Jo & Ed's Wedding

Joanna and Edward were married at St. Edward's Church in Windsor on the only sunny day of a wet week in September on Saturday 25th. Ed had been getting ready along with his army of ushers at his parents house in Windsor whilst Jo and her 3 beautiful bridesmaids were getting ready at Jo's house. The groom and groomsmen also had time to make it to the pub for a pint or two and for a few photos outside Windsor Castle on the long walk before making their way to the church.
The flowers for this wedding were stunning and were huge bouquets of white and pink stargazer lilies, gerberas and ivy. They matched in the church, the boat mooring and the reception.
Guests were taken the short distance from the church to the island by Routemaster bus where they waited for the little boat to ferry them over to the reception venue; The Queens Eyot Lodge on Monkey Island.

Kingston-Upon-Thames

Kingston riverside is an interesting mix, a bit 1960's with some of its architecture, some period buildings and some nice, new modern apartments. Generally, it is a well used and well loved stretch of the river being used for picnics, pub life, restaurants, rowing, sailing and boating as well as evening strolls and relaxation. Walking for only a few minutes from Kingston, you'll arrive at Hampton Court Palace in one direction or Teddington Lock in the other. And the best bit is - its only a two minute walk from my studio!

The Pope - UK Visit - Twickenham

Whatever you think of the pope or religion in general or the fact that we the tax payers are funding this visit (there were approx 1000 police today) during a recession, it is still a spectacle to see the pope.

I chose going to the gym over seeing the pope this morning but once I saw on the gym tv that he was late arriving I had no excuse not to go as he was a short walk round the corner. For anyone who has ever lived and worked in London, it was no surprise he was late as trying to get through rush hour traffic at that time of day is insane - and rush hour in London goes from around 7am-10am now.

Far from being a paparazzi photographer, I tried my best to shoot over the top of the railings to get my shots so they are not the best.

The highlight of the morning was talking to a lovely local man called John, we managed to keep each other company for about an hour and a half talking all things Papal and photography. Nice meeting you John!

Philip's 60th Birthday at The London Polo Club

Philip's gorgeous wife Ruth did all the organising for this fantastic 60th birthday party at the London Polo Club at Ham. The evening started with a beautiful sunset and guests drinking champagne outside on the terrace and being entertained by Keith-the-Thief. Yes, you did read that correctly, he is a professional pick pocket or 'slight of hand' artist. The ambient and dance floor music was provided by the very dapper Splendid Discotheque team as well as operatic vocalists singing later. During the speeches, large photos of family that couldn't be at the party were held up for all to see including Philip's step son who is a soldier in the British army and currently fighting in one of the most disruptive areas of the Helmand Province. Philip asked that rather than gifts, all his guests were to donate 'generously' to the Help for Heroes charity which helps those wounded in war. The chef at the polo club provided guests with sumptuous starters of salmon and the main included a hog roast and roast new potatoes and seasonal organic veg.

Faye & John's Wedding

Faye & John were married in the stunning Parklands, Quendon Hall in the Essex countryside on Sunday 5th September 2010.

There were many unique aspects to their day such as the groom arriving by tractor (noone is quite sure why the best man chose this as the wedding vehicle but it made for a lot laughs and fun on their part), Faye's wedding shoes were white satin converse (extremely practical especially when you are not used to wearing high heels), they hired a magician as well as having many other ideas which made their day special and one to remember!

Good luck in your journey ahead in marriage Faye, John & daughter Mollie!!




Photos will be available to view or buy very soon, you will need a password and username to access the photos by clicking on: Faye & John

Chertsey Agricultural Show 2010

I am really looking forward to this year's Chertsey Show as I have the honour of judging the photography section! There are 6 sections in total and quite varied subjects so it should be really fun and I am looking forward to seeing the standard of work. As part of the judging I am hoping to have time to give mini critiques to some of the entrants. Of course I won't be without my own camera either so after the judging, I'll be out and about and making a beeline for the horses and farm machinery.

