Even the city can be beautiful

When you think of beautiful scenery, you tend to think of roiling hills or meadows or lakes and few would think of the towns and cities most of us live in.

However, cityscapes can be as visually exciting and pleasing as the pastoral scenes more commonly associated with landscape photography. One is not necessarily better than the other but different. All it takes is a little imagination.

Here are a few photographs taken a few days ago in the area immediately around where we live in Salford Quays

We just love making people happy

We've just received this message posted on our Facebook page and I thought I'd share it with you on here as well. It was from Clare who was married on the 6th November 2010 at Thornton Manor on the Wirral
 

We've just got back from our honeymoon and I must say, you guys are amazing. The photos are outstanding, I love all of them and I'm lost for words. Thank you so much cant wait to plan our album i think you guys must be also magicians!!

 

It's so wonderful when we hear how pleased people are with what we do. It;s more than a job to us and this sort of response makes it so worthwhile and it's nice to know we are doing it right

 

Another happy customer

In our business, you usually get feedback from customers whether it is after a wedding you have photographed or from a commercial assignment. Quite often this is a verbal thank you or more usually, an email or a letter or card of thanks.

It is always satisfying to be told you have done a good job and made somebody happy.

I received an email from a client called Kathy who lives in New Jersey in the USA. She had seen our photographs of the girl band BOND (see the photos here: http://barrieneil.blogspot.com/2010/07/bond-llangollen-2010.html) and wanted a couple of very large prints (24"x16").

She has just received them and this morning I received this email.

Barrie!!!

OH MY WORD!!! The posters are PHENOMENAL!! I could not be happier!! I just received them from the post after a long day back at the office. ( I was out on disability from an operation) What a most welcome return back to life gift!!

I'm so giddy with happiness, I might just sod the frames and hang them up immediately! Really, your work is just beautiful!!

I can't thank you enough and honestly, I really feel like I'd like to order more!! If you are willing, I'd be happy to put in another order in a month's time. You can never have enough bond on your walls!

Thank you so much for the lovely attention to detail in the wrapping and the speedy delivery. I am so, so happy!

Best wishes,

Kathy !! 

As you can imagine, I was so happy to receive this email and it really does make all the hard work worthwhile

Magnificent Chester Cathedral

We are very lucky in the UK that despite the best efforts of Henry VIII, many of our old religious buildings have remained largely intact, so we can still enjoy the magnificent architecture the likes of which could never be created today.

In Chester, we have the amazing Chester Cathedral and we have recently had the opportunity to photograph the interior when it was completely devoid of people

Here are a few photos from the set.

 

Peckforton Castle ♥ DeAnna and Neil

I always ask couples why they choose particular venues. We all see things differently and it's interesting to hear exactly why a particular venue 'hit the spot' with a couple.

As photographers, we view venues from a different perspective to a couple looking to get married. Our concerns are how photogenic a place is, what are the best angles and locations. Are there nice grounds? What do we do if the weather is bad?

The last point is extremely important. Whilst we all wish for good weather, we do have to be realistic about the good old British climate and there are a great many venues out there that have superb grounds but are totally banal inside and therefore, on a bad weather day, the opportunities for creating interesting photographs are low.

We have a small list of venues we will not attend simply because we cannot do as good a job at them as we can at others. With some it is because they have no garden or an area nearby for exterior photos and with others, it is because inside, they look like a sports hall or something similar! We have very high standards and if we feel we cannot deliver to the best of our ability, we believe it is wrong to take a client's money.

This is why DeAnna and Neil chose so wisely when they booked Peckforton Castle in Tarporley, Cheshire for their wedding ceremony and reception. The interior of this building is simply magnificent and there are just so many wonderful places for photographs inside. In fact, regardless of the weather, you simply MUST have some photographs inside.

The reason I have mentioned all this is unfortunately, the day of DeAnna and Neil's wedding was a bit dark and damp. We did manage to get outside for a few photographs but we were soon scurrying for the warm and dry interior of the castle.

DeAnna and Neil travelled from the USA to get married at Peckforton Castle (although Neil is in fact British). She looked absolutely stunning in the dress she brought over with her and along with her bridesmaids in their amazing blue dresses, the castle was certainly a bright and cheerful place despite the weather.

I've posted here a small sample of photographs from their lovely wedding

More photographs from Peckforton Castle and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk

Boxall and Edmiston

One of the benefits of our profession is that we very often get to see places and meet people we would never otherwise meet. Sometimes this is getting to meet and chat to celebrities and other famous and interesting people and at other times, it's being granted access to facilities usually off limits to the general public.

The commission we had on the 10th August 2010 falls largely into the latter category.

We were commissioned by Sodick, the manufacturers of some highly specialised engineering equipment, to photograph their installation at Boxall and Edmiston, a firm in Shrewsbury in Shropshire. Even more interesting, this firm craft (I cannot say 'manufacture') the most exquisite shotguns. They are quite simply, works of art.

Here are just a couple of photos from the assignment

Ruthin Castle ♥ Sian and Owen

The third of our three weddings in three days saw us back at Ruthin Castle in Denbighshire, North Wales for the wedding reception but not before we attended the ceremony which took place at the really beautiful church of St Marcella in the town of Denbigh itself.

Once again the weather behaved itself which everyone including ourselves, was extremely grateful for.

The church really is something special. We have been here before and so knew what to expect. I is in a lovely rural location and set on high ground with lovely views over the Vale of Clwyd. Inside, it is unusual in having twin  aisles.

As I say, the reception was at the lovely Ruthin Castle. Part of this building dates back to the 13th century. You only have to stand in the ruins and imagine the thousands of people who have trodden the same paths. It's an incredible experience and a wonderland place for a wedding reception.

A really lovely couple and it was a great pleasure to be with them for their special day and here are a few photos from the many hundreds we took today

More photographs from Ruthin Castle and other venues can be found both in this blog and on our main wedding website at www.barrieneilweddings.co.uk