Another Winter Wedding

Luckily this time around the couple live in Canada so the freezing cold weather was not a problem. Luckily also, it was clear and bright on the south coast of the UK during late January. This allowed me to get some nice shots with sunsets over Poole Harbour in Dorset  as  a backdrop, both inside and outside Poole Yacht Club

Lovely soft evening light

Warm light but freezing cold weather

Keep close to keep warm...

Know how to use your flashgun!!!

So with willing wedding guests, quick work and some lovely light, beautiful photos can be obtained in the depths of a bleak,mid winter!

Thanks a lot to Hannah and Brad for looking great and not letting the shivering show!

Watersports Photography, Windsurfing and Sailing Photography

Like most people my interest in photography started with my hobbies. For 20 years watersports has been my passion, especially windsurfing and sailing and I have done a lot of magazine work especially with the windsurfing press (Boards and Windsurf Magazine)  over the years. Also Brochure work for RS sailing (RS Vision) and lots for Rockley Watersports in France and the UK. See examples here

Shooting with a big Canon L series telephoto lenses (the white ones!) usually guarantees that the local hotshots play for the camera, here’ s a few examples.

Neal Freeman, BIG waves, Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset

Greg 'the head' Robson. Kimmeridge Dorset

Cribby, Branky

Sailing shots are fun too, but taking pictures from yachts that you’re also supposed to be racing is a bit of a challenge!

Battle of the colourful kites, Poole Bay, Dorset

My advice for this type of photography;

• number 1 priority – keep the front of the lens clean. A pocket full of tissues is the most important accessory!
• Overexpose yachts as the sails will come out grey otherwise
• Save up for the most expensive lenses you can buy, because they’re sharper stronger and keep the salt water out better (rather important)
• Don’t expect to sell any, the market is completely over-saturated

That’s it for now

Landscape thoughts coming soon!

Winter Weddings (and other bad weather) – Advice for Wedding Couples

Out walking in the snow in the Purbecks the other day thinking about photographing weddings at this time of year.

I think it is becoming increasingly popular for a few reasons;

• it’s a bit different
• more availability of venues, photographers etc
• cosy, indoor feel

I’ve photographed a few weddings at this time of year  including the fantastic Babington House in Somerset and Lulworth Castle in Dorset.  Stunning locations both.  Many of my photos

I have a few words of advice.

Be prepared to start your wedding day earlier if you’re getting married in winter if it’s important to you to get any outdoor photos (weather permitting). If you leave the ceremony any time after 2pm ish you’re going to really run out of time for photos using natural light. A well-equipped digital photographer (like me!) can work in really low light levels, but there is a limit.

Bride and Groom huddle next to wall for warmth

Encourage the guests to huddle together too

Probably not the time for a swim

All the time you’ve got to try to allow people to stay warm, I’ve often lent the Bride a coat, but when the light and warmth really go then everyone has to bail out for the bar and heat

That's better!

The Christmas Tree makes a great back-drop

Once thawed out its business as usual…

Other Bad Weather

In all the years I have photographed weddings I can think of only one day that the weather really had an impact. In an otherwise glorious ‘Indian Summer’ there was one day of torrential rain and at no point was it even remotely possible to go outside. This was a shame because the Wedding was at  the stunning Rhinefield House in the New Forest, famed for its fabulous gardens.  Not only that but the house interior is wood-panelled and very dark even on a bright day.  This is when a Wedding Photographer earns his/her money and you want to be in safe, experienced hands. The photos came out great, atmospheric and perfectly capturing the day.  What’s more is that the day will always be remembered by all and nobody would say that the weather spoilt the occasion in the slightest.

I have a few words of advice.

• The weather will not ruin your wedding!
• Be prepared for any weather (even in summer)
• make reasonable ‘plan Bs’
• and then forget about it!

Back soon……

Wedding Shows in Poole and Bournemouth, Dorset

One of the obvious ways in which wedding couples choose their photography (and other) wedding services is the ‘Wedding Show’. Couples will see a variety of service providers and possibly fashion shows etc.  But there are many excellent photographers, florists, limousines drivers, cake makers, dress suppliers etc etc who don’t (or won’t) exhibit at these shows…. WHY?

It’s simple – there are a very restricted number of places available and they tend to be taken up very early by repeat exhibitors. Also the costs of exhibiting at such shows is astronomical and of course this is a cost eventually passed onto you, the client.  These are some of the reasons are why the service providers you will see at Wedding Shows are usually towards the top of the price scale and perhaps more of the traditional type (especially in photography). Many hotel-based Wedding Shows also recommend specific photographers, but their style may not be what you are looking for….

The organizers of the big Wedding shows are the only real winners taking a slice of the lucrative wedding business

Now for the advice bit; take your time when looking for wedding service providers, by all means try the big wedding shows (such as the one at the BIC) but also search for smaller ‘independent’ suppliers who are more likely to offer a more modern, individual service and probably better value for money. Any good supplier will be happy to spend time with prospective clients to make sure that the couples requirements and the photographers qualities/abilities match.

New and innovative wedding venues (such as the Hotel du Vin in Poole) are more likely to encourage a break with the traditional suppliers in favour of flexible, modern practitioners.

Of course I like to think of myself as one of these more innovative, customer oriented suppliers, but I would say that wouldn’t I!

But do check out my website (here) for a look at what I do

Wedding, event, watersports and landscape photography in Dorset

My plan is to produce a blog of interest to couples planning their Wedding Days and to anyone else interested in event and landscape photography in and around Dorset in the UK.  I’ve also got stacks of windsurfing (here) images from the UK and beyond

Having lived in Poole for 20 years and taken hundreds of thousands of photos I’d love to share my knowledge and inspirations from a professional photographers point of view.

Lots of my photos are at www.rogerturner.co.uk

black and white always looks great!

I’m really happy to talk about cameras (especially Canon DSLRs) and photographic techniques.

Hello world!

Hi everyone

first blog from me!

steep learning curve