Lauren Mitchell Photography

Pre-wedding shoot - Ben and Carla

2011-04-06T03:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday evening I met up with Ben and Carla from Fleet, Hampshire who are getting married at Warbook House in Eversley in May. Despite the fantastic weather forecast for the week, it was a little dark and gloomy outside, but at least it wasn't raining and as long as they were happy shooting outside then so was I!

I always meet the couple before their wedding to finalise timings and preparations for the big day and if they request a pre-wedding shoot then I'm more than happy to do this at the venue.. A pre-wedding shoot is a great way for any couples nervous about being photographed, the chance to relax and have a bit of fun....and to realised....it really isn't that bad! We walked around the venue stopping at different places to take some photos, chat about poses that worked and ones that didn't. It's always nice to spend as much time with a couple as possible, getting to know them better and making them feel more relaxed. I believe as a photographer you take better photos if you know just a little bit more about your subjects.

We finished in the conservatory with some drinks as we ran through the wedding day. Great end to the evening.

Looking forward to the big day!

Lauren x

Photos coming very soon!!

John and Lizzy 19.03.11

2011-03-24T02:07:00.000-07:00

It was a bright and sunny day for the wedding of John and Lizzy. Teresa and I arrived at Lizzy's parents house in Finmere, Buckinghamshire to be greeted with calmness and smiling faces. We were straight to work after the initial meet and greet so started upstairs with the dress, hair and make-up. The dress was gorgeous so we had no trouble taking stunning photos of this, after this we covered the shoes, flowers, jewellery and cards. Lizzy seemed to be very happy with how the day was progressing and was in her dress in no time thanks to Gen, her Maid of Honour. After Lizzy was in her dress we all headed out into the front garden for some individual shots. Lizzy and the Bridesmaids just took it all in their stride!

Teresa and I then headed literally 500 yards up for road to the church where we met John, the Best Man and the Ushers all ready greeting guests. As things were running to schedule we took them away for 10 minutes to photograph all the guys in the suits....I think secretly they all loved jumping around for some of the shots! ;)

We then headed back towards the church, I waited outside for the Bride....who was early! While Teresa was taking photos of the wedding party inside. The ceremony was perfect, very personalised and emotional with some great readings by guests. The sun was still shining so we started with a confetti shot.....and not 'any' confetti shot at that!.....Imagine a confetti shot.....with cannons, yes....that's exactly what it was! Lizzy's parents thought it would be better to have the group shots in the church grounds which we had no problem doing so started calling out the groups. This lasted for around 15 minutes ending with a big group shot of the whole party.

After this, the Ushers ushered the guests back to the reception while we took a few more shots with just John and Lizzy. We then headed back to meet the guests at Fawsley Hall in Fawsley, Northamptonshire. The venue was stunning, set right in the heart of the countryside, so after having a quick scout around for locations we took the couple for 30 minutes of couple shots. It wasn't hard to find some great places, and both John and Lizzy seemed at ease in front of the camera and after receiving the compliment 'You have made it really fun for us' .....you've got to doing something right!

We then give the couple time with their guests, so I took photos of the wedding breakfast room, while Teresa took candid shots of the guests.....we then found out Lizzy wanted to throw her bouquet - (yay!) There was a little competition at the front of the mass of girls but in the end it was one of Lizzy's Bridesmaids who caught it!

The speeches were before the meal and were very funny and a delight to photograph. No one looked nervous and the guests looked like they were enjoying themselves!

We left the wedding party as they were about to start their first course.

Have a great honeymoon!

Lauren and Teresa x

Supermoon 19.03.2011

2011-03-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Did anyone see the 'Supermoon' on Saturday night? It's the first one in about 15 years and we won't see one again for another 20! Luckily we were on our way back from a wedding so we stopped to capture it...enjoy! :)

Mike and Kim 23.12.10

2010-12-24T03:49:00.000-08:00

Today was the wedding of Mike and Kim at Wasing Park in Aldermaston. Dawn and I arrived just before 12 to walk around the venue and scouted for potential shooting locations in the snow and ice! Neither of us had shot a wedding in the snow so we were both excited although a little cold at the prospect! We found Kim and her Bridesmaids getting ready in one of the rooms while the guys had gone off shooting for the morning. The girls were in high spirits while Christmas songs played in the background....'Snow is falling.... All around us......' Dawn and I photographed all the build up, then we went upstairs to the Bridal suite to take shots of the shoes and dress. Everything looked gorgeous and was laid out so well we hardly had to touch anything!

After this we met the guys who were all ready and took some shots outside as it started to snow lightly.....they had a great time shooting and were looking forward to the day ahead :) After this Dawn and I went back upstairs to photograph Kim getting into her dress, and then all their individual shots of them looking so stunning. After this we headed to the ceremony room where we found a nervous Mike chatting to guests. After introducing ourselves to the registrar, I headed up to the front of the room and Dawn stayed at the back. This is one great reason for having two photographers at a wedding because you can shoot at two great advantage points. The ceremony itself was full of laughter, emotion....and putting the ring on the wrong hand......!!!? This was swiftly corrected! The couple looked so happy and there were some lovely readings.

There was still enough light outside so we decided to start the group shots as soon as the ceremony ended. Usually we would give the couple 30 minutes or so with their guests when the ceremony ends to chat and have a drink but given that the light was fading fast we had to be flexible and move things around. I didn't know whether the wedding party were so excited about getting through the group shots or whether the freezing temperatures had something to do with it, but we whizzed through these as everyone was so great at getting in the right shots!!

After the group shots we then took Mike and Kim away for some couple shots. Kim was an absolute legend......she wanted to carry on with the photos even though everyone else was freezing and I could hardly feel the shutter I was pressing.......it might have had something to do with the fact I ended up taking shots lying in the snow....... well...if you want 'that' shot!! After spending quite a great deal of time outside we briefly went to the Bridal suite to warm up and finish shooting.
We then all headed back to where the drinks and canapés were being held. While Dawn took candid shots of the guests, I went to take some shots inside where the wedding breakfast was being held. After this the couple and guests sat down for their meal.

After the meal we photographed the speeches which were a mixture of laughter and humiliation for the groom.....nice pictures Mike.....we then photographed the cutting of the cake, and the first dance!

We left the happy couple rocking and a'rolling to the live band with their guests.

Have a great Christmas!

Lauren and Dawn x

Front cover of Bucks and Berks Your Wedding Magazine!

2010-11-15T06:25:00.000-08:00

It's not everyday you get to have front cover of a popular wedding magazine, but here we are! December and Januarys front over of 'Bucks & Berks Your Wedding' Magazine. The image was taken in August this year featuring Alastair and Lisa as the happy couple.

The shot took a little while to shoot because we needed to get the light, and veil just right and involved me halfway up a ladder but it was well worth it! The image also features on our website.

Well done team!

Lauren x

http://www.yourberksbuckswedding.co.uk/

Matt and Jess 22.10.10

2010-10-25T09:17:00.000-07:00

We arrived at Jess' parent's house to a commotion of girls, mum and dad all getting ready for the big day. Jess and her Bridesmaids were putting their make up on in the lounge so Teresa and I after photographing this went up stairs to photograph Jess' dress, shoes and flowers. While doing this, although it wasn't suppose to rain....surprise, surprise it did! So after capturing Jess' getting into her dress while being helped by all her Bridemaids in a small room (!) We took their individual shots inside, which ended up looking fab!

After this Teresa and I drove to the church, parking in Newbury town centre and then finding Matt greeting guests as they arrived. The church was fantastic, full of character and history and made for some great external shots. Although we weren't allowed to take photos during the ceremony :( ........ I did manage to sneak one or two of them kissing and walking back down the aisle! By this stage the rain has stopped so we took some of the group shots Matt and Jess had requested at the church. Everyone was full of laughter and thanks to Teresa and Matt's sister Hayley we were able to whizz through these with ease.

After we had asked the wedding party to head to Ufton Court for the reception, Teresa and I took the happy couple around the church for some couple shots. After which we all headed back to the reception. I must admit I had never been to Ufton Court and was blown away by the stunning scenery, photography opportunities and helpful staff. After arriving Teresa and I did a quick scout round and decided where we would shoot the rest of the group shots and Matt and Jess' shots. We then went back inside to capture the candid shots of guests chatting and drinking.

We were doing really well for time so we give Matt and Jess 35 minutes with their guests before shooting a few more group shots and a confetti shot outside in the Sunken garden. After this we took the couple through the grounds for their couple shots. I love doing Autumn weddings as the colours of the leaves, against a Brides dress looks so amazing, so it was well worth being outside in the cool air for an hour in a t-shirt!

