Family portraits Cheltenham, Gloucesterhsire

Just a few shots of the kids with some beautifully soft February evening light as they played in our local park.

It's every parents ask to get a photo with both (or all) of their children in.  Preferably unposed, and with them both looking great - i.e. no one pulling a silly face.  This is indeed harder than you may think, even as a professional photographer, so it's pleasing to see my two interacting and neither one of them looking too goofy!





I love this photo of Daisy.  She looks almost lost in the moment.  Why are swings sooo relaxing?


Their little faces say it all.  If only I was small enough to go on the slide too.





Barney has discovered rather than bounce on the see-saw, he prefers to climb over or under it.  Boys - puh!



It was quiet in the park - can you tell?



"If you look back any further you'll fall out"
If you are interested in some family portraits, I specialise in documentary family photography, not a lot posed but great real photos of you and your kids.  Contact me for details.  www.mattdavisphotography.net

Cotswold Wedding Photographer - Great Tythe Barn

I'd been cruising around the Cotswolds last weekend for the wedding of Ben & Emily at The Great Tythe Barn, Tetbury.   With sideways rain and 100mph winds the day before I did have slight reservations that it could be a testing wedding.  Alas, the rain thankfully resided although the winds didn't let up, but this did make the logistics a little easier.

Sweet wedding shoes - I'd not seen a pair like these before....kinda vintage looking.  Probably best kept dry to if they're suede (OMG, did I really say that.....?!)




Wedding dress, sash (is it called that?), broach - simple.  


Why is this funny you may ask.  Well.....note: helpful bridesmaid behind Emily.  Now note: less helpful bridesmaid  in front who at this point said "should I look as though I'm doing something?"



Back to taking photos for the 'less helpful' bridesmaid. ;-)


Ben worked his ushres hard this wedding day.  Standing around with his hands in his pockets whilst they were made to tie his tie!  Looks like it's gonna be a tad short to me if you start at that length!





Inside of The Great Tythe Barn set ready for the civil ceremony.



Is dad getting something from his pocket here or pulling off a camp expression???  Maybe that's what they're laughing about?

Documentary Photography Workshop

In a bid to continually improve my photography I've again been on the documentary photography  workshop based in Brighton (which I attended last year).  This time around I headed out for 9 holes at Brighton & Hove Golf Club to test my skills.  It certainly offered plenty of open space, fast moving balls, lots of green green grass and some tough subjects who don't always want a photo as they 'putt' to win the all important Monday morning Ryder Cup!

It's been brilliant to be surrounded by many of the UK's most talented wedding photographers and be part of a workshop that actually gets you to take photos, pushes for continual improvement and produces results - perhaps that's why I went back for a second year :-)

Anyhow, this isn't a wedding blog post so I should stop waffling on and let you view a few photos from my assignment, whilst I catch up and get back to business.

Clearwell Castle Wedding Photos

Time to show a few more photos from my recent winter wedding at Clearwell Castle, Gloucestershire.  But first a did you know fact - last year Clearwell Castle held 260 weddings - FACT.  I know, that's remarkable huh!

With my Guinness Book Of Wedding Records out the way, onto the details about Stuart and Lauren's wedding day itself.  I'd met Lauren in 2008 at her brother-in-laws wedding in Tetbury at The Great Tythe Barn.  I was the photographer and to all intensive purposes at the time of meeting she was the child minder to her 'other' brother-in-laws children.  So, you get the idea, I bumped into her at a wedding.  Anyhow, fast forward a few years and here I was shooting her wedding - how cool is that.  I love recommendations, and it's always nice to meet familiar faces at the wedding......and in this case I found out my previous clients 'Matt & Anne' are expecting too - so congratulations!

So here we have it, an exclusive insiders view to the fabulous wedding of Stuart and Lauren at Clearwell Castle.  DON'T FORGET to click 'READ MORE' at the bottom of this post, to take you deep inside the world of documentary wedding photography.  Ahhh...ok, really just to read the rest.

Clearwell Castle - or at least a tree with sign hanging from it.  Yep, it's winter folks....today will be a fair few black and white photos, mixed with a splash of colour.  It's all about light, emotion and composition this week.




Lauren looks on from the Castel hideaway (that is the bridal suite) as guests arrive and bridesmaids walk across the car park in pjyamas and dressing gowns - stylish!



"ummm, nice wedding dress".....meanwhile the pyjama wearing bridesmaids have arrived for make-up duty.





The blusher brush gets 'em every time.


I love this shot - why?  Check out the under age drinker with her 'imaginary' champagne - classic.





I also love this photo on the left.  It's got a whole page to itself in their wedding album design too.


I'll bet the boys aren't having this much fun - even putting a necklace on is a laugh.  Note: bridesmaids 'correctly' dressed now and checking out Laurens booty.


I've not seen wedding flowers with long stems like this before.  Or at least not long stems and such a delicate bouquet.  OK, I've just re-read that back and it does sound a little camp.....honestly I'm all man, just mixed up in the female wedding world.


Yep, that'll be inside at Clearwell Castle set ready for the wedding ceremony.  Just follow the red strip of carpet if you're unsure where to go.

My little cowboy

Barney turned two in late January and had the best ever gift from his Auntie Charile - a cowboy outfit.  OK, so I should be clear about this, he didn't actually think it was the greatest gift ever and infact didn't want to wear it at first.  (Safe to say though, Daisy popped it straight on....shes' always first in line for fancy dress).  It wasn't so much that it's the best gift ever for Barney therefore, but actually myself - as I apparently had a similar costume myself as a boy, and wore it every day.  So much so, the trousers wore out and my mum had to make a new pair.  Ahhh the good old days.....it just looks wrong if I dress up now :-)

Anyhow.........blurb over, my point is, he finally decided this week it was time to slip into something a little more wild west.  Better still he teamed the outfit with his 'personalised' hobby horse (thank you Meg).

I should add too, I've gone super-size on blog images now (you've probably noticed that right?).  Hopefully it still works for you the viewers.  Blog posts will also have a 'Read More' tab, so watch out for this on many of the of weddings.

You looking at me partner?

Clearwell Castle wedding preview

A quick preview from my recent wedding at Clearwell Castle.  The full post will follow shortly.
 Edited to add, it ended up very soon after.  Click here if you're lost looking for it.