The Sunday before last I had the pleasure of visiting a venue I'd not been to before, Redhouse Barn in Stoke Prior, near Bromsgrove.  I'd heard it was a fabulous venue and it certainly didn't disappoint.  Ellie and Ste are getting married there later this month so we met up to go over their final plans and have a good look round.  They were also keen have a pre-wedding photo shoot. Ste is very tall and Ellie is petite so they thought it would be a good idea to try out some posing ideas to prepare them for their couple shots on the big day.  Here are some of our favourite images.  I can't wait to go back for the wedding!

A pre-wedding shoot is a great way to experiment with poses and see what works for you.  It also helps you get comfortable in front of the camera.  I don't include one as standard as not everyone wants one, but if you think it would be a good idea we can add one into your personalised quote.

So after a busy few days, here's part two of Amy and John's snowy Spring wedding at Fazeley Studios in Birmingham, but first a bit of back story.

The very first wedding I shot, assisting the wonderful Eliza Claire, was Lucy & John’s vintage themed wedding at Highbury Hall (now featured in Annabel from Love My Dress's 'Style Me Vintage' book) and ever since then it's been an ambition to shoot a wedding of my own with a bride in a beautiful vintage dress.  Amy's dress certainly didn't disappoint and it was great to have a play with lighting later in the evening to show off the gorgeous styling.

It was snowing for most of the day but Amy and John braved the cold for a few pictures outside before we took our icy fingers and toes back inside for some more portraits inside.  There's such a variety of locations both in and around Fazeley that whatever the weather, there's plenty of places to choose from for your group and couple shots. 

Thanks again to Andy Pickard of Peacock Obscura Photography for his awesome assistance and to Amy, John and their friends and family for being such fun to work with. 

So here goes part two...

If you're having a vintage dress of your own, if you're getting married at Fazeley, or if you're doing something completely different, please get in touch.  I'd love to find out more about your plans!

It's taken me a little while to put this post together as there were so many wonderful pictures to choose from!  Amy and John got married in March at Fazeley Studios in Digbeth, Birmingham.  It wasn't quite the beautiful Spring day Amy had in mind when she booked the date as there was heavy snow before and during the day.  However, the venue is ideally suited to dealing with an indoor wedding/reception and it was a fabulous day full of love and laughter. 

There were lots of beautiful elements to the wedding, many of them hand-made.  Some of my favourites were the paper cranes Amy had made and hung in the ceremony room, the bowties made by Amy's mum and the framed photographs of family members' weddings from years gone by dotted around the reception room.  Sadly the tandem which starred in their engagement shoot couldn't make it in the end due to logistical problems but its spirit was there in the detailing on the table plan, place cards and fingerprint tree for the guest to leave their mark.   I also have to mention Amy's stunning 1970s vintage dress from the lovely ladies at Luxe Bridal.

Thanks to Amy and John for sharing their day with me.  Huge thanks must also go to the wonderful Andy Pickard of Peacock Obscura Photography who was my brilliant second photographer.  It's rather an epic post so I've split it into two halves - here is part one!