Tag: best chichester wedding photographer

Harbour Hotel Chichester Wedding Photographer | Alex & Sammie

What a gorgeous Autumnal day for Alex and Sammie to have chosen for their wedding. They got married at the Harbour Hotel in Chichester, West Sussex. A stunning venue that has gone through a recent refurbishment and inclusion of a spa! Perfect for a pre-wedding massage!

Whilst Alex prepared with his boys at their home, Sammie and her best girls spent the morning sipping champagne while they beautified themselves in the cottage attached to the hotel. Their makeup look created by Arleta D. Striking yet classic to complement the pure white wedding gown by Proposals, and deep red bridesmaid dresses.

Alex and his Best Man waited patiently at the top of the aisle in the ceremony room at the hotel. A light, bright and airy space, it’s a really versatile room, ready to be dressed in a way that suits your wedding styling. Sammie and Alex had stayed with the crisp white, adding touches of red and green.

The ceremony was beautiful, vows shared and rings by Timothy Roe exchanged. Alex looking so smart in his grey tails from Astares. As a Harbour Hotel Chichester Wedding Photographer, you see many styles through the year. I loved this fresh and vibrant look!

Alex and Sammie chose to have some of their portraits taken in Priory Park with their families, then detouring through the streets of Chichester with their bridal party. Variety was a key player in the planning of the portrait sessions, and as it was an October wedding, we also had to consider the available natural light.

After the wedding breakfast and speeches Sammie and Alex were totally up for a quick stroll down the road to the conveniently timed Sloe Fair, an annual tradition in Chichester! This made for some incredibly atmospheric pictures!

We returned ready for the party, with DJ from Cloud & Sun DJ Services. People partied hard! We made sure to pop upstairs in the hotel as the newlyweds wanted to take some images to remind them of the hotel features, not just the local available grounds. The lift in the reception made for some very intimate shots!! Ooooh errr!!

To finish off their collection, Alex and Sammie chose a Young Book by Graphistudio using the deep red of the bridesmaid dresses as their accent colours. I think you’d agree it looks stunning!!

Thanks so much for having me on your wedding day, a truly beautiful day.

xX Fiona Xx

Harbour Hotel Chichester Wedding Photographer | Alex & Sammie

Two Woods Wedding Photographer | Kerry & Craig

On meeting Kerry & Craig, it was clear that their love of all things nature was going to be the presiding factor of their day. Their engagement shoot was held in the stunning West Sussex Bluebell Woods. Their wedding was planned for Two Woods in Pulborough which is perfect for those loving the outdoor vibes!

Kerry and Craig’s ceremony was held in October, which has to be one of my favourite months to shoot. Autumn is my visual highlight of the year as the colours change into the most firey of tones. Add in the choice of venue, as a regular Two Woods Wedding Photographer I was truly excited for this one! The creative couple that they are, I found out later that they had designed their own stationary and had done much of the decor themselves.

The Bridal Barn is a light and airy space, perfect for your group to get ready in. Kerry had provided lovely gowns for her and her girls, we couldn’t resist making sure these was part of the picture! The bridal party itself was made up of family members and their spouses, who were also their closest friends, making it a really lovely, intimate feel.

It seems Kerry is a very organised bride, she had sourced her wedding dress a few years before planning their wedding from Whyte Weddings in Worthing. How she kept that a secret, and didn’t keep visiting it and wearing it I don’t know! Shelly Bond Bridal was in charge of the hair and make-up for the day, which also included floral hair pieces and crowns designed by Brandon at Flowers4, also in Worthing. The bouquets were sumptuous, perfectly complementing the Autumnal colours that were everywhere.

The girls got ready swiftly in their Asos dresses and opened their gifts. Stunning earrings which again, fitted the natural theme of the day to perfection. Helping Kerry into her dress, the girls primped with final details before getting ready for the ceremony being held in the Redwoods.

The boys were already at the Redwoods greeting their guests and checking the final details. Craig looked incredibly dapper in his tweed suit from Greys Suit Hire, Worthing. His groomsmen in blues which further complemented the natural orange tones of the season.

It was easy for the guests to find their way through the estate to the Redwoods as Kerry and Craig had thoughtfully marked the way with many handwritten signs and arrows!

