This special gathering was to celebrate the 1st Birthday and christening of her grand daughter ‘Frankie’. Starting at Weymouth Baptist Church on a day with the worst weather that could possibly be thrown our way, the family gathered for the christening before moving on to a private party at the squash club. Amazingly I bumped into one of this years grooms-to-be Andy, who’s wedding I will be documenting later this year – a small world indeed

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We all know the amount of time and effort goes into researching and sourcing all the various elements that need to come together for that perfect wedding day.  From place settings to suppliers, all the details that you entrust your wedding photographer to capture for all posterity. These memories will be be preserved and presented in an album that will do the rounds being shown to many friends and family. You may even get some wonderful wall art prints made and have them framed with pride of place within your home.

But what about the one thing that we all choose to wear as a reminder of our wedding day and love for our partners – the wedding ring!  Some may feel that a ring is just a ring, yellow gold, white gold, platinum or titanium its all much of a muchness.  Others may want the boutique presentation with the Tiffany’s box but now there is a new market emerging with couples wanting jewellery that is ‘ethical’ or ‘Fairtrade‘, which doesn’t mean that it has been recycled from scrap.

Fair trade or ethical jewelry has used gold sourced from specific mines through the ‘Fair trade’ organisation and the workers involved in the mining and production have been paid a fair wage for their efforts.  The amount of jewellers or Goldsmiths offering this product has been limited and closely controlled, and clients wishing to wear ‘ethical’ jewellery were often limited on choice of suppliers.

This is still the case and will continue to be so, but how about taking the next step with making something REALLY UNIQUE!  Why not make your own Wedding rings, whilst being expertly guided by a Master Goldsmith with over 20 years experience.  We have all heard the expression that something ‘ was made with love’, well this has to be the definative wedding gift, made with love to signify your love for one another.

I caught up with Gavin & Kim when they were visiting Good as Gold Goldsmiths of Weymouth. They were visiting the goldsmiths studio last Saturday morning, as the first clients to be taught and expertly guided through making their own weddings bands. Gavin was to make Kim’s ring from ‘Fairtrade’ gold, whilst Kim was to make Gavin’s ring from recycled gold. This was the first time in the UK that a bride to be had made her own ring from ‘Fairtrade’ gold, and probably a first time that a couple had made one another’s rings!

Couples can have the choice of what materials they wish to use, whether it be ‘fair trade’ gold or recycled white, yellow or platinum.  Roughly taking about 4 hours from start to finish, the rings are finished on site before being sent off for hallmarking and are ready for collection within the week.

Couples wishing to make that really personal statement of their love should get in touch through the website or on the following telephone number: 01305 783355

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What made it special, was that I have also been the photographer to take both her and Marc’s engagement photos along with their fun filled wedding photos last year at the Prince Regent Hotel.  I have been priviledged to be invited time and again to share and document the three biggest events in their lives over the last 2 years.  I have had the pleasure to meet their lovely family on several occasions and have seen the special relationship and love they share.

The new addition to the family is certainly going to be well loved & cared for by all with elder brothers and sisters on hand to fuss over.  I believe Selma is even taking a first aid course and hoping to become a professional baby sitter!

Here is a selection from our session that provided some lovely images that I hope really encapsulate the beauty of pregnancy, the anticipation and of course the ‘fun’!

I am really looking forward to the next chapter in Charlotte & Marc’s story and the arrival of their little one. Following their journey and documenting lifes key moments as a Dorset wedding Photographer, to a Pregnancy Photographer and shortly donning the hat of a Newborn Baby Photographer, I can’t wait to capture the little bundle of joy and record the key moments from a newborn to a toddler.  Such instances only further inforce why I love my job and why I strive to push boundaries in delvering products & services that my clients love & cherish.

Here’s wishing you all good luck & best wishes Charlotte & Marc with the safe arrival of the little one & hoping to capture some more beautiful images when you are ready!

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But boy am I pleased that they did find me, as it is such a unique and amazing place for anyone to tie the knot.  Both Emma & John are keen animal lovers both having rescue greyhounds that they bought with them for the weekend, along with being members and supporters of the Monkey World charity and the work they do.

I was very interested to work at this venue as it was going to be a challenge to really get some great images that said it all, “A wedding at Monkey World”!  Would we have the weather and would all the primates be out and about, in the right place at the right time, we certainly wouldn’t be able to choreograph anything , that was for sure.  Such instances are exactly what documentary wedding photography are all about, I suppose – you take it as it comes and work with whatever is there in front of you, come rain or shine.

