Bristol Wedding Photography Clients...

....where are you? As you are probably aware, I've been in wedding photography in Bristol & Bath since (hang on, I just need to check the files...) since Jeremy & Anne's wedding in 2000 (thanks for waiting whilst I checked that). Over that time there have been busy years and recession interrupted years, but I guess we've averaged at least 25 weddings a year, so I've captured 200-250 ish weddings...that's a lot of experience.

All of which is building up to say that whilst we try to keep tabs on everyone, couples often move house, start families, move house again, etc, etc without telling us (honestly, it can be quite hurtful sometimes!) so over the coming month or two we will be trying to contact everyone to bring the details up to date. So if you are reading this as a former client and suddenly remember that you have moved (or more accurately moved and not told us - I'm kind of hoping that you are aware of the first bit) then do please give us a call - it will be lovely to catch up with you again!

Today I have been mostly celebrating my tenth blog in one month - a new record!

Portrait Photography That You Will Love - Guaranteed

We speak to so many parents who would love some fab framed portraits of their children but dread the thought of a trip to a high street studio. Firstly, its "will the kids behave", quickly followed by the high cost and high pressure sales that seem to go hand in hand with most studio set ups. With high overheads the pressure is always on to make the sales.

But there is a better way. This spring we will be announcing a new portrait offer, timed for the Easter holidays (which seem to go on for ever this year - big thanks to the Royal couple!). We've been out scouting for new locations - outdoors and fun and plenty of space to run around (for the children too!) and we've got new frames and albums on order to ensure the work is beautifully presented.

If you would like to know details, do please give me a call or contact me via the Andrew Jackson Photography website.

Today I have been mostly listening to MC Hammer - U Can't Touch this!!

Photography Workshop Bristol & Bath

If your camera has been banished to the back of the cupboard, now is the time to set it free! Perhaps you have a big family gathering on the horizon or the holiday of a lifetime; maybe you’ve just treated yourself to a fancy new camera and would like to know how to get the best from it... why not attend one of Andrew’s training workshops this year?

Our first will be at the very beautiful Bath Priory Hotel in April. As well as the friendliest welcome and lovely setting, the Bath Priory is also Michelin starred, so lunch will be wonderful! The first workshop of the year is all about taking control of your digital or film SLR, taking it off the auto settings and creating great images. Contact Andrew via the website for further information.

28 Feb update: All the details are now confirmed so if you would like more information, do ask. Places are limited so do please let me know as soon as possible - thank you!

Today I have been mostly thinking about Saskia, my wife... one very special person

Ashton Court Wedding Photographer

Had a fab day at the Ashton Court Wedding Open Day yesterday. Thank you to everyone who stopped to have a chat with us and thank you so much for all the kind words about my style of wedding photography. It felt as though we met a lot of people who loved the work: wedding fairs are a great opportunity to gauge reaction to the way my work is evolving - and yesterday was a great reaction - thank you! Great canapes at Ashton Court too - probably ate a few too many, but they were lovely!!!

Today, I shall mostly be back on my diet...

Valentines Day Gift

I know, we've just finished unwrapping Christmas presents and it feels far too soon to start worrying about the next thing, but just to sow a seed... Romantic couple shoots make the ideal gift. The shoot itself is lots of fun and we'll give you all the help and advice you need to take away any worries about being in front of the camera. Afterwards, you'll have an amazing set of pictures to remember the day and to have on display. Contact us via the Andrew Jackson Photography website for more information. We can provide vouchers if you would like to book your shoot after the 14th.

Today I have been mostly listening to "Here I go Again" by Whitesnake - oh, the memories!

Beautiful Portraits

Managed to find time to visit the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery last weekend. Really interesting set of prints on display and inevitably, some images are drop dead gorgeous and left me feeling green with envy - others left me wondering 'why?' - the winning shot especially is a good example of this response! But I guess exhibitions are kind of like fashion week in Paris - the clothes demand attention, prompt conversation and / or praise / ridicule accordingly, but its not real life. The Taylor Wessing competition is like that - every picture will generate a response but maybe not everyone would find a space on your wall. Exhibition runs until 14/2 so still time to visit.

