Barber Photography » Oulton Hall

Happy Christmas & New Year

Phil — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 16:48:03 +0000

Wow! where has the year gone. It has truly been an amazing year. We have met so many interesting people and been to some incredible places in 2010. It is difficult for us to thank everyone but first I would like to say thank you to everyone of our couples this year. Every wedding has been great to be involved with and we have been made so welcome by everyone on their special day.

We’re so lucky that we work with some amazing suppliers in the wedding industry so a big thanks and happy Christmas to them, especially Fiona at Firenza, Sally and everyone at Papakata Tipis and all the amazing venues we’ve worked at this year – Allerton Castle, Hazlewood Castle, Ripley Castle (so many castles!), Oulton Hall, Rudding Park and so many others. Also big love to James at Roeni who not only is an amazingly talented designer and all round lovely chap but also designed and produced the Barber Photography Christmas cards again this year.

Thanks to my friends at Aspire up in the Lake District who have continued to inspire me this year. I’m so proud to be part of the team up there and really excited with the projects for 2011. Catherine & Jane we wouldn’t be where we are today if it wasn’t for you guys.

In the my other world of 3B Media particular thank yous go to Hope & Social Si, Rich, Ed, Gary, Si & James and the peeps involved with them Ben Mark Roo. You guys have given me the most fabulous experiences this year and long may it continue into 2011.

The lads of Cities Between Us – Josh Nimal Stef Jo & Val – You rock and we are looking forward to the new album in 2011. Skylarkin for allowing us into your inner sanctum to record you guys at work. Mike Heaton for letting us get involved with your exciting project ( More of which in 2011!)

Also of course big big thanks to Rob and Barns, my 3B partners in crime. These two guys have been my biggest inspiration this year. Opening my eyes to new worlds and seeing things that would normally pass me by. They make me as giddy as a kipper. We’ve got big plans for the future helped by the wonderful Hayley who has given us the belief and focus – so 2011 will hopefully be a great year for us.

Lastly a big thank you to my main partner in crime – my gorgeous wife Lou and mother to our fab kids.These guys are the reason we do this. Lou is someone who keeps me on the straight and narrow . Gives me kick up the backside when I need it but allows me to follow my dreams not matter how stupid they may seem at the time.

Lou I love you and you are all I could ask for .

Happy Christmas everybody and have a Happy New Year.

Phil xxxxx

Becky & Simon – Oulton Hall Wedding

Phil — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 22:27:14 +0000

Just a quick post from a recent wedding we covered for Becky and Simon. If the facilities and timings at the reception venue allow for it, whilst everyone is enjoying the wedding breakfast we like to produce a slideshow of wedding photos from the day so far to show at the evening reception. We were able to do this last week at Becky and Simon’s wedding and I’ve linked to the slideshow below.

Becky was getting ready at Oulton Hall which is an amazing venue. The suites are huge so the preparation photos always look amazing. Lou spent the morning at Simon’s parents’ house in Wetherby (at this point Lou would like to thank Simon’s brother in law for providing her with a bacon sandwich which went down a treat!). The boys then moved onto nearby Bramham for a quick drink in the local pub before the ceremony in the village church.

After a lovely ceremony, lots of confetti and a few piccies everyone headed back to Oulton Hall for the reception. Fortunately the weather was OK so we could use the gardens for photos, but Oulton Hall is one of those venues where the interiors are as photogenic as the exteriors which is one of the reasons we really love working there.

Becky and Simon were such a fun couple and an absolute treat to photograph and we’d like to say thank you to them for including us in their plans. Here are a few images from their day, along with their evening slideshow.

Phil & Lou xx

Becky + Simon Oulton Hall from Barber Photography on Vimeo.

Charlotte & Paul: Wedding at Oulton Hall

Phil — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 20:41:39 +0000

Charlotte & Paul tied the knot on 14th May at the beautiful Oulton Hall Hotel. I was joined for the day by my fellow 3b chum Rob Booker who was helping out in Lou’s absence.

It was another really relaxed day with everything taking place at Oulton Hall. The dress code was Black Tie so all the men looked superb (afterwards Lou was v. perturbed she wasn’t able to be there as she loves a man in a dicky…). The black and white theme ran throughout the day with really stylish decor in the ceremony room and afterwards for the wedding breakfast.

Charlotte, of course, looked amazing and was fantastic to photograph – we love brides who can’t keep the smile from their faces!

Thanks Charlotte & Paul for sharing your day with us – we’ll see you very soon for your viewing!

Phil & Lou xx

Louise & Matthew: Wedding 20th December 2009

Phil — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:42:57 +0000

Well in all the years we’ve been photographing weddings we’ve ever really had much wintry weather to contend with. Then suddenly down comes the snow and we all go a bit wobbly and we have 4 weddings on the trot with a covering of the white stuff (I realise if you’re reading this in, e.g. Canada, we all sound like the biggest wusses over here).

Anyway, one of those weddings, the last one of 2009, was Louise & Matthews, and what a fantastic day it was. It was our final wedding before Christmas so we were in a jolly mood anyway, and Louise & Matthew were a fantastic couple to work with. Louise told us that way back when she started planning the wedding she’d envisaged a winter wonderland theme, but I don’t think she thought for a moment that the weather would cooperate!

Everything took place at Oulton Hall which looked stunning in its snowy attire, complete with frozen fountain. I spent the morning there with Louise and her party while Lou captured the boys having a pre-nuptial snowball fight in the middle of a blizzard at one of Matthew’s usher’s house. Boys will be boys.

After the ceremony we managed to persuade Louise & Matthew to go outside for some photos. Actually they didn’t take much persuading at all and really entered into it – Louise in particular must have been freezing in her (gorgeous but not really designed for sub-zero temperatures) dress.

The wedding breakfast was held in the Oulton Suite which looked amazing, all decked out with snowflakes to match the ones outside. After we’d captured some of the first dances we left Louise & Matthew and their guests to carry on partying and made our way home where we put the fire on and cracked open the sherry to celebrate another year’s successful weddings completed.

Louise & Matthew were lucky enough to spend Christmas honeymooning on a beach in the Maldives. They’re back home now, so we’d like to thank them for inviting us to be part of their day. It was such a pleasure.

Phil & Lou xxx

Joanne & James: Wedding 26th July 2009

Phil — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 22:17:38 +0000

Well, I’ve still got a couple of pre-wedding shoots to post about, but I thought I’d kick off this week’s blogging with the wedding we did yesterday.

We spent a great day with Joanne & James and their guests at Oulton Hall. It’s a fantastic venue and has recently been renovated and the rooms moved around. We haven’t worked there since the work has been done, and I have to say it looks absolutely stunning. The weather was a bit rainy on and off yesterday, but it was so gorgeous inside that it really didn’t matter.

I spent the morning at the hotel with Joanne and her entourage, while Lou whizzed off down the M1 to Steve, the best man’s, house to get some shots of the guys’ preparations. A special touch that James had organised was a gorgeous 1969 Mustang which had all the (male!) guests drooling when they arrived at Oulton Hall.

After a lovely ceremony in the newly refurbished Repton Lounge, everyone managed to get outside for a few group shots before the rain started again and we moved back inside for some more pictures and the wedding breakfast.

The evening reception was at the Claret Jug and Joanne and James wowed everyone with their first dance – a fantastic choreographed routine to an eclectic music mash-up which will no doubt find its way onto YouTube in the future – watch this space!

Joanne & James – we hope you had a fantastic day – we had a great time and loved being part of your day.

Phil & Lou xxx

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