Insert 1 x Beautiful bride & 1 x Handsome Groom

If magic and fairies and all things ‘Wonderland’ (as in Alice’s hangout) exist, then I think they must reside in The Larmer Tree (http://larmertree.co.uk) on the Wiltshire/Dorset border. 

I was there last week for a site visit with my clients George and Maneet who’s wedding I will be shooting in June.

The pictures below aren’t anything special, more for reference and shot quickly, but THIS IS WHERE THE LITTLE PEOPLE LIVE! (See tiny doors, clearly meant for tiny people ergo TINY PEOPLE EXIST)

Can’t wait for June. 

Magic. 

Imagine the following if you will...left hand image: Remove poor pitiful plant and replace with beautiful bride sitting on the table looking out of the window. Stunning! Throw in some fairies buzzing about the place...rah rah ok, I'm out of here. Happy Friday all xx

What a Performance!

When actors get married, they don’t just get married, they choose the finest and oldest music venue, they invite their talented and gorgeous friends to perform, their band are top West End players, ‘Sounds of Swing’, they dress like movie stars (their Mothers dress like movie stars too), they choreograph their first dance and execute it beautifully, they forgo the serious posh nosh and provide good ol’ hearty pie and mash, and they make it look like it was created effortlessly in the blink of a beautiful eye.

From the outset I had a clear vision of how Mark & Kirsty’s day would look and feel and this filled me with much excitement. So on a brisk Sunday morning with a spring in my step, I headed to Wilton’s Music Hall with its flaying walls of chipped plaster, creaking floorboards, dilapidated exterior and an atmosphere that could never be created but has to be earned by putting the years in. Romance? Pffft…Wilton’s invented romance.

A quick 5 minute walk away and I was at the getting ready venue on the eleventh floor of The Grange Hotel with an incredible city backdrop and a beautiful bride ready for the camera. Kirsty looked absolutely stunning…like a 20’s movie star preparing for an Oscar. Her mother Maggie also looked fabulous in a rather special gold number (Kirsty’s Dad was assured it came from a very *cough* inexpensive shop) and then there was beautiful Fleur, whose wedding I shot last year, and who I was thrilled to see again, especially when I heard there would be a new little arrival gracing the world shortly ;-) My heartfelt congratulations to both Fleur and Dom and of course the rest of the family.

There are two pictures from the getting ready shots which keep making me laugh, the first is Mike sewing Fleur’s spangly belt (apparently he does all the sewing in the family!) and the second is Dom doing an excellent Butlins/80’s Wall Street trader impression. I’m so sorry gentlemen, but I couldn’t resist ;-)

The Hoiles and Goldthorp family are hand-on-heart some of the loveliest people I have had the pleasure to work for. They are great fun and so easy-going and it has clearly rubbed off onto Kirsty and Mark who were very relaxed throughout. They both looked incredible and as much as Mark disliked being photographed, I think he cuts a pretty dashing picture.

I would like to finish by wishing Kirsty and Mark my BIG congratulations and best wishes. I’ve had a wonderful time working for your family and getting to know you and I hope that your lives together will be full of love and laughter and those magical things called music, dancing and theatre. Without them, life wouldn’t quite be the same.

With much love,

Loukie xx

My new fave band: The Son play Club Fandango, The Bull & Gate, Kentish Town

Another day, another gig, but 'Oh no, no!' Not just another day because it SNOWED big fat flakes and 'No, no, no!' I didn't take a snow pictures, but I did take lots of gig shots of my new fave band, The Son [www.facebook.com/thesonband] and folk darlings Thank Pablo [www.facebook.com/thankpablo] at Club Fandango, The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town, Laaaaandon, EngERland, the World. 

For more pictures of the night please check out my website:

http://www.loukia.co.uk/#!client-login > The Son > Password: theson

http://www.loukia.co.uk/#!client-login > Thank Pablo > Password: pablo

Stompin’ at the Savoy on NYE

For two years running I haven’t been able to give my lovely man a kiss on NYE because I have been working *sob sob*.  

So there I was at the stroke of 12, snapping away like a loon whilst balloons descended, people kissed and that good old feeling emerged… out with the old and in with the new. I have a crack pot theory…in whatever way you see in the New Year an element of it will carry through into the year itself so what better way to start then by working hard, shooting some fab celebs (ala Miss Cat Deeley) and doing what you love. Hopefully my theory is poppycock (great word) as I would like to keep my kissing quota relatively high this year!

The night was a huge success and such a great event to be part of. The organisers ‘Three’s a Crowd Events Ltd’ put many a prosperous derriere on expensive seats and certainly didn’t disappoint with the lure of exquisite food and exceptional live performances from the likes of Beverly Knight, Tony Christie, Buddy Grecco and Paloma Faith who were all accompanied by the 30-piece Guy Barker Orchestra. The whole event was broadcast live on Radio 2 and hosted by none other than Mr Patrick Kietly and because I am a regular listener to Radio 2, you can imagine it was all pretty exciting for me (excitable seal hand-clap,excitable seal hand-clap, excitable seal hand-clap).

