J Clitheroe Photography

Joshua's photo shoot

2012-02-10T08:00:00.011Z

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Liz & Lee's Wedding

2012-02-10T08:00:00.009Z

It's the details that really make your Big Day so personal and special. From personalised M&Ms to home-made snow, Liz and Lee's wedding was truly a wonderful winter wedding.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Springtime Special: FREE outdoor shoots

2012-02-09T11:00:00.002Z

Call 0779 598 1540 to book your free session today!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Wednesday Whimsy: Next event Feb 29th

2012-02-08T14:49:00.008Z

On the last Wednesday of each month, we are opening up the JCP studio in Selby for our Wedding Whimsy events.

It’s completely free, no appointment necessary, just drop in and strike a pose!

NEXT EVENT: Wednesday February 29th 10am-4pm
FRAME THIS!
Bring along your friends and see how many of youc an squeeze into our frame. There's a prize for beating our current record!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Judith & Grahame's Wedding

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000Z

Judith and Grahame's winter wedding at The Parsonage in Escrick was a blast - check out the bouquet throwing!

Suppliers

Judith's fabulous dress was from The Wedding Shop in Selby, along with the menswear and the flowers.

The venue was The Parsonage Hotel in Escrick.

For more info or to boook an appointment, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Rachel & Howard's Wedding

2012-02-06T08:00:00.008Z

Howard and Rachel's wedding was beautiful, romantic and FUN!!!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Ben's Photo-shoot

2012-02-03T09:43:00.003Z

How cute is little Ben?

For more info or to book your session, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Liz & Lee's Pre-wedding Shoot in York

2012-02-03T08:00:00.002Z

For Liz & Lee's pre-wedding shoot, we headed out and about around York City Centre. I know lots of nooks and crannies!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Rachel & Howard's Pre-wedding shoot

2012-02-02T08:00:00.004Z

We headed out to Bolton Abbey for Rachel and Howard's pre-wedding shoot.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Gemma & Nev's Wedding

2012-02-01T08:00:00.002Z

What a beautiful day for a beautiful couple! It was a such a pleasure to share your day, and thank you again for the gorgeous flowers! :-)

Suppliers:
Gemma's gorgeous dress was from the Bridal Village.

The beautiful flowers were courtesy of Dennis Beevers.

The (very yummy) cake was by Angel Cake in Mexborough.

Venue:
The ceremony and reception were held at Tankersley Manor.

Transport:
The wedding cars were supplied by Balmoral Cars.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Charlotte & Neil's Wedding

2012-01-31T08:00:00.013Z

Suppliers:
Charlotte's stunning dress is by Phoenix Gowns.

The beautiful flowers were courtesy of Garden of Eden.

The cake was by Fairy Cakes & Co.

The catering was by Thought of Food.

Chair covers by Ambience Venue Styling.

Venues:
The ladies got ready at The Blue Rooms, beautiful apartments by The Blue Bicycle in York city centre.

The ceremony and reception were held at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall in York.

Music:
The harpist was Sarah Dean.

For the evening celebrations, Alan King from Sound Out Disco provided the entertainment.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Gemma & Nev's Pre-wedding Shoot

2012-01-30T09:30:00.007Z

For Gemma and Nev's pre-wedding shoot, we combined a trip to the park with a few shots in the studio with their new baby Jacob.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Introducing our new portraiture packages...

2011-11-22T10:11:00.003Z

We are delighted to announce our new portraiture packages designed to suit our client's differing needs.

Stuck for a Christmas gift idea: gift vouchers are available to purchase via our website for each different package.

Of course, if you want something a little different, drop us a line!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Judith & Grahame's Pre-wedding Shoot in Selby Town Centre

2011-11-21T21:34:00.008Z

Last Friday, Judith and Grahame got married. In anticipation of their wedding pics, here are some tasters from their pre-wedding shoot earlier this year shot on location around Selby Town Centre.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

More family fun!

2011-11-11T17:00:00.000Z

And smile...

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Family fun!

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000Z

Having fun with the kids in the studio is one of the best parts of my job!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Xmas Offer: Free Sitting!

2011-11-09T12:28:00.002Z

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Out and about with Charlotte & William

2011-11-06T08:00:00.000Z

One of the super things about our new studio is the proximity to Selby Park, so this summer it was great to get out and about in the sunshine with William and Charlotte for their photo shoot.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Chiplin Family Portrait

2011-11-05T09:00:00.000Z

It's always great to see people come back again and again - I love seeing how much the kids have grown since last time.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Katie & Rob's Wedding

2011-11-04T07:30:00.000Z

It's always a privilege to be invited to be someone's wedding photographers, as we get to be part of such an intimate, personal and emotional part of their lives.

We loved photographing Katie & Rob's wedding. We were embraced by everyone and felt like a part of the family. Thanks for having us!

Suppliers:
Katie's gorgeous dress was from Elizabeth of York

The beautiful flowers were courtesy of Fulford Flowers

The (very yummy) cake was by Creative Icing in Selby

Venues:
St Mary's Church, Riccall
The Royal York Hotel, York - an absolutely stunning hotel adjoining York Railway Station.

Music:
Katie's brother Thom Piddock played acoustic in the church. Check out his band, Blank Maps on Facebook.

For the evening celebrations, Diamond Discos and International Party Doctors provided the entertainment.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

A family treat!

2011-11-03T12:00:00.000Z

A treat for everyone, all girls together!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Jade and friends!

2011-11-03T09:00:00.001Z

When Jade won our competition with the Selby Post, she brought a couple of friends along for company, but I did manage to persuade her to have a couple of photos taken too!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Super Sweet Parties: Event Photography

2011-11-02T12:13:00.001Z

Planning a party, charity ball or prom? Check out Super Sweet Parties profile page for some ideas...

