Rock ‘n Roll Bride featuring Skye and Liam’s wedding

Well, just after being featured on the ‘Rock my Wedding’ blog having just booked the wedding of one of its contributors, Jenny, I’m extremely pleased to mention the fact to all you lovely brides-2-be and post-brides (for I know many of you still come back to read this blog) that Skye and Liam’s Halloween-themed wedding is this week featured on another funky blog called Rock ‘n Roll Bride. The wedding itself from my point of view was perfect – after a wet start the weather gave a soft milky autumnal sunlight all afternoon (lovely for photographs),  a very good looking bride and groom, fantastic details to photograph and a great venue with wonderful backdrops/locations. No wonder then that the images are going down so well.

Kat, who runs and writes the blog has presented to me her ‘Approved Rockstar Vendor’ badge which will take its place at the top of my printed literature from now on. I’m so pleased to be featuring on so many mediums at the moment and it’s also having its effect in terms of brides-to-be contacting me wanting to know my availability for 2009 and beyond, so if you’re one of those just coming across my work, get in touch but be quick!

Rock my Wedding

I met Jen and Matt recently who described to me their wedding next year and more specifically the wedding car they have booked – a vintage split-screen VW camper van (a bit like The Dream Machine from Scooby Doo) called Brian. Jen is a singer in a Ska band and she calls Matt ‘Duncan from Blue’ and not being a massive fan of Blue (who?) I have to take her word to the supposed similarities in their features. Anyway, Jen and Matt have booked me for their wedding next year which pleases me no end, as I think it will be a really funky little affair! Already we’re plotting the locations of their pre-wedding shoot in and around the groovier parts of London.

The other thing is, Jen writes a weekly column for a blog called Rock my Wedding, which aims to reach out to brides-to-be who want their weddings to be just that little bit different to the stated ‘norm’. Jen has today written a great piece (well, I would say that, wouldn’t I?) all about how they found me and why they booked me and I LOVE it!

Here’s a quick screenshot, but head over there to have a read about why Jen wants to be a rockstar….

Skye and Liam – a Halloween wedding

Saturday 31st October was Halloween and I had the absolute pleasure of shooting the wedding of Skye and Liam at a very beautiful venue called South Farm in Cambridgeshire. The venue itself is a working farm and one of the pigs had just had 12 spotted piglets, which were running around in their pen like mad things with all the excitement. Also in the grounds were some vintage Romany caravans and an old steam engine – all of which got my creative juices flowing and I made good use of all of them.

For their Halloween theme, Skye and Liam had informed all their guests that there would be a pumpkin carving competition, thinking most would not bother – on the day, almost every guest brought along a unique and amusing carved pumpkin, the display of which took up one nearly length of the barn in which the reception took place! There were loads of lovely little details at this wedding, including a message tree with ‘leaves’ for people to write on and attach to the branches and everyone was given a masquerade mask for the dancing. All the details were unique and special to Skye and Liam, and you’ll see some of them in this selection of their images. Enjoy!

Amy and Jody – a funky London wedding

There was quite a different feel to this wedding, as it was fairly small and informal, but Amy and Jody are a very funky couple and I loved their outfits! Most of all, I love shooting London weddings, as there are so many interesting locations to use as backdrops for photographs. Amy and Jody both got ready in a lovely little boutique hotel in Smithfield called The Rookery and we all travelled from there to where the ceremony itself took place in the grand surroundings of the Council chambers inside Islington Town Hall. As everyone was waiting for Amy to enter I took the opportunity to sit in the sumptuous Council leader’s chair! After that, the wedding party stayed in Upper Street for lunch and later moved back to a wine bar in Smithfield for the evening party. I got some portrait shots of the two of them after the ceremony in and around Upper Street but also later on in Smithfield which again, is very good for photographs.

Enjoy some of the images from their day.

Stephanie and Matt – an autumnal wedding at Hunton Park

I did a pre-wedding shoot with Steph and Matt in London a few months ago – they thoroughly enjoyed it and were thrilled with the resulting images, which I provided to them printed in a pocket coffee table book. We met again a few weeks ago at Hunton Park near Kings Langley to discuss the day and to get an idea of great photographic locations to be used on the day, as I knew I had a very tight timeframe in which to get them. When Saturday arrived, it was not a good day for weather – but it stayed dry for long enough for us to get the most important shots. There is a beautifully light Orangery inside the venue, which I used for some of the group shots – for the one you see here of all the day guests, I was perched on a rickety chair which itself was on top of a wobbly table – it’s a good job I’m insured!

