Over the last couple of days  I have been  back up in the Lakes with the lovely Aspire Photography Training. This time it was to spend time with one of their bespoke groups to talk about how we approach and photograph our weddings. Group 35 were amazing bunch of guys, really enthusiastic and keen to learn. On the first day I just joined the group and the end of the day to listen and observe whilst Catherine & Jane talked about the marketing side of the business. It’s always interesting listening to the questions that the Bespoke members put to both Catherine & Jane. I’m listening very closely because there is always something new you can learn from these guys.

On the second day I took the group through the whole process of photographing a wedding, from planning to execution.  We were joined on the shoot by a lovely couple, Sarah & James who were lucky to get married on the fab island of Sicily. They acted as our models as I took the group through how to set up and shoot an engagement shot. Then in the afternoon we headed out into the village of Burton in Kendal for some wedding pictures, first to the lovely church and then off to a beautiful location to do the couple shots.

As ever the day was set up and organised by the fab Rachel. She is an ace stylist and always puts in a superb effort. Here are a few of my pictures from the day.

Earlier this week I spent another great day with the team at Aspire Photography Training. This time it was ‘I Do I Do I Do’ workshop which gives the chance for photographers to come up and spend some time building their portfolio for their wedding business. The first part of the day is spend with me going over how we approach a wedding and discuss the things that work really well for us. Then it was outside into the rain! Yes rain! It was supposed to be a nice warm day 25 degrees and blue sky. But we must have had a little micro climate of our own because it pretty much rained all day. But as with weddings you can’t say can we come back another day – so on we went. First it was shooting a pre-wed with the ace couple Rebecca & Scott then some wedding shots with Faye & Chris.

The afternoon session was built around the delegates having around 40 minutes with each of the couples. We were joined by a third couple Petra & James. So everyone spent 2 hours shooting 3 different couples. Then back for some coffee and to dry our feet ( my converses will never be the  same again ). We finished off with a bit of Q&A before heading back home.

It was a fab day with a great bunch of people. If you want to get involved with the same course – Aspire are running it again on the 1st of November 2011

I did a great pre-wedding shoot last week at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. This is a lovely location. We take the kids there a lot to have a good run about and get inspired by the great works of modern art on display.  I met up with Katie & Peter who are getting married at Aston Hall in July. The weather was fab as has been all April and May so far. Long may it continue into September. Anyway, it was great to get to know Katie & Peter a bit better – they were fantastic models and really good company. I’m really looking forward to their wedding which is in July.

Here are a few pictures from the other day.

Back on a cold Saturday in January we did Emma & Steve’s pre-wedding shoot. Well this coming weekend is their big day so I thought I would share some of the images with you. We spent the morning at Pontefract race course and I felt like a naughty kid again by having to jump over fences to get into the race course. Needless to say it wasn’t a pretty sight me clambering over fences.

I was great walking round a deserted race course and we managed to avoid the cameras to get some fun shots. Emma & Steve’s reception is at the Wentbridge House Hotel which is a fab place – Lou & I should know as it is where we had our wedding reception 15 years ago! Look out for some images from the wedding next week (Emma and Steve’s , not ours!)

Just before I went away I met up with Helen & Dan at Hazlewood Castle. This is the venue they are getting married at in October. We had some coffee and chatted about how their preparations were coming along before we headed out to do the pre-wedding shoot. As they are getting married here rather than do the usual Hazlewood locations we went for a walk around the bridle paths and into the woods. Not something I had done before but we found some great locations like the old roller. It would be lovely to bring a bride down here and do some shots. Maybe I  can convince Helen as it will be a beautiful autumnal day when they get married!

Check out the shots here and watch the slideshow to see the rest of the images from the day.

Helen + Dan from Barber Photography on Vimeo.

