Art Visage | Peter Prior

Sussex Wedding Photography: Peter Prior Photography

2014-12-27T03:12:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO THE BLOG OF PETER PRIOR PHOTOGRAPHY!

Sussex based photographer, Peter Prior is a creator of artistic and timeless wedding images with an international reputation for constantly exceeding his clients expectations, producing pictures that other photographers simply just don't see. This leaves couples with an exciting and dynamic life long memory of the most important and exciting day of their lives.

His work is more that a set of wedding photographs; Peter allows viewers into each wedding so that they feel as if they were actually there, even if the were not present. A storyteller, he reveals the atmosphere and emotions of the day and combined with his amazing use of light provides clients with unique stunning albums every time!

A low key, gentle and discreet approach enables Peter to become completely absorbed into a wedding day, allowing his clients to switch off and enjoy the day without having to worry about their photography.

Having been a specialist wedding photographer for 16 years, Peter has covered in excess of 700 weddings to date and is available to photograph anywhere in the world. His vast experience as a Full Time Professional Wedding Photographer really sets his work apart when compared with the multitude of newcomers to the world of wedding photography. He has covered weddings from Aberdeen to Cornwall, Wales to Cyprus as well as more local ceremonies of course!

Peter's talent, amazing eye, attention to detail and exemplary customer service really provide his couples with an experience that is second to none.

He is also the a winner of over 60 industry awards, including being the current South East MPA Documentary and Classical Wedding Photographer of the Year and being awarded two Awards of Excellence at the National MPA Awards in Newcastle in October 2011. Peter also won the Documentary Wedding Photographer award in 2010 and the Classical award in 2009.

A sought after teacher and lecturer of wedding photography,Peter has been a mentor to countless aspiring and established
photographers and is passionate about promoting the highest possible standards of wedding photography.

For all the latest weddings and news about Peter Prior Photography please follow this blog. Articles are posted below regularly and the archives are fully searchable by using the categories on the right hand side. Comments are always welcome so please feel free to contribute.

Sussex Photographer: Voiglander Vito First Test film

2012-02-09T07:47:00.000-08:00

I love my Voigtlander Vito B!

I have just had my first test roll processed and scanned. I elected to try a roll of Ilford's XP2 as this was the only roll of 35mm i had left in the fridge!

Using the camera was a challenge but very refreshing. After trawling the internet, i found a few articles about how to use the stunning little Vito. Basically focusing seems to be a bit of educated guess work, but in the main the on-line advice regarding focusing distances and depth of field worked , when i added my experience to the show. I probably lost about 20% of the roll due to "poor focus guesses", but then i was expecting that as i tried a couple of ideas to prove/disprove the on-line advice.

The day i shot the film was cursed with very bland flat light but at the end of the day, it was more about a systems check.

The negatives seem to be a tad over exposed. I used the readings i took from my Sekonic L-358 meter but in the main its going to be nothing too much to worry about. The lens itself seems to be fine and considering the age of the camera, produces very pleasing tonality and sharpness.

I am sure with further experimentation i am going to have a lot of fun producing personal images from this little camera and i will share my favourites here from time to time.

OK. Here are a couple of shots from the first 24 exposures. Both images are from scans from my lab and have been processed in Photoshop using my own actions.

Eastbourne seafont on a very cold, bleak day.

Karen and Bertie

Horse Photographer Sussex: Little John

2012-02-05T02:45:00.001-08:00

I thought i would share another recent example of my equestrian photography.

This an image of Little John, taken as the sun was setting outside the barn where he is stabled on a very cold January. I love the warmth and dynamics of the light.

Sussex Fine Art Photographer

2012-02-04T04:37:00.000-08:00

I don't share a lot of personal work on this blog but i have just finished working on this shot which was taken in London last summer at a wedding reception venue opposite the O2 Area.

As i was checking the venue out i noticed this old ship and the light and sky were such they they demanded that i capture a couple of images before setting off to the bride's home 30 minutes away.

This was shot on my D3s with the 24-70 2.8 zoom and "hand printed" using CS5 and my take on HDR (an effect i dislike for my wedding and portrait work).

Wedding Photographer Sussex: Wiston House Wedding Fair Report

2012-02-01T00:04:00.000-08:00

Despite there being a number of wedding fairs being held in Sussex on Sunday, i have to say the wedding fair at the wonderful Wiston House in West Sussex was a huge success.

In a little over 4 hours there were in excess of 400 visitors and over 130 brides present to take a look around the wonderful venue and its grounds and meet the hand-picked suppliers.

It was also a great opportunity to catch up with a lot of friends from the wedding industry and enjoy some great company.

We had a stand in the library and were kept very busy the whole time that the doors were open.

My stand

The Great Hall

BO-K Flowers

Whyte Weddings

Elegant Stationery

Consumed by Cake

It was also great to catch with Tracey from Disco Fever, amazing man of magic Matt Wainwright and harpist Fiona Hosford.

Thanks to the staff of Wiston for inviting us once again.

Sussex Photographer: New Camera

2012-01-30T05:57:00.000-08:00

After a busy weekend, Monday morning was time off for us.

Whilst shopping, i decided to pop into Hailsham Camera Centre, a very old school camera shop that has been running longer than i care to remember.

At the back of the shop, there is a cabinet of vintage cameras for sale and i couldn't resist a little 35mm camera that dates back to the 1950s and seems to be in great working order. Only putting a film through it, will prove this of course and i can't wait to get started on a few personal film projects i have in mind.

My "new toy" is a Voigtlander Vito B and as it is the version with the smaller viewfinder it must have been made between 1954-57.

After 16 years as a professional wedding and portrait photographer, shooting on film and digital auto focus 35mm SLRs and medium format cameras, it will be challenging but refreshing to go back to the very basics with a beautifully made manual focus camera with no battery power, meter and of course LCD screen!. Better still it was a relative bargain and therefore i couldn't resist.

This other article should help me get up and running.

Assuming all works OK, i will be sharing a few images from the projects i will be setting myself and who knows i might even end up expanding on my "new old toys"!

Here a montage of the little Vito B. Its tiny so very portable!

I love old cameras and have a 1930s Reflex Korelle that was owned by my late Grandfather. I am intending on trying to get this serviced and up and running this year, although this has been a project for the past 10 years or so!

Sussex Wedding Photography: Where You Can Meet Peter in 2012 (UPDATED)

2012-01-26T06:14:00.000-08:00

I am very selective regarding which bridal shows i attend but the quality of these events is sure to be good and well worth a visit for any couples planning their wedding in the next year or so.

26th February: Broyle Place Wedding Fair, near Ringmer, East Sussex

4th March: The Grand Hotel Wedding Showcase, in Eastbourne (10am-3pm)

11th March: Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Showcase, East Sussex.

Coming to speak to us at one of these fantastic events is a great way to spend some time appreciating quality wedding photography whilst planning your dream wedding, at one of the UK's top wedding venues.

Sussex Wedding Photographer: And More Kind Word

2012-01-25T01:04:00.001-08:00

I was very pleased to receive this thank you card in the post yesterday.

Its always great to be appreciated and to know that you've produced images that your clients are delighted with.

You can see some of the images from Emma and Keith's wedding here.

You can also view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Portrait Photographer: Isabelle's Second Session

2012-01-23T23:42:00.000-08:00

I was pleased to welcome back Isabelle and her parents for her second portrait session in the past year.

I always find the difference a few months make to a child amazing. Now fully mobile and with her own terrific personality she was a lot of fun. The first session was at home, but this time we did the photographs in my home studio.

Here are a few favourite images from the shoot.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photographer: Yet More Kind Words

2012-01-19T07:49:00.000-08:00

Just received another very kind email. Its always a dream to read such nice comments about the work you have done for fabulous clients.

Dear Peter

The photos are fantastic the ones of the dancing and the fancy dress are just brilliant they capture the atmosphere perfectly. You are a genius.!

Can't wait for another event so we can work with you again even I think three weddings would be a little too much. Happy New Year.

Kindest regards

Gail and Gavin

You can see images from Gail and Gavin's wonderful weddings here.

My wedding portfolio can be viewed here.

Sussex Wedding Photographer: Bows Hire

2012-01-18T07:55:00.003-08:00

I just thought i would write a short piece about a wonderful company run by my good friends Toby and Gemma.

They own and run Bows Hire, THE wedding and events decoration specialists. Based in East Sussex the have over 2000 events experience to transform any venue into an artistic masterpiece.

Bows hire cater for any venue, from hotels and marquees to village halls and barns and have a showroom in Robertsbridge, East Sussex, where you can plan your dream styling.

I have had the privilege of covering countless weddings with Gemma and Toby and would recommend them without hesitation.

Here are a couple of images i took at a private masquerade ball we covered together with our friends at Super Event.

Their contact details are below and if you call them after reading this, please tell them about this blog.

Website www.bowshire.co.uk
Tel: 01424 870084

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Wedding Photographer Sussex: Gail and Gavin at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne

2012-01-17T06:56:00.001-08:00

Gail and Gavin were actually married in August and i had the privilege of being their wedding photographer. You can see some of the images here.

They had also a planned a much larger event for the blessing of their wedding, which was a black tie do held at the amazing Grand Hotel in Eastbourne. This was a surprisingly informal and fun day, although after the summer wedding, i should have been expecting it!

After a short ceremony in the Princes' room for the blessing, the fun began with a drinks reception in the East Quarter and the main event in the stunning Compton Room.

The detail and planning by Gail became a fabulous reality by the the team at Bows Hire and was topped off by flowers by Grand Flowers and finishing touches by Joanne at Elegant Stationery.

After the meal the guests were encouraged to join in the fancy dress theme and as a surprise were entertained by Elvis himself!

Here are a few highlights of the day, all taken on my Nikon D3s.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

The Grand at Christmas: elegant and stunning!

This has become one of my "Signature Images" at the Grand. Love the setting and the light!

The beautiful Compton Room

Following my good friend, Toastmaster Stephen Hall into the wedding breakfast.

Sussex Wedding Photographer: Wiston House Wedding Fair on 29th January 2012

2012-01-13T23:05:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to have been invited once again to Wiston House's Wedding Fair on 29th January.

The doors are open 11am-3.00pm and it offers the perfect opportunity for couples planning their wedding to view one of the UK's best venues as well as meet some of the very best wedding suppliers in the South.

I will be there to show off my latest stunning sample albums, talk over couple's plans and see if i can help them in any way i can.

Wiston House truly is a magical place to hold a wedding and i am very proud to be one of their recommended suppliers, so it should be a must on any couples list to visit.

For further information please feel free to give me a call on 01323 486837 or get in touch with the superb wedding team at Wiston itself.

To view my wedding portfolio, please click here.

To view some of my recent Wiston House weddings, please click here.

Grand Hotel Wedding Photographer: Emma and Keith's Christmas Wedding

2012-01-11T00:30:00.000-08:00

Emma and Keith were married at the beautiful Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, East Sussex on the penultimate Saturday before Christmas.

I love working at the Grand during the festive season as it is second to none as a winter wedding venue. The stunning interior combined with wonderful decorations make it the perfect place for a Christmas wedding.

Emma and Keith had booked me at the Wedding Showcase back in March and i had been looking forward to it for quite a while.

The day was extremely relaxed and topped off with a reception in the Compton Room, that had been superbly decorated by Toby and Gemma from the wonderful Bows Hire .

Here are a few favourite pictures from the day. Using the Nikon D3s i was able to produce superb images shooting at 1600-6400iso utilising environmental light to reproduce all the atmosphere of the day as unobtrusively as possible.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photographer: More Kind Words

2012-01-04T23:29:00.006-08:00

Its always great to receive compliments and notes of thanks and i am fortunate to receive many throughout the year.

