Matt Davis Photography Blog has moved

I've moved

It's been a while in the making but an all new Matt Davis Photography Blog has been born.  

Visit my blog where you can keep up to date with recent weddings and don't forget to bookmark the new website

www.mattdavisphotography.co.uk

If you have any feedback I'd love to hear from you: contact me with your thoughts.

Vince Freeman - The Voice

Okay, so this 'almost' has nothing to do with weddings, yet also has everything to do with weddings.

Why you may ask?  Well, if you've been watching BBC1's The Voice, then I'll let you into a little secret.  Did you think Vince Freeman (the guy with bare feet) was good?  Sure you did!  Well so did I, six years ago when I saw him play in a pub, then booked him to play at my wedding!  

I'm occasionally asked to recommend a good band, well here is my recommendation - Vince Freeman.  Not only did he play at my wedding many moons ago, but also at the wedding I photographed in Tuscany last May.  He's equally at home with acoustic numbers whilst you sip champagne in the olive grove.......



......as he is ripping it up with 'Sex On Fire' at midnight to a bunch of party goers.



So, you need to move fast.....he's about to go global.  Check out Vince Freeman now......before The Voice 'goes to his head' and he's never available for wedding gigs ever again!

Wedding photographer recommendation - Manor House Hotel

Most people getting married ask friends or family for a wedding photographer recommendation, but if you don't have any recommendations how do you decide?  Well, for those that need just that extra nudge in choosing the right wedding photographer, here's what my clients have to say.

This package turned up on my doorstep earlier in the week and was a fantastic thank you gift from a wedding I recently photographed at Manor House Hotel, Moreton-In-Marsh.  


For those keen eyed blog readers amongst you, you will have noticed this mug isn't just any old mug.  It is in fact produced by Russell Paige (who's wedding it was) and engraved with the wedding date for prosperity - cool huh.
If you wish to see more of his work take a look at his website. (www.russellpaigeceramics.co.uk)


Here's a link to the blog post to the full wedding at Manor House Hotel.
You can also read more wedding testimonials on my website.

North Scotland landscape photography

Landscape photography isn't really my bag, but after my second trip to Scotland, I'm beginning to rather like it.  The Scottish highlands have become the annual trip for me and a few fellow professional photographer friends.....and this year we hit the far North.

Day one was spent in the somewhat exposed Rua Reidh Lighthouse on the west coast....with 75mph gusting winds it certainly whipped up a storm.  Following a nights stay in the hostel there we then headed up to Durness (the most Northerly place on the UK mainland) for some serious costal walks including an unintentional dip in the sea by one of our fellow photographers - with camera and iphone too :-(

All up it was a great week, (with typically bad scottish weather)....but this did mean plenty of rainbows, some seriously stormy seas, moody skies and a full on test for my waterproof gear!

Rua Reidh lighthouse

Evening sky over Cheltenham

Cool sky tonight.

How old is Matt Davis?

'twas my birthday today and I reached the ripe old age of 35.......although Daisy will have you to believe I'm 45.  I'll have you know though, it's not due to the wrinkles or because I asked for swim goggles, but the fact she's just learning her  BIG numbers - phew!

Anyway, as with all the best birthdays it started with a lie in, followed by great food and fine company.......plus a yummy cake.

I am the 'Master of covert operations' at Delbury Hall

This made me smile soooo much.  I do love it when clients write me emails upon their return from honeymoon....

Dear Matt

You are a master of covert operations - I had no idea half the time that you were there taking all these brilliant photographs!  The photos are incredible and we love them.  I have, of course, a big smile on my face when I look at them but a tear in my eye too - such a perfect record of the most wonderful day.  

You have been great to work with and so responsive.  We really appreciate receiving the photographs and album proofs so quickly.  The whole family were glued to your blog waiting for the first glimpse of the pictures!

Best wishes

Marisa & Adam - Delbury Hall

Wedding testimonial - Bay Tree Hotel, Burford

It's very rewarding taking great photos on someone's wedding day, and better still when my clients write lovely emails to me with thanks.  I recently had this from Sally, who got married at The Bay Tree Hotel.  It was the last paragraph that stopped me in my tracks.  I spend far too much time deliberating about how to describe my approach as a photographer, yet with 4 or 5 key words Sally hit the nail on the head.

Hi Matt

I hope you're well. Pete and I arrived back from honeymoon this morning and we wanted to get in touch without delay to say how thrilled we are the pics. They are simply stunning and have completely surpassed our expectations. You've managed to capture some really special moments - often without us even realising you were there snapping away!

Over the next couple of days we'll have a good look through the album proof. There are probably a handful of pics we would change but nothing major. We love the way the album is composed so we don't want to make too many changes. So I'll come back to you on this early next week, if that's ok.

Once again, big thanks to you for your professionalism, sense of humour and energy on the day and for some truly amazing photographs!

Best wishes,

Sally and Pete

Tonight's sunset

It may have been an odd day weather wise, but you know what........it produced a great sunset this evening.  

Giffords Circus

On Sunday the Davis' had a family day out at the Giffords Circus.  I went last year (with just Daisy) and really enjoyed it, so for Christmas the kids (with a little helping hand from my wife) bought us a family ticket....far better than toys!

Anyhow, just a few shots from the afternoon performance and to say if you've not been before it's worth getting some tickets for a show.






To continue with a few more photos click READ MORE on the left hand side

Wedding albums - Dumbleton Hall

Simon & Liz recently collected there beautiful Matted Wedding Album, so before it left me forever I took a few photos to blog.  It was a unique wedding in that it snowed 'heavily' and with a black tie wedding theme made for stunning pictures with Dumbleton Hall providing the perfect backdrop
 For anyone considering a winter wedding you can see the full blog post and a slideshow here.  


A 40 page wedding album....compared to my 30 page sample album is certainly the daddy!









A blanket of snow and 'warm' setting sun...........not your typical British wedding.





Liz also had parent books to accompany her main wedding album.

Lightning strike Cheltenham

Humid temperatures have produced some mean weather tonight and for the first time ever I attempted to take a photo of lightening striking.  
Shot from my bedroom this was the only shot, (out of 70) which was timed correctly to capture a flash.  I now know what I need for next time: 1) my tripod ready to hand, rather than faffing around getting it out the car then having to find the adaptor somewhere else in a bag in the cupboard2) a memory card actually in my camera ready3) a battery that wasn't just about to go flat4) a clean lens and 5) a ND filter (that's a really boring thing the average reader of my blog really doesn't need to know!) 
So, I'm off to Silicon Valley now, where I believe all the tornado chasers hang out, to get some cool shots of stormy weather :-)

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.