Doggy Portraits & Fun with Licks Oh La La

Here’s a post to cheer you all up on a Monday morning back at work following a lovely weekend of glorious weather (at long last!).

We take a fond look back at an event we collaborated with our friends at Licks Oh La La.

I’ve never previously had any requests or reasons to photograph dogs, but I was approached by Josie at Licks if I would be interested in taking some dog portraits for a dog contest that they were holding at their shop in Walton on the Hill, Surrey.

Whilst it’s not something that I had ever envisaged myself doing, I thought that I’d give it a whirl – it was something different, it looked like it could be fun, especially working with Josie and her daughter Kelly, as they both have an incredible passion and enthusiasm for what they do.

It certainly was indeed different, and it was definitely not easy… animals have a mind of their own, and unlike humans, they’re far less likely to sit or do what you want them to do!  Something that can cause you a head ache when you’re working with studio lighting.  Fortunately I had the fabulous Kelly assisting me, and she was an experienced pro at getting the dogs attentions when required – without her I think they would literally have given me the run around, pardon the pun!

We met a wide array of breeds of dog, including some that were dressed in accessories and clothing, which made for some very fun and entertaining portraits.

Why not have a look here below to meet some of the contestants…

 

Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 02 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 03 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 04 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 05 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 06 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 06 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 07 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 08 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 09 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 10 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 11 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 12 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 13 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 14 Dog Portraits with Licks Oh La La, Walton on the Hill, Surrey 15

Vicky & Elliott’s Wedding at Chiltern Church and The Grange

After meeting Vicky and Elliott at a wedding fayre, I immediately knew that they would be one of those extremely photogenic couples.

Add to that the bonus that they were to be wed at the chocolate box Chiltern Church in Sutton, and a reception at the lovely The Grange in Beddington Park, meant that we were guaranteed to get some cracking shots!

This was a first for me capturing a wedding at Chiltern Church.  It is not your conventional church, but it is a very picturesque place of worship which lends itself greatly as a romantic backdrop for a wedding.

Any of you who know The Grange, will know that it’s situated in Beddington Park, and is surrounded by lots well maintained flower beds and other natural beauty, all providing many options and vibrant colours for photos.

It was a cracking wedding, and we did indeed capture lots of amazing shots throughout at both venues.  It was an absolute pleasure, and Vicky and Elliott were both great and so relaxed which always help.

You can view a nice array of some of the shots from their day here below:

Wedding Dress hanging up wedding dress detail wedding dress hanging up in bride's room bride having make up applied bride having make up applied at home bridesmaid eating a bannanna bride's bouquet mother looking on at daughter bride having wedding hair done bride getting ready for her wedding groom and best man outside chiltern church, sutton, surrey Chiltern church, sutton, surrey groomsmen handing out orders of service groomsmen organising church car park bridal car arriving at Chiltern Church, Sutton bride and father in wedding car groom awaiting bride's arrival at chiltern church, sutton groom's hands clasped at the altar bride and father walking down the aisle at the church wedding bride and groom kissing at the altar at Chiltern Church wedding service at chiltern church in sutton bride and groom smiling during their wedding service bride and groom walking back up the aisle at chiltern church, sutton bride and groom being showered in confetti outside chiltern church, sutton, surrey rolls royce wedding car rolls royce wedding car bride and groom sharing a kiss outside the front of chiltern church in sutton, surrey after their wedding service bride and groom in their rolls royce wedding car The Grange, beddington park bride and bridesmaids sharing a joke and laughing at the grange, beddington park groom and groomsen posing at the grange in beddington park the whole wedding congregation group shot at the grange, beddington park bride and groom posing for photos at the pond of the grange, beddington park bride and groom posing for photos at the pond of the grange, beddington park bride and groom sharing a kiss in the rose garden at the grange in beddington park bride and groom walking hand in hand outside the grange in beddington park bride and groom posing by willow tree at the grange in beddington park mini foot bridge and stream by the grange at beddington park wedding reception room upstairs in the grange at beddington park wedding reception room upstairs in the grange at beddington park table decor in the wedding reception room at the grange table decor in the wedding reception room at the grange table decor in the wedding reception room at the grange wedding cake at the grange, beddington park lucky wedding horse shoe wedding gift box wedding table plan, navy with butterflies

Solid Advice For A Gorgeous Hassle-Free Wedding

After seeing all the options, you’ve probably concluded that planning for a wedding, whether for yourself or another, is not an easy task. This problem is what the internet was invented for, though. The article you are reading right now is your key to making wedding planning more fun and less stressful.