I was pleased to open this short email last week from Morgan and Tom Vine whose wonderful wedding i had the privilege to cover in September. As they live up in London and have very busy lives, Morgan;s mum collected the album for them in readiness for their festive home visit.

Hi Peter,

Just another massive thank you. We got home Christmas Eve to see our beautiful album. All our family and friends were admiring it over Christmas. It's really stunningly put together and a great reminder of what a brilliant day we had.

Thanks for all your hard work and hope you had a great Christmas.

Morgan and Tom

You can see the blog post about their wedding here.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photographer: Come and Meet Me at the Eastbourne Wedding Fair

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

After a short break for Christmas this week sees us crazily busy in preparation for the Eastbourne Wedding Fair which is being held on the 7th and 8th January at the Winter Gardens in Eastbourne (surprisingly).

The doors open on the Saturday at 10am until 5pm and then again on Sunday (10am to 4pm). I understand there will be in excess of 100 exhibitors so its a really terrific opportunity for couples to come and decide on their chosen suppliers for their wedding before they are booked up.

Our stand will showcase our latest stunning sample albums sourced from the world's leading manufacturer and they will be on hand for couples to browse through at their leisure.

As i write this before the end of 2011 a check on my diary shows that i am already 75% booked up for 2012 and 2013 is already starting to take shape so i am looking forward to meeting as many couples as possible to tie up 2012 which will really enable me to focus on my clients and their weddings.

You can view my wedding portfolio here and see highlights from a number of recent weddings here.

Happy New Year!!

2011-12-31T01:07:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to take this opportunity to wish my friends, family, clients, suppliers and fellow photographers a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011 has been a tough one for so many folks so fingers crossed 2012 can only be an improvement for everyone!

Our working year kicks off on Tuesday 3rd with the first photographic commission on Friday 6th at the stunning Grand Hotel in Eastbourne.

Then we are exhibiting for two days at the Eastbourne Wedding Fair but the thing we are looking forward to the most is the annual Super Events dinner at the East Sussex National on the Saturday night. Hope i manage to recover in time for Sunday morning at the wedding fair!

See you next year!

The Ravenswood Wedding Photographer: Stephanie and Ivan's Wedding

2011-12-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

Stephanie and Ivan were married at the beautiful St Nicholas Church, Worth near Crawley in Sussex. It was an amazingly sunny winter's day that welcomed them.

The ceremony was a huge part of their day and following the taking of communion, they left for the Ravenswood, sent on their way by a tunnel of confetti in the dark.

It was a very atmospheric and dark drinks reception but as ever the D3s coped superbly in the conditions, which saw me shooting primarily at 3200 and 6400 iso without any real issues.

Here are a few favourite pictures from the day.

Sussex Wedding Photographer: HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

2011-12-20T07:59:00.000-08:00

The past year has seen big changes for us both professionally and personally.

Despite tough market conditions, we launched a new website early in the year. It had been a long time in coming and was well overdue, despite the continued success of our old site.

Professionally, we repositioned our wedding business and ended up achieving all of the goals we had set back in January and bookings for 2012 are ahead of schedule despite the continued doom and gloom we constantly hear in the news.

2011 was another great year for us on the competition front, seeing me picking up a number of awards in the regional MPA Awards yet again and achieving 2 Awards of Excellence in the National MPA Awards held in Newcastle.

I held my annual intensive workshop in March and was being invited to speak for SIM200 imaging in May and up in Aberdeen in October. Each seminar was sold out which was very pleasing.

In May we moved from Stone Cross to Polegate, just outside of Eastbourne. We found a wonderful house tucked away, a real hidden gem and just couldn't resist. Better still it offers us a dedicated client meeting room/gallery as well as a small home studio space. It couldn't have been better!

One of the highlights of my year (apart from covering so many wonderful weddings) was meeting one of my heroes, Sir Stirling Moss.

To finish, please note that we are closed for business from 22nd December until Tuesday 3rd January. If you need to get in touch please email info@peterprior.com as we will be checking our inbox if time permits.

We wanted to take this opportunity to wish our clients, friends, supporters, fellow wedding suppliers and photographers a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year! Thank you all so much for your support.

To view my wedding portfolio please click here.

The Grand Hotel Wedding Photographer: Elizabeth and Alan

2011-12-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

I love shooting winter weddings at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, especially in the run up to Christmas. At this time of year the hotel is a magical place to be!

Elizabeth and Alan's intimate wedding was the first of three weddings at the Grand i am booked to cover in December.

As the ceremony was at 4pm, the atmosphere was very cosy and warm and together with the stunning interior i was able to take advantage of some great opportunities to capture some beautiful images of the couple.

I was only in attendance for 2 hours, so despite there being only 14 people at the wedding i really had to work flat out to ensure that Elizabeth and Alan receive some great photographs without having to spend all the time posing. Indeed as ever the aim of allowing them plenty of time to enjoy the company of their guests was paramount. This always offers plenty of time for me to capture the details and informal moments at the drinks reception.

Dinner was held in the lovely Gallery Suite, overlooking the main fireplace at the end of the Great Hall.

Although not normally a "camera kit junkie", i am still constantly blown away by the possibilities my Nikon D3s throws up. I am very experienced at "seeing the light" regardless of how feint but this amazing camera certainly allows me to create images in very low light that would have been impossible in the recent past.

Here are a few images from the day, all shot at 1600-6400iso. The only image that has supplementary flash is the cake cutting shot on the balcony of the Gallery Suite which has been used to balance the lighting throughout the image.

Equestrian Photography

2011-12-07T01:22:00.000-08:00

Away from the hustle and bustle of being a wedding photographer, i pick up interesting and fun commissions for other genre of photography.

With my wife and daughter being "horsey people", from time to time, i get to photography the horses of their contacts in the equestrian world. This is so different from my usual business but can be challenging and very rewarding at the same time.

Anyway, i thought i would share with you a couple of images i liked from some recent work. Both were shot on my Nikon D300 using my trusty 50mm 1.4 D lens.

Starik

Berite

Sussex Wedding Photography: Booking A Professional Wedding Photographer

2011-12-03T00:33:00.001-08:00

With Christmas looming it has got me thinking about the New Year and the forthcoming "booking season" for couples looking for suppliers for their wedding in 2012 and indeed 2013. You can find earlier articles about my thoughts on BRIDES section of this blog

We are fortunate that we book weddings all year round and are generally booked 12-18 months ahead. As an example for 2012 our diary for wedding is already 75% booked and we are planning for 2013 and beyond.

As with most things booking wedding suppliers can be a bit of a minefield and the wedding blogs and forums are full of horror stories about poor work, customer service etc.

It has always been our aim to offer the very best possible standards in wedding photography and products and to constantly exceed our clients expectations. Anything less simply isn't good enough as we have very high professional standards and are passionate that our clients should always receive the very best at all times.

Our passion for excellence is probably the main reason for our continuing success and why i am still one of the most sought after wedding photographers in the UK.

If you read the many articles within this blog you will be able to see hundreds of images taken over the past 18 months or so and you can see many examples of my wedding images on my website by clicking here.

So what makes a wedding photographer a "PROFESSIONAL WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER" rather than a "CAMERA OWNER"?

Booking a wedding photographer is a mind blowing experience, full of so many potential pitfalls, confusing promises and packages and a hugely diversity in terms of prices and abilities.

In these days of a vastly over saturated and unregulated profession, it has never been more important to ensure that you are booking the right photographer for you and that you have booked someone who is professional and capable of producing the results that you expect and deserve.

On-line wedding blogs, forums and bridal magazines are of little help either. They are generally written by folks who have no real world experience of what makes a good wedding photographer and in the main wouldn't know a good wedding image if it hit them between the eyes with a sledgehammer.

They are generally only interested in high traffic volumes to their site and advertising revenues for their publications and the lack of reality in many of their articles doesn't really concern them. They seem to be more worried about the latest over photoshopped fad, tuning a blind eye to the fact that you can't "polish a turd". However, for some reason only be known to themselves they seem to think that dropping a poorly lit, exposed and composed image into the latest off the shelf Photoshop Action makes the picture OK or even good! They also only ever feature their "favoured" photographers who may have even paid for the privilege of being promoted so heavily.

I am sure this is not the case with all such portals of information though as i am sure they all offer great entertainment and are all part of the excitement that comes with planning a wedding. However, all of this doesn't help the bride and groom trying to fight their way through the minefield of wedding photographers offering their services.

2012 sees me start my 16th year as a PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer. I have written the word "professional" in capitals so as to stress the difference between a genuine "PROFESSIONAL" wedding photographer and a "CAMERA OWNER" professing to be a "professional".

For the record, in my opinion a PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer can be either full or part time and is someone who acts, operates and produces work in a totally professional manner, paying taxes, carrying appropriate insurance etc where as a CAMERA OWNER is someone who has bought a digital SLR and wants to make a few extra quid on the quiet at a weekend with no real back ups or protection for their clients.

In these days of the Internet and readily available template web sites, it can be relatively easy for someone to set up with minimal or no experience as a wedding photographer and unfortunately the many stories of "Buyer's Regret " after the event that i hear help no one, not least the poor couples who have been let down.

As a PROFESSIONAL Wedding Photographer, i offer a number of things a "CAMERA OWNER" doesn't and each of these are huge benefits for clients before, during and after their wedding day. Sure a genuine PROFESSIONAL will probably be much more expensive and although it might not be immediately apparent, there are usually countless reasons to justify the higher prices and as with most things in life you do generally only get what you pay for.

1: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer makes his or her living from photographing weddings. A CAMERA OWNER doesn't.

2: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer pays tax, national insurance and has to put money aside for sickness and their long term future. A CAMERA OWNER generally isn't paying the legally required tax, NI etc and probably encourages cash payment. They also generally have a job/career that funds or reduces the other worries.

3: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer will be readily available to answer your questions, meet with you and not have to juggle you with the day to day requirements of the CAMERA OWNER'S primary job. I have genuinely have had more than one tearful bride on the phone begging me to cover her wedding at the last minute as her "photographer" had bailed out as they were required at their real job!

4: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer will be fully insured for his/her clients protection. For example we carry full professional insurance which not only protects the couple but also their venue(s) should mishap occur. I still find it mind-blowing that venues allow uninsured photographers to work on their premises leaving them open to bills etc when they wouldn't allow an uninsured DJ to set up! Most CAMERA OWNERS don't bother with insurance, mainly due to the cost i suppose.

5: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer carries all the right equipment complete with £1000s of back ups should disaster strike. In my case most clients wouldn't notice my spares as they are tucked away in my car. The CAMERA OWNER may only have the budget SLR in his/her hand!

6: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer will ask you to talk about your wedding and plans in detail and cater to your requirements, producing quality images regardless of the weather, venue, time scale etc. The CAMERA OWNER will make excuses if things go pear shaped when it rains.

7: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer should be skilled in the dark arts of CORRECT EXPOSURE, LIGHTING, COMPOSITION and POSING whereas the CAMERA OWNER will just wing it, probably shooting 1000s of images on AUTO MODE, hoping for the best.

8: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer will confirm everything in writing together with receipts etc. The CAMERA OWNER will probably just thank you for the cash on the day.

9: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer should be able to show you a few full weddings before you book whereas a CAMERA OWNER may only be able to show a few "best shots" from a few different weddings. We show both!

10: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer will still be about long after your wedding day should you require further prints, albums etc. A CAMERA OWNER probably won't be even shooting weddings 12 months down the line once they get fed up with the potential for hassles when things don't run smoothly.

