Don’t just think outside of the Box; GO outside of it.

NorthHantsMum Lifestly Portraits feature

Tylney Hall Wedding Photographer: Sam & Mike’s Pre-wedding shoot

I recently had the real pleasure of catching up with Sam & Mike at Tylney Hall Hotel for their pre-wedding shoot and consultation ahead of their big day in June.

The conditions on the day, the time of the year and the hotel grounds themselves provided the perfect backdrop for some gorgeous spring time shots. We chatted and we laughed as we walked around the grounds and it was so nice to stand back and capture the magic between them and their excitement leading up to their wedding.

Here’s some of their portraits…

Basingstoke Hampshire Family Portrait Photographer: The Cull Family at Tylney Hall Hotel

Meet the ever so lovely Cull family. That’s Mum Sarah, Dad Dave and their 2 very young sons Jack and Alex. I’m delighted to bring you this collection of portraits to give you a real taster of what family lifestyle portraits are all about. A family all having a great time and creating lifelong memories. That’s all, enjoy the photos.

it’s all in the DETAILS. Well, mostly.

When choosing your wedding photographer also consider carefully how they look for, and capture, the details. The dress, flowers and shoes are the obvious ones but just as important are the hair, the jewellery, the favours, the cake, the bunting, and the rings. Clearly the list goes on, the extent to which differs for every wedding.

Being a photo-journalistic style of photographer my coverage is predominantly about the emotions and the ‘moments’ – all the elements that make your day so uniquely yours and can’t be scripted or re-created. But for me the details take a high priority as well. Of course these also give individuality to you and your day and help to give context to your wedding. These are some of the things that you will have put so much thought (and expense!) into during the months, perhaps years, leading up to your big day.

For these reasons the details are going to appear quite prominently in your album. Therefore, technically there is no place to hide with these shots. We want them big, sharp and just beautiful – to ‘preserve’ everything forever more. Believe you me there is a huge difference to the quality of photos that are just ‘grabbed’, perhaps with poor lighting, composition or camera skill, to those that are captured using a macro lens (to get in close), a tripod (nice and steady), creative and eye catching composition (for impact) and finally using the right lighting (crucial!). Of course careful placement in natural light works best.

Here’s a few photographs from a range of weddings that I have captured during recent years.

For more information on my wedding photography, see here.

Textures and colours of North Norfolk

North Norfolk – one of my favourite places in this corner of the globe. Always great for a few landscapes and I know a lovely little place to stay too. Will be returning very soon!

Family Portrait Photographer Basingstoke Hampshire: The Smith Family

This was quite simply one of my favourite photo shoots from 2013. Why? well, for me it was what lifestyle portraits are all about…a young family (dog included) doing what they love the most. In their garden. Having fun. Creating memories.

But rather than ramble on I’ll let Alison’s words and a selection of her family portraits do the talking..

When I first met Alistair I was immediately struck by his passion for what he does and his relaxed and friendly approach. The great thing about the shoot was that, rather than being in a bland studio, we were able to capture the whole family including the dog, in the freedom of our garden. This lead to wonderful and natural photos. On the day Alistair was great with us, especially my youngest who was unwell. We were delighted with the photos he captured and the end results are priceless. Thanks Alistair for your time and patience with us, we will be recommending you to everyone. The great family photo in the hallway will sell itself a hundred times over ! Many thanks xxx

Wedding Photographer Basingstoke, Hampshire & beyond: portfolio update..

Well that was a whole load of fun and brought back many wonderful personal memories….here’s my updated portfolio of wedding images with tasters of some of the amazing weddings up and down the country & overseas that I have been so proud to have been a part of over the last couple of years or so. I could tell you a story behind each image but I’ll just let you browse and enjoy…

For more information on my wedding photography please see here

“Alistair Jones is an incredible photographer. He not only captured every moment of the day in stunning photographs but also had a way of making everyone feel very at ease. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone. We could not be happier.” Katy & Gez Barnfather

“Thank you so much for the photographs. I can’t put in to words how special they are to us. You truly captured everything we wanted. When we first met, I could tell you would deliver something special, but you have exceeded my expectations. You are a true professional and credit to your field. Many thanks, Mrs Hesp!”