It was lovely for Lee, my second shooter to have been able to catch the boys in a moment of calm before they took their places to await Kerry and the girls.

I love how Kerry was escorted to the Redwoods from the Bridal Barn in an open jeep, a great way to travel in style for your day!

One of the most gorgeous things I see as a regular Two Woods Wedding Photographer is the epic aisle! I mean WOW! What an entrance as you round the corner and start making your way to your beloved under the canopy of these beautiful Redwoods! I’m not surprised to see many a tear shed and Craig was no exception to a display of emotion as his bride glided towards him. With music provided by Jade Woodhouse, The Sussex Cellist, it was truly a serene moment.

The outdoor ceremonies held at Two Woods are just gorgeous, regardless of the time of year. Sheltered from the harsh sunlight by the natural canopy overhead, with rustic seating. You can really make it your own. With an unplugged wedding like this, you can really see the emotion and love in the guests as they watch their friends take their vows.

As I often do, rather than a disorganised shamble of a group shot, I find myself taking the group shot just after the signing of the register. That way the guests are all still present and visible while they are seated. This not only looks far neater (in my opinion) but takes less than a couple of minutes compared to longer when you try to reconnect everyone after they have dispersed and found the bar!

The guests enjoyed the bar after the ceremony while we completed the requested group shots within the Redwoods. A perfect spot for those precious photos with parents and your bridal party. It was lovely for the wedding guests to enjoy some mingling time with each other in this space while it remained wonderfully warm.

While the guests were ushered to the barn ready for their afternoon tea and speeches, Kerry & Craig held back for some couple portraits. When planning your photographic timeline, we try to choose the time spent with the couple to fit within those moments where there is either down time, a room is being turned around, or just simply… to get the rest of the guests from A-B! Often catering, especially when hot, is on a precise schedule. If we take the newlyweds out of view for a few moments it enables the team to usher the guests to the next part of the day in a timely manner, also allowing the couple a few moments of quiet to just “be” in that moment.

The short walk back to the barns provided the perfect backdrop for portraits that complemented their natural theme of the day.

The barn was set up for afternoon tea by Karen from Henry’s Kitchen, which was kicked off with some hilarious speeches by the best men! The rest of the bridal party also got involved with voicing some words for the happy couple!

I loved the foxy theme used within much of the decor too, from the table displays, to the wedding stationary. Even Craig’s lapel pin was on-point! As the afternoon tea finished, the room was turned around for the evening celebrations. The children played outside, making masks and enjoying the freedom and space the venue allowed.

After a minor mishap with the dress, Craig’s sister Helen thankfully works for a bridal boutique, so there was also a little room for her to apply her skills, ensuring Kerry’s dress was lifted and fastened securely for the evening party! They all looked very relaxed during this impromptu sewing session!

The Bridal Party used the Bridal Barn upstairs to take some photographs. As they were all either siblings or couples, Kerry and Craig had asked if we could create some quick portraits of each couple, which of course was a pleasure to do. We couldn’t help but make sure that the newlyweds got their own Bridal Barn Portrait too!

The evening kicked off with a bang to the First Dance: God Only Knows by The Beach Boys. A favourite of mine and one that holds many special memories for me. The 88’s band were in charge of the party and didn’t fail to get the party tunes rolling out! A brilliant band that sounds incredible at every wedding or event! There was a pizza van later in the evening proving some more delicious food for the guests.

During a quiet moment I managed to also get a closer look at Kerry & Craig’s rings. As Kerry works in the medical profession, she is unable to wear anything with stones, so Timothy Roe jewellers in Chichester had made her a bespoke ring with an entwining leaf pattern so she could wear something more unique in her day to day working life. I think you’d agree it is a perfectly befitting piece of jewellery for her.

I had such joy shooting Kerry & Craig’s wedding. It was a beautiful and happy day filled with my favourite Autumnal colours. No wedding is complete however without an album!

We designed their Graphistudio album to complete the natural feel of their theme. Using a Dark Brown Maple finish for the Original Wedding Album and Design Box, finished with a Burnt Sienna linen lining. I think you’ll agree, a perfect fit for this Two Woods Wedding.

