Sussex Photography: Gilbert the Miniature Schnauzer

Although most of my photography is wedding-based, i do get to photograph other subjects from time to time.

This morning i was commissioned to photograph Gilbert, a stunning and very cute Miniature Schnauzer who has had an extremely successful year in the show ring. In fact he has won almost every show he has entered to date and rounded off an amazing season with 5th place in class at the world famous Crufts.

I first met and photographed Gilbert when he was just a few weeks old when his owner, our close friend, Kay came to show him off. You can see those images here.

Kay grooms our two Mini Schnauzers, Baggins and Blossom and using her talents managed to qualify two of her dogs for Crufts this year!

Apart from some "normal" shots of Gilbert, Kay and i wanted to produce something a tad different and i thought i would share a couple with you here.

For photographers: The pictures were all taken in Kay's conservatory using natural light, on my Nikon D3s and 24-70 2.8 lens. I shot at 250/sec@ f2.8 on 400iso and processed the images in Lightroom 3 and then in CS3 using my personal actions.

Sussex Weddings: Broyle Place

Sunday saw Karen and i exhibit at the magical Broyle Place. Located near Ringmer in East Sussex, Broyle is a magnificent Grade 2 Elizabethan Manor House set in 15 acres of gardens and woodland.

I shot a wonderful wedding there last September and over the winter the new owners have pulled out all the stops to do the unthinkable and improve what was already amazing place.

Featuring a permanent marquee and offering the opportunity for couples to be married out doors, it really is a very special wedding venue.

The wonderful team at Broyle had gathered together a terrific collection of superb wedding suppliers for the informal Open Day. Blessed by a beautiful early spring day, the attendance was extremely promising and i am sure we will get a lot of positive feedback from many couples who took the time to come along.

Here are a couple of images i took at the vent to showcase the outside ceremony option. The gazebo and chairs were decorated by Toby and Gemma who run the brilliant Bows Hire.








One of the amazing feature rooms.



You can view my wedding galleries here.

Sussex Weddings: Katie Cakes

In the latest article about some of my recommended wedding suppliers i caught up with Tania of Katie Cakes and asked her about her wedding cake business.

Katiecakes has been in business for nearly 2 years. I started because of our daughter Katie’s outrageous birthday cakes – other parents started asking, and it has grown by word of mouth.

I love making bespoke cakes. I’m friendly, professional and unflappable. I listen carefully to what people want, and advise them well, it’s a fun process. I really enjoy designing and making all styles – natural or technical, simply stated or detailed, they are all personal.

The cake itself is all home made with great recipes, free range eggs, and the best quality ingredients. I have refined the recipes – I always have plenty of volunteers for testing them. The best selling wedding cake flavours at the moment are lemon drizzle, carrot cake and chocolate fudge cake. My new favourite is apple and cinnamon cake, I will be introducing it to customers soon.



Disclaimer: images supplied by Katie Cakes.

Sussex Weddings: Images from my Workshop

I just received a few images from my good friend Paul Weller who attended my recent Real World Wedding Workshop at Ashdown Park Hotel.

After lunch i held a live shoot in and around the stunning venue and demonstrated some of the techniques i use to produce dramatic and beautiful images no matter how dark the interior of a wedding venue.



My resulting image.







The final image.





Finished image.



The delegates shooting into the veyr low, bright March sunshine.



My image.




I have also just received another kind email from one of the delegates.

Hi Peter,

I had meant to send an email regarding your recent seminar to say I enjoyed the day and found it quite informative! As professional wedding photographers its a great help to be able to share the trials and tribulations of modern day wedding photography!

Once again thanks for the seminar.


Kind regards,


Phil Edwards.

Sussex Portraits: Ruby's Latest School Photo

Just thought i would share Ruby's latest "school photo".

Actually i took this right after a portfolio shoot i was commissioned to do here for an actress.

This was shot on the D3s at around f2.8 using soft light from the window behind me.

Sussex Weddings: Kardelicious

Lisa of Kardelicious is another top notch wedding supplier that i have had the pleasure to work with on numerous occasions the past couple of years.
I love her work and her by-line "Deliciously gorgeous designer bespoke stationery"



I had a quick chat with her for my latest blog article.

How did you start out in the wedding business?

I have always loved making cards for family and friends bust mostly for fun! About 4years ago a work colleague asked me to make her daughter’s wedding stationery and I jumped at the chance. After talking to the Bride about her wedding day and the details of the wedding, I made some samples taking into consideration her colour scheme, style and personality and she was delighted with all of them and found it difficult to choose one style! She received favourable comments from lots of her guests which also helped create a few new clients for me. As they say, the rest is history!

How would you describe Kardelicious?

Kardelicious stationery is totally bespoke and handmade. I find inspiration in dress designs, fabric patterns, jewellery, shoes and handbags – but most importantly, even the most simple of design must be elegant and beautifully made.
All my stationery is handmade using beautiful heavy weight card in various colours and finishes – the clients like to have a wide range of choice and I like to offer it. I use only the best quality of everything – from my silk ribbon, to diamante embellishments and card.