11: A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer's rates will reflect his/her experience and the demand for his/her talent. A CAMERA OWNER'S rates generally reflect that they are working for extra cash to fund their hobby or next holiday. Generally the more experienced and talented a PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer is the more in demand they will be and their rates will reflect this. This is very much in the same way a Mercedes is more expensive than a cheaper less thought of car marque.

A PROFESSIONAL wedding photographer is a true specialist. Wedding photography isn't something that anyone or even other professional photographers from other genres can pick up easily. It is an ART and carries huge responsibilities.

A few hundred pounds saved now can lead to a lifetime of regrets and sorrow so the choice needs to be made with care and with a couple's eyes firmly open.

Here you can ready more of my observations and thoughts here.

Choosing Your Wedding Photographer: REVISTED

What is Reportage Photography?

Wedding Fairs and Wedding Photographers: An Observation

Winter Weddings Revisited

Photographer or "Camera Owner"

Wiston House Wedding Photographer: Some Very Kind Words

2011-12-02T23:39:00.000-08:00

We are fortunate to be asked to photograph many amazing weddings each year. Every wedding is special and i passionately feel that every couple deserves the very best wedding photography i can produce regardless of the time of year, weather or location.

Time and time again we receive messages and card of thanks and it is always great to know that you have exceeded your client's expectations, which of course is our aim each time we take on a wedding, portrait or indeed any other photographic commission.

Lorraine and David were married at one the UK's premier wedding venues, Wiston House, near Steyning in West Sussex in September and have been an absolute delight to work for from the first time i met Lorraine.

I was overwhelmed to receive the following short message of thanks last night and in view of the way their booking of me came about, it was even more special to me.

Our beautiful, gorgeous, stunning and very treasured Wedding Album arrived today. Thank you so very much Peter for capturing our very special day, thrilled

Lorraine

It was a huge honour and pleasure Lorraine and i truly hope we keep in touch.

To see some of Lorraine and David's wedding images please click here.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Where You Can Meet Peter in 2012

2011-11-24T22:47:00.000-08:00

As the end of the year approaches i thought i would share a few dates where i have been invited to exhibit in the New Year.

I am very selective regarding which bridal shows i attend but the quality of these events is sure to be good and well worth a visit for any couples planning their wedding in the next year or so.

7th and 8th January: The Eastbourne Wedding Show at the Winter Gardens, Eastbourne

29th January: Wiston House Wedding Fair in West Sussex. (11am-3pm)

26th February: Broyle Place Wedding Fair, near Ringmer, East Sussex

11th March: Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Showcase, East Sussex.

Coming to speak to us at one of these fantastic events is a great way to spend some time appreciating quality wedding photography whilst planning your dream wedding, at one of the UK's top wedding venues.

Sussex Portraits: Samuel

2011-11-24T08:56:00.001-08:00

I covered Charlotte and Paul's wedding at Buxted Park Hotel and was thrilled to be asked to photograph their lovely little boy, Samuel.

They bought him along to my studio and we had a lot of fun producing all sorts of images of this lovely little boy.

Here are a few favourite images from the session.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Portrait: Lucy's Second Session

2011-11-15T11:07:00.000-08:00

It was a real pleasure to welcome Lucy (and her parents Tim and Karen of course) for her second portrait session.

I photographer Karen and Tim's wonderful wedding three years ago and had photographed Lucy at their home last year, so the new studio was something different for them.

Using my usual simple lighting set up with my Octobox we had a fun time with the little lady and here are a few favourite shots. I hope the laughter shows in the images!

To view my portrait portfolio please click here.

Sussex Weddings: Finishing Touches Bridal Makeup

2011-11-15T02:20:00.000-08:00

I thought i would introduce you folks to probably the best Bridal Make up artist i have worked with in the South East. I first met Jenny when she was working on a wedding i shot almost 15 years ago and we have remained firm friends ever since. Her work speaks for itself (as you can see from this shot of one of my brides, Abigail) so i thought i would ask her to write a few words about her business for my blog.

Finishing Touches, The Bridal Make-up and Hair Design Specialists have been established in the East Sussex area for many years and to date has 1,000 weddings under their belts.

Jenny and her team are completely freelance and offer the very best bespoke service for beautiful Bridal Makeup and Stunning Hair Designs, fitting for any style of wedding.

Makeup and hair for the bride is a must on her wedding day, this is the most photographed day of her life and probably the most emotional, one moment she could be tearful the next laughing and relaxed.

Your makeup should get you right through the day and also look perfect for the evening, having a Professional Trained Makeup Artist to apply your makeup with good quality products that will enhance you naturally is crucial, this will give your skin a flawless but radiant look covering any slight imperfections you may have.

The Eyes have it ! using colours that brighten and enhance your own eye colour this will create a lovely natural look or for the full on Smokie affect using smouldering darker shades which are so popular right now, you the bride has the choice, we can create any look you desire and make you feel confident and happy to be seen and admired by all that see you on your wedding day.

Please feel free to contact Jenny to ask any questions without obligation, she will be happy to help.

info@ftweddingmakeup.co.uk
www.ftweddingmakeup.co.uk

01323 725483/ 07813 327 356

Suffolk Wedding Photographer: Nic and Ed's Wedding at Haughley Park Barn

2011-11-11T05:50:00.001-08:00

My final October wedding was up in Suffolk for Nic and Ed's big day.

As i had a long drive to Suffolk, it was good to have the company of my good friend Darren Holloway who kept me entertained throughout the day.

We called in a Haughley Park Barn on the way to Nic's parent's house where we caught up with Ed and his family as they prepared for the ceremony at St Stephens Church in the village of Higham, Suffolk.

After all the excitement of the bridal preps and the lovely ceremony at a beautiful church, we drove back toward Bury St Edmunds to their reception at the stunning Haughley Park Barn.

After a walk around the grounds their followed a drinks reception and meal in the barn. The speeches and first dance were followed by a barn dance; perfect to get folks together enjoying the party!

Here are a few favourite shots of the day.

This moment made me chuckle.

Sussex Wedding Photography: CHRISTMAS DEADLINES

2011-11-05T03:13:00.000-07:00

With the silly season fast approaching i thought i should post about our festive deadlines this year.

For reprints the cut off is the 5th December, for Wall Art such as canvas prints the deadline is 20th November and for parents albums and the like, the deadline is 12th November.

The dates are partly because our suppliers are super busy and running at full capacity this time of year and also because we are in very much the same boat and can't guarantee to be able to delivery products for Christmas after these dates. It may be that overly late orders are completed, but we can't promise this.

So if you are thinking about ordering photos as presents, please get in touch as soon as possible. For standard reprints, the on-line shopping cart (found in the CLIENT AREA of our website) is the quickest and easiest way to go.

Herstmonceux Castle Wedding Photographer: Chrystelle and Tom's Wedding at Herstmonceux Castle, East Sussex

2011-11-02T03:58:00.000-07:00

I've just finished editing and designing Chrystelle and Tom's wedding album and wanted to share a few images from their magical day.

Once again the stunning October weather continued and we were blessed with a beautiful day at Herstmonceux Castle, which is just a few miles from Eastbourne. It was a privilege to be asked to be the couple's photographer, especially as we have worked together on countless occasions in the past as they are both important members of the team at Super Event.

Working for people you know always leads to added personal pressure but then i have always thrived on this and couldn't wait to get started.

Super Event is basically the best Marquee Wedding Catering Company that i have come across anywhere in the UK period. Under Tony Brewin the team always manage to produce amazing weddings for their clients and Chrystelle and Tom's was no exception!

I started at the East Sussex National Golf Club's Hotel for the bridal preparations before shooting off to the castle to catch up with Tom and the guests arriving on a London Bus.

The whole day was brilliant with guests from France and the UK mixing to produce a terrific atmosphere for the bride and groom.

The day was made even better by working alongside my good friend, videographer Leo Ferenc of Perfect Day Studios who had also bought along his Taxi Photobooth to add to the fun.

Here are a few moments of the day.

Nikon D3s and 6400iso is a wonderful thing!

Fun in the Photo Booth

You can view my wedding portfolio here.
You can also view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Portraits: Isaac's Third Session

2011-10-31T04:56:00.000-07:00

Just thought i would share a couple of images from the first session in our new studio.

This was the third time i have had the privilege of photographing Isaac and this was the day before his second birthday. Helen and Dan are very good friends are very good friends of ours and it was great to show them our new home at the same time.

After a coffee and a catch up it was down to work using the new studio.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne's Wedding Showcase

2011-10-26T23:39:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to once again be invited to exhibit at the forthcoming Wedding Showcase at the the stunningly beautiful Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

As the preferred photographer for the highest rated coastal Five Star Hotel in the UK it is always a privilege to be involved in Showcases and events at the Grand.

Not only is the the hotel a fabulous setting for a wedding 12 months of the year, it is blessed with an amazing team, with all the staff from top to bottom being dedicated to giving a warm welcome and working with the highest attention to detail, ensuring an unforgettable time for all.

The date of the Wedding Showcase is Sunday 13th November 2011 between 10am and 3pm. Admission is complimentary and all of the hotel's preferred suppliers have been invited to help visitors plan their dream wedding. This is not your usual wedding fair so if you want to meet some of the very best suppliers in the South, a visit to the Grand on 13th is a must.

You can find out more here.

To view my wedding portfolio please click here.

Sussex Portraits: Stephanie

2011-10-25T01:32:00.000-07:00

I thought i would share a few images from last week's Portrait shoot that i did for Stephanie, at my Sussex studio. The purpose was to produce portfolio images for her modelling agency and my imagery was the style she was after.

The whole session was taken by natural light inside and out and the extensive use of reflectors to add and subtract light as necessary.

I shot on my Nikon D3s using my 24-70 2.8, 85 1.4 and 180 2.8 lenses at f2-2.8.

You can view my Portrait Portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Dejana and Anthony's Wedding at Blackstock Barn, East Sussex

2011-10-24T04:55:00.000-07:00

Dejana and Anthony's wedding took place on an amazingly hot day. it turned out it was the hottest October day on record!

However, the combination of late afternoon low angel brilliant sunlight and warm weather threw up al sorts of challenges that one doesn't expect from weddings this time of the year.

I started at the magnificent Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, East Sussex to cover the bridal preparations before shooting off to St Peters and St Paul's Church, Hellingly (the church where we were married) for the ceremony.

Anthony's family own and run Blackstock Barn a wedding venue in a beautiful setting so, of course, the reception was held there.

Here are a couple of images from the day.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Wiston House Wedding Photographer: Lorraine and David's Wedding at Wiston House, West Sussex

2011-10-21T08:21:00.000-07:00

Thought i would share a few moments from the magical wedding of Lorraine and David that i was privileged to shoot at the end of September.

They were married at the amazing Wiston House, near Steyning in West Sussex, which must be one of the very best wedding venues in the UK. It was a glorious autumn day, perfect for Dave's arrival by helicopter on the front lawn.

Lorraine and her daughters looked amazing and they were very excited as they entered the Great Hall, a very dramatic room in which to be married.

As ever, the couple wanted a very relaxed and natural coverage and i was happy to oblige, trying only to be visible when needed as i always prefer to let the day unfold naturally.

Before i share the images, it was great to work with the "Wiston Dream Team" of Amanda Dean, Becky from BO-K Flowers, Joanne of Elegant Stationery ,Becky from Consumed by Cake and Disco Fever all who really pushed the boat out for Lorraine and David on their special day.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Portraits: Amelie's Third Session

2011-10-18T07:28:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago i had the pleasure of being invited by Amelie's parents, Sharon and Chris to photograph their little lady for a third time in two years.

Amelie is always a start performer in front of the camera so i was really looking forward to catching up with her once more.

