have a break from academic stuff and pursue her passion and her love for writing music and singing. With the full support of her family behind her, there really is no stopping her and we are really proud of what she has achieved in such a short space of time.

Anyway, as part of the album launch I was tasked with a few things, the priority to shoot the album cover for the album! Hmm, nervous? just a little bit! But after a few studio sessions experimenting with themes we have finally come up with the look, and image that fits perfectly with the album. Keshia wrote all the material for the album and she recorded it at Astar Studios in Lancashire, it was produced by Mercury Prize Nominee Andy Ross - it very quickly emerged that the two of them make a really great team when it comes to music production. I have been tapping my feet, walking around humming the tunes to myself and anyone else who cares to listen for the past week or so (not quite as well as Keshia!) and yes I probably am biased, but I genuinely do have a great feeling about this album and what the future holds for Keshia in terms of singing and writing. In life this is what gives her a lot of pleasure and in the same way that I feel really happy if I have taken some great shots, she finds satisfaction in others enjoying and understanding her music. I'm no great writer, so I will just talk you through some of my favourite images from the shoot. Thanks to Fi at Addixxtion for lending us some of the hats and corsets for the shoot, they really helped us style this shoot perfectly and Keshia is really happy with the results.

Out of all the images, this first one is probably my favourite, just because the black and white tones suit the shot so perfectly, and Keshia looks so beautiful and 'classic' in this shot.

Ok so her hair isn't really blue, but blue hair would really suit her and by adding a subtle blue tone to her hair, I think this shot looks really great and there is such emphasis on Keshia's gorgeous big blue Dory eyes (reference Finding Nemo!) also just in case you were wondering it is all her own hair!!

I can't remember what she laughed at for this shot, but it is a very "Keshia" like giggle that was produced and I just like it because she is smiling through her eyes and looks genuinely happy :)

I love the look in these three shots, we beg borrowed and stole items for this look, so thanks to those that contributed!!

We wanted to incorporate some elements of dance to the shoot, because this is another thing that Keshia loves, she will be incorporating dance into some of her future music videos (to be produce by Simon Clarke Video Production) which we are immensely excited about, filing should start very soon for that but he is a very busy guy and we are really pleased he could fit the music video into his crazy schedule!!

It's hard to say anything about each individual shot because we were so pleased with how the shoot went and normally Keshia is quite a difficult customer to please, but she loved loads of the shots this time and choosing a select few was far more difficult!!

So the album entitled 'Circles' is going to be released on iTunes very soon and Keshia will be performing as much as she can throughout the summer, we will be posting lots of updates to keep everyone informed and hope you will see Keshia through this journey. We would be really grateful if you would follow her on Twitter and join her Facebook fan page. For a sneak preview of the album click on the picture below and visit You Tube to listen to some of Keshia's songs, the preview is about 3 mins long and it has a snippet of several of the album tracks.

Thank you Keshia for trusting me to do your album cover justice, I can't wait to see it onsale on iTunes and I hope everyone loves the album as much as we all do. You did good Biz xxxxx

Nathan and Louise - A Beautiful Day at Marston Farm Hotel

2011-04-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

I would say that it is usual for me to click with the couples I work with, I think that is one of the deciding factors for most couples whether or not to book their photographer, I can honestly say the majority of my clients are the sort of people I would be friends with and it's really nice to say that I have made lots of new friends through this amazing job! Nathan and Louise are no exception, they were absolutely brilliant to work with and just so much fun to be around. I have changed the layout of my blog slightly, because I am working on rebranding and 'testing the water' for the next few blog posts until I find a format and a theme that I am happy with, so any feedback is really appreciated.

This is a jam packed blog, full of images from their day, and I hope it shows what a wonderful day it was, full of laughter and emotion. The wedding took place at Marston Farm Hotel and the evening entertainment was Tom Vaughan, who not only gave a great performance as a vocalist, but was also accompanied by the most impressive rig I have seen at any wedding to date, I would really recommend Tom Vaughan for any wedding or party entertainment.

