Emma & Pete

More and more we're booking weddings further afield than the Midlands, which is great. As much as we love living in Birmingham, it's always good to have an excuse to escape. This year we've had weddings in London, Devon and in December we have a wedding in New York. Emma and Pete got in touch with us after quite a thorough search for a photographer and, as they live a couple of hours away in Newark, it was another excuse to escape and visit an area I've not visited much before.

They're happy to spend time to make sure we get great photos for them and their pre-wed shoot was one of the most fun pre-wed shoots I've done. We started off exploring the streets of Newark while trying to dodge the rain...








We were on our way back to their house when I spotted this field with that great sky. Favourite!



Their wedding also took place in Newark and this time the sun was shining. Emma looked amazing. I mean, just look at that dress!! Pete scrubbed up pretty well too ;)






On to the church...






Then we headed off on our own to get some portraits of the new Mr & Mrs Dowse..






Unfortunately this gorgeous building is also the cheesiest nightclub in Newark according to Pete. What a waste!


Check out the table plan - hand-made by our blushing bride...



And what an amazing venue for the reception...



Later in the day we decided to grab a few more photos of the couple...



Great couple, great venue, great weather.... Thanks for a GREAT day guys. The album will be stunning.

V Festival 2008

This weekend has been fantastic and depressing in almost equal amounts.

I spent the weekend at the V Festival where I was photographing on behalf of the festival promoters. The first day I was there by myself, running around in the rain trying to catch as many bands as possible. Nobody was allowed to photograph Girls Aloud apart from their own photographer, which was a shame. I wonder what they have to hide?!

Here are some of my favourite images from Saturday...

Amy Winehouse, One Republic and Lenny Kravitz.




I'm used to shooting girls in white dresses but this was a little different..



Kings Of Leon (one of my fave bands of the weekend) and The Zutons.




And headliners, The Verve.




The low point on Saturday was having to walk for an hour in heavy rain to get back to my car. Thoroughly depressing! And then after I parked my car on our driveway it was broken into and my iPod and SatNav were stolen. Not good at all!

Luckily Sunday was a major improvement as the weather improved and I was joined by Evelyne and Elliott for the day. It was Elliott's first ever concert so I made sure the first band we saw was a good one - The Hold Steady. Here he is getting into the festival spirit.




The Hold Steady, Estelle, The Kooks and Lostprophets.





As you can see, by Sunday the bad weather had left its mark...




The Script played on the day their album went to Number 1 in the charts.


And here's the lovely Duffy on stage...


And here she is getting fondled by my son!



Elliott also hung out with Maximo Park backstage.


The Pigeon Detectives and the ladies' favourite, Stereophonics.



Here's a good story.... When I was still enjoying my previous life as an international DJ I played in Chamonix in France at a club called Deluded. I was in Chamonix for two days and while I was there I met a girl called Evelyne. I'm now married to her and we have a son and another baby due next year. The two guys who booked me to play the club, Livesey and Graham, were at the festival this weekend and here they are with the "fruit of Deluded" :)



Thanks guys. My life would be very different if you hadn't invited me to play your club!





And finally.... mega-headliners Muse closed the festival in fine style.