South Lodge Hotel Wedding Fayre: West Sussex Wedding Photographers

Good Evening Folks,

Just to let you know I will be exhibiting at the South Lodge Hotel Wedding Fayre tomorrow.  Doors open at 10.30 am; if you are in the area pop in for a chat, it would be lovely to see you.  If you need an incentive I am next door to Janeymac Cakes and around the corner from La Maison des Petits Gateaux!

Have a lovely evening :)

Claire

IOD 116 Pall Mall London: Wedding Photography

Good Afternoon Folks,

Well it has been a hectic weekend for me so I decided to enjoy some time off today. I wanted to share some images with you from the wedding showcase at the IoD, Pall Mall, London yesterday so I have taken a few minutes out to do a quick blog.

The weather was absolutely beautiful for Saturday's wedding and once the images have been edited I will share a couple with you. We were up extremely early yesterday to get to London and with the clocks changing it felt like the middle of the night! The day was very busy and it was lovely to chat with lots of engaged couples who are excitedly making plans for their weddings.

I thought I would share a some images of the staircase with you as I have mentioned it on numerous occasions so though it was about time you saw it for yourselves. It is so grand it never ceases to take my breath away.

Have a great week everyone.

Claire

Family Portrait Session: West Sussex Portrait Photographer

Hello Folks,

Welcome to Friday! Recently I photographed a really fun family and there was much hilarity in the studio! Nicky gave her Mum a studio experience with a framed print as a Christmas present, so they all came along and we had a fab time.

I have posted three images today, the first one is what I call 'the brow'. We all fell on the floor laughing when Lee kept doing his Roger Moore brow and I insisted that we had to get an image of the brow in action. Here it is and what a magnificent brow it is too! We then decided to speculate on Keith's previous career and I know exactly the one I mentioned just before this photo was taken, I am not going to reveal but it was funny and you can see that Eileen thought the idea incredulous. I thought I had better put a serious image on here and I just love this one of Nicky and Lee.

Have a fab weekend all and yes I am going to mention the weather again...hot, hot, hot well hot for March. Whatever you are up to have fun and if you happen to be in London on Sunday pop into 116 Pall Mall for a chat.

Ciao,

Claire

116 Pall Mall Wedding Showcase!

Good Morning Folks,

Just a quick blog today to let you know that I will be exhibiting at the IOD, 1116 Pall Mall in London on 25th March. There are all sorts of things going on at the showcase including some very interesting workshops. The building is just gorgeous with the most fantastic staircase and huge chandeliers dotted everywhere.

I hope to see some of you there for a good old chat.

It is another busy weekend for me starting with two days in the studio followed by a location shoot so lots of variety, which they say is the spice of life; how fab!

Have a great weekend,

Claire

A day off in Rye, East Sussex

Good Morning,

I hope you all had a lovely weekend; as promised I thought I would post something personal today. Last week I had a really lovely day off and we decided to pop over to the ancient town of Rye in East Sussex. This area is very familiar to me as I spent all my childhood holidays in and around the Rye area, and I have so many fond memories of some wonderful family times here.

We visited a spice warehouse just along the harbour road; when you arrive and park, the pungent aroma of the many herbs and spices just tickle your nose buds continually. They have a brilliant array on offer with very competitive pricing so a few purchases were made! They are a family company and so nice too, so if you are ever in the area pop in and have a smell!

We then had a lovely lunch and this stained glass window caught my eye. I also found another location for my secret project and visited a venue that is coming up for a wedding in May. All in all a very good time was had by all.

I had a very pleasant day in the studio on Saturday followed by two wedding fayres on Sunday. I attended The Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells and my fantastic assistant Lorraine attended Lansdowne Place Hotel in Hove. Both these venues are lovely so if you are getting married be sure to check them out.

The images today show one of the cobbled streets for which Rye is so famous, a stained glass window from the restaurant and a memento of our visit to the spice company.

Enjoy your week although not sure I am liking the cold but having read the latest newsletter from our 'rent a cherry tree' they say we need a few more chill hours. I think I am happy to suffer it if it means lots of cherries in July!

Claire

No10 Bridal Launch Party

Good Afternoon Folks,

Well here we are at the end of another week and I have loved being able to smell the freshly cut grass.

On Wednesday I attended the No10 launch party with the amazing Emma Tindley. The boutique is arranged over three floors and is beautifully presented. We walked into the ground floor reception area to be greeted with pink champagne and it was then up to the middle floor to see the dresses on show. No 10 are the latest stockists of Emma's collection and it was really good to see them in their new environment. No10 had showcased one of Emma's blush pink designs too.