Super Sweet Parties

For more info or to book us for your event, drop us an email or visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Carrie & John's Wedding June 2011

2011-11-01T13:19:00.018Z

Carrie & John's wedding was a truly joyful and personal affair. What an incredibly hard-working pair: not only did they organise their beautiful wedding, but they also had to simultaneously do up the house and garden ready for the marquee reception and set up John's new trucking business - hence the unusual wedding transport! As you can see from the photos, they did an amazing job and everyone had a wonderful time - us included. Thanks for letting us share your day!

Suppliers:
Carrie's gorgeous dress was from Brides of York

Hair by Robert Michael in Selby

The boys were dressed by York Hire Wear

The fabulous marquee was provided by Partee Marquee

And the delicious food was courtesy of Friends 4 Dinner

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Charlotte & Neil's Pre-wedding shoot in York

2011-06-23T12:48:00.005+01:00

We managed to dodge the showers for a wander around York for Charlotte & Neil's pre-wedding shoot. A city close to all our hearts, Charlotte, Neil and I had a lovely morning visiting some of York's well-known sites, and some of the little known nooks and crannies too.

Can't wait for the wedding!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Kirsty & James's Wedding at Ringwood Hall Hotel

2011-05-24T20:22:00.007+01:00

Kirsty and James could not have chosen a more beautiful day for their wedding at Ringwood Hall, Derbyshire. The sun was shining almost as radiantly as the bride!

For more info on our wedding photography service, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Katie & Rob's Pre-wedding shoot

2011-05-24T19:20:00.005+01:00

Rob proposed to Katie atop the London Eye. What a romantic, he'd already asked permission from Katie's parents, and had even had the engagement ring made for her! Now that's planning!

For their pre-wedding shoot, we decided to head out to Selby Park among the beautiful spring flowers.

For more info or to book Jackie as your wedding photographer, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Carrie & John's Pre-wedding shoot

2011-05-24T14:48:00.006+01:00

In just a few weeks time, it will be the 'Big Day' for Carrie and John who are tying the knot at their local church in Bubwith followed by a great big party in their back garden! I can't wait.

In the meantime, here are a few of our favourites from their pre-wedding shoot. This shoot took place along the old railway line in Bubwith and then back at the farm.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Spanning the generations...

2011-05-19T18:00:00.000+01:00

It's always lovely when a family wants some photos taken, but even more so when it spans four generations!

When Jack wanted a picture with his great-granddaughter, I was delighted to oblige. Charlotte was such a cutie, though she really wanted to be the one with the camera!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Yummy! Osteria23 food shoot

2011-05-17T21:22:00.003+01:00

This afternoon, I spent a mouth-watering couple of hours photographing some of the delicious food at Osteria23 in Selby for their new website. If the Internet did smells, you would be drooling too!

More photos from this shoot to follow soon!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Kate & Pete's Wedding at Monk Fryston Hall Hotel

2011-05-02T23:56:00.017+01:00

Kate and Pete's wedding at Monk Fryston Hall Hotel was a truly joyous occasion and we were immensely proud to be invited to be a part of the celebration. Here are a few of our favourite images from the day!

Red Bus Days provided the London bus to transport the groom, groomsmen and guests to the wedding.

The gorgeous hydrangea bouquets were made by Posies by Amy, and Kate's stunning dress is from Scarlet Poppy in Pudsey.

To see more images from Kate & Pete's wedding, check out this slideshow.

For more info on our wedding photography service, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Hollywood Glam Photo-shoot

2011-05-02T22:56:00.013+01:00

Our Hollywood Glam photo-shoot was inspired by some of the most beautiful and very glamourous Hollywood stars of the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s, including Greta Garbo, Faye Dunaway, Catherine Deneuve and Sophia Loren.

With thanks to Suzanne, Nadine, Judith and Jean for being models, doing make-up and hair, respectively.

For more images from the shoot, please check out our facebook page

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Studio Portraiture: Lisa, Jeanette and Megan

2011-04-03T18:50:00.000+01:00

A perfect gift for Mothers' Day!

Three gorgeous ladies: Lisa, sister Jeanette and daughter Megan, popped in to the studio the other day for a secret portraiture session as a Mothers' Day gift for Lisa and Jeanette's mum. I hope your mum was pleased with the framed print!

Here are some of my favourites from the shoot:

For more info on booking your own portraiture session with Jackie, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

The Johnson Family visit Skipwith Common!

2011-03-04T15:00:00.000Z

When Gary and Louise Johnson asked if I could take some family portraits out at Skipwith Common in February, I thought overtrousers and boots might be a good idea - how right I was!

The weather wasn't great, but that didn't stop William and Scarlet having a fab time playing hide and seek among the ferns and trees, and it certainly wasn't going to stop dad, Gary, from climbing a tree or two!

We had a whale of a time hiding, squelching and playing around the trees, and then finished with Peppa Pig's favourite pastime - "splashing in muddy puddles"! I think Scarlet's was having perhaps a little too much fun in the mud when she tumbled face first into a really squelchy puddle, but bless her little heart, she didn't even cry!

Thanks for a great day, guys!

For more info or to book your portraiture session, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Spring has definitely sprung at Lisa's Florist!

2011-03-01T17:48:00.005Z

This afternoon my studio has had the sweet scent of lavendar as I photographed some of Lisa's Florist's new Spring floral arrangments. Gorgeous, aren't they?

Pop over to Lisa's new website to order yours!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Studio Portraiture: Rachel & Howard

2011-02-21T22:02:00.009Z

Some of my first clients in the new studio: Rachel and Howard

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Pre-Wedding Shoot: Kirsty and James at Baslow Hall

2011-02-20T21:00:00.003Z

Weather forecast: Heavy snow and fog, temp somewhere just above freezing.