Treat yourself, if time allows, early in the morning on your wedding day. A good way to start your wedding day is with a relaxing massage to release the tension and to get your day off to a good start.

If you are going to give a speech at a wedding you should always practice. If you don’t practice your speech beforehand, you run the risk of forgetting your speech, saying something you didn’t intend to say, or losing the audience.

When young children are in the wedding party, make sure they are dressed in clothing that is comfortable for them. Favor soft fabrics, and avoid dressing children in clothes that are too tight to fit comfortably. Always make sure that shoes are broken in before they are worn for the big day. This may seem like a small detail, but attention to this will let the children focus on their duties for the ceremony instead of being uncomfortable and paying more attention to their outfits.

Divide your table settings evenly. Don’t put an odd number of people at any table. Another thing to consider when arranging your table seating is the age of the people at the table. Try to group the same aged people at each table.

Put your schedule of events online, so that all guests can access it at any time. Let people know what events, like the rehearsal etc., that they need to show up for, so they end up in the right place at the right time.

Instead of traditional floral bouquets, brides can adorn their bouquet with diamonds, rhinestones or other gems. You can do this by applying some crystals, costume jewelry, or maybe even an heirloom piece. To make sure it matches your entire ensemble, use consistency with the sparkly colors, size and cut of the stones.

When starting out with plans for your wedding, create a list of what you want in a prioritized order. For some people, the flowers top the list while others consider the venue or the cake more important than a guest list. Use your priority list to determine which aspects of your wedding to pay for first. This helps you stay within your budget and purchase goods and services that make your wedding into everything you want it to be.

For example, consider a contemporary fusion menu filled with popular dishes. You can also offer desserts, drinks, or edible favors with an ethnic twist.

A wedding cake can serve as a beautiful work of art, making a great focal point for a reception. Add a coordinating table cloth, and you are sure to have a great presentation. Whether you use a solid piece of fabric or opt for one with a pattern, choosing the right material can help attract your guests’ attention and create a more stunning visual display. Consider the fabric’s texture as well as its color when choosing display fabrics.

Put a lot of thought into your wedding dress. Look at dresses in styles you admire; however, remember that getting a dress that looks good on the rack isn’t as important as getting a dress that looks good on your body. Short women should avoid dresses made for women of normal height, and look for dresses in the petite section due to the needed shorter length. Purchasing the proper length dress will leave you confident and looking stunning on your wedding day.

Silk flowers can be a different variety of flowers you could choose for your wedding. You can buy silk flowers well in advance to avoid the stress of getting fresh flowers a few days before the wedding.

Instead of going crazy trying to get every part of the wedding in perfect order, calmly read and use these tips to methodically plan each element and enjoy your wedding. You will have the information you need and an opportunity to have a wonderful wedding.

Simple Tips To Make Planning Your Wedding A Breeze

When two people are united in holy matrimony, it truly is a beautiful thing. Not only, because love is in the air, but because a wedding is a beautiful setting that really brings out the best in us all. A perfectly planned and executed wedding with no unwelcome surprises takes a lot of thought and care to plan. The ideas in this article will help you plan for that big day.

If you’re short on money, consider renting diamonds for your wedding day. You will look stunning but won’t have to spend a lot, so your budget stays intact.

If the bride and groom share a fondness for travel, look for decorative elements that convey a shared sense of wanderlust. Save-the-date notices and invitations could be created to resemble tickets, boarding passes, or vintage postcards. Vintage luggage, post cards and vacation photos can be part of your wedding decor.

Consider opening a credit card that offers a rewards program. Since weddings can be very expensive, having a credit card that gives you miles or other great deals is essential. Use the card to make purchases related to your wedding and you will quickly accrue points towards rewards.

You will need to make a choice about how much alcohol you want to pay for, and which type of serving will be most cost efficient. Having an open bar can be very expensive if it stays open for hours. The folks running your venue may have affordable bar services, so be sure and ask them about it.

Choose group activities to fill your special day with fun. A wedding where everyone is just hanging around isn’t fun for anyone. You can have all kinds of activities, from contests to volleyball. You can make your wedding more memorable by planning activities that allow your guests to have fun and interact with each other.

Make certain that the reception area you choose has enough dancing space. People love to dance at weddings and no one wants to be crammed in a small space. If needed, move tables and chairs to free up some room for dancing.

