Hellaby Hall Wedding Maltby South Yorkshire

Just a little blog about a lovely wedding I photographed at Hellaby Hall Maltby.
The wedding started with bridal prep photographs at the brides mothers house. A fun hour with all bridesmaids getting ready too and making sure the bride Georgina looked stunning, which she did.

Then a little trip across to Finningley to meet the groom and his best man. This was a Military wedding so the groom (Karl)  was in his formal army uniform. His uniform was very smart too.
I do like Finningley church, Rev David is a comical but professional Vicar. He has the wedding party relaxed and laughing at some points. Usually at my expense but its good to form a bond with places you work.

The reception was at Hellaby Hall. A lovely venue on the outskirts of Maltby. Luckily the weather was nice so we managed to get everything done before the wedding breakfast. Even some romantic time for the newly married couple.
Later after dinner we had some time spare so I took my lighting set up to a spot that was just perfect to capture some special moments. Using powerful flash outdoors adds a little drama to the image. As you will see in the sample. Its just one of the things I like to do where possible and time permitting.

Thanks for reading.

Lee
www.leearcherphotography.co.uk

A South Yorkshire Wedding

Hi guys just a quick update on a wedding last month. It was a lovely day in South Yorkshire at a venue called The Grove, South Kirkby. The rain managed to stay long enough to get the photographs completed. Typical British summer meant the rain was a threat all day. But we managed just fine.

Sara & Dave both looked great and they were a pleasure to work with. A much appreciated meal was provided before we prepared for the evening celebrations. Here is a sample of there day. As those of you who know me know, I don't show off full weddings. I feel its personal to the couple. But do like to show a few highlights.

I have more shoots to blog about so pop back soon for more news.
thankyou
Lee

Wedding Photography Doncaster

Clumber Park Pre-wedding shoot

Hi, just a quick update, we managed to make the most of the nice weather last week with a pre-wedding photoshoot at Clumber Park, Worksop.

The sun was really bright, but that just helped to capture some special images with the sun behind the loving couple. These photoshoots don't take too long, so I didn't take along anything too fancy,
But some extra flash to fill in the shadows was the trick on the day.
Here is a little preview of that shoot.

Pre-wedding photoshoots are free with most Wedding Photography packages.

Wedding Photography Doncaster

Hi, just a quick update on my Wedding Photography. I have some last minute spaces in June and July. August is fully booked and September is also very busy.
Not alot of people realise you can have discount for Monday to Thursday weddings. I also offer some custom deals for register office weddings.

If you need a photographer but are unsure I can help just ask. Email or call me.
Last week I was at Lincoln for a church wedding, followed by reception at Charlotte House just near the Lincoln Castle. We went for our group photographs at the castle, then onto the Cathedral for a few more. Luckily we had a golf buggy provided by the hotel. It was like having a tourist view of Lincoln. Its a lovely City though.

This week il be at Finningley Church near bawtry., Hoping we have nice weather. Its one of the best churches with a very happy vicar who has everyone laughing.
Then a busy weekend of pre wedding photoshoots and studio shoots. So please email if I can help.

thanks
Lee

A little update, good news

Hello everyone.
I thought id share a few things that made me smile this last week or so. If you haven't been on my facebook page you'll not know.
Firstly an image i worked on for Claire fagans Nailz has won National Nail art photographic competition, first place. This was judged up in Scotland. It was also a print submission entry so 2 A4 prints were sent up. I love these projects as we get to really test what we can create.

The theme was Winter/spring. So for the winter we decided to go with what Britain does best, and Rain/lightning. Lizzie is our model.  And although here in Doncaster the weather is always dull, we had to create our own weather. So with step ladders, smoke bombs, lighting, power packs and water we headed to the garden. Here is the image we ended up with.

 

This was a simple 2 light set up, but the ratios and timing was key.

The Spring shot was done using natural light, really shallow depth of field and a warm reflector to add some glow. The idea was spring flowers, this came 3rd in another category.

Here is the image.

You wouldn't think it was a cold day, but it was dull either.

Now onto a recent shoot that I did just for fun really. I worked with my regular model Sam, and had the hair done by Passion in Hair from Harworth. Emma did a great job working with this concept to make my model look shocked from electricity. It was an idea i had been thinking of so we did it one sunday afternoon. It was a 3 light set up, with some things tweaked in photoshop using layers etc.

Here is the final electric shock image.

 No models were electrocuted  in this shoot lol.

