Vicky & Andy, Wallingford Wedding – A Sneak Peek

With all not so seasonal weather we’ve had over the last few weeks we have everything crossed each week for sunshine on Saturday! Vicky & Andy were married in the Town Hall in Wallingford followed by a reception in a marquee.Kiti & I both started at the Town Hall & captured images of the guests arriving. Town Halls can often be dark & uninspiring but Wallingford Town Hall is definitely an exception! It is Grade 1 listed & has beautiful large windows which bathe the ceremony room in light.As the appointed time arrived I popped across to The George Hotel in Wallingford where Vicky was getting ready & we made our way back across the market square. We certainly created a stir, well rather the sight of a beautiful bride in all her finery did!

The service was beautiful & Vicky & Andy’s guests lined the either steps & the happy couple made their way down with a flurry of confetti.We departed Wallingford but stopped off with Vicky & Andy by the riverside to do some shots with the two of them. I particularly love the shots of them under the bride, the light was beautiful against the sandstone.Kiti & I then whizzed off to the reception venue, a local cricket ground where Andy plays cricket for the wonderfully named Cairns Fudge cricket team. We were there in time to capture a few shots of the guests mingling before the bride & groom arrived through an archway of hockey sticks & cricket bats.The wedding had a lovely, relaxed feel as guests mingled, played games & bounced on the bouncy castle – not often you get a shot of the bride on a bouncy castle. Kudos to Vicky for picking up her dress & having a blast on her big day!We did the group shots as everyone was having fun but before long it was time for the guests to make their way into the marquee for the wedding breakfast. Before too long it was time for Kiti & I to make our way home. We left the happy couple surrounded by the friends & family celebrating in style!

Congratulations Vicky & Andy, wishing you every happiness. We hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

Photography Project – Green & Gorgeous

I have long been a fan of Green & Gorgeous’ beautiful wedding flowers so it was with great excitement that I travelled to visit them at an uncharacteristically (for me!) early hour one Friday morning.Green & Gorgeous are well known for their delightful flowers & arrangements for weddings all grown at their garden at Little Stoke, Oxfordshire. They grow a diverse range of flowers throughout the Spring, Summer & Autumn. These are then arranged in a wonderful garden and hedgerow style by Rachel really showing off the natural beauty of the blooms.

I got there just as dawn had risen when the dew was still on the grass. Being a Friday morning all the team were busy picking & prepping the flowers ready for a busy wedding weekend.

Well, almost all the team…..! I spent a wonderful few hours wandering around the garden capturing shots of the team, the garden & individual blooms. I was amazed how much was still in bloom in September & the dahlias in particular were beautiful. I have grown to love garden photography & am working hard on developing this side of my work. I also love taking pictures of people in their environment so this little project was right up my street. Green & Gorgeous work with the seasons to grow a large variety of beautiful flowers from old English favourites through to the wild and unexpected. Growing with the seasons the flowers they offer change as the months go by. They start in Spring with anemones, tulips & ranunculus, move onto Summer with roses, sweet peas, poppies & scabious before heading into Autumn with an array of dahlia, eucalyptus, fruit & berries. You can choose either DIY where if you want to try your hand at arranging some of the flowers yourself, but are not keen on the stress of making your own bouquet. G&G offer a buckets & bouquet service & you can choose how much or how little you want to do. Brides quite often choose to do the flowers such as table displays & pew ends & then Rachel can give a professional look to the most important elements. Or you can choose the full works where Rachel & her team take care of everything for you from table displays, pew ends, buttonholes & bouquets. They also have a Saturday morning shop selling vegetables, fruit, eggs, seeds and plants, mail order service & they run a variety of courses.

I really enjoyed my time at Green & Gorgeous & hope to return next year to get some more shots throughout the season.

Green and Gorgeous, The Bothy, Little Stoke, Wallingford, OX10 6AX

The perfect #Valentines gift!

Struggling for Valentine’s inspiration this year. Why not celebrate your love for each other with a portrait shoot? 😉

Between now and Valentine’s Day (14th Feb!!!) I am offering portrait vouchers valued at £75 for just £25 for portrait shoots is the Henley, Marlow, Thame, Bicester and Oxford area! This is a great opportunity for the two of you to have some lovely pictures taken together. This offer can also be used as a family portrait voucher if you have a family too! The vouchers will be valid for all of 2015 and the session to be done in a location within 25 miles of OX49, Watlington.

After the shoot we can either arrange a viewing for you to come and see the images projected in my viewing room or if you prefer an online gallery. Print prices start at just £25.

Please contact me by email to info@marklordphotography.co.uk if you would like to purchase a voucher and we will pop one in the post.

I love these pictures from a shoot last year with one of my lovely wedding couples who’s wedding had subtle themes around the film ‘Up’ – hence the cool balloon!

Portrait Photography Oxford, High Wycombe, Thame, Marlow and Henley On Thames

With signs of Spring just about showing (I’m being very optimistic!), and the phone has started to ring with people wanting to book their family portrait photography , pre wedding shoot, engagement and new born baby photography sessions in Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and beyond.

I offer outdoor family portrait photography, engagement photography or just portraits of your children playing outdoor and being themselves in my natural and relaxed style. for younger babies and children who are not yet walking it is often easier if we do the shoot in and around your home.

I shoot many portrait sessions in the local countryside around Marlow, Henley on Thames, Oxford, Thame and High Wycombe but always happy to travel further afield if you wish. With portrait shoots from just £25 my portrait vouchers make great gifts to give to your loved ones, family and friends.

Here are a lovely set of images I shot last summer in the countryside in Aston Rowant near my home with a lovely couple!

Portrait Photographer Thame Oxfordshire-CMB-ML-IMG_6596_008_008

To see more of my portrait photography please check out my portrait galleries here

http://www.marklordphotography.co.uk/family-portrait-gallery.php

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.