We set off up Box Hill in the afternoon sun. When photographing Marley I find it a great benefit if I take along some treats to get his attention. I’m convinced he’s become indignant at being used as my personal guinea pig. None the less, the show must go on. Using a large aperture makes getting the eyes in focus a relatively tricky task, especially considering that Marley doesn’t hold a pose for any decent stretch of time. Fortunately the 1D MKIII allows you to make micro adjustments for each lens you attach. I was therefore able to compensate for his nose getting into focus, blurring his eyes by making the necessary adjustments. As we know a picture speaks a thousand words, so I’ve attached a few thousand words of Marley.

The condensed version would be as follows:
What an amazing lens.
The Bokeh is marvelously creamy , focusing is relatively fast while the image is sharp even when the aperture is wide open. I’m certainly looking forward to getting the most out of this lens whenever the opportunity presents itself. Once again, for its intended purpose, it is only restricted in its capacity by the limitations of the user.

Chanelle: Some fun names I found about Poodle Crosses on ChoosingADogBreed
There are many Poodle Mix Dogs. Here at ChoosingADogBreed we have compiled a list of some of our favourites:

* St Berdoodle (St Bernard / Standard Poodle)
* Giant Schnoodle (Giant Schnauzer / Standard Poodle)
* Bossi-Poo (Boston Terrier / Poodle)
* Pootalian (Italian Greyhound / Poodle) – That’s Marley!
* Westiepoo, pictured above (West Highland Terrier / Poodle)
* Whoodle (Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier / Poodle)
* Weimardoodle (Weimaraner / Poodle)
* Sheepadoodle (Old English Sheepdog / Standard Poodle)
* Shih-Poo (Shih-Tzu / Poodle)
* Pekapoo (Pekingese / Poodle)
* Labradoodle (Labrador / Poodle)

The first thought that spead it’s way through my mind was “What in the world am I going to wear?”

I have been so busy over the past two weeks that I wouldn’t have had time to go up to London to find a new outfit. I trawled through my cupboard and found a suitable pair of high black heels with a big wooden wedge – those would do nicely.

Yesterday I headed into Dorking to our little vintage shop called Shrewd. The shop assistant, who is also a fine art student promptly told me that they are featured in the back of this month’s issue of Vogue magazine. She nearly fell over backwards when I told her why I was looking for a classic LBD (little black dress). She picked out the perfect fit for me, a vintage Frank Usher. It’s one of those dresses that doesn’t look like much on the hanger but once you try it on you see the shape and it was the one. Lucky for me I found something as time was running out! It was boiling hot yesterday. We have been having a very long spell of lovely hot, sunny weather here in the UK so I decided to treat myself and go into the hairdressers and have an “up do”.

After getting the invite I did a Google search for Phillips De Pury and it came up with The Saatchi Gallery, so this is where I duly headed off to when I arrived in London. I walked up and saw that there was something going on for sure. I approached the woman at the door with the guest list and my name was nowhere to be found! After a quick chat she said to me “Don’t worry I will just write your name on here and you can go in anyway.”

So it seems that if you put in a bit of effort and dress up you could pretty much get in anywhere in London! Turns out there is another Phillips De Pury about a 10 minute cab ride away. Oops! When I arrived the Paps where lining the streets waiting for the celebs to arrive. This time my name WAS on the guest list. I had found the right place.

I did spot a few celebrities including: Kate Moss, Mario Testino, Graham Norton, Stella McCartney and Donatella Versace.

The few pictures that I took here are from my Blackberry phone. Not the best quality but it shows off a bit of the party. The 3rd shot shows Kate Moss in her LBD with sky high Christian Louboutins talking to Graham Norton.

Professional Celebrity Pictures:
showbiz.sky.com/kates-big-night
justjared.buzznet.com

I have known Rosie for a few years now and she even came along and shot a wedding with me at Audley End House when I was in a bind. She has made fantastic contacts during her career and is now sharing knowledge with fellow photographers on her Photography Parlour website.

What a lovely group of friendly, positive photographers all eager to get out and practice their craft with a choice of 8 models and a variety of outfits. We had great fun and the best part was putting faces to names of photographers, some of whom I have been friends with on Facebook and Twitter for a long time now. I also made some brand new connections which is what a day like this is all about.

To give you an idea of how it worked, we where split into groups of about 5 photographers with one team leader who was responsible for getting everyone back to the The Harmony II luxury yaucht which was “base camp” for us for the day (oh, how the other half live!). Each of us had the opportunity to shoot 3 different models in 3 unique outfits and 3 hair & make-up looks. Each photographer in the group had a few minutes to direct the model while the others could shoot from a different angel. The shots here of Miss Cherry Delight where a sneaky grab shot that I did of another group when they muscled in on our model, just a bit of fun. We had a break for lunch and then a few of us went out for dinner and a couple of drinks at the end of a very productive day, if I do say so myself!

The photographs featured here are of Burlesque Model Miss Cherry Delight as well as some Behind The Scenes shots of Craig and I shooting taken by Rosie Parsons, Antonina Photography and Dasha of Exhibit Emotions.

