Events

Choosing Your Wedding Photographer…

15th March 2017 by Nicola Rowley Photography

Dear brides and grooms to be, do you feel that choosing your wedding photographer is a really difficult decision?

In some ways it should be – as they will play one of the most important roles in your special day.

They will be with you throughout, holding your hand and ensuring that everything goes smoothly (within their power of course).

The photographs are also your lasting memory of everything; the details, your friends and families celebrating, and most importantly the two of you taking your first steps into married life.

So how do you choose?

Below are some tips on finding the photographer that’s the right fit for you.

1) Do you click?

This should always be the number one as far as I’m concerned. Your photographer has a unique position in your wedding team. They are with you from getting ready on the day, right through to the first dance and sometimes even beyond. Will they be prepared to button up your dress when your bridesmaids have already left for the wedding venue? Will they ensure your engagement ring makes it onto your finger ahead of the service, as you have forgotten and given it to your mum for safe keeping? Will they be good at calming your nerves before you meet your other half and stop you from visibly shaking? You have to trust them, have a rapport with them, and most importantly like them. If you can, have an engagement or pre-wedding shoot with your photographer. It will mean that you won’t be thinking about photography on your wedding day.

2) Do they understand light?

When I started training en route to becoming a professional photographer, I completed a course where the photographer was an advocate of seeing the light. It was a complete game changer for me. Your wedding photographs should be beautiful, no matter what the sun, rain, or wind is doing. Your photographer should know where you should stand to get the most stunning images, how to help you look your absolute best, and know how to cope with anything and everything that is thrown at them. Do they know about avoiding dappled light, how to shoot into the sun or what to do for you first dance to make it look as epic as possible?

3) Have you seen images from an entire wedding?

This is an important one as you should be able to see how an entire wedding looks from start to finish. Not just a selection of images on their website. Scrolling through their previous blog posts is a good way to see these. It will give you an idea of what they’re like as a photographer and their style. And if you particularly like something, do let them know, so that can recreate your version of it, on your wedding day.

4) Do they pay attention to detail?

I never really considered this until tasked to look for a wedding photographer. I found the choice simply overwhelming and didn’t know where to look especially as our preferred one was already booked out for our date. In the end, I found someone who had photographed at our venue before, and I got in with really well. But, and here’s the but – the only image I have of me full length in my dress and it is tucked under at the front! I just wish that he had paid more attention to detail, had spent more than 10 minutes with myself and Matt taking our couple images, and had delivered much more of what we wanted. Ask your potential photographers this – what is their background? Have they organised events, or are they used to producing videos or filming people. You should get a feel for how important they will rate being able to get the perfect images for you.

5) You should feel that it is all about you

In November, I celebrated six years of marriage with my husband and I know what a blessing it can be. I not only love photographing weddings, but I love marriage even more. To me, wedding photography is way more than just taking images. For all my couples, I want their day to be better and even more memorable because I am there serving them and capturing all of the memories that are being made. Your photographer should also be there to help make these first steps on your marriage journey that bit more special, memorable and unique for you. It’s YOUR special day, and should be celebrated as such.

Below are a selection of images from one of my all time favourite weddings at Swallows Oast in Ticehurst, East Sussex. The first few photographs were taken by a second photographer I was with on the day, and show how closely and collaboratively I work with my couples on their wedding day. The final two are some of the edited images that Darren and Kelly received as part of their collection.

I love to chat with all my couples about their special day – so if this sounds like we’re the right fit for each other, do get in touch on: 07932 656685 or email me at: nicola@nicolarowleyphotography.com

Nicola x

PS You can currently save 10% off your wedding if you book with me by 31st March 2017. Please CONTACT me for more details… x

Beating the Wedding Planning Overwhelm…(by a former bride)

5th March 2017 by Nicola Rowley Photography

Dear bride to be…

Are you starting to feel overwhelmed with planning your special day?

Do you feel as if no one understands the pressure of organising your wedding, whilst juggling a full time job and still being able to see your friends and family as you used to?

Is it all starting to get too much?

My advice to you is to take a tiny step back. Treat yourself to something that makes YOU feel good – a facial, a pedicure, a massage – anything that will take the edge off all the planning.

When and only when you’re ready to dive back in, it will help you to do so with renewed energy. In short, be kind to yourself!

Getting everything arranged for your big day can feel as if it’s all too much at times.
The good news is that your wedding team (the suppliers you have chosen) should be able to help take the pressure off.

Is your florist lovely and creative, and able to share some thoughts and suggestions with you to make things run more smoothly both before and on the day?

Does your venue have a wedding planner who can ensure that everyone is where you need them to be at any given time?

Does your photographer provide you with a timeline so that you don’t miss the best opportunities for the imagery that will be with you long after your wedding?

It’s worth also reaching out to friends and family and getting them to help too.

For instance you could assign a bridesmaid or friend of the family to make the confetti cones, an usher to choose the music for the evening reception (provided you have the same / similar taste), and an usher / bridesmaid to help arrange any group photographs on the day.

The only thing that you should be thinking about on your wedding day is YOU and your partner having the best time possible.

I have to admit, I’m a big fan of lists and this really helped me when organising our wedding.