If you would like your own custom shoot, extra photoshop etc, get in touch.

Thanks 

Lee

 

One of my articles for the Nabba Magazine

Here is an article I wrote for the nabba health and fitness magazine.
The photos to go with this are in the mag.

Brutal Legs with Gary & Martin

By lee @photo-flex

On this day I met Martin Holdroyd & Gary Noakes at Listers Universal Gym Harworth, Doncaster.to do a small piece on how they train legs. Big thanks to Gary Lister and Becky Williamson for letting us shoot there. 

Now there not training partners, but its not uncommon for competitors to train together for extra motivation. As Masters over 50’s athletes there not shy when it comes to hardcore training. Both are known for balls to the wall levels of training that shows when they step on stage.

We all know that any physique just isn’t complete without a huge set of wheels. A little like a Bentley with 13” rims. It just doesn’t work.

Martin & Gary are top level athletes who have both stepped on the Nabba Universe stage. To even get this far is really something. It was to be a pleasure and eye opener to watch them train. I won’t go into lots of detail about sets and reps, but give a brief account of what happened that day. This was a while ago too.

Although up against each other on stage, the sporting friendship was evident from the first set. I know both to be true gents anyway. So that was no surprise.

To start this session they went to the squat rack. Listers Gym has it all so it was a great place to shoot this. The routine for these guys would change regular, hence not going into too much detail. But the reps were very strict, no half reps, no messing, just ass to the grass squats (Gary’s phrase).

Nothing was held back, it wasn’t long before they were sweating buckets.  Once warmed up they went onto the beast of a leg press machine. Not for the faint hearted the plates went on., and on.

This was to be brutal, rest pause, forced reps, whatever it took to fail. No wonder they have quads like they do. Most 20 year olds would struggle at this point. And these guys are are 50! .

After what seemed like a lot of sets, they moved to leg extensions. This crazy aspect included drop sets. And they looked painful. Right down to very light weight and very partial movement. Every fibre taxed. After a mix of other exercises we got back to heavier squats. I know, it’s mental but they went back to squats. I don’t think I could have squatted a bare bar, never mind the extra weight. But they still kept it very strict.

The leg session didn’t consist of lots of movements or exercises, but the key point was hitting the quads with compound movements, with some isolation thrown in. By the end I remember Gary falling to the floor. Legs totally numb. I got thumbs up and left him to come back to life. Martin was hanging onto the squat rack.

Words and photography by Lee Archer photo-flex

www.photo-flex.co.uk

Wedding photography doncaster

Thought id share this, it wasnt written by me so all credit to the author.

Please follow this link, and read how important prints are and how keeping images on your pc is good but not fool proof. (its at the bottom)
I always recommend people use dropbox or your icloud to back up images, even your phone images., Some of those will be amazing memories. But get some printed. We all look back at photos from the past, our childhood etc. Im a 70's child so prints are all i have. In the future the pcs, hard drives will fail. And its sad to lose those memories.

I offer prints with all my shoots. I use a pro lab too so there printed perfect. Even with my wedding photography I will give some prints with the packages. But i also do discounted bulk deals that really work out at good value. Why? because ive already been a big part of your day, and you paid me well for that. So the prints dont need to be expensive. So why do I charge more for prints from photoshoots I hear you say.? Well the truth is the shoot fee doesnt cover my fee. My studio time, edit time, equipment costs, insurance and print costs. So rely on sales to make that up, Im still  a very fair price though. And do not push sales. So yes its a little gamble but thats how I work.
Which is why if you see deals where you get 6 shoots for £29 expect some pressure sales to make up that fee.

Anyway without wandering off subject too much here is the link. Youll find this nice reading, its well written and by a reliable source. I actually saw this on Tom Cairns page, another great photographer from the UK.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathleen-trenske/the-case-against-good-enough_b_2967170.html

Lee Archer
Doncaster photographer

Buying & Using your camera for Holiday

Its very nearly holiday season, and I get asked alot what cameras to buy or whats best to take. So il give you a brief idea what to do for great holiday photography.

First decide which kind of camera you want to take.. Theres a vast choice. Compact, Bridge, Dslr, video/combo.

I personally think you would be more than ok with a compact if its a general holiday.
This little entry level compact would be ok for family, scenery etc,. bit of fun. takes sdhc cards so there nice and cheap. You would get a full holiday on 1 16gb card (3000 pics) . Plus you can buy the cards abroad anyway.

Make sure you keep the battery charged every night and maybe check ebay for a cheap replacement.

