Real Weddings; Jen and Chris

A big thank you to Libra Photographics for sharing this beautiful wedding. I love the bridesmaid dresses and the cars are amazing ;0)

I met Jen when my Daughter was born... literally, she was my midwife! Whilst my other half was having contractions in Poole hospital I started chatting about what I do for a living and found out Jen was getting married, offering her a good deal as a thank you for looking after my two girls seemed like the right thing to do, and I'm glad I did as this was a great, fun, wedding.

Turning up at the house for the preparations I quickly realised that Jen was uber organised along with her two bridesmaids, one of which I am photographing her wedding in October, when all the details had been nicely presented and thought out, instead of the usual stuff thrown all over the bed and dress in a bag. This was a pleasant surprise and allowed me more time to focus on the job in hand (I usually end up giving mirrors a quick wipe etc).

Jen  had picked out some beautiful dresses for her bridesmaids, a fifties look which looked great on her bridesmaids, I couldn't miss the shot of these two sat on the chaise longue looking twee to compliment the fifties look. I have to say one of the things I like about Parley Manor is the waiting area whist the bride is with the registrar, a large bay windowed drawing room flooded with light. Always makes for a few great shots before the ceremony kicks off after a short walk down the garden. to where a nervous Chris was waiting.

Jen and Chris have a passion for cars, a certain make of cars, Lotus. Although Jen turned up in a Rolls Royce, the guests had turned up in their lotuses, including the groom. I could not resist the urge to get these cars lined up outside Parley Manor for a few shots in the sun. I'm sure you'll agree it was worth it!

More information on Libra photographics is below:

I graduated with a BA(hons) degree in photography 1997, and worked in photography ever since. I started Libra Photographics in 2000 with medium format film gear going digital in 2004. I do miss the days of film but digital has bought a whole lot of extras with it. I am a bit of a control freak so it is nice to be in control from start to finish.

Based in Poole Dorset my local area is Hampshire, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon and Somerset. But I travel farther if asked, I have even shot weddings in the Lake District on a paddle steamer! 

I have now split my company in two as I believe my weddings and my portraiture have evolved differently, I have weddings at www.libraphotographics.co.uk and portraiture at www.eamesphotographer.com. I find this has free'd me up to pursue a lot more creativity in both.

Guest Blog; Wedding Make-up Tips

By Eve Ashby – Professional Make-up Artist

www.eveashby.co.uk

The real trick to wedding make-up is to create a more groomed version of how you would normally look. This way you will feel comfortable but still in keeping with the glamorous image you are creating with your elegant wedding gown and styled hair.

Because this is not a look you would normally wear day-to-day it’s a good idea to have a trial run-through. Not only will this give you some time to adjust to your new glamorous self but it also means you can check any new products for allergy reactions.

When you practice your make-up it is important to do so in natural daylight. It’s surprising what a difference lighting conditions can have on the colour of make-up. Often dark colours can seem much paler under artificial lighting and this can encourage you to applying much more than you really need, making the look much heavier and more dramatic then you intended it to be.

Your wedding day is not a time to be experimenting with new, bright or high fashion make-up colours, as this will quickly date your photos. Instead I always recommend you opt for natural tones to create a classic look that will never go out of fashion.

The first thing people always see are your eyes and this is why it’s so important to get this part of the makeover right. On young skins shimmery eye shadows look fresh and bright but on older skins this shimmer can emphasise fine lines and draw attention to puffy or overhanging eyelids. So for this reason it is always best to put matt textures on older skins and keep shimmery eye shadows for younger brides.

If you have never shaped your eyebrows before you will be amazed at what a difference it can make. Not only will it make you look more groomed but will also open up your eyes. Another trick for a wide-eyed look is applying a few false eyelashes. You don’t need to go for a whole strip as this can look overpowering and feel heavy on your eyes. Instead a few individual lashes on the outer corners of the eyes work wonders and really finishes off a glamorous look.

If you have small lips opt for light or bright colours and lots of lip-gloss, as the shine will give the illusion fullness. Try to avoid darker colours on small lips as they can make them look even smaller. Lip liners have a waxy texture, which lasts longer on lips than the soft moisturising texture of lipsticks so it’s a good idea to apply lip liner to your whole lip area before applying lipstick.

The big thing to avoid on your wedding day is make-up containing light reflecting partials. The main culprits of these being under eye concealer pens. These pens work by reflecting light away from the skin to hide dark shadows and can do a fabulous job when people see you close up. However the flash from the camera will emphasise this reflection and all you’ll see are bright white areas wherever you have applied the product.

Whichever look you chose on your wedding day the main rule to make-up is blend, blend, blend. There should be no harsh lines and each colour should seamless merge into the next. If you follow this tip than your make-up won’t fail to look natural and perfect.