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Advertising Campaign Photography: Christmas at Marwell Wildlife – be enchanted

Mike French — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:35:11 +0000

Now that the “Christmas at Marwell – be enchanted” experience is pretty much sold out for the second year running at Marwell Wildlife I felt it was a good time to blog this advertising campaign photography which took place some 18 months ago.

I was fortunate enough to meet up with Father Christmas, Mrs Christmas and their attentive elves back in July 2010 – when they were not so busy with their preparations for Christmas that year to make sure that they had lots of images suitable for the website, trifold marketing flyers and all of the online and print advertising campaign surrounding the experience.

Here are a few of the images from the shoot, many used as feature images in the advertising campaign for both the 2010 and 2011 campaigns .

Whilst I’m now on first name terms with Santa, and his good lady wife, I’m also available for all kinds of commercial and corporate PR throughout the year and not just for Christmas. More information about our commercial photography services can be found on our dedicated website.

Marwell Hall Wedding Photos – Wendy & Martin

Mike French — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 21:46:26 +0000

Wendy and Martin wanted their day at Marwell Hall to be a party with a wedding also happening, and it certainly was that.

We started in the Marwell Hotel, in a bridal room I’m very familiar with, capturing Wendy’s preparations with her hairdresser, bridesmaid and make-up artist and her mum. Both of the other bridesmaids made an entrance via the balcony, and it set the tone for a wonderful day. Having photographed Wendy, the dress, shoes and preparations I headed over to Marwell Hall and met up with the boys. Resplendent in turquoise waistcoats, top hats and canes the guys were all wearing different feature shoes as well.

Arriving road trains with guests quickly followed and it wasn’t long before Wendy herself drew up with her father and went into the hall to meet the registrars. The ceremony room was flooded with light as this early September wedding became blessed with good weather and soon they were married, and the party started. Groups were completed quickly, and after some mingling with the guests which I captured, along with the room details Wendy and Martin headed off to the Lemurs for a private feeding. Deep in the enclosure we got some great images, with these fearless little creatures and then it was back to Marwell Hall for some more drinks.

Guests made their way up to the new marquee site, and we were soon into dinner, and speeches from both fathers, Martin and his best-man, and then Martin, Wendy and I slipped off for a few moments for some time alone to get some more relaxed images in the feature areas of the grounds surrounding Marwell Hall. On our return some of the guests made their way up to the marquee having taken advantage of the face painting in the zoo – fantastic art, very funny, and the first time I had ever seen this at the many weddings I have photographed here. More photographic opportunities came as the guys broke out a box of cigars and as the light levels dropped everyone was chilling around the marquee.

As the evening reception began my coverage drew to a close as I captured the first dance and some of the partying immediately afterwards.

Here are a selection of images from the day.

Marwell Hall Pre-Wedding Shoot: Wendy and Martin

Mike French — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 13:39:28 +0000

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.

As usual I started with some more formal portraits, great practice for their wedding day, before we captured some more contemporary relaxed and informal images of them together and individual portraits using a variety of great locations near the hall. As light drizzle started to come down we called it a day, and headed back to the Marwell Hotel where we grabbed a drink and talked through the specifics of their wedding day before I headed off to backup the images and they met up with their DJ.

Here are some of the images from the pre-wedding shoot, and I’m looking forward to seeing them both again soon on their wedding day.

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Marwell Hall Wedding Fair: 6th March 2011

Mike French — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:37:30 +0000

We are pleased to announce that we will be showcasing our wedding photography at Marwell Hall during their wedding fair this coming Sunday.

As a recommended photographer we will be showing our display album, also used by Marwell Hall themselves, containing three beautiful weddings in the Hall and photographs from around the hall, grounds, and with the animal feeds. We will also be showing contemporary albums from Rhinefield House, and Hayling Island and many of our favourite images from the last couple of years, canvas wraps, framed prints, parents albums and some of our pre-wedding shoot products.

The weather forecast looks good, and so we are looking forward to meeting couples who have already booked their wedding at Marwell Hall, but not yet their photographer and those of you considering this lovely, and unique venue, for your wedding.

Feedback from the team suggests this is a favourite image from our display album (taken in the marquee during the speeches). Do come and see the rest of it.

Marwell Hall Wedding – Tanya and Mike

Mike French — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 22:29:47 +0000

Today I was at Marwell Hall for the lovely autumn wedding of Tanya and Mike, who had seen the images I took of Gemma and Dan’s wedding at Marwell on the same weekend of the previous year and booked me based on those !