You might think this is a photographer's nightmare for a pre-wedding shoot, but challenging though the weather was, I had a great day with Kirsty and James at Baslow Hall, Derbyshire.

Here's a little teaser image for you, guys!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

JCP Studio Open for Bookings!

2011-02-18T14:37:00.003Z

It's taken a while, but finally I have gotten around to posting some images of the new studio premises in Selby!

The new studio is now open for bookings: why not give me a call today on 0779 598 1549 to book your session!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Baslow Hall Hotel, Derbyshire: Recci for Pre-wedding shoot

2011-02-17T13:42:00.005Z

Had a trip out to Derbyshire this week to do a recci for a pre-wedding shoot with Kirsty and James this weekend. It was a bit cold and wet, but that didn't spoil the beauty of the location: Baslow Hall Hotel in Baslow - a gorgeous little stone-built hotel on the edge of the Chatsworth Estate.

Here's a sneak peek:

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

New Year, New Website, New Studio...

2011-01-05T13:30:00.007Z

As Christmas 2010 fades into a distant memory of turkey, gifts and snow, we look forward to the exciting year ahead. Just what will this year bring?

For J Clitheroe Photography, 2011 promises to be a really big year and we are very excited to start things off with our new look website. Designed and created by Andrew and I, we are really proud to finally launch it to the world - hope you like it!

Other news for the year: in February we will be getting the keys to our new studio premises in Selby. I have big plans for the studio, but don't want to give too much away... you'll have to pop in for a portraiture session sometime!

We are also looking forward to our first wedding of the year - Kate and Pete, it's not long now! - some more great school and nursery shoots, and some fab portraiture sessions!

This really promises to be a year to remember for JCP, hope it's a good one for you too!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Nursery Christmas Photos

2010-11-24T18:58:00.004Z

I love nursery shoots, especially my regulars - it's great to see the kids growing up. Here's a sneak peek at some of my favourites from last week's shoot:

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

PR: Candlelighters and Drax

2010-11-02T09:27:00.004Z

Candlelighters is a wonderful charity formed and run by parents of children who have or have had cancer, ex-patients and the medical staff who treat them. Based in Yorkshire, Candlelighters provides essential services and support to children with cancer and their families.

Last week I was lucky enough to be asked to take some photos of a lovely family who have benefited from the support of Candlelighters and who have in return (along with some of their fantastic family friends, and a contribution from Drax Power Station) raised a bunch of money so other families can also have someone to lean on during the treatment of their children.

Well done Austin Family! We send you our best wishes for Ella's continued recovery!

If you want to get involved and offer your support to Candlelighters, you can do so here!

For more info about our photography, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

New product from Queensberry!

2010-10-29T20:59:00.005+01:00

Hot off the press: My wonderful album suppliers, Queensberry, have just announced a new product set - the Queensberry Press!

I know a lot of my wedding clients have asked about books (where the image is printed on a page in a book) as an alternative to albums (where the image is printed and then mounted on a page), and until now I have resisted as I have not been overly impressed with the quality of the end products available from the many suppliers out there. However, yesterday Queensberry announced their version of the photo-book, called a Press Book. I haven't seen one in the flesh yet, but I am so confident in my favourite supplier that I am already planning my sample book and will be launching these in my product portfolio for 2011.

For more details on these gorgeous books, see the Queensberry website: www.queensberry.com/press

For more info on my services, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Family Day at Young Discoverers Day Nursery

2010-10-13T13:32:00.023+01:00

Having taken the ‘leavers’ photos a couple of months ago for Young Discoverers Day Nursery in Escrick, I was back again a couple of weeks ago for a ‘Family Day’.

As you can see, we had some great fun…

The kids were great as usual and, with their help, I managed to convince the grown ups to join in and enjoy it too!

Family Days are great fundraising opportunities for schools, nurseries and other not-for-profit organisations. The organisation invites families for a 20 minute individual family mini-portraiture session at the school/nursery premises on a set weekend, and charges a booking fee of £10 per family, which the organisation keeps,
along with an agreed commission on all sales.

Interested in holding a Family Day to raise money for your organisation? Call or email Jackie today for more info.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Wedding Album: Jono & Mim Vaughan

2010-09-21T13:24:00.012+01:00

Finally, I've gotten around to posting one of my lovely Queensberry sample albums on here!

The album features Jono and Mim and their lovely, though quite chilly, November wedding.

The weather was dry, but being late in the year, the light was low. We knew it was going to be dark by the time the church service was complete, so, with some help from Mim's dad, we set up a studio in the barn at Mim's parents farm for the bride and groom photos. Being an open-sided dutch barn, it was pretty darn chilly, but Mim bravely slipped off the blankets for the photos!

The album itself, is a 14"x10" Queensberry Duo album, with embossed micro-leather cover.

The Duo albums allow you to combine the best of both worlds: the elegance of a perfectly cut mat to frame smaller images and the modern full page, flush mounted images for those larger ones you want to have an impact.

One of the other fabulous features with these albums is the ability to include 'flip' pages that open out to reveal more photos.

Completely bespoke design, hand-crafted to the most exquisite quality, what more could you ask?

Click here to view the complete album.

For more information, please visit our website: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Winner of our prize draw

2010-09-19T10:22:00.004+01:00

Congratulations to Kate and Robert, winners of our free prize draw!

This beautiful champagne and chocolates gift set from Fortnum and Mason is winging its way to you! Enjoy!

Image courtesy of Fortnum & Mason

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

WEDDING BLOG: Outline timeplan for a wedding day

2010-09-07T17:18:00.005+01:00

I'm often asked the question 'how long do the photos take?'. As a photographer, I would love to have all day to take your photos, but we have to be realistic, this is your wedding, not a photo-shoot.

Clearly, it depends on what you are looking for from your wedding photos, however, as a guide, I thought it might be useful to post a suggested timeplan for a general UK wedding.

