Moment Photography

Facebook and Twitter

2011-04-23T00:14:00.004+01:00

My new website launched earlier this year has meant that it is easier for me to add content and keep news of recent photography I have been doing up to date. As I don't want to repeat myself here I am now focussing more on facebook and Twitter for bite sized chunks of news.

Why not follow me on Twitter or you can "Like" my facebook page

Richard Huish College Career Academy Charity Auction

2011-03-24T19:07:00.003Z

BIBIC charity auction

I was recently approached by Richard Huish College and asked if I would like to donate something for their Bibic charity auction. I have donated a £150 portrait voucher so please keeps the bids rolling in to raise as much as possible for BIBIC.

"The auction will be held on 6th April 2011, tickets are now on sale, click here for more info on how to get them."

You can view the auction items here.

New Website!

2011-03-24T18:35:00.002Z

Again it's been a while since I updated my blog (slapped wrists!). I have been busy as usual. I thought it was about time the website got a refresh. Now there are bigger images, navigation is improved, more information is available, I have a new logo and branding, and improved techy stuff means I am now more easy to find in Google. In fact if you look for a Somerset wedding photographer you should find me right at the top of page one, but then you already knew that because here you are.

I've also joined Twitter recently. Now you can catch up with the very latest of what has been going on with me in bite sized chunks or "tweets."

Exmoor winter photos

2010-12-30T00:50:00.008Z

After some success photographing some of Somerset's countryside I decided to head over to Exmoor when I heard low temperatures and more snow was coming. I looked at the forecast and snow was due to arrive by 9am on Exmoor so I decided to get up at 5am and leave as soon as I had everything together. Just after 6am I set off from Bridgwater.

All was dark and deathly quiet as I set off early. The M5 motorway was pretty clear and the first part of the journey not a problem. Then after about 15-20 minutes I hit the snow.....early! It was thick and visibility was very limited. Then as it worsened, so too did the amount of snow on the road. I couldn't go above 40mph on the motorway, then as I got on the smaller roads guided by the sat nav (boy did I ever need that!) I couldn't go faster than 20mph! Starting to think I should have turned back earlier I carried on and by this time was really looking forward to seeing daylight again so I could see more than 10 metres in front of me!

After some careful, steady driving I got to Exebridge and a car was stuck at the bottom of a small bridge outside a pub. Fearing the same fate, I was just about to overtake when the driver door opened and blocked my run up. Now I was stuck too! After a few attempts I got over the bridge (and the other driver turned around). I then found myself not able to get past a second bridge so I was stuck between the two. Anyway, after a lot of toing and froing I parked up safely and decided to go for a walk with my camera and reassess the situation later. As I walked along the road, a Dulverton local slowed his car to ask if I needed a lift. I took him up on his offer and off we went into Dulverton (you can see the church below).

Well as you can see I did get some nice photos which I will later turn into cards and prints. The road conditions improved and I was able to get home safely. I was quite fortunate though as it wasn't until I got to Exmoor that I realised that I had left my wallet on the coffee table before setting out!

Above we have our snowy day and below a wedding I photographed at Dulverton church one beautiful summer's day.

Somerset winter photos

2010-12-10T23:45:00.005Z

Where I live, we have had little snow until recent years, but this past year or two have been beautiful. Despite having to endure the discomfort, it's nice to get some proper winters again and enjoy the contrast to summer that a dusting of snow and a hoar frost brings.

Foolishly I missed out on getting some photos of the hoar frost last time around so I thought I would make a special effort this year to get out and see a few things whilst capturing it on camera.

I was fortunate to find a herd of ponies on Cothelstone Hill in Somerset. A couple of dominent ponies wandered over to me a few times to stand their ground and protect the herd so I had to gently move around the outside to get the shots I wanted whithout disturbing them. Luckily they didn't gallop off and were good enough to move around a bit so I could try out some different angles.

I saw this tree standing lonely in the brisk chilling wind and coated in a thick hoar frost. Much of the frost had fallen to the ground with the wind as the slow thaw had begun. It was a very strange sight looking down at the frost at my feet. The chunks of ice fallen from the tree looked and felt exactly like charcoal except being white instead of black.

"They don't make them like they used to"

2010-11-30T21:54:00.011Z

Damn, my washing machine broke the other day. Nevermind I thought, they are so cheap these days, I can easily buy another one without breaking the bank. Now as it happens my now broken washing machine was generously given to me so I at the time didn't have the luxury of choosing it.

Upon shopping around on the net I started to look more closely at the different brands and models and all the myriad of features they offered. What made one better than another and why were some up to 6 or even 7 times the cost of others? The simple answer, features and quality. This is the point where you feel completely overwhelmed trying to choose a product that both suits your needs, will last, and one that won't make you feel like you have been ripped off in the process.

Ok let's backtrack a bit here, why are things like washing machines, vacuum cleaners, microwaves and laptops so much cheaper these days? I remember when a laptop was the preserve of yuppies with flash cars. I originally thought it was because of a greater demand. I guess that is somewhat true, but my conclusion is it has more to do with giving the customer what they want at the price they want (or can afford) to pay.

So is there a negative cost to buying a vacuum cleaner for £30 and a laptop for £350? Definitely, and I think we have got so used to paying lower prices we forget why they are so low and expect the cheap product to last the lifetime of a quality product. Something like a washing machine used to last for years and families would have to stump up quite a fortune to own one, it was a big deal. Ok I'm not saying it still isn't a chunk of money to buy something like a washing machine or laptop but they are a lot more accessible these days.

Ok, obviously what I am really getting at here is our perception of the cost of a quality product. We have been tricked into thinking that cheap is good and we will still get a good product. With our wallets we have affected production processes and services, which have forced corners to be cut to fit what we can afford or the price we want to pay rather than have to pay.

In the present financial climate it's difficult to choose what seems expensive over something that is low priced. However, buy cheap, buy twice or even thrice. Unfortunately this cannot apply to something like wedding photography as you only have one chance at it. At least with a product you can replace it, with a one off service it could be a long term regret. Rather than this end sounding like I am trying to scare you, just consider carefully what a cheap price will give you. If you are offered the earth, be suspicious. A higher price is usually a sign of quality and assurance. Like the Stella Artois adverts used to say: "Reassuringly Expensive."

By the way I bought a good quality and more expensive German branded washing machine in the end.

Your photos: Timeless or trendy?

2010-11-11T16:41:00.002Z

I was chatting on the phone today to someone enquiring about portrait photos for their family. They commented on how they liked the style of my photography and how they preferred it over some other styles of photography they had seen. Being immersed in photography all the time, obviously I see a lot of ways of capturing a scene with a camera and presenting it as an album.

Personally I like to use Queensberry albums for their quality of materials, construction and variety of colours and designs. I won't boast of using the most up to the minute styles because I don't. A while after starting Moment Photography I came to the conclusion that latest is not necessarily greatest. That's not a cop out either. Remember some of the styles of clothing from a few decades ago, are those styles still hip and trendy? Not really, and neither do I want to give you products that are hip and trendy today and cringeworthy tomorrow. Similarly I like to produce products that not only look great in years to come for their styling but also for their durability.