The third floor was amazing; it had a candy bar! Oh dear what a thing to put in front of me! Apart from being a mecca for sweet lovers on the night, the third floor is dedicated to the bride. It is her area to try on dresses with sumptuous furnishings for her guests to sit on whilst they wait for the grand unveiling.

There were beautiful canapes on offer, lots of wonderful champagne but it that wasn't enough we were all given a goody bag and a posy of flowers beautifully arranged by Evelyn Cole Flowers.

I had a lovely chat with the most wonderful fudge maker and you really must give her fudge a try, it is sublime. Liz, you are really talented so pop along and see her website Mummy makes Fudge.

I am still eating sweeties and marvelling at the goodies we were given; how lucky am I.

So this weekend sees me at both The Spa Hotel Wedding Fayre and Lansdowne Place Wedding Fayre. I will be on the stand at The Spa and my lovely assistant Lorraine will be at Lansdowne Place. Both are amazing venues and if you want a wedding in beautiful surroundings you cannot go wrong with these venues that have fantastic coordinators; Ula at The Spa and Jo at the Lansdowne. I love popping in to Brighton to have a Choccywoccydodah with Jo from Elegant Stationery and Jo from the Lansdowne....yummy :)

Have a great weekend all.

Claire

Donna and Craig - Spa Hotel, Tunbridge Wells, Kent: Kent Wedding Photography

Good Afternoon Folks,

Recently I had a fun packed pre-wedding shoot with Donna and Craig at the lovely Spa Hotel in Tunbridge Wells. The weather was lovely during our time there albeit a little windy. We had a lovely stroll around the grounds and planned some exciting shots in the orangery, it was then off to explore the inside; and it did not disappoint!

We had a good old laugh and chat as we wandered around this goregous venue and I can really see that the big day is going to be enormous fun too.

I will be exhibiting at the Spa Hotel and Lansdowne Place Hotel Wedding Fayres this coming Sunday 4th March. Both venues are just beautiful and I am equally excited to have the honour of exhibiting at both. Ula will ensure your day runs smoothly at The Spa and Jo is your excellent events manager at Lansdowne Place.

The Lansdowne is not adverse to the odd celebrity or two and Jo was photographed with one of them last Saturday...lucky Jo :)

Have a great week all and I am looking forward to posting again soon; I think I might make the next one a personal post to add a little variety.

Claire

South Lodge Wedding Fayre: Emma Tindley Couture

Good afternoon everyone,

Well wasn't that an eventful weekend weather wise!! It did not stop me from having a very productive day in the studio, followed by an amazing event in the evening with, I might add, a fabulous room set by Reveries; that is a another blog post for another day! Then to finish it all off a wedding fayre at South Lodge. Despite the horrendous weather conditions we made it to the venue and were ready, albeit a little late, to chat to the equally marvellous couples about their day.

It was great to catch up with all the other lovely suppliers too. I have posted another Emma Tindley new collection dress that was on display yesterday and we both think this screams red carpet. It is a gorgeous silk crepe dress with beautiful embellishments and and very attractive backless feature.

Emma is our very own East Grinstead treasure. She is a very talented designer and has chosen to keep her boutique in East Grinstead; her dresses are designed and made in the boutique. If you have a consultation you will have a dedicated appointment with Emma herself and be able to try on one of the many sample gowns that make up her collections. Once you have chosen your dream dress, it is then made for you by Emma, so none of this buying a ready made garment and then having umpteen adjustments to make it fit. Emma's dress will fit you like a glove as it is made for you from scratch. Prices range from £1,000.00 to £2,500.00 for pure silk gowns.

Well it is a week of editing for me along with all the usual things that go with running a business. Have a lovely week and enjoy the snowy landscape before it all melts.

Claire

South Lodge Wedding Fayre

Good Afternoon Folks,

Well after another busy week I am preparing to exhibit at the South Lodge Wedding Fayre this coming Sunday 5th February.

South Lodge is a majestic venue situated in Lower Beeding near Horsham and I will be photographing a wedding there later in the year; so lots to look forward to as the venue boasts not only magnificent grounds, but an amazing interior for those rainy days and winter weddings.

You will find lots of suppliers at the event who will be on hand to chat with you about your day; and I am sure that a wander around the venue and grounds is a must.

I have posted an image from Emma Tindley Couture's new collection and this amazing dress will be exhibited on Sunday too; it really is amazing. Emma is a truly talented designer and her creations are just exquisite. I am really looking forward to photographing it on location along with the rest of the collection in the spring at another magnificent venue.

Enjoy your weekend; I am in the studio tomorrow doing a test shoot for a new product that I am experimenting with and then it lots of lovely chats on Sunday....ahhh a weekend of peace says my Husband!