Bridal preparations approx 2 hours. If you are going somewhere else to have your hair/make-up done, allow around twice this, especially if you have a lot of bridesmaids also having their hair/make-up done

travel to venue 1

Wedding Service approx 45mins-1 hour. Civil ceremonies are often shorter, Catholic services can be longer.

Bridal party and group photos outside church/ceremony venue. Approx 30 mins. Again, it depends on what you are aiming for. I have assumed here that these photos are the large group shots with the bride and groom outside the church, bridal party, confetti and leaving in the car shots. For some weddings, you may have all of your photos taken at the church/ceremony venue, in which case this will be a lot longer. For others, the group shots will take place at the reception venue.

travel to venue 2/reception venue

Bride and Groom intimate photos at selected venue. Approx 1 hour. This is allowing for a stop at a separate location on the way to the reception for the photos of the bride and groom. In most traditional UK weddings, the bride and groom photos will take place at the reception venue, rather than stopping along the way.

travel to reception venue (if applicable)

Meet and greet guests Approx 30mins - 1 hour)

Dinner and speeches (approx 2 hours)

A little relaxing, social time with guests before evening guests arrive - trust me, most brides will be desperate for this time to go to the loo (it's not easy with a big dress) - freshen up make-up, maybe swap those shoes in prep for dancing, and allow the room to be turned round for the evening (approx 30 mins)

Conclusion
As a guideline, I suggest, to avoid feeling like you are being whisked from one thing to another with no time to enjoy your day, that you allow at least two hours, plus travelling time from the end of the service, to sitting down for your meal/speeches. And don't forget to build a bit of contingency into the timings, travelling can often take longer than planned, and, it is traditional after all for the bride to be a bit late...

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Simple Sunflower

2010-09-02T10:48:00.004+01:00

I saw this lonely sunflower in the middle of a field on the way to a job the other day and had to turn the car round and take a photo.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Wedding Blog; How much should I pay for my wedding photographer?

2010-08-28T23:56:00.004+01:00

Once upon a time, the premium a wedding photographer charged for his work could be justified purely on the grounds that he had an expensive camera and the experience necessary to work it. Artistry and service above and beyond the usual church-to-cake coverage, a checklist of group shots and a box of proofs wasn’t something you could necessarily expect for the kind of money most people were able to spend.

These days, those technical and technological barriers to wedding photography simply don’t exist. Highly automated digital equipment capable of delivering acceptable image quality in all but the most extreme circumstances is well within the reach of most amateurs, and it is entirely likely that one of the guests at your wedding will be toting a camera on a par with your photographer’s backup kit, at least.

In practice, this is something of a mixed blessing. On the plus side, it means professional photographers have to be much more attentive to your needs if they want to remain successful – a fact compounded a hundredfold by the explosion of social networking. It also promotes a better balance between the technical and personal skills a photographer needs to command. On the other hand, it has opened a revolving door to an endless stream of bargain photographers ready and willing to ‘give it a go’ on the side. It’s therefore possible to get more – or less – for your money than ever before.

With this in mind, how can we answer the question posed above?

Whomever you hire, you’re essentially going to be paying for three things: Time, Expertise and Product. The amount you want to spend depends upon the value you attach to each, so let’s look at them in turn:

Time
Although the wedding day itself is obviously front and centre in your mind, actual coverage on the day can represent only a fraction of the time for which you are effectively ‘hiring’ your photographer. For example, my standard service includes:

Initial consultation meeting in your home: ½ day
Reccie of a pre-wedding shoot location(s): ½ day
Pre-wedding shoot: ½ day
Long-listing & post-processing (pre-wedding shoot): ½ day
Viewing in your home: ½ day
Reccie of the wedding location(s): ½-1 day
Your wedding day: 1-2 days (8-15 hours)
Long-listing & post-processing (wedding): 1 day
Slideshow and/or album layout design: 1-2 days
Viewing and collaboration: ½ -1 day
Production & finishing: 1 day
TOTAL: 7½ days-10½ days

When you book me to cover your wedding, you’re getting me, full time, for up to two working weeks. I’ve made that my standard service because I don’t think it’s possible for me to do justice to what your wedding means to you without dedicating that amount of time to the task. The pre-wedding shoot in particular gives me the chance to spend time with you, get to know you, learn how to get the best out of you in front of the camera, and it gives you the chance to get to know me in return – and to get used to having a honking great lens trained on you.

At the other end of the time-scale you find bare-bones ‘shoot and burn’ services where the photographer covers the ceremony, possibly offering extra coverage for a further charge, and supplies a folder of images on a DVD, in rare cases with basic colour-correction applied. The style will typically be reportage, and it’s not uncommon for the photographer to cover more than one wedding in a day, so his time is strictly limited. Even some album-based photographers operate like this. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this type of service if it is what you want and so long as you know exactly what you’re getting.

So, when deciding how much to spend, or whether a photographer is offering good value, the first thing to think about is how much time will be dedicated to your wedding, and whether that’s in sync with the importance you attach to the physical record of your day.

Expertise
Modern cameras can expose automatically, focus automatically – even wait until you’re smiling, because we all know the photos where everyone is grinning down the lens are the best, right?

Nevertheless, cameras still can’t take good photographs. Cameras can’t be in the right place at the right time, or pose their subjects. To pick an example completely at random, cameras can’t set up a full studio lighting rig in a barn because you’ve decided to get married on a November afternoon.

Expertise generally commands a premium; that much is inevitable. In a sense, you’re helping to pay for the investment your photographer has already made in training and sheer hard work. So again, when thinking about how much you want to spend or whether you’re being offered good value, don’t let yourself be completely distracted by the amount of coverage or the number of pages in the album. Quantity is nothing without quality.

Have a look at my previous blog post on choosing your wedding photographer for tips on how to assess a potential photographer’s ability.