So the next time you are looking at a photographer's work which has been manipulated with funky styles in Photoshop, taken at an acute angle or arranged as a pretty scrap book digital layout in an album, think if it will look great in 10 years time.

Even if you find a photographer who takes lovely images, how are those images going to end up, are they going to be locked in time as the funkiest design of the decade or are they going to look timeless and as beautiful in 20 years time as they do today? If your are looking for the latter, give me a call. :O)

Goulish goings on over Halloween

2010-11-03T14:55:00.004Z

Well Halloween has been and gone. I went along to a Halloween party with some acting friends. Being in theatre, they of course went to town on their costumes and took their acting parts seriously. We all had a great time and must have had at the very least 50 children come to the door over the night. I managed to make plenty of people scream! :OP The kids absolutely loved it and word soon got around that our house was the scariest on the street.

This is one of my favourites from the night looking through the window back into the house.

Someone woke up the zombie. The tomb seen on the right of the photo had a body inside with glowing lights i the eyes that popped up whenever anyone approached. Almost certain of a scream from the kids.

To create the blood from the mouth look we poured a mixture of syrup and food colouring into our mouths and then dribbled it out again. Great for the effect but not so great when you get a sticky mess in the hairs of your chest!

Elegant luxurious albums - Lucy & Mark's wedding

2010-10-09T15:40:00.009+01:00

Lucy And Mark's wedding was probably the highlight of my year in terms of wedding photography. I was pleased to cover their wedding at Sheldon Manor (near Chippenham) my favourite venue. This culminated in a stunning Queensberry album.

Lucy and Mark went for my Supreme package complete with 15"x12" album. They also requested some parent albums using the same high quality leather.

Their album contained 150 photos and with large pages you could clearly see what a beautiful day it was.

I always like to start with a big photo of the couple and on the left is the elegant title page which if preferred can be a translucent page with titles.

With nearly 450 photos in their wedding gallery they certainly had plenty to choose from.

2010 weddings by Moment Photography

2010-10-09T14:42:00.019+01:00

It's been a great summer of weddings this year. I re-visited some venues I have attended before such as St Audries Park and Sheldon Manor and also found the odd new one like The Mount Somerset.

One of my favourites this year was Peter and Donna's wedding at the Mount Somerset....

Donna looked absolutely stunning in her wedding dress and the small group of guests gave a very intimate loving atmosphere.

The Mount Somerset is a gorgeous venue and recently substantially refurbished. It really shows in it's tasteful new decor.

Just behind the main building is a pretty view over the hills amongst some large trees which created a pleasant shaded area for photos.

An elegant entrance allowed for some classic photos.

Inside the conservatory the light was beautiful, I knew I was going to nail some really stunning shots

A beautiful couple , stunning venue and lovely bouquet of roses.

Below are some shots from my favourite venue to date: Sheldon Manor. Sheldon Manor has never failed to look stunning. A photo opportunity lies behind every corner. It is a special place and very exclusive with only a handful of weddings held there a year. For those lucky enough to enjoy there wedding there they can enjoy all the history of thy grounds and the beautiful flowers that bloom in the gardens.

Lucy and Mark were one such lucky couple and their wedding took place on a pristine Saturday in early July. It couldn't have been more English.

I love this shot as Mark and Lucy walk ahead of me whilst we move to the next photo location.

A guest casts his eye over the seating plan ready for the sumptious meal everyone is set to enjoy, including me :O)

Geoffrey or Jethro, the affectionately named "best dog" was at their side on their special day and I'm sure wore his little pink bow tie with pride.

Being close to the longest day of the year it was pretty late before it got dark. I knew however that Sheldon Manor always decorate the gardens with pretty lanterns which make everything look magical. I had to get this one before I left everyone to enjoy the rest of the night.

Keeping your photos safe - A word of warning

2010-08-10T23:44:00.005+01:00

These days everything is digital, it is the buzz word. We get excited by how many megapixels our camera has, and how many gigabytes, if not terrabytes our computer has. OK maybe that is just the men I am talking about here. What is often overlooked by most of us however, is how will we store the hundreds of photos and other important documents we produce and store them safely!

There was once a day when we printed all our photos whether or not we liked them and then we binned the ones that didn't turn out well. The great thing about digital is that we no longer waste the worlds resources by printing unwanted photos. This means that instead we store them on our laptops and desktop computers. In the old days though the easiest way to lose all of our negatives and photos would be via a flood or fire. These days it is frighteningly much more easy to lose our photos and files. With digital images it is not a case of if our computer will fail us, but a case of when!

So what's the solution? I don't need to tell you that we can copy all of our precious photos to DVD for safekeeping. However, how many people do that? Or how many people have another hard drive they can copy all their computer files onto? Now if you are one of those people who copies their files to DVD, good for you. What you may not have considered though is that DVDs have a limited time span too, one day they will just stop working as the DVD breaks down and becomes unreadable.

This could potentially become a growing problem; people around the world are creating thousands of files that are all waiting to be wiped out by computer error or DVD disc failure. So my warning to you is to make sure you keep your files in more than one place.

Peace of mind:
Now it won't come as a surprise that I generate an awful lots of photos with all these weddings I photograph. What's my system? Well I too use DVDs but I also have a backup hard drive and use Apple's "Time Machine" to automatically copy all my files to a safe place. This way all your precious wedding photos will still be around even if you lose the DVD you bought from me.

With hard drives being as cheap as they are these days, don't delay, back up today!!

Mark & Sophie's wedding 11th June 2010

2010-06-18T21:28:00.005+01:00

Friday last week was to be a beautiful day for a wedding. Forecast for rain, all Mark & Sophie got was blue skies and constant sunshine. The day began at the Toni and Guy hairdressers in Weston Super Mare. Then Sophie and the bridesmaids had their makeup done and after a few shots I was off to catch the boys getting ready before heading to St Martin's Church in Worle. Following the service and after a few grab shots in the church grounds we moved off to Cadbury House Hotel in Congresbury. A beautiful location with great views over the countryside and secluded from major roads.

Upon arrival at the Hotel I got to work photographing Mark & Sophie in front of the Hotel and the vintage car supplied by Vintage Wheels. All went well and then I got some group shots before we headed in for the meal. By this time I was capturing the greetings line, guests at the tables, (embarassing) speeches, cutting of the cake and first dance. Another successful wedding in the bag. Now onto the photo editing and web gallery.

More Moment Photography greetings cards to come

2010-04-15T23:42:00.003+01:00

At last some decent sunny weather!!

The perfect opportunity to get out there with the camera and capture some of Somerset's beauty. Today it was Kilve and Lilstock. I supply cards to some local businesses and it was about time I updated the photos for the cards. So far I have about 50 card designs, but I am gradually weeding out those that aren't as eye catching and getting newer, fresher and better photos.

I'm really pleased with how today turned out, I got some crackers. Below is just a small selection. Keep an eye out for them in the shops. When the new website is up and running you will easily be able to purchase them from there too.

Fire Reenactment at Bridgwater College's Cannington Centre

2010-03-12T14:58:00.003Z

Last night at Bridgwater College's Cannington centre a fire reenactment was held. One of the student accomodation blocks was used as with multiple floors and 49 students living there it was a good challenge for local firefighters. Alarms were sounded, smoke machines were brought in to add realism, and some key exits were blocked off to make students think about which alternative routes of escape they could use in the event of a real fire.