I shot the images by beautiful window light in their house as well as a few more relaxed "action shots" in the garden.

Here are a handful of favourite shots from another memorable morning.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Newick Park Wedding Photographer: Sussex Wedding Photography: Hannah and Peter's Wedding at Newick Park, East Sussex

2011-10-17T06:36:00.000-07:00

Late September saw some amazing weather, probably better the true summer to be honest! Newick Park on a sunny day is hard to beat as a wedding venue.

I had been recommended to Hannah by her cousin, Becky who was also a bridesmaid, so obviously there was no pressure at all. Both Peter and Hannah wanted a very informal coverage which was perfect for my style.

When i started coverage, the girls were being "made up" by the amazing Jenny from Finishing Touches so i knew they would look stunning (not that they needed any assistance to look terrific of course!)

Following an outdoor ceremony, drinks were enjoyed on the lawn before dinner and the party commenced.

Here are a few favourite images from the day.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Peter is Awarded Two Awards of Excellence at the 2011 Master Photographers Association National Awards in Newcastle

2011-10-10T23:07:00.001-07:00

WOW!

I'm writing this before i shoot back up to Gatwick to fly up to Aberdeen for my seminar on Wednesday..

I got back yesterday from the 2011 Master Photographers Association's 2011 International Awards which was held at the Gateshead Hilton Hotel. I flew up Sunday morning with my good friend Darren Holloway as i had already been awarded four Merits for my images. To gain four Merits from an entry of 3000 images was quite and achievement in itself.

After a relaxing afternoon in the city, we attended the gala dinner at the Hilton, where we joined about 300 other hopefuls at the awards presentation. Our table (the Table 8 Crew) had a terrific time, which was boosted for me personally when it was announced that two of my Merits had been awarded Awards of Excellence!

It made the long trip worthwhile and is a real reward for me as i constantly strive for higher standards in my work and as i am dedicated to producing the very best images possible for my clients.

Award of Excellence for Wedding Photojournalism

Award of Excellence for Events

You can see my Merits here.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Morgan and Tom's Wedding at Birling Manor, East Dean ,East Sussex

2011-10-05T10:36:00.001-07:00

Morgan had booked me more than two years prior to her wedding date and even before she had settled on a venue!

She decided on Birling Manor, East Dean, which is in the idyllic village of East Dean close to Birling Gap.

Despite mixed weather the day was wonderful with a terrific family atmosphere that seemed to be enjoyed by all. Morgan arrived in a Morris Minor and walked in ahead of her bridesmaids. Her extremely talented sister, Freya, sang a beautiful solo during the signing of the register and there followed a drinks reception in the grounds of the Manor.

After the wedding breakfast many more friends joined them for drinks and to witness the cake cutting outside. Once the evening started to draw in, they all went back inside for yet more food and dancing.

Here are a few moments from a fantastic day.

The evening saw me shooting a images on my fast prime lenses at f1.4 on 3200 and 6400iso.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Destination Wedding Photography: Emily and Daniel's Wedding at the Aphrodite Hills Hotel, Cyprus

2011-10-04T05:09:00.001-07:00

Karen and i were very excited at the prospect of photographing Emily and Daniel's wedding at Aphrodite Hills, near Paphos in Cyprus.

We flew out of Gatwick before 7.00am on the Tuesday and enjoyed a relaxing flight to Paphos, Cyprus. Its is such a small world that we sat with two couples who had been guest at a wedding i shot in Eastbourne a few years back. They were attending another wedding at Aphrodite Hills, later in the week.

Once we settled into our stunning apartment, we walked back to the main hotel in the afternoon heat. Temperatures well in excess of 100 degrees were a welcome escape from the early British autumn.

Once at the Intercontinental Hotel, we soon met up with Emily and Danny and their wedding planners Natalie (who was based at the resort) and Artemis of Artkas. After a run through of the next day's celebration, we decided to relax and watch the magnificent sunset over a bottle of wine or two. Well you have to blend in with the other visitors!

The wedding day soon followed and one again the weather was HOT. We dressed to be able to cope with the heat and was soon into our stride once we arrived at Emily's suite. Until well after the ceremony, the light was extremely harsh but it also lead to some dramatically colourful images compared to my norm.

There followed a beautiful ceremony in the resort chapel and then drinks at the Sunset Bar. In the main the photography was very informal, mostly covering the real feel of the day.

The sunset was spectacular again and then we moved to the golf club for the wedding breakfast. We were entertained by traditional Cypriot dancers and then partied long into the early hours.

Unfortunately, due a full diary, we had to fly home Thursday lunchtime. The whole 48 hour trip was amazing and we both hope Emily and Danny enjoyed their wedding day as much as we did.

Here are just a few of the images of the day.

The Sunset Bar

Wedding Photography Training: Limited 1-2-1 and 3-2-1 Opportunities Available

2011-09-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to announce that i will be offering a very limited number of 1-2-1 and 3-2-1 wedding photography training opportunities over the winter.

There are a couple of options available.

1: The Business of Wedding Photography

A day brainstorming about your business. I will share my strategies for building and maintaining a viable wedding photography business in these very trying times. Nothing will be held back as i explain how i built my business from a standing start to being in a position where it has been my family's sole income for 10 years.

I will reveal my approach to marketing, branding, pricing and selling on an informal and relaxed day here in East Sussex.

2: Wedding Photography Techniques

A day of learning about essential techniques to ensure consistently high quality results that will make your work stand out from the crowd in today's over saturated market place.

I will explain all about consistent exposure, composition and story telling within images as well as how to shoot sequences quickly that work well together within a wedding album.

I will reveal the real pictures that sell and book weddings.

There will be plenty of opportunity to try out techniques taught with a real bride as well.

Then i will share my thoughts on album planning and layouts to really hammer home the reason why you are different from your local competition.

All courses are subject to availability and spaces are very limited as i tend to be shooting weddings 12 months of the year.

Costs:

1: The Business of Wedding Photography: 1-2-1 £750.00 3-2-1 £1200.00 (split between the attendees)

2: Wedding Photography Techniques: 1-2-1 £950.00 3-2-1 £1800.00 (split between the attendees).

Prices include personal tuition from multi award winning internationally acclaimed wedding photographer Peter Prior, notes, lunch and a follow up Skype debrief if required.

All courses are held in Polegate, East Sussex. We are just north of the beautiful seaside town of Eastbourne, on the main A22. There is also a mainline railway station just 5 mins walk away.

For further information or to book a place, please email info@peterprior.com or call 01323 486837.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Wiston House Wedding Fair on 16th October in West Sussex

2011-09-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to have been invited once again to Wiston House's Wedding Fair on 16th October.

The doors are open 11am-3.30pm and it offers the perfect opportunity for couples planning their wedding to view one of the UK's best venues as well as meet some of the very best wedding suppliers in the South.

I will be there to show off my latest stunning sample albums, talk over couple's plans and see if i can help them in any way i can.

Wiston House truly is a magical place to hold a wedding so it should be a must on any couples list to visit.

For further information please feel free to give me a call on 01323 486837 or get in touch with the superb wedding team at Wiston itself.

To view my wedding portfolio, please click here.

To view some of my recent Wiston House weddings, please click here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Christine and David's Wedding at the Seattle Hotel, Brighton Marina

2011-09-29T10:20:00.000-07:00

Christine and David had a relaxed and refreshing wedding at the Seattle Hotel, Brighton Marina. The venue was chosen due to their love of the sea.

I love shooting at different venues as the challenge that the variety brings helps to keep me on my toes and my work fresh. The mixed weather meant we were inside for the bulk of the afternoon but the stunning blue lighting and modern setting helped to add character and atmosphere to the day.

Here are a few moments from the day, all captured on my D3s of course.

Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Photographer: Sussex Wedding Photography: Eliska and Tim's Wedding at Ashdown Park Hotel, East Sussex

2011-09-28T00:13:00.000-07:00

Its been a record month for us and i am working all hours to ensure i keep as up to date as possible!

A glorious early September day saw me privileged to photograph the wedding of Eliska and Tim at the beautifully elegant Ashdown Park Hotel in East Sussex

The "Indian Summer" weather was perfect for the their plans, in particular the fly pass by a World War 2 Spitfire! The guests enjoyed this spectacle during the drinks reception on the terrace over looking the lake.

I have to say that Eliska looked stunning in her Emma Tindley dress and it was great to see Emma who was present to dress the bride herself!

As ever the team at Ashdown were superb as were Sue and Clive of Eleganza Weddings who worked tirelessly to co-ordinate and plan the wedding with Eliska who is based in Dubai. The results speak for themselves and thank you to you both for making my life sop easy of the day.

Here are a few moments of the day.

Sussex Wedding Photogrpahy: Coco Photo Booths

2011-09-16T00:04:00.000-07:00

A huge part of Peter Prior Photography is the relationships i have built with other wedding suppliers over my 15 year career. In many cases this has led to the making of a few strong friendships away from the hustle and bustle of the wedding industry.

A good friend of mine is Leo Ferenc of Perfect Day Studios and he recently introduced me to his latest venture, Coco Photo Booths

Coco Photo Booths can offer a fun addition to your wedding day where your guests can let their hair down and have fun using one of the booths on offer. Apart from the more traditional booth, at Coco there is possibly a unique option to book the TAXI PHOTO BOOTH.

Here are some examples of the fun you can have in a cab! These feature us and a few friends at the recent Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Showcase.

Wiston House Wedding Photographer: Sussex Wedding Photography: Georgina and Paul's Wedding at Wiston House, West Sussex

2011-09-12T06:20:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a wedding really sticks in your mind and delivers. I had been looking to photographing George and Paul's wedding for many months and at last we were blessed with decent weather to go with a magnificent venue.

They were married at St John the Baptist Church in Findon, West Sussex and had a fairy tale reception at the amazing Wiston House.

At this point i would like to give out shouts for the amazing Amanda dean and her team for running such a superb day and making it look effortless, which i know it wasn't. Also a mention need to go to Becky at BO-K Flowers and Joanne of Elegant Stationery for producing such stunning work to really give the day the WOW factor. i don't think i have ever seen the Great Hall look so good!

Going back to the day, although everyone is always lovely on their wedding day, i have to say that Georgina and Paul together with their families couldn't have been more welcoming and delightful. it was a genuine pleasure to be part of their big day.

Here are a few favourite shots. I love the mix of natural and relaxed but timeless classical images. All were taken on the Nikon D3s using my 24-70 2.8, 180 2.8, 10.5 2.8 and 85 1.4 lenses.

I love this moment.

The scale of some of the trees is truly amazing.

The Great Hall

6400iso 100 sec @f2.8

Sussex Wedding Photography: OK Is Not Good Enough

2011-09-11T13:18:00.000-07:00

This post is aimed at photographers and the professional wedding photography industry.

With the over saturation of the wedding photography market, being a professional wedding photographer has never been more challenging.

If we read the papers, listen to radio programmes and watch day time TV we are constantly being told that there are less and less weddings. Then throw into the equation the tough economic times together with the proliferation of "Saturday Cowboys" entering the profession it seems that it is all doom and gloom in the world of the full time profession.

I could see a lot of these trials coming with the advent of digital technology in SLR cameras. At first it was a trickle as the price of such "toys" was high and the quality questionable at best. However the technology moved on an amazing pace, and combined with falling prices it was only a matter of time before becoming a wedding photographer was seen as a viable way to boost incomes or start a second career.

Many newbies have followed their dream whilst others only see the extra income from cash in hand shooting on a Saturday.

A lack of professionalism and regulation as well as a general lowering of photographic standards is really a huge problem. As someone who is passionate about the wedding photography industry, it is very worrying. I hear so many colleagues complaining about the way things are going. Many are struggling or indeed have left the profession disillusioned which is a tragedy.

