It’s been a busy few weeks, with my first wedding of the year, a wedding fair and getting all my new samples in order. I am also in the process of moving home, which although stressful, is also very exciting as the new house will allow me to have a separate, dedicated client space. This will allow me to have all my sample albums and prints on show, giving the client the opportunity to choose from a range of different products to showcase their beautiful pictures. The space will be the first project, so I hope to have images of the studio up on the blog within the coming summer.
It’s also been very busy with bookings for 2011. A reputable wedding photographer will only photograph one wedding per day, so it’s essential to book well in advance if photography is an important aspect of the day, which it seems to be for most of my clients. August 2011 sees me photographing my first wedding in Spain, and I’m really looking forward to all that beautiful natural light.
I thought I would give the blog a little film love, so here are various pictures using my precious Polaroid film over the last couple of years…
- Trafalgar Square ~ one of my favourite places in London to sit and watch the crowds go by.
- Greg and his Oreo milkshake on a trip to New York.
- My sister’s Brooklyn brownstone apartment.
- Coney Island, NY. When I went a few years ago, it was untouched since the 1950s. There is a restoration going on at the moment, I believe, but it’s well worth a visit come rain or shine. Just a $2.25 trip on the subway.
- Shopping in Brooklyn.
- As big fans of vintage, we recently had a little gathering of friends and the theme was Mad Men. From the outfits right down to the cocktail list (Snowballs and Tom Collins), retro was the name of the game. Couldn’t this picture be straight out of 1963??
{ JODIE CHAPMAN ~ WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON SOUTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL }
I met Philippe and Jennifer for the first time a couple of weekends ago to photograph them for their pre-wedding shoot. I always like to stage the shoot in a location that means something to the couple and they decided upon Richmond, which is close to The Bingham where their wedding is in May. We sat down for coffee and a croissant in Paul, the closest we Brits have to an authentic French boulangerie experience. Philippe is French and Jennifer works for a French company, so the location was a nice touch.
Pre-wedding shoots are an opportunity for couples to have some fun with some directed and natural portraits. It is obviously a very different vibe to the wedding day, where the atmosphere is already created and so I can capture the events as they unfold. Some clients prefer a little direction on these shoots, but Philippe and Jennifer needed no help from me. I have never seen a couple so affectionate and in love. It was beautiful to watch and photograph as they felt so natural in each other’s company. It has been a whirlwind romance for them ~ they met in a restaurant a little over a year ago ~ and it’s so lovely to see a couple so sure of their future together, which by the look of these shots, will be a very happy and loving one.
Philippe and Jennifer moved to Paris the day after the shoot. Jealous? Moi? I’ll just have to keep going to Paul for my French fix.
{ JODIE CHAPMAN ~ WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON SOUTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL }
I’m so excited to share with you some of my favourite images from my first wedding of 2010. Kate and Chris were blessed with a beautifully sunny day for their wedding at Hotel du Vin, Tunbridge Wells, earlier this month. You can never rely on English weather when it comes to photography, so any glimpse of sunshine is always a bonus…especially on a crisp, wintry day. Whatever the weather, Kate was determined to get outside for some shots, and we managed to make full use of the sunset before it disappeared beneath the trees.
Kate and Chris got ready at the venue, which meant I could fly between rooms to capture the various stages of preparation. Chris and his ushers got dressed to the roar of a derby football match, before heading down to the hotel bar for a quick drink before the ceremony. Choosing to have the preparations, ceremony and reception all in one venue meant the order of events stayed very relaxed and stress-free. Kate’s bridesmaids, Rosie and Alex, were on hand throughout the day and did a fantastic job of helping Kate. I also loved their simple, chic dresses. I think black is a winning colour for a winter wedding, and their cream corsages proved a very unique and beautiful touch.
Kate and Chris ~ Thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of your day. I loved photographing you with your family and friends and I hope you love your pictures as much as I do. I can’t wait to design you both a beautiful album.
First off, we’ll start with a pair of very fine shoes…
{ JODIE CHAPMAN ~ WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON SOUTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL }
This Sunday I will be exhibiting at the Eastwell Manor wedding fair and would love to meet any brides who fancy the trip. Eastwell Manor is a beautiful manor house located just off junction 9 of the M20 and is a really stunning wedding venue. As well as myself, two of my recommended suppliers are also showcasing their work: Jessica Taylor of Travel Counsellors who specialises in honeymoons all over the globe, and Kate of The Floral Madam, a fabulous florist based in Kent who has a really fresh vision for wedding flowers and design.
The fair runs from 10am-4pm and admission is free. Look forward to meeting you and talking about your day.
I’m still in the process of editing Kate & Chris’ images from their winter wedding last week, but I thought I would share one of my favourites which features Rosie, a bridesmaid who did a fantastic job helping Kate and always had a beautiful smile ready. She even made the wedding invitations which were so gorgeous.