Almost all the students were quickly evacuated and counted, but a select few were deliberately left in the building so firefighters could locate and rescue them. The firemen were all kitted up, complete with breathing apparatus and special tape was stuck to the breathing masks to impair visibility in the same way that vision would be impaired from the black smoke in a real fire.

It was quite a sight with lots going on. It just goes to show what an involved operation it is at the scene of a fire.

Lambing Sunday event held by Bridgwater College at Rodway Farm Cannington

2010-03-12T14:21:00.012Z

Last Sunday Bridgwater College held it's third annual Lambing Sunday day at Cannington's Rodway Farm. The day was a great opportunity for members of the public to see (and feel) first hand what it is like on a farm.

Sunday was an exceptional day for it with unbroken sunshine. There was an awful lot to see, touch and enjoy. Throughout the day tractor trailer rides circled the farm, there were lambs to be handled and fed as well as plenty of pigs, piglets, calves, sheep and cows.

When visitors to the event felt they had worked up an appetite looking at all the animals, they could buy themselves lunch at the catering stand and finish it off with candy floss, or an ice cream. from Blackmore Farm's stand

It was a very popular day with over 1500 people turning up and a very packed car park. Below are some of the highlights.

Jeremy Kerswell, Head of Land Based Studies at Bridgwater College's Canington centre holds one of the lambs

Two students enjoy holding a couple of lambs

A well earned holiday. New Zealand and Australia

2010-01-27T21:46:00.004Z

It's been a pretty busy, but rewarding year for me. It's really fun to meet so many couples and so different too. No wedding is the same and I don't think I will ever tire of photographing happy people. After such hard work I thought it was about time I had a holiday. It's been a year in planning and well.....it was awesome. I won't bore you with hundreds of photos but rather just five.

If you want to see more of my travels you can find many of my travel photos on my website.

Flinders Street Station Melbourne

Here's me on the "Overland Track" in Tasmania. It is a six day hike (or longer if you are made of tougher stuff) and passes through some beautiful scenery. My travel buddy Phil took this shot of me as I was photographing one of the many waterfalls we saw.

Here we have me on the beach at The Bay of Fires, a stunning location found on the north east coast of Tasmania and thankfully it has not yet been spoilt.

Still at The Bay of Fires, I got up at 4 am to get some sunrise shots. This one was taken at 5am.

In New Zealand now and what a place of adventure! This is one of the swing bridges that are scattered all over New Zealand in the backcountry. This one is found in the Hooker Valley, a spectacular mountain landscape near the Mount Cook village found in the south island.

Jonathan & Karen's wedding at St Audries Park

2009-09-21T20:38:00.009+01:00

A week ago I photographed the wedding of Jonathan & Karen. I have been to few weddings at St Audries, it is a really beautiful venue for weddings. On the day of this wedding the weather was amazing, it was one of those days where there was barely a cloud in the sky and the colour of the sky was a vivid blue. The kind of day that we have seen so rarely in this country. Of course bright sun does bring it's own problems such as hard shadows.

Here we have a photo of an adorable little flower girl. It's often difficult to get a nice smile from children so young but on this occasion I held her attention for just long enough to get this gorgeous shot. Trust me her attention span didn't last much longer than that! Kids eh.

St Audries looks and what a beautiful day it was.

Inside before the ceremony I grabbed this shot of the boys in the bar. the red wall really sets of the image.

Fighting with the sun now I had to use a bit of flash to avoid this group shot being in silhouette. I like this one because it is just before the ceremony and it puts the people into context against the venue.

Most of the time I go for a shot that gets everything in, but I experimented a little at getting some very tight shots to emphasise the subject.

I thought this one was cute. When you are three even a wedding isn't interesting enough for you to pay attention and sit still.

The orangery where the wedding ceremony took place is just beautiful for the light that flows in from all directions. It is a very flattering room for photography as you can see.

Sometimes I get a few photos of the canapes as it is presented so nicely. I have to get in quick before it all gets demolished though!!

You really get a feel of St Audries grandeur here.

Much later in the day, the sun still out I urged the couple to get outside for some shots despite their schedule being behind. The light was just too beautiful to not be taken advantage of.

I like this one with the orange light. I haven't added any extra colour to this, this is really how it was, beautiful.

Into the evening the fun begins. After some country type dancing Karen slipped into her evening outfit which was a lot more comfortable that her wedding dress. She said the dress was rather uncomfortable actually so she put on a brave face during the day as she had not complained at all.

Wedding photography retouching service

2009-09-21T17:21:00.004+01:00

I like an easy life, but when an easy life isn't possible sometimes you have to cheat! At last weeks wedding I was photographing a pair of shoes and I was hunting around for a nice background. I had little time and the best I could find, (other than the carpet) was a tiled window ledge. I really would have rather used a better background but I had a three year old waiting to have her shoes photographed too and she didn't want to wait!

With all my photography I touch up/enhance every image and make it look the best it can. This includes removing spots and background clutter. In this case it was removing the lines in the tiles to give a clean and elegant backdrop to an otherwise lacking image. This was quite a tricky one as I had all sorts of light gradients going on which made removing lines quite difficult and time consuming. The result makes it worth it though.

Next time I will probably take my own backdrop should I have the same difficulty.

Quality albums and image discs

2009-09-18T09:13:00.004+01:00

Well what with everyone talking about an economic downturn, I thought I would post some pictures of the lower priced packages I do.

I have two types of album that I include in my packages. A leather slip album and a luxury album. The luxury album comes at a higher price, but allows a lot of customisation of the cover material, page and cover colour. The leather slip albums are much simpler with just a choice of size and colour. I'd like to dispel any thoughts that the slip albums are like something you would buy in Boots or WHSmith though. Far from it, these little beauties are made from a large piece of very high quality leather and the images are held in thick, quality plastic sleeves.

When couples come to see me, I tell them with the luxury albums the images are fixed in the album and they cost more whereas the slip albums allow for the images to be swapped around and also the image takes up the whole page. Below are a couple of pictures so you can get an idea.

The embossing of the names is a little extra on the price. These leather slip album packages start at £1400

For those on a tighter budget I have three disc options, 60, 120 or 250-400 images. The disc packages start at £950. Of course the advantage of a disc is that you get the full quality image that you can print any size at any time. You can also make your own album thereby saving you money. You can email the images to friends, put them on Facebook, I'll even allow you to make copies of the disc!

Alex & Bec's wedding at Kilton

2009-09-15T22:21:00.010+01:00

If you ever wanted to see a bright wedding, then this is it. Bec, a florist (Marshmallow Flowers) definitely knows what bright is. She did her own flowers at the wedding. By the way, you might want to check her out, she is really good!

Alex & Bec's wedding was full of fun. Everything from the bright colours, to the funky hairstyle, to the arriving at the church on a motorbike to the just wed sign on the Land Rover and the cans dangling on the back. Never a dull moment, oh no.

Here are some nice bright flowers very simply arranged on the window sill in the church in Kilton

There was a lot of pink at the wedding!