After this we all headed to the Barn for the Wedding Breakfast and captured the very funny speeches before leaving the couple to enjoy the rest of their evening. A great day had by all!

Have a fab honeymoon, see you when you get back.

Lauren and Teresa x

Reception venue: http://www.uftoncourt.co.uk/cms/

Nick and Emma 03.10.10

2010-10-06T03:03:00.000-07:00

Today was the wedding of Nick and Emma, and although the weather forecast has predicted rain all day we were really hoping this wasn't going to be the case. Teresa and I arrived at Emma's parents house, in the rain......but the mood inside was full of excitement. We started photographing the shoes, dress, and flowers before photographing Emma having the back laced up on her wedding dress. Although this was going well, it was taking 3 of them to do it. Admittedly, (but not from experience!) lacing up a wedding dress doesn't look to be the easiest job in the world, unless that is, you have Teresa who has helped Brides countless times before.......and today was no exception! She had it done within minutes.......surely there must be some world record she could go for?!?

After taking Emma, her bridesmaids and her Mum's individual shots, Teresa and I headed to the church to meet Nick. By now the rain had stopped and the clouds were starting to clear....surely the weatherman were wrong! Nick seemed pretty calm as he chatted to friends and family. We took him outside for some quick photos, then Teresa went up to the front of the church to get into position for the service. I was outside waiting for Emma to arrive by horse and carriage. The church service was full of laughter, readings and singing and was enjoyed by all. As everyone left the church we lined them up for a confetti shot before asking the wedding party to make their way to the reception. We then took a few photos of the happy couple outside as the sun shone :)

We then all headed to Rivervale for the reception. Teresa then started taking candid shots while I headed into the wedding breakfast room to take photos of the cake, and tables. Soon after we started the group shots, which sadly had to be done inside but Rivervale is so light inside that it didn't dampen the mood. After completing the list of shots, ending with a big group shot outside in the courtyard (it stopped raining!!) We then took Nick and Emma away for some couple shots. This lasted about 40 minutes before we had them back for their wedding breakfast.
After photographing the speeches, which were scheduled for between and main and then dessert we left the couple as they were starting their desserts, ready for the fun evening ahead.

Best wishes to the both of you!

Lauren and Teresa x

Check out Rivervale Barn at: http://www.rivervale-barn-weddings.co.uk/

A note of thanks :)

2010-09-28T04:40:00.000-07:00

It's always really great to receive feedback from recent wedding couples. We have to admit we don't really boast about 'thank you's' we receive but we thought this one deserved to be uploaded!

''Hi Lauren,

We just want to thank you for the service you provided for our recent wedding at The Elvetham. You and your assistant were absolutely fantastic and we were pleased you could be involved in our special day.

We spent a long time looking for a quality photographer with whom we could feel completely at ease with and we certainly found this with you. You also did a superb job in getting everyone organised for the group shots which I'm sure is never easy!

Nadia and I also appreciate the time you spent with us and staying for the cutting of the cheese cake.

The day itself couldn't have gone any better and even the sun was shining! We were so happy with how it all went.

We can't wait to see the photos and look forward to receiving these from you shortly.

Many thanks,

Geoff and Nadia''

Brett and Sam 04.09.10

2010-09-06T00:20:00.000-07:00

Today was the wedding of Brett and Sam, a very special wedding as I have known Sam since junior school so I was really honoured when they asked me to photograph their wedding. They both lived in South Africa but decided to hold the wedding in Hampshire - luckily the weather was perfect!

I started at the church and met a smiling Brett who was trying to organise Skype so the folks back in South Africa could also watch the church service.......the wonders of modern technology! During this time I was outside, took a few shots of the church and the guests as they started to arrive.

Sam arrived just after her Bridesmaids, smiling and laughing - really enjoying the day already. We all walked up to the church then I went inside to capture them entering. The ceremony was lovely full of smiles, hymns and readings. You could tell Brett and Sam were really happy :)

As the wedding party left the church I lined them up on either side and the happy couple walked through while the guests threw confetti - I think I remember Sam saying 'That was fun, lets do it again!'. As the weather was so good, and the church grounds were stunning I decided to do the group shots at the church. The wedding party was fairly small so we whizzed through these, ending with a group shot. The guests then started to make their way to the wedding reception while myself, Jo (one of the Bridesmaids) and the couple stayed behind to photograph the couple. It was so much fun, and we were doing really well for time......Sam your a natural in front of the camera!

I then followed the couple, who were driving themselves to the petrol station.....yes you read that right...... a petrol station....and then onto the Basingstoke Country Hotel. The couple arrived to be greeted by their guests and a glass of champagne. I was then able to take the photos of the cake and wedding breakfast room before the guests entered and everyone sat down for their meal.

After photographing a stage cake cutting I left the happy couple to enjoy the rest of their evening.

Best wishes to the both of you!

Lauren xx

Geoff and Nadia

2010-09-06T00:07:00.000-07:00

Dawn and I arrived at Elvetham Hotel in Hampshire and found Nadia in a room full of girls sorting out makeup, hair, shoes, and dresses! As everyone was so busy, Dawn and I cracked on with the photography :) There's a fantastic balcony outside the Bridal suite at Elvetham so we used this for the shoes, flowers and individual shots of Nadia and her Bridesmaid. The dress was in another room tucked away from anyone so we shot this inside. When she was ready, Nadia looked fantastic in her dress and we were really touched when the mother of the bride give us a box of chocolates - bless!

After taking all the photos we needed we went downstairs in search of Geoff who was busy greeting guests and organising the final touches for the ceremony. We were able to take a few photos of our happy Groom outside before setting up in the ceremony room.

The ceremony was beautiful, full of laughter, readings about dinosaurs (!) and even an acoustic version of 'Chasing Cars' performed by Geoff's brother. After this, Dawn and I lined up the wedding party on either side of the path who then threw confetti on the newly married couple as they walked down. We were doing great for time so we give the couple half an hour with their guests to enjoy the sunshine and canapes. During this time Dawn took candid shots outside while I went into the wedding breakfast room and took photos of the favours, tables and decoration around the room.

We then gathered everyone round for some group shots, finishing with a group shot of everyone.......done and dusted in 15 minutes! I then took the couple and the ushers and bridesmaids further inside the gardens to try a shot I hadn't done before. I love experimenting and being creative so after briefing everyone and a bit of setting up we completed the shot and the result is below - Thank you for everyone's patience, I think it was worth it ;)

After this we walked around the grounds taking shots of the happy couple, before having them back on time for their receiving line. We then left them to enjoy their meal (thank you for our hot meals) and after photographing the speeches, which were very very funny - just Imagine the Groom's head as a mask worn by the whole wedding party.........we took some photos of family and friends by the wedding cake and the cake of cheese.

Dawn and I left the happy couple and their guests to enjoy the rest of their fantastic evening. - photos coming soon!

Have a super honeymoon!

Lauren and Dawn x

Andrew and Maria 07.08.2010

2010-08-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Amy and I arrived at Maria's parents' house to be greeted by what seemed to be every member of her family! Everyone was in a great mood. Amy and I started working and first shot the wedding dress, followed by the shoes and flowers outside. The weather was holding so one by one we photographed the Bridesmaids and the Bride outside for the individual shots before heading over to the church.

The Bride's mum was also the Vicar of the church so naturally lived right next door. Amy and I just had to walk amongst the trees to meet Andrew and his ushers outside. Then the heavens opened. Not exactly what everryone had wished for but it had arrived and down the rain came. The ushers ended up running between cars and the church with umbrellas covering guests from the rain.
When it was time for Maria to walk across the sun came out and the clouds started to disappear, much to the relief of everyone....including me!

The ceremony was very meaningful, with readings and hymns and everyone looked like they were enjoying it. Maria's mum decided to have a day off from the wedding so another family member married them instead!

After the ceremony we gave the couple 20 minutes with their guests before we started with the group shots. The weather was still holding.....phew! After these we asked the ushers to usher the guests to the church hall, again, a stones throw away while we concentrated on Andrew and Maria's couple shots. We were able to use a number of locations around the church grounds finally ending with a shot of the couple walking amongst the trees to the wedding reception.

After the meal we then photographed the speeches, finishing with a shot of the couple cutting the cake. We then left everyone to enjoy the rest of the evening.

Best wishes to your both!

Lauren and Amy x

Alastair and Lisa 31.07.2010

2010-08-02T01:07:00.000-07:00

Dawn and I arrived at the church just after 1300, ready for the ceremony at 1400 . We were greeted by a smiling Alastair and his bestman Andy who were outside greeting guests and enjoying the sunshine. During their wedding pitch, Alastair and Lisa had requested that instead of starting the photography during the Bride's preparations they would quite like to move that block of time to the end of the evening, this was fine so we were all eagerly awaiting the Bride as no-one had seen her!