Mary McCartney also has some of her images on display too - also well worth a look.

Bristol Wedding Fair at Ashton Court

It is Ashton Court wedding fair this Sunday - a great opportunity to come and meet us, see some of our wedding albums and talk through your wedding plans with us. This is a lovely event if you are considering Ashton Court for your wedding, because it does give an opportunity to see this beautiful venue dressed for a wedding but more than this, its not a wedding fair in the traditional sense of lots of suppliers so you can walk round without feeling under any pressure. It is a lovely venue, whatever the weather, whatever the time of year. The ceremony room is full of natural light and quite possibly offers the longest aisle of any civil ceremony venue. But the rest of the house is full of character too, so inside or white, you will have great pictures. If you might come along, do give us a call so we know to look out for you. For more Ashton Court pictures look on the Andrew Jackson Photography website in the weddings / venues section.

Passion & All Things Flower

Enjoyed a fab visit to Jo Shipp yesterday, who is the owner / creative force behind 'Flowers by Passion' - if you haven't come across the name, look in "Hello" or "Cosmo" magazine, as her work is often profiled. I've known Jo for about five or six years now - we're recommended at some of the same venues and it is always a huge pleasure to bump into Jo at a wedding. Its not just that the flowers will be fresh and top quality - and when I'm shooting still life's for the bride its really important that the flowers are perfect - its the creativity too. Jo has a wealth of props: vases, candelabras and all sorts to set the flowers perfectly and create looks that are unique. I always aim to bring a little extra to my wedding commissions and I know Jo is just the same when it comes to the floral artistry.

Jo is now based in Swainswick in Bath, in a wonderfully rural location. If you are planning your wedding and want the flowers to be a bit more special than the usual, then do give her a call or click on the link above.

Bristol Weddings & Twitter

I think this is good news... I'm pleased to say that I have finally joined the 21st century as I am now on Twitter - the address is AJP_photo. Have to be honest and say that I am still getting to grips with it all, but I hope it will in time become a great reference source for information & contacts for all things wedding related. So whether you are a couple planning your big day or in an associated business (from cup cake bakers to wedding planners and florists) do please sign up as a follower and lets create a space thats of useful (ie I promise not to to post a twitter simply to tell you that I'm drinking coffee) (actually, thats probably a given - just assume that whatever I'm doing a small latte or Americano won't be too far away!). Any questions or thoughts as to how I should get the best from Twitter do please say...

Weddings, Portraits & Things in 2011

The start of a new year is always kind of interesting. On one level, nothing much has changed (well, petrol prices are higher, VAT has gone up and its still too cold - but shall we gloss over that?); on another level, its hard to avoid thinking of a new year as anything other than a fresh start. And personally speaking, this is probably the most exciting year in prospect since 2008 (which is when I got married - now that was a great year!). I know, the recession isn't over, but I'm SO bored with all that doom and gloom now; so this year, the focus is firmly on having fun...its time to play!!

Looking ahead, there are some really exciting wedding commissions in the diary already, which I'm looking forward to capturing.So if its your wedding on the horizon, keep calm, breathe deeply and it will be fine - promise!

We're also in the process of reviewing all our products and very soon we shall be releasing news of all our new products & prices for 2011/2012, so do give Andrew a call if you would like to receive further details.

Andrew is also going to be working closely with Damien Lovegrove over the coming year. Damien, one of leading UK wedding photographers, has been a huge inspiration to the business, almost since we launched in 2000; he has an incredibly relaxed style of picture taking but one that produces stunning images; as well as this, his attention to detail in looking after clients is really the blue print of what photography should be about (but so often isn't, sadly).

We have very high hopes for 2011 - we hope your year is going to be as much fun as our!