My First Wedding Fair - 31st October 2010

Never have had a halloween so scary!

I did attend a couple of wedding fairs before I got married and although I picked up on some ideas I never actually booked any of the suppliers I met. Why I thought it would be different the other way round.

I was contacted by a wedding fair company that I won't name some months ago. I'd never done a wedding fair before, but as I was asked and it was local to home I thought it was worth doing, as a learning experience more than anything.

It was certainly a learning experience. It was very quiet as wedding fairs go and possibly because there seem to be so many going on in the area, but a good experience and one that's put me off them, probably for quite some time.

There was a lot of competition. Despite being told they had only booked 4 photographers for the show (compared with the two florists, two cake suppliers, one make up artist etc), there were actually 7 companies/people offering photography services. A couple of video companies wh do phtography on the side, but had booked as videographers and even the chocolate fountain company who offer photograhpy too!

The best expereience of the day was speaking to some of the other suppliers and finding out about their past experiences of wedding fairs and most of the responses I got was that suppliers hate them and don't really get a lot of business out of them.

My conclusion is that they are just a money making event for wedding show organisers and I think I will stick to getting my business through word of mouth and local advertising.

Lesson learnt.

Shannon and Stuart's Wedding 23.10.2010

Was really excited about Shannon and Stuart's wedding yesterday. It was my first that didn't come through a personal recommendation. They found me through a google advert.


It was also a last minute booking, only booked 6 weeks ago, out of the blue. A nice way to get business.


It was also a great experience to be working for someone I don't know and have no connection with. There's still the added pressure of getting it right and getting the job done but not the recommendation pressure. I also enjoyed the thrill of someone liking my work and booking me off their own back without the doing a favor for a friend.


First thing I did yesterday morning was look out of the window first thing and it was pooring with rain. I've been pretty lucky so far and only had one where it rained briefly and didn't really effect the day at all. I was concerned about light yesterday. I prefer to shoot without flash for weddings wherever possible and that's easy when it's brilliant sunshine and clear blue skies.


It seems that I didn't need to worry, despite having heavy rain, we also had brilliant sunshine and timed rather well when we came out of the church.

They were a very naturally smiley couple which made my life easier, but one of the bridesmaids decided once they'd come out of the church that she'd had enough and wasn't going to smile any more. By the end of the shoot she was frowning with arms crossed and not any amount of bribery was going to make her smile.

Really pleased witht the images though. A great wedding.

Dennis Stock

It seems strange that the first thing I've read about Dennis Stock is his obitury. When looking on the internet for some of his images I feel I already know him. I'm so familiar with some of them.

I'd seen his images of James Dean that Stock took of him before. The images were taken just before Dean died and became imortalised. There's still such a mystic around James Dean, would he have become the amazing actor that people had hoped for, or was it inevitable that Dean would meet an early end. His wild child lifestyle certainly would have had an impact. We'll never know, but these images I think add to the mystery around Dean. He comes across as a lonely soul and this images of him walking through Time Square in the pouring rain, he doesn't look approachable.

I guess because the rain is so heavy the background of the image looks like it could almost be a film set on a Hollywood lot. The foregroundreally draws my eye, particulary the reflection of Dean in the pool of water on the pavement.

The figure of James Dean looks to be striding towards the camera, hunching and hurrying to get out of the rain.

The black railings on the right hand side of the image also take my eye into the distance, but then immediately brought back by the figure of Dean, who seems larger than life amongst the buildings.

Lewis W Hine

Lewis W Hine.

We've had a Lewis W Hine photograph on our living room wall for years 'Workmen eating lunch on the 69th floor'. I bought it for my husband Adam as it had always been a photograph he'd liked and with him working in construction he found the image fascinating.

I love this photograph for several reasons, but mainly for the balls to get up there with the construction workers to get this shot. However having read up on Hine, this was probably a far easier shot to achieve then many he'd taken before.

I look at it often and it never ceases to amaze or intrigue me. He only agreed to take the photos of the construction of the building as he needed the money. This is just one of many images Hine took during the construction.

His passion was with social documentary and spent years photographing child labour across America. Sometimes to gain access he would lie about who he was, an insurance agent or fire safety official were among his guises. Child labour was a major issue and Hine became a member of the National Child Labour Committee. He used his skills as a photographer to shock America into seeing what was going on in the factories.

Turning children into little old men and women.

A poster designed by Hine.

In 1903 Hine takes a series of photogaphs on Ellis Island of immigrants arriving in America.

In 1932 produces a book of images called 'Men at Work, an illustrated book for young people'.

Looking through a brief catologue of Hine's work it's clear his passion was people and real lives. Showing America and the world the not so pretty side of construction, living and working environments.

Assignment 1: Contrast

Really excited to start my first assignment (is that a bit sad?) It was suggested to go through my stock of images to see if I could find any contrast images in those. Really good excuse to look back through my images and was a nice reminder of shoots gone by.

Also started trying to be more observant of surroundings. Another suggestion of the course to look for suitable locations for photo shoots. Started carrying around a notebook for when I get ideas for locations or just other general photo ideas.

Day 2: Had a busy day at work and attended the pass out parade of our disabled young men who have been working with the London Fire Brigade for the past week. They were all amazing and had to fight back the tears.

I've started on my student profile which I need to send through to my tutor. I think he's going to get my whole life story at this rate.

BA Hons Photography

So it's day one of my BA Hons Photography degree.

I've seen in the paperwork that it's a good idea to keep a blog, so here it is.

I tried once before, but never got round to keeping it up.

So day one. I got my course documents this morning. Very exciting. Was all wrapped up in red tissue paper inside the box. Was like opening a present.

Had a quick look at my first assignment 'Contrast'. A really good topic and already have lots of ideas running through my head. Will get started on it this weekend. Have lots of reading to do.