The fabulous Bridal Musings blog is doing a series on practical wedding planning tips and I’m delighted to say that I’m going to be a regular contributor. You can catch my first set of tips on getting started here or see a brief roundup below:
I’ve known London Wedding Photographer Sarah Gawler for a while now as we are both South London locals and was delighted we finally got the chance to work together last year on the 2 day wedding that you can see here and here . So you could all get to know Sarah a little better I asked her to answer a few questions for you…
What’s your background?
I’ve always been interested in the place of photographs in people’s lives – how they help illustrate our personal histories and keep important memories alive in our minds. At university I read fine art and specialised in photography. All my work there dealt with this link between photography and memory, so I guess in many ways wedding photography is a really lovely progression from where I started out!
Why did you get into wedding photography?
I had been shooting family portraits and PR events at clubs and parties for a few years when a landscape photographer friend of mine asked me to photograph his wedding. I was reluctant as the responsibility of it felt huge but he convinced me by saying it’s what I do already, it’s just family portraits … at a party. As it turned out, I loved the experience and quickly saw that a career in wedding photography could be really fulfilling for me. I really enjoy seeing how a couple express themselves through their wedding celebration; the outfits, the flowers, styling, music choices … but mostly I love getting to know people who are on this personal journey and being witness to their all-important day. Capturing these kind of memories for people is what makes me tick.
How would you describe your style?
I think that my images themselves embrace simple composition, spontaneity and lots of joy. I also like them to have a light and delicate quality, so that they look as much as is possible as memory feels.
Where do you find your inspiration?
Everywhere; Film, music, theatre, art, the countryside, books, magazines but ultimately for weddings I’m inspired by the couple. It’s their story, personality and vision they have for their day that I want to understand and interpret.
What has been your best experience at a wedding?
I think I have too many to mention individually but on the whole, the weddings that I’ve had the best experiences at are the ones where the couple (and their guests) really let me into their day so that I feel more like a friend than ‘the photographer’. These are the days that make me buzz when I’m shooting and that I have the fondest memories of.
What have you found the most challenging at a wedding?
Working with limited or no natural light. Photography is painting with light and it’s always challenging to shoot in venues when there’s not much to work with.
What do you think couples should be looking for when hiring a photographer?
A visual style they like of course but also a great chemistry and trust. If you enjoy and feel relaxed in your photographer’s company the chances are you’ll enjoy the experience of being photographed by them which will result in the best pictures.
What advice would you give to couples when planning their wedding?
Choose the suppliers who’s work you love, talk to them on the phone, skype or meet up with them to make sure there’s a good chemistry – then trust them to do their job.
What do you wish couples knew already when working with you?
That I’m as excited about their wedding as they are and I love to hear the little stories that go into making their day unique!
Where do you see the future of British wedding photography?
There’s lots of seriously talented Brit photographers right now making beautiful art imagery and changing people’s perceptions about what wedding photography should be so it’s a really exciting time to be a working in the industry. Photographers are experimenting with both film and digital processes, stop motion, moving image, music with images, text on images, fine art papers, beautifully bound books, the list goes on and with everyone being able to share their new ways of working through blogs, Pinterest, Twitter etc … I can only see British wedding photography becoming even more exciting. I also like to think that providing real photographs rather than or as well as digital files will make a big comeback (it has done with me, see here!)
What’s your one obsession at the moment-something you just can’t live without?
I have bit of a long term obsession with radio so my portable DAB I think. It’s pretty much on all the time when I’m at home 
Thankyou Sarah for your time. Do take a look at Sarah’s beautiful website and blog for lots more inspirational images.
All photos courtesy of Sarah Gawler via her blog post Mexico A Jose Villa workshop
So today is the 15 year anniversary of when my now husband and I shared our first kiss…we’d been to the Barbican to see a Shakespeare play and had late meal at a little Italian restaurant…it was a goodnight kiss…
We had met exactly 5 months earlier at the start of term at drama school, he was there studying to be a director, me theatre design. We quickly became very good friends and regularly went out for meals or visited the theatre together. When asked by friends if there was anything between us I would laugh it off saying he was way too tall for me-he’s 6’3 I’m 4’11”!!
