Aruna & Claire’s wedding, Pembroke College and the Randolph Hotel

Anyone who is a Harry Potter fan may or may not know that The Great Hall in the film with the magical ceiling was actually filmed at Christ Church College in Oxford, Oxford university is made up of several Colleges one of which is Pembroke College which is where I found myself for Aruna and Claries wedding earlier this month.

Pembroke has its own chapel which is just stunning, the architecture inside is jaw dropping… as was the light, photographers are forever chasing light as knowing how to read light is what makes great photograph.  So when I stood in the chapel and realised there was a few stained glass windows and a couple of reading lights and that was it I knew it would be a challenge.

This challenge was not aided by a vicar who tells me not to use flash, vicars often tell the professional photographer not to use flash which is understandable so I wasn’t too fazed.  Luckily for me I use a Canon 5D which has a fantastic ISO which means less grain on low light pictures.  So after a few practice shots before the bride arrived I was happy.

The reception was at the Randolph Hotel which they travelled to in Inspector Morse’s car which made some cracking photo’s.  

The best form of flattery

Most couples arrange their photographer very early in the proceedings and then don’t think anymore about it as us photographers do get booked up especially in the summer months.

Luckily for Ryan and Emma however I had a Saturday free in September, Emma had been a guest at Brian and Helen’s wedding at Friars Court earlier this year and had seen me work and had look at the finished photographs which go up on-line as I do for all my clients. 

I was very flattered to receive the email from Emma asking if I was free for her wedding day as she has seen the pictures, seen me at work and asked Helens option of me which lead her to decide her and Ryan simply had to have me to do their photos.

I have to say I’m extremely honoured when anyone asks me to join them on their wedding day and document it for them, so to receive such a compliment of being referred by someone really does flatter me immensely.

Emma and Ryan are a great couple so I can’t wait for photograph their wedding day at The Oxford Thames Hotel in a couple of weeks time.  

Aruna & Claire’s pre-wedding shoot

Last weekend so me take the trip down to London once again, for two reasons the first being to photograph Aruna and Claire who will be married at Pembroke College in oxford on 16^th August, and the second reason, my 30^th birthday!!!

My husband was away unfortunately but that is one of the pit falls of being married to a F1 technician so while he was working hard at the Hungarian grand Prix, I went to celebrate in style with my girl friends.  The champagne corks popped as the train pulled out of Newbury, so thanks girls for I had a fabulous time although my recollection of it is somewhat hazy, can’t think why!! ;o)

So yes the other reason was to photography Aruna & Claire, they live down there and having two children it was a good idea for me to go to them rather than the other way around.  Rain threatened but never materialised so I was able to get some great shots, the cloud was quite low and menacing which for me made the shots all the more interesting.

So here they are the soon to be Mr & Mrs….