Thank you again for choosing me Mr & Mrs Bendell, may you have a lifetime of happiness!

xX Fiona Xx

Two Woods Wedding Photographer | Kerry & Craig

Bailiffscourt Wedding Photographer | Featured Shoot

As a photographer, I have always been fascinated by telling people’s stories in the images I create. The love, the passion, the emotion. As I child I was surrounded by art and in later life studied with the ambition of becoming an artist. Sandro Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” fascinated me… The story and the composition captivated me. Equally, abstract cubism and surrealism had me transfixed. When I create an image I want the viewer to be drawn into that moment and photography has been the perfect medium to realise my artistic vision.

I have been shooting weddings for the last 11 years and love working with a bride and groom to capture their story. Many couples place their trust in me, allowing moments of artistic license to get ‘the’ shot in their collection. I have been privileged to have my work recognised in the form of awards and accolades (including this one in the collection) and proud that this particular shoot made its way into a published feature by Your Sussex Wedding magazine.

Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa is a stunning venue, one I have frequented over the years. After each visit I have felt compelled to shoot there. The modern gothic architecture of the building, the secret tunnel, the meadow… it all cries out for fine art images to capture the spirit and story of the venue. Thankfully the team at the hotel caught my vision too! Calling on some highly recommended and sought after wedding suppliers in the Sussex area, we were able to create a shoot that captured the look I had in my mind. Without these guys, this would still be but an idea:

I loved this floral headdress by Lulalupin as Jess was getting ready!

We had the use of Baylies to prepare and photograph in, it couldn’t have been more sumptuous with its four poster bed, his & her tub bathroom, spacious seating areas and great views over the courtyard area in one direction and peaceful Sussex landscapes in the other.

While Jess was being primped and made up by Clare and Becky, Joel was getting in to the first of his suits. A top hat and tails, complete with cufflinks, pocket-watch, cane and shoes all from Astares. Jess was wearing an Anna Tumas Gown, provided from Mode bridal which fit her beautifully. The full length lace arms giving a gothic twist to the wedding dress. Caroline from Nordic Twigs had made a smaller headpiece to complement the buttonhole and main bridal bouquet. The colours were amazing and complemented beautifully by the red and white gold, handmade rings from Andrew at Aurum Designer Jewellers

While we were all playing dress up, Sara (To Have & to Hire) and Caroline (Nordic Twigs) were busy dressing the Music Room which was being set up for a banquet and the 13th Century Chapel, ready for a blessing ceremony. Tara from Foxwood Wedding Cakes had dropped off this delicious looking cake, complete with Gold Leaf, just perfect! The golds and red tones throughout the styling working together to deliver opulence in its highest form. I love the gold birdcage being used as a card collector. What a different idea!

As a Bailiffscourt Wedding Photographer, the grounds are a dream to shoot in during any season. Fields and flowers, walls and archways and even a beach a very short stroll away, it is an exceptionally versatile venue for your wedding. Sara added to the swing here by styling it with some vines and flowers. Jess & Joel, a real couple, spent much of their time wedding planning here. They have got engaged since this shoot, but that’s another story….

With a quick change for Joel into a Herbie Frogg suit and accessories from Astares we continued to explore the grounds starting with my favorite… The Underground Tunnel, which has a rich and romantic history: It is said that in the 1930’s, Lord & Lady Moyne (who were madly in love) used the tunnel to meet one another for secret trysts despite high society discouraging such passions! I wanted to create an image that befitted the story.

How perfect is this venue for a wedding?! The luxury and variety held within make Bailiffscourt such a sought after venue. The original 13th century chapel, the dramatic bridal suite, the multi-functional music room and the surrounding grounds provide a stunning variety of settings for creating your newlywed portraits. Don’t forget the 5 star restaurant and spa and an array of luxurious rooms for your guests!

How could I forget to add a little mention to the resident Peacocks. You can’t guarantee a shot with them, but this fella, I’m pretty sure, knew there was something interesting going on!

Thank you for reading my “Bailiffscourt Wedding Photographer | Featured Shoot” Blog. If you want to know more about the featured suppliers, their links are also listed below.

xX Fiona Xx

Award Winning Photography by FionaMillsArt | Bailiffscourt Wedding Photographer | Featured Shoot

Chichester Guildhall Wedding Photographer | Julie & Lewis

You may remember Julie & Lewis from our very monochrome Pre-Wedding Shoot on a foggy day at West Witterings? Here’s the link to that day. Thankfully their April wedding last year was on a warm and sunny day… our fingers and noses were very happy for this!!