Product
This is where all that has gone before – time, expertise and the enormous effort you put into the day – finally becomes tangible and permanent. I’ll be honest: from the perspective of the wedding couple I don’t see the point of compromising at this stage. That ring on your finger has a diamond on it, even though a lump of coal would be much bigger and cheaper. A similar principle applies here.

From a hard-nosed business perspective, of course, there’s every reason to compromise. A truly superb album can cost a photographer north of a thousand pounds to put together. The temptation to turn a few hundred pounds of that into profit or to compete more effectively on price by settling for second or third or n’th best is perfectly understandable, especially when those numbers might be multiplied by twenty or more weddings per year.

You, on the other hand, are almost certainly going to have a maximum of one wedding per year (unless you’re a celebrity with tragically poor emotional judgement, in which case money is the least of your problems), so you are effectively spreading the extra cost of a higher-quality album over the rest of your life. Are you really going to miss a tenner every twelve months?

Final Thoughts
Ultimately, I can’t give you a straight numerical answer to the question asked at the start. That was never the objective. What I wanted to do was take the number already bouncing around in your head, pin it down and make it explain itself: why you are going to spend that money, and what you’re going to get in return.

If you are looking for a more numerical guideline, you may find this calculator useful.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

A new little Queensberry for the the JCP portfolio

2010-08-23T09:00:00.006+01:00

I received my lovely new little gem of a sample album from Queensberry last week. It is so absolutely stunning I felt the need to share.

The photos were taken at Bolton Abbey and the stars of this pre-wedding environmental shoot (apart from the sheep) are Pete Donnelly and Kate Barkham, who were such a joy to work with, I can’t wait to do their wedding photos next year!

I love the album so much I have now added this to my portraiture products as well as my wedding portfolio.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Wedding Blog: 11 years ago…

2010-08-20T09:00:00.000+01:00

Today’s blog is a bit of an indulgent one. This Saturday is Andrew and my 11th wedding anniversary, which has prompted me to look back on the last 11 years of marriage and remember what we were doing on that fabulous day 11 years ago.

After two years of planning, prepping, excitement, nerves and panic, the Big Day finally arrived and brought with it a strange sense of calm. Everything that could be planned had been, and now it was out of my hands. The only thing I needed to do was get ready, get married, enjoy the best party I ever created and look forward to a happy future with my lovely husband. So, while my bridesmaid was panicking over make-up and hair, I happily painted her nails and thought about the wonderful day ahead.

The weather was perfect, everyone looked so beautiful and friends we hadn’t seen for years made it back to the UK to be with us. As I stood in front of Andrew, our hands shaking as we took our vows, I just couldn’t be more proud or happy.

And today, 11 years on, I feel the same. I am so proud of my husband every single day. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since that beautiful day in 1999: we’ve gotten a little older, a little rounder and some of us have a little less hair than we used to; we’ve been to some amazing places and done amazing things; our little family has grown, but one thing that remains steady is the love we share.

So, this one’s for you, Andrew. I love you more each day, and look forward to the next 11 years with all the excitement and joy with which I looked forward to our Wedding Day.

(Photo from album produced by Ken Gange Photography)

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

WEDDING BLOG: Choosing your wedding photographer

2010-08-15T19:07:00.006+01:00

I was recently reviewing some competitor websites and photo galleries, and found myself alternately amazed and horrified by some of the images out there.

What struck me, in later conversation with my parents about my findings, was that bad photography can be surprisingly easy to overlook. Once you see a flaw, or one is pointed out to you, it cannot be un-seen – but that’s small consolation when your wedding album is already in your hands.

The good news is that it’s equally easy to fore-arm yourself: to train your eye in advance to look for the kind of things you would – and wouldn’t - want to suddenly notice in the months and years to come.

Warning Signs:
1. White Triangles and Black Squares: You’ve paid a small fortune for that dress, with all those beautiful details, the lace, the flowers, the bows – and then your photographer overexposes the image and you end up wearing a plain white triangle. Similarly, the groom’s trousers or suit is often dark in colour (navy, charcoal, chocolate) and an incorrectly exposed image will lose all the detail in the shadows and the wedding party can look like they have flat black square legs. When you look through a good photographer’s website or samples, you’ll notice that he or she rarely if ever shoots the bride and groom together in full sun, precisely because one or other of these problems becomes all but inevitable.

2. Trendy Albums: We’ve all had trendy clothes, trendy haircuts and trendy shoes, and where are they now? With the advent of digital darkrooms, we can add trendy photographic effects to the pile. Black-and-white-with-a-dash-of-colour images became very fashionable for a time, and are already starting to look dated and clichéd unless done exceptionally well. The most important part of your wedding album is how it conveys the emotion of your wedding day: you should play the starring role, not faffy digital effects.

3. Storybooks That Don’t Tell a Story: Almost everyone these days is adding a ‘storybook’ option to their product list. Done well, a story book can make even a complete stranger feel as if they had lived every moment of the day with you. Done badly (and I have seen many more bad than good), a ‘storybook’ is just a jumble of images mashed together by a photographer/designer working their way down the Photoshop ‘filter’ menu.

4. “You won’t even know I’m there.” Also advertised as ‘unobtrusive’ or ‘reportage-style’. On the face of it, this sounds very tempting. Nobody wants a bossy, rude, intrusive photographer souring the mood, right? Well, no, but frankly that particular breed of dinosaur is dying out anyway, and you can identify and avoid them without my help. The answer certainly isn’t to hire a non-entity in their stead. You want someone who will make you appear as awesome in the photos as you look and feel on the day, and that can’t be accomplished in more than a lucky handful of images without an actively engaged photographer working with you and your guests. After all, why do professional models look so good? Answer: because every part of their body is perfectly posed – and while that becomes second nature with experience, they ultimately learn those skills from the photographers they work with. It’s part of your photographer’s job: don’t let them shirk it!