Amazingly after a ride on that bike, the dress and hair survived!

The wedding ceremony was just about the most funky and fun ceremony I have seen. Very unconventional music for a wedding.

After the ceremony and group shots we took a trip to Kilve beach not far from the church. So much fun getting there in the Land Rover!!

It was so easy to get them to smile, such a joy to photograph.

This is one of my favourite shots. The clothing is such a contrast against the beautiful rocks.

More fun with the Land Rover, just before we got to the marquee and joined everyone else.

Just as the sun was setting we got a great group of shots simply taken on the grass. These worked out really well.

This is the girls' favourite.

Alex giving his speech.

As per usual the speeches were highly entertaining.

The dancing went on well into the night.

Edward & Stefanie's wedding at Halswell House

2009-09-15T20:19:00.016+01:00

On the 22nd of August I photographed Edward & Stefanie's wedding. I was so pleased to have the opportunity to photograph it at Halswell House, a beautiful mansion not far from me.

Halswell House is such a stunning setting that I knew it was going to be a great day.

Before the ceremony people helped themselves to glasses of Pimms and around the room there were glasses filled with sweets and chocolates.

After a while I went upstairs to see how the girls were getting on. The back of the dress was being done up so I got a few shots. the bridal suite looked beautiful.

The colour of the bridesmaids dresses was beautiful and really set off well against all the sumptuous surroundings of the house.

Despite some difficult lighting in the ceremony room I got some great shots. During the ceremony there was some hilarity as there was a sing along part where Morcambe and Wise's song "Bring Me Sunshine" was played.

I wanted to post the words Stefanie read out when the ceremony was taking place. Talk about putting a lump in your throat. I asked her if I could put the words on here. Here they are...

"I’ve never been good at talking about my heart, as you know, because I feel incredibly vulnerable giving so much of myself to another person. But, with you I no longer have that fear. I know with every fibre of my being that you are my one true love and that you will always have my heart. It shines just for you.

Before I met you, I used to watch movies filled with a heartache, wanting to experience all life had to offer for myself...to know what it was like kiss someone who you loved more than you could possibly imagine, and for them to love you back, just the same. To feel so completely overwhelmed by joy, you can't help but cry and laugh at the same time. To be so enraptured by a song you have to stop all of the busy-ness in your life and listen for one exquisite moment, where time stands still. I never believed I could feel so much all at once, until I found you. You have given me a life, not of wishing, but of truly living with every ounce of my heart.

Your love has given me wings and I never knew I fly could so high until you took my hand and flew by my side. You surprised me with a fairytale I thought only happened to pirates and princesses. I never in my wildest dreams thought I could just be little ole me and stumble on someone so absolutely astounding in every regard, so kind, so good, and who makes my heart skip a beat every time our eyes meet.

When you're happy, I can't help but catch your contagious smiles. And, it kills me to see you sad, so I promise you to unfailingly fight for your happiness no matter what life throws at us.

I can’t wait to have countless adventures with you, to grow old with you and get wrinkly together, and have a shed in the back garden where you can go about your pottering while I trim the rose bushes. I know without a doubt I want to spend a lifetime with you in every sense of the word. I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited about anything in my entire life. I promise to always to make time just to sit with you in the grass, and hold your hand, and listen to the wind in the trees, and to let you blow raspberries on my tummy when we’re feeling silly. I promise you my heart until time stands still and that you will always and forever be my pooh bear.

You make me so incomparably happy, you bring me so much sunshine. I fall in love with you a little bit more each day and I am so looking forward to falling in love with you every day for the rest of our lives"

This shows the beautiful interior of the house.

More celebratory drinks.....and why not?

Being in such a busy room I was able to get some photos without people noticing. these are often some of the best shots.

Next we went outside and got some photos of just Ed & Stefanie. There were so many great backgrounds.

It started to rain a little but that actually did me a favour as it created another photo opportunity.

From the top of the roof I was just about able to communicate with those on the ground to create this shot.

These types of weddings cakes seem to be in fashion now. This one looked fantastic.

After the last dance we had some fun going around the house trying out different set ups. This was the more ordinary shot taken in the small library.

Here is the fun one.

And the last shot of the night. Something a bit different.

Daniel & Rebecca's wedding in Dulverton

2009-09-15T19:47:00.006+01:00

I have certainly been fortunate with good weather at weddings and Daniel & Rebecca's wedding was no exception. It was a glorious day. What was also really nice was that I knew some of the guests as I had not long ago photographed the bride's brother's wedding and also the groom's sister's wedding. I guess I must have got something right!

Dulverton church is beautiful and inside along the aisle were lovely flower arrangements. the last time I was there, there were candles lining the aisle.

Full of smiles, that's what I like to see.

The reception was held in the very large garden. There was a very relaxed and friendly feel. It was a challenge fitting in everyone in the large group shot though.

I love to use blurry backgrounds and create a mottled effect. I found some flowers and got Rebecca to stand by them. I got a lovely pretty photo out of that.

I thought this was a very funny photo. I guess it doesn't matter how old you are, you can still enjoy a conversation with a pretty young lady and make her laugh.

Robert & Gemma's wedding in Holford

2009-09-15T19:29:00.004+01:00

I wasn't quite sure what to expect with Robert & Gemma's wedding when I met them at the farm a week or so before the wedding day. We walked around the farm and discussed ideas and I must admit I did wonder how the pictures would look in such a working environment. Well I needn't have worried, the two of them had a few things they pulled out of the bag that definitely made their wedding stand out from the crowd.

The best photos always come from couples who are laid back and willing to try a few things whilst keeping a smile on their face. Robert & Gemma were brilliant for this and we had a lot of fun.

First I got some shots of Robert and his groomsmen on the farm

Next it was off to see the girls get ready in the hairdressers.

There was no room for any doubt that this was a farming family with a gigantic bright red tractor neatly parked outside the church in Wembdon

After the ceremony Robert & Gemma left in a somewhat older tractor. This photo is taken on the farm with the beautiful rolling hills in the background. I later took a photo of the two of them with Glastonbury Tour in th background as that is where Robert proposed to Gemma.

Never in the time I have been photographing weddings have I had to photograph such a large group of people. It looked like it was going to be a mammoth undertaking, but amazingly this shot only took about 15 minutes to get into place and everyone fit in to place beautifully.

A beautiful backdrop for a first dance

Stuart & Paula's wedding at Sheldon Manor

2009-09-15T19:02:00.010+01:00

I can't believe it has been this long since I have updated my blog. This past few months have just been a bit mad for me what with more than double the wedding bookings of last year and other things on my plate too.

Last year I photographed a really beautiful wedding at Sheldon Manor Sheldon Manor near Chippenham. It is a stunning venue, the website really doesn't do it justice. Maybe I can with the photos below because I was there again this year at a similar time to last year.

Beautiful Birthday cards, get well soon cards, greetings cards

2009-05-29T09:14:00.007+01:00

A little update on the greetings cards. I have taken them around a few gift shops and book shops and the reception has been very positive. I already have them in several shops and I am getting repeat orders. They are obviously popular, especially the animal cards. You can purchase and view the greetings cards here.