Tylney Hall Photographer: 60th Birthday celebration family portraits

Milestone birthdays and anniversaries are all about celebrations and memories….but the trick is to choose a venue or experience to optimise those memories and then….make sure you capture them. So when it came to organising her Mum’s 60th birthday celebrations, Joanna opted to book her parents onto the ‘Lifestyle Photography Break’ at the magnificent Tylney Hall Hotel. This is a collaboration between myself and the Hotel and offers the chance for couples and families to stay on a full board basis and then enjoy a photo shoot with me around their stunning grounds. But Joanna wanted the rest of the Tania and Hugh’s family to join in the photo shoot, including all their 4 children and partners, plus their 2 gorgeous Grand children, Annabel and Rory. The more the merrier is what I say.

So below are some of their portraits captured for this very special occasion. But before we get to the photographs here are some lovely words received from Joanna….

“Today I received a card from my Mum which began “…thank you for the best 60th birthday weekend I could ever have imagined…”. The weekend was such a wonderful success and this was in no small part due to Alistair. My siblings and I arranged a package deal through Alistair which included an overnight stay at Tylney Hall, complete with dinner, and the much-anticipated photoshoot the next day. The venue was perfect and the shoot was a fabulously fun experience for the whole family. The results are even better! Alistair absolutely has a magical touch with the camera and has perfectly captured some wonderful moments for Mum and all of us to treasure. He certainly knows his stuff technically but absolutely has the artistic eye with it and his shots are beautifully natural. As for how he manages to “click” at just the millisecond that the children are smiling perfectly… So pleased you were recommended to us Alistair – thank you!” Joanna Scott

The Bishop’s Palace Wedding Photographer: Shelley & Rob

At the end of January I had the most amazing day…well 3 days actually. Shelley and Rob were to be married on the Saturday but with their wedding taking place in deepest Somerset at a beautiful little church in Chapel Allerton and the stunning Bishops Palace in Wells, they kindly agreed to put me up for 2 nights. Fab, a little jaunt to the West Country doing what I love.

So I travelled down in driving rain on the Friday and came back in worse on Sunday. In between, their wedding day, the weather was perfect…well, certainly for January anyhow. With a run of good weather for all my recent winter weddings, The ‘Ideal Imaging weather God’ had struck again. You see when couples book me to photograph their wedding, it would seem that they are actually securing decent weather as well (but funnily enough that doesn’t find it’s way into the contract!).

I had known Rob for quite a few years, since he and my wife Nicola were at university together in Newcastle. But it was only 5 years ago that I first met Shelley, shortly after she came into Rob’s life. I didn’t realise it at the time but I captured pretty much the first photograph of them together…one that was good enough to convince Shelley that I was the wedding photographer for them!

So please enjoy looking through this selection of photographs from their day, starting with the morning bridal preps at The Swan in Wedmore, then on to their Church wedding ceremony and finally on to the 800 year old The Bishop’s Palace for their reception, with a brief stop en-route to take in the Ashton Windmill.

Before I go I’d like to say a couple of thank you’s for their support on the day – to make-up artist Kelly Hooper and Garry (from Memories Forever Vintage wedding car hire), chauffeur of the gorgeous ‘Tilly’, a 1929 Austin Burnham motorcar.

The Elvetham Hotel Wedding Photographer: Julia & Ali

One look at the photograph above and you could be forgiven for thinking this was a summer wedding, mid July perhaps. But no, this was my last wedding of the year, falling on 29th December!! And what a way to end a fabulous year that had started off with weddings at St. Paul’s Cathedral and a medieval castle in Northumberland (Langley Castle).

The finale came with the wedding of Julia and Ali, married at the magnificent Elvetham Hotel. Under clear skies I arrived to a blanket of white covering all the grass. It wasn’t snow, but frost. Still, it was the perfect accompaniment to the Father Christmas I spotted climbing the side of the hotel!

The day just carried on getting better and better from that point onwards. Here follows the story of Julia & Ali’s wedding and you will quickly see that their son, and page boy, Harry came very close to stealing the show from them. So very cute..

And before I go I must say a special thanks to Julia’s hairdresser, Heidi Harrison for recommending me to Julia in the first place.