Lisa arrived on time in a fantastic pearl blue Jaguar. She was smiling and really looking forward to the whole day. By this time everyone was inside and Dawn was ready at the front of the church to capture the Bride walking in. The ceremony was a lovely occasion, everyone looked so happy. There were readings and hymns and afterwards everyone filtered outside for a confetti shot. After this Andy ushered guests back to the reception, while Dawn and I took the happy couple over the road to some fantastic ruins we had seen while parking.......'I love a good ruin' Dawn commented!

Lisa and Alastair were so great at posing, they hardly needed any direction so we were able to shoot a number of shots there. The light was fairly tricky as the sun kept on going in and out of clouds (don't you hate those days!) but we were able to capture some great shots.

We then all travelled to the reception which was being held at Groomes. A fantastic farm near Bordon. There was plenty of scope for photography so we couldn't wait to start the couple shots again! The wedding party had gathered around the front for drinks so during this time Dawn took candid shots while I went inside the barn to take some shots of the 'Moroccan themed' room. We give the couple about 30 minutes with their guests before we took everyone around the back for some group shots. Lisa and Alastair had wanted more candid shots during the day so that's exactly what we did and kept the group shots to a minimum. Before I start talking about the group shots....let me set the scene. The manager Pete, had already asked me if I needed to take any of the shots from a height and indeed I did, the last shot of the whole wedding party. Pete asked whether I wanted the JCB.........well how could I refuse such an offer! So as we were nearing the end of the shots, out comes this bright yellow JCB with a cage in front for me! It was fantastic being so high up.....an experience I've not had before I can tell you!!

After this, we took Alastair and Lisa around the farm for a few more couple shots before getting them back for the speeches. After capturing the speeches we stayed and captured the first dance before the band had everyone dancing.

We left the couple to enjoy the rest of the evening with friends and family.

Best wishes to you both :)

Lauren and Dawn x

Sam and Suzanna 24.07.2010

2010-07-26T06:55:00.000-07:00

We arrived at the couple's house where Suzanna was on her own doing her make-up and hair, she seemed happy to have a bit of company....... as the other bridesmaids were still at the salon having their hair done.
Teresa and I started immediately with the shoes and flowers. It was a lovely day outside so we wanted to make the most of the light. After shooting the wedding dress and all the girls adding the finishing touches we then took each one outside for their individual shots......We try and make these as fun as possible....no static shots.....its a happy day!
Teresa and I then left for the church which was at St. John's in Hartley Wintney a fantastic church with lots of shooting potential. We arrived to find guests waiting outside in the sunshine, while Sam was inside chatting to the vicar. After setting up everything inside I waiting outside for Suzanna while Teresa took photos from the front of the church of the Sam and the guests arriving.The ceremony was full of hymns and emotion, but enjoyed by all! We then all headed out into the sunshine for a confetti shot before taking Sam and Suzanna back into the church for a few couple shots. The guests then waved the couple off from the church grounds.
We then all headed to Oakley Hall in Basingstoke for the reception. When we arrived Teresa and I took a quick walk around scouting for shooting locations then joined the rest of the guests shooting candid shots. We were doing well for time so after giving the couple 30 minutes with their guests we started the group shots. We rolled through these at lightning speed thanks to the help of the ushers and bridesmaids. Even Sam commented on how quick the shots were going. We had them all shot in 15 minutes....phew!
Before the wedding Suzanna had seen a shot we had done previously at a wedding which involved the couple, ushers and the bridesmaids so we had to make sure we shot this. We took them all around the front of Oakley Hall away from the hustle and bustle. It involves slow motion and speed, quite a technical shot to get right but we managed to pull it off. We then took Sam and Suzanna down to a corn field and then into the grounds of Oakley Hall for some more couple shots. Both were naturals at posing which was great for us!! :)
We then had the couple back for 4.30pm ready for their receiving line.
After shooting a staged cake cutting, we left the couple as they sat down to enjoy their meal with their friends and family.
Have a great honeymoon!
Lauren and Teresa x

Chris and Jacqui 17.07.2010

2010-07-19T02:11:00.000-07:00

We arrived at Jacqui's parents house where Jacqui was relaxing watching the other Bridesmaid's have their hair and make-up done. All morning the house was a buzz of excitement with 3 Bridesmaids, and one Bride getting ready...that's not to mention the parents and the grandmother who was fascinated with our big cameras! Teresa and I shot the dress, shoes and jewellery inbetween capturing the atmosphere and preparations. We left the house after we had shot the individual shots outside.....Jacqui's comment 'Check me out!' when I showed her one of her images was a very good sign we were doing a good job :)

We arrived at the church, under a dark sky but it managed to stay dry and bright much to the relief of us as we don't really like doing shots in the rain!! The ceremony was filled with hymns and emotion, but enjoyed by all. Jacqui and Chris looked like they were delighted with the service. After which we shot a confetti shot by the gates and then kept the couple back to do some couple shots in the grounds. We love using bold colours and the church had a fantastic green coloured door.....(good spot Teresa) so this was definitely on our shot list and it looks great!

We then headed to the Reception which was being held at Warbrook House, in Eversley. We give the couple half an hour with their guests during which Teresa captured some great candid shots while I headed into the Wedding Breakfast room to capture the detail.

There was a guy singing outside in the grounds while the wedding party enjoyed the sunshine, so after all the small group shots he give me his mic to arrange the last group shot of everyone......I was asked whether I was going to 'do a number' but I think it would have been best to spare the wedding party of my singing!!

During the pre-wedding meeting, Chris and Jacqui mentioned that they would like us to shoot our unique 'Multiplex' shot which was fantastic news so we built this into the timings. The shot normally takes around 15 minutes and consists of up to 4 images of the couple which are then combined to create one image......lots of retouching for us in the studio but well worth it!! So after taking the happy couple around the grounds we ended with the Multiplex.

We had the couple back ready for the speeches at 6.00pm which were very very funny. I must admit I think Chris was worst off with Andrews Bestman speech.....who is also his brother! Talk of 'tornado' dancing on dance floor in local clubs right down to the first lego brick Chris threw at Andrew when they were younger and his love for his computer!

We left the couple to enjoy the evening with their friends and family.....and maybe a little 'tornado' dancing from Chris!

Enjoy your honeymoon :)

Lauren and Teresa x

Andy and Jo 10.07.2010

2010-07-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

Well the wedding season is certainly in full swing as we have back to back weddings now for several weeks! We will also be introducing a few new members to our team who will be helping at weddings and learning the 'tricks of the trade'.

In the meantime though we were at the wedding of Jo and Andy on Saturday, which took place at Greyfriars just outside Farnham. We met Jo in the morning and were greeted by the friendly manager of Greyfrairs, Barry. The Bridal suite was full of ladies busily having make-up applied, hair put up and drinking champagne....of course! To be honest with you, I don't think Jo would have had it any other way.......

We took shots of the fabulous dress, shoes and flowers before heading out to find Andy and his five Bestmen. The weather was fantastic...possibly a little too hot for the guys but we shot some photos on the steps and in the shade. They all looked the part!

The ceremony was an emotional affair, with tears and laughter all round.....even from Andy. There were some great readings and when the song for the entrance of the Bride was 'Come Fly with Me' it certainly set the atmosphere for the rest of the day! Everyone looked like they really enjoyed it especially the happy couple.

The wedding party then filtered outside into the sunshine so we took this opportunity to take candid shots of individuals and groups. I went inside to photograph the wedding breakfast room, while Teresa was still outside capturing the atmosphere. After half an hour we then started with the group shots. Now having met Jo and Andy a few times before the wedding I knew that they didn't want many group shots so we whizzed through these and had them done in 15 minutes. Much to the relief of the whole party who were slowly baking in the heat.

One aspect of wedding photography that is highly important is knowing when your couple 'have had enough'. Each couple has their own limit when it comes to their shots which is absolutely fine......it's their day, a photographer just needs to pick up on this and then call it a day. Because of the heat I knew they both just wanted 'shade, shade, shade' so we did up to three couple shots before I said, 'ok guys, lets stop there'. Remember it's about quality not always quantity!

We were then staying for the speeches, so after a lovely meal of good old English bangers and mash (thanks Jo and Andy) we then captured the speeches while the wedding party were entertained with stories and t-shirts........yes that's right....I said t-shirts.

We left the very happy couple ready to party and 'let rip' on the karaoke machine!

