As you may be aware, Maria Calton Photography has been rebranded!
We have a new logo, new brochures, new products and a new website!
This blog has now moved to the new website to keep everything in the one place, so if you would like to continue to follow my blog, you can do this on the new website.
Simply go to www.mariacaltonphotography.co.uk and click on BLOG on the main menu.
Thanks to everyone that has followed my blog this far and I hope you will continue to on the new website.
I met up with Janine and Chris at Conisbrough Castle for their Pre-Wedding shoot to get them used to the camera. Now I’ve known Janine for quite a long time and I’m quite aware she’s not a big fan of too much cheese. She also said she was fine to kiss Chris, but weren’t too bothered about looking at him LOL….well they have been together for 21 years!!
Chris seemed a little shy and this was the first time I’d met him so understandably so. But after 5 minutes in front of the camera – he had moves like Jagger, totally working it and obviously had been practising in front of the mirror!
Janine had absolutely no issues, she was the perfect model in every way, knew exactly what she was doing….I have high expectations of the wedding day now 🙂
Becky and Lee’s wedding was one of the weddings I was really excited about but at the same time quite nervous about – mainly as it was forecast heavy rain all day and they wanted quite a lot of group shots.
I got to the Midland hotel early on the Saturday morning in Manchester to find Becky and the girls on Malibu shots discussing fifty shades of Grey (A book which Becky had been bought for her honeymoon); needless to say it was an interesting morning 😉
I got some great shots of the girls being airbrushed before driving across to St Phillips church to Meet Lee and his groomsmen.
The guys were game for a laugh and we had a good time getting some different styled shots.
The ceremony was really beautiful, Lee was quite emotional when his daughters walked down the aisle to Forrest Gump and Becky looked absolutely stunning as they said their vows.
Afterwards we headed to Buille Hill, Lee & Becky in their fabulous White Taxi and the bridal party in their big red bus where the party really started…
It really was an amazing day 🙂
Sharon and Dave’s wedding totally reflected their personalities. It was relaxed, informal, fun and easy going.
Meeting Sharon the morning of her wedding, she was so relaxed, sat having laugh with the girls, not even remotely stressed. Neither was Dave when I found him in the bar, as long as he could take his pint, he was pretty much up for any kind of shot, so we had a bit of fun 😉
The ceremony was held in the Qube at Burntwood Court and looked stunning. Very strange for me as the last time I was there was when it was the Night Owl (good memories).
It was a beautiful day and it managed to rain around the photos – which worked out well.
Big thanks to Sharon and Dave for letting me be a part of their special day 🙂
A Photobooth is available as an additional extra at any wedding. They usually take place as your evening reception begins after the bride and groom have took to the floor for their first dance and makes for a very entertaining evening.
It’s a great opportunity for your friends and family, adults and kids to get a little wild and crazy and make your evening truly memorable. 😉
We set up in a corner with lights and a background and plenty of props such as hats, masks, moustaches, oversized specs, feather boas etc and snap away as guests take turns in the booth. It’s great entertainment for any party!
To have this additional extra its £200 for 2 hours and all photos taken on the night will be presented on a DVD slideshow set to music.
The photos will then be uploaded to a private online gallery where you and your guests can order prints to be delivered directly to your door.
***SPECIAL OFFER***
Every Photobooth booked by the 31st July will receive a Hi-Res Disc of images from your Photobooth session for you to print from and a set of Lo-Res images to use on social networking sites – all worth £220!!
Just pop your details on the form below for more information or to book 🙂
Terms & Conditions
The Photobooth must be booked and booking fee paid before the 31st July to qualify for a free disc. The date for the Photobooth taking place must be in 2012 or 2013 only.
Just had to share a couple of newborn shoots with you!
Two adorable little girls Mollie & Lily.
Both very well behaved and a joy to photograph.
