Hope Photography

Finally after a good 24 hours editing photographs I have put together the DVD from Laura & Ros's wedding. I had the task of choosing the perfect song to add to the slideshow and knew there was only one that was fitting. I chose 'Heavenly Day' by Patty Griffin.

'' The smile on your face I live only to see. It's enough for me, baby, it's enough for me. All we've got right now, the only thing that all we really have to do is have ourselves a heavenly day. Got no clouds above me bringing me tears, got nothing to tell you, i've got nothing much to say, only I'm glad to be here with you on this heavenly day''

Meet Monty, such gorgeous blue eyes, he almost stole the show!

Perfect perfect day.

Laura & Ros's ceremony was beautiful-it was a pleasure meeting such kind, geniune people. The ceremony itself was very moving, there wasn't a dry eye in sight...literally. When Ros addressed Laura as 'My darling' in her vows I cried. I didn't feel so bad though because even the registrar cried, and kindly handed out the tissues while Ros announced to everyone that even the photographer was in tears to which I got a round of applause. Not embarassing at all! Anyway it really was an honour to photograph this couple, it's always nice to witness a happy ending in it's truest form-the binding of two people so in love.

I hope you both continue to be as happy as you were today, and enjoy the Maldives!

London

A very busy few days spent in London. I had a wonderful time, and met a fantastic couple who I am photographing next April-there ideas matched my own and I expect we will have a lot of fun on the day and doing a 'trash the dress' shoot after the big day. There ceremony will be held at museum gardens in York which will make a great backdrop.

London as always inspires a hundred new thoughts. My favourite thing to do is to go to Borough market on South Bank, it's a food market and is an absolute feast for the senses. Hours were spent buying and eating all sorts of wonderful foods...marmalade ice cream which has to be tried...and sea salt and caramel fudge which sounds disgusting but was out of this world. The sound of people chatting, the sight of my friends laughing and the smell of mulled apple all of which equates to a perfect day. Everyone go!

My sunshine through the rain...

Another great day, despite getting soaking wet on more than one occasion. We went to check out Crab Manor in Asenby as I am shooting a civil partnership there on 5th October. It was such a special place, and the room where the ceremony is taking place is beautiful. The rooms re-create famous destinations from around the world, like Sandy Lane in Barbados and the Waldorf in New York. We could have checked in there and then, I can't wait to shoot a wedding against such a magical back-drop.

Fabulous weekend...

Thank you to Claire and Jonathan, it was an honour being a part of your special day.

Perfect weekend which began in Borders on friday night, armed with a latte I finally got to read this month's New Yorker, which I will one day arrange to get delivered to my door. The wedding on Saturday went well, and I went out with friends to Loch Fyne on Saturday night to celebrate...even got a taxi home and enjoyed a cocktail ...or two!

Spent time in Yarm, having coffee and did some food shopping in Lewis & Cooper-dream...food shopping has never been so much fun.

Also found a new supplier of albums, Queensberry, probably the finest in the world. Worth every penny. The new website is still in works, it is a long drawn out process it seems but patience leads to perfection, or so I am told.

Brilliant quote from 'Anyone Can do It'...a business memoir

'Life is either a daring adventure or nothing'-NAPOLEON

No blog entry would be complete without a song. 'Better' by Tom Baxter, recommended by my father.

Happy days....

I found myself singing in the shower this morning, and worse it was 'Going to the chapel and I'm going to get married'...by Bette Midler. Of course it's not my wedding, however I am shooting today at Fountains Abbey, the sun is shining this morning and I am so excited. I have had the best week, I am fully booked barring one Saturday for August 2008! I think that'll make my accountant smile. For the first time I may have to start booking my holidays in advance, strangely enough I think I found my anchor. I recieved 2 large orders through the post this morning, which is a brilliant end to a brilliant working week. I don't feel so guilty now about ordering personalised tissue paper and hand made thank you cards! I am meeting 3 new couples this week, 2 of which take me to London, though the weddings takes place in York. I am certainly being stretched at the minute but my smile is literally from ear to ear.

I will post some pictures from today's wedding asap.

Home.

I am back in England. Thank you everyone for your patience regarding e mails, and if I haven't called you back yet, I promise I will!

France was beautiful and gave me time to relax so that now I am rearing to go with autumn sessions. It is always nice to return home, not least because I must have gone through all the tracks on my ipod too many times and yearned for some new songs. So was pleased to see they finally released 'When will I see your face again' on itunes and Gardenia by Mandy Moore.

''You can't come by like an angel into my life and then fly away''- When Will I See Your Face Again.

Hope's holiday...

I am going away for a week or so....I won't be contactable via e-mail (for once-feels a little strange) however I will aim to return calls within 24 hours. As always, leave a message and I will get back to you.

When I return it will be September, time sometimes passes so fast. I don't quite know where the summer went. I don't mind that much, autumn is my favourite time of year so always welcome it with open arms. I have my pile of books ready, a real mixture. By the time I come home I should know all about making my business 'remarkable' and how to feng shui my home-I am still not sure if I am a believer but time will tell...and of course some fiction too. I hope my friends don't expect conversation!!

I have a well thumbed book of quotes on my desk which I have added to over the years....here is today's

."If you forget all my other words, remember these: when you find the one thing in your life you believe in above anything else, you owe it to yourself to stand by it --- it will never come again, child. And if you believe in it unwaveringly, the world has no other choice but to see it as you do, eventually. For who knows it better than you? Don't be afraid to take a difficult stand, darling. Find the one thing that matters --- everything else will resolve itself."

Rhapsody's Father, "Rhapsody" (p.138)

Flora Emily, aged 1 week