Julie chose the Chichester Harbour Hotel & Spa as their venue to get ready in, a fantastic choice as not only does it have the most stunning Georgian features with sleek, sympathetic interiors… It is mere meters from their Wedding Venue, The gorgeous Guildhall in Priory Park.

As Julie, her parents and bridesmaids were getting ready, I noticed something hugely profound (for me). Julie’s parents were looking back on a photo album that had been brought along on the day. Now, if we have had a conversation, you will likely know that I am a self confessed “Print Diva”! I love printed images, I really believe we as photographers are doing our future generations a disservice if we are only offering digital files. These precious images get lost on a tiny USB, the files corrupted, or even worse the technology has changed over the years and they no longer fit our computers. ALL of my couples get a wedding album, no matter what. It is something I believe passionate about, future generations looking back through their family history with real printed images. Anyhow, I digress! Here’s some more of their getting ready!

As a Chichester Guildhall Wedding Photographer I know the area pretty well. Very handy when you’re popping back and forth between two venues! I nipped across to The Guildhall to see how Lewis was getting on with his greeting of the guests. The venue had been set up beautifully in their colours of Cadbury’s purple and blue with a drop of fuschia in the flowers. A vase on display made by Julie and her girls during one of her hen activities and some other hand made decorations finished it off beautifully. I love how close Julie and Lewis are with their families. The tenderness shown to one another is palpable.

Just before Julie left the Chichester Harbour Hotel and Spa to take the short stroll to the Chichester Guildhall for their ceremony we took a few moments to capture some portraits before she presented herself to her waiting Bridesmaids.

If you’ve not been in the Chichester Guildhall you will find it is as impressive inside as it is outside. Built in 1282 it has a rich history but became a wedding venue for the first time over 730 years later in 2015! With vast, tall ceilings and filled with windows, it is a beautiful bright space. Perfect for your wedding ceremony!

I love the moments caught just before a bride begins her journey down the aisle. Nerve wracking for many, Julie just looked full of joy! The emotion as Lewis waited for his bride to walk down the aisle was clear to see. The moments caught between them capturing their love, playfulness and adoration towards each other was so warming. Family played a key part in the ceremony, from bridesmaids to witnesses and readings.

For the family portraits and group photos, as a Chichester Guildhall Wedding Photographer, using the grounds in Priory Park is a perfect choice! We stayed for a little while here to capture various combinations of the family groups while also being on hand to capture some less formal shots of the guests as they milled around. It’s always funny when the boys get together, mischief seems to follow….It didn’t take long for Lewis to be back by the side of his gorgeous wife mind you 😉

Julie and Lewis had hired Boxgrove Village Hall for their wedding reception, a versatile hall with large grounds set just outside Chichester in the village of Boxgrove. Well placed to also make the most of the other features the hamlet has to offer….Boxgrove Priory and the ruins there being the obvious.

Like with the decor for their ceremony, there were personal and handmade details throughout their reception. Table names were mocked up from Disney films, showing their love for Walt and his crew. The cake with its dinosaur theme made by the talented couple too! The guests enjoyed afternoon tea before heading into the speeches where again, the love and respect they have for each other and their families was clear for all to see and hear. With tears and laughter the speeches were finished by the best man presenting the newlyweds with a card sent over from Disneyland itself, signed by many of their characters!

While the room was being turned around we popped over the road to Boxgrove Priory to capture a few more portraits. The scenery there changes with the seasons, but the ruins remain the same. A great piece of Sussex history to complete the trend throughout the day with historic buildings!

The evening went on with more food, dancing, ice-cream and jolility! My second shooter, Lee and I invite the guests to register their details on the ipad for the online gallery. A great tool to have that enables us to notify the guests with a click of a button when the images are ready (after the newlyweds have seen them first of course!)

While Julie & Lewis went off to enjoy a beach soaked honeymoon, the work continues for us! All the images are gathered, uploaded and backed up before the editing processes begin. My editing happens in 3 stages: Colour correction; Main edit; Final tweaks. Once this is done and the couple see their gallery for the first time, we then work on their photo album. All my wedding albums are handmade in Italy by Graphistudio. A family run company based in the foothills of the Italian Alps.

