My Blog is a collection of everything from personal projects to professional work, and everything in-between. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 22:22:00 GMT This morning I got lost in fields somewhere between Olney and Emberton in Buckinghamshire, I had only intended on jumping out the car to take a few winter landscapes, instead the ordeal lasted 3 hours - finally ending with a torn pair of trousers and very tired legs. I've driven through Olney many times, must be getting on for the 'hundreds' now, Olney a very beautiful and relatively unspoilt corner of the English countrywide. I had noticed a small clearing in a hedgerow that I pass by for a couple of weeks - that hedgerow stuck in my mind, and a plan was hatched. The ripped up trousers - I never knew how much farmers love barbed wire! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/february/10/winter-landscapes/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/february/10/winter-landscapes/ Snowy Winter Landscapes in Olney Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:30:00 GMT An email landing in my inbox from Mum a couple of days ago; seems she digs my style. I love her signoff: (this is not just a proud mum either). http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/20/not-just-a-proud-mum/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/20/not-just-a-proud-mum/ Not just a proud Mum Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:30:00 GMT Nikki got in contact just before Christmas; she's having a Wedding in Northamptonshire this year and was looking for something a little different, I was only too happy to offer my services. We arranged for our pre-wedding engagement shoot to take place at the wonderful Delapre Abbey in Northamptonshire, on the way to meet up I had the usual nerves about what the sun was doing, turned out just great though. I hope you enjoy this little sneek preview, there's more coming soon. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/15/pre-wedding-shoot-delapre-abbey/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/15/pre-wedding-shoot-delapre-abbey/ Pre-Wedding Shoot Preview, Delapre Abbey Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:30:00 GMT Andy and Fran have been wonderful clients. I first met them at Courteenhall for their pre-wedding shoot during 2011, and it went from there! Andy and Fran were then married at Paris House in Bedfordshire, an amazing day which was a pleasure to be a part of. I'm grateful that Andy & Fran have the same creative outlook as me, that's made it very easy. We shot a set of jumping images on their pre-wedding shoot and on the wedding day itself, it only seemed fair to complete them. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/12/post-wedding-shoot-eastcote-northants/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/12/post-wedding-shoot-eastcote-northants/ Post Wedding Shoot - Eastcote, Northamptonshire Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 GMT San Francisco was the final destination on our 3 week road trip across America. It's at this point that we thought back on some of the amazing places we'd been: New York City, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Dallas, Vegas, Colorado, Los Angeles & Santa Cruz. Some of the best photography was still yet to come! There is a reason why I left Lindsay to source decent hotels, San Fran was the one and only location which I put myself in-charge of. Our hotel room was a small pokey affair with 2 inch gaps in the door frames and taps which broke on command. It didn't matter so much though - we hardly spent any time in the hotel, there was far more important stuff to be getting down to business with. San Francisco (or The Bay Area) as the locals like to call it was absolutely stunning. We spent most of the time running around trying to cram as much as possible into the last few days of our Honeymoon, so much for a relaxing holiday! Starting off with a hop on bus ride around the city, we became familiar with out surroundings. The first couple of days were mostly sight seeing. We checked out the world famous Golden Gate Bridge (on our first visit the fog was too dense, so a second trip was necessary), various museums, Pier 39 and seafood restaurants. On our second day in we went over to Alcatraz (which was fun), and learnt all about the celebs that spent time over the years behind bars. Trivia about Alcatraz: 36 prisoners had attempted escape from the island, 2 were successful but captured soon after, 7 inmates where shot trying, 2 drowned in the bay, 5 are unaccounted for, presumed drowned. On 20th May, the day before we left, we took a couch tour along the coast. I have never seen such beautiful scenery in all my life, there are no words which can come close to the beauty of Californian Landscape and the Pacific Ocean - look for yourself. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/09/san-francisco/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/09/san-francisco/ San Francisco, Honeymoon Part V Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:00:00 GMT We rolled into Los Angeles on Friday 13th May 2011. The 265 mile trip from Vegas took us on the Interstate 15 through Barstow, avoiding Death Valley to the North. Los Angeles was colder than I had expected but a nice change from the Nevada heat. First stop was the hotel which was only a few minutes walk from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a pavement covering 15 blocks decorated with over 2,400 brass stars. I was surprised to see them - I knew they were in Hollywood 'somewhere', but our research into places along our route had taken a back seat. Then I remembered that Hollywood has a huge sign on the Hollywood Hills, I made it my mission to get as close to it as possible. We did the normal tourist activities but also had time to: Eat the most amazing Kobe Burger (still the finest beef I've ever consumed), find an original Banksy, go past (not in) The Viper Room. And attempt to retrace a couple of the movie set locations for the film The Big Lebowski. Thanks to internet I successfully located Johnie's Coffee Shop. This is the scene where Walter tells The Dude that he can get him a toe by 3 o'clock that afternoon (with nail polish). It was also the set for a scene in American History X. On our last day I drove up as far as possible onto the Hollywood Hills to get a picture of the sign. The road was narrow, and the car was unfamiliar! We did get close but were put off by the constant police drone announcements that to get any closer would be a federal offence. Yeah, best we head off to Santa Cruz. On the way to Santa Cruz I had also made it a mission to visit the bridge where in the film The Big Lebowski, Walter throws a ringer. I had done all my homework, found out the precise location and closest town; the quiet Piru. Without internet and images, its amazing how similar all the small bridges look in that part of the world. I stopped at a small shop on the outskirts of Piru and asked one of the locals for directions - shouldn't have bothered. Eventually we stopped at a bridge which had been closed to the public for a bit of time. I locked Lindsay safely away in the car and went for an explore; the pictures came out great - shame it was the wrong bridge and I got bitten by huge bugs. Turns out we were only a couple of minutes drive from the actual location. Our next stop was Santa Cruz, It's a shame the weather wasn't playing nice, but we did trek down to the boardwalk anyway to have a play on the arcades. The last cool thing I remember from Santa Cruz was the Giant Dipper. An old wooden roller coaster which first opened in 1924, just as cool today as I'm sure it was back then. This historic gem reaches speeds of up to 55 mph and has a drop of 65 ft. Impressive for something which was build 88 years ago and made almost entirely of wood. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/09/los-angeles/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/09/los-angeles/ Los Angeles, Honeymoon Part IV Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:30:00 GMT There isn't much about Vegas which I don't love. Las Vegas was the third stop on our road trip honeymoon through the USA. Arriving late by plane I was surprised to see slot machines at the airport, this was going to be a messy 5 days in Nevada. We split our time up well: gambling, eating, sleeping and the occasional trip off the main strip. Our first hotel was the Monte Carlo, a nice hotel and casino with 2,992 rooms (with nothing else to compare it to, the biggest hotel I'd ever stayed at). Issues at the reception meant our first night was an utter hell, sleeping to the hum of an air-conditioning factory directly below our window. But thanks to Twitter, the problem was soon resolved and we found ourselves in one of the Diamond Suites. The second hotel we stayed at was The Venetian. A couple of interesting things about the Venetian, the security is tight (I got busted taking the above self portrait in one of the many hotel corridors) and I didn't win a penny in the Casino. I was really sick driving between the Monte Carlo and Venetian - so much that I left a bit of me in the entrance bush. Some of the frames in this collection where taken in the entrance foyer, no security problems there - far too many tourists. Other cool things we did in Vegas and Colorado: Put $100 on red to win at the Stratosphere, I won!, Attempt to visit as many of the filming locations from Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas as possible. These included: The Flamingo Hotel & Casino, Riviera and Circus Circus. It's impossible to halt progress in Vegas and due unpopular demand, Stardust and Mint Hotel's are no longer there, Visit the Hoover Dam, Go in a helicopter down the Grand Canyon, Speak to a real Navajo Indian, Eat fried chicken for breakfast, Meet Nathan Burton. You should go to Vegas, it was kind to us. But onwards and upwards; we hired a car and made our way to LA. Only 265 miles of clear road ahead of us. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/08/las-vegas/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/08/las-vegas/ Las Vegas, Honeymoon Part III Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:30:00 GMT Washington, DC was the second stop on our honeymoon road trip through the United States of America. Having arrived via train from New York City we made our way in a taxi to our hotel, a room which would be our base for the following 5 days. Lindsay my wife hadn't been to Washington before but I came a few years ago in the winter. The only thing I could really remember was that Georgetown was fantastic, it was cold and there are many homeless people! We really did the tourist thing, making sure we visited every important landmark and building. Our first sight was the huge Washington Monument. It's an obelisk which sits 555 feet tall and looks proudly over the Reflecting Pool. I was surprised to see how many protesters occupy the roads around The White House. On our visit we had a guy with no shoes on {still unsure what he was protesting against}, an anti-nuclear tent and the religious nutters who swore blind that the end of the world was coming. Obviously they were wrong. We were actually in San Francisco when it should have happened. Arlington Cemetery was peaceful; there really are no words to describe the scale and enormity of it. As far as the eyes can see, white tombstones lined up perfectly. On reflection we think that 5 days was too much for Washington, DC. It's a great place to visit but we left feeling rather sombre, I guess that's what war monument's tend to do. I took some great pictures though and met some fantastic people. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/04/washington-dc/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/04/washington-dc/ Washington DC, Honeymoon Part II Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:00:00 GMT A lot of my photography pals have been writing up blog posts summarising 2011. I saw it happen last year and I'm even more aware of it this year. It's never been for me, I just don't like the idea of it; maybe in 2013 I'll embrace it but for now I choose to give it a wide berth. I did however stumble upon some inspiration which does sum up perfectly my 2011. It's a short quote by the actress Lily Tomlin: "The road to success is always under construction". So there it is. I'm a moving target and this ladies and gentlemen is my 2011 roundup. If you want to see specific jobs I've done just have a little rummage at your own leisure through some old blog posts where you can check out the 2011 and 2010 stuff. Thanks to all my wonderful clients for sharing a productive and creative year with me. I can't wait to get stuck into 2012. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/03/2011-summary/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/03/2011-summary/ 2011 Summary Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:30:00 GMT It all started back in September of 2011 when I first met Andy & Fran. We had a pre-wedding shoot at the gorgeous Courteenhall in Northamptonshire. Their wedding was only a couple of weeks away and you could feel the excitement. Somehow, and to this day I don't know how - I manage to persuade Andy to jump in the air. We all loved the frame and decided to replicate it on their wedding day at Paris House in Bedfordshire. There was no way I could leave the set unfinished so when I contacted Andy and Fran to ask if they'd be interested in a Post-Wedding shoot they loved the idea. I was quite literally jumping with excitement! This set of images follows the story of a young couple in love; the first image was taken very close to the house they lived at before they were married, the second on their wedding at their reception venue, and the third at their new home in Eastcote, Northamptonshire. Andy and Fran plan to put these prints up in their house as a completed set to remind them of the journey they've taken in 2011, what a great way to kick of the new year. