Anne of Cleves House

May 21, 2018 / Rebecca King

A couple of weeks ago we had the privilege of being asked to photograph Anne of Cleves House. It's a beautiful 15th century timber framed house in Lewes. It was gifted to Queen Anne as part of her settlement from her divorce to Henry Viii.

Sussex Past Weddings asked us to photograph it how it would look dressed for a wedding. The other places Sussex past Weddings manage are Lewes Castle and Michelham Priory. I think getting married in any of those venues would be wonderful, especially if you love your medieval history. I always find it fascinating that you are walking in the footsteps of people that were there hundreds of years before us and I'm sure theses buildings will be there for hundreds of years more.
It is such a stunning house that I love since I was a child and I have visited there many times. It has quite low ceilings that used t be a problem for my very tall brother.

It was a beautiful place to photograph with stunning displays of flowers everywhere, the only problem was the uneven floor, windows and the many timber beams, because it was hard to know which one was the straight line.

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There's something about Mary!

May 02, 2018 / Rebecca King

I first met Mary and Graham when they helped out with the wedding dress shoot we did in the September of last year. Mary wore her evening wedding dress for the shoot, the dress was made by Jennie West, who we were doing the shoot with.

She contacted me in January to ask if I'd be happy to photograph her and Graham for their first anniversary in April. She wanted the chance to wear her wedding dress again ( who wouldn't want to wear their dress again). She'd be on Pinterest for ideas, picnic blankets and baskets, cute notes on chalk boards etc. We had fun planning the day out. The problem was we needed a location where Mary could change into her dress, somewhere that was beautiful and quiet, you don't want everyone watching your photoshoot. I luckily enough have worked for a company called The Rolling Downs. They're beautiful shepherds huts that you can stay in, they are in the grounds of Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum near Lewes. The huts are a stunning back drop themselves, let a lone the gorgeous countryside around us.

As we were approaching April we hoped that the snow and rain wouldn't blight their shoot day. We were so lucky as we had the most glorious day of sunshine on the shoot day. Jennie who made the dress came to help Mary get dressed into her stunning gown. Mary had bought balloons, a picnic basket and her chalk boards and her Mother-in-law had made a cake. We all had a lot of fun on a glorious Spring afternoon.

I was very happy with the photographs and most importantly Mary and Graham we very happy too. They loved this very memorable way of spending their first anniversary.

My daughter said to me that I was very lucky to share such happy events with people and then (with my photographs) be a part of their happy memories forever.

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categories / Photography, Wedding Photography
tags / portrait, anniversary, Bentley, weddings, wedding dress, couple

Yoga retreat - March 2018

April 25, 2018 / Rebecca King

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of photographing a rather snowy yoga retreat hosted by Louise and BimsWinter - Personal Training, held locally to me in Barcombe.
I don't think I could recommend highly enough how amazing everything was, and I wasn't even taking part! I felt calmer just from being there. I was lucky enough to share a delicious brunch with all the (very flexible) ladies. They are actually hosting a yoga retreat in Ibiza this October. I'd love to take photgraphs of that one too.

The ladies were brilliant and didn't mind me taking photographs of them doing their sun salutations. They actually said that they didn't notice me and wasn't aware I was taking photographs. I do try to be respectful to whomever I am shooting and take their needs into account. I feel as a photographer you should always make those around you, that you are photographing feel at ease and comfortable. You will get your best photographs that way.

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categories / Photography
tags / yoga, photographs, photo, peaceful, retreat

Heralds of Spring

April 16, 2018 / Rebecca King

I did a wonderful photoshoot at Southover Grange Gardens in Lewes, in the Easter holidays. I was very lucky, as I think it was one of the only two sunny days of the two week break.

Due to the cold and snowy weather recently all the flowers have been blooming a bit later than usual. So instead of the usual April tulips, we had a 'host of golden daffodils'.

Thomas and Eleanor enjoyed running around the Grange and playing in the gardens with bubbles, climbing trees and admiring the beautiful daffodils. I had a marvellous time, as Thomas and Eleanor were great little models. I have photographed them before and they never fail to amaze me.

I've begun to realise that doing the children/family portrait sessions really are a favourite thing for me to do. The most difficult thing is trying to decide which photograph is my favourite.

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categories / Family photography, Children's portraits
tags / portrait, photography, daffodils, wildflowers, lewes, Southover Grange Gardens

Over the Rainbow...

April 03, 2018 / Rebecca King

I did a lovely shoot recently at my local gardens, they are always stunning and attract plenty of visitors. I think I'm so lucky to have some where so beautiful, so close to me.

Unfortunately the weather decided it wasn't going to be kind and it rained, but I was so fortunate that the family I was photographing were ready for the rain and just enjoyed the shoot. We got out the rainbow umbrellas and jumped in puddles. It was a full on, fun hour. I think the adorable little girl I was photographing had a great time also. We tried to make it more of an adventure than a starchy, boring photo shoot.

That's why I choose location shooting, over a studio, you get more of a natural response and there isn't the pressure on the child/children to be on their best behaviour and smile for an hour. I always try to capture the real child, not the fake one that puts on a show for the camera. I have heard from some clients that in previous shoots they had in a studio the children have been very unhappy with the pressure of it all and they have cried the whole time.

The responses I have had is that the children have had lots of fun and viewed it as a morning/afternoon out, with a lady taking some photos, rather than an official photo shoot. The results have all been positive, they parents feel I have really captured the essence of their child/children.