Julie and Lewis were also driven by the idea that having printed copies of their images was highly important so they opted to upgrade their collection to the Duet Album. A bespoke creation combining 2 albums in a personally designed box. Using their invitation logo and favoured typography to personalise the box and book covers, this really is a collection that not only holds their whole day in print but represents the theme and styling used on the day too. To complete their collection Julie and Lewis also added Parent Copies to give as gifts. A truly wonderful way to store and present their memories of the most beautiful, love filled day.

I look forward to the next chapters in the Branson Household and wish them every happiness!

Fiona xx

FionaMillsArt | Chichester Guildhall Wedding Photographer

West Dean Gardens Wedding Photographer | Caroline & Geoff

You may remember an engagement shoot from last year featuring Caroline and Geoff in one of their favourite places, West Dean Gardens… Click here for a reminder. Well, Caroline and Geoff got married this year!

What a pleasure to continue their journey with them. While Geoff was getting ready with the boys at their home (and catching up on chores and a mini jamming session) Caroline and her ladies were being pampered and preened at their best mates house. With one of her closest friends, Kelly, being the proprietor of Dimensions, Kelly and Bonnie Leigh were in charge of hair & makeup.

The ceremony was being held at St Mary Magdalene in Bognor Regis. A beautiful building with glorious light filling the pews. Caroline was met by her son, Kyle who was a very professional ring bearer, taking his role very seriously! Flanked by her Dad and followed by her ladies, the ceremony was an emotional affair. Filled with love and laughter and beautiful readings provided by Carolines multitasking friends!

Naturally some family formal shots took place outside this lovely church before Caroline and Geoff, driven by Phil of White Roller, detoured to the beach for a few portraits.

The reception was held at The New Town social club, a venue large enough to hold their guests while drinking, eating, speeches, merryment and dancing was had!

Caroline & Geoff had previously expressed how fond they were of West Dean Gardens, so managed to arrange for us to visit there a couple of days after their wedding. As a West Dean Gardens Wedding Photographer this was music to my ears as the grounds and landscapes there are beautiful. We had planned their timeline on the wedding day for maximum candid photo opportunity knowing we would be spending a leisurely few hours in the gardens to create some stunning portraiture for them.

When planning their photos, Caroline and Geoff knew they wanted to include a Graphistudio Duet Album. This is a bespoke, personally created album which encompasses two albums contained and presented in a handmade box. Their 100 page album (Primo Book) contained their entire wedding gallery in print, in a magazine style, A3 hardback book. As a West Dean Gardens Wedding Photographer, I was exceptionally pleased that they had chosen to dedicate the second book, the 30 page Young Book, to their West Dean Post-Wedding shoot. Printed in High Definition and presented on thick, glossy pages, this album screamed luxury! The box was finished in Black Maple, White Leatherette and Silver Linen to complement the colours they had chosen on the day.

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Logan, I look forward to the next chapter in your lives!

Fiona xx

FionaMillsArt | West Dean Gardens Wedding Photographer | Caroline & Geoff

Southend Barns | Wedding Photographer | Geoff & Jess

Wow. I cannot believe it has taken me nearly 11 months to write this blog! This year has been busy!! You may remember this lovely couple from their engagement shoot last year at Bishop’s Palace Gardens? Click here for a refresher.

Geoff and Jess have had an amazing love story. They met two Novembers ago when Jess arrived for a job interview in Geoff’s company. It seemed their informal interview lasted a lot longer than half an hour and by the end of the month they were a formal couple!! In May the following year (2016) I met them, newly engaged, to document this exciting part of their life. Between us we had an army of mutual friends and wonderfully hit it off from the beginning! In fact, Geoff and Jess even asked my husband and I to have the very responsible job of their “pre-maritals”. This is when a couple marrying have sessions prior to their wedding, over a variety of subjects, to open up the opportunity for any tricky issues, unexpected areas of difficulty, or potential challenging hotspots of the future to be brought to attention. Enabling us all to discuss and support this in a safe environment.