The Show is this weekend, Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th Aug and open to the public from 9am - 5pm.

Photos from the show to follow....

Settle, Yorkshire Dales

Settle was as I had expected it would be - naturally a photographers paradise - plus a bit more. It has all the beautiful stone cottages that you would expect, friendly locals as well as outstanding views of the steep sided Dales that surround the town. It is quaint and typically English and is the perfect place for a hot cup of tea or a good, strong ale and very popular with 'bikers' looking for a day out on challenging roads before hitting stone walls at 50mph. The walking is second to none and there are many paths to choose from but its not for the fainthearted. The hill paths have inclines that can make your eyes water but the reward at the top is more than worth it!!

Shame this was such a short journey as I felt that Settle had more to offer and I wasn't going to find out what that was on this occassion! A 6 hour journey from London (owing to the horrendous road works on almost every motorway and 'A' road) it's not the sort of place you would only want to go for one night but then I think that Settle and the places nearby such as Giggleswick and Skipton are worth spending more time in anyway.

What is it like being a wedding photographer?

I can only speak for myself but this is how I find it.

It's really hard work and often a long day but always really good fun and enormously rewarding! I've been lucky that all of my weddings have been happy events between two willing adults (this is not always the case I am assured by some of my colleagues).

As the photographer on a wedding day, you are invited to share some of the most precious moments of a person's life and you are sharing it with their closest family and friends. I often see brides and bridesmaids in their underwear when they are getting ready or having boudoir shots done for their husbands-to-be. I nearly always see people crying (brides and grooms) and I nearly always see them a bit drunk. Even though I am working, it is still a position of privilege and I think that makes my job pretty special!

On the flip side to that, having spent quite an intense period of time with a couple, their family and friends, I then go off to edit their images. When I do minor re-touching such as whitening teeth, I zoom in so that the mouth is as big as my screen. I probably have a better knowledge of some people's dental work than their best friends do. So after spending their wedding day with them and then a week of close ups of skin and dental care on screen, you feel like you have gotten to know your clients pretty intimately and they do feel like friends.

The sad part is when you only see them a few more times after that, meet for a coffee to chat about the photos they want for an album, meet up to hand over the DVD and maybe meet again for their 1st Anniversary portraits or baby bump photos. So there is also a kind of mourning period where you feel like you all get on with your lives as they were before the wedding...before you ever met...and you never see those 'friends' again.

It's probably not the same for the couple, they haven't spent a day with my family and friends and looked at close ups of my pores and molars for a week after. Part of the way I photograph a wedding and the way I make it completely unique for each couple is that I allow myself to become fully absorbed in the emotion of their day. That way I get the most realistic shots of people and capture their personality and capture the essence of their day - warts an' all.

So that really sums it up for me as a wedding photographer, lots of happiness tinged with a little sadness but overall I love my job and consider myself lucky!

Carly and Jamie's Wedding

After wondering what a wedding would be like with firemen and Scottish kilts, I finally found out today...

The day started with Carly getting ready at the Richmond Hill Hotel then some stunning shots of her on the Richmond Hill lookout with her bridesmaids and Mum. They then climbed in to the old fashioned fire engine which took them to St Andrew's Church in Ham, where the Rev'd Simon Brocklehurst conducted their ceremony.

After the ceremony and photos at the church, complete with piper, we made our way to the reception venue at Richmond Golf Club where an enormous marquee had been set up on the lawn at the back of Sudbrook Mansion and the champagne flowed until dinner.

Carly & Jamie were led into the marquee by the piper and led to their table where the party started in earnest and my day ended.

So what did I learn about firemen and Scots? Ah that would be telling...!

100 sqft Exhibition - London

I've entered my piece of work and had it accepted, all that is left now is to have the exhibition!

The launch party is on Sunday 1st August at Chomley Boys Club, Dalston, London and the exhibition opens to the public from Monday 2nd to Thursday 5th August.

