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Annabel's Family

Toddling around the garden.

Annabel's Family
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Chris & Bethan’s Wedding at Penarth Pier ...

A whimsical wedding with train travel and seaside joy

Chris & Bethan’s Wedding at Penarth Pier Pavilion
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Kirstin & Matt's pre wedding photos in the ...

Chasing blue bells in Malvern.

Kirstin & Matt's pre wedding photos in the Malvern Hills
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Alex & Christina’s Wedding at Rowheath ...

Alex and Christina brought their love of birds and the natural world to their wedding in their home town of Birmingham. They got married amongst the farmers market at All Saints Church Kings Heath, then moved on to their party at Rowheath Pavillion in Bournville, one of our favourite Birmingham venues.

Alex & Christina’s Wedding at Rowheath Pavilion, Birmingham
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Welcome Baby
Welcome Baby

#17: Have no regrets


Even the cake was in tiers is our series tips for weddings. The title comes from an overused and not so funny wedding speech joke, "It's been an emotional day...". What advice did you wish someone had told you before your wedding? We're collating all the etiquette and expertise here.
Listen up then lovely nearly-weds because this is my absolutely most important tip.

At some point near the end of the day take a moment to catch how you're feeling. Over-joyed, blissed-out and perfectly happy. And choose to come back to that feeling whenever you reflect on the day. Whenever some someone asks you what you'd change if you did it all again choose not to have an answer. Because things were as they were, and you loved them. Because your wedding captured both of you, your families and your friends as you were at that moment.

#16: Say your vows (quietly)


Even the cake was in tiers is our series tips for weddings. The title comes from an overused and not so funny wedding speech joke, "It's been an emotional day...". What advice did you wish someone had told you before your wedding? We're collating all the etiquette and expertise here.

At the rehearsal the Bride (and sometimes the Groom) is worried about being able to speak their vows loudly enough. But to put you at ease just focus on saying them to each other. In legal terms your words only need to be heard by each other, your witness and occasionally a registrar. So don't let your volume be something to worry about.

A little photography lesson


Yesterday I popped into the city centre for a bit of photography and learning with the beautiful Sarah, it totally made my day.

We hung out around some large decorated Easter eggs and some of Brum's other landmarks and talked all sorts of technical things like depth of field, aperture, focal length and long shutter speeds.

Humpty Dumpty (from Lindts Big Easter Egg Hunt)

Capturing motion with high shutter speeds...

...and blurring it with longer ones.



#15: Group photos can be really dull


Even the cake was in tiers is our series tips for weddings. The title comes from an overused and not so funny wedding speech joke, "It's been an emotional day...". What advice did you wish someone had told you before your wedding? We're collating all the etiquette and expertise here.

It's probably everyone worst bit of a wedding, huddled around in the cold waiting to be lined up with a frozen smile and snapped as a group. But for some relatives in particular its an essential for the mantle piece. 

Some tips: 
-Less is more and more is less! Less photos is definitely easier on your cheek muscles and the main way to reduce the number of photos on the list is to increase the number of people in each group. 
- Do the large groups which require several people and the bride and groom in this time slot. But for other groups such as the bride with her girls make a separate list for your photographer to gather throughout the evening, which will make things a lot more relaxed. 
- Aim for fun and relaxed photos (you'll prefer to look at those ones)
-Don't expect to walk straight out of your ceremony into group shots, people will want to stop you to compliment the dress and you'll be desperate to chat to the friends you spotted as you walked down the aisle. Make some time for mingling.
-If there's any length of journey between the ceremony and the location for groups shots then expect a delay as guests take the wrong route, pop to the shop or check into their hotel! 
- Choose a place for group shots that is near to where your guests will be congregated- having to run inside and upstairs to get guests who are at the bar will cause frustrating delays.
-Think through a wet weather location in advance- it will save you a panic on the day.
-Also know that there are always guests who will refuse to walk on grass in their heals.
-Talk through your list with your photographer to arrange the numbers so that they build people in and out of the groups in a logical way. Particularly avoid moving elderly family members in and out of the scene too much.
-Consider putting the shot list up somewhere so everyone knows the plan. And be sure to nominate a couple of helpful friends to gather the up coming groups.