That’s not to say reportage is in itself a bad thing. Many moments could not be captured any other way. But the very best albums are those where it’s the person looking at the images, rather than the bride and groom on the day, who can’t tell the photographer was there.

Things to look for
1. Emotion: If an image from someone else’s wedding inspires powerful emotion, that’s a really good sign - depending upon the emotion, obviously!

2. Details: A good photographer will be making sure they record those beautiful little personal touches you spent so long planning. If you see evidence of that on a website or in a sample album, you’re onto a good thing.

3. Low prices do not always represent good value, and high prices do not always mean you’re getting the best: After the cake is eaten, the champagne drunk, the hair pins removed and the suits returned to the hire shop, one of the very few things that will endure from your big day will be your wedding album. It will represent the story of your wedding day for generations to come, so you will want to be sure it is something you are proud of and makes you smile every time you open it. So, yes, to an extent you get what you pay for, but, price is not always an indication that you are getting what you want. The most important thing is that you are comfortable with your photographer, their style suits you and you like the products they offer.

So:
Shop around: After choosing the right partner, venue and dress (not necessarily in that order), your wedding photos are probably the next most important part of your planning, and it’s vital to remember that the choice is yours. There are hundreds of photographers out there; make sure you pick one who suits you down to the ground, and don’t be afraid to walk away if you’re unsure. Needless to say, shopping around early is a really good idea to avoid feeling pressured and to ensure your photographer is available (booking 1-2 years in advance is now commonplace).

Trust your own opinion: It is easy to feel intimidated, or to assume that, as a professional, your prospective photographer automatically knows best. However, ultimately, this is your wedding, this is your album and you will be the one looking at it for years to come. If you have any doubts, niggles or concerns about what you are seeing when you look at a photographers sample albums, then this may not be the photographer for you. It doesn’t mean you/he/she is necessarily right or wrong, it just means you do not share the same style or preferences, which may mean you will be disappointed with the images from your own wedding.

Your wedding album needs to stand the test of time, with images that you love, a style that fits you and makes you smile as you remember the most important day of your life. Pick the right photographer and your album will be something you are proud to pass on to generations to come.

Note: I have deliberately excluded example images from this post to avoid embarassing third parties and also to avoid influencing you unduly - as stated above, this is your wedding, your style and your opinion is what matters, not mine!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

A little post-script...
Shortly after posting the above, I found someone else's post which addresses some other concerns when looking for a wedding photographer. Please be warned it does contain an element of strong language.
www.alosangeleslove.com/2010/08/what-to-look-for-in-photographer.html

Eye Candy: A great year for school / nursery photos

2010-08-02T19:48:00.043+01:00

This year has been a great year for school and nursery photos. With thanks to the parents for giving their consent, I thought I would share a few of my favourites from this season!

Environmental portraiture is now a very popular style
of school photography - parents love it!

Although in England, our summer weather is unpredictable, with a little ingenuity and flexibility, we still managed to get some beautiful outdoor images (though we did all end up sheltering under a big tree from the rain for a while at one point!)

The children were super and none of
them complained about being cold, even though on one of the shoots it was more like winter than summer, the kids still happily took off their coats and pretended it was a beautiful sunny day in their t-shirts and summer dresses!

I also love the contemporary spin on the more traditional school photo with our mobile Studio option.

With this option, it really doesn't matter what the weather does, though timing the shoot to avoid the latest outbreak of chickenpox can throw a spanner in the works!

Regardless of the type of shoot, for me, the best images are those that allow the child's personality to shine through, and, well, boys will be boys!

And, for that matter, girls will be girls - with their fabulous poses!

Yep, kids are so much fun to work with, I really love my job!

For more info or to book Jackie for your nursery / school, please visit: http://www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk/Schools.html

FAMILY BLOG #1: Top tips on how to help your photographer get a great family portrait!

2010-07-31T18:09:00.007+01:00

As a family photographer, I love shooting kids (with a camera of course!). Contrary to what you might expect, the most difficult members of a family shoot are often the parents!

As a mum, I know how stressful it can be: you want your kids to be on their best behaviour, especially in front of someone new. As a photographer, I also know that a parent’s anxiety makes them tense and makes the children tense – which is a poor recipe for a relaxed and fun photoshoot!

1. Planning and preparation - Think of your shoot as a special and fun treat for the family. Build up to it with the kids and get them excited before they even arrive. Make it feel like the special treat it is.

2. Time spent playing and letting everyone get to know each other is at least as important as time spent clicking the camera. Relax, let the kids get used to the studio, camera and the photographer. It doesn’t matter if the photographer is not clicking away constantly from the moment you enter the room. The best photos come when everyone is enjoying themselves.

3. Trust in your photographer to get the best out of your kids. I cannot emphasise this point enough. Let the photographer direct the childrens’ behaviour and actions, too many different people saying ‘sit here’, ‘smile’, ‘say cheese’, etc can be confusing and stressful for the child. They don’t know where to look or who to listen to. One of the things I pride myself on is my ability to connect with young children and get the results I want. Let your photographer take the lead.

4. Don’t be despondent if it just isn’t happening on the day. Nobody is infallible and sometimes a young child is really not in the mood. Rescheduling for another day can be the best option. A photographer who understands what they are doing will arrange this at no extra charge.

5. When your photographer says ‘look at the camera’, look at the damn camera! You wouldn’t believe the number of fantastic shots I have had to scrap because mum/dad is too preoccupied with what everyone else is doing to look! Parents: as grown-ups your job is to sit in the right pose, look in the right direction with the right expression (as directed by the photographer) for every picture, regardless of whether little Jimmy is tugging Shannon’s hair, hiding behind dad’s shoulders or picking his nose! (Bogeys are what Photoshop is for!)