Summer Solstice 2010

Tomorrow is the Summer Solstice and longest Day of the year in the UK.

Two summers ago, we sat on Winchelsea Beach by the cliffs, not a soul in sight. Just the two of us, the dogs, a disposable bbq, sausages, steak, potato salad and champagne (life's essentials). We watched the sun go down and the enormous full moon rise from the horizon and slept under the stars on old blankets. We woke freezing cold and damp in the small hours and retreated to the car for a couple of hours rest before driving home. No cameras, no photos, just memories....

Two years on, two slipped discs later and two years older, hmmmm, probably won't be sleeping on the beach this year but no excuse not to have a bbq and a glass of something blushing!

Carly and Jamie Pre-wedding portrait

I met with Carly and Jamie for the first time today and visited the church and reception venue for their wedding. I really liked them both as soon as I met them, they are both very down to earth. Jamie is a member of the London Fire Service and a Scotsman - I bet this is going to be a great wedding and lots of fun to photograph!

They are to be married at St. Andrew's Church in Ham (a short walk from Ham Common and Richmond Park) by the reverend Simon Brocklehurst. It is a beautiful church dating back to the 1830's and has retained a wealth of original features. The church has wonderful acoustics which make it very tranquil inside without the echos you associate with churches.

A very short drive from the church, their reception will be held in Sudbrook Mansion in Richmond Golf Club, Petersham and contained within the beautiful surroundings of the Royal Richmond Park. The champagne reception will be in the chandelier room before guests make their way past the enormous stone columns and down the grand stone staircase to the marquee in the garden behind. Sudbrook Mansion is a Grade I listed Georgian Manor dating back to the 1720's.

To view pre-wedding portraits by Sarah Greenwood Photography, click here.

Nigel Prabhavalkar - Set Designer and Artist

Nigel undertook a commission recently to produce a logo for Lumina Learning, he painted them as oil on canvas to be converted to digital files, I was asked to photograph them, here are two of the final pieces:

Illustrative Artist - Tim Cullingford

I recently photographed several items of work by Kingston based artist, Tim Cullingford. Tim has a talent for drawing people from memory as well as self portraits and he is remarkably accurate!

Tim's work appears to have a child-like quality at first glance but after looking more closely you can see that there are details and emotions that have a much more mature quality to them and its not just the obvious.

Amber & Jon's Wedding

If only the rest of summer could be as hot and sunny as this, wow, what a day!

The day started at Amber's parents house for a few getting ready shots before setting off in the wedding car (a Routemaster bus) for the church.

All Saints Church in Hampton may look small and simple on the outside but it opens up in to an enormous and spectacular, 102 year old church on the inside. It held almost 150 of their guests before taking family and closest friends on the Routemaster to the reception venue - Hampton Court Palace Golf Club.

A champagne reception was held in the Bar and on the terrace overlooking part of the course and wild Royal deer that are allowed to roam free throughout the Golf course.

Dinner was spectacular and was served upstairs in the dining room - with a large picture window overlooking avenues of young chestnut trees.

This was followed by live music and lots of cold, pink champagne.

Accent colours and details were primary yellow and blue, scented flowers, mini birdcage table centres entwined with ivy and ficus and butterfly tables names.

They are honeymooning in Kenya for an 8 day safari followed by 6 days in Zanzibar.

All the wedding day images will be available in the next 2-4 weeks and can be found on the following link: Amber & Jon's Wedding Day Photos

Alison & Ryan's Wedding

Alison & Ryan's wedding was held at Old Thorns Golf Club and Country Estate. It is tucked away in gorgeous countryside off the A3 in Hampshire.

Alison looked stunning and (although she was extremely nervous to start with) we made some boudoir images for her and Ryan (to view privately of course) before she got in to her dress.

Held in the New Hampshire Suite, overlooking part of the golf course, the ceremony was short and sweet and allowed more time for them and their guests to enjoy the celebration part of the day - starting with the champagne reception!