Best wishes to you both - it was truly a great day.

Lauren and Teresa x

Busy Saturday!

2010-07-06T03:53:00.000-07:00

Well, although we didn't have a wedding today...the only Saturday for two months.... we certainly weren't sitting around with our feet up. We had two Wedding Pitches, the first starting at 9am and lasted about an hour each, then we were down into the studio for a product shoot.
Admittedly, a product shoot just isn't as entertaining as a lifestyle shoot - you just can't have the same conversation with one! But we managed to get it done in record time for Waitrose.

Then it was back to the office to retouched it, as well sort through the lifestyle shoot we had last weekend. The boys in the shoot were so great in front of the camera!

Roll on the weddings to come!

Lauren

Any Questions......?

2010-06-24T06:37:00.000-07:00

Well we must admit, we haven't been the best at updating this blog! Promise it won't happen again :)

We have been pretty busy sorting out 2nd Photographers for weddings, going to wedding pitches and meeting up with couples who have already booked us to talk about and discuss timings for their big day - always exciting! We get asked a number of questions during a wedding pitch, the more common we have included in this blog:

Do we get all the rights to the images in terms of being able to reprint them?
Yes. We've found that many couples these days want the high resolution images to make prints, put them on their Iphone, or even make their own wedding album. You will receive an unlimited number of images (typically over 1000) which will all be colour corrected and uncropped. Ready for use.

How long do the group shots tend to last?
I think its a general rule at weddings that no-one really likes the group shots! Having two photographers really helps to speed up the process which normally lasts 15 minutes, covers all the typical shots and one big group shot.

What exactly is the 'Slideshow' you offer?
Our slideshows consist of either 35 or 50 hand retouched images (depending on the Package chosen) which are chosen while you are away on honeymoon. Lasting between 7 - 10 minutes it is a great overview of your day set to contemporary music. It is great if you have friends around and just want to show them the best images! It is PC based so you can copy it as many times as you like and hand it out in 'Thank you' cards.

Can I have an Package without an album?
Yes. We offer two Packages which come without an album. Sometimes couples prefer not to have an album, or make their own and some come back a year later after saving for one. If you choose a Package without an album, and after the wedding you would prefer one, you can have one!

What is a 'coffee table album'?
I think the term 'coffee table album' has been given a bad name for itself........firstly it hardly shouts out the greatness of 'wedding album' does it? .........so when couples come to us, they aren't always convinced until they see one! We pride ourselves in producing high quality albums. Each album is printed on photographic paper and images sit flush against the edge of the pages. They are hard-wearing albums, custom designed by Lauren.

Hopefully we have answered a few questions which will help you when choosing us as your wedding photographer. If you have anymore questions - just ask!

Fingers crossed the weather stays how it is......and England beat Germany!

LMP

Manuel and Emily 01.05.2010

2010-05-04T03:46:00.000-07:00

Bonjour! Today we were in Thame near Oxford for the wedding of Manuel and Emily, our first French-Anglian wedding! The weather for today was suppose to be dull with rain, but as we arrived at the Brides mother's house the sun was shining and there were blue skies above......just what the Bride ordered!

The house was a hive of activity as the Bride's hair and make-up was being done, the children were dressed and the poor dog Jude was left to watch all that was going on from the conservatory door. Teresa and I quickly went to work by photographing, the dress, then the shoes, and flowers. Time seemed to past so fast and before we knew it, it was time to leave for the church.

At the church, guests had started to arrive. We found Manuel with his bestmen and ushers at the entrance of the church. With his top hat and gloves he was looking very smart! We were on time so we decided to take a few pictures of Manuel around the back of the church. After this we set up inside the church. Teresa was inside taking photos while I was outside waiting for the Bride.....did I tell you she was arriving in a lime green Mustang!?! When she arrived most of the village had surrounded the church to see the Bride step out of this two seater Mustang......I must admit, the lime against the white dress looked awesome!

Although Emily was 10 minutes late, the church ceremony ended on time and we all headed towards the church gates for a confetti shot. The weather was still holding so we took some shots of the Bride and Groom at the church while all the guests headed to the reception.

The reception was being held at Notley Tythe Barn, a venue tucked away amongst the rolling hillside of Oxon. The sun was still shining which was good news for us as the guests were able to enjoy the lawns outside.....there was even a bouncy castle for the kids! Teresa then had 20 minutes to take natural shots of the guests while I took shots inside the barn where the wedding breakfast was being held. I also had time to walk round the place scouting out potential shooting locations for the couple shots.

It was then time to photograph and group shots, which lasted 15 minutes before we moved onto the couple shots. The venue had lots of shooting opportunities, and we were able to use a lot of them for Manuel and Emily's images. We even managed to use the Mustang for one! The couple seemed very natural in front of the camera and we had a great time photographing them.

We stayed and photographed the speeches, which after the Father of the Bride, Groom and Bestmen....a number of guests decided they wanted to add their comments......mainly about Manuel! The room was full of laughter and happiness and after the throwing of the bouquet...(which rarely happens these days) Teresa and I left as the party began.

Best wishes to you both,

Lauren and Teresa

Venue website: http://www.notleyfarm.co.uk

Rivervale Barn uses our wedding photographs

2010-04-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

Rivervale Barn, a fantastic new venue in Yateley, Hampshire are using images we have taken at one of the weddings there in their next advertising feature! The latest advert will be running in both 'Your Hampshire Wedding' and 'Wedding Venues and Services magazine'.

We are all looking forward to seeing it 'in print', but here's a sneak preview!

Lauren

URL: http://www.rivervale-barn-weddings.co.uk

Andy and Claire

2010-04-13T13:15:00.000-07:00

It was a bright start to the morning as Teresa and I arrived at Claire's parents house with sunshine and blue skies overhead. Natasha Wiggins (our favourite make-up artist!) was already there doing hair and make-up inside. We were greeted with a cup of tea by Claire's father (thank you!) and after drinking this we started photographing Claire's shoes, dress and jewellery. I must admit the Bride's preparations is one of my favourite things to photograph because there is so much going on which always makes it fun for us!

The ceremony was at a church about half a mile away so after photographing Claire and her Bridesmaids in the garden we went to the church to meet Andy. The church was situated amongst trees and looked beautiful in the sunshine. Andy and his ushers were outside, greeting guests so we took this opportunity to take some photos of them all. By this time it was fast approaching 2 o'clock so everyone took their seats and waited for the Bride to arrive.

We were lucky enough to be able to have Teresa at the front of the church and myself at the back which is ideal because having two photographers you can get two different view points of the ceremony. The church was full and there was some fantastic readings. You could tell both Andy and Claire really enjoyed it all.

After the ceremony we arranged a confetti shot by the gates then asked the guests to head to the reception. We were able to take a few couple shots at the church before Andy and Claire headed to Frensham Heights for their reception. The reception was being held amongst the grounds of Frensham Heights School..... just because it is a school, don't underestimate the fantastic grounds it has to offer. There are so many areas to use that Teresa and I found it hard to choose just a few for Andy and Claire! Most of the wedding party had arrived by coach and had made their way through to the lawn at the back which give stunning views of Farnham. We were able to give the couple 30 minutes with their wedding guests so during this time Teresa and I took the more natural shots of guests that all couples seem eager to have now.

The whole wedding party was quite large so Teresa and I were all organised for the group shots. The shots took about 20 minutes as we managed to run through them quickly....it's always nice when guests come up to you afterwards and comment on how organised you were! We then took the couple away for half an hour and made our way around the venue taking their couple shots. We found a red phone box, which complimented Claire's dress and made the couple's image so vibrant. Claire also had a very long veil (I love these!) so we used this for a number of shots.

After shooting a staged cake cutting, we left the wedding party to enjoy their meal and evening entertainment.

Thanks for a great day Andy and Claire - best wishes and enjoy your honeymoon!

Lauren and Teresa x

The venue: http://www.frenshamheights.org/enterprises

Kevin and Sally 27.03.2010

2010-03-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

We arrived at Sally's parents house to be greeted by her Dad who was proudly cleaning his Range Rover...one of the vehicles for the wedding. Sally arrived shortly after from the hairdressers and she was straight into the makeup chair! As we photographed this we also found the dress, shoes and jewellery inbetween blusher and eyeliner!

After photographing all the girls outside, (luckily the rain had stopped) Teresa and I headed to Moorpark Golf Club in Rickmansworth which is where the ceremony and reception were taking place.