Obviously if someones going to be offended by missing out one of your groups then don't miss it out! It wont take that long, and its better than regretting it later. You could even split your list of shots between your venues so that you get a bit of a break.

Wow, that went on a fair bit longer than I'd anticipated... obviously hit a photographer's nerve!

#14: Your officiant will guide you through


Even the cake was in tiers is our series tips for weddings. The title comes from an overused and not so funny wedding speech joke, "It's been an emotional day...". What advice did you wish someone had told you before your wedding? We're collating all the etiquette and expertise here.

 Understandably you're nervous about the ceremony- it's a big deal. But there's no need to worry about where to stand, what to say or when to say it. The officiant at your ceremony will be in charge of making sure that you move, say and do what you should at the right time. Your job is to turn up and mean it. If you get it wrong they'll make sure you say it again or prompt you to guide you through.

February's [DEVELOP] Challenge

For 2013 we're got a challenge to set you each month, something to get your teeth into to help you [DEVELOP] your photography skills. Some of them might be familiar concepts to you others we hope you'll never even have heard of, but by tackling them we hope you'll try out something you wouldn't have done otherwise. This month we're going all documentary.

Two of my least favourite questions in photography sometimes are "What should I photograph?" and "What shall I do with the pictures now?". So this month I thought I'd challenge you to use your photos to document something and find somewhere to publish them. Here's a few projects you might be inspired by...

 What to photograph:
Back to the Future is such a cool project by Irina Werning where people go back and recreate old photos. Check out the amount of effort they go to with costume and location! This could be loads of fun to have a go at, excuse for a reunion even. Check out the project here.
Street portrait from this site 

Street Portrait- Feeling brave? Looking for a bit of a kick. Make a portrait of a stranger. Cold calling for a street photo score. There's a helpful guide here. 

A Photo Interview - produce a document of a person by photographing them on location and interviewing them. It could be anyone you like, but I reckon the older the better. Combine the text and images to capture a snapshot of life at that moment.

from this site
Make your own 6 Word Story-  Perhaps you haven't got the time/patience/inclination to interview someone that closely. This one might be for you. Tell a 6 word story, combine it with a supporting image (you don't even need to use a camera if you don't want to!). See some 6 word stories here.

Where to publish:
*500 px- particularly suited to story sets of photos this is a premier photo uploading site with high standards for "aspiring and pro photographers". Put your best stuff up here and be inspired! Would be a  great place for your street portraits.

*Flickr Groups- Flickr is a great site to host your photos, many of the challenges we're setting will fit into flickr groups that already exist. For starters stick all your [DEVELOP] pictures in our group. And check out these groups for Street Portraits and 6 word stories. (Last month's challenges also fit into Multiple Exposure and Harris Shutter Groups)

*Instagram: is a quick photo sharing network for smartphone users. Make connections with other phonographers and use #developproject to connect your documentary photos for this months challenge! Would work really well for your 6 word story. (try out the instanote app to add text to your instagram pictures). And you can follow our contributions @LOS_HENDOS.

*Write a blog post- submit one to us! We'd really love to feature some of your photo interviews. Email it over to mustardyellowphotography [at] gmail.com


Get involved by joining our Facebook group and using #developproject on instagram.

#13: Make the most of your guests


Even the cake was in tiers is our series tips for weddings. The title comes from an overused and not so funny wedding speech joke, "It's been an emotional day...". What advice did you wish someone had told you before your wedding? We're collating all the etiquette and expertise here.

 One of the most enjoyable aspects of our wedding was having all the people we loved gathering together in one place. That's where this tip comes from. Often loads of your favourite people will travel miles to be with you on a day when you'll largely be quite busy trying to see so many people that you don't get to properly hang out with any of them. 

 So I'd say try and plan in times to hang out in the days around the wedding. Get people together to help do any last minute Order of Service folding, or setting up decorations at the reception. They'll love being involved

 It might take some planning to be ready enough to be able to stop for the evening before the wedding, but a rehearsal meal type gathering is a good time to enjoy the company of great friends instead of rushing around stressing. Let them tell you how excited they are.

 And the morning after the wedding getting together for a late breakfast is great fun. Inspect each others dancing blisters and share the stories from the day before. 
Get in touch

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