Claire

Alexander House Wedding Fayre, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Good Morning All,

I had a fabulous day at Alexander House Hotel yesterday. Primarily it was an open day with a few selected suppliers and I thought it was particularly nice for Brides and Grooms to be able to fully appreciated what the venue has to offer and then not be inundated with suppliers trying to catch their attention. I had loads of space to exhibit and people could wander by and look at my imagery and products without feeling harassed. As usual I had many great chats and I am very much looking forward to meeting with you all again. One fact that I found out yesterday; in Norway the engagement and weddings rings are worn on the right hand not the left. I think that this lady's Fiance may want to throttle me as I suggested that to keep up with both traditions, she should also have another one for her left hand! She thought it was a marvellous idea...I am naughty!! The imagery in this post shows a couple having a gentle stroll on a warm day under the shade of the monkey tree.

Hope you had a great weekend. It has been a great week here at Woodland Hill Photography; I have sourced another location for my secret project and hope to be creating the imagery for that in a couple of weeks. I have another project on the go, and the first shoot is taking place this week. Once I have tested the concept fully I will be offering it as a completely new product, it has been whizzing around in my head for a while and it was only last week that I felt it had that little va, va, voom!

I am exhibiting at South Lodge this coming Sunday 5th February and if you are in the area please pop by to have a look at the venue, its beautiful grounds and the many suppliers that can make your day just as you want it to be. I always love a chat so pop by and say hello.

Enjoy your week and wrap up warm.

Claire

If you would lke to see more of my work pop along to my website Woodland Hill Photography

Alexander House Wedding Fayre, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Good Morning All,

Mid-week already and nearly February where does the time go.

I am exhibiting at the Alexander House Wedding Fayre this Sunday 29th January. The show starts at 11.00 am and finishes at 3.00 pm and entry is complimentary too.

Alexander House will be showcasing local and recommended suppliers, but they will also be showcasing their lovely venue and grounds. New for this year is the gazebo situated on the Shelly lawns, so those of you who want the choice to be married outside now have the choice with the magnificent house as a backdrop. If it rains, and don't forget folks we live in the UK, the house will be equally gorgeous to make your vows to each other.

If you are in the area it would be lovely to see you and have a chat so pop in and say hello.

Hope to see some of you on Sunday.

Claire

Rememberance Sunday at Horse Guards Parade, London

Good Morning,

I was exhibiting with Emma Tindley at The Institute of Directors at 116 Pall Mall on Sunday; it was a stone's throw from Horse Guards Parade and Emma and I had the great privilege to be able to witness the gun salute with the two minute silence.

I was moving to see soldiers both young and old coming together to remember those that have fallen and to give thanks to the great sacrifice they made for future generations. Both my Grandfathers served in the First World War; luckily they survived but so, so many did not and have not since. My Uncle was a Paratrooper in the Second World War, again he was lucky enough to survive but when he used to recount the experience of jumping from the plane whilst being shot at by the enemy; one can only be amazed he made it through.

Today these experiences are usually in the form of games on the Wii and Xbox, but so many young men had to experience the reality and still do today, we must give thanks to those who fought and continue to fight for us.

I am attaching the video showing the two minute silence on Sunday; the guns were extremely loud, so much so they set car alarms off and that small scream you can hear is Emma as we both jumped out of our skins! The other image is of Horse Guards Parade with the London Eye in the background. I only had my trusty iphone with me on Sunday so images and video are from that today!

Wedding at the Felbridge Hotel, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Good Morning,

The image from today is a blast from the past; well last year! I am in the middle of doing a print order and this was one of the chosen ones. As soon as I opened the file I remembered how emotional this shot was. Graham's Mother is not too well and had to leave the wedding early; as they were saying goodbye to her she started crying and Graham bent down to comfort her. It was just one moment in time, but when I look at the image I am immediately transported back to the emotion that I felt when I pressed the shutter, so I cannot imagine the emotions that Graham was feeling. It seemed so right to have it in today's blog post; today is 11.11.11 and at 11.11 I will be remembering all of those who fought to give us the freedom and democracy that we all enjoy so freely today.

On another note; there has been much excitement in East Grinstead this week with the opening of Peter Andre's New York Coffee Club. Peter Andre is a resident of East Grinstead and has chosen to open his first coffee shop in his hometown. Monday and Wednesday saw screaming girlies, a few celebrities and free coffee. I don't think I have ever seen the High Street with crowd control, Police and bouncers all at the same time!

Have a great weekend everyone; I will be exhibiting at 116 Pall Mall on Sunday 13th November and I have a very special studio session tomorrow so a busy one for me.