Fast forward to November of last year (still 2016) Geoff and Jess had arrived at their wedding day. Their ceremony was booked at Chichester Baptist Church where they had both started attending as a couple, followed by the reception at the stunning Southend Barns. As Jess and her bridal party were busy preparing at a good friend’s house, Geoff and his family were ensuring the church was all set up and ready to go.

These stunning flowers and floral displays were created by Bridal Flowers Direct. A perfect tone to complement the bright autumnal colours around and I just love these personalised robes, ideal for a chilly November morning.

I absolutely adore the moments when the girls get their first peek of Jess in her dress. The emotion is evident!

The image below is a personal favourite of mine. Jess is alone in the room while the make-up artist provides some finishing touches. The simplicity and serenity of this shot is what draws me. It also happens to have been awarded a Merit in a Regional Print Competition with the Master Photographers Association, and as well has received a Highly Commended Award in a National, monthly Master Photographers Association competition.

The service at Chichester Baptist Church was a very personal service with people conducting different parts of the ceremony that they have close relationships with. A great testimony to their faith. I loved how Geoff chose his Dad to be his Best Man. What a touching gesture.

While the guests enjoyed a light fish and chip tea at the church, Mr & Mrs Youngs and I popped to Southend Barns a little early to take some quiet moments for their portraits. Although in the midst of a downpour, the great thing about Southend Barns as a wedding venue is the abundance of photogenic indoor space as well as their stunning outdoor space. Once the guests arrived they were treated to mulled cider by the Field & Fork catering team to warm themselves back up before supper.

The venue was dressed to perfection with lovely book related touches and quotes and name placings, menus and table decor all linking back to the stunning bridal bouquet. The speeches had everyone laughing out loud, especially when Jess’ Dad, Pete, brought out the “Sofa Fund” box and various other props to help them prepare for married life.

The Killer Groove played a lively, party-starting set in the evening, but not before Jess’ sister, Ciara, sung them in for their first dance. The party was stomping with a full dancefloor and lots of sweaty bodies!!

Geoff and Jess decided to upgrade their album choice to include their entire day in print (not just the highlights) by having a Graphistudio Duet Album. There’s some more details of what this entails here, but I think you’ll agree from the picture below that it looks stunning, bringing in details from their wedding invitations and colours from their day to really personalise their albums. Something to treasure and look back on forever.

Speaking of forever…. things seem to happen in November for this couple as their first baby is due this November!! Here is a little peek from their Bump Shoot at West Dean Gardens, I will be sure to keep you updated when Baby Youngs is here and the Bump to Baby blog is up! Most importantly, however…. these fabulous Youngs have also asked my husband and I to be Godparents. What an absolute honour and I cannot truly convey how much of a friendship we have built up since meeting for that engagement shoot back in May ’16! This is perhaps the thing I love most about my job, is the relationships that can truly develop from something so personal as taking someones photograph.

xX Fiona Xx

FionaMillsArt | Southend Barns Wedding Photographer | Geoff & Jess

West Sussex Photographer | Natasha & Neale Petworth Park

West Sussex Photographer | Natasha & Neale Petworth Park

Natasha and I met at a wedding fair about a year or so ago. We’ve been back and forth a number of times creating plans, timelines, looking at album ideas and generally getting plans ready for their wedding day. It wasn’t until I met Neale further down the line that we realised that Neale had been Best Man at a wedding I shot some 6 or 7 years ago (long before I started blogging!)

When planning their test shoot, Natasha said she’d really like to have it at Petworth Park, as it was one of those places they often visit together. I’m all for experiencing locations I’ve not seen before and I’m very glad to have made the trip.

One of the main aims for me when meeting a couple for their pre-wedding shoot is to increase their comfort and confidence in front of the camera (and me!) Wedding days are so busy with your guests all wanting to talk, drink, dance and be with you I would much rather spend less time on the “formal” portraits enabling their day to flow and be enjoyed with minimal interruptions by me. Having this time means I really can spend 10-15 mins here and there on your wedding day creating your portraits as you will have already learnt posing tips and got over touching each other in public (unless you love a bit of a PDA, then you’ll have no probs!)

One thing I loved about shooting Natasha and Neale is that they are sooo comfortable with one another. I often shoot from a distance, so I have no way of knowing what they are saying, but I just loved how much they laugh together!