Clients love to have an input into the design which is why the relationship we have is essential – lots of clients have become friends and I now see them socially.

Why do you love the wedding business?

I love meeting new people. I quite often meet Mum and Mum-in-Law too – they come on mass to my studio and have a cup of tea! Soon-to-be-married couples are so happy and eager to get married and to be together – it’s lovely to feel a part of their wedding. I have such wonderful clients and feel proud and honoured to help them create an element of their day which they will remember for ever.

I hope to be designing stationery for many years to come!

Lisa Bibby-Larsen
Kardelicious
01323 893941 – 07957 871065

Seminar in May

I am pleased to announce that i have been invited to speak for SIM200 in Hertfordshire.

The date is 11th May and it runs from 10am to 4.30pm at their Hatfield premises. The prices is just £50+vat including lunch.

For further details and to make a booking please click here or call SIM2000 on 01707 273747.

Photography Training: Images from my Workshop

Last week's workshop at Ashdown Park Hotel in East Sussex was a terrific day!

Twelve delegates travelled from far and wide to come and listen to my intensive one-day seminar that covered my marketing and business practises and how i shoot and cope with covering weddings indoors with the minimal of fuss.

There was just 12 places available at this intimate day and after registration and coffee, we started with an introductory AV before i went into the nuts and bolts of running and building a business in today's over saturated market place.

Then following lunch, i held a live shoot around the stunning venue, and was blessed to have a superb model, Abi whose wedding i had covered last year. She came all the way from the Gloustershire to help me out and i am very grateful for her support on the day. Abi was perfect to work with and looked as stunning as ever!

How the live shoot panned out, was that i would choose a location, more often than not in challenging lighting conditions as we worked indoors. The venue is quite dark but very dramatic inside, but the aim was to offer a "set of tools" to the attendees so that they should be able to cope with less than ideal situations that all weddings can throw up.

Then i would explain what i was looking for in regards to lighting and posing to produce the image i was after. Once i had captured my picture, i showed this around and allowed the delegates to try for themselves, offering tips as required.

At this stage i want to thank Jenny from Finishing Touches for driving up to Ashdown to ensure Abi looked so amazing.

After the shoot and coffee, i showed a couple of full weddings and opened the floor to Q+As. It was great to be asked so many questions and we ended up over running by a couple of hours!

Within 24 hours i was really pleased to receive some positive feedback and can't wait until i can find time to arrange another training day.


"Hi Peter,
Just wanted to say thank you so much for yesterdays seminar, a lot of it was such a revelation. You have opened my eyes a lot further than I thought they could be opened!!!
The way you conduct yourself when shooting at a wedding is gentle, non-obtrusive and very bride friendly! Not only are your images warm, deep and fairy-tale esqe, you are a genuinely lovely guy!....................You are a Grand Master of your craft and I hope even though i've only captured a two weddings, maybe, just maybe I can hope to achieve the shots you produce week in week out.
I know you are a very busy man, don\'t read any further if you don't have time but If you have time please could you look at the wedding section in my website and tell me what you think? It would be invaluable to have someone of your distinction critique my work.
Yours sincerely Gus"


"Geoff Penn
I went on - and enjoyed - a @PeterPrior course on the business aspects of wedding photography, and photographing brides in natural light." from Twitter

"Kristian Leven
Just got back from a day with former Cosmo Bride's Wedding Photographer of the Year @PeterPrior - an inspiration and a gentleman" from Twitter

"Hi Peter,

I just wanted to drop you a quick line to say a big thank-you for today's seminar which I found it really useful and informative. I really enjoyed the location and the opportunity to spend the day with like minded people.
It's clear I still have a lot to learn but I feel I came away with a lot to think about and some good ideas about how I can improve the service I provide and create a more profitable business.

Kind regards
Liz Good"



"Hi Peter,

Just like to say a big thanks for today. I had a fantastic time and it was a pleasure to meet you.

Also if you get a second to look at my web site and let me know what you think, it would be very much appreciated.

Kindest regards,

Andy.

ps. Oh yea, the files at 6400 iso on my 5d mk2 compared to the D3s is depressing......Chalk and cheese i think the word is. Could get expensive.
I don't know how I will tell the wife though."



My thanks also go to Ben Booker the GM at Ashdown for his initial support, Lisa Wren who arranged everything that i asked for, and finally to Richard for his techie help on day.

Oh and of course Nick Mifsud, Julie and Chris from South West Photomounts for promoting the day and continuing to supply the very best albums in the world.

Finally here are a few of my images from the shoot with Abi.

All the images were captured on my Nikon D3s with the 24-70 2.8 lens. I shot at f2.8 on 400-1600iso only. I only used environmental lighting such as window light and chandeliers.

Sussex Weddings: Grand Hotel Wedding Showcase

This coming Sunday, 13th March will see us exhibiting at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne for their Wedding Showcase.

The doors are open 10-3 with free entrance for all.

It will be a great opportunity to discuss your wedding plans and view my sample albums in a fabulous place.

The hotel is simply stunning and the fabulous staff will be on hand to WOW couples with personal show rounds.