I started at the Marwell Hotel where Tanya and her bridesmaids were having their hair beautifully prepared by Michelle from Bridal Hair in Hampshire, who I have worked with many times before. Having photographed the girls getting ready, dress and accessories I headed up to the hall and caught up with the team Izzy and Regan from the Hall itself and Pav, the toastmaster, who is a regular feature at the Hall for weddings and an excellent addition to any wedding, and the wonderful florist Lynda Robson from Exclusively Weddings.

Then it was into the swing of things with Mike and the groomsmen arriving on one of the road trains bringing guests up to the hall, and then Tanya arriving shortly before the ceremony which I covered from my normal position next to the registrar. After the ceremony we headed to the rear of the Hall for a large group shot of everyone and then the family images before heading off for a giraffe feed with just Mike and Tanya, and a few quiet photographs of the two of them together. When we got back I finished off the family groups which Tanya and Mike had requested and then headed into the marquee to get the room details before all of the guests were announced in for the wedding breakfast.

After the speeches and a brief interlude it was straight into the first dance and the evenings entertainment by Funk Federation.

Some of the images from today…

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Marwell Hall Pre-wedding shoot: Tanya and Mike

Mike French — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:20:38 +0000

This morning I met up with Tanya and Mike for their pre-wedding shoot at Marwell Hall. 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.

With the sun obscured by light clouds both the front and back of the hall were in play and we started with the front of this lovely building culminating in a walking shot before moving to the back and the ancient tree followed by the quiet little alcove next to the golden lion tamarins which came out to see us, probably to see what all the laughter was about with both Tanya and Mike enjoying the session.

While we were around the back of the hall we bumped into the lovely Izzy Brown, wedding and events manager, who looks after the weddings at Marwell Hall with her team and we briefly said hello.

With a little practice of some formal poses and lots of relaxed portraits and contemporary images created we headed back to the Marwell Hotel for a quick recap of their September wedding days plans.

Here are some of the images from the day.

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Marwell Hall wedding album collected by Gemma and Dan

Mike French — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:01:17 +0000

This evening Gemma and Dan came and collected their beautiful Marwell Hall wedding album.

This contemporary panoramic matted album features cedar timber wood covers and a distressed mocca leather spine with white leaves.

The book tells the story of their wedding from hair and make-up early in the morning through to the first dance, and live band playing in the marquee at Marwell. Many of the page designs also feature in the display album which is held at Marwell by the wedding team and which can be viewed on our website as well.

Here are a few images of their album:

Marwell Hall wedding photography: Danni and Stu

Mike French — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 23:45:06 +0000

We photographed a wedding on this weekend in 2008 at Marwell Hall and two years later returned in similar weather for the wonderful wedding of Danni and Stu. This wedding was beautifully animal themed from the tiger and leopard ties, and the wedding breakfast room and table plan.

I started at the Marwell Hotel bumping into Stuart on my way down to see Danni and photographer her preparations, the dress, shoes and jewellery as well as to meet and get to know the bridesmaids and her family. From then on it was up to Marwell Hall and some images of the guys and guests before Danni arrived on the road train and onto the ceremony. Everyone then chilled out on the rear lawn eating ice creams, canapes and cooling down with a drink and some music from the string quartet while we did the family groups and then on to feed the lemurs.

Danni and Stu then had time to relax with their guests on the lawn before the wedding breakfast after which followed a pun-laden father-of-the-brides speech and a moving tribute from the best-man, Stu’s brother Paul. Hula Groove provided the evenings music and I left as the dancing got into full swing with my job done, leaving the guests to enjoy themselves.

Here are a selection of images from the day, which you can view by clicking on them, or stepping through. The full wedding can be seen by guests and friends by going to Danni and Stu’s dedicated wedding page on the website from which you can get to all the galleries, you need to get the passwords from them.

Marwell meerkat in pre-wedding shoot framed print

Mike French — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:57:29 +0000

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.

Danni & Stu’s wedding is later this summer, and this little guy may well make another appearance in their wedding photos.

Here is a photograph of the framed print.

Marwell Hall Pre-wedding photos: Danni and Stuart

Mike French — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 21:00:14 +0000

I spent this morning with Danni and Stuart at Marwell Hall for their pre-wedding shoot taking some photographs around the hall and surrounding features.

Danni and Stu are getting married at Marwell Hall in the summer when it should be a little warmer and brighter but today was great fun as we tried out some classical shots as well as some more contemporary and relaxed photos.

The Hall was locked up so we couldn’t get in but the front and rear of the house had lovely light and at shortly after opening it was very quiet up there with very few people that far up the park, which made for a more relaxed session which I know they both enjoyed.

Here are some images from the day.

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