There is a real danger that the skills and artistry of professional photographers that has been taught and shared down the years may end up being lost forever or at the very best a niche talent that is not readily available.

However, i have given the trend for lower standards a lot of thought and have decided to turn this situation into a positive.

In the past wedding photography was a bit of a dark art: even loading a medium format camera was a skill that has to be learned!

In many cases folks were put off by the unknown of shooting film and the stress of covering a wedding without knowing they had reasonable results. It meant that photographers were shooting in their comfort zones, keeping the images "safe". They were rarely being pushed and most seemingly settled on producing safe, standard images. But times have changed.

To me in these harder times, it has never been more important to push the photographic boundaries and the quality of the work and products being produced.

The constant striving to be better and raise the bar has never been more crucial.

OK IS NO LONGER GOOD ENOUGH!

In my opinion, we all should be going out on a limb to do everything we can to ensure we offer images and products that constantly blow away our clients as well as offering customer services/experience that vastly exceeds their expectations.

As professional wedding photographers we should be producing work that isn't even on the radar of the keen amateur or family member with a half decent SLR. Let's face it if we don't, there is no real reason for clients to employ us in the first place!

WE NEED TO ENSURE WE GIVE CLIENTS A REAL REASON TO BOOK OUR SERVICES!

So next time you are moaning about how tough things are, or how unfair things seem to be, it might be a good time to take along hard look at yourself and work on how you can improve.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Broyle Place Wedding Fair on 25th September in East Sussex

2011-09-11T02:54:00.000-07:00

Just a quick heads up that we will be exhibiting at the Broyle Place Wedding Fair on Sunday 25th September.

Admission is free with the doors open 12.00-4.00pm.

Broyle Place has become one of the finest wedding venues in the South East and i am privileged and proud to be a recommended wedding photographer there.

The team offer a professional and very friendly welcome and service and i genuinely find it a delightful place to work at.

The wedding fair offers the perfect opportunity to relax, take a look around the house and grounds and also see my latest sample albums close up and personal.

For further information, please feel free to contact me or Broyle Place direct.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Who's That Guy?

2011-09-03T01:29:00.000-07:00

As i was checking out the layout for yesterday's wedding at the wonderful Ashdown Park Hotel in East Sussex,i stumbled across my buddy Leo Ferenc, videographer and owner of Perfect Day Studios.

He was caught red handed on the phone but found time to give me a twirl.

Its always great to fun to work with Leo who is probably one the best wedding film makes i know.

A full report of the wedding itself will follow in a couple of weeks as it the silly season at the moment and i am just about to shoot off for today's wedding.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Peter Awarded Four Merits in the National Awards

2011-08-26T23:45:00.000-07:00

I was absolutely stunned to receive notification that four of my images have been awarded Merits in the National Master Photography Awards 2011.

These awards are only open to full time professional photographers and despite an entry of over 2500 images, i have been blown away with this news.

My images are all short listed as finalists with the Awards Dinner being held in Newcastle in October.

Despite being fortunate to have won a couple of awards back in 2007 i am very excited to think that i may be in with a chance again in 2011.

Here are the shot listed images, three of which won their categories in the recent South East Region's MPA Awards.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Gail and Gavin at Rodmell

2011-08-22T03:06:00.000-07:00

Gail and Gavin had a lovely sussex country wedding at Rodmell in East Sussex.

The whole day was relaxed, very informal and great fun. Following the church ceremony, they walked up through the village to the hall for a "tea party" reception with long time family friends and family.

Being a fly on the wall for the afternoon was very satisfying and enjoyable, with very little pressure in terms of logistics and formalities.

The day ended with the couple being waived off by their guests.

Here are a few favourite images of the day.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

London Wedding Photographer: Golnar and Parham's Wedding at the Landmark Hotel in London

2011-08-18T23:48:00.001-07:00

I love shooting weddings in London and especially when it is something new to me. This was my first full Persian wedding and also first time eat the stunning Landmark Hotel in London.

After a "meeting" via Skype i was very excited about meeting Golnar and Parham who were very into my style of wedding photography and we seemed to hit it off straight away.

On arrival at the venue, i was soon greeted by family members and made to fit in immediately. At this stage i want to say a big thank you to Camilla Simpson the Landmark's Wedding Planner who was really good to us on the day and helped to make everything run smoothly.

After the build up and excitement of the bridal preparations, it was down to cover the ceremony. I have to say that it was fascinating and a real breathe of fresh air covering such an ancient and colourful ceremony.

After photographing the important family groups, we had a short session with the couple, shooting around the hotel before there was a reception for their guests.

Their entrance in to the main banqueting hall was spectacular indeed, almost Presidential as Parham and Golnar did a couple of "laps of honour" and greeted their guests. The atmosphere was electric!

After speeches and dinner, there followed the ceremonial "Cake Dance" before the band kicked off the dancing.

I have to say that even though we left after 11pm it was very tempting to stay on and join the party which ran into the very small hours i am sure.

Further thanks go to the families, especially the mothers and grandmother who kept us well fed, my good friend Nicky Thomas for tagging along and helping out, Ehson the videographer and his colleague and of course the stunning couple who made us so welcome throughout.

Here are some moments of a very long but fulfilling day. All taken on my Nikon D3s and D300.

Shot on my new stunning 180mm 2.8 lens

UPDATED: Photo Training: Seminar in Aberdeen in October

2011-08-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

I am excited to be holding a full day seminar up in Aberdeen on October 12th. Better still it is now almost fully booked.

The seminar will give an in depth insight into how i have built my business and how i shoot weddings.

I will share details of how i have adapted my business in these troubled economic times to ensure that the things continue to flourish while i continue to push the boundaries of my photography to ensure the very best service and images for my clients.

The day will be perfect for established photographers wanting inspiration as well as new comers looking to take the next step. It is intended to be a very informal, ego and hype-free workshop. Questions and input from delegates are very much welcomed.

AS I SAID AT THE START OF THIS POST, IT IS ALMOST BOOKED OUT NOW SO PLEASE GET IN TOUCH AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN ATTENDING.

I need to finalise numbers in the next 10 days or so, so please be quick!

Topics covered include:

1: Introduction and background to how Peter has become one the leading lights in the UK Wedding Photography Industry.

2: Business: Peter will reveal his marketing, pricing and products.

3: Technical: Peter covers exposure, lighting, composition.

4: Equipment.

5: Walk through a recent full wedding with Peter.

6: Shooting when the going gets tough: tips for winter, wet and difficult weddings.

The venue will be the Rox hotel, Aberdeen and i am grateful to my friend, Scott Hogg for doing the ground work and arranging this for me.
Times: 10am-5pm with registration at 9.30am

The price will be £100 for the full day, including refreshments.

Please watch here for further information or call me on 01323 486837 or email me on info@peterprior.com to book a place.

You can read about my past workshops, seminars and training here.

To view my wedding portfolio please click here.

Sussex Weddings: Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Showcase

2011-08-12T00:31:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to draw your attention to the forthcoming Wedding Showcase at one of the UK's leading wedding venues, the stunning Ashdown Park Hotel in East Sussex.

The Showcase is on Sunday 4th September, running from 10am to 6pm with complimentary entry. You can see full details here.

I will, of course, be exhibiting all day and can't wait to meet couples and help them to select the right photographer for their wedding.

The venue is perfect for almost any wedding, anytime of the year with beautiful grounds set within Ashdown Forest and one of the most dramatic interiors you will ever experience for the setting of a wedding breakfast.

Combined with superb, professional but friendly staff, APH is a must if you are planning a wedding and want to see some of the country's best wedding suppliers under one roof.

You read more about Ashdown Park weddings in a dedicated section of my blog here.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Photographer: Sussex Wedding Photography: Kath and Nick at Ashdown Park in Sussex

2011-08-09T02:01:00.000-07:00

Kath and Nick were married in the picture post card village of Cuckfield in West Sussex at Holy Trinity Church.

Then we drove to the one of the UK's best wedding venues, Ashdown Park Hotel in Ashdown Forest for a fabulous reception.

Ashdown is stunning both outside and in and offers so many photographic possibilities all year round so i was firmly in my element with a wonderful couple who were very keen to have a stunning set of wedding images for their album.

Here are a few favourite moments from what will be a terrific album.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Where You Can Meet Peter (updated)

2011-08-05T00:36:00.000-07:00

Although we are only in August plans are well underway for 2012 and beyond.

For next year we will be introducing some new, exciting and exclusive products for our clients, taking our wedding photography and client experience to an even higher level.

Our door is always open for clients to come and meet us and experience our stunning albums in the flesh, but sometimes it is more convenient for couples to see us at some of the wonderful wedding venues that have supported us. We enjoy working closely with carefully selected venues and suppliers and we are attending a handful of wedding open days in the next few months.

This will be a terrific opportunity to view, touch and hold our wonderful albums and talk about your plans in a relaxed atmosphere.

Here are the dates for 2011.

Sunday 4th September (10am-6pm) Ashdown Park Hotel

Sunday 25th September (12-4pm) Broyle Place

Sunday 16th October (11am-3.30pm) Wiston House

Sunday 13th November (10am-3pm) Grand Hotel, Eastbourne

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01323 486837.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Jenny and Guy's Wedding at Stanmer House, Brighton

2011-08-01T23:39:00.001-07:00

The day started out as probably the wettest July day i had experienced during my 800 wedding career!

A quick walk around Stanmer Park on the way to Jenny's home in Hove, left me drenched and that was a couple of hours before kick off.

A short drive back to Stanmer House saw no abatement in the monsoon conditions but this didn't lower the spirits of Jenny and Guy and everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. Holding their wedding at the lovely Stanmer House, meant they had plenty of space to relax and enjoy the day.

The brief was for predominately documentary photography and here are a few favourite moments from the day.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: More Kind Words

2011-07-31T01:22:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a lovely e-mail i received from wonderful clients, Jenny and Daniel who were married at Ashdown Park Hotel in East Sussex.

Hi Peter,

I just had to thank you for the prompt receipt of our album, which arrived yesterday. We absolutely love it and are so happy with it. The content is just perfect, we feel you have really captured the special atmosphere of the day. Everyone we have shown so far (quite a few in only 24 hours, lol!) has made such wonderful comments, we are so pleased. Thank you once again :-)

Many thanks,
Jenny

Its always lovely to receive these messages.

You can view my wedding portfolio by clicking here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Peter Prior Wins Big at the SE MPA Awards

2011-07-27T23:43:00.000-07:00

WOW!

I thought i would share with you amazing news after yesterday's 2011 South East Master Photographers Association's Annual Awards.

Following an excellent seminar by Ray Lowe, there followed a very long evening for the print competition that included some very hard but education critiquing of the large entry list, before the winners were announced.

Over the past few years i have been fortunate to win the odd award here and there but last night was my best night so far in terms of award and categories won. To be honest i am still in shock and despite a 20 hour day, found it hard to switch the brain off once i finally got back to my bed in the early hours.

Over all i was fortunate and proud to have won 3 categories outright as well as receiving a further 3 Merits for coming close. I won in Wedding Photojournalism for the second year running, Classical Weddings for the second time in three years and then Sports, Equestrian and Events as well. My Merits were gained in the Wedding Photojournalism, Contemporary Weddings and Child Portraiture categories.

Congratulations to the other winners and many thanks to Ray for an entertaining, very non-PC and educational day.

Anyway, here are the award winning images.

SE MPA Wedding Photojournalism Photographer of the Year 2011

SE MPA Classical Wedding Photographer of the Year 2011

SE MPA Sports, Equestrian and Events Photographer of the Year 2011

SE MPA Merits 2011

Wedding Photojournalism

Contemporary Weddings

Children Portraiture

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait and commercial photography here.