As a West Sussex Photographer, I cannot believe I had not visited Petworth Park before. The views are incredible. When Neale said there would be deer, I didn’t realise he meant HUNDREDS of deer. Herds of the things, seemingly oblivious to us traipsing through their home trying to capture them in the background. Be warned, with hundreds of deer come thousands of deer-poop (not good for a photographer who likes to lay on the ground a lot!

Natasha and Neale make such a gorgeous couple together. Despite Neales best efforts to not look at the camera EVER he managed a grand job of looking natural and relaxed. Natasha will make the most stunning bride, I cannot wait to see her in her wedding dress as she prepares to marry Neale at Farbridge Wedding Venue this summer.

The other thing I ask couples to practise is *THE KISS* Swooping kisses, lifting kisses, looking-at-each-other-almost-there kisses. They all rock! Not that I’m a secret voyeur, I’m usually looking away or at a safe distance with my long lens, but that newly married kiss you’re gonna do at the end of the aisle in front of your guests is totally worth practising, right?!

This was an ace pre-wedding shoot. I can’t wait for the real deal!

Big love

Fiona xx

FionaMillsArt | West Sussex Photographer | Natasha & Neale Petworth Park

Bognor Regis Wedding Photographer | Pre-wedding Shoot

I met the lovely Charlotte and Rob at a wedding last year that I shot at Two Woods Estate (have a look to remind yourselves!). Barely weeks had passed before we were getting together to discuss their October wedding plans for the following year. I shoot all over our beautiful country, but it really is a joy to be on my own doorstep sometimes as a Bognor Regis Wedding Photographer. We were able to meet at a local pub to us all and plan the pre-wedding shoot to happen in our town.

I’m a regular on our beach, walking the dog, playing with my children or just paddling on a warm evening when the tide is out. It was a perfect spot to hang out, practise posing and take some portraits. We managed a cheeky half before setting off and capturing a portrait with their baby daughter before she was whisked away to play with Grandma!

Today happened to be deceptively chilly quite a windy day, we really felt like we could have blown away! We played on this with some Hadouken fun! I happen to be a sucker for reflections too! Charlotte and Rob are planning a more alternative approach to their wedding day so I really wanted to capture some of this in our pre-wedding shoot.

Running alongside the beach is Marine Park Gardens, so we sauntered our way through there on the way back to the pub, somewhat more sheltered from the wind! I like to look at scenes from different perspectives. While Charlotte and Rob looked quite symmetrical from the front, I just love how they appear more abstract when viewed from the side through a peep-hole window.

Next on the agenda is to plan their wedding timeline. October may seem a way away yet, but it will certainly fly by! I can’t wait!!

Fiona xx

Bognor Regis Wedding Photographer | Pre-wedding Shoot

Pre Wedding Shoot | West Wittering | Julie & Lewis

Here are some photo’s from a recent Pre Wedding Shoot with Julie and Lewis. They are planning a fantastic wedding in April that I can’t wait to share after it happens, but for now our trip to West Wittering Beach near Chichester, West Sussex is up on the blog. A warm but foggy day gave for some dramatic shots! I think you would agree they look a perfect couple! I also hope to answer here why I offer a Pre Wedding Shoot as a West Sussex Wedding Photographer.

I just love a pre wedding shoot. I have been asked before why I offer this as a complementary feature in my Wedding Photography Collections. Well, it is INVALUABLE, seriously invaluable. For most people, when they enter into the realms of hiring a wedding photographer it will be one of the first times they have hired a professional photographer. Wedding days are exciting, fun, full of joy. They are also full of nervous anticipation, butterflies in the tummy and walking into an emotional unknown most steps of the way. The reason I provide a pre wedding shoot FREE OF CHARGE is to help you prepare for the photographic documentary of your day.

We may have met a couple of times over coffee during our consultation and planning sessions, but I tell you, you’re going to feel a little different when I start waving my big lens in front of you at a critical point on your wedding day! It is not in either of our best interests to be struck with camera shy nerves or awkwardness on your wedding day! Our time together on a Pre Wedding Shoot is spent breaking the ice, cracking jokes, getting to know each other, talking about posing techniques, giving you tips about how to stand on the day and what direction (verbal and non verbal) I will use to refine your positioning. We will take some time getting you comfortable in each others personal space. We will also take some pictures!