We arrived with plenty of time, so scouted out some great locations and decided where to shoot our 'Multiplex' shot. Sally and Kevin had requested this shot especially after seeing it at one of the wedding fairs we attended. It comprises of 4 to 5 shots of the couple, retouched to form one dramatic image. During the ceremony there was lots of laughter and emotion; a truely happy occasion. It had been raining throughout the ceremony but there was a break in the clouds so after taking some candid shots of the wedding party we all went outside for some group shots. The clouds slowing started to break away and the sun came out when we started to shoot Kevin and Sally's couple shots.

These are our favourite shots as we can do all kinds of creative things....which of course included the 'Multiplex'. This took up 15 mins of shooting time but we had allowed for this and still had another 20 minutes to shoot some other shots. Kevin and Sally were a pleasure to photograph and were full of humour. While I was directing the couple I asked them to 'look at Teresa'. Sally straightaway looked up at Teresa who was holding the reflector, but Kevin...he started trying to search for where the 'trees-are'!!! It was very funny...especially as there were lots of trees around!

We left the happy couple as they sat down to enjoy their wedding breakfast. A great day had by all.

Best wishes to you both.

Lauren and Teresa x

Jon and Audra 27.02.2010

2010-03-12T13:04:00.000-08:00

Well it was great to be able to photograph a wedding on a beach in America....what a great start to the wedding season! Weddings in America are slightly different, in terms of running order of photography so it was a whole new experience for us!

The wedding was being held at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, Florida. David and I started in Audra's hotel room which was full of bridesmaids, flower girls, and the father and mother of the Bride! We didn't have much time to photograph the dress, shoes, jewellery as they had all been late from the hairdressers but we managed to photograph everything before heading down to find Jon.

In America they tend to take all the family photographs before the ceremony which for the photography means a little more running around than in the UK! I had already spoken with the couple before the day so we all knew when and where we should be.

After taking Jon and his family's photographs outside David and I headed back into the hotel to find Audra again.....who was slightly stressed.....

We managed to take all of Audra's photographs on time...with a less stressed Bride... and we were even early so David and I headed down to the Beach House where the ceremony was being held. The ceremony was filled with laughter, emotion and the sun!

We were able to take all the group shots....although most of them I had already done (!) on the beach. Sounds good?.....yes it is, except when there are people on the beach who just won't get out of the photo! We got there in the end and then we moved on to start the couple shots.

The sun set at 1827 and it was 1750 so we were up against the light! However there are so many great places to take photographs at the Ritz and of course, we had the beach. I was able to shoot our Multiplex shot......a technical shot involving shooting multiple shots and blending them all together to create one final image.

David and I finished on time and headed back to the Wedding Breakfast to photograph the speeches and cake cutting.

It was a very successful day and we managed to capture some fantastic photos....another wedding in the States would be great thanks!

Best wishes to you both.

Lauren and David

Wedding Pitches 2010

2010-01-26T04:48:00.000-08:00

Since coming back from South Africa I've had wedding pitches, and wedding pitches and...did I mention....wedding pitches?!...I wouldn't want to fill this whole blog up with each one but we have been having a busy spell and we are loving it! It is great to talk to couples about their wedding plans, give them advice with timings and refer them to good companies and people to use on their day.

During a wedding pitch I will go through the packages we offer, show them more of our work, talk about our style, passions and how a 'typical' wedding day runs for us. Of course this differs depending on the wedding venues and the timings etc, but we are fully adaptable. We also show couples albums and a few of our slideshows to really get across our style and the uniqueness of our images.

A wedding pitch lasts around 45 to 90 minutes, just depending on the couple. We have no time limit and could talk for hours given the chance....just kidding!

We really value wedding pitches, because we don't just see them as a good way for couples to see our work but the only way of meeting myself and seeing whether we 'click' and generally 'get on' during the pitch. We don't like hard selling, so we leave you to make up your own mind after we leave....but we like to think we make a good impression!

Lastly, the one piece of advice I leave with all couples after each wedding pitch is, 'Whoever your choose as your wedding photographer - make sure you are comfortable around them, (especially the Bride during the preparation shots), they are confident (but not too confident!), have a happy and funny nature, and you believe from the initial meeting they can produce the same quality photos you have just seen. Ask to see more than three weddings - at least, and make sure they make you laugh as they will be the one person who will be spending most of the day with you... and grumpy photographers are no fun!!!'

Happy searching....

Lauren x

Timbavati, South Africa

2010-01-21T01:10:00.000-08:00

Every now and then we venture out of the studio and go somewhere completely different - away from lifestyle shoots and weddings....and we like to tell you all about them! Recently I went to South Africa on a 4 day intensive photography workshop hosted by Wildlife photographer Greg du Toit. We were based in a private nature reserve in Timbavati which hosts some of the best Rangers and Trackers in the country.

I had always wanted to shoot wildlife on safari so when this opportunity came up I couldn't let it pass. We arrive at the Umlani bushcamp which has no phone signal or electricity (just a few hours from a generator a day) - it was back to basics and beautiful! The days were fairly structured with 2 drives in the morning and afternoon, all meals and a theory class by Greg just after breakfast. We were up and out on the morning drives by 5.15am, and on our first drive saw a leopard which apparently is a rare sight. Our Ranger Elvis, I swear had OTT'd on carrots because as the night fell he was spotting all sorts of wildlife which to the 'normal' human was just a leaf, or a rock! He was fantastic, so passionate about his job and helped us track Leopard, Lion, Buffalo, Giraffe, Wild dog and Hippo to name but a few over the four days.

For me, the experience was amazing. On a personal level you realise how small you actually are amongst the wildlife and how beautiful it is, technically the demands of shooting wildlife is different from that of a wedding where you can actually tell you subject to stay still! However each still requires good composition and quick thinking. I learnt so much not only about shooting wildlife but also about animal behaviour, bird calls and the vegetation. Tracking is definitely a skill.

The people were so kind, and the food was great - especially the Amarula!

It was a short visit to such an amazing country and I would encourage everyone to go on a safari......I know I have 'the bug', tried a little Afrikaans and will definitely be going back. Below are a few images from my trip. 'Totsiens!'

Lauren

Nick and Kirstie 26.09.2009

2009-09-27T10:51:00.000-07:00

We met Kirstie in rollers at her local hairdressers in High Wycombe....we tried to persuade her that rollers were the new 'hairdo' but she wasn't having any of it! After spending about 45 minutes with Kirstie, and her bridesmaids, Teresa and I headed to their house where we were greeted by a smiling mum and Kirstie and Nick's little girl, Abigail. We had enough time to have a cup of tea (Thanks Kirstie's mum!) and photograph the shoes, flowers, dress and all the action which was unfolding before Kirstie arrived back.

Kirstie didn't have much time to get into her dress, so we photographed a frantic mum strapping her into the dress! They were all having good fun and for us....the more smiles the better! The cloud had started to break so we took Kirstie and her bridesmaids outside for their individual photos......Kirstie was the perfect Bride - 'loving the camera darling!'

The ceremony and reception was held at Pinewood Hotel around 40 minutes away so after photographing the individual beauty shots, Teresa and I got back in the car and made our way to the hotel. We arrived to find a nervous Nick who at times was quite emotional. After taking some photographs of him in the bar area we set up ready for the ceremony. Kirstie arrived 15 minutes early (!!), so the ceremony started at 1600 sharp! The ceremony consisted of readings, singing, and a few tears but afterwards everyone headed out into the garden. After meeting Kirstie and Nick at the pre-wedding meeting I knew time was going to be a little tight so after 10 minutes we started with the group shots and then finished shooting some fun shots of the couple.

We left the couple as they sat down to enjoy their wedding breakfast.

Have a great time in Sri Lanka, see you when you get back!

Lauren & Teresa

Wedding Fair - 20.09.2009

2009-09-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

After what seemed hours of making boxes and goody bags, the day had finally arrived to exhibit all our hard work at the Wedding Fair in Padworth. We wanted to do something 'special' for the couples that were coming to view our work so Teresa and I had made goody bags full of information and chocolates :o). We were also on hand to answer and explain how our wedding photography is different from other photographers. We had slideshows, banners, frame boxes, albums and prints on view.

The fair was held in the Holiday Inn, Padworth organised by Dream Wedding Fairs, and despite the sunny day outside we saw a lot of couples. It was a good opportunity for us to show couples exactly what Lauren Mitchell Photography has to offer, and for the couples to meet the photographers who would photograph at their wedding. A little better than just looking at a website! It also gives couples a real opportunity to ask as many questions as possible and to see albums and prints first hand.

It was a great day, thank you for all the couples who took the time to come down and see us.

Our next fair is at Bradfield College, Reading on 25th October....hope to see you there!

