Richard Shephard Photography - Richards Blog

Birthday Coffee

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 10:52:54 +0100

Sorry for the sporadic updates to the blog. Did anyone here not learn the word "sporadic" from clueless? Here are some of the things that happened. Not all work-related - I hope you don't mind!

Friday was the prom, hosted by Southfields School for Girls. Congrats to the organisers - it was an awesome event. Everyone was having a great time! You all looked fab in your photos. Hope to see some of you next year! Thankyou too to Jane and her team at the Hotel Elizabeth.

On Saturday I had a rare day off! My family had some free tickets to Alton Towers, so how could I refuse?! This isn't us of course, but Oblivion was one of my favourite rides!

I'm very much looking forward to this afternoon, when I'm off to photograph Paul and Sharron's wedding at the Falcon. And tomorrow I'm heading down to Bracknell for Leo and Jen's wedding. I didn't get to post many of their engagement photos earlier in the week, but here are a couple!

The reception is at the Blue Mountain Golf Course, which amazingly, is just moments away from the house I grew up in. One of my many happy memories of childhood was walking round the golf course at night with Dad in the fog, carrying REALLY BIG torches so the beams lit up the sky!

Do you have a favourite childhood memory? If so, why not enter it at hundredsandthousands.org.uk, a charity project by the Children's Society?

Now I just need to finish my coffee from my favourite mug, pack up my kit and about a hundred batteries, and prepare for the wedding!

Mark and Natalie's wedding

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:38:43 +0100

Mark and Natalie are an amazing couple, and the kind of customers a photographer loves to have! Apart from being most attractive, they're also lots of fun, and keen to enjoy themselves while they get the best out of their photographs.

The girls got ready in the sunlit conservatory at Natalie's parents house in Silverstone. It was as mum put it, "chaos, but lovely chaos"! Here's Natalie practising her pout...

And arriving in style with Dad.

Some of my favourite pictures so far this year were down at the lake, after hanging on for dear life to the side of the horse drawn carriage (thanks for the lift guys!)

We had a great day at Whittlebury Park. Great weather, great company, great food!

Chris and Naomi engagement pictures

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 16:33:41 +0100

Yesterday afternoon I met with Chris and Naomi at the Falcon Hotel for some practise shots and to enjoy the glorious sunshine together!

Chris and Naomi met 7 years ago at university in Bath, and were engaged in November last year. They wanted a summer wedding, but just couldn't wait until 2009 to be husband and wife! And who can blame them, right? So they've gotten their act together PDQ and organised their wonderful wedding, which is now less than four weeks away!

The Falcon will be packed with 120 of Chris and Naomi's adoring fans, family and friends, and I can't wait - it's going to be brilliant!

When was the last time you enjoyed a sneaky kiss behind the bushes?!

Ladies and gentlemen, we present 'the falcon'...

Later in the evening I headed over to Raunds to meet with a lovely couple who've booked me for their wedding in May 2009. On the way over I couldn't help stopping off in Stanwick for some of that magic air they've got over there. Seriously, the first time I got out of the car in Stanwick to recce a venue years ago I took a deep breath and thought "mmmm!" Try it some time. You'll feel so much better.

Michael and Amy, it was so nice to meet you both. I'm so glad I'm not the only one who sings along to the adverts, and I can't wait to work with you. Say hello to Parker's Piece for me. I miss Cambridge!

Last 2008 summer dates

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 11:55:03 +0100

The 2008 wedding season is well underway! I'm shooting weddings almost every weekend and editing, proofing, designing and meeting throughout the week. But a lot of couples are still making plans for their weddings this year. So here are the remaining Fridays and Saturdays I have available in 2008 as of now:

July: 18, 19, 25
August: 1, 15, 23, 29
September: 12, 19, 20, 26, 27
October: 3, 4, 24, 25, 31
November: 1, 7, 14, 15, 21, 28, 29
December: 12, 13, 19, 27

Please note, these are just the Fridays and Saturdays. Other days are available too, give me a call to check!

If you're still looking for a photographer for this year, please get in touch. I'm very keen to get to know you and find out what you're hoping to achieve with your photographs. Tell me what you were hoping to spend. I'd rather be with you on your big day than anywhere else.

All digital 'CD package'

You've probably noticed by now that choosing a photographer is not just about which albums, prints and optional extras you get for the price. You're choosing someone with the right skill level and personality to document your wedding in a fresh, inspiring, romantic and fun way. The 'CD package', previously restricted to off-peak days is now available any day for the rest of 2008. This gives you exactly the same great photography all day by me, and all the photographs with copyright permission on CD. Think about albums later, or just make your own prints.

Eamon and Jennie's Wedding

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:44:35 +0100

Well my plan worked. All that talk of rain practically guaranteed us a beautiful day for Eamon and Jennie as they were married at the Catholic cathedral on Barrack Road.

The house was pretty chaotic in the morning, with 5 bridesmaids, plus page boys and flower girls. The kids were lots of fun - while the girls dresses were put on, the boys were pulling their socks off. While the socks were put back on, the girls went to play with Hugo the dog. Hugo was amazingly well behaved, despite not being allowed to join in with much of the fun.

Jennie of course, remained cool and gorgeous throughout the whole process. She has a serene and warm nature that's particularly attractive, and it was lovely to watch her interact with her family and loved ones throughout the day. She reminds me so much of another famous Jennie I used to know!

The cathedral is one of my favourite places to shoot. It's big, light and airy, there's space to shoot from either side and plenty of room for group photographs outside. It has the added advantage of being 20 seconds walk from Eamon and Jennie's house! I always enjoy speaking to Father John before and after weddings here.

Eamon and the boys, looking confident!

The Northampton Golf Course has beautiful grounds, including this lovely bridge. Gavin, the general manager of the venue took me down in a golf buggy, while Eamon drove his new wife down after us.

I really enjoyed working here, and I'm very much looking forward to my dear friends' wedding in December. Gavin is doing a great job of re-launching the club as a premiere wedding venue, and has some exciting plans for the future. My congratulations too to ace wedding planner Alice Sibley on another great job. I can't wait to work with you again soon!

Eamon and Jennie, my warmest congratulations to you both. Have a wonderful time on honeymoon and give me a call when you get back!