Here are some of their images.

Eleni and Tim – pre wedding shoot at Stanborough Lakes

Eleni and Tim get married next month at The Barns in Bedford and will be my penultimate wedding of 2009 (unless of course any late bookings come in!) We met on Sunday at Stanborough Lakes in Welwyn Garden City on what was a lovely autumnal afternoon with soft sunshine. We walked around the lakes, stopping when I spotted some likely areas for photo opportunities. I have had it mentioned by clients more than once that my eyes are always darting around looking for places to use for photographs – I mainly look for colour and textures, but sometimes I can’t quite explain why I’m drawn to a particular spot – it just ‘feels’ right.

After the shoot came to an end, I asked Eleni and Tim if there was a shot they particularly wanted that we hadn’t done and Eleni said she’d like one with leaves – the two of them throwing leaves at each other, in fact. Poor old Tim got hundreds thrown at him before I got the shot I wanted!

Anyway, here’s a selection of images from their pre-wedding shoot.

Jeanette and Paul – an autumn wedding in London

I first met Jeanette and Paul earlier this year when there was thick snow on the ground – fast forward to last Saturday and I met up with Jeanette at the plush Athenaum Hotel in Picaddilly, where she and her bridal party were getting ready. The wedding was going to take place at one of the most famous wedding landmarks in London, Chelsea Register Office, where many a rock star has tied the knot over the years. We took taxis to Chelsea, where Paul was waiting.

After an emotional ceremony and a few group shots on the famous steps, it was all aboard a hired ‘wedding special’ Routemaster bus to the reception venue, a bar called Below Zero off Regent Street. The three of us then had some time to capture some great portrait shots, using as much of London as possible as the backdrop. We also collected big crowds along the way, all clapping and cheering the happy couple! Enjoy these shots of their day.

Your Herts/Beds Wedding magazine – now with added Kim Hawkins Wedding Photography!

I do love a chance to blow my own trumpet and I am very pleased to tell you that one of my weddings from 2009 is being featured in the latest issue of the magazine, which is on sale now and for the next two months.

Editor Lisa told me she thought Rob and Laura were a ’stunning couple’ and obviously I agree and think they look fantastic across the pages. But that’s not all – the cover image of this issue is also one of my brides – Becki, who married Matt last month and whose image was chosen specifically for the cover by Lisa.

The magazine, as well as being on sale in shops, now goes to all the wedding fairs in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire and will also be on sale at the National Wedding Show at Earls Court in October, so my name and images will be seen far and wide - I am just so chuffed!

Keira and Matt – a village wedding

The wedding of Keira and Matt took place last Saturday in a tiny hamlet called Lemsford, in Hertfordshire. Consisting of little more than a few homes and a primary school and sitting right next to the glamorous Brocket Hall, Lemsford Church is a beautiful place to get married and because it was such a glorious day (again – sorry folks, I know it’s getting boring!) the light flooding into the church was fantastic and made for some great shots while the service was going on.

After the wedding, the couple went for a ride in their carriage drawn by two lovely dappled grey horses and arrived back in time to have some portrait shots taken in and around Lemsford village – I also used the entrance driveway to Brocket Hall, but don’t tell anyone!

Here’s a selection of images from their day.

Nichola and John’s wedding at Leez Priory

After a few hours sleep after Louise and Richard’s wedding on Saturday, I was up early on Sunday and off to deepest Essex where Leez Priory is to be found. Once again the weather was glorious and allowed an outside ceremony, held in the shadow of the gatehouse. Nichola looked beautiful in her elegant dress, along with a bouquet of white roses with black feathers, which was her colour scheme. Leez Priory provides beautiful backdrops with style – I was spoiled for choice for the bride and groom portraits and you see just a few here. The little boy asleep is Nichola and John’s son, Harry, who didn’t seem to realise what all the fuss was about!