To find out more about my wedding photography please see here

The Old Mill at Aldermaston Wedding Photography: Katy & Gez

Katy and Gez were married at The Old Mill at Aldermaston on 7th December. Katy had previously commissioned me on 2 separate occasions to photograph her, mainly for her band’s promotional purposes. Gez was involved in the first shoot which was not long after they first met. In fact some of my favourite shots from that first shoot were of the 2 of them together…
So it was with great delight when Katy contacted me early in 2013 to announce that she and Gez were making plans for their wedding and asked if I would be their photographer. “Yes please” was my instant answer.
Following a lovely, if wet, pre-wedding shoot at their venue in September, all was set fair for their wedding in early December. From that shoot I was hugely inspired by the the Old Mill and all the details they had planned for their day. My own plans for capturing their day were coming together when out of the blue I got a text from Katy a couple of weeks prior to the day informing me that Gez had gone and broken his leg! Gulp! “He’ll be able to get around but won’t be able to stand for long”, Katy’s text went on to inform me. I know there’s an old saying that goes ‘break a leg’ but I’m sure this was not the sort of luck they were hoping for.
Anyhow, suffice to say Gez was an extremely brave chap and their day was absolutely beautiful. Everything, from Katy’s stunning fourth generation family heirloom lace veil (therefore well over 100 years old), to their festively decorated, intimate, well run and characterful venue was perfect. Even the weather came to the party. Having known Katy and Gez for all this time everything about their day suited them to the core. I was a real honour for me to capture it for them. Thank you.

“Alistair Jones is an incredible photographer. He not only captured every moment of the day in stunning photographs but also had a way of making everyone feel very at ease. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone. We could not be happier.” Katy & Gerryn Barnfather

For more information on my wedding photography, please see here

Thank you 2013…you were great

Well thank you 2013..you were great. Here’s a short video with my favourite images (it was a very hard choice) of the year. They could be my favourites for a number of reasons but mainly because of the wonderful clients and narrative behind them. So, if you were a client, Wedding or Portraits, in 2013 there’s a good chance you’re in there…because I enjoyed working with each and everyone of you.
But I can’t wait for 2014 to get properly underway…more hugely inspiring weddings to look forward to, babies due and booked in, spring time family lifestyle shoots in the diary, new website on it’s way (eek!) and some tweaks to my branding…plus a few other exciting developments currently under wraps.
All in all I’m absolutely loving my photography..I rush to get out of bed every morning, I struggle to leave each and every wedding, I can’t wait to create my next award winning image, I revel in making the little ones laugh, and I just live for those tears of joy when I deliver your family portraits or your wedding album….it’s a wonderful life. Thank you.

For more information on my Wedding & Portrait Photography, please see here

Rivervale Wedding Photographer: Carol & Paul

Carol & Paul were married a couple of months ago, late October to be more precise, and chose the magnificent Rivervale Barn in Yateley as their venue. As I’ve said before, if ever there was a venue “designed by photographers, for photographers”, then this is it. A modern light and airy building but with lots of vintagey, barn type features, it is such an inspiring venue to photograph at.

Being mid autumn all we needed was a half decent day weatherise and we were going to be in for a real treat with all of the gorgeous autumnal colours at their very best throughout the scenic, privately owned gardens. And thankfully after a bit of a damp start that’s what we got. A truly memorable and colourful day start to finish. Even a ‘police raid’ couldn’t upset the apple-cart….

Enjoy this small selection of Carol & Paul’s photographs. For more information on my wedding photography please see here

Tylney Hall Wedding Photographer: Maria & Marian

Maria contacted me a few months ago to enquire about providing a few hours of coverage of her and husband to be, Marian’s, Registry office Wedding ceremony due to take place in early December. Maria explained that they also required a photo shoot together afterwards. I suggested the grounds of my partner hotel, Tylney Hall.
So following are a few of the images that we captured of the newlyweds around the stunning grounds.

“We had a great and fun experience with Alistair. He captured such stunning images of our wedding day in the beautiful grounds at Tylney Hall. Alistair made the time from our first meeting with him to our big day very comfortable and relaxed and at the same time he is very professional and such a friendly and funny character. I am highly impressed with work. Thanks again!”

For more information on my wedding photography, see here

Warbrook House Wedding Photographer: Emma & Eoin

Emma and Eoin were married at St John’s Church in Farnham on the 1st November. There then followed an afternoon and evening reception at Warbrook House in Eversley. Two fabulous venues for two even more fabulous people!

With all the right ingredients…a beautiful bride, inspiring venues, cutesy flower girls and page boys, a string quartet…I could go on, I always knew that I was going to have an absolute ball capturing their wedding and produce a set of images that would especially please Emma, a fellow keen photographer. No pressure!

So, without further ado, here is the story of Emma & Eoin’s day.

For more information on my wedding photography, please see here