More to come next week when Kate & Chris return from Thailand.
This weekend I’m heading to Richmond for a pre-wedding shoot and delivering an album to a client. Exciting stuff! Have a great weekend.
{ JODIE CHAPMAN ~ WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON SOUTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL }
I am just about to head off to photograph Chris and Katie’s wedding in Tunbridge Wells today. Really excited about this wedding, as photos are really important to them and they want to spend good time capturing portraits of them both. Having photographed a wedding at the Hotel du Vin before, I know it offers fantastic opportunities for photographing both inside and out so I’m looking forward to getting some beautiful shots.
Images will follow on the blog soon after… Watch this space.
{ JODIE CHAPMAN ~ WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON SOUTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL }
Kat from the fabulous Rock’n'Roll Bride served me a double whammy last week, with not one but TWO posts! First up she interviewed me for her “Under the Spotlight” series, where I talk about my style of photography and what I love about weddings. Then later in the week she featured Chris and Nicola’s shoot along the South Bank, which has had such a fantastic response from many of you who read the blog. Thank you all so much for your comments ~ I truly value each and every one and am grateful that you take the time to write.
I hope you enjoy the posts!
{ JODIE CHAPMAN ~ WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON SOUTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL }
Yesterday, I had a wander along the Embankment and South Bank with Nicola and Chris to capture some relaxed portraits of them both before their wedding in March. As creative types {Nicola is a picture editor and Chris is a toy designer ~ how cool!} they thought some pictures by the Tate Modern gallery would work well, so we headed in that direction. They also love the Victorian elements along the South Bank, such as the gorgeous ornate lamp-posts, so we incorporated those into the pictures too. Despite the grey and chilly weather, we had fun roaming around the South Bank book market and in the skater park, where walls of bright colour gave great picture opportunities along with gorgeous natural light.
Pre-wedding shoots are a great addition to the modern wedding photography experience and I think that they are so useful that I include them as complimentary in my main package.
I’m really looking forward to Chris and Nicola’s wedding, especially as they are keen to spend a good amount of time capturing portraits of them both. Photography is really important to them which makes me love my job even more.
I am really pleased with these images and wanted to blog them as soon as possible. I am also slightly in love with Nicola’s boots…
To Nicola and Chris ~ roll on March!
{ JODIE CHAPMAN ~ WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON SOUTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL }
These brides certainly got into the vintage spirit. If you are a bride planning a vintage-inspired wedding, I have just the event for you. Mark 21st April 2010 in your diary as a date for pampering and vintage inspiration.
The location? ~ Only the gorgeous One Marylebone London, a beautiful wedding venue in the heart of London.
The event? ~ Luella’s Boudoir and Cosmopolitan Bride have teamed up to give you, the vintage bride, the opportunity to find your most perfect suppliers who have your theme at their core. On hand will also be Benefit make-up artists, hair experts from Kerastase, and a mini manicure by The Sanctuary Spa, Covent Garden. I’m very excited that Cosmo Bride’s Fashion Director Sally Dixon will also be at the show ~ the lady responsible for all those gorgeous fashion shoots in the magazine each issue.
It’s my pleasure to announce that I will be exhibiting at the event with lots of beautiful photos on show from vintage weddings. I would love to meet you and discuss your big day, so please come along and say hello. Even if you’re not going for a vintage theme, it will still prove to be a fabulous evening, so bring along your bridesmaids and enjoy what’s on offer.
Tickets are just £10 each and can be purchased here. Hurry ~ you don’t want to miss out!
I’ll leave you with this set-up of delicious fondant fancies and vintage blooms…
How could you resist?
{ JODIE CHAPMAN ~ WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON SOUTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL }
Posted in suppliers, wedding fairs, wedding venues | Tags: beautiful wedding photography, cosmo bride vintage event, luella's boudoir vintage event, tea party wedding, the george in rye weddings, vintage wedding, vintage wedding fair, wedding photography kent, wedding photography london
Last night I delivered Ali and Elaine’s album to them at their home in South London. Their beautiful wedding at Pembroke Lodge was one of my highlights of 2009 and I was so happy that they love their album. Ali and Elaine were recommended to me by my clients, Gemma and Stuart, whose gorgeous wedding took place the previous year. Referrals are my favourite way of gaining new clients, so I am very excited to be photographing Aimee and Gary’s wedding in August, who were guests at Ali and Elaine’s wedding.
I know that Elaine is an avid follower of the blog, so I wanted to say a big thank you to her personally for choosing me as her wedding photographer. Elaine, I hope you love your album for many years to come. I loved spending time with you both on your special day and if the emotion of this photo is anything to go by, you have a very bright future ahead together.
{ JODIE CHAPMAN ~ WEDDING & PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON SOUTH-EAST INTERNATIONAL }
by admin
no comments
leave some love link to this post email a friend