Seven Dead at Monto

Seven Dead. Monto Water Rats. A Thursday evening. The obligatory, bad habit, burger en-route and lots of very loud music. When Joe (lead singer) asked me to pop along to take some pictures, I asked, ‘Will my ears bleed?’ His response was an unequivocal, ‘Yes’ followed by, ‘I will bring you Daisy’s (Joe’s little girls) headphones to prevent ear bleed’. I must say either Joe overplayed the ’bleed’ effect or my ears have become far too accustomed to ‘bleeding’. I think the later sadly. No need for Daisy’s headphones (my ear plugs are currently in use by my 2yr old nephew…Love all the rock and roll kiddies out there!) and my ears are still intact. The last time I saw Joe was on drums. The time before that he was on bass, and this time he is lead singer and guitarist. Is there no end to this man’s talents?!

It was great to see Kerim again and meet Seven Dead drummer, Merlin. Apt name as Joe was previously in the band Merlins. Let’s hope there isn’t the same freakiness with the current name ‘ey?!

Their set was great and it was good being back at Water Rats again. The burger was bad though. Very, very bad!  

I want to be a skinny machine

Well, I don't want to be in their band http://www.skinnymachines.com/ I just want to be a skinny machine and not a midnight eating monster. After a very, very, very flipping (I won’t swear on my little blog space) good show by Skinny Machines at the Half Moon, (and a few shandies) I was of course hungry so ate 1 x whole tub of chicken chow mein (large, to go) from some place in Putney that I probably wouldn't frequent in daylight hours..

I think I ate it all, although it wouldn't surprise me if Putney Bridge was littered with it this morning. I envisage commuters dodging remnants of said feast in the rain this morning…How very depressing.

Enough of my misdemeanours… 

If the crowd were anything to go by, I'd say that was a pretty good show last night. My ears were ringing, my heart was pounding, my memory card was full, and my personal body space was totally invaded by sweaty fans jumping like loons. I purposely packed one 2G memory card (approx. 100 raw images) certainly not enough when you are having as much fun as I was. Frantically deleting the bad in order to capture the good doesn't quite cut the mustard.

The gig was being filmed and at one point I got told off...My big head was blocking the camera. Sorry boys.

Off to the Water Rats tonight to shoot new band Seven Dead www.sevendead.co.uk  - minus shandies, minus Chow Mein. Doubtful minus sweat….

'Oh ok, I'll live there..if I have to..'

Yesterday I had the pleasure of poodling off to Knightsbridge to shoot some interiors for Lawson Robb, Chelsea based Interior Design Agency. My brief was 'moody' and 'the little things' so of course, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The wide angle room shots aren't really my thing, but the little details most certainly are! I love the minutiae of life/a scene (and of a course when it comes to weddings this is most definitely the case). I take pleasure in seeking out the little compositions that the normal eye glazes over so today it was an absolute treat for me especially going back to my property roots.


In short (no amount of superlatives will do it justice) I was in the most stunning and contemporary 4 storey house in the heart of the most desirable area of London. The design and layout is second to none and nothing has been left to chance, everything is beautifully composed in an immaculate 'made for magazine, do people actually live here? Wow! I will take one please immediately! Oh, £10m, um..ok...'


I have seen some beautiful houses in my time, but this was pretty extraordinary...a gentlemen's palace with gadgets for everything. Lawson Rob have done an incredible job. I hope they think I haven't done too badly either portraying their work, but its the 'little details' so these images will not do it justice...

Lisa & Marc

The sun shon on Foxhills last weekend, not because Chris Evans was playing golf there (or so the rumour mill churned), but because the gorgeous pint sized Lisa, and her sport mad/MacDonalds loving beau, Marc were tying the knot and doing it in style.


The day was full to the brim with highlights..I thoroughly enjoyed the getting ready shots with Lisa, Kerry and their friend and make-up artist Kristal. There was a serious amount of giggling going on and I was instantly made to feel like 'one of the girls'. The ushers were great fun and the heckler's banter was hilarious and thankfully not too witty to outwit me.