All my cards are made with high quality thick card, have inlays and a real photograph that could easily be framed once the card has been used.

Chris & Keren's wedding at Shapwick house in Somerset

2009-05-28T09:43:00.005+01:00

Last Saturday was a really fun day for me. I photographed Chris & Keren's wedding at Shapwick House. Every now and again I get one of those weddings that seems so perfect; a friendly couple, the venue, the weather and the details. Everything came together on that Saturday and I am proud of the photos that came out as a result.

Shapwick House. was a beautiful venue with lovely backdrops for the photos both indoors and out. Nicola at the house made sure everything ran smoothly and was very helpful to me which was very nice.

I was very fortunate to have a lot of time before the ceremony to get some good shots. This started with some photos at Keren's parent's place where all the girls were getting ready. I wondered if I had the right place at first as Keren's Dad was outside mowing the lawn!

Here is a beautiful shot of one of the roses from the buttonholes.

The bridesmaids' dresses were probably the nicest I have seen; gorgeous materials and a lovely colour. They looked fab on the bridesmaids as you will see.

The chairs set up in the room where the ceremony was to take place looked beautiful with the bows on the back. They tied in well with the bows on the backs of the bridesmaids' dresses.

I thought this was a really cute shot.

I had lots of opportunitites to get some nice photos of Chris & Keren outside under the trees. The beautiful light on the day just made everything glow.

I tried this at another wedding and it went down well so I thought given that there was enough space I would do it again. It always takes a bit of organising and a lot of polite shouting (they could barely hear me from the high window of the house), but we got there relatively quickly and the end result makes it worth it.

I'd not seen a parasol used at a wedding before, so this gave a bit of a different look. It worked very well I thought.

With the cars in front of the house on a bright summers day there was a very grand photo to be had.

I love this shot, so lovely with all the pink, blue sky, green grass and pretty girls.

I was very pleased to hear that there was going to be a caricaturist at the wedding. This chap went around for much of the day and produced brilliant caricatures in minutes. I don't know how many he did, but he must have done an awful lot!

Inside, the tables set for the wedding breakfast looked magnificent.

This is one of my favourite shots from the day. I told the girls to get close in together. I just love the way they are holding their hands together and the flowers on the tree tie in with the colour of the dresses, so pretty.

Once or twice I saw the girls walking around as a group along the drive and over the grass. I saw the light shining down and spotted an opportunity. I told the girls to walk away from me and was rewarded with this stunning image.

After the first dance I had captured everything needed for the wedding photos. Chris asked if I could take just a few more of him and Keren in front of Shapwick House. as the sun was low in the sky.

A beautiful day at Hestercombe Gardens

2009-05-22T21:57:00.006+01:00

Today I had a wonderful day at Hestercombe Gardens. I have photographed two weddings there already, but today was a chance to just wander around in the sunshine and simply take it all in. I was accompanied by my friend Emma and her angelic little girl Jenny. It was such a lovely day, there was no traffic noise, the birds were singing and the flowers were swaying in the wind. We even had a picnic amongst the buttercups whilst we were there.

Whilst we were sat down we were visited by a very large swan. At first we wondered if we had upset it as it came closer, but all it seemed to be interested in was eating the buttercups. Upon realising it was a friendly swan I took a few shots.

I also spotted some brightly coloured thistles in bloom. There were dozens of bumble bees feeding on the nectar.

Definitely my favourite shots of the day were of Jenny as she tested to see if she liked butter with a handy buttercup. Thankfully she did like butter, the buttercup proved it after all! Jenny also had a lot of fun collecting pine cones as with each one she found she held it up triumphantly.

Here's another with Jenny's Mummy Emma

Wisteria Festival At Bridgwater College Cannington Centre for Land Based Studies

2009-05-22T21:31:00.003+01:00

On Saturday 9th May I went along to the Wisteria festival held at Cannington by Bridgwater College at their Centre for Land Based Studies. They asked me to take some shots for their photo library and also for publicity.

There were lots of things to see. Below we have the big greenhouse found in the Walled Gardens recently visited by HRH the Earl of Wessex Prince Edward .

There was a competition for local schools to design a small garden.

There were live willow making displays.

There was also a bodging display with furniture being made the old way with fresh beech branches.

There was a chance to see what it is like to study aboriculture by climbing a tree.

There were lots of exotic animals to look at and hold in the new animal care centre.

Or if horses were your interest you could visit the stables at the equestrian centre or even ride on a horse.

If you had the time you could squeeze in a picnic whilst listening to the live band playing in the Walled Gardens. A brilliant day.

Rude Awakening playing at The Perfect 5th in Taunton

2009-04-19T15:17:00.004+01:00

Last night I had the opportunity to do a bit of band photography. Rude Awakening asked me to give them some new images with a bit of atmosphere in them for their website.

The band played at a really great venue called The Perfect 5th in Taunton. A compact but funky place with bags of atmosphere. Well worth a visit.

Here's a group shot of the band. I would have really liked to take time out especially for a good band shot but time was tight so this was taken very quickly whilst the previous band was still packing up.

The lighting set up for such a compact venue was amazing, this really added to the photos. Here's Leon.

Rachel

Paul

The stage

Pete

Kerry

Ian

Aurelijus and Sarah's wedding at St Audries Park in West Quatockshead

2009-04-17T09:28:00.005+01:00

On Monday 6th April I was lucky enough to photograph a wedding at St Audries between Aurelijus and Sarah. I had long since been in communication with Sarah & Aurelijus, but had not met both of them until a week before the big day. Like many couples who pay me a visit they said they were not very photogenic. I think that is down to 99% of the time the person taking a photo of you doesn't do a good job of it. That's where I come in.

As usual I got to the venue early to give myself time to look around and find good spots for photos, then I got a few early shots of the guys and girls getting ready. I try and get some nice photos of the children before everything gets a bit much for them. The two flower girls were extremely well behaved when I asked for them to pose for me, like little angels.

And here we have two of the bridesmaids in the orangery where the ceremony took place. Whatever the weather the light in what is essentially a greenhouse is just beautiful.

Not photogenic eh? I think Sarah did a marvelous job when I asked her to pose for me.

This was taken in the bridal suite. Lots of great opportunities here. I always try to be as quick as I can when I take the bride and groom away from the main party as people start to wonder where they are.

This is one of my favourite shots of the day. After the wedding breakfast I spotted a posh looking leather armchair and a glowing lamp. I saw a fantastic opportunity for a photo of the groom so asked him to pose for me. It only took a few minutes but it was so worth asking him for the photo. Aurelijus loved it and said he looked like the Godfather!

In the early hours of the evening I spotted this little chap playing on his Nintendo DS lite. He was so engrossed in his game play that he didn't even notice I was taking a photo.

The night came to a close for me and I said my goodbyes. After leaving St Audries I just had to get some night shots though as it looked stunning.

Andrew & Suzannne's wedding at Hornsbury Mill in Chard

2009-03-26T16:17:00.010Z

Last saturday I attended a wedding at a familiar venue to me: Hornsbury Mill. Well actually the ceremony was at Staplegrove Church in Taunton. This past few days I have been working really hard to make the photos look fab.

