Autumn sunshine

We've been blessed with a gloriously warm and sunny autumn this year,  and I've been making the most of the fine weather to shoot lots of children's portraits. Children are a favorite subject of mine, and as a new-ish father myself I'm acutely aware of how quickly they grow up, and how the various different 'stages' pass by and are forgotten.  I love to think that my pictures accurately capture a beautiful, unique moment in a child's life and that, a little like fine wine, the pictures will grow in value and importance as time progresses.  Years down the line, long after the financial investment has been forgotten, I love to imagine my pictures bringing priceless memories to their parents, amazement to the then grown-up children, and their children, and so on.

Anyway, enough of that pontification - here's a selection of some of my favourite recent shots.

**COMMERCIAL BREAK** Children's portrait shoots take just a couple of hours and start at £300 for a selection of 50+ pictures.  Framed prints, collages and photo books make really wonderful Christmas and birthday presents for parents, godparents, grandparents....

**COMMERCIAL BREAK** This Sunday marks eleven weeks until Christmas!  If you'd like to book a children's portrait shoot, please give me a call on 07515 723 699 or drop me a line at studio@rorylindsay.co.uk

Dog Ears

The multi-talented and all round rather brilliant Mat Baynton has just released a 4-track EP of solo songs, under his new Dog Ears monicker. His songs have a dark, melodic, ethereal beauty.  I particularly like 'Mrs Winchester' which is based on the extraordinary story of The Winchester Mystery House, home of Sarah, the widow of rifle magnate William Winchester.  She believed she was haunted by the innumerable ghosts of those that had been killed by her late husband's rifle, and consequently spent 38 years continuously building her vast mansion in California into a maze of twists, turns, and dead ends, so that the spirits would get lost and never be able to find her.

Filming the new series of Horrible Histories at a remote location in West Sussex last week, we used our lunch break to shoot a couple of publicity stills for the new release.

Here are the results:

Marc & Marie's wedding, Corsley Manor

I was lucky enough to be invited to shoot Marc and Marie's July wedding at Corsley Manor in Wiltshire.  It's a beautiful location and the church is just 50 yards from the house and gardens.

Marc and his ushers were getting ready in typically chaotic male fashion.

Marc scrubbed up OK in his spanking new Jaeger suit

Marie had chosen a dress from Cymbeline.  Stunning.

And some seriously bling Jimmys

Marie had chosen eight bridesmaids.  And why not?  There was masses of room in the master bedroom for them all to get ready together.

The bridesmaids' shoes were a sight to behold.

Quick, into the dress!

Ooh ooh guests arriving!

How do I look?

Mum is suitably impressed.  It's always a magical moment when parents see their little darlings all set and ready to walk up the aisle.

The entourage on the move

As the bride approaches, Marc is one big grin.

During the vows, the sun came out and flooded the church with gorgeous light.

Confetti, backlit by bright sunslight?  And a flag of St. George?  Yes please.

The detailing was beautiful - lots of flowers, and charming vintage deliciousness.

Here come the girls

Not to be outdone, the boys put in some serious posing

While the guests got stuck into the champagne, the newlyweds took a short walk in the gardens.  I was invited.

Wildflower meadows made for a stunning backdrop.

In the marquee, the vintage flourishes abounded.

Could they look any happier?

After the starter, the bride and groom retreated for a frolic in a treehouse.  All wedding receptions should include a treehouse, by law.

The Best Man's speech included a multimedia presentation, featuring some delightful portraits of Marc and his enthusiastic partying techniques.

There's nothing quite like 15 minutes of public humiliation on your wedding day.

After dinner the sun came out in force and everyone was pretty relaxed.

There was a trampoline.  They didn't need asking twice.

Sometimes I think I have the best job in the world.

The Best man had made the wedding cake.  An M&M cake.  Marie and Marc....see what he did there?

Anyway, about a million M&Ms were involved.  Painstakingly stuck on by hand.  Good work.

The first dance was followed by...

...some very enthusiastic drinking....

...dancing...

...and posing.

Congratulations!

Details of my wedding photography services are available on my website:  www.rorylindsay.co.uk

Heads

Here's a selection of some of my recent portraits.  Mostly corporate headshots, but a fair sprinkling of editorial and privately-commissioned pictures as well.  Can you tell which is which?

The corporate portraits are always an interesting challenge.  There are general stylistic norms that must be adhered to, but I do try, when possible, to spice up the lighting or composition to give it some personality.

The group shot above was for Campaign.  It's actually a composite shot over two days as not all the subjects were available on the same day.

Necessity being the mother of invention, working for the Evening Standard recently I have had to develop my own portable location lighting setup that works in a wide variety of situations.  I'm quite pleased with how this is coming along.  The above shot was taken in the middle of a typically grey London day - I love the mixture of moodiness and beautiful medium soft light.  All from one Canon speedlight.

This group shot only used a bit of fill flash - the sunshine and white walls did the rest.

I love how a graduated background draws the eye into the subject.

These gentlemen in Geneva were frightfully important and running late for a board meeting, so I had thirty seconds to line them up and get the shot.  No pressure.

I love this soft, painterly style, but it's not to everyone's taste.  What do you think?

The eternal struggle to make a posed line up look a) interesting and b) natural.

Sometimes sitting your group of subjects down is the best way of relaxing them and establishing some order to the scene.  Especially if it's after dark, seven floors up on a windy roof in Bloomsbury.

One of the greatest pleasures of my work is the challenge of pulling together, sometimes for just a fraction of a second, the three elements of location, lighting and subject, to create an image that is both visually arresting and an honest record of events .  There's a real kick to be had when it comes together.  However, there's always the feeling that it could have been done another, perhaps better, way.  And the urge to learn and improve one's craft, little bit, day by day, is another of those great pleasures.

Daisy in Brighton

It's always a pleasure to visit Brighton, to get a whiff of sea air, and hear the seagulls whirling around.  It is a place that seems perpetually sunny in my mind's eye and, true enough, it was a cloud-free day when I travelled down from London to photograph Daisy.  It was particularly fun for me as I had lost touch with Daisy's parents some years ago and it was a great chance to catch up and reminisce about the good old times.

Daisy was a wonderful subject - full of naughty fun and laughter.  She's so like her Mummy it's uncanny.

The great thing about photo shoots is you are allowed to do all the things Mummy and Daddy normally forbid - like jumping on the bed

...and climbing on the sofa

...and sitting in Daddy's favourite chair.

Such an adorable stage - lucky me