Sussex Portraits: Becky and Damian's Engagement Shoot

2011-07-21T03:08:00.000-07:00

I rarely get asked to do an engagement shoot but Becky and Damian (who's wedding i am photographing in August) booked me for a session recently.

We met in Brighton on what turned out to be a very wet and windy day! The conditions meant that i had to work very fast as although they had the luxury of an umbrella, the photographer and camera gear weren't quite so fortunate!

I thought i would share a couple of favourite informal images from the shoot.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Wiston House Open Evening

2011-07-18T23:30:00.000-07:00

I am very excited to have been invited to exhibit at the very select Open Evening at the simply stunning Wiston House in West Sussex.

The evening is on Thursday 4th August, running from 6-9pm and entry is complimentary. Amanda Dean and the wonderful Wiston team will be there to show couples around and answer any questions.

The very select group of wedding suppliers will include my friends BO-K Flowers, Elegant Stationery, , Consumed by Cake, and Disco Fever.

All are high quality people who will be on hand to advise about the finer details that go into making a wedding an amazing experience.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Here is the flyer that i designed for Wiston using one of my images to show the rear view of the iconic house.

Cambridge Wedding Photography: Vicky and Mark

2011-07-18T02:02:00.000-07:00

Vicky and Mark's wedding day had a fabulous summer feel. We had a very warm sunny day for once and together with a fabulous reception at Childerley Hall.

They were married at St John's Church, Hill Road in Cambridge, one of my favourite cities before the drive up the M11 to the stunning barn and gardens.

This week i thought i would share a few favourite black and white images, especially a few high iso images shot by environmental light in the huge, but dark barn. These were shot on my Nikon D3s using my 24.70 2.8 and 85mm 1.4 lenses.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

London Wedding Photographer: Four Seasons in One Day: Claire and Patrick at the National Theatre

2011-07-15T00:15:00.000-07:00

"Four Seasons in One Day"is the only way to describe the weather for Claire and Patrick's London wedding.

We had it all, but this didn't detract from what was a wonderful modern wedding in the capital.

The ceremony was held at the National Theatre on the Thames, and was followed by a river cruise past many world famous sites to a reception at Trinity Buoy Wharf, opposite http://www.theo2.co.uk/.

It was a long day but well worth the effort as the uniqueness of Claire and Patrick's wedding made for some amazing shots of London's skyline complete with dramatic clouds.

Here are a few favourites images all shot on my Nikon D3s.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Where You Can Meet Peter

2011-07-13T00:51:00.000-07:00

Although we are only in July plans are well underway for 2012 and beyond.

For next year we will be introducing some new, exciting and exclusive products for our clients, taking our wedding photography and client experience to an even higher level.

Our door is always open for clients to come and meet us and experience our stunning albums in the flesh, but sometimes it is more convenient for couples to see us at some of the wonderful wedding venues that have supported us. We enjoy working closely with carefully selected venues and suppliers and we are attending a handful of wedding open days in the next few months.

This will be a terrific opportunity to view, touch and hold our wonderful albums and talk about your plans in a relaxed atmosphere.

Here are the dates for 2011.

Thursday 4th August (6pm-9pm) Wiston House

Sunday 4th September (10am-6pm) Ashdown Park Hotel

Sunday 25th September (12-4pm) Broyle Place

Sunday 16th October (11am-3.30pm) Wiston House

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01323 486837.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Weddings: Whyte Weddings Bridal Boutique Grand Opening this Saturday

2011-07-07T09:32:00.001-07:00

I have just got off the phone from my good friends at Whyte Weddings Bridal Boutique who have been telling me about the very exciting news regarding their new shop in Eastbourne. They are located at 4&5 Station Parade, right by Eastbourne Railway Station.

They are holding a very special Open Evening this Saturday 9th July where there will be champagne and refreshments. They will also be offering an amazing 20% off to any bride who purchases a dress from them on the night.

The celebrations run from 5pm to 9pm and Theresa, Jodie and their team are really excited about welcoming clients in to their stunning new Bridal Boutique.

I popped into the boutique this morning and have to say that it is a stunning place for any bride to browse for her wedding dress.

I will be around to photograph the evening and will be happy to answer any questions that you may have about your wedding photography.

To find out more give Whyte Weddings a call on 01323 646468 or 01903 237627.

Sussex Portrait Photography: Jacob

2011-07-06T17:19:00.001-07:00

Although i am an extremely busy wedding and portrait photographer i rarely find time to take "professional" images of my kids.
This may sound odd i know but as the kids become teenagers it gets more difficult to bribe them into sitting for a portrait of two.

Jacob has just finished school for good and is moving onto college in September so i finally managed to convince him it was time for a decent photo of him.

I took half a dozen and this is my favourite, taken in my client gallery room by window light. It was shot on my Nikon D3s using my favourite lens, the 85mm 1.4.

You can see my portrait portfolio here.

You can also view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: The Secret to Getting Great Wedding Photos

2011-06-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

What is my advice to couples wanting to get the very best wedding photographs they can? I get asked this all the time.

I have an idealistic vision that every couple would have amazing wedding photographs to look back on for the rest of their lives, but the reality is very different.

Of late there has been a lot of opinions and comments being spouted on so called "super blogs" giving tips on how to ensure you get the very best wedding photographs, how to pose and how to avoid being disappointed with the results.

Unfortunately, while there has been some positive and good posts, as with everything there is an awful lot of nonsense and misinformation being written. The apparent power of some of these "super blogs" means there is a real danger of damage being done to the wedding photography industry and there being some very upset and disappointed couples who may have elected to follow the advice of the misinformed.

Now i am not saying that all these blogs and bloggers are guilty of this and i know that many are a good place for tips and ideas as well as offering good entertainment for brides who have the enormous task of organising their wedding day. However, i have been alerted to posts on a number of these which are plainly more about personal egos and power trips than actually offering well educated advice to brides.

Let's face it, a wedding day is probably the most important day of that couple's lives and with all the planning and expense its only natural that they expect the photographs produced to be way beyond the very best images they have ever seen of themselves.

Even at the cheaper end of the market place, wedding photography is a big investment and as with most things you only get what you pay for. A good wedding photographer with a great reputation is generally in high demand and as such they usually command higher prices. However if great photographs are important, spending good money on photography is a sensible investment.

It still surprises me that some brides are happy to waste a few hundred pounds on inexperienced, poor photography when they wouldn't dream of skimping on unreliable cars, amateur catering and an ill fitting dress!

So, going back to my original question: what is my advice to couples wanting to get the very best wedding photographs they can?

Simply, having a quality photographer and feeling comfortable and relaxed with that photographer is the prime requisite for getting fabulous images.

I am passionate about my work and imagery and put all of my skill, experience together with my heart and soul into producing the very best i can for each and every couple.

You can see my wedding portfolio of images taken at real weddings on my website by clicking here.

Keep up to speed with all my latest work by following this blog.

More Kind Words

2011-06-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

I just received a letter from the Chairman and Managing Director of Haynes Ford, Andrew Haynes following my coverage of their 100th birthday celebrations a couple of weeks ago.

"Dear Peter,
I just wanted to write and thank you for the photographs that you recently sent through to us. In my previous career which was in marketing and public relations, i have worked with many different photographers however, i have to say that it is rare to engage one that has so ably managed to capture the true spirit of the party.

The photographs you took at our Ford Centenary were outstanding and i received very positive comments from those who have seen them, including Sir Stirling Moss.

Thank you for your professionalism on the evening and for providing us with a lasting accurate photographic reference of an important and happy occasion for us.

Kind regards,

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Haynes

Chairman and Managing Director"

London Fine Art Images

2011-06-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

I thought i would share a couple of Hipstamatic Images captured on my iPhone 4 using the Hipstamatic App.

These were taken on my arrival at last Saturday's wedding's reception venue opposite the 02 Arena.

The weather was extremely variable to say the least, as the dramatic skies show.

Sussex Weddings: Nigel Harper's Wedding Films

2011-06-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

I have had the privilege to work with my very good friend and extremely talented wedding film maker and photographer Nigel Harper on a couple of occasions of late.

Nigel's artistic eye is second to none and combined with his professionalism and personality his skills are always in high demand.

I thought i would share a couple of images i captured of Nige in action at a recent wedding at Amberley Castle as we worked together on a new, exciting venture. Keep reading here for details as they become available.

Nigel has no fear! Captured shooting a knight of the realm!

Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Photographer: Sussex Wedding Photography: Jennifer and Daniel at Ashdown Park in Sussex

2011-06-16T00:05:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful wedding!

Saturday saw me cover the wedding of Jen and Daniel at Ashdown Park Hotel East Sussex. Once again the venue and staff excelled. APH must surely be one of the very best wedding venues in the UK!

It was a weekend of very mixed weather but we were fortunate to be blessed with a dry, if breezy day which meant everyone was able to enjoy the grounds for drinks.

Here are a few favourite shots from the day. All were shot on my Nikon D3s using environmental light only.

Meeting with the registrar.

I shot the ceremony at 3200iso. Overhead spotlights in a darkish room made for challenging lighting!

My APH signature confetti shot.

I love shooting low key bridal portraits.

Cake cutting lit by a spot light in the chapel.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: More Kind Words

2011-06-15T00:32:00.000-07:00

Just thought i would share an email i received yesterday from Clare who's wedding i covered in May at the stunning Ashdown Park Hotel in East Sussex.

You can see some of the images from their wedding here.

Hi Peter,

That’s great – thanks for the directions.

Looking forward to seeing the album, we loved the photos, I have so many favourites! I really like the two shots of Gavin and I as we come out the chapel with the champagne in our hands and then the next shot of us naturally walking down the steps smiling at each other (Still with the champagne!). You really captured the magic of our day! Looking at them online brings it all back to me!

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Another Stunning Jorgensen Sample Album

2011-06-14T00:35:00.000-07:00

Peter Prior Photography has always been about offering the ultimate in photography and presentation to our clients.

With this ethos in mind, all of our albums are one-offs, hand made and are beautiful works of art in the their own right. They really are the perfect medium to show case my images and i always get a buzz when i share them at client meetings.

So I thought i would share some images of a recent sample album.

This is a simply stunning world class 16"x12" Jorgensen Art Album, which has been custom designed by me and then hand made to order by the wonderful people down under in Perth.

The cover is from their luxury, premium leather range and the images are mounted below custom cut bevel core mounts. My wife, Karen hand mounted the prints below the overlays.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Another Stunning Jorgensen Album Perfect for Intimate Weddings

2011-06-08T00:42:00.000-07:00

Here at Peter Prior Photography we have always pushed ourselves to offer the very best in terms of photography, client experience and products possible. This is the bed rock of our business and branding where second best is just never good enough for us or our clients!

All of our albums are unique , hand made and are beautiful works of art in the their own right. They really are superb and the perfect way to display my images. I am passionate about our albums and album design and our clients are too!
So I thought i would share some images of a recent sample album.

This is a beautiful smaller 9"x9" Jorgensen Album which has been custom designed by me and then hand made to order by the craftsmen in Australia. Over a period of almost 9 years we have worked very closely with Gary, Nick and the team to ensure we offer the very best at all times to our clients. This relationship is a very strong one and their products are simply the very best in the world.

The wedding was at Amberley Castle in west sussex. you can read all about Kerry and Karen's wedding here.

This has the standard black cover with the images are mounted below modern white matts. My wife, Karen hand mounted the prints below the overlays.

i love to simple, elegant, high class and timeless designs.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Sussex Editorial Portraits: Mark and Yvonne

2011-06-07T04:22:00.000-07:00

Just thought i would share a couple of editorial style portraits that i took of our good friends Mark and Yvonne when they came to visit over the weekend.