The day was beautiful, loads of sunshine after the miserable murky skies we have had and only weeks since we had snow! It was blue skies all round on the day and as the Vicar of the church said, God even provided the confetti in the form of new blossom right outside the entrance to the church.

Andrew and Suzanne were lovely to work with and with their pleasant personalities easy to get some smiles.

Here is that lovely tree in full blossom.

Suzanne arrived in a beautiful old Rolls Royce and opened the door to glorious sunshine.

I like the way I have the driver in the background of this shot.

Bec at Marshmallow Flowers did a sterling job of the flowers as always.

Here we are at Hornsbury Mill. There weren't the leaves on the trees like there were last time, but there were still plenty of opportunities for good photos.

I asked Suzanne to cover both her and Andrew in the veil and what with a bit of wind it made for some comedy. I quickly caught it on camera.

As the sun gradually set the swans on the lake gracefully wafted along, a perfect opportunity for me to get some shots.

As we entered the evening the dancing began.

FOR SALE - greetings cards of Somerset Landscapes

2009-02-23T19:38:00.009Z

I'm not the sort of person who likes to do just one type of photography, I want to do a bit of everything and be good at everything. Ok a bit unrealistic I admit, but I felt it about time I got out there and got some great landscape photography of Somerset's coastline. Just a few days ago I went to Pembrokeshire in South West Wales, but ironically I found I got just as good photos here on my doorstep at Kilve beach.

I can see this being a new angle to my photography. At least landscapes don't move or blink or run out of time, they just wait there patiently to be captured on camera. Of course you have to battle the elements at times, but I am prepared to put up with a little cold to get my reward.

For now I have a small selection of images, but this will build over time. If you would like to purchase any of the images below, click HERE.

Near Triscombe Stone on the Quantock Hills

Near Crowcombe I think (I know if I am going to photograph local places I should at least know where they are!) on the Quantock Hills.

Photo manipulation fun

2009-02-17T17:41:00.005Z

Susie, a photographer friend of mine (www.flashfields.com) recently went for a holiday to South Africa and came back with what at first glance looks like a typical wildlife photo. However her title "Zebra Crossing" put things into context a bit better. Not content with that though I decided to have my own bit of fun with the image. I mean what is a zebra crossing without stripes on the road and flashing beacons?! Unfortunately the animated bit of the flashing beacons doesn't work on Blogger though.

Wedding Fair at Halswell House in Goathhurst

2009-01-31T14:25:00.004Z

Click on the image to enlarge it

If you have been looking at my website or reading my blog and are getting married, you may want to come and see me at the wedding fair being held at Halswell House on Feb 8th this year.

Luke & Lucy's wedding in Dulverton

2009-01-26T23:03:00.010Z

I've been a bit slack with the blog of late what with Christmas etc. I am also exhibiting at Halswell House wedding fair on 8th February this year so am getting frames and such prepared for that.

Early this year I did my first wedding of the year. It was a day after we had bitingly cold weather with frost like I had never seen before. I hoped to be able to see something similar on the wedding day for great photos but it wasn't to be. However I was graced with a dry day and some cloud. Cloud?! Yes cloud, it meant I didn't get lots of nasty shadows.

I had only met Luke & Lucy for the first time less than a week before their wedding day. I immediately liked them, not least because Luke is from New Zealand, my favourite place on earth! I guess going to a wedding with kiwis present was the next best thing to going back to New Zealand!

All Saints Church at Dulverton was simply beautiful inside with candles lining the aisle. I simply must mention the organist. I can hand on heart say that I have never heard an organ in a church sound good, but this chap could play it magnificantly! He filled the church with a sense of grandeur. I actually greatly dislike the organ after many years of hearing it being played (obviously badly) in church, but this day my faith in the instrument was restored. Crikey I'd even go so far as to recommend people go to the church on a Sunday if only to hear him play if he plays anything like that at a Sunday service too.

Oh yeah back to the wedding, sorry!

The reception was at Stoodleigh Court in Stoodleigh, Tiverton. A wonderful BIG old house with large grounds. Mind you we didn't want to hang aorund outside very long, it wasn't exactly warm! I was surprised the bride and groom made it to the reception venue actually as there were some pretty nasty hills on the way and the little classic car they arrived in didn't look up to it. Perhaps it has something special under its bonnet!

Webberbus photo

2008-12-11T18:08:00.007Z

One of the nice things about taking photos is the amount of variety of subjects. Now normally I am photographing beautiful brides, but today it was the humble bus. I think I probably looked a bit like some sort of anorak hopping on and off a bus to take photos of it. It was all good fun though in amongst the jibes the passengers gave me along the way.

The job turned out to be a lot more difficult than I thought. At first it seemed like just a couple of photos of a bus, but when I looked closer I had to capture the bus at a certain angle and the dashboard had to be clear of debris, and then I had to try and get the bus in front of an attractive landmark and all whilst the bus had to keep to schedule. I guess Webberbus got their monies worth in the the end.

The first photo is taken outside Somerset College of Arts & technology

This one was taken in North Petherton

Halswell House Nocturnal Wedding fair 10 December 2008

2008-12-11T11:23:00.010Z

It was another spectacular event at Halswell House last night. The House held a Nocturnal Wedding Fair complete with Christmas cheer, mulled wine, mince pies and fireworks. It was a lot of fun for me photographing the event and networking with exhibitors during the course of the evening. It was definitely a warm and inviting place to visit that night with it being minus 2 degrees outside!

There were lots of beautifully laid out stands with exhibitors displaying flower arrangements, balloons, photographic services and wedding cakes. All set in the elegant surroundings of the House complete with open log fires and the far reaching aroma of mulled wine.

Visitors were also treated to a Christmas cabaret act to help soften the heart of even the most ardent Christmas scrooge.

With mince pies, mulled wine, cabaret and open logs fires, harpist Susan Sherratt (01722 714 977) must have been the icing on the cake with the beautiful melodies she played through the evening.

I thought the ice sculptures on display were pretty impressive. Supplied by The Chocolate Fountain Ladies

Spectacular Fireworks finished off the evening.

Land Based Studies Open Day At Bridgwater College's Cannington site

2008-11-16T17:20:00.009Z

It was another fun open day at Bridgwater College's Cannington Centre for Land Based Studies. Members of the public were invited to look around the facilities available at Cannington to see what courses were available and have an informal chat with the teachers. There were also plenty of hands on activities such as getting kitted up in harnesses (if you are that daring) as part of the aboriculture display. You could also make bird boxes, handle snakes, tortoises and rabbits or visit the horses at the equine centre. It was a great day out, I really enjoyed seeing all the different animals.

World Skills Engineering Students at Bridgwater College and Bridgwater Carnival

2008-11-09T20:00:00.008Z

It was back at Bridgwater College again last Friday to take some photos, this time of the engineering students. The students are competitors for the World Skills competition which will next be held in Calgary, Canada. I caught them as they were learning about the workings of the metal lathes in the engineering workshop, but they also had a task to turn a lawnmower into a go cart a la Scrap Heap Challenge seen on TV.

