Mr & Mrs Travers - Wedding - 27th July 2013 - Newton-le-willows, St HelensMr and Mrs Travers 27th July 2013 St Mary & St John's, Newton-le-willows, St Helens & Thistle Hotel, Haydock, Merseyside I've known Kevin professionally for a couple of years now. A hard working, dedicated, family man is how I would describe him - when I met up with Kevin, his fiancee, Tracy, and daughter, Natasha, it was obvious to me why he is so hard working - he loves his family with all his heart and wants to provide for them. They really were a fantastic family and it was a pleasure to be part of their day!
Whenever I talked to Kevin, all he would talk about was his family, the wedding, and the overtime! Kevin was dedicated to making sure that the Wedding Day was special for his two girls - and it definitely didn't disappoint.
It was obvious for anyone to see that they all loved each other very much - there was so much emotion on the day.
I met Tracy and her bridesmaids at the Thistle Hotel in Haydock where they were getting ready, where nervousness was replaced with Bucks Fizz and laughter. Getting into the dress definitely provided some amusement, and these fun moments set the tone for the rest of the day.
Tracy looked stunning in her dress, and Natasha loved posing for the camera - a trait she must get from her dad.
The dress was gorgeous, some really intricate details and Tracy looked amazing - I was glad I managed to to capture some really beautiful shots of Tracy in her dress.
I left the girls at the hotel and went to meet Kevin, and his Brother and Best Man, Neil, at the church - St Mary & St John's in Newton-le-willows. I've often overlooked the church from the outside as I've driven past - but the inside was really bright and airy, it looked magnificent but felt really warm and welcoming.
Kevin looked nervous, but he managed to keep his composure really well for the groomsmen shots, right up until the moment when he caught a glimpse of Tracy and Natasha walking down the aisle. I'll never forget the tears of joy streaming down his face - the pure, raw emotion in his face. These images and memories that I managed to capture really tell the tale of the day.
After the wedding, we made the most of the summer sunshine, taking shots at the church and also back at the Thistle Hotel where the reception was being held. Natasha also joined us for some of the family shots - sneaking a peak into a couple too - a cheeky little moment that produced a Bronze Bar Award Winning Image also!
During the wedding breakfast, the guests were entertained by a magician, and the day finished off by some really heartfelt speeches - again bringing more tears, laughter and even a shout out for the rainbow! The reception carried on late into the night, and the 'photobooth' definitely provided some additional entertainment for the kids and adults with te props, wigs and silly glasses!!
I'd also like to congratulate Tracy, Kevin and Natasha on their fantastic news following the wedding - I'm really happy for them and can't wait to take some more family images!
Mr & Mrs Barbor - Wedding - 30th August 2013 - Oakwell Hall, BatleyMr and Mrs Barbor 30th August 2013 Oakwell Hall, Batley I've got to know Helen & Matt quite well since they booked me for their photography over a year ago. Little Mae was still just a toddler when I first met her, now she's walking, talking and has a lovely cheeky little smile!! I'd been looking forward to this wedding for some time, although with a little bit of trepidation; aside from being the day after my 30th Birthday, my partner had since become pregnant and the due date was only 2 weeks away! Thankfully the backup plan was not required and everything went smoothly, including the weather which cleared just at the right time for some fantastic colourful shots outside. The ceremony took place at Oakwell Hall in Batley. The House, a stunning 17th Century building actually mentioned by Charlotte Bronte in her novel Shirley, has amazing period features throughout. The Great Hall where the service took place was lit beautifully by the huge leaded windows to one side. Having photographed a Wedding at Holdsworth House in Halifax earlier in the year, a place that looks very similar and is equally beautiful, I knew the Hall would lend itself to being the perfect backdrop for some wonderfully colourful images. Helen and her Bridesmaids got ready at the nearby Gomersal Park Hotel, and received a wonderful surprise when they were picked up to be taken to Oakwell Hall in a prestigious old Bentley. Matt and the Groomsmen posed for a few shots around the grounds before the service took place. The reception was held at the Central Club in Batley where guests had fun in the photobooth with all the props, silly wigs and glasses!