Lily arrived into the world very early and as I’d already booked in the shoot with her mum, we could easily slide the shoot to an earlier date 🙂
Lily was only 13 days old when we did the shoot but she was sooo tiny being so early 🙂
Mollie was quite late when she was born but at 15 days old – she could pose like a pro (and slept through the entire shoot lol).
Newborn shoots are still available and generally done within the first 14 days to get that posy, dreamy state but please try to book these in advance in the late stages of pregnancy to guarantee a date for your shoot (this can be changed if baby is early/late).
If you leave it to book once your baby is born, a booking cannot be guaranteed as we only have a 14 day window after birth. 🙂
To book email me at: info@mariacaltonphotography.co.uk
I met with Rowena early in the morning at her house for bridal prep; she was perfectly calm but excited.
Even though it’s been 15 years since I’ve known her, she hasn’t changed a bit so I felt really comfortable with her, like I’d known her the entire time. Rowena is very laid back and doesn’t tend to get stressed easily, the ideal bride really 🙂
Rowena looked stunning in her gorgeous dress from Bellissimo with a hint of pregnancy from her tiny bump at 4 months 🙂
I stayed with Rowena until her finishing touches were done and then drove to Tankersley Manor to meet with Scott and his groomsmen.
They all looked very dapper and even showed a bit of leg for the photos until Rowena arrived 😉
The ceremony was really beautiful and when Rowena said her vows and promised to be faithful, she really gave this some thought before laughter ran out, it was a very funny moment, but she got there! Nerves aside 😉
The weather was forecast to throw it down so whilst we had a few minutes, we nipped to a nearby field to get a couple of bride & groom shots and also sink into quick-sand-like sludge (well, I did anyway) 😉
Within minutes of getting back, it decided to throw it down so we all piled indoors where I’d set up lights to take some group shots, before heading into the main hall for speeches and the meal.
After announcing that they will be having a baby girl in the speeches (which caused uproar in the tear department), they ate, got merry and proceeded with the first dance whilst I surprised them with an evening slideshow of images I had took in the day. It all went down a storm so we finished off the evening with fun and frivolity in a Photobooth.
Big thanks to Scott & Rowena for letting me be a part of their big day 🙂
And a few from the Photobooth 🙂
It’s not easy finding a suitable Wedding Photographer, and after the post I read on Facebook of Worst Wedding Photos Ever! I’ve devised a list of things you could ask your potential Photographer.
Below are questions I tend to get asked a lot by couples at Wedding consultations and questions in my opinion, I feel everyone should ask, some are more important than others.
The main reason couples tend to book me is because they are firstly happy with my work and secondly, they feel very comfortable around me and if I were getting married these would be the things I would look at too.
Hope it helps.
Can we meet you for a chat before we book?
This is an absolute essential. Most photographers will arrange this anyway but this will give you chance to discuss everything in detail and make sure they can cover all your photographic needs and give you chance to make sure they are the right photographer for you.
How much experience do you have at shooting weddings?
You need to know if this photographer has any experience or if this is their first time. Weddings give you only one chance of getting it right and it has to be right first time as there are no second chances, experience can play a big part in this, the photographer has to anticipate moments throughout the day to capture the essence and the emotion of the day, they need to know how to deal with large numbers of people and style group shots quickly and efficiently so that no-one is waiting around all day. Lighting is a huge part of your photographs, for example if you were getting married in late December when its dark or the church is lit only by candle light, they need to have the equipment that can still take amazing photos even under those circumstances.
How would you define your style?
You need to know if their style will cover what you want. You may want group shots doing but the photographer’s style may only be reportage and don’t cover that aspect. Make sure all of your needs will be met.
Can you show me a complete wedding album?
Photos you may see on their website may only be their favourite photos or they might be photos from a modelling shoot with a mock bride and groom, this can be misleading so make sure you see a full wedding album so you know what the finished product will look like.
Am I meeting with the person who will be taking photos at my wedding? If not, can I meet with the photographer assigned to my wedding?
