The world of #Biomass energy…..

To those that know me and my work, most of the time I am photographing things with two to four legs, people and animals are what I specialise in.

This time last year I had a call from a local marketing company after I was recommended to them by a local design company in Thame. ‘I’ve got a bit a of a challenge for you’ said the voice down the phone. ‘What do you know about biomass energy?’

Ironically I had photographed a small biomass boiler in a pub I photographed for the Princes Countryside Fund a few months before. Biomass energy is a very efficient way of heating and many businesses are using it now to heat their premises due to it being cost effective and better on the environment. I had photographed a small boiler in a shed that was heating a small country pub but apart from that my knowledge was limited. Always one to rise to a challenge I accepted this gents offer to meet up for a coffee and discuss the project. Biomass boilers run on small wooden pellets that have to be manufactured and I was asked to photograph everything from the plant in Wales where the pellets are made to a swish BMW showroom and leisure centre in Milton Keynes who use biomass energy to heat their premises.

‘It’s boring stuff’ I was told, ‘you are going to have to be creative’ and ‘I’m thinking black and white’ came with the brief. So dates were put into the diary and off we went to these various locations to photograph the world of biomass!

It was brilliant, I totally enjoyed the whole project. I have always had a design head on my shoulders, wanting to be a product designer before finding photography many years ago. I enjoy the processes involved and the way we start with this and end up with that. I will bore you no more, but biomass can be interesting (he says hesitantly….) To find out more about biomass energy here is a link to follow.

If you are looking for a photographer for any commercial photography projects then please do get in touch, I would be delighted to discuss your ideas you may have. My client was thrilled with the images and told me if i can make biomass look exciting I can probably make anything look interesting.

Here are a few of my pictures from the biomass days……

This is what I love so much about my profession. The way that one thing leads to another through referral and how one day I can be photographing a beautiful country wedding and another day a mucky old boiler. Variety is the spice of life they say. I think so!

Kick start 2014 off with a new profile pic for #Twitter

With the increasing use of social media in the corporate and business world it is important to keep a fresh looking image of yourself for your professional profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

I photograph many business people from different walks of life from authors to surgeons who want to keep their image up to date. I offer a simple approach to business portraits in the Henley on Thames, Marlow, Oxford and Thames Valley area, I can either come to you at your home or office or we can meet somewhere in the local area for the shoot. The shoot will last half an hour or so and I will capture a variety of relaxed but professional looking portraits from which you can choose your favourites.

With session fees from just £25 why not kick off the New Year with a new look? All images are digitally enhanced to soften lines, remove blemishes if necessary and can be supplied in colour or black and white.

For more examples of my business style photography please visit my website http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk

It may be stormy but #LOVE is in the air…..

I’ve had several orders placed over the weekend from various shoots and thought I would choose one of these images for my blog post today. It’s from a pre wedding shoot I did in the local countryside near my home last year of a couple who’s wedding is later this year.

I love the composition of this pictures, with the nettles giving some foreground interest, the dramatic sky and of course the lovely expressions on the couple. My portrait shoots or pre wedding shoots are always very relaxed and fun and it’s a great way to get to know each other before the big day. For the bride and groom, it gives them confidence in knowing how they look in front of the camera, and for me I can see if I have any serial blinkers!

Portrait Photography Oxford

To see more of my portrait and wedding photography in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and beyond please visit http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk

Family Portrait #Photography #Oxfordshire

It may be blowing to gale out there but we do get some beautiful days here in the Spring and Summer – honest! Here are a few family portrait pictures I shot last summer on a gorgeous day, the family owned a farm so it made sense to do the shoot on the farm. Farm yard locations for family portraits are one of my favourite locations as there is plenty to entertain the children and also some lovely backgrounds.

I offer a great family portrait shoot offer from just £25 to £75 depending on location. Why not treat your family to a family portrait voucher this year. All vouchers purchased before the 31st January 2014 will be valid until the end of 2014.

A portrait session is a great way of bringing an extended family together, can be great fun and you will have some pictures to show for it at the end.

Please call me on 01844 351218 or email me info@marklordphotography.co.uk for more information.

Check out my portrait photography galleries at http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk

Weddings at The Tythe Barn

A couple of weeks ago I was back at my favourite Oxfordshire wedding venue, The Tythe Barn nr Bicester. I have photographed several weddings there over the years and know the venue and staff really well. However, this wedding was going to be a little different….

Tim and Cat contacted me earlier this year to check my availability. On talking to them they told me about a few things they were going to do differently. One of those things was a ‘First Look’. I had never done a ‘First Look’ before but was keen to photograph one. A First Look is…. well a First Look at each other generally with the bride walking up to the groom and then looking at each other for the first time (that day!) Got it! Well, I was very excited about photographing my first ‘First Look’!

I was not disappointed. Tim positioned himself amongst the trees at The Tythe Barn and Cat approached from behind and it really was a lovely moment when they saw each other for the first time and made for some great photographs.

As Tim and Cat had seen each other now before the wedding ceremony we decided to do a few pictures of the two of them and a few family groups for those that were there. It was quite cool doing a wedding day in a different order, and also with a Winter wedding with it getting dark by 4pm it made a lot of sense to shoot the group photos and pictures of the bride and groom pre ceremony. Obviously this will only work if you are doing a ‘First Look’ but something I would recommend if you wanted to do things

Tim greeted their family and friends as they arrived whilst Cat was tucked away. We all then enjoyed a wonderful ceremony with some entertaining readings, a few more group shots and a drinks reception in the cow shed. Then another first for me was The Tythe Barn’s self carve roast, which went down well with everyone.