Later in the day we took a walk into the town as once a year over a hundred carnival carts emerge from rusty old sheds and hidden lockups for the Bridgwater Carnival. One of the workers from the British Flag Carnival Club talked about how the carts are designed and how each club tries to come up with new ideas from year to year to catch the judge's eye.

Here's an impressive carnival cart from 2006

Spectacular Fireworks Display at Halswell House in Goathurst

2008-11-05T23:33:00.007Z

I always enjoy trying out new things and this evening was no exception. I have taken plenty of colourful photos at night, but not photographs of fireworks. Well tonight, Halswell House in Goathurst Somerset, held a spectacular fireworks display, so I made sure I got a few shots of it. I knew the theory of how to set up the camera for this sort of thing, but until tonight I hadn't put it into practice. I only had 15 minutes to get enough good shots so the learning curve was pretty steep. I ended up with some very satisfactory colourful images in the end though. I hope to be able to try it again one day as I learnt a few tricks.

New wedding photography promotional video

2008-10-29T12:35:00.009Z

I was recently asked to do a lecture on wedding photography local to Bridgwater. As a result I am have been thinking of what I want to say and how I want to present my work. I know I personally don't much like listening to someone drone on for hours, so I thought I'd make it a bit more interesting by throwing in the odd slide show to music. You can see other slide shows I have already made on this blog, but my latest is below. It took me a long time to find the right music (royalty free) but I am very happy with the result. I hope you enjoy it.

I hope in time I can figure out how to upload these slide shows at a higher quality level. The blogging software seems to be limiting me at the moment.

Moment Photography branded clothing by Jual

2008-10-24T17:02:00.006+01:00

Over the past few weeks I have been working with a local company to get some branded clothing made. All very exciting, well for me anyway! Not that I don't dress smartly at weddings of course, but now at least people will know who I am!

I had already had a couple of attempts at getting branded clothing made, but was disappointed with the results (I'm a bit fussy at times). I then found local company Jual after a search on Google. Julia & Charlotte were really helpful and spent a lot of time explaining how things work and what to expect. Well I'm sure you don't want me to bore you with the details. Long story short, the result is excellent! You can see just some of the clothing I got below.

Summer 2008 for Moment Photography

2008-10-19T14:34:00.005+01:00

It's been quite an eventful few months for me with a number of different things going on. One thing I like to do now and again is make photographic slide shows. The one below covers just some of what I have been up to this summer. As you would have seen in previous posts on my blog, I visited Spain for a short time. You can see a lot of my photos from the trip in the slide show. There is also a selection of wedding photos. Amazingly I managed to photograph weddings this year without too much trouble from the weather!

Christopher & Ella's wedding

2008-10-11T21:51:00.002+01:00

One of the nice things about photographing weddings is the variety of venues you see. Some posh, some simple. It's always quite exciting to have the opportunity to try out new ideas using new surroundings. No wedding is the same so as well as being exciting it can be challenging.

This was the first wedding I had attended where the wedding venue was a castle. Haldon Belvedere was a beautiful location for Christopher & Ella's wedding ceremony. The wedding reception was later held at The Royal Clarence Hotel In Exeter.

I think it should be said that the couple are very good looking too.

Here's Christopher with his Groomsmen. I only had a few minutes for these shots but the ground floor of the castle was ideal for some simple set ups. I did have to remove the no smoking sign on the door though. There is usually something in the background of some of the photos that needs to be taken out.

Both Christopher and Ella were a pleasure to pose as they were both naturals and very enthusiastic about the whole experience. It made for some photos we were all very happy with.

The room where the ceremony was held was beautiful, great big windows and on such a lovely day it just glowed. I had to set my camera to manual to prevent the back lighting being a problem though. I felt the photos of this part of the day looked most effective in black and white.

This was a very challenging photo. There is a very fine balance between keeping control of the group and coming across as a rude photographer. Thankfully with the help of a friend I was able to create this photo in only a few minutes. The Bridesmaid also, rather to my surprise gave out a loud whistle which got everyones attention. The result is a photo that both Christopher and Ella said they love. I got this printed as an 18" x 12" photo and it looks great showing everyone clearly.

Christopher and Ella were particularly keen on having some photos taken on the bridge at the foot of the drive. This gave a great opportunity to get some of the lovely greens in the photo whilst showing the love between them.

I wanted to create quite a dynamic shot here, showing the background and foreground as well as the couple cutting the cake. I chose a wide angle lens and converted to black and white to get the result below.

I make a habit of going around all the tables just before everyone has eaten as it is a good opportunity to get a happy photo of all the guests at the wedding without taking them away from the fun. I usually find that these photos are chosen for the album or CD. This couple of lads had other ideas when I asked them to smile, but it created a really fun photo all the same.

Before the first dance I was asked if I could get some photos in Christopher & Ella's suite. I took a number of photos, but as soon as I saw this bath I just had to try out this photo for something a bit different. I was lucky that I was given the time I had, but I think a little time given here and there is rewarded with much more interesting photos.

This is my absolute favourite photo of the day. A beautiful expression between the two and I love the back lighting from the table lamp.

The fun continued into the night long after I left no doubt. I was keen on capturing some of the disco lighting

Well the photos have been taken, edited and tweaked. They have been ordered and printed and now delivered. A very satisfying job all round. The best bit is doing a good job and having a happy customer. I posted the photos yesterday and got an email back today"

"They arrived!

What a lovely treat for Saturday morning.

The printed photos are beautiful, we can't wait to get them framed. It is so nice to see the photos we have chosen in such great detail too, once again, they are beautiful.

Thank you so much Ross.

Christopher"

UPDATE: It's now December and Jamie Wonnacott, also known as www.wedding-day-video.co.uk has finished Christopher & Ella's wedding video. I know I photographed the wedding, but it is still exciting for me to see the video as when you are behind a camera all day you don't really see properly what goes on. It was great to see the day from another perspective. Jamie and I have worked together before at another wedding and we manage ok to stay out of each others shots. Have a look at the video here.

Andalucia Spain

2008-10-07T23:13:00.001+01:00

I just thought I would share some personal photos for a change. I went to Spain last July (probably whilst it was raining in the UK!). My friend Jacob lives in Malaga, Andalucia. Unfortunately he had to work so we didn't get to travel around too much, but I made the most of my time by getting out to some places.

Here's my friend Jacob.

Actually, rather unexpectedly I spotted Keith Flint from the band the Prodigy whilst at Stansted airport. I quickly found out that trying to take your own photo with a heavy digital SLR is not easy, hence why it isn't the sharpest of pictures. But you get the idea.

Well if you go to Spain for the heat you are unlikely to be disappointed! I saw a few displays that read 41 deg C I'm not really a sun worshipper so kept in the shade much of the time. It was still hot though!

A zipped round to a few places during my short time in Spain. Probably the prettiest and most dramatic place I saw was the Alhambra Palace in Granada. Lots of cool buildings to see here and very tranquil. There were not too many people about either so I was able to get some nice photographs.

This was a busier area so it took a while before I could get a photo without people in it. I like this one though as the tourists give the place a sense of scale.

Some of the architecture in Granada

This was taken along the south west coast near Gibralter. Really lovely landscapes and I actually like the wind turbines. The area definitely wasn't short of wind. One of the beaches I visited had such strong wnds that I felt like I was being sandblasted! No wonder no-one was around.