Claire

116 Pall Mall Wedding Showcase!

Good Afternoon,

I am very happy to say that I will be exhibiting at the 116 Pall Mall Wedding Showcase on 13th November. This building is stunning and situated in the heart of London; the building has the most beautiful stairs that are licensed for weddings, yes you read it correctly, they are that beautiful!

Have a great weekend everyone, I will be busy photographing an engagement party and also seeing clients for new weddings and viewings. Enjoy the fireworks; I know I am looking forward to them.

Claire

Spa Hotel Wedding Fayre, Tunbridge Wells, Kent

Good Morning,

Just to let you know that I will be exhibiting at the Spa Hotel Wedding Fayre tomorrow. It would be lovely to meet with you and have a chat about your wedding.

Hope to see some of you tomorrow.

Claire

Kirsty: East Grinstead Portrait Photography

Good Morning,

Recently I photographed a studio session with the lovely Kirsty; I have chosen to share this image with you because Kirsty ordered this as a panoramic 40 x 20 inch acrylic and it looked fabulous. I think the image has real drama with this crop and the high gloss made it into a piece of art that looks wonderful on her wall.

As well as being incredibly photogenic Kirsty is an accomplished florist and has produced flowers for royalty amongst other well known people in the past. She is in the process of setting up her own business and we have lots of plans to photograph her creations, so plenty to look forward to.

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and enjoyed a little Autumn sunshine. For me it was a working weekend. I met some very interesting people at an event on Saturday evening followed by numerous chats about future weddings at the South Lodge Wedding Fayre yesterday; I love hearing about the plans that you all have for your weddings, so it does not really seem like work!

Enjoy your week everyone,

Claire

South Lodge Wedding Fayre, Horsham, West Sussex

I will be exhibiting at the South Lodge Wedding Fayre on Sunday 25th September and it would be lovely to see you and have a chat about your big day.

Hope to see you tomorrow.

Claire

Felbridge Hotel, East Grinstead and The Cupcake Kitten, Angmering, West Sussex

After photographing a really lovely wedding at The Ravenswood in Sharpthorne on Saturday it was off to a wedding fayre on Sunday at the Felbridge Hotel. This event was sponsored by Your Sussex Wedding and as always it is really nice to chat to engaged couples about the preparations they have for their big day. I never tire of hearing about the colour schemes, dress, venues and all the little touches they are planning to make their wedding really special. There is so much exquisite taste out there I am sure weddings bring out the creative side in everyone.

I had the good fortune to be sitting next to a lovely family company called The Cupcake Kitten and as you have probably guessed they make cakes...how lucky was I!! Jenny is the baker and she had some beautiful creations on her stand; there was one item that particularly struck me as being quite unique and it was called the cake pop. They were so beautifully done and really complimented her range of cakes and biscuits and I think they would make the most splendid favour at a wedding or take home gift at a party; the more I thought about it the cake pop's uses seemed to become endless. Lovely Jenny sent me home with some cupcakes and a cake pop and the delicious inside did not betray the outside. As I was half way through I occurred to me that I should have taken a picture of it; alas it was now to late so why don't you can pop along to their website and have a look for yourself.

I have one cupcake left and that is a treat to be savoured whilst editing my latest wedding!

Have a lovely week,

Claire

Copthorne Hotel, Effingham Park, Copthorne, Surrey

I am exhibiting at the Copthorne Hotel, Effingham Park Wedding Showcase on Sunday 17th April, 2011.

If you pop in come over to our stand for a chat; it would be lovely to see you.

Claire

Felbridge Hotel and Spa, East Grinstead - Wedding Showcase

Good Morning,

Lots to do today after a great day at the Felbridge Hotel and Spa Wedding Showcase yesterday. I had some lovely chats and it is always so nice to hear everyone's exciting wedding plans. For all of you who requested details, these are currently being prepared and will be going in the post today.

Congratulations to the four lucky winners of a studio experience and 10 inch framed print and they are, Emma Lipscomb, Hayley Sims, Shelley Dibbon and Czarina Tiley. Thank you to Paul G Smith, who is the most wonderful Toastmaster for picking the lucky winners at random.

I do like a wedding fayre; Nikki and I got to meet so many nice people and chatting to them is a real pleasure but it is also really nice to catch up with suppliers old and new such as Carly, Libby and Skyla from The Felbridge Hotel and Spa, Joanne from Elegant Stationery in Haywards Heath, Paul G Smith our lovely Toastmaster from East Grinstead, Lisa Jane from Crystal Brides in Horsham, George Moss Jewellers from Uckfield, Lovely Orchard Nurseries in East Grinstead and Cakeability in Forest Row.

Have a great week everyone and Spring is really in the air now, so not long until the long summer days are here again.