Lauren & Teresa

Wendy and Jon 12.09.2009

2009-09-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

We arrived at the newly built Rivervale barn in Yateley just before 11am and was greeted by the owner who proudly give Amy and I a tour of the venue and surrounding gardens - we took this opportunity to seek out some potential shooting locations. We then went to find Wendy who was busy getting ready in the Bridal suite with her mum, and bridesmaids. The bridal suite looked gorgeous, with dark wooden beams and a huge fireplace. Wendy looked like she was enjoying herself, and we had built in plenty of time to take shots of her getting ready. After shooting the shoes, dress and other 'bits and pieces' in the room we left Wendy in search of Jon, his best man and ushers.

By now the guests had started to arrive and were greeted by a smiling Jon. We took them outside for a few shots and then I, Jon and all the guests entered the ceremony room, while Amy waited for the Wendy. Having two photographers is great for capturing different points of view, for example - I was able to capture Wendy walking in from the front, while Amy captured low shots of Wendy's dress from the back. Amy was also able to photograph part of the ceremony from the balcony overlooking everyone.

The ceremony was emotional but also full of laughter with readings and a harpist. After the ceremony everyone made their way outside into the sunshine with their drinks. Amy and I starting shooting candid shots and the wedding breakfast room which looked fantastic dressed with fairy lights and flowers. Generally we like to give the Bride and Groom time with their guests after the ceremony which enables us to capture natural shots of the wedding party. After the group shots we finished with Jon and Wendy's couple shots. For these we walked over to a field behind the venue which was full of long grass, Wendy and Jon wanted to do 'anything and everything' so we spend most of our time over there before heading back for the wedding breakfast.

After photographing the cake cutting we left Wendy and Jon to enjoy the rest of their evening.

Enjoy the fantastic honeymoon!

Lauren & Amy

Pre-Wedding Meeting 25.08.09

2009-08-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

Last night I met Wendy and Jon for their Pre-Wedding meeting, a meeting I would encourage all couples to have with their photographer before the big day. I had first met Wendy and Jon about half a year ago at their Wedding Pitch, time had seem to fly by as here we were 2 weeks before the wedding! Often couples say 'I can't believe how quickly time has flown by!'.

They are getting married at Rivervale Barn in Yateley. A purpose built place, new this year. The venue is an ideal location to host weddings, with two large barns and beautiful gardens including a waterfall- it's a photographer's dream! During the meeting we finalised timings for the day. This is essential so I know when we have to arrived, while also being able to dot down timings for the groups shots and the couple shots. Wendy and Jon seemed very happy with the arrangements and after an hour of chatting about arrangements I left them sorting out more things for the wedding.

I really hope you both enjoy your Hen and Stag dos!!

See you soon

Lauren

Andrew and Vicki 22.08.2009

2009-08-23T09:14:00.000-07:00

Today was the wedding of a fantastic couple Andrew and Vicki. Both had been looking forward to the day and now it had arrived! The entire wedding was being held at Tylney Hall in Rotherwick. A picturesque venue both inside and out. Teresa and I arrived and made our way to the Bridal suite. Where we were greeted by Vicki, her sons and bridesmaids all busy getting ready. When I met Andrew and Vicki to run through timings for the day 2 weeks before the wedding, every time I said 'my assistant' they thought I was saying 'my sister' so it became a long running joke throughout the meeting! So on queue I introduced us as 'Lauren and my sister'. Everyone burst out laughing - a good start to the day!

The Bridal suite was full of fun and laughter and this amongst other preparations were all captured. Tylney hall has great natural lightning so we will able to capture some great shots of the shoes, flowers and the dress. After photographing Vicki changing into her dress, we concentrated on the individual shots of Vicki, her boys and the bridesmaids....apart from a few wasps - everyone looked great.

We met a somewhat nervous Andrew outside the ceremony room. He was smiling and greeting guests, but (did I say..) a little nervous! Once the ceremony had started he seemed to relax more and have a good time. We managed to get shots from the front, the back and on the balcony, a fantastic range as some weddings we can only photograph from the back. The ceremony was full of emotion, laughter and entertainment and once it had finished everyone made their way out into the gardens.

After we had taken candid shots of the guests, the table settings and the group shots myself and....my sister (!), took Andrew and Vicki around the gardens for their couple shots...even Andrew was 'doing it for the sisters' by the time we reached the wedding breakfast. We finished by photographing the speeches.......which were very good, even though Andrew left his speech at home!

We left the couple to enjoy their meal with their guests. We had a fantastic day - best wishes for the future!

Lauren and her sister.... only joking!...... and Teresa

We are mentioned - couple's wedding blog

2009-08-18T01:37:00.000-07:00

It is always really great and touching when we are mentioned in a 'soon to be' married couple's wedding blog. Andrew and Vicki are marrying at Tylney Hall, Rotherwick this Saturday (22nd) and we met with them a week ago at the venue just to double check everything for their big day.

They write....''The Photographer for our BIG Day is Lauren Mitchell. Vicki and I have spent time with Lauren on several occasions since we decided to get married. Lauren is a very cool customer which allows all in her company to feel at ease. Lauren is funny, witty and certainly knows what she is doing which was obvious when telling us about styles of photos. Lauren has photographed numerous weddings at Tylney Hall, a HUGE BONUS, as she will know the venue and where and where not to have our wedding photgraphs taken. On the day Lauren will have her sister, sorry assistant, with her and in all they will take over 1200 pictures which we feel is fantastic. A word of advice, Lauren is lovely but mess with her at your peril, she knows the photos we would like taken at the 'Event of The Year' and boy will she get them...!''

It's great to see a couple so into photography and recognising the importance of having a photographer on the day. At LMP we are really looking forward to the wedding this weekend - fingers crossed the weather holds up!

Thanks for the shout out!

LMP Team

Recommended Wedding Partner - Hair & Make-up Artist

2009-07-21T00:52:00.000-07:00

Our second partner we recommend is Natasha Wiggins, a freelance hair and make-up artist based in Hampshire. We have worked with Natasha on a number of weddings and find her very approachable, fun and excellent at her job! We have asked Natasha to introduce herself and we would recommend Natasha for any event requiring hair or make-up, not just weddings.

'I’ve been a freelance hair and make-up artist for five years now and I'm also fully qualified in beauty therapy. Since setting up the business on my own, I now have a small team who help me with the larger weddings and events I do. Getting ready for your wedding is one of the most exciting times of your life so to help you fully enjoy this and to ensure that we create the exact look we have a wide range of ideas we can show you. We will carry out a trial before your wedding so that we can create the perfect look for your wedding day. To do this we would talk through ideas and styles for both your hair and make-up and then try them out to ensure that we’ve found a look which suits you and you’re happy with. Typically, the trial would be done between six and ten weeks prior to the event and really benefits from being carried out in daylight so that we can find the best foundation for your skin colour. Whether you know exactly what you want or have no idea at all we will not rush the trial but will take time to go through various options until we find the best one for you.

We view your hair of as equal importance as your make-up particularly as it has to go with your dress and the flowers which you have chosen. We do ask our brides to try and bring samples or photographs of their dress and flowers.

Ever since I qualified I’ve really enjoyed working with brides at their weddings, helping the bride to look and feel special for the big day can be the key to helping her relax and really enjoy the day. After all the wedding is her reward for the months of hard work she’s put in! In addition to a number of weddings, I have also regularly worked on fashion shows, music videos and numerous advertising campaigns working with a variety of photographers and companies including amongst others Lauren Mitchell Photography, L'Oreal, Virgin, and O2.'

Please look at Natasha's website for more details: http://www.nwmake-up.co.uk

Wedding Pitch 18.07.09

2009-07-20T00:41:00.000-07:00

Lauren had a wedding pitch on Saturday just outside Farnham with a couple looking for a wedding photographer. We always give clients the option of coming to us, or us to them, as we know how hectic lives can be and trying to fit in seeing wedding photographers can be hard sometimes.

I arrived at Claire's parents house to be greeted by not only the wedding couple - Andy and Claire but also by both sets of parents who had met for the first time the evening before! Needless to say this was one of my larger wedding pitches! We discussed the type of the photography they were looking for and whether our style would suit them, we ran through the wedding packages which had been recently updated, a 'day in the life of' a wedding photographer at a wedding, timings, the locations and of course the fantastic slideshows we produce.

Everyone seems impressed, and eager to see more of our work. We also like to share any tips and stories for previous weddings we have photographed to help give the couple ideas.

We had an email from Claire on the Sunday......she's booked us! Great!