Congratulations to a truly amazing couple, Mr and Mrs Day, may you have so many years of happiness together :) xx

The Studio - An Introduction

2011-04-11T01:06:00.000-07:00

A while back before christmas, I became a partner in Image Red studio's in Tamworth, this was a fabulous way of acquiring my own studio space and it will definitely give me a warm environment to shoot portraits in the winter months. So I thought I would give an update on how things have been going! There's been many people through the door and I am hoping there will be many more, we also have the onsite canvas manufacturing facility, so it's really easy to get that piece of wall art after your shoot!

Here's some recent visitors to the studio including a bump, a few cheeky monkey's, some people in love - oh you get the idea....

One of my favourite shots is this one of Charlie showing his Daddy that he can have the upper hand!!

but really it went something like this of course....

There are some more, but I have run out of time for now, so if you or anyone you know are interested in booking a shoot, please let me know....

Hxx

Claire and Kyle - Pre Wedding Meeting at The Ashes in Endon

2011-04-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

I met with Claire an Kyle yesterday, along with their two children and Claire's Mum at The Ashes in Endon, they will be getting married there in May and "woo hoo!!" I love this venue and what a lovely bride and groom they will be!!

The Ashes never, ever ceases to amaze me, every time I go there it looks even more amazing and beautiful. If I ever persuade my husband that a vow renewal would be a good idea (maybe for our 10 year anniversary or something!!) this is the place I think I want it to be!!

Yesterday there was a magnificent blanket of bright yellow daffodils on the banks behind the pond, so beautiful the epitome of spring, and then as the daffodils fade, I believe there will be a mass of bluebells to take their place (so I am told) I hope I get to see those in all their glory! We were greeted by a very friendly dog who had been enjoying a refreshing swim by the looks of things :) I know that look only too well as my labrador is definitely very fond of the water and muddy puddles!!

Claire and Kyle joined me for a pre wedding meeting, this was the first time we had met and it was really good to get off to a great start, lovely to see a couple that make each other laugh so much, look so comfortable together and the images, I hope depict a relationship that is quite special and strong. I am really looking forward to their wedding, Claire will be a stunning bride and their daughter Lily May will be an adorable flower girl, I am sure they won't mind if she and her gorgeous little brother steal some of the limelight on the day.

Here are a few more of my favourite shots from the shoot....enjoy!

This was a very enjoyable shoot - really looking forward to the wedding, watch this space!!!!

Remember that all my packages include a complimentary pre wedding shoot like this, a lovely momento of your engagement....x

Success - Our First Model Evening for Photographers is a hit!!

2011-04-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

Having the new studio has inspired me to encourage other photographers to take the plunge! into studio photography... I decided to hold a model evening for photographer's at the studio, with the sole purpose of giving other photographers - whatever their level or experience - the opportunity to try out the studio environment, but without the task of finding their own models/makeup artists etc. We put it all under one roof so all the participants needed to do was bring their camera!! Except Luke (Chadwick-Jones) who was a complete photography beginner and he used my camera for the shoot, I have a feeling Luke will be joining us again as he really seemed to enjoy the session and he has a natural talent for photography.

It was an assisted set with three different lighting set ups over the course of two hours. We had three models, Keshia, Sally and Kirsty, who I would like to thank for their professionalism and their beauty - all of the participants found the models very easy to work with, to give direction to and also to take the lead on occasion.

I was very excited and a little bit nervous when I was organising this evening, all I wanted was for everyone to get enough shooting time and to enjoy the evening - everyone that attended has given such positive feedback, it was nice to meet some familiar and some new faces. I was Joined by mum and daughter team Fran and Jo, who were both new to studio work although both keen photographers, Bill, who is a member of the Aston and Erdington Photographic Society, has extensive experience of all different kinds of photography, but this was also his first time in a studio environment, Malcolm who has experience using his own mobile studio kit for family portraits, John (who I know through The MPA) who is an experienced wedding photographer and wanted to try out the studio, and Thomas, who was also at the Steve Gerrard Wedding Photography workshop I blogged about in March, already armed with experience and a love of photography, the studio was also a new experience for him.

Here are some of my favourite shots from the evening which everyone has kindly emailed me to demonstrate the types of shots that can be achieved at one of our photographers evenings, which will now be a regular slot at the studio - Next Event is 30th April at 2pm Book Now

More images can be found Here

Thank you to everyone that played a part in the success of this photographer's evening, it was nice to meet such a lovely group of people :)

A Family Shoot - At Shugborough Hall

2011-04-04T15:18:00.000-07:00

Oh it's so lovely to be asked by past wedding clients to take some family portraits for them, and this was no exception. I photographed Mark and Penny's beautiful wedding back in August ... this is them...