Some companies outsource work so you want to ensure you are speaking to the actual photographer who is shooting your wedding. The relationship between the bride and groom and their wedding photographer is very important so it is essential that you meet the photographer who will be shooting your wedding day.
Are you insured?
Insurance I feel is necessary. Accidents can and do happen at weddings; therefore it’s essential for your photographer to be fully covered should anything go wrong. The insurance they should have is Public Liability and Professional Indemnity cover.
Is my wedding the only one he/she will be shooting that day?
If you only need your photographer for a couple of hours then this isn’t too important but if you’ve booked them for most of the day and they have to rush off to another wedding for say an evening reception, they may miss important events if the schedule is running late.
Do you have a backup plan for situations like rain, illness, camera faults etc?
Most Photographers have a plan for if it rains such as lighting equipment to shoot indoors and if the photographer falls ill there should be a contingency plan in place. Your photographer should always have a backup camera.
Can I see a copy of your contract?
It is essential that you read the contract and understand it fully before paying a deposit as most deposits are generally non-refundable, most photographers will give you a copy to read at a consultation if you are looking to book them.
Questions to ask yourself:
This is very important as they are going to be spending the whole day with you so you need to feel comfortable with them.
What about copyright, can I get my own prints made?
If the wedding overruns, are there any extra charges?
How long after the wedding do we get to see our wedding photographs?
Do you require a deposit and when is the balance due?
How long will I be able to order prints etc from you after the wedding?
Do you back up our images?
These questions are purely my own opinion and based on my experience.
If you would like to discuss your wedding photography with me, then please get in touch at info@mariacaltonphotography.co.uk
I met Rowena when I was sixteen and we were at college together doing the same Art & Design course. I haven’t seen her since then but I can honestly say that she hasn’t changed a bit, she hasn’t even aged…unlike the rest of us! ; LOL.
Well, Rowena needed a Wedding Photographer, enter facebook and here we are doing the Pre-Wedding shoot 😉
Rowena was up for anything, happy to try anything new and a pleasure to work with, Scott was a bit nervous, he’s just like me – he prefers to be behind the camera and not in front of it LOL. Not that you would have guessed from seeing the photos, totally working those boyish good looks!
I also got to meet their son, Joseph, now I have to say I’ve never done a Pre-Wedding shoot with children as well as the bride and groom, but he was so good, he helped with my camera, played hide and seek whilst we took some shots and even got in on the action himself! Such a sweetie!
All excited now for the Wedding at Tankersley Manor! ….Fingers crossed for a dry day 😉
And Here’s one of the lovely Joseph 🙂
A brand new bundle of joy being born is always a precious and exciting time for any family and now you can capture those precious moments through a newborn session that will give you lifelong memories.
The first two weeks in a baby’s life are the perfect time for capturing those dreamy and beautiful newborn photos. At this age, they can be posed while they are sound asleep so you’ll get a far wider range of photos for you than would normally be possible with older babies.
These shoots take place in the comfort of your own home, using natural light where possible with Mum and Dad involved throughout.
I’ll try to vary the shoot by using different positions, different backgrounds and a variety of newborn hats/headbands.
Each session includes a free print and all images will be beautifully displayed on a DVD slideshow set to music.
Not only will I be doing Newborn shoots, I also have packages that will capture your baby’s first year in photos, this also comes with a DVD slideshow set to music so you can literally watch your baby’s first year on your TV and watch them grow up!
If booking a Newborn shoot, please contact me in the final stages of your pregnancy and I’ll arrange a shoot around a week after your due date, please don’t leave it till after you have given birth to book as I cannot guarantee a date will be free. If you have booked then gone past your due date or given birth early we can always rearrange the shoot. 🙂
For more information or if you would like a price list please email me at info@mariacaltonphotography.co.uk or get in touch via Facebook 🙂
Maria Calton Photography 