6. Save discipline until later. Unless a child’s behaviour is outright dangerous (a studio after all contains high powered lights and fragile, expensive equipment), cut them some slack. When your kids do something a little bit naughty, the middle of a photoshoot is not the ideal time to confront the issue – a good family photographer is quite capable of working with excited, slightly giddy children who want to play.

7. Bribery and corruption rules! ‘If you’re good and do what the lady/man tells you, you can have a lolly/treat/toy/puppy/pony’ (delete as appropriate). We all know it works ;-)

8. The most important advice I can offer for a successful family photoshoot is RELAX, HAVE FUN AND ENJOY!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Wedding Plans: Eco Chic Green Weddings

2010-07-27T15:50:00.010+01:00

We're all more conscious these days of our impact on the environment, but can you have a fabulous wedding that is environmentally friendly without compromising on your dream day? Of course you can! With a little consideration, and the following top ten tips for an eco-chic green wedding, you can have the wedding of your dreams without compromising your principles.

1. When?
When setting the date for your Big Day, consider the kind of things you would like at your wedding and keep it seasonal, for example, if you want strawberries, cream and roses, think about a summer wedding; if you love daffodills, tulips and spring flowers, then go for March-April; if berries, foliage and pumpkin pie are your thing, then Autumn is best. Keeping things in season means you can buy locally grown produce that has not been forced to grow in heated greenhouses or shipped in from abroad.

2. Where?
How about in one of PapaKåta's beautiful tipis? These are not just ordinary marquees or tents, as you can see, these are fantastic works of art. The tents are made, as far as possible, from natural materials, and PapaKåta endeavour to be carbon neutral, planting trees to offset their carbon emissions.

Image courtesy of PapaKata.co.uk

3. How to get there?
Ideally, try to use a local venue to cut down on transport, or somewhere with good public transport. If transport is needed, try to use vehicles that run on LPG or bio-fuels, or even better foot power: traditionalists will love a romantic horse and carriage, for a slightly less conventional alternative, how about a rickshaw or bicycle?

Image courtesy of Oxon Carts

4. What to wear?
Pre-loved wedding dresses are often available from local charity shops or eBay - why not have it customised especially for you by a local dressmaker. Tammam White is a beautiful collection of off-the-peg, organic, fair-trade gowns (available from GreenUnion). Alternatively, you could consider having a bespoke gown made for you by a local designer/dressmaker using organic silk, cotton or satin - the GreenUnion boutique sells ethically sourced material.

5. What to eat?
Encourage your caterer to source organic food locally, and select ingredients that are ‘in season’.

6. Get the look
Why not add unique personality to your tables by creating your own centrepieces from vintage items, your own personal objects, or borrowing from friends and family. Use 100% beeswax candles (they last longer, create no smoke/soot, and are great for bees!).

7. Flowers
Ask your florist to use locally raised flowers, herbs and foliage, and keep your choice of flowers seasonal.

8. Confetti
Make sure your confetti is bird friendly and biodegradable – real dried flower petals are both beautiful and friendly to the environment. Why not make your own? Please, don’t use rice – it is really bad for the birds!)

9. Photographers & videographers
Try to use wedding photographers and videographers who offer either digital services - cutting the use of film & processing. Check if your preview images can be uploaded to a web page for viewing - you can then allow your friends/family to view them too. Ask your photographer where the album is made – many send their work overseas. Avoid using single use cameras, most of the images are discarded anyway.

10. Offset your carbon
Why not consider planting a tree with carbonfootprint.com to offset your carbon emissions. Why not ask your guests to plant a tree in celebration of your marriage instead of buying a gift?

With thanks to:
GreenUnion.co.uk
GreenBride.com
PapaKåta.co.uk
Oxon Carts
carbonfootprint.com

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Teaser for Kate & Pete...

2010-07-11T22:04:00.006+01:00

Had a lovely day today with Kate and Pete at Bolton Abbey on their pre-wedding shoot. Took loads of great pics - which was not that hard with two such photogenic people! Here's a couple of the early ones as a little teaser. Can't wait to show you the rest next week! ;-)

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Bolton Abbey: Reccie for Portraiture Session

2010-07-06T21:59:00.005+01:00

Had a lovely day today at Bolton Abbey. I treated myself to a full day reccie. I have a pre-wedding portraiture session with Kate and Pete this weekend and I like to get a feel for a place before I shoot there.

It's not hard to see why they chose this location.

The ruins are spectacular:

The scenery is beautiful:

The locals are friendly:

And the afternoon tea was delicious!

It's not hard to see why I love my job! ;-)

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

On safari in Spain?!

2010-06-28T19:52:00.005+01:00

For those of you who know Andrew and I well, you will understand our passion for animals, wildlife and safari holidays. Somehow, we always manage to see some kind of wildlife on holiday, but we never expected to get quite so close to some of our favourites in Spain!

This was Mahale's first holiday abroad, and we didn't want to take a 9+ hour flight to somewhere in Africa this time round, so we settled on a more traditional 'villa in Spain' holiday. Having spent a couple of days relaxing and enjoying the sun and the swimming pool, Mahale asked to see some animals (only 3 years old, but she already knows what mum and dad are like!). So we set off to find a safari park that we had seen on the map. A couple of hours and a very long and winding mountain drive later, we finally arrived at Safari Aitana. To be honest, we weren't expecting much as the signposts en route were just painted on rock walls, and the final location was approx 35km further inland than shown on our map, however, we were very pleasantly surprised. The park boasted a wide collection of animals, including lions, tigers, african elephants, zebras, hippos, jaguars, snakes, parrots, raccoons, goats, donkeys, etc, all of whom were well cared for and looked in peak condition.