If your going somewhere more special, you want more control etc, then go for a bridge camera

these offer more optical zoom. at 14mp youll still get alot on your 16gb card, 32gb sdhc arent that expensive anyway.

If your going on safari, or a long special holiday where the beauty will be further away,, then you need to start your journey into the dslr market. These offer changeable lenses, external  light options (speedlight)
and slightly better image quality due to a larger sensor (the digital part that captures the image).
You see a 14mp phone, or small compact isnt as good as a 14mp dslr. the sensor size is much different.
The image quality from larger sensors is better, and there better in low light. As youll see below from a camera to a full frame camera like what I use is a big difference. I love my canon 5d mk3 and mk2.

So for higher quality and more tools the dslr is the best choice for that holiday of a lifetime. More so for safari where animals are far away, get a kit with a long lens (more zoom)

This is the kind of kit you would need, you can get cheaper at mpb photographic and ebay.

Click here,. canon 1100d with multi lenses

Some tips at this point, always have extra memory cards with you, one may damage or get lost. you may take loads more than expected.

Make sure you have lots of batteries. you can get extra generic of ebay. And if you get an external flash gun like the canon 270ex get plenty of rechargeable AA batteries.

It also makes sense to get a sturdy bag to keep it all in, there are some great rucksack types that are good for holidays watch for pick pockets though.

Get extra insurance for your holiday, worldwide cover. check you are coverd. Photoguard are great and cheap for the average user.

So you now have your kit, But how do you use it.? Well for the compacts the iauto isn't bad for general shots in daylight. Check your settings for darker shots and look up how to increase the iso.

For dslr outdoors even some pros use Program mode and let the camera decide. I personally like to use manual or the creative modes. for fast objects like a running cheetah use TV and set the shutter fast.

For general animals use AV and select an aperture that may blur the background. Always thinking about the ISO. (how light sensitive the sensor is )

read the manual.  Google ISO and how to use it. Or email me for more info.

They key things to remember.

Plenty of memory cards. maybe a few 4gb cards instead of 1 16gb in case you lose it. get class 6 to 10 cards. (this is how fast they write data in case you take alot of shots back to back or video)

lots of batteries always charged.

A good strong bag.

If you want to photograph fish in the water, dolphins etc, look at a polarising filter, and make sure it fits your lens. this takes the glare of the water and you see into it.

I use canon, I think there reliable and easy to use.

Yongnuo flash off ebay are a great cheap way to add flash to your dslr. and get great reviews.

Think about your shots, whats in the way, whats in the background. create a perfect shot.

Take a chance, you may think you see a good shot just go for it, you've nothing to lose and may get a master piece.

I hope this blog has helped,. feel free to email me for advice on info@leearcherphotography.co.uk

Blog by www.leearcherphotography.co.uk doncaster wedding photographer

Exciting but long week

Hi there.

Its been a very long week, but productive.

Ive been working on location photographing products for a company producing new brochures. Each day was 9 to 10 hours on location. The location was a gorgeous farm building Mackinder Farms - The Hayloft
which was perfect for the French themed shoot.http://cottage.reservations.co.uk/cottage_W42941.html
Please visit my friends at www.dibor.co.uk

So with the car full with Bowens flash heads, light stands, softbox of different shapes and sizes, laptop to shoot tetherd and tronix powerpacks incase we need them. Not to mention the trusty canon 5dmk3 and 5dmk2 as backup.

The lighting was really nice so we ended up shooting alot in natural light. Day 2 was lit using mostly flash lighting. A 3 angle lighting approach was taken.

The week before was a full day photographing cables. Yes cables, but in nice clean drum form, again this was or web and brochure use. Eland cables are a massive company in the uk.

Ive only done a few weddings recently, mine seem to get busy March time. Although im a Doncaster photographer, I seem to be busier in the Sheffield South yorkshire area.
The market is populated with photographers in south yorkshire, but when choosing make sure you look close and ask if there is any hidden charges, with me there is non.

My prices increase in April so book soon to beat the increase. Im also fully booked for some months already and only taking on a set number of weddings the other months. This is to make sure I can put 100% into your wedding.

I realise this blog is a little random, but i wanted to cover a few things. Please email if you have any questions.