The way I approach your wedding photography is relationally. Although discrete, a ninja in my capabilities in capturing moments unseen. A major player in how I get the shots I do is trust and relationship. This takes work and effort to build, and I am happy to take that time. Your reactions as you thumb through your wedding album for years to come is worth it. Seeing you at your most happy and comfortable is worth it. A Pre Wedding Shoot is worth it.

I look forward to spending the day with Julie and Lewis next month as they marry, I can’t wait to share that day with you 🙂

Fiona

FionaMillsArt | Pre Wedding Shoot | West Wittering | Chichester Wedding Photographer

Chichester Wedding Photographer | The Guildhall | Chichester Cathedral

Chichester Wedding Photographer | The Guildhall, Priory Park | Vicars Hall, Chichester Cathedral

Lianne and Tom were planning a winter wonderland of a wedding in Chichester, West Sussex. The theme was Narnia (which also happen to be one of my favourite collections of books!). After spending the previous months getting to know each other over test shoots and planning sessions we were well under way for their wedding day. They had specific ideas when searching for their Chichester Wedding Photographer, so I’m very glad to have fit the bill. A creative couple, they wanted their day to be captured naturally and artistically while still representing the feel and vibe of the day.

Lianne was getting ready at her parents house with some of her family and bridesmaids. The creative apple doesn’t fall far from the tree it seems, as much of the decor and themed pieces were crafted and created by her mum, Sue. From the bridesmaids dresses in midnight blue, the fur stoles, the bridesmaids bouquets to the piece-de-resistance: The bridal bouquet. A stunning posey made with a selection of glittery brooches rather than flowers, it has to be one of the most unique bridal bouquets I’ve seen in a long time. Much of the reception was also styled by Sue which you will see later.

Wearing a stunning satin and lace gown, with porcelain skin, dark hair and striking blue eyes that shone with happiness, Lianne was the epitome of a beautiful bride. Finishing off her bride-style with some hand dyed teal shoes that peeped under her hem, she was ready to present herself to her awaiting family and friends. I love the emotion in their faces as they see the bride for the first time.

While the bridal party finished up at home, Lee and I arrived at the Guildhall in Priory Park to capture the Groom, Tom and his Best Men. Recently re-opened as a wedding venue, the Guildhall is a fabulous piece of Chichester architecture. Bright, spacious and expansive, with it’s tall ceilings and gothic windows, light just streams in. The building retains much of its original features and character, and set in the City Centre within Priory Park it just cries out for weddings, as a Chichester Wedding Photographer I am so glad it has reopened! Tom and his groomsmen were dressed in the finest Scottish attire, complete with sporran and Sgian Dubh’s in their long socks. As you can see while the couple marry, some celebrate with a photo-op, others with a wee dram!

The newlyweds had planned their reception at Vicars Hall at Chichester Cathedral. We spent a short time on portraits (including one with a lamppost in homage to Narnia) before they stopped for an afternoon tea. The room was tastefully decorated with winter white twigs and fairy lights, pine cones, lampposts and keys with turkish delight on the table and vintage tea sets ready to warm the guests as they arrived. A Star Wars fan, Tom managed to sneak in his own spin…. a Princess Leah and Hans Solo bobble head couple, dressed in outfits to match Lianne and Tom and set as the cake toppers. As you can see, they bravely bobbled to attention as Tom and Lianne prepared to cut their cake with a Scottish long sword.

The party was set in the Cloisters with a DJ and BBQ. Before Lee and I left them to their party, we made the most of the dark cloisters for a few more portraits. I just love the lines and curves of the building, in awe of how vast and precisely these cathedrals were built so many years ago.

The final act to Lianne and Tom’s wedding day is the Graphistudio Album. They chose a Young Book with a Crystal Glance cover to really show off that dramatic shot in the cloisters.

They also left me some really lovely feedback to share with you: “Fiona captured our winter wedding in such a unique and stunning way that no other photographer would, we got everything we asked for and more! Thank you Fiona!!! Xx” Lianne & Tom Burnett

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Burnett it has been most lovely meeting you and capturing your amazing day!

Fiona xx

FionaMillsArt | Chichester Wedding Photographer