Having experienced safari parks in the UK, we were surprised when we were told we were allowed to get out of our car other than in the large cat enclosures obviously. So keeping a cautious distance, we enjoyed being able to get into better positions to take photos on foot instead of struggling through odd shaped and awkward car windows.

Mahale & Andrew & Zebra:

Mahale & Giraffe:

Young Llama

Suckling

A little further on, we could see some African elephants - my absolutely favourite animal. It is fairly rare to see African elephants in captivity - most elephants in zoos and parks are the smaller Asian elephant.

I was a little nervous as we approached in the car. When on safari in the wild, you have to be cautious in your approach to African elephants and watch for body language that could indicate their discomfort in your presence. You don't want to get on the wrong side of such a huge animal! However, there was a keeper with them, and he beckoned us to get out of the car and come down to meet the elephants. Very cautiously and carefully, we made our way to the keeper, who then invited us to stoke one of them gently. She was clearly at ease so we did as instructed. OMG! I can't believe that I have actually touched a real African elephant! It was such an emotional moment for me. Incidentally, in case you are wondering, she felt like soft, bumpy, even knobbly leather.

Stroking an Elephant (yes, that's an ostrich behind us!)

And as if that wasn't enough, when we passed through the park, we were directed to a separate area for walking where there were smaller animals in enclosures, and also two lion cubs playing around with a couple of young raccoons and a keeper, right there for you to interact with! The funny thing is that, although you know that in the UK this would be completely unacceptable for safety reasons and for the health and welfare of the animals, it was just expected that people had enough common sense to behave calmly, carefully and with respect for the animals - and everyone did! There were only around 10 of us there, but everyone kept a respectable distance and only interacted when the animals were willing.

Mahale stroking a lion cub

Lion playing with the keeper's leg

Lion chilling out

Lion cub

It was a real eye-opener. I would imagine that had there been a larger number of people, the interaction would have been much more limited, so we were perhaps privileged to have visited at a quiet time. It does make you think though about the 'nanny state' in which we live in the UK.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

An invaluable tool

2010-06-08T21:48:00.004+01:00

Last week I was at Hemingbrough Pre-School shooting the kids that are moving up to school in September. It was a lovely shoot with great kids, when disaster struck... Little Ellie-Mia fell off the slide while waiting for her turn and split her lip!

Although a little upset, she bravely had her photos taken and we managed to get some lovely shots. With judicious use of Photoshop, I think you would hardly know about her tumble.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Both of the cases above are cropped from larger images to show the detail.

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

The copyright of all photos included on this blog site belongs to J Clitheroe Photography.

Potentials for accreditation panel

2010-04-26T21:18:00.002+01:00

Here are five images from a portraiture session last week that I am hopeful of including in my Licentiateship accreditation panel. All feedback welcome!

For more info, please visit: www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Trying something a little different

2010-04-22T16:31:00.002+01:00

Been trying some different post-processing techniques. This is my fave effect so far. I like to keep things looking natural, but with a bit of punch. What do you think?

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

A little teaser from last week's portraiture session with the Matthews' family

2010-04-13T18:30:00.003+01:00

Nathan was such a laugh - I love this one!

The beautiful Hannah, what amazing eyes:

Kids are always fun subjects:

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

One more from today...

2010-04-04T20:33:00.002+01:00

Another shot grabbed today. Can't decide if I prefer the colour or black and white version. What do you think? Please leave comment below.

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Madalyn & Lily's Christening

2010-04-04T20:22:00.004+01:00

Today we went to Madalyn & Lily's Christening. We were off duty today, but just try prising the camera from my fingers. Here are a few pics:

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Spring has sprung!?

2010-04-03T19:15:00.003+01:00

Well, what a mixed bag of weather we are having this bank holiday. On the one hand rain, on the other bright sunshine. In our brief trip out in the garden between showers, Mahale and I found this lovely ladybird sunning herself on my rhubarb. Ladybird seemed happy, and so am I - another couple of weeks and home-made rhubarb crumble will be on the menu Chez Clitheroe!! ;-)

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Birthday Party!

2010-03-28T22:17:00.004+01:00

Here are some of the pics from yesterday's birthday party...

Birthday girl

Play dough is so much fun...

Watching you watching me...

Happy Birthday to you!

Mmmmmm! Can't have a party without jelly!

It's my party and I'll cry if I want to!

I love balloons!

All a bit too much for some...

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Aftermath of Mahale's Birthday

2010-03-28T14:31:00.002+01:00

All friends and family have now gone home having filled my house with lovely presents for Mahale's birthday - Thank you! And leaving us to finish off all the leftovers from yesterdays party.

Here are a few pics of the yummy cakes (all home made by Mahale, Andrew and I):

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Been to The Deep today

2010-03-26T16:58:00.004Z

Headed to The Deep today as a birthday treat for Mahale. Mostly consisted of us chasing a 3(!) year old past all the fish to the soft play area, but did manage to grab a few snaps.

I love these sand eels - there was a whole bunch of them wafting in the water watching you go by. They're only a few inches long (or at least that's how much you could see), and barely half a centimetre wide. Wished I'd taken my macro lens to get some extra close shots - maybe next time.

My other favourites are the mudskippers. Fish that live half on land, half on the water. When you see these how can you possibly doubt Darwin?! They have arms!

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Happy 3rd Birthday, Mahale!

2010-03-25T15:50:00.002Z

Today is my little girl's 3rd birthday - how time flies! Here she is - my little fairy princess.

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Delivered framed print to client this evening!

2010-03-24T23:38:00.003Z

Just got back from delivering this lovely framed print to client (forgot to take a photo of the finished article - oops!). Karen and Ian were delighted! It's already up on the wall!

For more info, please visit:
www.jclitheroephotography.co.uk

Just testing to see how my images look on the blog

2010-03-18T21:39:00.002Z

A lovely family shot from one of my recent sessions.