NEW BLOG – Check it out

If you follow my blog you will know that I have been having a bit of a website and blog make over recently and I am really excited to say that my new blog is now already for you to have a look at.

From now on you will be able to check out all my latest news and events at the new blog, and for those of you with favourites on this blog that you keep peeking back at, don’t worry they have all been loaded onto the new blog.

So with out further ado here is the new blog address, www.hayleyruthphotographyblog.co.uk, don’t forget to change your RSS link.

Look forward to seeing you there!

P.S Just to tempt you some more, a new post from Joe and Sunny’s Wedding is heading up the blog today.

Wedding Photography – Bronze Award

It’s another exciting week in this house!

I’m a member of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) and every month they have a competition for members photographs with many different catagories. 

Last month was the first time that I have entered the competition and I submitted a blog favourite into the wedding photojournalism catagory.

I was so excited this week to discover that my entry had been awarded a Bronze. It’s always nerve racking entering your images into competitions as whilst the client and I may love them, that’s not to say the judges will! Recieving a bronze with my first entry has left me a little speechless, but with a huge smile! 

Here is the smile making, bronze winner:

It’s all very exciting!

I know that I have been a little absent from blogging in the last couple of weeks so I thought I would update you on why I have been so ‘quiet’ and why there will be lots coming in the next few weeks.

There has been a secret project going on in this house, my new logo and branding. It’s nearing completion, so you won’t have to wait much longer to have a peek. 

This means my website will be getting a bit of a new look too. In the next few days the pages will be changing and I have lots more to add on there as well as some new gallery pictures. It’s changing everyday in little ways, as I pull it all together. Then in a few weeks it should have a complete make over with the new logo. So keep your eyes peeled!

In the same vein my blog will be getting a new make over and new address, all will be revealed on here, and all your favourites from this site will move to the new blog.

Why you might ask? Well this one is really restricting the size of the photos that I can post on it and I need something that I can customise in my new style. I also want to develop the information of fantastic suppliers that I know and trust to provide you with exceptional service and quality.

In addition to all of these changes, I will be ordering new stationary, and new products to offer my clients so there will be lots to show here.

As if all this wasn’t enough I have also been meeting with a local poet, who writes bespoke poetry for any ocassion and we are developing  an exciting new wedding poetry service, so that you can say all that you want to, in a really special and personal way. While we get the website up and running, if you are interested in the poetry, please drop me a line.

So as you can it’s been really busy here and in the next few weeks I have 6 weddings and 2 portraits sessions so I won’t be quiet on here for much longer!

In the meantime because you all know by now I don’t post without a picture I would like to re introduce you to Edward. You might remember him from one of the early posts on the blog, he wears the coolest rattle shoes. Well check him out now! HOW much has he grown and just how cheeky is that face!!

Interview with Murray Newlands

I’m really excited this week, there is so much going on here! (more of that to come later)

Murray Newlands, famous blogger and affiliate marketer, has just published his interview with me, as a Cambridge Wedding Photographer, over at his website MurrayNewlands.com.

Murray is taking the blogging and Twitter world by storm, you can read more about Murray in Clickbooths interview with Murray Newlands.

Read the full interview where I talk about my blogging as one of the Cambridge Wedding Photographers.

Because I just can’t bring myself to blog without a picture, here is just a little sneaky peek preview of a STUNNING Cambridge Wedding Venue where I will be shooting a wedding in a few weeks.

Charlie, Jason and Olivia – Summer Portraits

Late on Saturday afternoon I met up with Charlie, Jason and the very adventurous Olivia for some summer portraits. Nearby we have an amazing old airfield that is no longer in use. It provides some fantastic locations for photographs, from wide open runway space to overgrown grass and small woodlands areas.

Olivia had a field day running around and exploring all that was on offer – and at one point took it upon herself to explore some very tall grass. If it wasn’t for her pretty pink top we could have lost sight of her in there.

Here are some of my favourites from the session:

Iain and Laura

Last Thursday lunch time I received a call asking if I was free on Saturday to photograph Iain and Laura’s UK wedding as their original photographer was unfortunately no longer able to be here.

Having agreed excitedly, I sat back in nervous anticipation, this was no ordinary wedding, but that of my husbands new boss!

I met with them later that day and was amazed to meet the post prepared bride ever! Laura presented me with a timetable and details of who would be where, when and the photos that she wanted capturing. I didn’t need to worry about getting from one place to another either, I was already booked into various cars to get to and from the church! Thank you Laura for being so organised it made picking this up last minute so very much easier.

Iain and Laura actually got married in Malawi the week before as that is where Laura is from, this was the UK celebration with a church blessing, surrounded by their family and closest friends from around the globe.