Borrow something from a friend to put on for your wedding day. This can make your wedding one of a kind and achieves a fantastic look for you.

Future Spouse

To make your wedding more personal, include a theme that encompasses you, your future spouse, and the things that are most important to your relationship. Select a wedding theme that really symbolizes the times that you and your future spouse have spent together.

Any female participants in your wedding, such as the bridesmaids, should aim to be ready before you are. You should be the focus, during the last minutes before the ceremony. If they are worried about getting themselves ready, they’re not focused on assisting you.

Try something relaxing before your wedding if your time allows. One idea is to schedule a massage before you begin to get ready. This is relaxing and helps you feel great.

Don’t let your family members influence your whole day with their traditions or suggestions; this is a day for you and your spouse, not for them. Be appreciative of their love and interest, but be firm, if you know their ideas go against what you and your fiance have planned together. By doing this, you can reflect back, with no regrets, on the day you were wed.

Weddings do tend to show people’s best qualities, but it can also stress you out to the point where people see the worst. Follow the advice given to you in this article, and prevent wedding jitters from getting to you. Make your wedding day the best day possible.

Need Advice For Your Wedding? Follow These Tips

Most weddings take a great deal of time to put them together in the way the bride and groom desire. When you are planning your wedding, make sure you look at the tips in this article.

Purchasing wedding gowns through the Internet can help save you a lot of money, but see to it that you do it early in order to have enough time to alter it if needed. While buying a dress online may be less expensive, alterations can quickly add to the cost. Figure in this additional cost while making your budget.

Perhaps you could borrow something from a friend. This “something borrowed” will enhance the way you look and feel and add a special touch to the day.

Receptions are best held in the early afternoon. Most people will make plans after the reception, which minimizes the amount your guests may drink. By having a lunch reception, the costs for food will also normally be less expensive. This could allow you to put the money saved towards other services required for your wedding.

Your friends and family will have many well-intended suggestions, and some may be quite good; however, in the long run, your decisions must win out. Thank them for their concern and affection but firmly remind them that you and your spouse ultimately make the decisions. Doing so means you can reflect upon your wedding free of regret.

Find a wedding consultant that can guide you as you organize your wedding, and help you on your special day. There are so many factors that go into having a successful wedding day that having the extra help can make a huge difference. A professional has seen most of these problems before and can deal with them more effectively than you can. Your family and you will be able enjoy yourselves and relax, knowing that all of the details are in good hands.

Since there is a lot of stress associated with the wedding day, set the time of your wedding ceremony later in the day. This gives you plenty of time to get ready in the morning without the chore of waking up early. If possible, try to do something relaxing before the big event.

Make sure your caterer knows you desire an outdoor wedding reception. Some foods will not keep well in the heat or might be too light to stay in dishes if the wind is blowing strongly. You may consider using decorative covers for your dishes. Keep a small refrigerator around to cool drinks down.

You could get help from someone else who is attending the wedding. They could help you carry your gear. They can help you get group shots of the family too!

Create wedding invitations on your own if you have the extra time. There are invitation kits that allow you to create your own invitations and customize them with your choice of styles, colors, font and wording.

It is acceptable to delegate different aspects of your wedding to other qualified people. Weddings are very emotional, so you may desire a larger role in its planning. If you try to do everything, however, you’ll stress yourself out. You’ll need to rely on people with professional expertise to help you plan parts of your wedding.

Avoid dressing children in clothes that are too stuffy and uncomfortable. Select loose, soft, natural fabrics that allow children to move around without any discomfort. New shoes should be worn enough to ensure they are comfortable. Paying attention to your children’s comfort can help them behave appropriately during the wedding. Uncomfortable children will be focused on fixing their discomfort and may fidget or engage in other distracting behavior. If your children are comfortable, however, they’ll be excited about participating in the wedding and behave appropriately.

Brides who love fashion will perhaps want to add a dash of sparkle to their bouquet; think rhinestones, Swarovski crystals or even some diamonds. You can create this look by using adhesive to affix crystals, a beloved heirloom or costume jewelry to the bouquet. Make sure it goes with your dress and accessories, and that the color, cut, and size of the stones compliment your ensemble.

If you have always dreamed of a wedding in Las Vegas, there is no reason why you shouldn’t make that a reality. But, if you prefer something a little more meaningful and traditional, use the tips offered in this article. You’ll be able to plan a wedding you’ll remember for all of your days.