Tim and Cat had several lovely touches to the day with georgous flowers by The Flower Fairies and a massive LOVE by Vowed and Amazed.

Finally another cool idea Tim and Cat had was for the first dance, where Cat starts dancing with her Dad, whilst Tim eyes Cat up and then comes onto the dance floor, kicks Dad off and has his first dance with his bride. It was a lot more romantic then I have made it sound!

I am one of the recommended photographers of The Tythe Barn and have a special offer for all couples who get married at The Tythe Barn. If you are getting married there in 2014, 2015 or beyond please do get in touch. www.marklordphotography.co.uk

Grace and Brian’s sneaky peek – Notley Tythe Barn

A few weeks ago I photographed the lovely wedding of Grace and Brian at the Notley Tythe Barn in Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire.

Grace and Brian had a civil ceremony at the barn with approximately 60 of their nearest and dearest. After the ceremony it was drinks, canapés and a few group photographs on the lawn before they had a Chinese tea ceremony with Grace’s parents. After the wedding breakfast the DJ was primed and the guests partied into the night!

Notley Tythe Barn is a wonderful wedding venue near Thame if you are looking for that rustic wedding venue. It offers great locations for your guests to enjoy themselves as well as fantastic potential for great wedding photography!

Notley Tythe Barn will be having a wedding fayre this coming Sunday (29th September) 11-3 so if you are looking for a wedding venue close to Thame and Aylesbury then you may want to check out Notley Tythe Barn.

See you there!

Here are just a small selection of images from Grace and Brian’s big day……

Pigs in the woods – National Countryside Week #NCW13

Following on from my post yesterday, this week I will be showcasing some of my countryside images taken in recent weeks. I know a man who lives locally who keeps free range pigs in a nearby woods in the Chilterns. I see Bruce and his produce at local farmers markets and have always thought what a wonderful experience it would be to photograph the pigs. A tweet came through a couple of weeks ago from @blackpigchills telling me the pigs were ready for their photo shoot. They have recently been filming for Downton Abbey for the next series so are getting used to life in front of the camera!

So one Sunday Becky and I travelled into the hills to meet Bruce and his pigs. We walked into the woods together and Bruce armed with a bucket of pig nuts gave the call. It wasn’t long before the pigs came trotting (bad pun) through the woods to us for a mid morning snack. It really was a fantastic sight, these pigs have a wonderful life in the woods with just 36 pigs to 14 Acres of land! That’s free range!!

The pigs are a cross of two rare and native breeds, the Berkshire pig and the Tamworth which when crossed produce high quality pork. Bruce has spent 8 years perfecting the perfect pig giving them the highest welfare standards and the most natural of habitats.

To find out more about The Black Pig in the Chiltern Hills please visit their new website by clicking here.

The Black Pigs produce can be found at The Quince Tree near Henley on Thames, Gather and Hunt, Marlow, and Ewelme Community Village Shop, Oxfordshire.

What does it taste like you say? Try for yourself!!!

Portrait of Film Director, Amit Gupta

Film Director Amit Gupta recently asked me to do a few portraits of him for his press releases. We spent 15 minutes together getting a few pictures and he recently contacted me to tell me his portrait is in Empire magazine and also one now online.

Amit’s first film that he directed was called Resistance and was set in a Welsh village in WWII, imagining life had the Germans invaded. With a cast including Michael Sheen it is a brilliant art house film and is well worth a watch.

To find out more about Resistance and to watch the trailer please click here

Amit’s latest film I am looking forward to watching is Jadoo the Movie, a British comedy that takes Amit back to his roots of growing up in Leicester. Its about two brothers who are chefs & what happens when they fall out. They set up rival restaurants across the road from each other in the Belgrave Road in Leicester, close to where Amit grew up.

To follow the latest news of Amit’s film Jadoo the Movie please sign up to their blog / Facebook page or Twitter by clicking here

If you are looking for portraits for publicity purposes please contact me for more information. info@marklordphotography.com

Love a hairy dog? You have not seen anything yet!

Recently I was at a farmers market and saw a lady I knew struggling with her bags. Being a gentleman I though I would ask if she wanted a lift home with her groceries. On taking me up on the offer of a lift I was greeted by this hound of a dog bounding towards me to lick me to death in her driveway. Well, anyone who knows me knows how much I love to photograph animals, namely dogs, so I could see a great opportunity wagging its tail in front of me.

‘What type of dog is this?’ I asked whist negotiating how to protect the eggs in the top of one of the bags.

‘It’s a Lagotta Romagnolo’ I was told, ‘an Italian breed of dog with her winter coat still on’

I said I would love to take some photographs of the dog and the lady said that was fine as long as it was soon as she was soon to be clipped now the weather has finally warmed up.

So last week I met up with the lady and her dog. I shot a few daylight images in the window as the dog sat in an armchair then we popped to a local field for a few pictures.

Here’s a couple of my favourites…..

Mark Lord Photography

Oxfordshire based photographer specialising in people and our rich landscape

Thame