They had a beautiful theme to their wedding, A love story. There were so many details, including their very own love story in the wedding invitations which told of how Iain proposed with a stunning engagement ring attached to a kite on a beach in America. It was a stunning day, with lots of fun, laughter and genuine heartfelt moments. Iain and Laura I wish you both all the very best for an amazing future together.

Here are just some of my favourites from the day:

Laura give Iain this ceremonial sword as a wedding present, beautifully engraved, it was stunning!

So we had a little fun and ensured that Laura had her very own knight in shining armour.

The guard of honour wanted to get in on the photo action and so a very brave Laura agreed for them to lift her up and hold her!

And finally, lots of fun and dramatic moves on the dance floor! Well it was was Saturday night I guess. :o)

Pat and Neil – Engagement

Last Thursday I spent the afternoon, down by the river in St Neots, with Pat and Neil.

Pat and Neil are both music teachers and are planning a small intimate wedding in August. Neil’s dad is the pastor at the church where they are getting married and he’ll be officiating the ceremony that day, so it’s going to be a really special ceremony.

Pat gave me free reign to be creative with the her photos, and present her with something different. Here are some of my favourites:

Tom and Carrie – Wedding at Gosfield Hall

Saturday dawned as a bright and blustery day, but this didn’t dampen the sense of excitement when Carrie, Lindsay and their Mum Kathie arrived at Gosfield Hall to get ready for the big day! Amongst a million hair pins and a suitcase of make up, the girls set about their excited preparations.

Gosfield Hall is a stunning Essex Wedding venue, with the most amazing and extremely large Bridal suite! (seriously it’s bigger than most people’s houses!) The stunning bridal bouqet was Orchids and Calla Lillies, made by the fantastic Tolly’s Flowers.

It was a lovely relaxed day, with guests travelling from as far away as the USA to join them and a real contented feel. You only have to watch Carrie and Tom together to see the total love and commitment between them. It’s in their eyes and smiles for each other.

Taking pictures with these two is a real treat, both of them can’t be serious for more than about two seconds, so there is always plenty of laughter and antics.

Here are just some of my favourites:

Toby and Maja – Engagement

Last weekend I travelled to Somerset to meet up with my brother and his fiancee Maja.

Toby and Maja are getting married in September, in Gdansk, Poland. From the pictures I have seen on line it’s a stunning old city, and the in side of the church jaw dropping.

It promises to be a great day and I am really looking forward to shooting their wedding pictures, although my Polish needs some extreme work before then!

Talking to Maja last week, I learnt a lot about weddings in Poland. They seem to start very late in the day, and go on all night! Some of the key celebrations taking place after midnight so I am sure it’s going to be a great night.

My brother is like me – not keen on being in front of the camera, so we spent lots of time messing about, another thing that happens when we get together. We did however manage to get some great shots and these are just some of my favourites:

I love the sun and vintage feel to this one! My Favourite!

UK [b] School GTG 29 April 2009

I’m a bit behind with my blogging so this is a little late. (Sorry all!)

Last Wednesday saw the first get together of the UK [b] School contingent.  We met at the Broadlands Hotel near Barnsley in South Yorkshire. This was a midway point as we are all very widely spread throughout the UK.

For those photographers amongst my readers who haven’t come across the [b] school…. The [ b ] School is all about helping photographers connect with one another on line and in life. Perhaps the photographers in your area aren’t real keen on helping each other out, well… we are looking to change that with the [ b ] School by helping you connect with other like minded photographers, check it out.

It was great to meet:

Stewart Randall

Rebecca Honeywell

Peter and Laura Lawson

Susie Lawrence

James Pearson

Stuart James

Here we all are:

All of us have a common approach to sharing knowledge and advice with each other. So as you can imagine at our first meet up there was lots to talk about. Many of us having travelled a great distance, we made the most of it with a full 4 hours of non stop chatter about photography.

James, Rebecca and Peter and Laura brought some albums with them, from a variety of different suppliers so it was great to see not only each others work but also share feedback on the many different album suppliers, here’s a peek of the album viewing.

The album is a stunning Kiss Album

We also shared a number of great resources and other album providers: (Guys if I have missed any please let me know and I will add them in)

Photomechanic

Design Aglow

Kiss Albums

Finao Albums

Animoto DVD slide shows

I am in the process of organising a UK [b] Scool trip to Blackpool for late September early October. We are intending on having some speakers and then going out to have some fun with our camera’s along the sea front and amongst the bright lights and fairground no doubt. If you would like to come and join us please get in touch. For those of you who are already members of the [b]school I will be posting details in the UK Forum, shortly.