It was also lovely to see Sian & James (a past wedding couple of mine) with their new little baby boy Jarvis. Ooh and a never-before-seen (to my eyes anyway) silver-plated and engraved condom holder, containting..yes, 1 condom. I'm not sure how impressed other girls will be when presented with such an item, but on this day, I was pretty damn impressed. Well done Mr & Mrs Jeffries, an excellent Ushers gift if ever I saw one!  


To do the big group shot, I had to hang out of a bedroom window, but the room had been hired for a football kit photography shoot so I must thank the photorgaphers for letting me use it. I also have to thank Ross (Master of Ceremonies) who did an amazing job and was so helpful and such a lovely man and Ewan, the videographer for an interesting chat about the world of weddings and cameras over a very much needed break.
  
Most importantly, I must thank the beautiful bride and groom for being so lovely to work with, so easy going and just really good fun. There was a lot of laughter on Saturday which is exactly how it should be so I hope this continues long into your life together. 'Laughter and love, with a side order of Big Mac and a Mulberry handbag to go please!'


I'm not sure I will ever again see a groom munch a 7hr old MaccyD's on his wedding day, but I live in hope. ;) xx

Long over due

Last night I ventured to Proud Camden...long overdue in my opinion and I find it odd that I haven't been before as its such a cool venue and really good for shooting in. Brighton band, Ice Black Birds were awesome and it was so good to be out with some old faces and shooting live music again...love love love it.
 

Howard & Katie's big day at Stanmer House

I met Katie and Howard in a pub in Brighton quite sometime ago and was totally bowled over by how much they loved my wedding work and just how lovely they were. We chatted about life, love and photos and instantly hit it off and when leaving I was left with that real excitement bubbling inside, 'Ooh, I can't wait to shoot this one' and true to my bubbling internals, it didn't disappoint.

It was certainly a more challenging wedding due to the weather and the incredibly gorgeous Jack (see cheeky monkey face above), Howard and Katie's 18 month old little boy who didn't want to be apart from his Mummy for a second and he let everyone know about it, but the weather cleared and Jack had a sleep and everyone had an amazing time. 

Howard and Katie are the sweetest couple and shooting their wedding was an absolute pleasure and I hope they will be as thrilled with their own wedding portfolio as they were with my past work. I wish them all the love, luck and happiness in the world and thank them for letting me be part of their special day.





'Loukia is going public...finally'

My website www.loukia.co.uk is now live and I'm so excited (if a little nervous) to finally launch myself to the big world out there. I have been shooting weddings for 3 years and it definitely was not love at first shoot, more a slow burner.


My first wedding was for Stu and Jen, an amazing couple who absolutely believed in my ability to capture their special day after seeing my work in the Brighton magazine 'You Got Papped'.


I must admit I think I was more nervous then they were which was only made worse when, during the ceremony, I kicked over a candle which proceeded to roll across the hardwood floor during a very, very quiet moment in the ceremony... I tiptoed towards the candle as it rolled away from me further and when I finally caught it, I lifted up my head to the sound of giggles from the bride and groom and their guests, I politely apologised, berated the candle and tiptoed back giggling myself. I survived the day and they were thrilled with their images and from there, my journey as a wedding photographer starts. To date I have not advertised and every wedding has been through word of mouth which I am so incredibly grateful for, but it is now time to go forth and do what is clearly staring me in the face.
  
Today, I am certainly more confident (candles are now dodged in stealth ninja style) and as I said to Lisa (my most recent bride) on Saturday, 'I absolutely love my job!' It has been a slow love affair, but one I know will endure.  


I shall be using my blog to talk about my work and show images so I hope you enjoy it and pass me onto all the lovers you know will be walking down the aisle in the not too distant future.


Thanks and bye for now xx