Professional commercial, portrait photographer West Yorkshire, covering Wakefield, Barnsley, Huddersfield, Pontefract

Rachael & Chris at Waterton Park Hotel

July 10, 2011

Rachael & Chris were married at Waterton Park today and it was just one of those weddings where everything went perfectly! Great weather, great venue, gorgeous bridesmaids, smashing friendly couple and everyone ready in plenty of time which allowed us to get some great images. I’m not going to write lots of waffle, the pictures can do all the talking for this one. I think the images captured the fun and enjoyment of the day and, for once, even I’m pleased with some of the images :¬) First a slide show and then some stills in case your iPhone won’t play ball

by John

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Paul & Louise pre-wedding shoot

July 5, 2011

Phew! What a scorcher today when I met Paul and Louise for a pre-wedding meeting ahead of their wedding at Wentbridge House Hotel later this month, if it’s like this on the day it will be a hot one! We decided to meet at the Elsecarr Heritage Centre in the morning so that the couple could head straight off for lunch to celebrate Louise’s birthday – the centre is not far from their home and it is a place I’ve been meaning to scout for a location shoot for a while now, so it killed two birds with one stone. After a brief photo session around the old railway station at the back of the centre, we headed across the road to a nearby park to finish the shoot and to sit in the shade of the bandstand to go through the wedding schedule. Paul and Louise weren’t phased by the camera and we got some really cool shots from the session, using a small flashgun to overpower the sun and prevent squinting also helped with the saturation. I’m not a fan of strong sunlight, it’s always difficult to control especially with white wedding dresses and digital cameras which seem to be unable to handle highlights like film used to do. Paul plays in a heavy metal band so we had a brief chat about the merits of Pantera, Lamb of God, Insomnium and Kalmah (my two faves!) and it’s going to be a cool wedding if the first dance is to the sounds of “The Black Waltz”. If Winston, Wentbridge House’s resident DJ, has that in his iTunes collection I for one will be mightily impressed :¬)

To book me for your wedding which includes a pre-wedding shoot like Paul and Louise’s, just give me a call on 01924 229800.

by John

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James & Kate at Comlongon Castle, Dumfriesshire

July 2, 2011

This weekend I was up in a gloriously sunny Dumfriesshire in Scotland to shoot the wedding of Kate and James at the very prestigious Comlongon Castle. What a location! The house and grounds were superb and there were just so many opportunities for photos I was spoilt for choice. The whole wedding took place at the castle with the bride and groom being piped round the gardens into the imposing castle keep where the ceremony took place in front of the huge medieval fireplace complete with roaring log fire! After the ceremony it was back into the grounds for drinks and to shoot the formals, the bridal party and of course the wedding couple shots. The sunlight was incredibly harsh but we managed to work round it to get some great images of Jmaes and Kate. Following the wedding breakfast in the banqueting hall, we headed back out for some more photos of the couple before they danced their first dance to the sounds of a string quartet in the champagne garden in front of the castle. During the partying I took the opportunity to shoot some informal guest shots and, as the summer evening faded to dusk, there was a spectacular firework display to round off the evening. The pictures here are just a small representation for now as I’ve a stack of other editing to catch up with but I will try to put up some more over the next couple of days.

To book me for your Comlongon Castle wedding just call 01924 229800 to discuss and don’t forget, I’m under 3hrs drive away from the venue, so don’t be put off – just give me a call.

by John

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Crofton High School Prom

June 30, 2011

I had a baptism of fire at my first high school prom tonight as I did the formals for Crofton High School’s leavers’ prom at King’s Croft Hotel. Things started off fairly sedately but ended up in a manic session with the shoot booth packed to the gunnel’s with teenagers wanting photos and just generally swinging off the lighting gear! Eventually someone tripped over th tether between the camera and the computer and put an end to on-site printing! It really is amazing how drunk it’s possible to get on non-alcoholic punch ;¬) Frightening too to see them arriving in Porsche cars, Range Rovers, stretch limos and helicopters! Doesn’t bode well for my wallet at next year’s prom when it will be my daughter’s turn.

Crofton High School prom photographs at Kings Croft Hotel

by John

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Josh & Lucy’s wedding at Gomersall Park Hotel

June 25, 2011

After very heavy overnight rain the skies began to clear and by mid-morning there were signs of the sun peeking through and by tea-time it was glorious for Josh and Lucy’s wedding at Gomersall Park Hotel. Josh and Lucy were married at St Peter and St Leonard’s Church in Horbury before heading on to Gomersall Park for their reception. We did the confetti and a few bridals at the church before heading off to Gomersall to complete the shoot with the family photos, the bridal party and more of the couple. I have to admit to being surprised to find three weddings all out on the lawn for photographs simultaneously, a bit naughty of the hotel! Anyway, logistical problems aside we managed to get some great images for Josh and Lucy before heading inside for the wedding breakfast and speeches. Here are a few quick edits for Josh and Lucy before they head off to Mexico on honeymoon. I’ll shove a few more on Facebook as I begin the edits in a day or so.

To book me for your Gomersall Park Hotel wedding, just call 01924 229800 or visit the website for details.

Wakefield wedding photographer covering the whole of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. Wedding photographer at Gomersall Park Hotel and many other venues in the Wakefield disitrict including Nostell Priory, Waterton Park, Bagden Hall, Rogerthorpe Manor and Wentbridge House

by John

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Hanson Bricks – Sheffield & Rotherham

June 24, 2011

I took a gamble on the weather today to complete a second commission from Hanson Bricks, this time in Sheffield and Rotherham. The brief was to photograph the new fire station in Sheffield which is constructed mainly of Hanson red bricks – in each of these projects you will notice the brickwork is a different style – so the fire station is different brickwork to that of the York and Selby shoot I did earlier in the week. The fire station was difficult due to it facing north, so I think I may have to make one more visit in late evening light when the sun is low in the west and hopefully spilling round onto the front of the building. Low evening light would make the brickwork incandescent too which would add to the image. I also visited a mosque in Rotherham which is constructed of a very bright buff brisk, in fact its the only building in Rotherham to be constructed of this light coloured brickwork! This was a difficult shoot as I couldn’t get back far enough to get the building in using the 24mm shift lens. I did manage it but I also used the 14mm which, although getting the whole building in, did give me some outrageous converging verticals. However, I like theses shots and also some of the more arty angular images. Another enjoyable day in the field :¬)

Commercial photographer bassed in Wakefield, West Yorkshire covering the whole of Yorkshire, Humberside, Lincolnshire and Norfolk. Commision including architecture, product photography, packshot, headshot, corporate, fashion and lifestyle

by John

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