....so I was really pleased when contacted by their sister in law to arrange to take some family photos for them.

We met on a rather chilly day a few weeks ago at Shugborough and here is a snippet.....

Good Doll, Bad Doll - Themed photoshoot with Sian Robertson

2011-03-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

Here's something a little different for the blog, and whilst you may be visiting because you are searching for a wedding or portrait photographer, which of course I would be pleased about because I love weddings and I love photographing people, it is always nice to be asked to be involved in projects that somewhat push the creative boundaries in your mind.

So when fellow photographer Sian Robertson suggested we collaborated on a shoot, with the theme 'Good Doll, Bad Doll' I thought this would definitely be something a little bit different, and it really was!

Although I was not the main photographer on this shoot, I was mainly studio host, tea/coffee maker, costume finder, toy stealer (thank you gorgeous Dylan for lending us his Teddington and toys for the shoot), lighting assistant, light stand etc etc it was a really great day at the studio.

So here is out Good Doll, Nicola: Make up/body art by Katy Bird, image by Helen Howard Photography

And our Bad Doll Puppet, Siobhan: Make up and Hair by Kerri Louise image by Helen Howard Photography

We have just launched our 2nd Photographers Model Day for Saturday 30th April and this one is going to be themed: Body Art, details are on the website just click the link if you are interested in photographing on one of our model days.

Sian will be posting many more pictures from yesterday's photoshoot as she was snapping away for hours whilst I made tea; badly!

If you are a model and you are looking for some different shots for your portfolio, please do not hesitate to contact us for details of our portfolio days.

Thanks to everyone that took part, our models, our make up and hair experts and of course Sian.

xxx

A Really, really long wedding post!! Chad and Nicola - a collaboration with Sean O'Dell Photography

2011-03-23T02:33:00.000-07:00

On the morning of 26th February I set off to the stunning Highgate House in Northamptonshire for the wedding of Nicola and Chad (who you may have seen earlier in the blog for their pre wedding shoot) - this wedding was my first collaboration with another photographer Sean O'Dell and hopefully a first of many in the future.

I was really excited about photographing this wedding, not only because of the collaboration with Sean (something new and exciting for both our businesses) but also because Nicola's family is a family I have had the pleasure of working with before and they are such a fantastic and lovely bunch of people! Nicola's youngest sister is also a friend of a very good friend of mine, so I was really happy to be seeing lots of familiar faces.

Just shortly after the wedding, I was deeply saddened to learn that there was an unexpected bereavement in the family and so I hope we have been able to give them some images they would treasure always of such a happy time and happy memories, and in time I hope it will help with the healing process.

I am not going to talk too much about the day, it was a happy, amazing, perfect day for everyone, but I wanted to show off a wide selection of images as I feel they speak for themselves, atmosphere, the romance and the relaxed and candid approach both Sean and I have adopted comes through.

The feedback we have had from Chad and Nicola has been amazing, they said they were 'blown away' by the images and now have the task of choosing the ones they would like in their album. No rush though, take your time...

Sean has recently relocated to Maidstone in Kent and I am based in Lichfield in Staffordshire, both of us will travel UK wide for your wedding, so if you are interested in booking either of us individually or as a team please contact us with your requirements.

Finally a write up and a few pictures from the Steve Gerrard Photography Workshop

2011-03-21T18:35:00.000-07:00

If there is one thing that Steve Gerrard does well, it is photography (slight under statement!!!) his work is flippin awesome! So when he announced he was going to be running some photography workshops at his Custard Factory studio, I absolutely made sure I got a place on it and it was a good job I woke early the morning it was announced, because it sold out in less than 24 hours, due to popular demand he soon announced more dates (phew for anyone that had been disappointed to not make it onto the first course).