For someone who has never ventured into the centre of town on NYE for fear of suffocation, stampedes, loss of Oyster card who knows, I – along with the rest of London – tried to leave Embankment at about 1am. Yikes.  So in a desperate attempt to start 2012 in a very un-squish way (note my theory here if you will), I decided to bide my time and buy a Double Decker chocolate bar (rock n ‘roll), 12.5grams of Golden Virginia, a packet of Rizlas, some Swan filters and a lighter (spot the semi ex-smoker with crack pot theories)and smoked a cigarette on the steps of Temple next to a burly bunch of Police officers while commending the impressive manner in which they hoarded the masses down into the tube and thus clearing the entrance for me to make my way home. Note to self: chocolate + cigarettes do not mix.  

Back in Fulham my neighbours played some very loud music until approximately 7am.

New Years Eve 2011 will always be remembered as an evening of incredible musical talent, observing the merriment, sleeping with headphones and waking up with sore ears.

To see more images from the evening, please click on the following link: http://www.stompinatthesavoy.co.uk/ 

Theo, Lou and Boux too

Oh Lord am I behind with my blog! I have, however, stopped the self-inflicted beatings because - when my blog/website is needing some attention - it means dear web-world followers (Mum), I have been busy shooting! Yes, I have been busy outside, indoors, up ladders shooting. Just what I needed in the run-up to Christmas.
Happy belated everything by the way.
As you can see from the images below I shot the Guildford store opening for Boux Avenue in November and met the lovely Mr Theo Paphitis, fellow Greek (OK he's from Cyprus, but it’s all Greek innit ;), said in best Grecco Laaaandon voice). And I also did some prop photography for them which took me to their Lakeside and Bluewater stores. (Thank you Sat Nav for bypassing the 30min Dartford Crossing option and taking me back into London and showing me a scenic view of the A13 and Blackwall Tunnel THANK YOU).
I’ve fallen in love with this lingerie company - http://www.bouxavenue.com/ - it's very me. The prices are very me too. The window dressings are so gorgeous I thought it was beyond my reach, but on further inspection, par exemple, two sets of pyjamas (pyjamas are like Chow Mein and Burgers...essential life tools) for £30! B A R G A I N! 
The shops are beautifully designed and a good nod to the very vintage/burlesque wave that is oh so now and, let’s be honest, what us ladies really like. Pretty, pretty, pretty… with lots of pretty on the side.

Amy & Joachim. A very misty, romantic Sunday wedding.

About a year and a half ago, Sian (ESC Events planner extraordinaire and past bride) came to me with a suggestion; a competition. One lucky bride would get the chance to win ESC wedding planning services and a full day's photography. This lucky lady was Amy Chung. I only met her about a month before her wedding to Joachim and suddenly I became the lucky lady. Let's be honest, it could have been difficult. I could have ended up with a Bridezilla (do they still exist?). I have lived in a bubble of wonderful, easy-going couples since my wedding lark began and I have never encountered a scary couple so I feared my luck may have run out. But lady luck has a soft spot for me and gave me the lovely Amy & Joachim.

So there I was last Sunday, up at the crack of a very foggy dawn and driving into New Malden. Oddly, my boyfriend was also driving into New Malden to play golf. He chose to be up at 6.30am on a Sunday. Dear God, the call of Golf is strong in that one.

I kept thinking "the fog will clear. It will clear. Not a problem." It didn't. But what it did do is something misty and romantic and moody and I liked it a lot.

As always, the getting-ready-venue (family home) = chaos, excitement, pretty things, stunning dresses, cake, great hospitality and not one camera shy individual. Even the little ones positively relished posing whilst still maintaining that air of nonchalance that kids do so well.

Make-up artist Sam Sharm really did a wonderful job with Amy's hair and makeup. She looked incredible..like a beautiful porcelain doll. And while everyone was running around her, she remained the epitome of calm throughout. I was very impressed.

As Registry offices go, Merton is really quite beautiful. It's pretty old and positioned right by Morden Park, so it's perfect for the personal shots. And on this occasion the mist and fog gave it such a wistful, romantic ambience that it was the perfect setting for such a special wedding. Maid of Honour Kim, was on hand to help and came fully prepared for assisting in potential adverse weather conditions; Coat, boots, scarf, gloves, a trooper maid of honour indeed.

Oddly enough, I think this was the first wedding I have done where there has been a harpist, so heads up to Maria Beattie who played beautifully.

The reception was held upstairs at the London Hong Kong restaurant near Heathrow. I normally sneak off for something to eat whilst the guests are themselves tucking in, but this time I learnt a little bit about Chinese hospitality as Amy's Uncle insisted I join one of the tables and enjoy the 10 course banquet and there was absolutely no arguing with him. The food was amazing and I actually ate shark for the first time (it was nice to get my own back on Jaws for scaring the hell out of me as a child). I must thank the guests at the table as they were great company and very happy for me to join them.

I loved the Chinese tea ceremony. The bowing and exchanging of tea for gifts and good wishes between the newlyweds and the older family relatives was lovely.

As with all weddings I could go on and on, but to round off I would just like to thank Amy & Joachim and their friends and family for being so friendly and fun to work with. I think the day was an enormous success and they truly deserved to win the competition.
I wish them all the wonderful goodies that life has to offer and I hope their Swedish wedding will be as enjoyable as their Chinese one. xx