If anyone knows of a wedding where the craze Harlam shuffle takes place, please let me know. lol

Thanks
Lee

2013 is well under way

Hello to you all, and welcome to 2013's first blog post. Anyone who does pass by will know Im not great at writing my blogs often.
But Il try and do more this year. So, what are the plans for 2013?
Well, the new structure to booking means I now take a booking fee. Which comes of the balance but isnt refundable if you dont turn up, and is transferable if you give me more than 24hrs notice. Its something I didn't want to do, but as alot of photographers will tell you, there are some that dont turn up which spoils it for other, and takes up space that is wanted.

We are taking alot of bookings for weddings already, starting 2013 with more than we started 2012 with. The prices for wedding photography will go up in April to reflect the market and investments made into the business. Im still a very competitive wedding photographer in the Doncaster south Yorkshire area.

Since the last blog ive bought another power pack to bring more power to location photoshoots, also great for special photographs at weddings. If you book the full day with first dance then we usually get time between dinner and the evening party for some shots using powerful studio lights outdoors and In . So far these shots are going down well. I like to make that little extra effort.

New lenses are being added to the kit list, and more studio lighting. Since buying the Canon 5d mk3 ive found some great uses for it. To non geeks its just another Hi res camera, but to those who follow because they love photography, they will know its canons answer to wedding photographers prayers. One of the cool tools Ive used recently is the silent function. Best for Vicars who dont want to hear the camera during ceremony's.

Also since the last blog Ive worked at Hodsock Priory near Worksop, Nottinghamshire. A totally stunning venue. Ive also a few more weddings booked for this place this year. I was also at Rothley Court Leicestershire, a wonderful 12th century venue. I love the rustic feel of these places. One of my favourite venues is still The West Retford Hotel retford. Its just a great place to work at, staff, food, and layout is perfect.

Please feel free to browse my galleries and see the recent photographs and also visit our facebook page.

thanks and see you soon.

Hodsock Priory

Why choose a professional photographer

How to Avoid the Disaster & Heartache Of Bad Wedding Photographs

By Paul Spiers & Ian Pack
National Photographic Society
If having a set of photographs to cherish from your wedding is important to you, then this could be the most important article you ever read!
With the advent of affordable, professional standard digital cameras, just about anyone can call themselves a professional photographer. It may come as a surprise to you but the law does not require a professional photographer to have any qualifications, training or experience! It is all too easy to get a website, some business cards, and an impressive looking camera and start calling yourself a wedding photographer, even if you have never been to a wedding.
I was discussing this with a group of new entrants into our industry recently and some of their statements made me cringe. I anticipate they would strike fear into the heart of most brides. Here are a couple of examples:-
“If a bride books someone who she later has to take to court because they didn’t produce a quality set of pictures, that is the brides own fault for not doing enough research”
“Not every bride can afford a wedding photographer. If I can keep costs down by not paying out for training, qualifications or insurance, I’m doing them a favour”
“As long as my pictures are better than those taken by her guests, the bride will be happy”
“I think brides accept that they won’t be getting professional standard pictures from me, they just need someone else to take the photos because they can’t do it themselves”
“I’m just hoping my boss never calls me in on a Saturday that I have a wedding booked.”
Each comment was made by a different person, all of whom are currently advertising themselves as professional wedding photographers.
Wedding photography is something that most people only ever buy once, and because of this, brides seldom know the potential pitfalls or what relevant questions to ask to sort the good from the bad. Remember, there are cowboys in every industry!
To help you choose the right wedding photographer for you and avoid the type who’s comments are displayed above, I have put together a list of tips to follow and questions to ask:

1. Ask friends, work colleagues and family for recommendations.
   If they did a good job for your workmate, chances are they’ll do a good job for you.
2. How many weddings has the person photographed alone?
   Do you want someone who’s still learning their trade or someone who has mastered it?
3. How long have they been photographing weddings for payment?
   A statement such as “I photographed my first wedding in 2005” can be very misleading. This could have been their best friends wedding and they only started earning money from wedding photography last month.
4. If they have not photographed many weddings, what training has the person received or have they worked with another photographer as an assistant or second photographer?
   We all have to start somewhere and every industry needs new blood. If you are on a very tight budget and can not afford to hire a professional, make sure any newcomer you consider hiring has taken their training and education seriously.
5. Is the person a qualified member of a professional organisation such as the NPS (National Photographic Society)
   Industry recognised qualifications are shown as letters after the photographers name such as LNPS or ANPS. Having a degree in photography does not mean the person is a fit wedding photographer, as there is much more to wedding photography than just taking pictures.
6. Does the person carry both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurances?
   No one can guarantee that everything will go perfectly on your wedding day. Planning for the best is great, but a reputable business person will also prepare for the worst by having the appropriate insurance in place. Public liability protects you & your guests in the event of an accident. Professional indemnity insurance will pay out in the event of the photographer not delivering the promised results, loss of images or memory card failure etc. Because of the lack of professional indemnity insurance, many of the couples who have recently been awarded compensation by the courts, have still yet to receive any money from their photographer.
7. Are they familiar with the health and safety requirements of the venue(s)?
   Most wedding venues have strict requirements for sub contractors using their premises. This will very often include PAT tested equipment, completing a risk assessment and having the appropriate insurance to indemnify the venue owners from the increased risk.
8. Do they have back up equipment?
   If a photographer only has one camera, what do you think will happen if it develops a fault during your wedding?
9. Is photography their only source of income?
   Many photographers claiming to be "professional" actually only photograph the odd wedding here and there to get some extra money. No law against that, but how committed will they be to delivering a quality service? When photography has to pay your mortgage and put food on the table, your whole focus is on making your clients happy, which may not be the case when photographing weddings is nothing more than a hobby and your day job pays the mortgage.
10. Is their address and landline phone number on their stationary and website?
    If they do not, or only offer a PO Box number or mobile phone number, ask where they live before booking? If something should go wrong, how do you contact them after the event? A non-contract mobile phone number can very often be untraceable, even by the police.
11. Do they have a comprehensive booking form with clear terms and conditions?
    Some people can be wary of signing contracts, but a written contract is as much in your interest as the photographers. Read all the terms and conditions prior to signing and make sure everything that you have agreed on is included.
12.  Is the person you are speaking to the person who will photograph your wedding day?
    If not, ask to meet the photographer and see examples of their work before making a booking or entering into a contract. You will spend a big part of your wedding day with your photographer, its important to book someone you like.
13. Are the photos they show you original images created by them and of real weddings? If you are not shown photographs of at least one complete wedding, beware!
    If you are being shown sample albums with no photos in, beware!
    If you are being shown album catalogues rather than actual albums, beware!
    Some people will attend one of the many “portfolio builder workshops” available to novices, where for a fee a professional photographer will set up a number of shots of models in wedding attire and allow people to take the photo as if they took it at a real wedding. A tell- tale sign of this is the photos are only of the bride and groom. Some people will assist professional photographers and take photos of their weddings, or just take photos of a family wedding. A tell-tale sign of this is the subjects never looking at the camera.
14. Ask to see images from a whole wedding; preferably more than one wedding. Photographers will show you what they consider their best images. If they only show you a sample that contains one or two photographs from many different weddings, beware! A good photographer will have lots of images from a single wedding. Only showing a couple of images from each wedding could indicate they only took two decent pictures all day.
15. Some photographers will tell you that they only work by available light as flash or supplementary lighting will spoil the atmosphere of your wedding.In all probability that person has no experience of working with other light sources. So what they are really telling you is that they have limited skills and unless the natural light is perfect on your wedding day, they won’t know what to do.
16. Many photographers advertise themselves as photo-reportage or “fly-on-the-wall” unobtrusive photographers.Some photographers are brilliant at this as they trained and worked as freelance photo- journalists or for newspapers, some are just naturals. Expect to pay hefty fees for a good photo-journalist as they are in great demand. Other people are merely “snappers” and shoot like this because they do not have an eye for what makes a good image, are not able to “create” a good image and/or are not comfortable dealing with groups of people. Chances are they will only give you a collection of random images, often no better quality than what your guests take.
17. You get what you pay for.
    We all love getting a deal and saving money, but a cheap starting price nearly always means low quality. Very often it can also mean hidden charges. If you buy cheap shoes and the sole falls off the first time you wear them, you can take them back. If you buy a cheap diamond ring which turns out to be a fake, you can take it back. If you hire a cheap plumber and they flood your house, you can get the house fixed up as good as new. In all these instances, if things go wrong they can be put right
    But your wedding day is a one shot deal so the photographer has one chance to get it right. If they don’t there is no coming back next week for another go, and even if you do, you will know the pictures are not of your wedding day, but of the day you staged to make up for your wedding photos being ruined by someone claiming to be a wedding photographer, who turned out to be nothing of the sort. By all means shop around for a good deal, but don’t decide based on price alone.
18. Trusting a family member to photograph your wedding
    In the majority of cases, if you have a friend or relative with a good camera and ask them to photograph your wedding to save money they may say yes, but you have none of the comeback when something goes wrong. The photographer needs to have professional detachment in order to get the best images. A professional wedding photographer makes it look easy because she is a professional and has a vast wealth of experience to draw upon.
19. Do they have a plan in place for if they can’t attend your wedding?
    They can tell you they have never missed a wedding yet, but there is always the first time. Accidents happen, usually when you least expect them. Reputable photographers will usually have links with other photographers and they cover for each other should the worst happen. Can they provide a named photographer who will shoot the same style to take their place?
20. Do they only provide a disk of unprocessed images straight from the camera?
    If so, it is doubtful if they have any post-production or image processing skills. It could also be an indication that they have no arrangements with the suppliers used by the professionals.
21.  Don't believe that it can be fixed in Photoshop.
    Image retouching and manipulation is a skill that has to be learnt over many years. There are no quick fixes. People new to photography do not realise this. Much of the time images need to be created with post-production or Photoshop in mind.