The reception was held in The Grand Ballroom which although is a brand new building, its giant oak beams made it feel more like a tudor barn. It has vaulted ceilings one of which has the biggest disco ball I have ever seen...I was secretly obsessed with it. The table decorations were as elegant as the flowers and contained small bird cages and tiny fairy lights inside.

The accent colour was mainly green with a hint of pale pink. The bouquets were probably the prettiest I have seen...mental note to find out who the florist was.

There was plenty of eating, drinking and dancing and all in all, it was a fun, fabulous wedding to photograph!!

To see more and to view or buy images, please click on the following link: Alison & Ryan's Wedding by Sarah Greenwood Photography

Sarah & Adrian's Wedding

A scorching hot Friday in May set the scene for this chilled out, sunny wedding. Sarah & Adrian were married in Richmond Registry Office, 1 Spring Terrace with a simple ceremony surrounded by close friends and most of their families. Sarah arrived looking stunning and so elegant and was fashionably late. Afterwards, we had some group photographs in the garden which provided some beautiful areas with different foliage and trees and spring flowers.

A short drive to Twickenham and The Albany provided the place for Sarah & Adrian's reception. They had the whole venue for their guests (which included many babies who were all very well behaved!) There was copious quantities of champagne and a fabulous and fun meal which consisted of several choices from fish n' chips to stew as well as various others dishes all served as slightly smaller portions so you could go back for another one if you wanted! My one regret is not having a portion of the sticky toffee pudding afterwards as it looks divine!

The day after the wedding, Sarah, Adrian and baby daughter Daisy flew out to Australia for their honeymoon and to celebrate with Sarah's close family who were unable to attend the wedding in person in the UK.

I wish Sarah & Adrian and their little family all the best for the future and look forward to meeting them again. If you want to view images of their wedding day, click on the following link: Sarah & Adrian's Wedding

Alison & Ryan - Pre-wedding portrait

Alison & Ryan decided to go ahead and have a pre-wedding portrait session. They chose The Devil's punchbowl, Hindhead, Surrey as the location for their portraits as it is both a beautiful area as well as being a stone's throw from their wedding venue in three days. You can view some of their images on the following link but you will need the password and username to view any more:

Alison & Ryan's Pre-wedding Shots

Alison is really nervous in front of the camera, the pre-wedding shoot gives the opportunity to learn to relax in front of the camera as well as learning techniques which she can practice right up to the day of your wedding such as angles to turn your head, or different ways to smile.

On the wedding day, Alison and I discussed shooting some Boudoir style shots once she has her hair and make-up done (much to the delight of Ryan). If she can do this, the rest of the day in front of the camera will be a walk in the park!

Jo & Ed

I'll be taking a trip to Monkey Island this weekend (yes, it made me giggle too) with fellow photographer Michael Shilling to meet with Jo & Ed who will be married there at the Queens Eyot Club in September.

Michael asked me to be the second photographer in attendance on the day in order to capture each of those special moments for quite a large wedding party. Starting with guests arriving by boat, it will make for a spectacular day with some amazing photographs!

For those of you who enjoy a bit of trivia, "Eyot" is old English and is the definition given to a small island or islet mostly found in rivers (particularly of the Thames), and is pronounced 'eight'.

And for those of you who fancy trying bacon flavour ice-cream or any of the other peculiar dishes that Heston Blumenthal has to offer, the Michelin starred The Fat Duck restaurant is less than a mile from Monkey Island!?

Amber & Jon's pre-wedding portraits

Amber and Jon chose Bushy Park as the location for thier pre-weddng shoot. It's a spectacular park that means a lot to them both. It is also very close to the location for their wedding reception at the Hampton Court Palace Golf Club in a few weeks time.

As I live in walking distance of the park and spend a lot of time there myself, I was really excited to be able to photograph them there! There are so many possibilities, and so many areas of interest, here is a selection of their photos.

To view or buy images, please click on the following link: Amber & Jon's pre-wedding photography by Sarah Greenwood