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/03/before-during-and-after/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2012/january/03/before-during-and-after/ Before, During & After - Wedding Photography Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:00:00 GMT I first met Steve and Emily back in August when we had a lot of fun at their engagement shoot at Stanwick Lakes, I've been looking forward to their winter wedding ever since. Steve and Emily live in the same market town as me, the beautiful Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire. I was lucky enough to have the very talented Neil Balderson working as my second shooter, between us we manage to successfully co-ordinate shooting at Steve & Emily's home, the Green Dragon hotel, St Mary's Church and Bede House. After getting some gorgeous portraits of the girls I then shot Steve and his group of groomsmen as they walked from the Green Dragon hotel to St Mary the Virgin Church in the middle of Higham. I got some great portraits of Steve, you'd never have guessed that he was nervous! Then back I went to their home where I got some sensational images of Emily and her bridesmaids walking down the road. The sun was predictably low for this time of the year and just the way I like it. I'm a real sucker for traditional church weddings, this ceremony didn't disappoint! I shot from the back of the church using a long lens, enabling me to get those special moments that only happen once. After the wedding ceremony I had to work fast, light was fading and it was freezing cold. Although we had a fantastic warm glow don't be deceived by the pictures - Emily was shaking and covered in goose bumps! I often hear that from my clients how much they love the symmetry which often appears in my work, couples portraits in-front of church doors are the perfect time to take advantage of strong lines. I'm particularly pleased with how well these frames came out, considering the very cold day we were having. Steve and Emily held their wedding ceremony at Bede House which is only a few yards from Higham Ferrers Church. After the ceremony (and once they'd warmed up a little) Neil got to work on his amazing off camera flash photography. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/29/traditional-northampton-winter-wedding/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/29/traditional-northampton-winter-wedding/ Traditional Northampton Winter Wedding Fri, 23 Dec 2011 16:30:00 GMT You might remember Fran and Andy from the beautiful Paris House Wedding which I shot earlier in the year. I had such a great time that day that we decided the best course of action was to shoot a Post Wedding set of images to compliment their Pre-Wedding Shoot we did in Courteenhall in Northamptonshire. Of course the weather was typically British. Regular followers of my blog will know that the chance of rain plays havoc with my stress levels, it did rain - quite a lot as it happens! Fran and Andy were true stars as always, we took a few frames out behind their new house in Eastcote, a gorgeous setting with rolling green hills. The concept and purpose was to complete our jumping set, mission accomplished! You'll have to wait a little longer though to see the completed group of images. I chose the absolutely wonderful Canon 24mm f1/4L II USM Lens for this task, that little puppy packs a serious contrast punch - I love it! I also had a bit more fun with VSCO {Visual Supply Company), they make some seriously great presets. I've modified the presets to suit my own needs. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/23/eastcote-post-wedding-shoot/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/23/eastcote-post-wedding-shoot/ Fran & Andy's Post Wedding Shoot Preview - Eastcote, Northants Sun, 18 Dec 2011 17:30:00 GMT New York was the first of 6 cities we visited while on honeymoon earlier this year, it's the obvious place for any Brit to start an American adventure. These photos appear in the exact order as they were taken; starting off roaming Central Park followed by a trip up to the observation deck of the Empire State Building. We also had fun exploring Staten Island, Ellis Island, Times Square, Hells Kitchen, Brooklyn, China Town and the business district. It felt important to keep the photos looking as pure as possible, these have been gently processed using my own special preset; a one hit wonder. I've got every intention of publishing the photos from Washington DC, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Santa Cruise & San Francisco. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/18/nyc/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/18/nyc/ New York, Honeymoon Part I Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:20:00 GMT Check out this cute preview from a family shoot today at Rushden Hall Park in Northamptonshire. They do say: never work with kids & animals, but shooting little people is such a pleasure. It was a freezing cold day in Rushden so we had to work hard to get some gorgeous portraits. We experienced a biting wind and rain, but that wasn't enough to stop this little girl from grinning for her mum. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/09/rushden-hall-park-portraits-preview/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/09/rushden-hall-park-portraits-preview/ Rushden Hall Park Portrait Preview Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:00:00 GMT Steve & Emily's winter wedding at Higham Ferrers Church in Northampton was an absolute pleasure to shoot. Luckily for me, the reception was at Bede House (only a few meters from the church). Steve & Emily had their engagement shoot at Stanwick Lakes, just down the road from Higham Ferrers. They looked adorable back then, and more so on their wedding day. I can't wait to publish the complete set, but for now - I hope you enjoy this little selection. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/08/higham-ferrers-wedding-preview/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/december/08/higham-ferrers-wedding-preview/ Higham Ferrers Winter Wedding Preview Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:00:00 GMT I was lucky enough to shoot a wedding at Paris House earlier in the year. It's a stunning location set in the heart of the Woburn Estate in Bedfordshire. Holly is seen posing near the iconic gates at the entrance to the deer park. Of all the wedding venues I've been fortunate to work in; Paris House in Bedfordshire is by far my favorite. A 22 acre deer park surrounds the award winning restaurant, serving up some of the very finest food Bedfordshire has to offer. I always go a little weak at the knees driving into the huge decorative gates; they offer such a huge array of photographic opportunities. The last time I shot a wedding at Paris House I promised myself that I'd not miss the chance to get some portraits in-front of them! For this bridal location shoot I worked with the well known and highly regarded Ivory Flame, aka Holly. Holly was the natural choice for this location, the combination of gorgeous red hair and her classic fashion look really completed the style. To add the final touches I called on the very talented Katie from Daisy Chain Florists in Milton Keynes Village. At short notice Katie planned and pulled together a fab bouquet which perfectly complimented our traditional themed shoot. As light is a serious factor when shooting outdoor in the winter I always tend to get nervous as we approach the 4pm marker. I had no reason to be, the warm low light supplied some unique and beautiful opportunities. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/november/26/paris-house-bridal-photography-ivory-flame/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/november/26/paris-house-bridal-photography-ivory-flame/ Paris House Bridal Photography with Ivory Flame Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:15:00 GMT I've never thought of myself as a particularly good role model. Sure I work real hard (sometimes too hard), but I'm also foolish and at times immature! So you can imagine how amazed I was to be asked to undertake the important role of godfather for a second time! Meet Baby Luke Taylor. I haven't got a huge amount of hands on experience with babies but I know that this little guy sure laughs more than the average. I thought that all babies did was cry and go toilet, I was wrong! So when Luke's mum and dad said: Hey, would you mind being Luke's godfather how could I say no! Luke joins the small collection of children lucky enough to have me as their god-parent, you might remember little Baby Sadie, she was the first. Luke's blessing was held at Christ the King Church in Kettering, Northants followed up by a lovely family BBQ back at the grandparent's house. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/november/13/luke-taylor/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/november/13/luke-taylor/ Introducing Baby Luke Fri, 28 Oct 2011 18:55:00 GMT Olney is a picturesque market town in Buckinghamshire. I pass though Olney almost everyday, normally early in the morning when the mist is still hovering above the fields which border the Great River Ouse. Olney is very beautiful and boasts some sensational landscapes; this frame was taken only a few yards from St Peter & St Pauls Church. I didn't realise the public could roam the fields, or the cows for that matter! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/28/olney/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/28/olney/ Olney, Great River Ouse Fri, 21 Oct 2011 20:30:00 GMT Tim & Helen's Wedding at Dodmoor House in Northamptonshire was legendary! I've been looking forward to shooting at Dodmoor House ever since their pre-wedding shoot earlier in the year. It also really helps when you have clients as relaxed as these guys. I arrived extra early to make sure I captured the Grade II listed buildings and decor, and then got to work shooting Helen getting ready. I like to allow plenty of time for preparation it gives me the opportunity to find the little details which the bride and groom has often spent hours thinking about. I shot the guests arriving with a reportage style in mind, keeping out of the way but catching the action with a long lens means I can get those wonderful reactions, and I was not disappointed. The wedding was an intimate ceremony held in the Courtyard Barn. The building has tons of light and I was able to get close to Tim and Helen. This was followed by group shots on the popular steps then some couples frames. Meanwhile the guests were enjoying the amazing vocals of Paul Martyn, he was also a big hit with the younger audience especially with his own unique version of Bear Necessities from the Jungle Book. If your looking for a very friendly and uber talented entertainer - get this guy! I hope I get the opportunity to work at Dodmoor soon; it's a splendid venue with tons of photography opportunities. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/21/dodmoor-house-wedding/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/21/dodmoor-house-wedding/ Dodmoor House Wedding Sun, 16 Oct 2011 18:10:00 GMT As a conscientious professional I'm constantly looking at trends and styles of photography, it's a moving industry and one which I'm proud to be part of. Recently I've noticed a shift in processing style, whilst all photographers worth their salt have a defined approach which describes their character there is without question a trend emerging. There are some awesome photographers out there producing stunning work whilst embracing post processing tools to an appropriate level, but when is too much? It's a topic that fascinates, it's emotive. My wife is my biggest critique; she is the only person who I trust to vet which images make it to my blog and which don't. She hit home with a comment recently: "I prefer the images which pop...!", and there you have it. Delving into likes and dislikes leads me to understand that movement in popular images of the here and now can be described with a formula: Bright, Contrasted, Saturated, Vignette, Eye processing (sharpened & exposed). Naturally I'm not generalising, there is plenty of excellent work being done by photographers who have evolved in different directions, take me for instance - I've been particularly inspired by Jason Mize, a wedding and portrait photographer working out of Florida USA. And the absolutely amazing inspiring work by Christian Schmidt. This got me thinking about portraits and the fun I could have as an experiment, shifting ideas around 'just for fun'. Who could I possibly find that would pose for this peculiar experiment? The person who got me thinking in the first place of course! So here she is, Lindsay - in a busy street, wearing swimming goggles. What could be more right! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/16/portrait-photography-with-swimming-goggles/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/16/portrait-photography-with-swimming-goggles/ Portraits with Swimming Goggles Thu, 09 Oct 2011 15:47:00 GMT This Saturday I had the great pleasure of shooting Tim & Helens Wedding at Dodmoor House in Northamptonshire, most of the wedding was shot in a Reportage style using available light. Whilst there I met the fantastic Paul Martyn Entertainer, this is one cool dude who can play a mean saxophone; he was a big hit with the guests, especially the younger ones. My highlight was a jazz version of the kids classic Jungle Book - classic. Whilst Tim and Helen are on their honeymoon in Wales I'll be working up their images. Get ready for some serious blogging action in the next couple of weeks! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/09/dodmoor-house-wedding-preview/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/09/dodmoor-house-wedding-preview/ Dodmoor House, Wedding Photography Preview Thu, 06 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT My wife looked on as I paddled around in the sea at Herne Bay, fishing out a dirty police cone. "It'll make a great picture..." I said, but she just sat back and played on my iPhone. This frame was shot 'off the hip' using a Canon and Angle C Viewfinder. It makes up part of a collection of images that were shot whilst on holiday during the hottest October since records began. You can just about see the tip of Herne Bay Pier in the distance, that part was known as the landing stage. The rest of the Pier was destroyed during a storm in 1978. Back in the day the pier would have stretched 3,787 feet into the sea! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/06/herne-bay/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/06/herne-bay/ Herne Bay Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:00:00 GMT There's this saying which my family use: "If Lindsay (my wife) is on holiday, it will be warm". Without exception this is true for the first weekend on October 2011. It was a beautiful 29 degrees with hardly any breeze, and the most brilliant perfect blue sky. I shot this guy on a surf board paddling along Worthing Coast, I watched as he disappeared under one side of the pier and quickly re-apperard on the other, and a few minutes later he was far into the distance. I've shot in Worthing several times, in-fact I took my first ever HDR Beach Huts image a few miles from the pier around 3 years ago, a picture which has become iconic in my portfolio. I'm drawn to Worthing for the vast opportunities it has to offer a photographer, its a place I hold dear to my heart. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/04/worthing-coastal-landscapes/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/october/04/worthing-coastal-landscapes/ Worthing Coastal Landscapes Fri, 30 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT A friend asked me recently: "Do you like shooting Weddings?" to which my answer was: "You bet!" I always feel honoured to be shooting my clients weddings, its one of the most important days of anybody lives - to be there, to experience the atmosphere and soak up the love is something which I'm drawn towards. But I also like shooting the pretty detail associated with Weddings. You can imagine my response when a friend mentioned that we should have a bridal fashion shoot. Harriet is pictured above modelling a dress from Brides of Wellingborough, we were extremely fortunate to have access to a beautiful stately home in the heart of the Leicestershire countrywide, although the same can't be said for the random weather that day! Between freak showers and patches of extreme brightness we shot some gorgeous bridal portraits, and with the assistance of Jana Dunne from Jana Dunne Make-up and the uber talented Katie Grace Longman of Daisy Chain Florist, Milton Keynes we captured some stunning images. We hope you like what we made! We certainly had a lot of fun creating these images. I chose the Canon EOS 5D Mark II with 35mm f/1.4L USM lens for the majority of portraits but also played with the amazing Fuji FinePix X100, that little camera continues to impress me! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/30/gorgeous-wedding-photography-shoot/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/30/gorgeous-wedding-photography-shoot/ Gorgeous Wedding Photography Shoot Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT I know Laura and her wonderful family through my wife Lindsay; they go a long way back! Laura was a bridesmaid at our wedding and is a close friend of the family - so when we found out she was packing up and heading to Australia we wanted to leave her with some gorgeous pictures of her family to remember her by. We chose a random piece of rough ground behind their family home in Kettering, Northamptonshire to shoot some family portraits. After fighting off the spiders, and I mean huge spiders we got some lovely candid frames of the gang. We'll miss Laura very much, we hope that when she feels lonely she can look back at her photos and remember all the people in the UK. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/25/kettering-family-portraits/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/25/kettering-family-portraits/ Family Portraits, Kettering Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Fran and Andy's wedding, Wow what a fantastic day. I've never felt so spoilt for choice as I did shooting at Paris House, Woburn Park in Bedfordshire. Paris House is Bedfordshire's only Michelin-starred restaurant and is set in 22 acres of beautiful deer park right in the middle of the Woburn Estate. I'm glad I had the opportunity to work with Fran and Andy, they are without question the most chilled out couple I've had the please of shooting. We decided to capture some relaxed portrait in the grounds before being joined by the guests for some fun pictures and plenty of laughter. Fran and Andy's reception was an intimate affair with only 12 guests, my favourite kind of wedding! Remembering how much fun we had on the pre-wedding shoot at Courteenhall we decided to re-produce some of the same shots. I loved Fran and Andy's reaction to seeing their pre-wedding photos; I think they're my new No.1 fans! I'm sure they'll be delighted with their wedding photos - it goes to show that being relaxed and taking things in your stride really pays off when it comes to wedding photography. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/23/paris-house-woburn-wedding-photography/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/23/paris-house-woburn-wedding-photography/ Paris House, Woburn Park - Wedding Photography Thu, 22 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT So, there I was just minding my own business yesterday when the phone went off. It was a number I didn't recognise so let it run to voicemail. It was Hitched.co.uk with some important news. "congratulations, you have made it to the final 10" http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/22/hitched-hba-shortlisted/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/22/hitched-hba-shortlisted/ Hitched.co.uk HBA Awards Tue, 20 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT This is a little preview from a recent Bridal Photography shoot I did in Horninghold, Leicestershire. I can't wait to put some more images live but until then you'll have to make do with this georgeous portrait of Harriet Gregory. In-between rain and bright spells we manage to capture some beautiful images, this frame was taken just before the heavens opened, causing us to dash for cover. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/20/bridal-shoot-preview/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/20/bridal-shoot-preview/ Bridal Photography Preview - Horninghold, Leicestershire Sun, 18 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT Here's a little preview of Fran & Andy's Wedding. They chose the beautiful Courteenhall in Northamptonshire for their pre-wedding shoot and Paris House in Bedfordshire for their wedding. We took some fantastic vintage style pictures on their pre-wedding shoot at Courteenhall. I can't wait to put a few more from their wedding live. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/18/pre-and-post-wedding-portraits-preview/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/18/pre-and-post-wedding-portraits-preview/ Pre & Post Wedding Pictures {Courteenhall & Paris House} Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT This week I've been fortunate enough to work with Rachel Wall on a bunch of Portrait images in Milton Keynes. Initially I had expected to work on the my levitation project but that seemed unlikely in the event of possible rain, so we opted for some more traditional portraits. Using only 2 cameras: Fuji FinePix X100 (top picture), and Canon EOS 5D Mark II (bottom picture) we set about creating some vibrant summer themed portraits. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/11/rachel-emma-wall-portraits/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/11/rachel-emma-wall-portraits/ Rachel Emma Wall, Portraits in Milton Keynes Sun, 11 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT When Andy & Fran asked me to cover their wedding later this month at Paris House, Woburn I was delighted, it's a location I can finally tick off the list of 'places to shoot'. Andy & Fran chose the stunning grounds of Courteenhall in Northamptonshire to frame their Pre-Wedding shoot. They have the most fantastic open spaces with rolling fields, complete with picturesque village church and eighteenth century country house. I can't wait to shoot their very intimate wedding with only a few guests - if their Wedding is as fun as their pre-shoot we're going to have a fantastic time! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/11/pre-wedding-portraits-courteenhall-northampton/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/11/pre-wedding-portraits-courteenhall-northampton/ Andy & Fran's Pre-Wedding Shoot - Courteenhall, Northampton Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT This is Venise. She is floating away at my favourite portrait location, a hide-away spot deep in the Northamptonshire countryside. Moments before taking this frame we watched a snake swimming down the river and up a bank, it was a chance sighting - just the inspiration I needed to pull of this impossible levitation portrait. This picture is one of a set which explore my fascination with levitation photography. I've worked with Venise a couple of times before and had her in mind for this picture, I think she did a great job and really bought my idea to life. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/04/levitation-portrait/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/september/04/levitation-portrait/ Levitation Portrait Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT If you've looked through my blog you will know I've got a thing for the coast. I've worked a lot by the sea especially in Suffolk and Norfolk, shooting piers, beach huts and people. For August 2011 bank holiday I packed up and headed out to Aldeburgh, one of my most favourite Suffolk locations, not least because Tony Pick {of Coastal Landscapes} has a shop on the high street. I've shot Aldeburgh Beach a stack of times but never had the opportunity to take pictures in Southwold. The first thing that you'll notice driving into Southwold is that its un-spoilt, it's like the town which time forgot. For my trip I packed the usual Canon EOS 5D Mark II but completely dropped my full frame DSLR in favour of the amazing Fuji X100. It's a hugely liberating experience not having to lug around a heavy camera. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/29/southwold-coastal-landscapes/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/29/southwold-coastal-landscapes/ Southwold Coastal Landscapes Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT Shooting Al & Lisa's Wedding was a bit like deja vu. It was the first job since returning from my honeymoon in the States. Al and Lisa chose the same Church as us {St Mary the Virgin, Higham Ferrers} and Venue {The Courtyard, Stanwick}. I love shooting Summer Weddings in Village Churches, and this was no exception. Al and Lisa have such warmth and made me feel like more of a guest than photographer on the day. The weather was kind to us, giving me the opportunity to shoot in the gardens of the Courtyard. All in all, a fantastic day! As you can tell from the pictures, Al and Lisa have a fond passion for VW Campers - They both arrived in style at the Courtyard in the back of a classic VW, in-fact the car park was packed full of classic 'Dubs'! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/24/church-wedding-higham-ferrers/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/24/church-wedding-higham-ferrers/ Al & Lisa's Church Wedding in Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT Hannah Ashlea is a professional model based in London. I was lucky enough to work with her on a range of photos from nude to fashion to experimental levitation {work inspired by the most awesome Natsumi Hayashi}. We chose a beautifully framed countryside location in Raunds, Northamptonshire to backdrop the shoot - it took me a few hours to find somewhere I was happy with, I had a particular interest in capturing the sun without building in the background. As it happens it was a complete waste of time as the sun decided to stay tucked behind the clouds. Hannah spent most of the shoot on a step-ladder, in the middle of a ploughed field, on one leg. All in the name of art! This portrait is one of my most favorite pictures currently in my portfolio; I love the simplicity - beauty without complication. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/21/hannah-ashlea-raunds-portrait/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/21/hannah-ashlea-raunds-portrait/ Hannah Ashlea Portraits, Raunds Northamptonshire Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT Adam and Ruth contacted me last year enquiring about Wedding Photography, they did say from the very beginning that they were a chilled out couple and up for any creative ideas I might have. And when it came to their wedding day they didn't disappoint. The ceremony was a beautiful family affair at The Church of St Mary, Rushden followed by group shots outside the church. Adam & Ruth then made their way to Castle Ashby for their reception. My second shooter, Matt did a great job of shooting paparazzi style from my car window as we travelled down the duel carriageway towards the sleepy village. As we drove through the windy roads leading up to Castle Ashby I noticed a clearing in the trees revealing a stunning landscape and freshly cut corn field. Waiving the driver down I was able to shoot for a few minutes in this unique and inspiring location. The local farmer even drove down to see what the fuss was about. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/19/church-wedding-rushden-northampton/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/19/church-wedding-rushden-northampton/ Adam & Ruth's Church Wedding in Rushden, Northampton Mon, 15 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT Steve and Emily are so in love. That's pretty obvious from their Pre-Wedding Engagement Shoot at Stanwick Lakes in Northampton. They actually live in the same village as me {Higham Ferrers} and are having a winter church wedding at St Mary's Church. When Emily called and asked about using her vintage bike as a prop I knew it was going to be an awesome session. I really enjoy shooting at Stanwick, especially this time of the year! The location is fantastic and walking from location to location gives me an opportunity to talk to my clients about their wedding day. Towards the end I decided on using the absolutely amazing Fuji X100 - I will be using this camera more and more for Portrait work! I can't wait to shoot their wonderful winter wedding in Higham Ferrers, if these shots are anything to go by - it's going to be a fabulous day! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/14/pre-wedding-shoot-stanwick-lakes-northampton/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/14/pre-wedding-shoot-stanwick-lakes-northampton/ Steve & Emily's Pre-Wedding shoot at Stanwick Lakes, Northants Sat, 6 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT Yesterday I shot at St Mary's Church in Rushden, Northamptonshire for Adam & Ruth's summer wedding. I really don't know how I'd never noticed the church, perched on the corner of the High Street overlooking the town. Be sure to keep an eye out for their full Wedding Photography set coming to the blog soon. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/06/st-marys-church-rushden/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/06/st-marys-church-rushden/ The Church of St Mary Rushden, Northamptonshire Thu, 4 Aug 2011 00:00:00 GMT I've been using the Fuji X100 for about a month now and I'm desperate to tell the world about how great it is. I have read a few reviews (and they are great) - but I wanted to write up on how this camera has effected me as a portrait photographer. I have to admit, I got this camera because I was pulled into the hype - I had heard some amazing things back in April 2011, and in May I travelled around the USA on my honeymoon road trip. I used a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon EOS 50D (which never even made it out of the bag) and a Canon G11. I also carried 2 lenses, the outstanding Canon EF 24-70 mm f/2.8L USM & Canon 35mm f/1.4L USM. Whilst I did get some great pictures, partly down to the sensational 5D and in particular 35mm lens I remember thinking: "there must be another way". There was! When I got home I suffered from an aching shoulder from carrying around a laptop case and stuffed Think Tank Retrospective 10 camera bag. At about the same I saw that Zack Arias had been using the Fuji X100 in NYC and made a collection (search Twitter #de_Vice) - his pictures were absolutely amazing, naturally I compared my efforts. Of course Zack has the creative advantage but there was clearly more to it. I wish I could have my time again, throwing out the bulky Canon gear and replacing it with an X100 and stack of SD Cards. Not only do I consider the X100 to be the finest portrait compact camera on the market it's also the best compact travel camera. So, the rationale to get an X100 seemed well justified. I ordered mine from Park Cameras (literally the only shop I could find in the UK with it in stock); it arrived the very next day. Even before you break the packaging open I noticed the beautifully presented box, this piece of kit is a collectors camera. The build quality speaks for itself, there is no point going into any level of detail about how well this thing is made, there are countless other reviews that do a perfectly good job of explaining every control and button. What I can say is that this camera is amazing. The only other body I've used which comes close is the Olympus OM-1 film camera, but even that's like comparing Apples and Oranges. Using the X100 is a joy; there really is no other statement to sun it up. But in an attempt to be hyper critical there are a couple of things which if tweaked would move this camera into perfection. First of all, the battery sucks – I'm a portrait and wedding photographer so using my camera for 3-4 hours is likely. I wouldn't use this camera as a main device at a wedding, its capable of doing a great job but there are obvious drawbacks, battery already mentioned, its small and not professional looking in appearance. Sure its retro – but I've found that my clients like me to turn up with a huge bag of kit with huge lenses, I guess they feel the cost of hiring me is justified. Saying that, it would be nice to know that I 'could' use it for more than an1 hour without the battery completely dropping out; the solution however is easy, buy more batteries. Just a small note on the charger, it has a green light when the battery is charging. Surely it would have made more sense for the light to turn green once a charge has completed. My second moan is around the focussing. It's not as quick as I'm used to. Perhaps I'm spoilt by the professional Canon gear which hangs around my neck for several hours a day, but often by the time the X100 locks into a subject the moment is gone. Obviously low light makes matters worse to the point where shooting indoors with a poor amount of available light is at times pointless. The camera has jammed up only once. Turning it off and on was the predictable fix. I'm not worried about my X100 locking up although I've read from other reviews that it's a problem which can get worse. The settings on my X100 are all standard (Provia mode), although there are some cool presets: Velvia, Astia and Black & White. I also shoot most of the time in RAW, the native Fuji format is .RAF which import to Lightroom 3 perfectly well. The Micro USB cable is fiddly and hard to replace, I did manage to eventually find a cheap alternative to the expensive Fuji version on Amazon. I had to say I was surprised at how large the RAW files were considering the X100 only having a 12MP Sensor. I consider 20MB to be comparatively huge to the Canon 5D Mark II's 21MP Sensor (24MB File). I've also perfected some Presets in Lightroom which work particularly well with my X100; they boost both the reds and greens and give the frame a retro finished look, check out the above picture. I've purchased the adaptor ring (which is essential if you're planning on protecting the fixed focal length lens with a UV Filter). Of course the adapter is a complete rip off and something which could have easily been bundled with the camera. I was going to also get the lens hood until I saw the price tag. I've read a blog post in which a tight Fuji owner smashed up a UV filter mounted it backwards onto the lens then put another UV filter in front of that. This does get around having to buy an adapter ring but if you've paid £1,000 already it seems strange to fudge protecting an expensive piece of glass by using a homemade shield consisting of 2 UV protectors. I've also heard that using 2 filters in this way can create ghosting. At times I've struggled to enjoy the lush pictures on the LCD display regardless of how bright I set it do, for this reason I prefer to preview pictures on the hybrid viewfinder (another brilliant idea). And they do look great! In-fact if I'm shooting in strong daylight the images take on the appearance of already having been post processed (set to Provia Mode). I'm delighted with my X100. It's the camera I now reach for first and is without question the most consistent. The X100 is a tool which has helped progress me technically due to the old-school nature of setting buttons manually. It's even a great talking point with my clients who want to know: "how old is that thing?" sometimes I even play into it by saying it's a retro piece of kit (whilst hiding the digital back). The camera is also perfect for keeping a low profile, I've been kicked off various locations for using professional equipment & I get the feeling it simply wouldn't happen with the X100. After all, can such a small innocent looking thing really create such amazing pictures? Yes it can. Believe the hype; this camera is worth every penny. I've made the statement: "if there wasn't a stigma around compact looking camera on a professional location shoot I'd sell off one of my 5D's and buy a second". I'm not employed by Fuji and they didn't pay me to write up this review. It's fair and honest and shows the Fuji FinePix X100 to be an awesome piece of kit. Have your say; let me know how you've been finding the Fuji X100 by contacting me. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and come from using the Fuji FinePix X100 Compact Digital Camera on practical assignments. I love my X100 and hope I've conveyed that in this post. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/04/fuji-x100-portrait-camera/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/august/04/fuji-x100-portrait-camera/ Fuji FinePix X100 Compact Digital Camera Review Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Some more love with the Fuji FinePix X100 today at Wellingborough Embankment, Northampton. We had the lovely Jodi over for the weekend so when Sunday finally rolled in; we jumped in the car and drove down to the River Nene for an ice cream and walk. Jodi is one of Lindsay's closest pals; she's a great laugh and wonderful lively subject - although at times hard to keep her still long enough to take her portrait! These frames were shot using the Fuji X100 (followers of my blog will see that I'm getting back into lo-fi, the X100 is possibly the greatest tool now at my disposal for candid photography). I'm definitely going all out soon enough and shoot an entire portrait session on it. I can't think of a single reason not to. Thanks Jodi and Lindsay for putting up with my moaning, you both make awesome subjects! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/24/portraits-at-wellingborough-embankment/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/24/portraits-at-wellingborough-embankment/ Portraits at the Wellingborough Embankment Sat, 23 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT This article is a blend of letting you guys know how I'm getting on with the Fuji FinePix X100 and showing you some of the awesome pictures I took whilst working with Kezia on a recent shoot in Northants. I've never worked with Kezia before, she describes herself as an 'alternative' model from Northamptonshire. Kezia is currently working with local photographers to expand her portrait and fashion portfolio. We decided on shooting under the A6 between Higham Ferrers and Irthlingborough and for our shoot I used the Canon EOS 5D Mark II and Fuji X100. This article isn't a review on the X100 but I'll come back to it a few times. Before I start I want to say that I'm not paid by Fuji and I don't have any other equipment other than the FinePix X100, but I do own a ton of Canon gear. (I'm also not comparing the 2 cameras). Shooting Kezia is a breath of fresh air, her 'alternative' style really pushed me out of my comfort zone - she's totally different from my usual wedding clients. She has many quirks and likes to inject her own unique modelling style into the mix - this is great since I can't ever remember shooting a huge tattoo on a leg before! Almost immediately I got the X100 out and started firing off some frames. I'm usually in awe even before I get back and lightly process images with that camera, the view-finder revealed some beautiful portraits which didn't require much post production. I shot the entire session fairly wide (shooting at one point at f/1.4). Since I was treating the shoot as more of an academic experience I went ahead and really shifted about the white balances too. All this made for some cool images. Of course it also helped that Kezia was up for trying new idea's, posing with hands, lying on the floor and stomping through mud to get to a decent vantage point. I made the fatal mistake of not changing lenses enough, only using the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L IS USM for the last 5 minutes of shooting. Since the X100 is still new I perhaps didn't use it as much as I could have, but the few frames I did fire off still leave my with a warm feeling inside. It is without question and by a long mile my favourite portrait camera (which is convenient since its also one of my smallest cameras). It stands head and shoulders about the Canon G range in terms of image quality and the retro feel is a much nicer experience. I haven't used any of the pre-defined image filters yet, I've read a few blogs commenting on how realistic and authentic they are - right now I'm preferring applying my own top secret special Adobe Lightroom Preset to them. So, in summary, working with Kezia was amazing - I hope I can shoot her again, and the X100 is also amazing. All in all, a great day at the office! The opinions expressed are only mine and not that of my customers or suppliers, have you used the Fuji X100 on a portrait shoot? I'd love to hear from you. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/23/kezia-portrait-shoot-northampton/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/23/kezia-portrait-shoot-northampton/ Portrait Shoot with Kezia under the A6 Sun, 17 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Tonight my brother played for the first time at MKFM Radio. The station is located at the Xscape in Milton Keynes and runs 24:7. Joey, who's a skilled House DJ landed the prime Saturday evening slot playing funky club beats and popular sounds. I took the Fuji X100 out on location as a backup to one of my Canon 5D's but ended up shooting with it for the majority, it really has become my favorite portrait camera and a piece of kit I prefer to pull from my bag. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/17/mkfm-radio/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/17/mkfm-radio/ MKFM Radio Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT The Scallop on Aldeburgh Beach is a dedication to the composer Benjamin Britten, it's a stainless steel construction created by Maggie Hambling; apparently many of the locals don't like it, and it's been subject to graffiti. I took this frame on a extremely windy summer morning - keeping my camera still was problematic but I persisted and eventually got this shot. On the edge of The Scallop is the pierced words: "I hear those voices that will not be drowned" which is a quote from Peter Grimes, an Opera written by Betjamin Britten. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/15/the-scallop-aldeburgh-beach/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/15/the-scallop-aldeburgh-beach/ The Scallop on Aldeburgh Beach Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT I turned 31 last week, and to celebrate my birthday I packed up and headed for the coast. I always seem to gravitate towards the ocean, perhaps one day I'll be lucky enough to live next to it. I stayed in the lovely town of Aldeburgh, its not the first time I've been there. About a year ago I took a photography course with Tony Pick of Costal Images, a fantastic full day of portrait photography and post processing / workflow. On the day of my birthday I woke up extra early to get some shots on the beach. I'm not a morning person and waking up at 6am was a struggle; but it was worth it! I was rewarded with some of the most fantastic shooting conditions, perfect light and not a soul in sight (except for the mad locals taking an early morning swim in the sea). Later that day we trekked up to Thorpeness, its truly wonderful there and only a short walk up the beach. It was the perfect opportunity to take some candid frames using the Fuji X100 whilst rowing around the Meare. We then took the short track up to the House in the Clouds, an old converted water tower built in 1923. The building is bursting with history and charisma - in the second world war it was hit by gunfire but later repaired using its own steel! The tower was decommissioned in 1977 and then more recently turned into a five bedroom holiday house. I bet the view from the top is amazing, you can see the vibrant red roof from the edge of Aldeburgh. The Suffolk coast holds a special place in my heart, I went there for my Stag Weekend and I've been plenty of times as a youngster. I'm really grateful that my parents have a place down there - that way I know I'll have unlimited photography opportunities. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/15/house-in-the-clouds/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/15/house-in-the-clouds/ House in the Clouds Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Some while ago I took a set of pictures of Matchstick Men, it was an experiment in light and composition, and it reminded me how much I loved Macro Photography. Since taking the frames I thought nothing else of it until I got an email out of the blue from a News Agency: "I love the match stick men walking in the rain shot, are there more in the series..." The answer was a simple no, but ever the opportunist I threw some ideas down and came up with a new set of images which explored more technical flash lighting. I also used hair, yes real hair {it belonged to me and my wife}. I was faced with the usual problems when dealing with tiny pieces of wood; splitting, splinters, snapping and so on. I loved the simplicity of the original image - just two inanimate objects holding hands; and wanted to replicate the same feeling. My most recent set feels warmer, not simply because of the rich reds and oranges but due to the unique texture of hair and tight crop. I used a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Lens to capture the action and 2 Canon Speedlite flashes. The Canon Lens has to be the sharpest piece of glass I've ever worked with. Taking Macro images feels liberating and a nice change from the normal Wedding and Portrait work; I really need to find more time for stuff like this! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/08/matchstick-men-on-hair/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/08/matchstick-men-on-hair/ Macro Matchstick Men Fri, 08 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Grand Central Terminal from the most beautiful New York City. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/08/grand-central-terminal-nyc/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/08/grand-central-terminal-nyc/ Grand Central Terminal, NYC Tue, 05 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT I took this picture of a couple on the boating lake in Central Park, NYC whilst on my honeymoon earlier in the year. I absolutely love New York, the sights, the smell and the huge photography opportunity. This day in particular was extra special because I decided to venture out of the hotel with only a 35mm Prime Lens. Pretty scary stuff for a photographer who travels with swears by his 24-70mm. Only a few minutes before taking this shot I had been at the The Dakota paying respect to the genius John Lennon, everything was calm for the rest of that day and this picture sums up perfectly the mood. NYC I love you, I'll try to get back and see you as soon as I can. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/05/central-park-new-york-city/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/05/central-park-new-york-city/ Central Park, NYC Mon, 04 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT On 10 May this year (whilst on honeymoon) I was lucky enough to visit the Grand Canyon Skywalk, a cantilever bridge in the Arizona desert which overlooks the Colorado River. I've never shot in a desert before, the light was amazing - I think probably some of the best natural lighting conditions I've experienced. I got close, perhaps too close to the cliff edge to take these amazing pictures. The Skywalk has a vertical drop of between 150m and 240m. I'm not sure why the figure is so vague - blame Wikipedia for the information! We didn't bother to venture onto the deck - our tour driver had warned us that the staff won't let you take cameras out onto the bridge. If the camera can't go, chances are - I won't go! I was surprised that there wasn't any safety railings near the edge of the Canyon, after all this was America! The only way I was able to take these cool pictures of the Skywalk was to lie-down and shuffle closer and closer to the edge. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/04/grand-canyon-skywalk-arizona/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/04/grand-canyon-skywalk-arizona/ Grand Canyon Skywalk Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT Shooting Ashley & Natasha's Wedding was special for me. Back in October last year I shot James and Laura's wedding at the Swan Hotel in Bedford, Laura and Natasha are sisters and this was a referral. I had a fantastic pre-shoot with Ashley & Natasha on the Embankment, Bedford River and I've been looking forward to their special day ever since. They chose the beautiful St Mary's Church in Maulden for their summer wedding. The ceremony was a relaxed event and I even heard some reggae music as the guests arrived. The Church Wedding was followed up with a natural portrait session for the Bride and Groom. Ashley & Natasha are wonderful clients to work with - totally up for trying out photographic ideas; I hope this isn't the last time I take their picture! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/02/ashley-and-natasha-wedding-maulden-church/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/02/ashley-and-natasha-wedding-maulden-church/ Ashley & Natasha Wedding at St Mary's Church, Maulden Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT I took this picture of St Mary's Church in Maulden just before Ash & Natasha's wedding. It's a small parish church set in the heart of Bedfordshire along the Greensand Ridge with parts of the building dating back to as early as 1252. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/02/maulden-church-bedfordshire/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/july/02/maulden-church-bedfordshire/ Maulden Church, Bedfordshire Mon, 27 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT From the moment I first worked with Dan & Sarah in February on their Pre-Wedding Shoot I knew their Wedding day was going to be a fun affair. They chose the picturesque Wyboston Lakes in Bedfordshire to hold their summer Wedding - and what a scorcher it was too! Dan & Sarah are ideal clients for any Wedding Photographer, they're open to idea's and have a great camera presence - I think it shows in their pictures. We took a walk down to the lovely waters edge to shoot their portraits, I even got Sarah running up and down the grass without her shoes on, all for that perfect Bridal shot. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/27/dan-and-sarah-wyboston-lakes-wedding/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/27/dan-and-sarah-wyboston-lakes-wedding/ Dan & Sarah's Wedding at Wyboston Lakes, Bedfordshire Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT The beautiful Peterborough Cathedral in Cambridgeshire. Taken as a 3-exposure HDR. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/19/peterborough-cathedral/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/19/peterborough-cathedral/ Peterborough Cathedral Sun, 19 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Every now and then I'll take part in a shoot which defines me as a Photographer. I was extremely lucky to have been contacted by Megan Barratt, an aspiring Model who lives in Northants. She'd asked me a couple of weeks ago if I would photograph her, I didn't have much to go on at the time (only a couple of fuzzy headshots, probably taken on a mobile phone) but agreed to the job. We chose the lush fields of Burton Latimer to frame our summer portrait shoot, the same place where I'd previously taken landscapes of the Burton Latimer Wind Farm. Despite it being in the middle of June, our 'summer' theme was actually quite cold, probably made worse by my desire to trek through fields of wet crops to get that ultimate shot. Everything was on our side though - the light that day was bright enough not to need flash but didn't leave harsh shadows. Absolutely perfect. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/19/fashion-shoot-at-burton-latimer-northampton/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/19/fashion-shoot-at-burton-latimer-northampton/ Fashion Shoot - Burton Latimer, Northamptonshire Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT I'm really lucky to have such wonderful clients; Tim & Helen are just that, and from our first meeting I knew I was going to enjoy working with them. We shot at the very beautiful Delapré Park which is the grounds of Delapré Abbey in Northampton. I was introduced to Delapré Abbey by my own Wedding Photographer, she took us to the gardens for our Pre-Shoot and I was sold. Helen was nervous but you'd never have thought so looking at her pictures, her reaction to seeing her pre-wedding photos was a real pleasure. It reminds me how much my work can reach out to people; I can't wait to shooting their Wedding later in the year at Dodmoor House. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/13/tim-and-helen-pre-wedding-shoot-delapre-park/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/13/tim-and-helen-pre-wedding-shoot-delapre-park/ Tim & Helen's Pre-Wedding Shoot at Delapré Abbey, Northampton Sat, 11 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT I had a portrait shoot booked this morning but it fell through at the last minute. So, not to waste the day I packed up what kit I had ready and set off for the coast. I've been to Wells next the Sea and Holkham Bay a bunch of times, and it hasn't got boring yet. The light was superb, in-fact it was perfect for coastal landscapes. Today was the first time I've been to Wells where the tide was in, and I was amazed to see how quickly the sea flows up the gorgeous sandy beach. After shooting a decent amount of frames, we headed into town for the ritual fish n' chips then over to the arcade to burn off the loose change on the 2p coin pushers where we won a lovely trinket. I'd say today was a great day. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/11/wells-next-the-sea/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/11/wells-next-the-sea/ Wells next the Sea, Norfolk Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT Followers of my blog will know that I recently married Lindsay at our beautiful local church in Higham Ferrers. The very next day we set off for the honeymoon of a lifetime, a three week road trip across America. Our adventure started in Manhattan, New York City and took us right the way across the USA ending up in San Francisco. I always knew I'd be blogging a few pictures from our honeymoon but it's been really hard choosing and processing images. I think partly because I'm backed up with other photography jobs but mainly it's due to the sheer amount of frames I took. This is probably the first of a few sets I'll be publishing - It's of Ground Zero, previous site of the World Trade Center, NYC. We were staying in Manhattan when we found out about Bin Laden's death and knew we needed to head down to the business district to soak up the atmosphere. The place was crawling with reporters & police, not to mention the constant flow of commuters trying to get home from work. We checked out the Observation Deck which overlooked the building site where the 2 huge towers would have once stood and then made our way down to 'Ground Zero'. The 2nd of May was a very special time in NYC, there was optimism in the air and a vibe of relief. I'll never forget how that felt. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/10/ground-zero-world-trade-center-nyc/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/june/10/ground-zero-world-trade-center-nyc/ Ground Zero, World Trade Center, NYC Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT Today was the hottest day of the year so far and I had the great pleasure of working with Jasmine Chavda for the second time. On our first location shoot back in January we struggled to keep warm - how things can change in 3 months. We chose the beautiful Emberton Country Park situated on the outskirts of Olney in Buckinghamshire to backdrop our spring themed shoot. It was the first time I've been to Emberton, It's now on my top locations list! I really like working with Jasmine, she perfectly suits my preferred style of reportage portrait photography. I decided not to overly-process these frames but instead 'keep them honest'. No heavy vignette or black & white this time! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/april/22/jasmine-chavda-emberton-country-park/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/april/22/jasmine-chavda-emberton-country-park/ Jasmine Chavda at Emberton Country Park, Buckinghamshire Sun, 10 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT Ashley and Natasha are a cool loved up pair. They choose the Bedford River Embankment to backdrop their pre-wedding portrait pictures. Not only did the sun come out to play, we also caught the end of the Boat Races. You wouldn't have thought that Ashley and Natasha needed time getting used to my camera - they were complete pros! I'm looking forward to shooting their summer wedding in the pretty village of Maulden in Bedfordshire later on this year! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/april/10/ashley-and-natasha-pre-wedding-shoot-bedford-river/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/april/10/ashley-and-natasha-pre-wedding-shoot-bedford-river/ Ashley & Natasha Pre-Wedding Portrait Shoot Thu, 07 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT Michael and Lisa are a lovely couple and have been a joy to work with. They had their Wedding at the beautiful Wadenhoe House, located in the heart of rural Northamptonshire. The weather was unusually warm and dry for a March wedding; and the bright low spring sunshine was perfect for those flared portraits! The day was relaxed and seemed to fly and its jobs like this I really feel grateful to have found photography. I shot the entire day from getting ready to first dance; take it from me - shooting for 10 hours is exhausting! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/april/07/michael-and-lisa-wedding-wadenhoe-house/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/april/07/michael-and-lisa-wedding-wadenhoe-house/ Michael & Lisa's Wedding at Wadenhoe House, Northampton Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 GMT Followers of my blog will know I'm particularly fond of Wells next the Sea and the picturesque Holkham beach located on the Norfolk coast. My last trip to Wells was back in November last year when I took the now iconic picture of some beach huts. That same frame went on to be used by Sim2000 Imaging to backdrop their stand at the Focus on Imaging. I should work for the Wells tourist board, I haven't anything bad to say about the place - and it's a photographers dream come true. It's just a shame its over 2 hours drive away. I shot the entire day using only a Canon 16-35mm lens, its good to move out of your comfort zone every now and then. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/april/03/wells-next-the-sea/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/april/03/wells-next-the-sea/ Wells next the Sea Sun, 27 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT Alex Beadon (photographer and source of inspiration) set down a challenge recently to fellow photographers: Capture an inspiration note posted to a tree. I took a special trip to Delapre Abbey and roamed the grounds. Of course I got some odd looks from dog walkers and joggers but its all part of the fun! I decided on 4 notes: These 4 notes sum me up, my humor loves and passion. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/27/inspirational-messages-posted-to-trees/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/27/inspirational-messages-posted-to-trees/ Inspirational messages posted to trees Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT My logo was designed by a friend and ex-work college Pete Lacey, aka Chopeh. I had the pleasure of working with Pete for a little over a year before he decided to pack up shop and move to Copenhagen. Before he left, Pete designed me a logo; A mark which I could be proud to put on my work and which reflected my ethic and standards. My logo among several others has made it into the Logo Nest book for 2010. The book features: "...admirable logo designs..." and there I am on the bottom left of page 140 - my name in print. The book is in a limited print run of only 1,000 - so somewhere out there, there are 999 books with my name in it! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/26/aaron-storry-photography-on-logo-nest/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/26/aaron-storry-photography-on-logo-nest/ Aaron Storry Photography on Logo Nest Thu, 24 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT Remember the Beach Huts picture I took at Wells next the sea back in November 2010? I received an email from Sim2000 Imaging: "...We are looking for images to use on our stand at Focus on Imaging and your Beach huts picture has stood out as a good option..." I was only too happy to help and sent them my image. You can imagine how delighted I was that my picture had been chosen to be used to reflect the great print and finishing of Sim2000 Imaging, to say thanks I received a complimentary print & frame in the post last week. It's nice to know that during the Focus on Imaging event in Birmingham earlier in the year my picture was enlarged to fill a presentation stand. As today was http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/24/frame-from-sim2000-imaging/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/24/frame-from-sim2000-imaging/ Gift from Sim2000 Imaging Wed, 23 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT Last Sunday I travelled down to Virginia Water in Surrey to meet with over 30 photographers for the Virginia Water Swap Shoot event. Created by professional photographer Juliet McKee, the purpose was to bring like-minded creative photographers together in a social networking exercise. The well planned day consisted of group shots (each photographer taking it in tern to have their portrait taken) with a wonderful lunch at Piccolino Restaurant & Bar. I had the pleasure of working with Fiona Wilhelm, who was not only a talented photographer but willing model. It was brilliant to speak to people who are in the same boat as me, the creativity was infectious and I drove away buzzing with a new found passion for portrait photography, it was also good to see how other photographers work. And all of this was organised through the awesome Facebook! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/23/virginia-water-swap-shoot/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/23/virginia-water-swap-shoot/ Virginia Water Swap Shoot Sat, 12 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT Today felt like the first day of spring; beautifully sunny and perfect for a Pre-Wedding shoot. Meet Al and Lisa. They both live in the same town as me, they're getting married in the same church and also having their reception at the same venue as me too. Actually we worked out that we're also having the same food and have the same hymn. Al and Lisa chose Irchester Country Park for their Pre-Shoot, its got sentimental value (they had their first date in the park around 3 years ago). I also met their car which seemed to take on a personality of its own - VW's will feature at the wedding! I can't wait to shoot their wedding at Higham Ferrers later in the year, not long to go. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/12/al-and-lisa-pre-wedding-portraits/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/12/al-and-lisa-pre-wedding-portraits/ Al and Lisa Pre-Wedding Portraits Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT Burton Wold Wind Farm is located just off the A6 close to the village of Burton Latimer in Northamptonshire. The farm contains 10 E70-E4 turbines, each one having the ability to produce electricity for around 1,000 homes; put another way - each turbine produces roughly 2.5% of the total electricity needed to power all the homes Kettering. The magnificent turbines stretch 99.5 meters into the sky and give the landscape an ultra modern look, and you know what - I like it! It was particularly windy for a normal March day which caused some problems getting my shutter quick enough so the blades didn't appear fuzzy. I eventually decided to put down the TSE lens and stick to a good old fashioned wide angle, no doubt I'll be back with more equipment, more time a bunch of new idea's. We haven't seen the last of these turbines! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/11/burton-wold-wind-farm/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/11/burton-wold-wind-farm/ Burton Wold Wind Farm Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT This is the very beautiful, picturesque market town of Olney in Buckinghamshire. I must have travelled through Olney at least 200 times in the last 12 months moving between Higham Ferrers and Milton Keynes. I used to come to Olney as a kid with my parents; they love the antique shops and feel of village nostalgia which you can only get from a British market town. It carries some special memories, The Chinese Restaurant is one of the first places I took Lindsay, my partner and it's in my top 5 locations if I was ever to set up a photography shop. Driving over the River Great Ouse a couple of times a day I promised myself I should take a photo of it. Today was that day! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/10/olney-buckinghamshire/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/10/olney-buckinghamshire/ Olney, Buckinghamshire Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT On Friday 5th March I was joined by my nearest and dearest for my Stag party. We bundled down to Ipswich in a hired van which turned out to be a genius idea - No excuses for not drinking! It was fantastic to see all my closest friends turning out; Dave, Graham, Joey, Chris, both Stu's and of course the best Dad in the world. I decided to put my SLR away for the weekend and shoot the entire event using my iPhone4. My App of choice: Hipstamatic. We did a ton of stuff together (too much to list) but the go karting stands out as being the most awesome. Lindsay has her Hen Party coming up in a couple of weeks then we're plain sailing all the way through to our wedding at our local Church in Higham Ferrers. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/07/stag-weekend-in-ipswich/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/07/stag-weekend-in-ipswich/ Stag Weekend in Ipswich Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT My first job, fresh out of Uni was working for a London Creative Design Agency called Fortune Cookie. Whilst there I had the privilege of meeting some rounded creative individuals one of which was a guy called Peter Robelou. Back then I couldn't figure out his surname, seems easy enough now, but I really struggled and so he was known simply as 'Robelbouble' (it reads worse but rolls of the tongue much easier). That was later shortened to 'Bubber Boob' and finally 'The Boob'. I'm not sure how it happened but his name and the Ro-Bear Berbil from Thundercats felt synonyms and came up in plenty of conversations. One day Pete turned up to work with a present for me. My very own Berbil; it sits next to a stack of DVD's in my office, keeping guard over stuff whilst I'm not around. The Berbil first made an appearance in Series 1 which dates back to 1985, my Berbil can't be much older than that - strange to think I'm only a few years older than my Ro-Bear Berbil. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/03/thundercats-berbil/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/03/thundercats-berbil/ Thundercats Ro-Bear Berbil Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 GMT Meet Sadie. You might remember her from an earlier Blog when she was only 125 days old. Sadie had her Christening at Croyland Abbey last Sunday and reception in the village of Crowland, Lincolnshire. I was delighted to be asked to be her Godfather and doubly excited when her parents trusted me to take the all important photos. Taking pictures of Sadie and her older sister Lillie is a joy and never feels like work. Sadie was amazingly well behaved throughout the day, being passed from person to person; she never cried once! She's similar to her godfather in many ways: Eat. Sleep. Play. We're going to get on just fine. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/01/sadie-mitchell-christening/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/march/01/sadie-mitchell-christening/ Baby Sadie's Christening Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT Will it rain or won't it. These are the words that echo in my head each time I drive to a shoot, today we had a bit of both but managed to stay mostly dry. Adam & Ruth chose the beautiful Stanwick Lakes in Northampton as a backdrop to their Pre-Wedding Portraits. Working with this lovely couple so far has been a pleasure, their relaxed approach definitely shows through in their pictures - and they're most certainly a loved up pair too! I'm looking forward to shooting their Wedding later in the year at St Mary's Church, Rushden. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/26/adam-and-ruth-pre-wedding-portraits/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/26/adam-and-ruth-pre-wedding-portraits/ Adam & Ruth Pre-Wedding Shoot Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT Meet my little friend, the beautiful Lomo Lubitel 166+. I've nothing against digital photography but it stands in the shadows of Medium Format Film Cameras. This one also takes 35mm film, exposing over the sprocket holes. Sometimes to move forward you have to take step back. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/24/lomo-lubitel-166/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/24/lomo-lubitel-166/ Lomo Lubitel 166+ Sun, 20 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT I first worked with Helen Norman a week ago where I was invited to Leicester to shoot her in an urban surrounding. We got some fantastic stuff in an abandoned textiles factory and empty car park. This time she was after a Geisha themed shoot using the beautiful Chinese Garden's at Abbey Park close to the heart of Leicester. I was introduced to Sian Elvy, a makeup artist and friend to Helen who left me in amazement at her creative skills a talented artist with a keen ATD! We didn't arrive at the location until late on in the day - this caused me concern as I'd not wanted ideally to shoot with off camera lighting, but despite this hitch we still managed to get some lovely portraits. Helen's makeup was time well spent, and I adored the pink streaks in her hair and glossy vibrant lipstick. A wonderful blend of 2 cultures. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/20/helen-norman-geisha-themed-shoot/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/20/helen-norman-geisha-themed-shoot/ A Geisha Themed Portrait Shoot with Helen Norman Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT Samantha Tilbury is a lot braver than me! She posed for a set of portrait frames in Wicksteed Park, Kettering wearing strappy tops and high heels. I'm pleased the shoot went so well but was glad to get back into my car and put the heating on. The water reeds and muddy banks perfectly framed our naturally inspired shoot, along with the iconic miniature train tracks and beautiful Sunken Garden. I've only recently enjoyed shooting in the winter months - today was a reminder that there are some striking tones and gorgeous colours in our countrywide. I'm thinking of making Wicksteed one of my regular portrait spots, the staff are always extremely accommodating and I always find a new location inside the park, each as unique and beautiful as the next. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/17/samantha-tilbury/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/17/samantha-tilbury/ Samantha Tilbury, Wicksteed Park Sat, 12 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT Dan and Sarah chose Irchester Country Park in Northampton to backdrop their pre-wedding portraits. Although the ground was muddy due to an earlier downpour, Dan and Sarah were true professionals. Their natural presence in-front of my camera helped to capture some candid moments of romance and I'm really forward to shooting their wedding later in the year. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/12/dan-and-sarah-pre-wedding-portraits/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/12/dan-and-sarah-pre-wedding-portraits/ Dan and Sarah Pre-Wedding Shoot Fri, 11 Feb 2011 00:00:00 GMT Working with Helen Norman was fun, we shot around some funky locations in Leicester including an abandoned textiles factory, the pretty flower gardens and in-front of The Boardroom Skate Park. The urban and graffiti backdrops were the perfect setting for our relaxed portrait session; it was a nice change for me! We worked hard together to achieve a set of frames which reflected Helens relaxed approach to modelling and her unique and powerful beauty. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/11/helen-norman/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/february/11/helen-norman/ Helen Norman, Portraits in Leicester Thu, 27 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT This is what I look like. I know it's not great but it's what I have. I have been desperate to self portrait myself for a while and was in danger of over thinking it. Having become inspired by the amazing work of Alex Beadon (and her levitating portrait) I realised the complexity of a self made portrait. My agenda was simple, become familiar with being on the wrong side of a camera. I kept post processing down to an absolute minimum - converting to black & white and tweaking a few sliders only. I didn't want to airbrush my imperfections out (as numerous as they are), but attempt to keep the frame as real as possible. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/27/self-portrait/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/27/self-portrait/ Self Portrait Sun, 23 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Venise contacted me asking if I would take some portraits of her in Oxfordshire. We shot on location around the beautiful Oxford Canal, finding vibrant street graffiti and other cool backdrops along our way. Despite the temperature being a bit on the chilly side we shot for a couple of hours, stopping in Costa only once for fuel! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/23/venise-spokes/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/23/venise-spokes/ Venise Spokes, Portraits in Oxford Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT A fun packed photography session at Sywell Country Park with Will and Dave. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/15/sywell-country-park/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/15/sywell-country-park/ Sywell Country Park, Northamptonshire Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Jasmine Chavda was looking for help building up her modeling portfolio. We decided to shoot in Willen, Milton Keynes which turned out to be the perfect setting. Jasmine braved the cold for just less than 2 hours which was enough time to get some stunning portraits. We used her lovely hair as an improvised scarf in a few frames and experimented with poses and compositions. Jasmine was a pleasure to work with and I wish her all the best in her future modeling career. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/14/jasmine-chavda/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/14/jasmine-chavda/ Jasmine Chavda Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT St Mary the Virgin Church in Higham Ferrers, is my local church and the place where I will be married. It's a stunning traditional anglo-catholic church set in the heart of the village of Higham Ferrers. I had a few minutes to spare so popped in for a few photos. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/13/st-mary-the-virgin-higham-ferrers/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/13/st-mary-the-virgin-higham-ferrers/ St Mary the Virgin Church, Higham Ferrers Sun, 09 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT My second encounter with a DeLorean DMC-12. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/09/delorean-dmc-12/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/09/delorean-dmc-12/ DeLorean DMC-12 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Hunstanton is a beautiful seaside town set on the Norfolk coast. Like most places on the Norfolk coast, I'd been there before but never made an effort with my camera. I arrived to a rainy and miserable Hunstanton this morning only to sit in my car and check emails. It was too wet to shoot and I figured it wasn't worth getting my kit wet. After driving up the coast to visit the stunning Wells by the Sea I went back to Hunstanton. Luckily the second time it was only drizzling. Venturing onto the sand (and getting my feet very wet in the process) I shot a collection of coastal landscapes. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/07/hunstanton/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/07/hunstanton/ Hunstanton Coast Thu, 06 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Following on from my interest in Macro photography I took inspiration from this month's Digital SLR Photography magazine. Benedict Campbell did an awesome job of turning a couple of matchsticks into a dreamy scene using a Lensbaby Composer. I don't have such kit but do have a Macro. This was more of a technical exercise, combining foil and flash - I'm really happy with the results though! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/06/matchstick-men/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/06/matchstick-men/ Matchstick Men Sun, 02 Jan 2011 00:00:00 GMT Bringing in 2011 the only way we know how, on the Nintendo Wii. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/02/new-years-eve/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2011/january/02/new-years-eve/ New Years Eve Tue, 28 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT This is the lovely Sadie, she's only 125 days old! Rumour has it I'm to be her Godfather and I'm making every opportunity to get to know her. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/28/sadie-mitchell/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/28/sadie-mitchell/ Sadie Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT This is Lindsay McLennan (soon to be Storry). This time next year I'll be married to her, we'll have had the holiday of a life-time and be settling into married life together. She's the reason much of my photography is possible and the person I dedicate my work to. I took this frame whilst she was chatting to her grandad, she's so used to me taking pictures of her she didn't even notice. Right now I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. Here's to 2011 - bring it on! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/24/lindsay/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/24/lindsay/ Lindsay Wed, 22 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT As winter comes around each year I'm often told by friends & family that I should be out taking more photos; Only 1 small problem though, I think snow has the effect of ruining an otherwise good shot! I took a chance and risked loosing my kit to a frozen stream to shoot the bottom of the A6 Bridge in Rushden. Even though it was snowing (that nasty wispy snow which never settles) I was able to protect my lens using a recently purchased umbrella! This is one of the rare occasions I haven't converted a landscape to HDR, if for curiosity! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/22/a6-bridge-over-a-frozen-rushden-stream/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/22/a6-bridge-over-a-frozen-rushden-stream/ A6 bridge over a frozen Rushden stream Mon, 13 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT I've been to Nene Valley Railway twice now, its turning into a regular Christmas jolly! This year, as usual we met Santa (who turned out to be a real nice guy), had some whiskey on the train and even checked out Thomas the Tank Engine. I was later asked to be a Godfather which finished off the perfect weekend! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/13/nene-valley-railway/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/13/nene-valley-railway/ Nene Valley Railway Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT Milton Keynes was cold today! About -1C, but with the wind much colder! I was only out for about an hour, and having frozen my butt off and falling over on the frozen grass I did manage to capture some stunning scenery, including the Windmill at Caldecotte Lake and Campbell Park. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/08/milton-keynes-in-the-winter/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/08/milton-keynes-in-the-winter/ Milton Keynes in the Winter Sun, 05 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire during the winter is a special place. There was still a little ice on the Canal and there most certainly was a nip in the air. Joey & Gary were kind enough to pose of a few portrait frames, all in all a good day was had by all. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/05/portrait-photography-at-stoke-bruerne/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/05/portrait-photography-at-stoke-bruerne/ Portrait Photography at Stoke Bruerne Fri, 03 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT I was rummaging through a set of photos I'd taken in Wales back in October. Lightroom has completely changed everything for me; I think I should be a spokes-person for Adobe. My work-flow is actually a joy, from importing photos to flagging and finally tweaking. I found this image after going through the set a couple more times. Initially I wasn't impressed but with some minor basic image processing, it's been transformed from a lifeless coastal landscape into something a little more inspirational. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/03/revisiting-welsh-landscapes/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/december/03/revisiting-welsh-landscapes/ Revisiting the Welsh Landscape Thu, 25 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT The beautiful Milton Keynes Peace Pagoda http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/25/milton-keynes-peace-pagoda/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/25/milton-keynes-peace-pagoda/ Milton Keynes Peace Pagoda Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT The ultra cool Dave sporting the even cooler Aaron Storry Photography branded umbrella. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/23/branded-umbrella/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/23/branded-umbrella/ Branded Umbrella Sun, 21 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT Catherine got in contact a couple of weeks ago and asked me to provide her with some test shots for Men's Health Magazine. I can't show those pictures, but we also had some fun taking portraits. Catherine is cool & a real pleasure to work with. We were lucky enough to shoot in the grounds of her parent's house in Bedfordshire, and then in the woodland close by. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/21/catherine-belso/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/21/catherine-belso/ Catherine Belso Thu, 18 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT My good friend and colleague, David Collins had been telling me about Primrose Hill in London, it's a park which on a clear day overlooks the City. You can see London Zoo, Canary Warf, The London Eye, Big Ben & the Houses or Parliament. After much driving and walking the rain prevented any killer shots, but we then decided to take a trip into Central London. Parking up on Waterloo Bridge, we walked down the trendy South Bank (photographing the skaters on the way) and ended up at the Golden Jubilee Bridge. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/18/golden-jubilee-bridge/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/18/golden-jubilee-bridge/ Golden Jubilee Bridge Sun, 14 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT I've been to Worthing three times now; on each occasion I've taken pictures which have helped define me as a photographer. The first occasion I took a HDR which to this day remains my most viewed image on Flickr. The Coastal Landscapes & Portraits on my recent trip are a collection of frames captured over a couple of days. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/14/worthing-coastal-landscapes/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/14/worthing-coastal-landscapes/ Worthing Coastal Landscapes Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT Today was my Nan & Grandad's 60th wedding anniversary, so we all went down to The Barns Hotel for lunch; I was of course in charge of photography. Shooting my family has always been tricky - my brother usually hates my images, and mum generally thinks I take too many. But dad on the other hand is a pleasure to shoot. He's more photogenic than many of the models I've worked with, and much more fun! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/11/ken-storry-my-dad/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/11/ken-storry-my-dad/ My Dad Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT I've been thinking about how to best write up this blog article for an unusually long time. Wells next the Sea is a special place for me for a couple of reasons. The first time (that I'm aware of) that I had the pleasure of visiting this stunning coastal village I was a policeman on my driver training course. We stopped off for fish n' chips! The second time was with my life partner and now fiancee Lindsay. In-fact I asked her to marry me on the beach. I'm attached to the place and had always intended to get back there when I had more time to enjoy the stunning scenes it has to offer. Wells next the Sea has a range of photographic opportunity, from Beach Huts to Wildlife. I'm grateful to have gone back and experienced Wells next the Sea. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/06/wells-next-the-sea/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/06/wells-next-the-sea/ Wells next the Sea, Coastal Landscapes Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT These portraits represent the second half of a collection of photographs taken on a recent visit to Wales. The first set explored landscape, these focus on portraits - (taken on coastal locations). http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/06/portraits-from-wales/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/06/portraits-from-wales/ Portraits from the Welsh Coast Sat, 06 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT After recently taking receipt of some polo tops and shirts my partner decided she wanted in on the fun. I got her a cardigan and polo shirt to keep her happy! She's seen here representing the brand in Milton Keynes. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/06/aaron-storry-photography-branding-cardigan/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/06/aaron-storry-photography-branding-cardigan/ Aaron Storry Photography Branding Thu, 04 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT All good things come to an end. I've finished up my LEGO project with a couple of frames I took today. I've had fun with these little guys and never expected to get quite so obsessed with it. LEGO Star Wars bridges 2 important childhood memories for me. I was crazy about both the Star Wars trilogy and LEGO. As a youngster, the big thing was Space and Pirates. The Star Wars theme is absolutely perfect for LEGO. I have made a promise to myself that I won't buy anything else, how well I'll do at keeping that promise is an absolute uncertainly! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/04/starwars-lego-final-experiment/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/november/04/starwars-lego-final-experiment/ LEGO Star Wars Sat, 30 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT Michael & Lisa are awesome! They had their pre-wedding portrait shoot on Saturday at Wadenhoe House, Oundle. It's the first time I've shot there and now really looking forward to their wedding in March next year. I liked their casual and laid back approach to the photography, this opened the doors for capturing some beautiful candid portraiture. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/30/michael-and-lisa-pre-wedding-portraits/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/30/michael-and-lisa-pre-wedding-portraits/ Michael & Lisa Pre-Wedding Portraits, Wadenhoe House Fri, 29 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT More fun today experimenting with my Quantum Qflash Trio and Canon EOS 5D Mark II. I'm using Lightroom much less these days in post processing which can only be a good thing! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/29/exploring-light-with-starwars-lego/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/29/exploring-light-with-starwars-lego/ Experimenting with Light & LEGO Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT It's a weird thing, trekking down a road in the dark with my camera & tripod, but that's exactly what I was doing at 7:15 this morning. I've been to Stanwick Lakes in Northampton a couple of times before but wanted to catch the sun coming up over the biggest of the Lakes. I wasn't disappointed! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/28/sunrise-over-stanwick-lakes/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/28/sunrise-over-stanwick-lakes/ Sunrise over Stanwick Lakes, Northampton Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT I had the great pleasure of shooting Anastasia at the Hub, Milton Keynes on Thursday. Anastasia is cool; she's from a part of Russia I can't pronounce - but works in the UK as a Doctor. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/21/anastasia-the-hub-cmk/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/21/anastasia-the-hub-cmk/ Anastasia at the Hub, CMK Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT I took a trip to Wales this weekend as a short break. Funny story: we ended up going to the wrong B&B! It took us a further 3 hours to get the right place having already driven over 3 hours. I'll probably need to post another blog article with portraits on later; I couldn't cram it all onto one. Barmouth was our first stop. It was stunning and I was sad to have left after only a short amount of time walking up and down the Bay. We then went down to Dale, and later visited Cardigan and Pembroke. As part of the trip we wanted to see Beaches of outstanding beauty - this we did: Freshwater East, Barafundle Bay and Bosherston Bay. My favourite by far was Bosherston, the walk through the Lily Ponds was breathtaking. We also managed to check out: Pembroke Castle, Howies HQ and Gwbert. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/19/landscape-photos-in-wales/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/19/landscape-photos-in-wales/ Landscapes from the Welsh Coast Thu, 14 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT I had the great pleasure of photographing Lucy Kennedy at Wicksteed Park in Kettering today. I was Lucy's second ever shoot but you'd not know it! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/14/lucy-kennedy/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/14/lucy-kennedy/ Lucy Kennedy, Wicksteed Park Sat, 09 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT I don't use my Tilt-Shift lens enough, it's a beautiful piece of kit and completely changes everything for me! I decided to take my Canon TS-E 45mm out attached to my backup 50D, and driving up to the top floor of the multi-storey shopping car park in Kettering took a few frames. This shot made it to a HDR. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/09/HDR-Tilt-Shift-in-Kettering/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/09/HDR-Tilt-Shift-in-Kettering/ HDR Tilt-Shift in Kettering Sat, 09 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT Still a little obsessed with LEGO I took a trip to my local Agros store to pick up the Snowtrooper Battle Pack (Item # 8084). I've been trying out some new techniques on lighting. These frames were taken holding a Quantum Qflash Trio by hand only a few inches from the figures. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/09/starwars-lego/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/09/starwars-lego/ Star Wars LEGO Sat, 02 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT I consider my involvement in James & Laura's Wedding to be a product of the success of good social networking. I went to middle school with James back when I lived in Flitwick, we lost contact for a few years then came back together through Facebook. Out of the blue James told me he was getting married and invited me to take the photos! Shooting 2 such cool people at the Bedford Swan Hotel was great! I hope the Honeymoon went well in Rome! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/02/james-and-laura/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/october/02/james-and-laura/ James & Laura's Wedding at The Bedford Swan Hotel Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT I've become quite attached to my LEGO project. I went into the LEGO Store, Milton Keynes today with the intention of picking up some storm troopers. Turns out you can't buy StarWars figures on their own so I made these 3 guys. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/september/25/more-lego/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/september/25/more-lego/ More LEGO Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT My brother, an aspiring recording artist recently remixed a track: (My Baby's) Got Me Burning Up! It's a great house tune and I'm really proud of him for producing and organising every aspect of it, including drafting in the famous Sandra Edwards from Happy Clappers. I was of course delighted to be asked to put some ideas together for his single cover. Using 3 models including the awesome Natasha Smart, we took over the top floor of Revolution Vodka Bar, Milton Keynes and set about giving the track a visual personality. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/september/11/jrmx-lush/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/september/11/jrmx-lush/ Lush! Shoot at Revolution Vodka Bar, Milton Keynes Sun, 05 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT LEGO, how can anybody not love the little plastic people? I'm glad my mum didn't throw any of my precious childhood toys away. After recently becoming inspired by the wealth of online videos I decided to rummage through my boxes and take photo. The original concept was to produce a set of frames which represented the hilarity of some of our ridiculous laws in the UK - LEGO is the perfect platform for this. Having produced my controversial shots I decided to share a couple of the others. http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/september/05/lego/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/september/05/lego/ LEGO Sat, 28 Aug 2010 00:00:00 GMT What a cool way to start my blog! I had the great pleasure of looking after young Lillie on Saturday, we took her to the park where she got burnt out on slides and swings. I've always liked taking pictures of Lillie and I think my camera agrees with me! http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/august/28/lillie-at-ferry-meadows/ http://www.aaron-photography.com/blog/2010/august/28/lillie-at-ferry-meadows/ Lillie at Ferry Meadows