From wedding rings to the boxing ring

When the bride was wearing a pair of killer Vivienne Westwood heels, I couldn’t resist giving the gorgeous footwear a major role in the wedding day photography.

So I suggested a fun shot in which the bride, Lucy, would appear to be squashing her new husband, Joe, and his pals under one of her feet.

I admit Lucy was a little unsure about the idea at first, but afterwards she loved the image so much that she decided to use it as her profile picture on Facebook. If that’s not an endorsement, then I don’t know what is!

I photographed Lucy and Joe Wardle on their wedding day at Dunwood Hall, near Leek, in Staffordshire, covering everything from the bride getting ready before the ceremony to the couple’s first dance as man and wife. It was a stunning location and I was in my element capturing a mixture of traditional and documentary-style images.

I love the variety of my work as a wedding, event and portrait photographer. One minute I may find myself photographing the marriage of a happy couple – and the next taking pictures of boxers sparring!

I went along to Impact Boxing in Fenton for a shoot ahead of the Acid Test tournament at the King’s Hall, in Stoke. After taking pictures of the sparring, I set up my mobile studio in the gym and took a series of posed shots of the boxers. The low-key lighting had the effect of creating shadows, emphasising the definition of the guys’ muscles.

As ever, I’ve been busy with portraits and I recently photographed a newborn baby, which was good fun.

Plus, I will soon be doing a ‘trash the dress’ shoot. If you haven’t heard of this before, it involves a bride being photographed ruining her own wedding dress (after the big day, of course). It’s something that is very popular in the U.S. and is great fun. After all, how often does a bride wear her wedding dress after the ceremony? The location for this ‘trash the dress’ shoot will be Crewe Heritage Centre, and I can’t wait.

And if you’re stuck for Christmas present ideas, I have a special offer on portraits for a limited time only. You can have a portrait session, including editing of images, a private online album and a DVD – all for just £45. This offer is only available until December 31, 2013, so get in touch with me so you don’t miss out.

To find out more about the special portrait offer and my other photography services, call me on 01270 213421 or 07849 173826, or email contact@joannehumphreysphotography.co.uk

Exciting times for Cheshire photographer Joanne Humphreys

My work as a wedding, event and portrait photographer has kept me busy over the last few months, with clients across Cheshire and Staffordshire.

Much of Joanne Humphreys Photography’s recent work has been portrait photography, and I’ve had great feedback from my customers.

I’ve used my mobile studio for a variety of shoots, including an assignment where I photographed three children who are all members of the same family.

When photographing children there are a few tips I’ve picked up. The most important being that the photography shoot shouldn’t last longer than 20 minutes, because after that point the children can become bored and easily distracted.

I’ve learned that when taking portraits of children, the best pictures are captured at the start of a session. It’s also wise to have a parent close by to attract the child’s attention towards the camera, and the odd reward can help a session go even more smoothly.

For another shoot I worked on location at the beautiful Dorothy Clive Garden at Willoughbridge, North Staffordshire, close to the Shropshire and Cheshire borders.With the help of a model, I captured a variety of stunning images, making full use of the light and the location’s vibrant floral displays.

Preparation is key for any photography session, and I always visit a location in advance of a shoot. I explore the place, keeping an eye out for the best areas to use.

Now, as the summer draws to a close, I’m looking forward to the next few months, with some exciting projects lined up.

I’ve been booked by Impact Boxing in Fenton to capture the action at the Acid Test tournament, taking place in early October at the King’s Hall, in Stoke. I’ve been granted backstage access for the event, so I’ll have some great opportunities to show off my documentary photography skills.

Also in October, I’ll be photographing the wedding of a lovely couple, Joe and Lucy. Their wedding venue is Dunwood Hall, a Grade II listed country house, near Leek, in Staffordshire.

Interestingly, I acquired this booking while shopping for a new car. I got chatting to Joe at the car showroom where he works, and when I mentioned my profession, he told me that he and Lucy didn’t yet have a photographer booked for their wedding.

It goes to show you never know when you’ll meet your next client – maybe I should go car shopping more often?

To find out more about Joanne Humphreys Photography, based in Crewe, Cheshire, call me on 01270 213421 or 07849 173826, or send an email to contact@joannehumphreysphotography.co.uk

The word on the street

You can’t always predict when a great picture is going to materialise because good photography often happens when you least expect it.

While cutting my teeth as a street photographer, I learned how to become acutely aware of my surroundings and to react quickly. These skills have given me a good grounding for the wedding and event photography I now specialise in.

As a documentary photographer, I think of myself as a big cat on the prowl in the wild. It’s all about blending into the surroundings and being ready to strike at just the right moment. Of course, when I take a picture it’s a far more pleasant experience for the person, animal or object being ‘captured’ than it is for the unfortunate victim of a ravenous lion. However, I’m always looking for opportunities to satisfy my hunger for stunning photography.

Staying with the cat theme, among the images I’m most proud of is a photograph of my friend’s cat being ‘walked’. Zelda is a housecat, so in order for her to get exercise, my friend puts her on a lead and takes her for a walk. What I love about this particular picture is the way Zelda has turned her head to look at me, while standing perfectly still, as if frozen.The movement of my friend’s legs contrasts well with the motionless animal.

A railway station is an ideal location for street photography because of the hustle and bustle of all walks of life going about their business. I picked Crewe Station for a photography session, and among my images from here is a picture of a commuter leaning against a pillar. I took the photograph with the man’s back to me and while a train was moving through the station. Like with the cat being walked, there was a contrast between stillness and motion.

Street and documentary photography may appear to be a type of ‘spying’ but I never hide what I’m doing. The sizeable camera I carry usually gives me away, anyway.

I don’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable about having their picture taken and a friendly smile from me is usually enough to put people at ease. It’s my aim to make the experience of being photographed as enjoyable and rewarding as possible.

To find out more about Joanne Humphreys Photography, call me on 01270 213421 or 07849 173826, or send an email to contact@joannehumphreysphotography.co.uk