Lauren

Recommended Wedding Partner - Toastmaster

2009-07-15T07:15:00.000-07:00

While speaking to many wedding couples we know how it can be really hard choosing make-up artists, toastmasters, and venues for your big day. So we thought it would be a good idea if we highlighted our recommended partners. Recommendations are invaluable! We have been working with Roy Austin, Toastmaster for a number of years at weddings and other events and we have asked Roy to introduce himself.

'As a Professional Toastmaster with many years experience in the wedding industry, your wedding day brings in many suppliers from different professions. One of the key things is to allow each one of your suppliers to be able to carry out their duties professionally, and work as a team to make certain all your requirements are met. My role is to be the bride and grooms eyes and ears, turning all their plans for the big day into reality. The Toastmaster is the figure head, dressed in his formal attire, who works together with all other suppliers and agencies, to turn your event into an occasion. It is the job of the professional Toastmaster to make your day run, smoothly, calmly, stress free, and enjoyable for you and your guests. In addition I can also assist those who have speeches to make during the day on the protocol and etiquette of public speaking at a wedding. I also like to share my experience by giving tips and advice on how best to deliver a speech.

If a bride and groom decide to hire a Toastmaster it’s always a good idea that they don’t wait until the big day to be introduced. Personally I like to meet the bride and groom beforehand as it’s a good opportunity to get together in a relaxed environment and discuss the wedding day in detail. A Toastmaster should always be prepared to be flexible, tailoring their service to what the bride and groom want.
I am delighted to have worked with Lauren Mitchell Photography over many functions, and hope this working relationship will continue. This is very beneficial to you as we are both on the same wave length, making your day complete and a day to remember. I have no hesitation in recommending Lauren to be your photographer on your big day. - Roy Austin.

Please visit Roy's website for more information http://www.toastmasteronline.co.uk

The LMP team

New website is live

2009-07-14T07:25:00.000-07:00

We have been working very hard behind the scenes redesigning our website. We wanted something different but it had to complement our photography of course!. We have added new images to all the galleries, a 'Meet the Team' page which gives you a little insight as to who we are and have now added our 'Exclusive to us' page which features are cinematic poster and our technical 'Multiplex' image. You will find all sorts of information within the website. For example, if you are a wedding couple you will be able to look at our competitive wedding packages, and be able to read up on some top tips from an interview with the John Lewis Partnership on our 'News' page.

We have made the website as user friendly as possible, so each page loads quickly (and your not waiting for that little loading sign to disappear after 10 minutes!'. Don't forget to add our page to your Facebook profile and follow us on Twitter.

If you have any feedback or ideas please do drop us a line....

thanks,

The team

Competition 02.07.09

2009-07-04T10:52:00.000-07:00

After much debate about the images we were going to use, we short-listed a handful and decided to enter the SWPP June competition. This was to be our first attempt in the following categories: Wedding Contemporary, Wedding Traditional, Wedding Photojournalism and Wedding Bridal Portraiture. The quality of images was high so it is always difficult to pitch where you might come but the results were announced and we were awarded Bronze for all images. A great result for our first time which just gives the incentive to push harder for July's entries.

The Team

Neil and Naomi 26.06.09

2009-06-26T23:26:00.000-07:00

After such a fantastic week we had been having with the weather we were confident Friday was going to be much the same. As we drove down to Southampton and the rain started to poor, we realise it might have been wrong! We arrived at Naomi's house a little wet, but greeted with smiles and laughter. The weather certainly hadn't damped their spirits. Armand and I started to shoot Naomi's dress, shoes and flowers inside. Naomi's dress has been especially made by her Aunt and looked gorgeous - she was keen to have it photographed! The skies started to clear up as we photographed the bride and her young bridesmaids outside, and after photographing the wedding car which was a white beetle! Armand and I headed for the church.

We were greeted by a nervous looking Neil and his ushers waiting outside greeting the guests, and as everyone started making their way in so did Neil, although Naomi kept him waiting for 30 minutes!! The ceremony was full of laughter and happiness and even their eldest was centre stage wanting to be held by mum during the service. After shooting a lively confetti shot outside we took Neil and Naomi back inside the church for some couple shots while the wedding party headed to New Place for the reception.

New Place is a gorgeous location set in woodlands near Southampton. We arrived with the happy couple greeted by all their guests. The sun had decided to make an appearance so after sometime capturing more candid shots we started on the group shots, eventually finishing with a few more couple shots. They were so fun to shoot, always making jokes.

Neil and Naomi had chosen the wedding package which included the speeches so after the meal we were entertained with some really funny jokes and animation. We left the couple amongst friends and family ready for the festivities ahead.

Best wishes,

Lauren and Armand x

Lifestyle shoot 24.06.09

2009-06-24T16:46:00.000-07:00

When I booked this shoot I was told the little boy I was shooting was a bit of a 'ginger nutter' and that was pretty much all I was told before the day! I was prepare for a lively hours session, but this little smiling chap called Josh appeared with parents and family quite quiet, I then began to think it might be a calmer shoot.

After about 10 minutes of looking around the studio Josh was ready for action and the mood has changed to excitement! His parents had come well prepared with some toys and a variety of colourful clothes- we always say to your clients bring a selection of clothes to change into during the shoot. We started shooting some shots of Josh without any toys against a white background he was loving the attention and wearing a really cool green hoody-style jumper, which looked great with the hood up!

After shooting a few more shots in different clothes, Josh wanted to play with some toys, and as we all know - don't try and take a toy away from a child when they are quite happily playing! It all proved worthwhile and we managed to get shots of him smiling and having a great time. He was a really animated little chap!

Not surprisingly by the end of the shoot, he looked a little tired but he had been great to photograph.
thanks,

Lauren and team

Talia and Kevin 05.06.09

2009-06-06T11:27:00.000-07:00

The day started slightly damp which Talia wasn't too pleased about! So we were hoping the weather man was right this time, and that it would brighten up in Tunbridge Wells! The hotel room Talia had stayed in was now a room of clothes, hair clips, drinks and jewellery! Despite the weather, everyone was in high spirits! Teresa and I decided to find a sheltered spot under some trees to photograph the shoes and flowers, we also decided to hang the shoes carefully on one of the trees, just for something different - the shot looked great!

After taking the individual shots of Talia and her bridesmaid Jo, Teresa and I headed down to the 'High Rocks' which was were the ceremony and reception was being held. It is a beautiful place, surrounded by greenery, a railway and high rocks (surprisingly!). After capturing candid shots of the guests and Kevin, the groom - who looked as calm as anything, Teresa positioned herself in the ceremony room and I waited outside for the bride.

Talia arrived on time and the ceremony was a happy and meaningful event. Afterwards everyone gathered outside for a confetti shot, and then chatted with the bride and groom. During this time Teresa and I photographed candid shots of the guests, including two really cute children. The clouds were beginning to break a little so we gathered everyone for the group shots. Kevin and Talia has given us quite a list...we normally do around 10 shots, but they wanted 29! so Teresa and I worked fast to achieve this in 20 minutes, not bad really.

The couple really wanted some couple shots at 'High Rocks' which is literally a mass of very large, but interesting rock formations. We capture some great shots of them both and even squeezed in the unique, signature shot - the 'multiplex' which looked great amongst the moody rocks.

We finished on time and left the happy couple to enjoy their wedding breakfast. Have a great time in Iceland.

Lauren and Teresa x

Laura and Tim 30.05.09

2009-06-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Amy and I arrived at Laura's parents house to a mass of bridesmaids and bride getting ready. Luckily Laura's dress and shoes were still untouched so Amy and I started with these...the light was great in the room so we managed to get some great shots. Laura and Tim had decided to have the reception in Laura's parents garden so we were able to capture shots of the marquee and all the decorated tables and cakes before the ceremony. Once all the bridesmaids were ready Amy and I started on their individual shots.....they were so great to shoot, making jokes and having a great time in the sun!

Once we had taken Laura's shots too, we headed over the the church to find Tim. The church grounds were gorgeous, and included a beautiful walk up to the church surrounded by trees either side....a definite shot for later I thought! The ceremony was meaningful and a happy time for the couple and as everyone came out of the church Laura and Tim were there to greet them. The sun was still shining and as we had agreed to do all the group shots at the church we started after a short time.

Once the groups shots were done, Amy and I took Laura and Tim around the back of the church to take some couple shots, as well as shooting the unique 'multiplex' shot...which worked well. We then all headed back for the reception where the couple cut the cake and had the speeches before they sat down for the meal. We left the wedding party with drink and cake in hand!
Have a fantastic honeymoon in Canada! See you when you get back.