A Final Thought
Your photographer is charged with the task of recording your wedding day for you. They will be creating the only material thing that survives past the honeymoon. They will have to interact with the Vicar/Priest or registrar, the reception venue staff, your wedding planner (if you have one), the car drivers, the DJ/Band, the toastmaster (if you have one) and all of your guests. You will be spending a good proportion of your day with your photographer. They will have one eye on you all day, watching for the special moments that make great pictures.
This means your photographer is more than just a service supplier. To get the full return on your investment you will need to work with them before, during and after your wedding. So book someone you can get along with, someone who can work around and within your plans.
Good luck for your wedding day and for your future together.
Written by Paul Spiers & Ian Pack

I thought this was worth sharing. Lee Archer Doncaster South Yorkshire Photographer

Canon 5d mk3 update

Well, as a little update with my opinion on the 5dmk3. I used it first at the Mr Universe show. all day with no grip, so it was hard. But at hi iso and with a custom WB it worked great. Noise is very low. I do shoot jpeg for shows as there's little to edit or save. With grip it is now so much better. i just like the balance.
In studio shooting raw i cant really see any difference. I don't expect to really compared to the 5dmk2 which works really well in studio. Ive not tested it with outdoors or weddings yet, I actually didn't take it to the last 2 as wanted to get used to it first. The faster fps is good at shows, Ive never really needed it, but with the people who dance and move fast it did help. Yet to try the tracking focus but its not something id trust until tested well.

Quick July Update and what makes my prices

Hi to you all, I hope your making the best of our poor summer. I do hope we have some sunshine that will last a few days at least.
Today sees the start of the 2012 Olympic games held in London,. England. Theres mixed reviews today on Facebook about if its good or not, but I think its good if it all goes well.
On my facebook page I'm offering an extra 8x6 print this week and a free keyring to the first 5 to book a shoot. Just to celebrate the Olympics.

Our first Make-over day went well., Not as busy as I would have liked but with it being Tuesday, and the kids are off, it wasn't the best choice of day,. But alot have shown an interest in the next one, and images are going to be ready soon.

There is a common question surrounding Wedding Photographers, and that is, "why are they so expensive".

I thought id offer my "2 pence worth" here. Now, I'm not anywhere near as expensive as the Large city companies, or some of the local people. Id say im somewhere in the middle. But I agree even £499 is alot of money to most people. That's my basic price by the way, and the max is around £1500, but that includes alot.
Before I go further, Il use the phrase "we", and by that I mean professional photographers, who run a full time or serious part time business, and take it very serious.
The first point to highlight is equipment. We (there it is) bring very expensive equipment to photograph your day. The main camera will be around £3000 by the time we attach Lenses and external flash etc. Then we have other lenses for other effects, each lens are very expensive. I also have a full back-up system, so an extra camera and extra lenses, batteries etc. Just in case. All of this has to be insured so we have a hidden cost there. I'm also insured for full liability and Indemnity. As all professionals should be.
So before we even take a photograph, its costing alot.

Next is our time, I'm not really listing everything in order of importance, but as it pops into my head, but the average wedding can be from 5 hours to 9. All depending on the package. But then lets add travel to and from the wedding, the fuel, car costs etc. And the big part which is what is missed is the Edit time, and post production. There are some serious desk hours put into to edit the photographs. All go through a long process. Once this is done and you are shown your images, you may have chosen a book. Which takes time to  design and layout, send to you for approval then send to print.  You can see the pattern now, that theres alot to do after the Big day. And most packages also include a Pre-wedding photoshoot.

