Studio diary of Hampshire photographer - Mike French
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This evening I met up with Debra and Matt at the De Vere property in Shedfield – New Place – for their pre-wedding shoot and meeting. Whilst we hadn’t had the torrential rain forecast it was a little misty and drizzly and so we worked as much of the venue outside as possible to give a good flavour of this lovely old house and it’s grounds.
I’m shooting Wendy and Martin’s wedding at Marwell Hall later on this year and so this morning we met up at the gates of Marwell Wildlife and headed up to Marwell Hall for their pre-wedding shoot. On the way up we managed to talk a little about Wendy and Martin’s plans for the day and we soon arrived at the Hall which was deserted at this early hour.
Winchester Guildhall was the central venue for this evenings pre-wedding shoot with Becky and Ian. Although they will be getting married at a local church Becky and Ian will be going to Winchester Guildhall for their wedding reception and this was the natural place to do their pre-wedding shoot.
I met Lianne and Iain early this Sunday morning for their pre-wedding shoot onboard HMS Warrior in the Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth. With crowds of visitors expecting on HMS Warrior today we arrived at opening time and made our way to the ship to avoid the sightseers and get some relaxed images onboard HMS Warrior which...
Today was my long awaited pre-wedding shoot with Michelle and Jon at both St Cross Church, Winchester, and then onto New Place in Shedfield (or Shirral Heath – I’m never sure). Long awaited because I had been to St Cross in 2008, when I assisted another photographer for the day, and had been keen to book a wedding for myself at the venue, and also because I was looking forward to seeing Jon and Michelle again – because despite shooting some commercial work for Jon in Winchester last year it had been some time since they booked me for their wedding.
We photographed a pre-wedding shoot at Rhinefield House today for Liz and Carl who are getting married there later in the spring. Rhinefield House is one of my favourite venues to shoot outside on location.
We had postponed Katy and Rob’s pre-wedding shoot a few weeks back due to driving rain, and in fairness this was pretty much the first good week we have had since then to go out and make some great photographs of them in the run up to their Surrey wedding later this Autumn. So with a good forecast and us all able to make the date I drove up to Esher to meet up with Katy and Rob for the first time, talk through their day in more detail and take some pre-wedding shoot images.
This morning I met up with Tanya and Mike for their pre-wedding shoot at Marwell. We arranged to meet early at the entrance to the wildlife park and walk up to the Hall overtaking most of the general public and ensuring that we had some peace and privacy for the duration of our pre-wedding shoot.
Earlier this evening I photographed Christie and Martin’s pre-wedding shoot at the Rhinefield House Hotel in the New Forest. Although they are not getting married until 2011 Christie and Martin were keen to do their pre-wedding shoot at this time, and it was good timing as well as the grounds will be in similar condition when they get married. It was also great to see them again having initially met at the wedding fair at Botley Park Hotel earlier in the year.
Yesterday evening I was at the exclusive and luxurious Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey for the pre-wedding shoot of Tatiana and Robert who will be married there later this summer.
On Sunday I photographed Rachel and Garry on Thorney Island near Emsworth for their pre-wedding shoot. They will be getting married in the 12th century St Nicholas church at the tip of the island right next to the water and remaining on the island for their wedding reception.
Powdermills Hotel in Battle was the venue for Wednesdays pre-wedding shoot. Helen and Graham are holding their wedding reception at this lovely hotel in the countryside just outside of Battle in East Sussex. This wedding is a third generation referral as I have photographed the weddings of two of Graham’s work colleagues the first back in 2007, and then another in 2008.
One of the Marwell Wildlife meerkats got in on the action during our recent pre-wedding shoot up at Marwell Hall for Danni and Stu’s pre-wedding shoot. It proved to be their favourite and I have just prepared a lovely desk framed print for them as a memento of the session. The 9×6″ print is encased in a 14×11″ oak frame with a matching oak fillet and comes with a desk stand.
We have just photographed a lovely pre-wedding shoot for Sarah and Tom at the Manor Barn in Buriton, Hampshire.
I have just photographed Fiona and Rory at the Tithe Barn near Petersfield for their pre-wedding shoot. They are getting married in St Ann’s in the Naval Dockyard later in the year and having their wedding reception at the Tithe Barn, and so we headed up there for some relaxed portraits and natural images.