Well thankfully it was shine whilst the ceremony and camera’s needed it, and the primates were spectacularly on form.  A small gathering of family and friends for the ceremony outside the Chimpanzee enclosure and a one to one guided trip around the park with Animal Director, Jeremy Keeling provided some great photo opportunities and fond memories for all.

I can honestly say that not only was it a fun day but it was also one of the hardest weddings to photograph.  To capture the interraction and moments of connection between Emma & John and the primates, was all about getting the correct angle not only for the subjects but more importantly for the perspex!  If you didn’t go with the light and get the angle right, then the perspex would act like a mirror and the monkey was obscured.

Here is a brief selection of images from the day, that I hope captures all the best of Monkey World Wedding Photography.

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Some of whom had not been paid for the last 10 months, and frightened to leave the ship incase they jeopodized their back pay. Now six months later it seems that the situation is drawing to a close, with the ship to be sold to pay the debts of the mooring, along with damages to the fish farm and should there be anything remaining, the sailors wages. The four remaining sailors will be leaving for their homelands of Turkey and Georgia later this week to see family that they have been separated from for up to a year and a half!

All along this difficult process the only assistance offered to the sailors has been through the charity ‘The Apostleship of the Sea‘, who have supplied food, a little money and most importantly hospitality and interraction with the outside world.

It was wonderful to meet everyone and learn about the great work undertaken by the Apostleship, along with seeing this particular story coming to its conclusion. I was asked to go onboard with Rev Roger Stone and to document the charities work for their internal magazine and press campaigns.

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Well, what luck – the weather decided to grace us with clear blue skies and this family portrait photographer was in his element with having the rich back drop of The Fleet and great light within which to work.  With her children and grandchildren all sharing in the celebrations and enjoying a long weekend at the luxury hotel, I arrived at Moonflett Manor Hotel to capture some special family portraits celebrating Dodo’s 85th birthday.

Moonfleet Manor is a really lovely, quiet hotel that really is a luxury home from home & certainly a great choice for a weekend getaway.  The staff were great, even allowing me to pinch one of their employees as a lighting assistant! As for my subjects, they too were wonderful, warm & friendly people that were a delight to meet and work for.  We worked very quickly and got a great selection of images as a momento of the day, even throwing in some relaxed fun shots at the end to add variety into the set.

As it was such a  special family occasion there was one final touch from me.  I edited & processed the images quickly so that everyone had the chance to see the finished images over breakfast on the Sunday morning.  This was very much appreciated, and likewise I am very happy that the weekend was a success for the birthday girl, the weather and their great choice in photographer!

Would you believe that within 2 hours of this photo session, the heavens opened and the rain tumbled down for the rest of the weekend? Such is the weather system here in Dorset.  We really were lucky that day and thats the way I intend to stay!

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This image is one of those.  This was my first wedding at Monkey World and I didn’t know what to expect nor how I would get that definative image.

Like all jobs I arrived early and had a good look round, viewing the ceremony area, which happened to be one of the main viewing areas for the main chimpanzee enclosure.  I was recording the scene and trying to get something different when this presented itself!  The primates are all too aware that when the wedding chairs come out it means one thing to them – extra food and attention.  So they start patrolling the enclosure and keeping the proceedings very much under eye.

This image just says it all to me, before any of the guests had taken their places, the ‘forward’ search party was doing a preliminary sweep of the area.  With the three viewing windows framed, the centre window has the main chimp glancing back through at the dressed wedding chairs.  One detail shot that you certainly dont see everyday on the pages of your wedding magazine!

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That quick snap along with using the ‘baby’s room as a make shift studio, part decorated and awaiting wall papering – just screamed out for us to get creative and arty!

Now with wanting to capture something that was ‘Charlotte’, I didn’t want to suggest what to write or how to do it.  A few ideas came and went and then this – the immortal words that all children seem to utter, over and over…… ” Are we there yet ?”  Well this time its Charlotte that is looking forward to getting there and seeing her new arrival.

So for now I present the inspiration from Ben and the resulting photo from me !  Hope you like em

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As a Family Portrait Photographer I could see this as being a wonderful opportunity to capture and was really looking forward to the session, the only concern that I had was the weather.  To say things were changeable, was an under statement as April showers were looming and had been with us for the previous week and forecast for the foreseeable future!

Come the Saturday morning though, what a gift!!  The blue sky was here again and the light was lovely – I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Heres a quick preview of Dodo with her grandchildren with the rolling Dorset hills in the background, more to follow later in the week.

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Weddings are still held regularly at the Holy Trinity Fleet and as a Holy Trinity Wedding photographer, I am happy to discuss arrangements with any couples wanting to marryat this venue.

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