Guild of Wedding Photographers - Qualification'Qualified' Status with the Guild of Wedding Photographers
I’ve just received some fantastic news. The panel of 21 images I submitted to the Guild of Photographers has been reviewed by the Panel of Judges and I have now achieved ‘Qualified’ Status with the Guild of Wedding Photographers. I can now use the letters QGWP after my name - a Qualified Wedding Photographer. “'Qualified' status is aligned to standards of competence and understanding that reflect a level where the customer should be 'delighted with the results' of a tradesman (the photographer in our case). In other words 'Qualified' indicates professional 'competence' to a level where the Guild is willing to recognise the photographer as an ambassador of the association, so those who achieve that level should be proud of doing so.” After working hard last year to improve the weddings I’ve shot, I do feel extremely proud of this recognition. It was so difficult trying to select the images as they had to be from 3 different weddings, and show images from different parts of the day – so some of my favourite images unfortunately had to be cut – but it does show a consistency across the whole day whilst demonstrating a wide range of skills and technical ability. The images I selected had to consider the following: · Subject and Story Telling · Composition and Creativity · Lighting · Technical and Post Production · Congruence or Harmony · Presentation The Guild of Photographers stated: "Local Photographer, Lee Jones, of Phi-tography, has achieved the distinction of becoming a ‘Qualified’ member of the Guild of Wedding Photographers, the highly regarded national photographic body whose members are dedicated to enhancing their skills in the art, craft and profession of photography. Lee is also an Assistant Scout Leader at Roberttown Scout Group – the place that inspired his photographic obsession whilst working as the District Media Development Manager and taking photographs at events. Becoming ‘Qualified’ with the Guild involves a very rigorous assessment process as not only is photographic talent assessed but customer service as well - probably the most demanding test of all! The award is granted only to photographers who can evidence that they deliver high quality images, products, and customer service. Lee is now one of only around 70 people in the Country to hold this title, which shows how good an achievement this award is! Members of the Guild are committed to achieving the highest standards of professionalism for the benefit of their customers. They pledge themselves to delivering the highest standards of customer service and to a journey of continuing professional development. The Guild website (www.photoguild.co.uk) lists members throughout the country who offer this commitment, along with advice on how to choose a photographer that will meet your needs. "
I would like to thank my Guild Mentor, Paul Haley for his advice and feedback. I also couldn’t have done it without the support of my other half, Jill, and also the photographers I have assisted and second shot for along with other members of the Guild of Photographers for their comments and critique. Most of all, I couldn’t have done it without you guys! Thanks for all your bookings and referrals, I really do enjoy being a part of your special day and capturing your memories. I can’t wait to continue to push my photography further, and with your help, along with some further training and mentoring I hope to take your images to the next level!
Mr & Mrs Matthews - Wedding - 25th March - Holdsworth House, HalifaxMr and Mrs Matthews 25th March 2013 Holdsworth House, Halifax I don't think that when Chantelle and Ashley booked their Wedding in March they would have expected a bit of snow, let alone the amount we received at the end of March - according to reports it was the worst snowfall in March for 30 years. Still, it definitely didn't dampen the spirits of anyone - Chantelle and the Bridesmaids were well prepared with wellies! Set in the lovely grounds and four star hotel that is Holdsworth House in Halifax, a stunning and picturesque Jacobean Manor built in 1633. The open fire was definitely welcome and warming, the amazing features of the house really stood out too amidst the contrast of the pure white snow. Chantelle and Ashley even braved the freezing temperatures to come outside later on for a few shots and resulted in this, one of my favourite images of 2013. You can see the snow falling and the stars above! Definitely worth the effort. Looking back, the snow really did help to create some timeless and beautiful images.
Guild of Photographers - Wedding & Portrait Image of the Month AwardsGuild of Photographers - Image of the Month Awards BRONZE BAR WINNING IMAGES Since joining the Guild of Photographers in 2013, I have entered their monthly competition 3 times. I have entered a selection of Wedding, Portrait and Open Category Images. The images are scored using an International Points System, and are scored completely anonymously by a panel of photography expert judges. I was delighted when the first month I found that several had won 'Bronze Bars' - their definition is that those are "Images of a strong standard at a Professional level". Whilst I'm overjoyed at getting the Bronze Bars - my aim for 2014 is to be able to enter images each month and aim to push my skills and technique to achieve a Silver or even Gold Bar. I would like to thank the people in the photos, as these awards are as much yours as they are mine - it isn't just about technical ability and the subject in each one has worked towards making the image fantastic too! So THANK YOU!! This will mean I need to be more creative and I am determined to keep pushing my photography forwards, which I will also need your help to do! Here's hoping for many more in 2014!! Here are the images that won a Bronze Bar:
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