When I first discovered Steve's work about 4 years ago, he really had only just started out as a wedding photographer, although he had established himself as a music photographer (he's photographed some really big names U2, Prodigy, Paul Weller, Kings of Leon to name but a few and more recently Justin Bieber) he just had a very individual style about his photography which has had me intrigued and hooked to his blog from the day I discovered his work. One of the things I love about his blog is how personable he comes across, Steve openly shares images of his wife Evelyne and three children (their three gorgeous boys) and I think is is impossible for his clients to not read his blog and already have a sense that they know the man behind the camera (or at least know a little bit about him). So having followed Steve's work for sometime, I thought this would be a great opportunity to learn a bit about what he does and how he does it. If you are interested in buying any of his music prints he is selling them to help the Red Cross Appeal for the Japan Earthquake here.

The best piece of advice Steve gave us was to 'compare yourself to you and get better' and not 'compare yourself to others and get bitter' - this is actually a very valuable thing to understand and live by. As a photographer you strive to learn something new every time you pick up your camera, and every time you photograph someone or something you want your work to evolve, appeal to others, give people happy memories of a particular event in their life whether it is an engagement shoot, wedding or the arrival of a newborn baby, all those elements amount to a level of job satisfaction. Looking back at how you have progressed over time will help you to continue to improve and develop, rather than worrying that your work is not as good as someone else's, different types of photography are always going to appeal to people differently.

What I would say to anyone considering this course, is to go for it. There isn't a single question you won't feel you can ask, because Steve answers you honestly and even if you feel a little stupid asking something, he in no way makes you feel like it was a stupid question and will give you his take on something. He shares some of the mistakes he made early on, to basically give you that element of hindsight i.e don't make the same mistakes, he shares his methods of making your business a business and not just a hobby that you get paid a bit for doing occasionally. Although he takes his work very seriously, he has a natural and infectious passion for photography.

It was really nice to meet Evelyne and also Emma Case, who is another inspiring photographer, whose work I am completely in love with, her style is vintage and retro style photography and it is very unique and defined, also a great day to meet with other photographers who are embarking on this amazing career path that I have been lucky enough to find and realise. It strikes me how all of us in some ways have little insecurities about our work, even the most amazing photographers can still say the one thing they need is more confidence and so via Twitter and other social networking sites I can see the importance of hitting the 'like' button if I see something I like (Although I think Facebook still needs a 'love' or 'really, really, really like button) but if you see something that someone else has done, comment on it, critique it, like it or love it, just make sure you tell them, because they might seem like they have all the confidence and talent in the world, but they still might not yet quite believe themselves.

So I am not going to go into detail about what Steve talked about on the course, it was quite intense and full of lots of info and advice (summary can be found on his blog about what he will discuss). We went out onto the streets of Digbeth with two models and had some fun doing what we all love and I have included some of my favourite shots in this blog from the day.

So I went of on a bit of a tangent in this blog, but really what the day did for me, was give me some new ideas to work on, try out and some new skills to learn and develop and adapt to my own style. The one thing you can't do is copy someone else's work or style because it is unique to them and comes from within them, a poor copy or imitation will just look poor on you. What you can do however is learn the techniques used to create certain effects and adapt them to what you do already or what comes naturally to you as a photographer.

Thanks to both the models, they were fantastic!!

Steve demonstrates using reflections in the roof of a car:

My favourite images are the last two here:

Photoshoot with Jo from KissXX of Lichfield

2011-03-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

My absolute favourite bridal shop, but then I am biased because this is where I found my dream dress!! Kissxx in Lichfield is a family run business, with the welcoming and warm atmosphere that you would expect from a company run my mother and daughter, they are so approachable and inviting that any self conscious bride to be would feel very comfortable having their dress buying experience here. There are plenty of beautiful dresses to choose from, I would gladly spend a day trying them all on!!

So it was a bitterly cold February morning, when Jo of Kissxx and I ventured out into Lichfield to take some photos, Jo modelling a beautiful gown and a warm fluffy bolero jacket (who could blame her, I know she was also sporting a pair of leggings under that beautiful dress but who'd know!!!) me armed with my camera and various other bits of kit, we strolled around the city finding some beautiful spots, our favourite being by the Cathedral, where Jo was congratulated and photographed by tourists! (we had to laugh!) and we also found a lovely green garage door on the way back to the shop. Here are some of my favourite shots, it was a very cold, dark morning, I took the flash off camera to create some mysterious night effect shots (slightly experimental, but I am happy with the results) and we just had a bit of fun with it.