Lauren and Amy x

Vanessa and Ben 29.05.09

2009-05-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

We arrived at Vanessa's greeted by 2 ladies and a very cute puppy. Vanessa was still at the hairdressers so Amy and I decided to crack on and start outside with the flowers, shoes and the Vanessa's two boys! The boys were a delight to photograph in their waistcoats and hats. Once Vanessa had returned we photographed her transforming into a beautiful bride.......her bright red, 'rose' shoes were amazing! We then all ventured outside for Vanessa's and the boy's individual shots....Vanessa was a little nervous about this, but after showing her a few shots she loved it.

We arrived at Northcote House and were greeted by Ben, the groom and his ushers helping each other pin their flowers on their jackets.....the bride also turned up incredibly earlier and had to wait in the car around the corner! The ceremony was full of beautiful readings, and a joy to photograph, both Vanessa and Ben seemed very happy.

The weather was gorgeous so we ventured outside for the group shots after giving the bride and groom some time with their guests. The wedding party wasn't too big so we finished the groups shots in 15 minutes, and started with the couple shots. Northcote House has a great interior and a fantastic lake so we took full advantage of this, and ended up jumping on a golf buggy down to the lake!

After the couple shots we headed back up to the House were Amy and I left Vanessa and Ben walking into their wedding breakfast greeted by a round of applause from their guests! Best of luck for the future!

Lauren and Amy x

Nadine & James 25.04.09

2009-04-26T08:37:00.000-07:00

The day started by meeting Nadine, her bridesmaids and her son Joshua at the hotel. The hotel room was filled with excitement and laughter as the girls busily got ready. Teresa and I were able to capture some great shots of the girls getting ready. Although it was a windy day we all braved it out on the very small balcony overlooking Richmond for Nadine's individual shots - it was a bit of a squeeze which all three of us out there, including a make artist!

The ceremony and reception was held at Richmond Polo Club, a club which has all the facilities for a wedding. This was a large wedding so the grounds were very much needed so all the guests could mingle. Teresa and I took 'our spots' just before the ceremony started; Teresa capturing Nadine outside the room, and myself concentrating on a nervous James and the wedding party. The ceremony was short, and simple - just want the couple wanted, but was also full of laughter!

The sun was still shining after the ceremony so the wedding party chatted outside on the lawns watching the horses and trainers. During this time we took some great candid shots of the children and guests. The tables and decorations were also unspoilt so it was a great time to capture these too! After letting the guests greet the newly married couple we started with the group shots.....and after this my favourite part - the couple shots. Time was pressing at this point, and in order not to hold the wedding breakfast up, we moved swiftly!

We have been designing a new, unique shot named the 'multiplex', which combines a series of shots to create one 'widescreen' retouched image. We haven't seen this type of image done by any other wedding photographer! Nadine and James were great during their couple shots and really didn't mind doing anything!
After photographing the funny and emotional speeches we left the happy couple with their guests to enjoy the rest of the evening. Best wishes to you both!

Lauren and Teresa x

Caroline and Lee 09.04.09

2009-04-09T22:12:00.000-07:00

The day started with a little rain but this didn't dampen the spirits of the bride who was with her bridesmaids busily getting ready at one of my favourite venues - Cain Manor. The bridal suite in Cain Manor is such a large room which is perfect for taking all types of shots, which was lucky as all the individual shots had to be done inside! Caroline didn't seem nervous at all during the preparations, as she chatted and laughed with her family.

The ceremony was very meaningful and full of happiness. Even Caroline's mother had written a poem for the special day. Everything went to plan, and by the end of the ceremony the clouds had blown over the the sun was starting to shine. Time was a little tight so we started the group shots just after everyone had walked out into the sun. The wedding party were all in high spirits and the groups shots were all done in under 15 minutes - Teresa and I then took Caroline and Lee around Cain Manor for their couple shots.

The weather was still on our side so we were able to capture some great couple shots and Caroline and Lee enjoyed it too, even Lee who hates having his photograph taken!! We always try and make it as fun as possible :)

We left the couple ready to begin their Wedding Breakfast with their guests. Caroline and Lee - have a fantastic honeymoon! We enjoyed the day as much as you, all the best for the future.

Lauren and Teresa x

Vicky & Adrian 28.03.09

2009-03-28T22:49:00.000-07:00

The wedding of Vicky and Adrian was held in the small village of Old Alresford. The couple had flown all the way from Australia to get married in front of friends and family. The morning started cloudy and damp but that didn't damped the spirits of the bride and bridesmaids as they all busily got ready for the ceremony at 2pm. After photographing the preparations and the individual portrait shots of the bridesmaids and bride Teresa and I headed to the church to meet Adrian and the guests.

The church was situated on a hill overlooking the rest of the valley where we could see some very dark clouds coming our way - not something any wedding photographer likes to see! While I waiting for the bride to arrive, Teresa was inside the church photographing the nervous groom and guests. The bride arrived a little late in a beautifully decorated camper van. The ceremony was thoughtful, fun of laughter and in places emotional, but enjoyed but all.

Outside the clouds had cleared so it was perfect for taking all the group shots - which was a little bit of a challenge while the church bells were sounding! But it didn't put anyone off and after finishing with some couple shots everyone made their way to South Winchester Golf Club for the reception.

After taking some more candid shoot during the drinks, Teresa and I left the couple walking into the wedding breakfast greeted by their guests. It was a great wedding and the weather was kind too! Best wishes to you both.

Lauren and Teresa x

Heather and David 14.03.09

2009-03-14T23:02:00.000-07:00

Teresa and I arrived at Heather's mum house in the morning where we were greeted by a big smile from her mum. Heathers hair appointment was running late so we started photographing the gorgeous dress, shoes and all the accessories. The weather was clearing after a night of rain so we used the bright weather to capture some great shots of the shoes and flowers outside. Heather finally arrived with her bridesmaids, and they all had to change into their dresses promptly ready for their individual photographs.

The church was filled to the brim as over 100 guests were attending, which created a lively and fun atmosphere. The ceremony was thoughtful and emotional. The priest (who was a biker!) allowed us to take shots from any location in the church which was fantastic. After the ceremony we were able to use the church surroundings for some shots of the couple - I loved using the textured brickwork of the church, the natural lighting available and low camera angles to create some really dramatic and romantic shots of the couple.

All the guests made their way to the Oaklands Hotel for the reception. Heather and David arrived in a open top car to be greeted by guests waiting for them outside. They gathered with their guests for half an hour or so while we photographed all the table decorations and favours, made by Heather herself! The ushers were a great help, ushering everyone outside for the group shots - and although Heather had given me quite a list of shots to photograph, we were able to get through them very quickly.

We left the happy couple to enjoy the evening with their family and friends.

It was a great day guys - congratulations to you both!

Lauren and Teresa x

09.03.09 - John Lewis Partnership Greenbee Interview

2009-03-09T08:10:00.000-07:00

The John Lewis Partnership have launched a new wedding website which is packed full of great information and ideas to help any couple planning a wedding. Their reporter asked LMP if we would like to share 5 top tips for great wedding photos.....so here they are!

1. Test your make-up.
Always have a trial run before your big day - regardless of whether you’ve organised a professional make-up artist, or decided to do it yourself.
One great tip is to apply a little extra eye make-up than normal. Eyes are a key focal point that people look at in a photograph and adding just an extra touch will really help your eyes stand out when captured on camera - rather than getting lost within the picture.

2. Don’t rush…
Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to get ready on your big day. In my experience, it’s surprisingly how many brides end up in a mad rush to change into their dress, apply last minute make-up and put on accessories. The time just before the ceremony is the ideal opportunity to catch you when you’re at your best. Your make up will be perfect, your dress pristine, and you can gather with your bridesmaids for shots your photographer won’t want to miss.

3. Talk to your venue.
Wherever you’ve chosen to get married, from a church to a listed building, try and find out the details of when your photographer will be able to take photographs. Some venue and priests can be very strict. And some may not allow photography during the whole service. It's best to let your photographer know early on about any limitations, to avoid any possible embarrassment during your day.

4. Planning a receiving line?
If you’ve got your mind set on a receiving line, don’t forget to let your photographer know when you discuss timings. Receiving lines can take up a huge amount of time, which will shorten the moments you’ll have left for other photographs. By making your photographer aware, they’ll be flexible with their timings and be able take all the photographs you want.

5. Have fun!
When choosing your photographer, don’t just look at their portfolio - think about their personality. Do you share the same sense of humour? Are you happy for them to follow you around all day? Because, apart from each other, you’ll be spending most your time with them! Recommendations are ideal, as your friends will tell you exactly what they thought. I've always found the best photographs come when we’re all laughing and having a good time.

If you wish to find out more about what Greenbee - Weddings can offer please follow this link http://weddings.greenbee.com/