Full Credits:

Venue: The Harmony II http://www.harmonyyachtclub.com/
Dresses http://www.vintagedress.co.uk/
China and table styling http://www.vintageteasets.co.uk

Flowers: Floriture http://www.floriture.com
Catering: McBaile http://www.mcbaile.com/
Cakes: Sheona’s of Cake Matters http://www.cakematters.co.uk/

Makeup:
Lilly MUA http://www.modelmayhem.com/1075740
Heather Talbot http://www.modelmayhem.com/1192627
Cat Parnell http://www.catparnell.tk/
Sara Friar http://www.heygorgeous.me.uk/bodypainting.html

Models:
Silvi http://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/1216312/0
Clara B http://www.modelmayhem.com/1417038
Nat http://www.modelmayhem.com/1363531
Miss Cherry Delight (Gemma) http://www.modelmayhem.com/1663173
Siobhan http://www.modelmayhem.com/1519392
Sara Friar http://www.heygorgeous.me.uk/bodypainting.html
Janka http://www.modelmayhem.com/1556691

Flickr Group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/thephotographyparlour/

The Prophet:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit,
not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness

For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.
- Khalil Gibran, The Prophet

We met up with a number of fellow professional wedding photographers, some of which we had met before and some for the first time. During one of the many shared discussions it came to my attention that we are probably one of the few industries who would get together with those who are “competitors” to us. The truth is we can gain more from aligning ourselves with other photographers, refer weddings to one another and help out in times of emergency. Networking with people online is great, but nothing can beat face to face meet-ups where you get to know people on a personal level.

Charley Beard from London Bride has featured our work on her blog post: Fashion Shoot in the past and it was great to finally meet her in person.

I have to also mention my friend and teacher Julia Boggio who is running some fantastic courses in her London studio. I have attended some of them myself and would highly recommend anything given by Julia & James – a wealth of information!

I cannot stress the importance of networking with other like minded vendors in your industry. Facebook and Twitter are great for making initial contact with people, but nothing can beat meeting face to face and getting to know one another a bit better. I have many stories about how it can be a benefit to befriend other wedding photographers – it may seem a bit odd as they could be viewed as competition. We refer weddings to one another if we are already booked and were fortunate to have this happen to us recently when we booked a wedding near Cape Town through wedding photographer in South Africa.

That’s me in the first shot with the gold top on, mid conversation – explaining something very important no doubt!

To see the full article plus credits of each and every person who was there, from wedding photographers to DJ’s, bridal bloggers and wedding planners – pop over to Kat’s blog post: Rocknrollbride Get Together

As well as covering the wedding in Hermanus, we really wanted to explore the greater Cape Town area and did not have nearly enough time to successfully see and do all that was on offer. So much so that we extended our stay an extra day to try squeeze a little more from our gracious host. Another must do is obviously take in some of the magnificent beaches the Cape region has to offer, and one worth particular mention in Llandudno. I have been fortunate enough to bear witness to rather lush beaches in my travels, but none as picturesque as Llandudno. A relatively small beach flanked on either side by large well rounded boulders with a view of the ever present mountain overlooking the beach. The Atlantic Ocean enveloping the beach is a wonderful turquoise colour, albeit a little chilly, but does tick an important box by being a top notch surfing beach. The houses situated in Llandudno are similarly impressive which must boast some of the most spectacular views the world over.

Another must do is the drive along Chapman’s Peak. Chapman’s Peak Drive winds it way between Noordhoek and Hout Bay. Situated on the Atlantic Coast, at the south-western tip of South Africa, it is one of the most spectacular marine drives anywhere in the world.

Unfortunately we did not make it up Table Mountain. The “Cape Doctor” ensured that the top of the mountain was covered in cloud whenever we were in the vicinity. We did however get a good view from The V&A Waterfront. A few words of advice passed onto me before departing for Cape Town where: “If wake up in the morning and the mountain’s clear, change whatever plans you had and get yourself up the mountain.”
- Craig

Photographs shown here feature the rustic Beaumont Estate, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Llandudno Beach & Hout Bay – by Craig and Chanelle

While living in South Africa I must admit that I rather naively did not take advantage of the fairest Cape of them all. During my time in the Air-Force I was deployed all over the country, but nowhere you might find on a tourist brochure.
Chanelle and I have always wanted to visit Cape Town and experience the mother city for ourselves.

We were warned beforehand that the weather can be temperamental. After enduring another UK winter it was all rather like telling a Bedouin Arab that the Bahamas gets rather warm. We were fortunate enough however to enjoy rather pleasant climes. Traveling home each year, Cape Town never managed to register on our radar because of the sheer logistics involved. This time however we were extremely fortunate to be offered a wedding near Hermanus at a place called Grootbos. We grabbed the opportunity with both hands and subsequently announced our good fortune to a few friends on Facebook. Once again fortune smiled upon us and one of our photographer friends who we met though Facebook and spent some time with in Mauritius where she resides, Jean Garrett, offered us the use of her family holiday home in Kleinmond. Jean also shoots weddings in the Cape when visiting friends and family.

There are basically two ways to and from Cape Town from Kleinmond. You can either travel along the coastal road and take the road onto the N2 from Gordon’s Bay or you can get straight onto the N2 from Kleinmond and go over Sir Lowry’s Pass. The N2 is faster and coming down Sir Lowry’s Pass is rather pleasing to the eye, but personally I preferred the coastal road, which really does hug the coastline. I was quite surprised with how barren much of the coastal region was, with a few elegant houses dotted amongst boulder-laden landscapes.
- Craig

Photos seen here are of the False Bay Area, including Boulders Bay where you can view the Penguins living in the wild. Images by Craig & Chanelle

Not a wedding that we have shot (as they have featured in the past), but our real wedding in South Africa. Things got busy as we shot four winter weddings over December and January (still have one more to post on the blog) and I finally got down to the extensive Questionnaire. It was fun. I enjoyed reliving the planning of my wedding. I honestly loved every minute of it and would give anything to go back. Obviously this is due to my Dad still being around at that time and I am just so grateful that he was there to give me away. To read the full story please head on over to the Rock My Wedding blog.

The Queen Bee Of Cool……part 1

The Queen Bee Of Cool……part 2