My thanks to Jo for being such a good model!! Can't wait to do this again sometime soon!!!!

A busy weekend of photographing 'People in Love' - Part3

2011-03-08T07:10:00.000-08:00

Introducing Mark and Laura, who I will be photographing in May when they get married at the truly wonderful venue Somerford Hall, Brewood (my no. one venue!!! love it!!)

Laura contacted me some time ago through the Wedding Ideas Forum, and she was really keen to book me after reading some lovely reviews from past clients on the wedding forum (thank you ladies who put your reviews on there).

As I have done a number of weddings at Somerford Hall, we chose to do the pre shoot in Lichfield, we met by the Cathedral and did a little walk around town, chatting about photography and the wedding and generally just getting to know a little bit about each other.

Pre wedding shoots are something that I include for all my clients, because it is undoubtedly a valuable experience for both myself and my clients. It gives you an insight into how I work, the quality of my work and it helps you to feel totally at ease in front of the camera and for me, it helps me to know a little bit more about what you like in photographs and also what you don't like, so I can concentrate on what you are looking for from your wedding photography.

Hopefully if you have booked me then you already like what I do, but nevertheless, a pre wedding shoot acts as an ice breaker and a little warm up for the real thing!

Here are some of my favourite shots from Sunday's shoot.

As you can see, a smile will really make a picture, laughing and joking amongst yourselves with little or no direction from myself is really what it is all about. Mark and Laura are gonna be a breeze to photograph because all they do is smile!! Well Laura giggles a lot, but that's fine by me!!

Thanks so much for being a really fun couple to work with!!

A busy weekend of photographing 'People in Love' - Part2

2011-03-08T03:06:00.000-08:00

So the next part of my Sunday, I went 2 miles down the road to Marston Farm Hotel to meet Louise and Nathan for their pre shoot. This was the first time I had met Nathan as he had previously been working away, so it was really nice to meet them as a couple and I am sure that their wedding is going to be fab and lots of fun.

Here is my favourite pick from the shoot, by the time I met with them the sun had broken through and the skies were blue, although still really chilly!!!

Thanks to Nathan and Louise for being a good laugh, and well done to Louise for not falling into the canal, after about 3 attempts!! Let's hope that's not one she is saving for the wedding day!!!

A busy weekend of photographing 'People in Love' - Part1

2011-03-08T02:31:00.000-08:00

So really I have had the best two weeks!! I kickstarted my 2011 weddings with an amazing collaboration with Sean O'Dell for an awesome bride and groom, Chad and Nicola, I will blog in a separate post once they have returned from their honeymoon, but I am really excited about the images I have seen so far from Sean and looking forward to putting the images together for the final set!

I've had a bump shoot at the studio with Jenny and Tristan (with only about 7 days to go before their due date) - I photographed their wedding back in 2008 when I had just gone full time as a photographer, so it was really nice to catch up with them on the next part of their wonderful life journey together, cannot wait to meet their new arrival once he or she makes an entrance! I've had a family shoot, a product shoot and also 3 pre wedding shoots last weekend, which gave me a chance to catch up with some of my couples before their April/May weddings. In amongst all of that I attended a photography workshop with Steve Gerrard Photography (if you are a photographer I would recommend this course, it was such an inspiring day, but again - separate blog coming soon!!) And I also had a shoot for KissXX Bridal in and around Lichfield!! Fun days!! Edit, edit, edit!!

So with all this going on I just haven't sat down to blog recently so I am giving myself a well needed boot, to blog some of my recent work.

This weekend I took the flash off my camera and used some of the techniques that Steve spoke about on the course, it is all about taking your photography to the next level and continuing to learn and improve to give 100% for your clients.

My sunday morning started of at The Belfry near Lichfield to meet Nikki and Joe before their wedding in April. I know their day is going to be full of fun, because although quite shy about the camera being pointed at them at first, they very quickly relaxed and I think they may have even enjoyed the shoot! So although it was overcast and chilly, they sun did finally breakthrough and we explored the grounds of the Belfry to plan some of the locations we might choose on the wedding day for photographs.

Here is a selection of my favourite shots from their shoot.

Thank you to Nikki and Joe for being so easy to work with, really looking forward to the wedding!!!