Im sure that seems like alot of waffle and I do waffle a little. But its important to know that the price you pay is for such a vast demanding service. The day itself is very demanding, and I read a fellow photographers blog other day and he was saying how he treats every wedding like the first, and is nervous inside until after the ceremony. I can relate to that, and its that dedication that gets you the results. Going through the motions on your day just isn't enough. Its your Big Day so I treat it like mine.

Once photographed, memories last a lifetime.

I cover Doncaster, Rotherham, Wakefield, Sheffield, Nottingham, Lincoln, anywhere but over 35 miles just ask.
Thankyou
Lee

Make-over Day Launch July 24th

Hi,. sorry for slow updates here, been busy with the Weddings and shows etc. But in between all that I managed a photoshoot with not only great Hair and make-up artist, but 2 great models.
The make-up is thanks to Jade O'meara and the Hair Nicola Critcher. The Models were Samantha Gratton and Jenni Bramley. Both very natural with the camera and lovely people to work with. The make-up and hair initially took 2 hours and both were free from moaning.
This first shot is one of them both.

Sam is on the left and Jenni the right. Both are available for Modelling work.. Contact me and Il pass your details on.

The next 2 images are of them on there own. The reason for this post will become evident at the end.

So this post is to show the quality of the Hair and Makeup,. I will be doing a make-over day on the 24th July. You will get the make-up, and hair( obviously less crazy than above) and your photograph taken by me. It includes 2 10x8 prints and is only £65. If I end up with 10 or more then Il only charge £60 each,
Il even make you a coffee or tea., there will be fruit and water etc too.

This is a great chance to pamper yourself. So if your Near Doncaster, Sheffield, Rotherham, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire get in touch. If its a success il run it regular. £10 deposit is required. call for more information.
01302746930

#doncaster makeover photoshoot

Mount Pleasent Hotel Doncaster

I thought id share some photographs from a fantastic hotel in Doncaster. Mount Pleasent is a great wedding venue and highly respected hotel. The moment you drive into the car park you know you've arrived at a top rated hotel.
I was at the venue to photograph a model and get a feel for the place. I was using room 224 which is stunning. I was aiming for photographs that were elegant yet full of style, which is the reason I chose this hotel.
Here is an image of the model/bride sat relaxing against the large bed.

And also an image portrait on the bed.

The large window provided the natural light needed to make this work, using a wide aperture gives the background the nice blurry look to make the model stand out.
The shot below shows a bride posing for the camera, although the focus is her, the room creates a great backdrop.

Although this is a small selection of the photographs taken, I'm just covering the basics here, Il be adding more photographs to the gallery on www.leearcherphotography.co.uk later.

Here is a shot taken in the beautiful gardens.



Please visit the hotel website at http://www.mountpleasant.co.uk/ you'll find all the information you need.

I will add more photos later and explain how I took them and my aim when getting them

thankyou

Lee

Its May, wheres the Sun in Doncaster

It doesn't look like were getting any sunshine any time soon. Doncaster is wet and rainy most days. But Ive still been busy and fortunate to have some nice weather for the jobs Ive done.
On the 6th of May I was working at a Christening in Retford, St Swithuns Church. It was actually a glorious day. Also a bank holiday so not alot else going on. Here is a photo of the Church when I arrived.

I was with the Family around 3 hours and got alot of lovely photographs, the church was fairly dark in places but was even with it, so still got great photos.

The rest of the week has been portraits with some fun families coming and some returning customers. There was a day when 3 separate competition winners came. This was from the Facebook competition to win a photoshoot that we do weekly. Its great, we let you upload a photo and get your friends to like it. Its simple and people have a great time. The page is at around 5300 people.

This weekend is the Nabba North East Championship at the Frontier Club at Batley. Im the official photographer for this event. I normally take over 1500 photographs. Its a long day but I love it. I will be preparing an article too for the Nabba Health and Fitness magazine. Ive actually got around 6 articles for the magazine again. I do enjoy this though. Ive now provided 2 covers for the magazine too. One day Il manage Flex, or Muscular Development.