Mark is a superb landscape photographer and as ever the conversation went onto photography and light and how it can be used.

The next thing, before she knew what had hit her, Yvonne was the model for quick window light demo which ended up into a 5 minute editorial style portrait shoot in my kitchen!

To be honest, i frequently find myself with very little time to capture my images on assignment so this was very much shot in "real time".

All shot on my Nikon D3s and 85mm 1.4 lens at around 125th second at 1.4 and 400iso. Light is from a window off to my left (the subject's right).

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

Sussex Weddings: Jo and Brett at Eastbourne Town Hall and the Grand Hotel

2011-06-06T07:08:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of covering the intimate wedding of Jo and Brett last week.

They were married at Eastbourne's impressive Town Hall, a listed building with striking architecture in front of a very select groups of friends and family.

Following the ceremony i captured a couple of images featuring the interior before we moved on to the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne for drinks and lunch.

Here are a few images from the day. I have been noticing a trend of shooting a few more colour images of late!

Going to run through the pre-wedding formalities with the registrars.

You can view my wedding portfolio here.

You can view my portrait portfolio here.

Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Photographer: Sussex Wedding Photography: Clare and Gavin's Wedding at Ashdown Park Hotel

2011-05-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

Just thought i would share some images from the wedding of Clare and Gavin that i shot a few days ago.

They were married at the spectacular Ashdown Park Hotel in East Sussex a beautiful country house hotel located in Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. it must surely be one of the top wedding venues in the UK!

After a ceremony at the hotel, their guests enjoyed a drinks reception in the grounds over looking the lake at the bottom of the valley.

Although i am best known for my documentary style wedding photography, Ashdown offers so many possibilities, it was great to be able to try a few arty shots showing the amazing interior and the chapel in particular.

Thanks once again go to Lisa, Vinnie and the team at the hotel and of course, my good friend and Toastmaster, Stephen Hall for making things go so smoothly.

Here are a few images, all take on my Nikon D3s.

I love the drama of low key images

A few signature images to show off the magnificent chapel.

View my Wedding Portfolio here.

View my Portraits and Commercial Photography here.

Sussex Photography: Meeting the Legend that is Sir Stirling Moss

2011-05-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

Thursday evening saw me working for Haynes, in Maidstone. The occasion was their celebration of 100 years of being a Ford dealership. Quite and achievement, especially in these very troubled days!

The brief was to cover a few photo calls and then to document the event for their company history.

At this stage i should thank my friends at the amazing Super Event for recommending my photography to Haynes in the first place. Owned and run by Tony Brewin they are one of the best event, marquee and catering companies in the UK today!

I was greeted by Andrew Haynes, The Chairman and Managing Director of the Group and to my surprise was informed that the guest of honour was one of my all-time heroes and living legend, Sir Stirling Moss.

Sir Stirling Moss and Andrew Haynes in the Model T Ford

On his arrival, i was invited up to the boardroom, along with Ruth, a photographer from the KM Group, to cover the brief "press call". I was amazed at how relaxed, ego-free, friendly and open Sir Stirling was! Here was i chatting on 1-2-1 with a genuinely awesome man and i have to admit that it was a struggle to remain professional for a second.

Checking out some historical photos in the boardroom.

Then it was back downstairs to the main showroom, where invited guests and dignitaries had gathered for drinks and canapés whilst mingling amongst a superb collection of Fords from all decades of the company's car production life. Highlight of the show was a 1910 Model T Ford that was still working condition.

After plenty of time for the guests to enjoy the party, a few low key speeches followed and then one lucky guest won the competition for a lap of the Maidstone one-way system as a passenger in the Model T.

Here are a few favourite images of Sir Stirling Moss, a true gentleman and superstar!

Sir and Lady Moss enjoying the party.

Andrew Haynes presenting Sir Stirling, a very close family friend, with a thank you gift.

Finally a quick shot of me with the great man taken by Ruth from the KM Groups.

You can read about the amazing history of Haynes here.

View my Wedding Portfolio here.

View my Portraits and Commercial Photography here.

Sussex Portraits: Post Prom Portrait Shoots

2011-05-25T00:54:00.000-07:00

I thought i would share a few further images taken on one of our Post Prom Shoots.

This these were taken at Eastbourne's Sovereign Harbour a fortnight ago together with Nicky Thomas. Working together is a lot of fun and our fusion of styles really makes for a dynamic and diverse set of images for our clients.

Again all were taken on my Nikon D3S.

Processed using my "cool blue" action in Photoshop.

You can view more of my award winning portraiture here.

Sussex Portraits: Post Prom Portrait Shoots

2011-05-24T01:41:00.000-07:00

Last week, together with my good friend and colleague, Nicky Thomas I was working on a series of "Post Prom" shoots where teenagers are offered the opportunity to have some very special images created as they wear their prom dresses/suits again but away from the crazy prom events.

it also gives me an opportunity to try fresh and exciting ideas.

This is a project that we have decide to pool resources to promote as an off-shoot of our usual non-wedding work. So far it being very well received and is certainly something to build on over the coming month and years.

Here are a few of my favourite images from last week's shoot.

All are shot on the Nikon D3s with my 24-70 2.8 lens with RAW file processed in Bridge with finishing in Photoshop using my own actions.

A few from my "Avant Garde" set

Using my desaturate action for a different look.

Then a few images from my "Classical" set

You can view of my portraiture here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: "Photographer" or "Camera Owner"

2011-05-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

After many conversations with colleagues, other suppliers and friends i have been thinking as to whether owning a modern day digital SLR makes a person a "photographer" or a "camera owner". The number of "horror stories" i have heard of late has really focused my mind on what really makes a photographer a "professional photographer".

My reasoning for thinking this is because it seems that everyman and his dog is a "professional photographer" these days. Without trying to sound bitter or hard, in the main most of these are in reality "camera owners" with aspirations to be a "professional photographer".

Some people suggest that i shouldn't worry but the thing is, that i am passionate about my profession, my work and the standard of work and service clients deserve and it concerns me about the cowboy approach many "photographers" seem to take to wedding photography in particular.

Just by owning a decent camera, it doesn't mean a person is a professional, even if they are charging for their photography in the same way as if i bought a set of knives i wouldn't be a professional chef or if i bought a set of tools i wouldn't be a professional mechanic or a plumber!

Being a professional photographer is far more than owning decent kit and taking nice photographs.

To be a true professional requires a lot of hard work and many skills. Being professional in your approach towards dealing and working with clients, other suppliers, venues, colleagues etc is a huge part of being professional.

Keeping true and accurate accounts, paying taxes rather than trying to slip under the microscope and avoiding paying income tax, VAT and NI is what being professional is all about. The same goes for carrying adequate insurance, having good working practises, having enough back up equipment and having the right approach and attitude when working etc.

This all takes a lot of time and effort as well as costing money, but this is where realistic pricing comes into the equation.

Being a professional photographer isn't an easy option. Its easy to start off but getting more and more difficult to keep a sustainable business going these days.

It takes constant hard work and effort to keep your work fresh and exciting as well as profitable.

Anything less is unprofessional and in reality makes the photographer a "camera owner" rather than a "professional photographer."

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Sussex Event Photography: Jane Hathaway's 50th Celebration at Amberley Castle

2011-05-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

Although the enquiry came at the very last minute after a recommendation from Amberley Castle i was delighted to be able to help out Mr and Mrs Hathaway with the photography of Jane's 50th birthday celebration.

A small gathering had been put together for this very special weekend and along with a few informal groups shots and portraits of Jane and her husband i was asked to capture some of the magic and atmosphere of the evening at one of the UK's leading luxury hotels.

The dress code was black tie so as is always the case i dressed the same to blend in with the occasion.

Here are a few favourite moments. For photographers, all the images were captured on my Nikon D3s using my 24-70 2.8 and 85 1.4 lenses, mostly without flash to retain as much atmosphere and warmth as possible. The interior shots were taken at with an iso range of 1600-6400 and shot mainly wide open.

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Grand Hotel Wedding Photographer: Sussex Weddings: Claire and Ben at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne

2011-05-19T01:43:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago i covered the stunning wedding of Claire and Ben at one of my all time favourite wedding venues, the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne.

Rightly so, the Grand is the highest rated coastal Five Star Hotel in Britain.

Once again the amazing weather followed us and offered up the perfect seaside weather.

Claire and Ben were married in the beautiful Princes' Room, which always reminds me of a mini Versailles with its chandeliers and detailing.

Following a short drive for some private time, the couple returned to a wall of confetti and followed this with drinks on the putting lawn, the perfect private sun trap!

The brief was for mostly documentary style images but i was given a few minutes to capture some special images of the couple together within the interior of the hotel.

The wedding breakfast was held in the breath taking Compton Room and following opening speeches from Claire's father and Ben, dinner was served. A double act from the Best men concluded the formalities before the dancing commenced.

It was great once again to work with my good friend and toastmaster Stephen Hall who as ever ensured, along with the hotels' fabulous staff, that the day ran smoothly.

And once again it was lovely to see the "art" that is the work of the amazing Joanne of Elegant Stationery.

Here are some more favourite images of the day, all taken on my Nikon D3s.

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Sussex Weddings: Guess Who?

2011-05-18T22:43:00.000-07:00

Thought i would share a quick "portrait" of a friend of mine.

Can you guess who it is?

Amberley Castle Wedding Photographer: Sussex Weddings: Karen and Kerry at Amberley Castle

2011-05-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

Amberley Castle is always a magical place.

I was very excited to be covering the wedding of Karen and Kerry at such a wonderful Sussex wedding venue. Another wonderful Spring day welcomed me and i quickly was re-acquainted with the resident albino peacock.

Karen was joined by members of her lovely family from Peru and everyone seemed to mix extremely well, despite any language barrier.

Once again i was delighted to be working with Becky from BO-K and Joanne from Elegant Stationary, both who continue to produce stunning products for their couples.

Kerry and Karen wanted a relaxed, semi documentary approach combined with images of them showing off the beautiful venue and i was happy to oblige.

Another exciting thing about this wedding was that the couple kindly gave the green light for my good friend and very talented photographer and film maker, Nigel Harper to accompany me as we work on a new exciting project together.

I want to thank the wonderful staff at Amberley Castle who made my life so very easy on the day.

Here are a few favourite images, taken on my Nikon D3s and D300.

I love searching out images in mirrors!

The beautiful bride before leaving for Amberley.

A signature shot.

A shot sneaked through the door as Karen listens to the registrar before the ceremony.

You can view my weddings galleries here.

Sussex Weddings: Susan and David at Hilton Avisford Park, Arundel

2011-05-16T06:17:00.000-07:00

I hadn't shot at Avisford Park for about 12 years so i was quite excited about covering the wedding of Susan and David near Arundel last month.

Yet again we were blessed with stunning summer-like weather and had an amazing day.

It was great to work with the wonderful Becky from Bo-K Flowers again and the dining room looked breath taking with her flowers and little touches throughout.

Here are a couple of favourite moments shot on the Nikon D3s.

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Wedding Photograhy Training: SIM2000 Seminar

2011-05-14T00:24:00.000-07:00

After a mad few days following our move, i drove up to SIM2000 in Hatfield, Hertforshire to hold a full day's seminar.

I left at 5am to avoid the inevitable M25 chaos, stopping for breakfast at the service by the A1M exit.

Arriving a couple of hours early i was greeted by the welcoming staff and invited inside their very impressive facility.