As we booked a last minute deal, it was a very intense four months. That’s right – I did everything from start to finish in only 16 weeks! So if you have more time than this, I can assure you, you will be fine.

It helps of course that my background is event planning and that I knew exactly who to call on to help me when I needed them.

Good luck with it all – take a deep breath – you will be fine.

It will be an amazing day from start to finish.

Oh and it doesn’t matter if it rains – this is the one thing that you have absolutely no control over, so if it does – then make a thing out of it and smile. It will be so much more fun.

Trust me. In my five years of photographing weddings, my brides who have embraced the rain clouds are always the ones who enjoyed their days the most.

In November, I celebrated six years of marriage with my husband and I know what a blessing it can be.

I not only love photographing weddings, but I love marriage even more.

To me, wedding photography is way more than just taking images. For all my couples, I want their day to be better and even more memorable because I am there serving them and capturing all of the memories that are being made.

If you would like to chat further about your special day, drop me a line at HYPERLINK “mailto:nicola@nicolarowleyphotography.com” nicola@nicolarowleyphotography.com or even better pick up the phone: 07932 656685.

Congratulations again on your engagement and happy planning…

Nicola x

Thank You Engagements and Weddings…

30th December 2016 by Nicola Rowley Photography

As 2016 comes to a close, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of my lovely couples who have worked with me this year. I have been so fortunate to be able to capture so many beautiful and special moments with all of you. Here is a small collection of some of my favourite engagements and weddings. See you in 2017 for another amazing year… x

Linda and Kele’s Stunning Wedding at Burhill Golf Club, Walton-on-Thames

25th September 2016 by Nicola Rowley Photography

After our epic engagement photoshoot in central London at the start of the year, I literally couldn’t wait for Linda and Kele’s wedding.

They were married at St John’s Church in Hampton Wick and the reception followed at the stunning Burhill Golf Club in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey. Now I know that I’m biased as I’m a preferred supplier, but it really is such a beautiful venue, tucked away in the Surrey countryside just on the outskirts of the village of Hersham.

As expected, with the majority of their guests having flown into the UK just for their special day it was a truly international affair and a real mix of African and German.

Linda looked absolutely gorgeous in her dress, and had really thought through all of the finer details including her something old and borrowed (a watch that used to belong to her grandad), and her something blue, a beautiful named garter.

The flowers were provided by the super talented Kate from Lily and Myrtle who I highly recommend, and were a perfect blend of blue and white, complementing the bridesmaid dresses and the colour scheme.

Kele looked effortlessly stylish in his black tux, and really rocked his arrival in his car with the roof down, sat next to his brother and best man Chiji.

The whole day was full of plenty of laughter and a few (happy) tears along the way.

It was such a special occasion for a really special couple.

Congratulations again Linda and Kele and I’m so glad that you love your photos… x

Essex Wedding Venue Leez Priory Where It All Began For Me…

27th August 2016 by Nicola Rowley Photography

Almost six years ago, I was fortunate enough to marry Matt at the gorgeous wedding venue, Leez Priory, just outside of Chelmsford in Essex.

So when Debbie contacted me and said that she and James were getting married at Leez Priory, I was beyond excited.

It was such an amazing experience stepping back through the beautiful panel oaked doors, but this time as a photographer rather than a bride.

From start to finish it was a great day. The sun shone so that Debbie and James could get married outdoors.

Sue, the venue’s wedding planner was great at making sure that everything ran like clockwork. The team who worked alongside her, made sure that everything was beautiful beautiful, and as Debbie and James had envisaged.

It really brought back all of my happy memories from our amazing wedding.

Thank you Debbie and James for having me play such a key role in your special day. I’m so glad that you love your photographs.

And thank you Leez Priory my number one favourite wedding venue (and yes I know I’m biased but it does have to be seen to be believed).

Nicola x

Epic London Engagement Photography with Linda and Kele

15th March 2016 by Nicola Rowley Photography

I’m really fortunate to work with clients who truly value photography. Take Linda and Kele for instance, whose wedding I’ll be photographing in August of this year at Burhill Golf Club in Walton-on-Thames, where I’m a preferred supplier. Excited? Just a little – especially if their epic London engagement photoshoot is anything to go by!

As many of their friends and family will be travelling from abroad for their special day, they wanted their engagement photography to reflect the capital, so they can use them for their save the date cards.

To avoid crowds and get the best images on a Sunday meant an early start. So we left Esher at 5am and headed into London together.

Not only had they planned the route meticulously (as they knew all the key landmarks they wanted featured), but they’d taken on board my wardrobe advice, and had changes of outfit with them so their images look lovely and fresh for each area that we visited.

Our route took in Albert Bridge at 5:45am, the Embankment, Tower Bridge and the Mayor of London’s HQ, further along the South Bank, Westminster Bridge and Westminster, Buckingham Palace and St James’s Park before we ended up at St Paul’s Cathedral. Phew!

It was absolutely freezing, but a perfect morning with the winter sun shining brightly. How Linda managed to keep a smile on her face throughout, and whilst wearing open toed shoes and sandals, I have no idea. But like I say, it’s a telling sign of a couple who really value photography… x

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