That night 15 years ago something changed and as they say the rest is history…we’ve been married now for over 11years and have a gorgeous 7 year old son. To my amazing husband I love and thank you …here’s to many more years together…
I recently designed and coordinated a blush pink and mint photshoot. Above is the mood board and here are the lovely photos by the fabulous Julia Boggio
Photo Shoot Credits:
Photographer: Julia Boggio, Venue: RSA House, Styling & coordination: Always Andri Wedding Design for UKAWP, Makeup: Mariam Jensen, Hair: Severin Hubert for Hepburn Collection, Florist: Mary-Jane Vaughn, Wedding Dresses: Johanna Hehir, Bridesmaids dress: Twobirds Bridesmaids, Suits: Cad & Dandy, Stationery: Cutture, Accessories: Victoria Millésime, Cake: Tempting Cake, Hire (tableware etc) :Options Hire, Models: Chloe-Jasmine Whichello, Joseph Bader, Sjaniël Turrell
Moodboard Credits:
Bouquet & Mint bridesmaids dresses photos by Elisabeth Millay via Snippet & Ink |Victoria Melismé Headpiece photo by Hannah Mia Photography via Love My Dress | Mint macarons photo by Christine Farah via Style Unveiled |Table setting photos by Stacey Windsor Photography via United With Love | Twobirds bridesmaid dress photo SMS Photography by via Style Me Pretty | Johanna Hehir Wedding dress, photo by Shaneen Rosewarne Cox via Love My Dress | Succulent mini cakes photo Christa Elyce by via Ruffled | Mint jewellery photo D. Park Photography by via The Brides Cafe | Cutture stationery photo by Eddie Judd | Bouquet photo by Suthi Picotte via Style Me Pretty
Valentine by John Fuller
The things about you I appreciate
May seem indelicate:
I’d like to find you in the shower
And chase the soap for half an hour.
I’d like to have you in my power
And see your eyes dilate.
I’d like to have your back to scour
And other parts to lubricate.
Sometimes I feel it is my fate
To chase you screaming up a tower
Or make you cower
By asking you to differentiate
Nietzsche from Schopenhauer.
I’d like successfully to guess your weight
And win you at a fête.
I’d like to offer you a flower.
I like the hair upon your shoulders,
Falling like water over boulders.
I like the shoulders too: they are essential.
Your collar-bones have great potential
(I’d like your particulars in folders
Marked Confidential).
I like your cheeks, I like your nose,
I like the way your lips disclose
The neat arrangement of your teeth
(Half above and half beneath)
In rows.
I like your eyes, I like their fringes.
The way they focus on me gives me twinges.
Your upper arms drive me berserk.
I like the way your elbows work.
On hinges …
I like your wrists, I like your glands,
I like the fingers on your hands.
I’d like to teach them how to count,
And certain things we might exchange,
Something familiar for something strange.
I’d like to give you just the right amount
And get some change.
I like it when you tilt your cheek up.
I like the way you not and hold a teacup.
I like your legs when you unwind them.
Even in trousers I don’t mind them.
I like each softly-moulded kneecap.
I like the little crease behind them.
I’d always know, without a recap,
Where to find them.
I like the sculpture of your ears.
I like the way your profile disappears
Whenever you decide to turn and face me.
I’d like to cross two hemispheres
And have you chase me.
I’d like to smuggle you across frontiers
Or sail with you at night into Tangiers.
I’d like you to embrace me.
I’d like to see you ironing your skirt
And cancelling other dates.
I’d like to button up your shirt.
I like the way your chest inflates.
I’d like to soothe you when you’re hurt
Or frightened senseless by invertebrates.
I’d like you even if you were malign
And had a yen for sudden homicide.
I’d let you put insecticide
Into my wine.
I’d even like you if you were Bride
Of Frankenstein
Or something ghoulish out of Mamoulian’s
Jekyll and Hyde.
I’d even like you as my Julian
Or Norwich or Cathleen ni Houlihan.
How melodramatic
If you were something muttering in attics
Like Mrs Rochester or a student of Boolean
Mathematics.
You are the end of self-abuse.
You are the eternal feminine.
I’d like to find a good excuse
To call on you and find you in.
I’d like to put my hand beneath your chin,
And see you grin.
I’d like to taste your Charlotte Russe,
I’d like to feel my lips upon your skin
I’d like to make you reproduce.
I’d like you in my confidence.
I’d like to be your second look.
I’d like to let you try the French Defence
And mate you with my rook.
I’d like to be your preference
And hence
I’d like to be around when you unhook.
I’d like to be your only audience,
The final name in your appointment book,
Your future tense.
