The Wedding Dress

I’ve just returned from Melbourne, Derbyshire, where I finished photographing Alison’s wedding dress, who is getting married to Alan in early May. Normally, I would photograph a bride’s dress on the morning of the wedding, but in this case the dress is being stored in the shop to keep it pristine until the morning of the wedding – and being collected just before Alison puts it on! Alison also loved the romantic setting of the shop, so when I drove over to Melbourne to have a look at their reception venue and plan their photographs, I took a detour to Rococo Couture Bridal Shop. Her dress is by British designer Sassi Holford, who specialises in high-end, classically beautiful dresses. Alison’s dress has so much gorgeous detail and is incredibly romantic - but I can’t show you the pictures just yet in case her husband-to-be should see! Instead, here is a collection of other wedding dresses and details taken over the last few months. Alternatively visit the client gallery area for more bridal preparation wedding photography. An image of the dress – hung up waiting for the bride to be laced into - is such a poignant and pretty way to begin an album.

Mother and Baby Photoshoots

As portrait and wedding photographers, Mirror Imaging particularly loves baby photography, as babies are always so expressive in front of the camera. Some of you may recall I photographed baby Bryn a while back, when he was around eight weeks old. Now at nine months, Bryn has grown into a really happy, giggly baby with his own unique personality and he loves to interact with other people. His parents therefore called me back to record this stage in his life and have some more photographs of this amazing time.

At some time in the future Mirror Imaging will be launching a deluxe ‘as baby grows’ photographic package, which will involve three photoshoots spread over the period of a year, a 12x12 proud parents album by Queensberry in your choice of finishes, with two miniature grandparents’ albums. This amazing package will capture the essence of your beautiful baby and span an incredibly precious time in your lives, from newborn, to six months and finally at a year old. These precious photographs will then be bound in a bespoke Queensberry album, designed to last your baby’s lifetime and into the next generation. Please keep reading our blog for more information and prices.

In the meantime, I’m sure you’ll all agree baby Bryn is growing into quite a handsome young man!

Mirror Imaging Awarded Photographic Gold!

I’m overjoyed to announce I have won a gold award from the Society of Wedding & Portrait Photographers (SWPP) in the Contemporary Wedding Photography category! The winning photograph was taken at Eugenie and Craig’s wedding at Kilworth House in November 2008.

SWPP’s monthly competition covers all photographic arenas, including wedding photography, bridal portraiture, children, fashion, fine art, children, black and white, etc. It is hotly contested with many experienced names entering their images to be judged by the Society’s panel as either Unclassified, Bronze (acceptable, competent image), Silver (above standard) and Gold (deemed to be images of the highest standard and will be published in Professional Imagemaker Magazine).

Gold award winners are then put forward to the annual judging, which means they are shortlisted for the prestigious Photographer of the Year titles, including the UK Wedding Photographer of the Year.

As the competition is for industry professionals the standard is extremely high and the judging criteria stringent and it is therefore even more of an honour to have been awarded the Gold.

It’s All About the Bride!

As a female wedding photographer I like to think I have a lot of empathy and understanding about how a woman likes to look in a photograph. For starters, many of us are not comfortable about having our photograph taken, as we’re used to handbag sized ‘point and shoot’ cameras with harsh flash and the unflattering results that can follow! On your wedding day you will hopefully feel prettier than you ever have before, and it’s the perfect time to capture an amazing shot of you, one that you would feel proud to have printed within the pages of a magazine. It’s my personal mission to achieve that beautiful portrait, ‘Vogue style’, within a wedding setting. Here are some of my black and white favourites, all taken in a living room, hotel room or outside, using natural light with on-camera flash.

Give the Gift of a Beautiful Photograph

Mirror Imaging wedding photographers nottingham are very pleased announce the arrival of our gift vouchers, which can be redeemed against our beautiful range of framed prints and canvases. These are available in a range of stunning voucher designs with a wedding theme, baby theme, portrait and coming soon, our fine art vouchers.

Vouchers make a great option to add on to your wedding gift list and, as they are valid for six months after the date of your wedding, you will be able to redeem them against some fabulous artwork of your wedding day. Simply add Mirror Imaging Vouchers with our telephone number on the bottom of your invitation/gift list, your guests can call before your wedding day and order the amount they want to give. Alternatively, they make unique and personal gifts for friends and family who would love a photo shoot – perhaps to announce an engagement or with a new baby arrival.

Each voucher is printed on photographic paper and then window framed in a white gift card (and envelope), which is left blank for your own personal message. Or have us write your message and post directly to the recipient.

Available in any denomination from £25 upwards. We regret that we cannot accept vouchers in part payment for wedding packages or album purchases. Please contact us on 07968 159465 for more information or to purchase.

Traditional v. Contemporary?

A large number of you will have in mind a particular style of wedding photography that you want to see in your wedding album. You may talk to several wedding photographers when planning your day and each should have a distinguishable approach and you should be able to see if it matches your style preferences (as well as you liking their personality too, which is just as important). If you take a look at a photographer’s entire wedding from start to finish, rather than just the ‘best bits’, you should be able to pick out strong images from every chapter of the day, with perhaps the photographs of the couple being some of the strongest.

Many, many couples, in fact all of you, have told me in the initial meeting that you don’t like posing for photographs. My response is always the same: (Firstly – me too!) I aim for all your wedding photographs to look warm and natural, whether you’re looking at the camera or not, but can achieve this in several ways, even if you know the camera is there. The photographs below speak for themselves, and their subjects are also all people who don’t like posing for the camera!

Often, because I’m right ‘in the thick of it’ during the highlights of your day, I can capture expressions and moments rather than poses, such as this black and white shot of Mark and his ushers messing about - see below - (playing scissor, paper, stone – a great way to distract from a few pre-wedding nerves!) Sometimes, I combine this with a little gentle choreography, to get a real epic shot where you appear lost in the moment (and often are) such as the shot of Eugenie and Craig doing the ‘dip kiss’, a truly romantic gesture that maintains its sincerity and emotion despite of the camera. Other parts of the day may call for some composed photographs - but without them ever looking forced, like this stunning portrait of Lois where natural light illuminates and flatters. If self-consciousness is an issue, a beautiful portrait can still be achieved without you staring straight into the lens.

As you can see, traditional meets contemporary to create different moods in each image and I use both styles to reflect the changing emotions throughout your day. This goes into making beautiful and moving wedding albums that tell the story of your wedding day and take you right back to the emotion of it all.

Our Valentines Wedding Promotion

To celebrate the upcoming day of love, Mirror Imaging wedding photographers Nottingham are giving away a bottle of champagne during this month of February to every loved-up couple who in a haze of ‘marry me’ roses and kisses is reminded to book the most exceptional wedding photography service available anywhere in the world!

From blushing bride to nervous groom, family and friends, intimate moments of your wedding day will be timelessly captured in a lively, sympathetic and candid style for beautiful images that are as memorable as a first kiss.

Call Sarah Illingworth on 07968 159465 for a fresh approach to wedding photography – the most romantic photoshoot of your life.