xmlns:fb='http://www.facebook.com/2008/fbml' Welcome to the blog of international award winning wedding photojournalist Ian MacMichael: March 2013

Saturday 23 March 2013

West Tower Bridal shoot...

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Last week we were part of the amazing West Tower's Bridal Fayre. We have worked very closely with The West Tower over the last couple of years and it's always great to spend some time there. While we were there, we got together with Duncan from L'Hairport, Sam from Ruby Slippers make up and Geraldine from Belle's Bridal Boutique for a quick photo-shoot with models Sarah and Laura.

I really wanted to get a "film noir" style to the images, not only all black and white, but more of a feel of that look rather than a direct use of it... and to help do that used a simple one light set up with the Lowel iD light. This is a continuous light mainly used by videographers, but it gave us exactly the light we wanted for the images.

Here is a video and some stills from the shoot. As usual, the video is best viewed in full HD, so please select 720p, let it load for a minute then sit back and enjoy.......

























Thursday 21 March 2013

Vicki and Ashley pre wedding shoot...

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It was great to meet up again with Vicki and Ashley last weekend and shoot their pre wedding images. We first met up in 2011 when they booked us for their wedding, one of the first things they sorted out! We met them at Allerton Towers, a venue we have used before but not for over a year..it was good to go up there again!

When we met up it was just starting to rain and we feared the worse...however, the rain wasn't that heavy, although we did put the flash in a little carrier bag coat to keep it from the worst of the rain, though the soft box did get a good soaking.

Vicki and Ashley were happy to soldier on despite the conditions and we had a great time exploring parts of the park we hadn't really used before.

We are really happy with the images we made....again reinforcing our belief in the fact that, when there is a good relationship between the couple and the photographers, then it's all the easier, not to mention more fun, to get some stunning images....

For the photographers, all images were shot on Nikon D700 and D3s with some off camera flash using a Nikon SB900 in a Photoflex extra small octadome triggered by the PocketWizard flex system...and all processed in Lightroom 4 using VSCO packs 1 and 2 as the starting points....

The video is quite long (well, only around 4 mins like...) and is best viewed in HD (720p), so please select that oprion and give it a minute to load....enjoy!



 






















Sunday 17 March 2013

The Run Away Bride shoot...

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After months of thinking and planning, we finally pulled off the "run Away Bride" shoot we have been wanting to do so much!

It was a really great day with lots of laughs, some rain, some snow, cups of tea and coffee and even hot water bottles!!

I had the idea of a story based on a bride going to her wedding, but then, at the last minute, deciding she was making a terrible mistake...she would run away from it all rather than just go through with it to please everyone....

We asked a couple of our friends, whose wedding we have photographed, to be our models and they very kindly, and bravely!!, agreed to get on board. We also asked Kate of KS Make -Up if she would do the hair and make up, she agreed and things started to come together.
I had the idea for ages about doing the shoot in a local cemetery, so next on the list was writing to get permission, which, I'm delighted to say, came through.  We were all set!

We met up a couple of times before the day so we could chat through the ideas and the story and how I saw the shoot panning out..even after listening to my far out ideas and concepts, they all were still up for it, so the date was set....no running away!!

We met up on the Saturday morning and, in spite of the forecast for sun, it was cold and grey.  While the girls got on with hair and make up, myself and Graeme, our very good friend, and partner in Red7 Media, went up to the cemetery to set up the gear. He also shot some video which looks amazing and will be coming soon....

I'm pleased to say that we had no interruptions at all on the day and did our best to be discrete and respectful. In fact, the only problem was the bitter cold and the snow flurries!

I have to say that Ellie and Kathryn were absolutely magnificent! They never moaned about the cold, totally threw themselves in to the shoot and kept going all day. This meant spells just sitting in the back of the car waiting and getting cold! They also both looked absolutely fantastic!

Thankfully, Hazel, the brains behind the whole operation, had made a great pic-nick with loads of sandwiches, flasks of hot tea and coffee and had even thought on to bring hot water bottles! She even nipped home to get hot water refills...amazing. Not only that, she also, as usual, got some amazing shots on the day.

I could not have asked for more from anyone, you were all awesome!
Thank yo so much for coming along on the day, really understanding the concept and for giving it your all...
Ellie and Kathryn, you were awesome and looked totally stunning!
Graeme, thanks for you great ideas and input, you kept things ticking along
Kate you did a brilliant job and understood the look right from the start and got it spot on, thank you!
And, of course, Hazel...couldn't have done it without you!xx

I couldn't be happier with the images and really hope I have done everyone proud with them and you all like them and that enjoyed the day..I'm already thinking of some new ideas for our next shoots together!!

I'm going to split the post into 2 parts...

Part One: At The Church....

Part Two: On The Run...

But before that, here is a selection of images from the whole day....