Here are some Asses (either applies) I photographed in a quaint little place called Micas

Little Fish swimming lessons

2008-10-07T21:28:00.000+01:00

Well it's not all wedding photography. I was recently asked to take some photographs for a young lady who gives swimming lessons to young children. As we all know children don't stay still for long and certainly not when there is water involved so it was a very challenging job! It was also tricky from a light point of view; lots of reflections going on. I got some really nice photos by the end though.

Gabi Godwin who runs Little Fish Bristol (www.littlefishbristol.com) seen below is really great with the kids, she has tons of enthusiasm and only has small classes so the kids get loads of attention.

There were all sorts of floating aids and toys to play with, the kids soon forget their fears and were having a great time.

Gabi is certainly popular during lesson time.

There was lots of eye contact and laughing going on. Actually I think Gabi was the biggest kid there, she was blowing bubbles and squirting water most of the time.

David & Joanne's wedding

2008-10-05T22:34:00.000+01:00

There is at least one wedding a year that tops every other wedding I have been to. Ironically my own brother's wedding has held a high position for a long time as it was on a beautiful beach in New Zealand. Everyone raves about some of the shots I got. Part of the reason it worked out so well though was because we spent about an hour just playing around with different set ups on another beach away from the guests. I have put a couple below so you can see what I mean.

However this June I attended a stunning wedding at Sheldon Manor near Chippenham. The forecast was for rain I believe, but all we saw all day long was Sunshine. The grounds of Sheldon Manor are stunning in every way; so many pretty corners, I could have taken photos of the bride and groom in different spots for days!

Sheldon manor can only accomodate a smallish number of wedding guests so there was a very sweet looking marquee that was very light and airy. Just as well we had the weather for it!

The all important dress and shoes.

On this occassion I met the bride and groom on the day, as living in London they had not been able to pay me a visit beforehand. So it was a case of "pleased to meet you, now can you stand here please?" Not my preferred way of working, but it worked out really well actually. I had had a few conversations on the phone beforehand though and I think that had made it a lot easier to get straight into it.

There were a few siamese cats wandering around the place. This was a source of entertainment for the little girls.

Probably one of my all time favourite shots. It just shows how beautiful the day was and the timing of this photo was just right.

Another of the intimate shots during our time away from the guests.

I think the guests were quite happy pleasing themselves sitting in the dappled sunlight chatting.

The children were kept amused with a bubble machine. I definitely recommend having a bubble machine at your wedding, the kids love it and it makes for very cute photos.

The wedding cake was actually three big cheeses. It was great with crackers.

I set up this shot on the tripod. I was lucky enough to have the moon in the shot. You can see the people in the photo as blurring movement under the marquee; very atmospheric.

Students receive their A level results at Bridgwater College

2008-10-05T20:03:00.000+01:00

For many students it would have been a nail biting climax to the big day that would see them get their A Level results. Thankfully the results for a large majority of the students were excellent. You can see the emotion in their faces as they receive their results. Some of the students from Bridgwater College went on to Oxford as a result of their good grades.

Steve Cram opens new Health & Fitness building at Bridgwater College

2008-10-05T19:53:00.002+01:00

As mentioned earlier Bridgwater College has built a massive £8M health & fitness building. Who better to open it but Steve Cram. Before the grand unveiling Mr Cram was given a tour of the facilities and introduced to staff. He was also lucky enough to get a little bit of pampering in the beauty salon. It's a tough life being famous!

I must admit this was the best bit for me! :O)

Lambing Sunday At Bridgwater College's Rodway Farm

2008-10-05T19:18:00.001+01:00

Not content with it's Bridgwater base, Bridgwater College also has sites in Cannington, Paignton and Yeovil. Early this year Bridgwater College held an event called Lambing Sunday at its Cannington site a few miles from bridgwater. It was intended to give the public a hands on insight into what the college does and what farm life is all about.

I had a lot of fun photographing cute little new born lambs, calves and piglets. I have to say though that those piglets couldn't half squeal if they wanted to. You could be on the other side of the farm and you'd soon know when one of them had been picked up!

Bridgwater College - Rag Day

2008-10-05T18:55:00.001+01:00

One client that I do a fair bit of photography for is Bridgwater College. The place grows at a tremendous rate and is diversifying what it has to offer in so many ways it's crazy. Only this year a new £8M health & fitness centre was opened by olympic athlete Steve Cram, and there are still plans for new buildings specialising in other areas making the college an even greater place to study. Do I sound like I am bigging them up? Well I should do, I live not far away and have in the past studied there for a number of years.

So it should be pretty clear by now that with such change there is a great need for new imagery. here's where I come in.

On a lighter side, once, a year the college holds an event called Rag Day. Students and staff dress up in weird and wonderful costumes in order to raise funds for charity. It's always a huge success and it's always easy to get great photos.

There is usually an opportunity for fun and games too.

It all starts here!

2008-10-05T18:44:00.000+01:00

I have got a lot of catching up to do, this past year has been a lot more diverse for me in terms of what I have been photographing. I've been thoroughly enjoying recording weddings as per usual, but also have had the opportunity to photograph other things too.

August last year I photographed Simon & Helena's wedding. Totally beautiful wedding in every way and a great couple to work with to boot.

Early this year they contacted me again asking me to photograph the new "bump." Just like the wedding, a lot of fun and some great pictures as a result. I always like to take a lighthearted approach to my photography, this helps me enjoy what I am doing more and the person I am working with (I hope) also enjoys the experience more.

After the bumps photos I was then booked to photograph the christening of what turned out to be two beautiful twin girls. I was told I must be lucky, as for the wedding, bump and christening we enjoyed beautiful sunny days. Well it is all part of the service! :O)

Let me introduce myself

2008-10-05T17:54:00.003+01:00

Well it would seem the world has gone blog, Facebook and Bebo crazy. I guess I thought "if you can't beat them, join them!"

Firstly let me introduce myself. My name is Ross Alexander and I started Moment Photography in 2006 because, well it was the only natural thing to do. I've always been creative and Photography has always been the part of me that has continued to grow the fastest without any let up of enthusiasm. I still get a buzz every time I click the shutter and know I have got a great shot.

Ok well I guess you are here to either look at some great photography or to get an idea whether I am the right person to use for photographing your wedding or family portrait. Hopefully in the following posts I can help you with both. You are probably already aware of my website (www.momentphotography.co.uk), well this blog is intended to give a little more insight into my life as a photographer and also me as a person. Let's hope I do a good job!

Just to give you a bit more of a background on me and my photography, I really got into it when I travelled around New Zealand on a bicyle just a few years ago. I wasn't lucky enough to have access to a digital camera back then, but nevertheless through visiting lots of places and taking LOTS of photographs I learnt a great deal and it was the beginning of what was to become Moment Photography. So you could say New Zealand has a very soft spot in my heart (well I have been there 6 times so far!!).

Below you can view a slide show of my travels in New Zealand as well as a few other places in the world. At the time I made it I wanted to inspire people to get out there and do things, meet people, have fun and make the most of life. I hope it inspires you in this way.