Lee, the owner of SIM2000 took me to their air conditioned show room where the day's seminar was due to take place to set up. I was very pleased to hear that the spaces had all sold out and that there was a waiting list in case of last minute cancellations.

Only half the chairs were out when i arrived.

The folks attending were really enthusiastic and full of questions; their input making the day fly by and i hope they all enjoyed the day and got a lot from my seminar.

After the day closed, Lee gave me a personal tour of the unit, showing me the impressive work rooms, printers and framing facilities. I can see myself adding some of SIM2000's products to my current range for our clients as i have to say the quality was first class.

Over the past couple of days SIM2000 and myself have received so many thank yous, emails and kind words. Most of the emails have questions that i will try to answer next week once i get back up to speed.

It was a fantastic seminar Peter. You're very talent and very modest at the same time. Thank you.

Lesley Bee

Peter,

Many thanks for yesterday’s excellent seminar. It was very informative and inspiring.

Regards

Denis

Hi Peter

Just wanted to say thank you for the seminar at Sim2000 yesterday. I’ve been on a few of these things and the information is often superficial but I found it useful and inspiring (I’ll certainly be using more available light and less gear).

Kind regards and many thanks

Mike

Thank you for your words of wisdom at the Seminar yesterday.

Kindest regards,

Jo

I attended your seminar at Sim2000 yesterday.

Firstly, I’d like to say thank you for the day… I’ve always loved photography and have only recent started earning money from weddings/portraits.

All the information you shared was very valuable to me and should help me take my business further in the near future.

best regards,

Ben Bull

Hi Peter,

Just a short note of thanks for Wednesday’s seminar at Sim2000 11th May 2011.
Your enthusiasm for wedding photography and getting it right in business terms was inspirational.

Many thanks once again,

Clive

Hi Peter - I attended your seminar at Hatfield last Wednesday - I really enjoyed it, thank you - congratulations on your career success - I did't know one could make living from wedding photography - I\'ll continue to develop my style and up my prices with more optimism - best wishes - Dan

Lisa,

Many thanks to the team at Sim2000 for organising the Peter Prior seminar and for the warm welcome received.

Peter was full of enthusiasm and is an inspiration for photographers like me. I also appreciated the brief intro from Lee on starting an album using the Sim2000 software, very timely as I'm working on my first one of these over the next couple of days.

Many thanks again,

Clive

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Sussex Weddings: New Contact Details

2011-05-07T23:05:00.000-07:00

Just a quick heads up to let you know that we will be back open for business from tomorrow, Monday 9th May as anticipated.

BT and Gavin of 24 Box did us proud and got us all up and running on time: thanks guys. There is still quite a bit of unpacking and organising to do but i think we are 80% there after 4 days of hard work.

We are looking forward to getting back to work, speaking to old, current and new clients, suppliers and allied businesses.

Our new contacts details are:

PETER PRIOR PHOTOGRAPHY
271 EASTBOURNE ROAD, POLEGATE, EAST SUSSEX. BN26 5DL.

TEL: 01323 486837 or 0844 4142474

Email: info@peterprior.com

Websites: www.peterprior.com and www.artvisage.co.uk

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Royal Wedding: The First Video of Kate Middleton Walking Down the Aisle.

2011-05-06T02:14:00.000-07:00

I has the privileged to work with my very good friend Barry Weare of BW Video Films at the Grand Hotel, Eastbourne on Sunday.

During the meal we got talking and he mentioned that he had been approached by a national newspaper who wanted permission to use a film he had shot of a wedding where Kate and Pippa Middleton were bridesmaids, a number of years ago.

To read more please click here.

Sussex Wedding Photography: Office Closed Until Monday 9th May

2011-05-04T00:37:00.000-07:00

Just a note to say that from today, Wednesday 4th May until Monday 9th May, our office will be closed due our family and business relocation from Stone Cross to Polegate, East Sussex.

Our phone lines will be off down for up to 48 hours as we in BT hands as they install new lines into the new house.

If you need to contact me, please send an email to info@peterprior.com and i will do my very best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Sussex Photography: Our Hot Tub Leaves Home!

2011-05-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Our hot tub left home today and will be on holiday for a couple of weeks whilst we arrange our new place.

I shot this short video on my iPhone 4 and thought i would share it. Cranes look so much fun!

Sussex Wedding Photography: Peter Prior Photography is Moving

2011-04-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

Its been a hectic couple of months but we have at last been given the green light to announce that we are officially moving next week.

After 5 years in beautiful Stone Cross, we have decided to relocate just 3-4 miles west to Polegate, East Sussex. We are moving from a lovely modern house to a newly renovated, beautiful 1930s house full of character and with space for our clients to relax away from the chaos that comes with running a business from home.

Set closer to the A27 and A22 main roads and within 500 yards of Polegate's mainline railway station it should be perfect for our client and family needs.

Moving a family is stressful enough, but also having to sort out a business move is tough!

As is the way, we are packing in the middle of one our busiest times of the year. I have four major shoots in 9 days before we move and hopefully the office will be up and running on time to ensure i don't have too many delays.

So from Wednesday 4th May until Monday 9th May the office will be closed. All being well new phone lines and internet will be in by then as BT have promised they won't let us down.

Once we are back open for business our business number will remain 0844 4142474 and we should be able to confirm our local number then as well.

In the meantime, if you need to get in touch please email info@peterprior.com or call my mobile.

Sussex Equestrian Photography

2011-04-22T14:10:00.000-07:00

We were invited along to an equestrian event in Burwash, Sussex today by our good friends Brea and Kay to watch Brea's stunning horse, Troy compete in the cross country.

I photographed troy at the back end of last year for Brea's 21st birthday present and was really excited to see Troy again!

It was a fabulous afternoon; warm and sunny and this made for spectacular viewing as countless horse and riders thundered through the course.

Elliott riding Troy won the event with a time almost quarter of a minute quicker than the next pairing of Sarah and the beautiful Patch.

Here are a few images captured today on my trusty Nikon D300 c/w 18-200 VR lens.

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Patch

Troy and Elliott in action

Wedding Photography Seminar in Hertfordshire in May

2011-04-22T02:31:00.000-07:00

Just finished speaking with Lee from SIM200 about my seminar at their place on May 11th. There are still a couple of places left and it runs from 10am to 4.30pm at their Hatfield premises. The price is just £50+vat including lunch.

I will be talking about wedding photography, marketing, as well as sharing my thoughts behind my images, a complete wedding, and offering tips and advice for shooting weddings in less than ideal conditions. Delegates will also be able to see SIM200's product range close up and personal in a relaxed environment.

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

Ashdown Park Hotel Wedding Photographer: Sussex Weddings: Claire and Andrew's Wedding at Ashdown Park Hotel

2011-04-18T03:07:00.000-07:00

Claire and Andrew's wedding saw the start of the fabulous weather we have been experiencing the past couple of weeks. It was a fabulous Spring morning as i drove up through Ashdown Forest to Alexander House, where Claire was getting ready with her bridesmaids and parents.

Once she was ready, i shot across to the stunning Ashdown Park Hotel to catch up with Andrew and be ready for the bride's arrival. I was greeted on arrival by my good friend and Toastmaster, Stephen Hall .

The ceremony took place at Ashdown below the chapel and then we all ventured out to enjoy drinks on the back lawn over looking the lake and fountain.

I love this timeless classical-style shot and lighting.

After allowing everyone to relax and soak up the sun, i took Claire and Andrew away for 15 minutes to capture some special images of them together in a magical setting.

As ever, i travelled light and avoided carrying loads of equipment and went with the flow using the lighting set up at the venue on a small stage for this image.

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Customer Experience: An Observation

2011-04-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

In these days of a vastly over saturated Wedding Photography market place, the stories i hear of poor customer experiences when dealing with wedding photographers, both full and part time, is quite eye opening.

It goes without saying that a client will remember you for your attitude and approach as much as the quality of the photography produced for them. Over the years i have heard so many comments from clients both good and bad. Some are just unbelievable and are so far fetched that its almost hard to believe that they are true!

Of late this has got me thinking about my experiences when searching out a service or product outside of the world of wedding photography.

We have recently changed cars. The quality of and attitude of various car show rooms and salesmen was quite startling!

After some research we decided we wanted to change our super charged C-Class Mercedes for something a little more economical. So we decided to go for a diesel and cut the list down to 3 cars from different marques; all considered to have good badges.

The first dealership we walked into was quiet but basically completely ignored us as we took a look at their offerings. After 20 minutes, we decided that if we weren't important enough to them we would take our money elsewhere.

At the second dealership, Karen had printed off a page showing the actual car she wanted to try and buy. How easy is that for the salesman i ask myself? The guy was interested but suggested we tried his demonstrators first. We went along with him and after driving both diesel and petrol versions we said we wanted to look at the one we had uncovered from their website as it seemed to fit the bill on spec, colour etc.

He then ignored us and went on to produce quotes for cars that were £10k more than we wanted to spend. So once he had finished hIs sales pitch, we asked if we could just go with the car we fancied. At this he just said "go home and i will get back to you". UNBELIEVABLE!!

So off to the third dealership (my personal first choice). This was our local Mercedes dealership.

We were approached by Scott (who had sold us the C Class) who asked how he could help? We explained what sort of model and price we were considering, he gave us the keys to the demonstrator "for as long as we needed".

On our return an hour later, we were shown over a series of vehicles, chose the one that fitted the bill (not the most expensive one he showed) and were made to feel the most important clients he had that day. He made the whole buying experience easy and a pleasure.

His manager came out of his office to thank us for deciding to go with them again and the MD even greeted us as she walked though the showroom.

Once the car was ready for collection we were invited to come over, treated like gold dust and even had a couple of courtesy calls as well as the standard questionnaires of customer satisfaction from Mercedes, since to ensure everything was ok.

MEANWHILE.....

Dealer no2 who had told us to "go home" called a fortnight later to see if we had given anymore thought to the cars he wanted to sell us and never mentioend the car we had told him we wanted to buy......

Dealer no1 never saw us again.

So the lessons i have learned from our recent car purchase are:

1: Treat every client as if they are the most important client you have ever had, THEY ARE!

2: Ask and listen to what your client's requirements are.

3: Don't try to hard and over sell.

4: Make the whole buying/selling experience as easy and enjoyable as possible for your clients.

5: No matter how much or little your clients are spending always treat them well and the same.

6: Remember that good customer service and experience doesn't end once they'v paid their money and walked out the door.

You can view my wedding galleries here.

Sussex Weddings: More Kind Words

2011-04-11T01:28:00.000-07:00

James and Aishling came to collect their wedding album on Friday. They were married on the 5th February on a cold wet day. You can see my post about their wedding here.

They were very excited about seeing the album and were over the moon with the result giving me a beautiful card and chocolates. Here is what was written in the card.

Dear Peter,
we would just like to say a big thank you for our lovely wedding pictures. They are unique to our day and something which we will treasure forever.
We would also like to say an additional thank you for all your help on the day and understanding our wishes with the minimum of fuss!

James and Aishling

Sussex Portraits: Baby Isabelle

2011-04-08T00:48:00.000-07:00

I am always very excited to be asked to photograph the new arrivals to past clients' families and when i was commissioned to come and meet the lovely Isabelle it was no different.

As ever the shoot took place at the family home using the available light to create real life images as far removed from the sterile high key studio look that seems to be everywhere these days.

Using my experience to find the best light, i was able to produce a stunning set of relaxed true to life images of Isabelle and her parents at a very special time in their lives.

Here are a few favourites. all were shot on my stunning Nikon D3s and 24-70 2.8 lens.

To view my portrait portfolio please click here and select "Portraits".

Sussex Photography: Gilbert the Miniature Schnauzer

2011-03-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

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

2011-03-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

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.