Back to the end of April we go and it seems that time is flying this year.  I met up with Hannah and Gavin for their Pre-Wed shoot around Saltaire near Shipley. If you ever get the chance and not made it to this part of the world check out  Salts Mill and the David Hockney gallery 1853. A great place to come and be inspired. So it makes it a great location to take couples and walk along the canal to chat about their wedding plans. Like with all our couples we try and make this process as easy as possible. This usually means starting off with a large coffee or something stronger sometimes! But once we start I find the couples really getting into the pre-wedding shoot and start enjoying it. I have to say with Gavin he was a natural and loved playing up to the camera. We have just covered there wedding last month at the amazing Ripley Castle. It was a great day and made all the more interesting with the guys all wearing black tartan kilts. More of that to follow very soon. But in the meantime enjoy the slideshow below of some more images from their shoot.

A couple of weeks ago I had my first pre-wedding shoot of 2010. Michelle and Richard are a great couple and came out and braved the cold for a shoot around the Holbeck Urban Village area of Leeds. It is a location that has been slowly regenerated and is now starting to be a thriving part of Leeds with its bars, cafes and trendy offices. The businesses around here are focused on creative & digital media and is the location we hold our 3B Media training courses (being cool and trendy ourselves!!). It’s a great location for shoots as it offers the best of both worlds – a little bit country, a little bit rock & roll!

At the start of the shoot I think Richard was a bit unsure of what was going to happen but threw himself into the morning and by the end of the shoot was really enjoying it. The pre-wedding shoot is a good way for me to get to know our clients and find more about their wedding days but also to take the fear out of having their picture taken. Anyway Michelle & Richard’s plans for their wedding seem to moving along apace and we are really looking forward to meeting up with them in August for their wedding at Waterton Park – it sould be a fabulous day.

Check out more of the images in the slideshow at the bottom of the post.

This week’s pre-wedding shoot blog number two now. I met up with Emma & Steve at their wedding venue, Woodlands Hotel, for their pre wedding shoot and planning meeting. Emma and Steve booked us for their wedding back in 2007 so I hadn’t seen them for aaages. It was great to catch up and natter about their plans for the day. It’s unusual for me to do pre-wedding shoots at wedding venues, so it was nice to be back at Woodlands without the pressure and wedding day nerves (yes, photographers get them too!) and we were able to have a good old mooch around the gorgeous grounds without having to worry about a) the time and b) getting white dresses and Jimmy Choos muddy.

Anyway, here are a few more of Emma and Steve’s pics. Guys, we’re so excited for your wedding in September – we’ll see you then!

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]]> http://www.philbarberblog.com/index.php/2009/08/04/emma-steve-pre-wedding-shoot-5th-july-2009/feed/ 0 http://www.philbarberblog.com/index.php/2009/08/03/samantha-paul-pre-wedding-shoot-4th-july-2009/ http://www.philbarberblog.com/index.php/2009/08/03/samantha-paul-pre-wedding-shoot-4th-july-2009/#comments Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:39:09 +0000 Phil http://www.philbarberblog.com/?p=1420  

Well, after having a few days r&r chillin’ out with the kids (school holidays and all that) I’m catching up AGAIN on some blog posts.

First up is Samantha & Paul’s pre-wedding shoot. We did the shoot at the venue for their wedding, Stanley House Hotel near Blackburn in Lancashire. It’s a hotel  we haven’t worked before, although I’m really getting to know and love the area around north Lancashire having spent a bit of time travelling around visiting clients. It’s a gorgeous little pocket of beautiful countryside which is quite the hidden gem, with some beautiful little villages and stunning scenery.

It was great to see Sam & Paul again and as usual it was fantastic to get to know them a bit better at their pre-wed. Their plans for their wedding sound amazing and we can’t wait to see them all come to fruition on the big day in September.

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Where did June go? We’re already halfway through July, the kids break up from school today (so obviously it’s started chucking it down today – thinking of building an ark in the shed..)

Anyway, on the 1st of July I spent the evening in the company of Rachel & Ian down at Clarence Dock in Leeds for their pre-wedding shoot. We were lucky with the weather and Clarence Dock is  fantastic location to work the funky, contemporary style of photography that I love.

Rachel and Ian were a cool couple to work with – we didn’t have time to fit in their planning meeting after their shoot like I usually do so I’m looking forward to meeting up with them again in the next few weeks to chat about their wedding day, which is at Allerton Castle in September.

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