Il be writing a blog next week about the photoshoot today at Mount Pleasant Hotel near doncaster on the Great North Rd, A stunning hotel with lots of new rooms and features. Also a very clean and well run hotel.
A big thanks to the management and staff for looking after us.
Lee

Star Wars Day 2012

Hi everyone. Now most people who know me know I love star wars films. Its something I like when relaxing. I love most sci fi films. Those that didnt understand it don't realise that film making and photography are very similar. The reason being, some edits require thinking out side of the box to get the results, alot like making a film and adding effects. Now yesterday was Star Wars fun day at burnley fc lancashire. The turn out was amazing. Dave Prowse the actor who played Darth Vader was there to meet people. So was the little man inside r2d2 Kenny Baker. There was some great actors also come and greet the fans. STEPHANIE ENGLISH - REBEL RADIO CONTROLLER (ESB) JOHN COPPINGER - WOOKIE SENATOR / GRAXOL KELVYYN (TPM) DEREK LYONS - REBEL HONOUR GUARD / MEDAL BEARER (ANH) BARRIE HOLLAND - LT RENZ (ROTJ) PAUL BLAKE - GREEDO (ANH) GARRICK HAGON - BIGGS DARKLIGHTER (ANH) ANTHONY FORREST -FIXER AND SANDTROOPER (ANH) DAVE PROWSE - DARTH VADER (ANH ESB ROTJ) IAN LISTON - WES JANSON (TESB) SIMON WILLIAMSON - MAX REBO (ROTJ) KENNY BAKER - R2D2 I was there for my own interest but as usual in my spare time I take my camera along. I managed to get some good photographs of all the star wars fans and characters. And some of me looking slightly geeky. But it was very busy and some photos were hard to get, but I managed. The only photoshop Ive done to some images is add some lightsaber colour and glow.

Alot of the characters were from http://www.rebellegion.co.uk/ and the 99th garrison. These people are always fund raising so look out for them soon. If anyone was at the event get in touch. www.leearcherphotography.co.uk

A quick update

Ive just added this directory to my places to be found. Looks good so far.
Wedding Photographers Directory - Wedding Photography Select. Finding A Wedding Photographer Made Easy

Commercial Photographer Doncaster

Hi again. I thought today id cover the other aspect of what I do. Commercial Photography.
Although I'm based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, I do provide my service across the UK. Some companies send me products, I photograph them and return. But the service is more complex than that.
When I photograph products, there is a brief of what the client wants or what is advised by the designer if used for brochures or web. So I shoot a series of shots, and send to the client via Dropbox. www.dropbox.xom
I then await instructions on any changes needed, re shoot if needed, then complete the job by sending a disc or dropbox as required.
I offer Hi-res product photography and also extreme close up, ideal for Jewellery photography for example. I pride my self on clarity and quality of usable images.
Here is a shot of some impact protection foam.

The brief was to get profile shots, but also show there of a long length if required. I used a black backdrop, 2 Bowens flash heads and reflector to light and show off the image correctly. The reflection was added in photoshop.

Here is a shot of A Rubber Bellow.

This again was based on a brief to show the shape and context of the Bellow. I had 6 sizes to photograph and laying them flat wasn't an option as they are soft and lose shape. I had to make a rig in front of a black background, and create a system to support the bellow as to appear floating. Then remove any odd bits in photoshop.
All images are shot im my home photography studio Near Doncaster

For a quote in your product photography just email info@leearcherphotography.co.uk or call 01302746930
thankyou
Lee

Bridal dress shoot and commercial

A few weeks ago I did a bridal dress shoot at Best Brides, Barnsley. It was a good shoot and the models had a good time. I'm still working on tweaking the edits, each time I go back I feel theres something to change. But that's photography. We photographed 9 dresses in 3 hours which isn't bad. We had hair and make-up by face-art Sheffield.

Once the edits are mastered I will be putting some images in the shop to show off dresses and a little about me. Also very nice for the models portfolios.

The above image was a Barnsley girl, I took 2 models I know and found Jade as the 3rd. A good choice for the day.

Above is Lisa. A friend who is returning to modelling. All 3 have had great feedback on the images they have. All may be available for work if you want to contact me about it.

This weeks has been different again,. Commercial work taking over and working on Rubber Bellows and Foam protectors. I was presented with the task and also problem with these products, as the rubber was soft so most positions made them look out of shape and not show there actual form.
To get round this I sat in my studio and eventually came up with a rig to support them and still keep there shape. Used a black background for these too. I will post images once client is using them.
It may sound odd, but some inspiration on how to tackle shoot problems came from watching the making of a film I liked. The way the simple ideas can actually solve the hardest problems.
So that's the week of a Doncaster based photographer. Its raining like crazy here in Bircotes but I'm editing today and its warm in the office. have a good day.
Lee