Wednesday 29 December 2010

Boudoir photography....a little secret

It's a little know fact but I also do boudoir photography. Normally it's brides who want a totally unique and personal gift for their Husbands to be. Together we create sensual, beautiful and glamorous images that really show you off to your best potential (while ignoring all the wobbly bits!). The end result is an album that blow his socks off!

I just wanted to share a couple of images from recent shoots.

www.karenmcgowranphotography.co.uk


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Tuesday 28 December 2010

Laura and Clint and a lovely sunny day!

Well November has certainly been a very strange month for weather! You would be forgiven for thinking Laura and Clint got married in summer but this was actually a winter wedding. At the end of the month we were all knee deep in snow!

This wedding took me back to The Ramside Hall which I was delighted about and this time the reception was held in the fountain room which was beautifully decorated. Laura chose a Ivory and Brown theme set off perfectly by her orange Calla Lily bouquet - seal of approval from the photographer as that's what I had for my wedding!

Laura's little flowergirl, Caitlyn, threatened to steal the show during the ceremony and played peek-a-boo with me under the table where Laura and Clint were signing the register. So cute!

Here is a taster of their stunning wedding day.....I would like to wish the newlyweds a very long and very happy marriage!


www.karenmcgowranphotography.co.uk


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Laura and Ken marry at Gisborough Hall

This was my first visit to Gisborough Hall and as with all weddings in November we were all wondering what the weather would be like! I'd met Laura and Ken at their venue the week before so I'd already formulated a wet weather plan so I was prepared for anything. Gisborough Hall offers lots of options for photos no matter what the weather. But what we got was a very bright but cold winters day...exactly what Laura had wished for!

Ken is Chinese and it was lovely to see both families from different cultures coming together to celerate their marriage. Ken's family were all very friendly and I expeienced my first Tea Ceremony which was a lovely touch. Laura had even learned a few Chinese words however after lots of giggling from Ken's family I wasn't sure her pronunciation was entirely correct!

Laura and Ken chose a Disnesy theme, with a fairytale castle cake and all the tables were named after the Disney Princesses....which was exactly how I would have described Laura's look when she got out of her wedding car. She looked breathtaking in her white Hollywood dreams gown set off by a fur shrug.

There were so many smiles, tears of joy, cuddles and kisses and it was clear that everyone was having a fantastic time!

The wedding was expertly filmed by the talented Tony at
Total Memories. We've worked with Tony numerous times and he always creates some amazing wedding videos and is a great guy too.

Here are a few of my favourite shots from the day.

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Sarah and Steve and the beautiful Alnwick Treehouse

When Sarah and Steve first contacted me last year I was over the moon to be shooting a wedding at Alnwick Treehouse as it's a truly magical and unique venue. When they told me they was getting married after dark at Alnwick Treehouse I quickly realised this was going to be a challenge! I put in a call to my fantastic friend Julie Tinton, who agreed to come along for moral support and help me with the lighting kit. Neither Sarah or Steve are native to this part of the work so there was lots of travelling from both sides of the family and to bring them to such a fantastic venue was a great idea. As the sun started to set, Steve arrived with Best Man, Mark and we set to work using what little available light there was before swapping to the softbox and also the video light. By the time Sarah floated up the fairy-lit walkway it was pitch black. Hold on I thought? I was sure Sarah has told me she was wearing a red dress? Apparently the there was a 'wardrobe malfuntion' with the red dress and she has bought another! Regardless, she looked fantastic and beaming with happiness next to her Dad and Bridesmaids. Everyone was over the moon with the weather, dry and fairly warm for November....so far so good!

The service was really lovely and Sarah really fought back the tears as she said her vows and they exchanged rings. In fact looking around there were quite a few people with tears in their eyes!

As it was still dry we managed to use the outside space for group shots and the Bride and Groom portaits, although it was very dark we still managed to create some beautiful portaits.

After the speeches it was time for us to leave however the wedding party enjoyed a delicious meal then danced until the small hours. Sarah and Steve are so well suited that I just know they will have a long and happy marriage and I amd looking forward to seeing them soon to deliver their album.

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www.karenmcgowranphotography.co.uk

Zoe and John...almost married!

Zoe and John will be married early in 2011 but we took the opportunity to shoot their pre wedding photos in the gorgeous autumnal sun at Jesmond Dene. Both Zoe and John are really excited about their wedding and I am very much looking forward to shooting their wedding!

www.karenmcgowranphotography.co.uk


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Wednesday 1 December 2010

Carolyn and Peter, married!

Last month I had the honour of photographing Carolyn and Peter’s beautiful autumnal wedding. They chose the Lord Mayors Official Residence, Mansion House, in Jesmond to host their nuptials and I really loved the style of the place. It’s quite vintagy and has a lovely regal feel to the place. It’s an exclusive venue so you have the run of the place including all the bedrooms and one of the most amazing old fashioned bathrooms I’ve ever seem …complete with antique exercise bike!

Caroline looked amazing in her white gown and full length lace jacket but her cute little flowergirl, Eve, threatened to steal her limelight…especially in her fairy wings! She led Carolyn and her father down the staircase to Peter who was waiting for her to become his wife. Throughout the ceremony Carolyn and Peter would look adoringly at each other and it was plain to see the depth of love between them.

We had perfect weather so we were able to take all the photos outside and use the beautiful gardens and house as the backdrop. After some relaxing mingling time the gong sounded (loved the gong!) calling everyone to the reception room for the wedding breakfast. Once again I was able to sample the delights of the main course and this time it was lamb with the most delicious spring onion mash and beetroot….yummy!

One of the highlights of the day came during the speeches. The Best Man, Barry set up a projector and screen and we were all excited to see what was going to happen. Barry had created a hilarious photo slideshow all about Peter and their friendship and this was followed by the main event….a spoof Baywatch video filmed on Tynemouth Beach starring the Groom complete with ironing board as his surf board!! It brought the house down is one of the funniest things I have ever seen!! There were slides splitting all over the room…including Carolyn’s!

We had time for a few evening portraits before the wedding singer introduced the new Mr and Mrs Ward to the dancefloor for their first dance as husband and wife.

Carolyn and Peter enjoyed a luxury honeymoon in Hawaii…I was incredibly jealous of the photos Peter was posting to Facebook!

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