Clifton College Bristol Wedding Photography

by BettyBhandari | May 4, 2018 | Clifton College, Wedding Venues, Weddings | 0 comments

Lydia and Andrew’s wedding at Clifton College in Bristol was special for a unique reason: Lydia is one of three siblings and I photographed all of their weddings! First Karis and Will’s wedding at Folly Farm in July 2014 and then Colette and Ed’s wedding at Aldwick Court Farm in April this year.

So needless to say, I was excited to meet Lydia’s family for the third time and to photograph stunning Clifton College for the first time.

Although it was mid-July the weather sadly didn’t cooperate, and the forecast was light rain – not ideal for an outdoor wedding ceremony! To my joy Andrew was undeterred though and proceeded with the plans for the outdoor ceremony.

After a short site visit I headed over to the Marriott Hotel Bristol to capture the bride getting ready. Lizzy Westney did an amazing job getting the girls ready. Once Lydia was ready we both rushed back to Clifton College and the ceremony started immediately. Yes, it was windy and yes, it was raining a little, but this did not stop the lovebirds from having an amazing and emotional time. Never have I seen a couple skip back down the aisle together, you could see it was pure joy (and a little relief I guess).

“Sorry we were out the other night, so didn’t get chance to look through them but I have now and they are wonderful!! Absolutely love them. It was such good fun reliving what was such a fabulous day for us! Also, love the pics of you at the end! You have been to more Harris family weddings than you can shake a stick at!!“

Thankfully the rain stopped, and everyone enjoyed the drinks reception outside, followed by the wedding breakfast inside the (grand hall). I think I have written about this before, my favourite part during weddings are the bride and groom portrait shoot and the speeches. The latter yet again didn’t disappoint with an enormous number of speakers: bride’s mum and dad, bride’s uncle, groom’s dad, bride and groom, and last but not least the best man! It felt fabulous to get a mention by the bride since it was third time lucky (see first paragraph). Ready for food, everyone enjoyed a few hours of socialising, followed by the first dance and joyful celebrations. And if you look carefully, you might even see me on one of the images!

Suppliers:

Dress – Pronovias ‘Prunelle’

Bridesmaids dresses – Coast

Rings – made by the bride’s cousin Maddie Harris

Make up artist – Lizzy Westney

Groom’s outfit – Moss Bros

Flowers – The Rose Shed

Catering – Clifton College

DJ – Chris Quenon

Thank you for making it to the end of this post.

More weddings you’ll love:

St Michael in Great Badminton Wedding Photography

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Rain on your wedding day (and how I deal with it)

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Every couple does it – keeping a close eye on the weather forecast. One bride once told me she had 5 weather apps on the phone! Then the unthinkable happens: the forecast shows rain, a lot of it. Now what? You panic. Rain means no outdoor pictures! Instead...

Roman Baths Sunset Wedding Photography

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For more information & to check availability:

(or so simply say hi)

I’m located in Bath, Somerset.

email betty.bhandari@gmx.net

phone +44 (0)7984 029 639

I will get back to you within 48 hours maximum. In the unlikely event that you don’t hear back from me please check your email spam folder.

When Dad is missing at the wedding (a moment in pictures)

by BettyBhandari | Mar 14, 2018 | moments, Weddings | 0 comments

Over the years I have learnt to ask specific questions during the pre-wedding meeting, one of which is directed at the bride: “Who is going to walk you down the aisle?”

You can and should never take the answer to this question for granted as there are various family circumstances that might change the answer to the question. Most brides answer with ‘Dad’, but some brides might not have a good contact with Dad so chose mum or Dad might no longer be around to walk his daughter down the aisle.

“Such a special photo for you to capture ❤ Thank you Betty!”

This was the case at Ed & Colette’s wedding at Aldwick Court Farm last year. Sadly Dad had passed away after short illness when Colette was a teenager and her brother stepped up to walk her down the aisle. During the ceremony and shortly before Ed and COlette exchange vows and rings both mothers stepped forward to be with their children. Colette’s mum grabbed her hand and I saw the ‘Dad’ tattoo which made him very much part of the moment, the day and their wedding.

For more information & to check availability:

(or so simply say hi)

I’m located in Bath, Somerset.

email betty.bhandari@gmx.net

phone +44 (0)7984 029 639

I will get back to you within 48 hours maximum. In the unlikely event that you don’t hear back from me please check your email spam folder.

The Non Posers Guide to Wedding Posing

by BettyBhandari | Feb 23, 2018 | Wedding Info & Tips, Weddings | 0 comments

to pose (verb) – assume a particular position in order to be photographed, painted, or drawn.

As a wedding photographer I have a lot of meetings with couples who are planning their big day and I seem to be hearing sentences like “We hate having our pictures taken” or “We don’t want traditional pictures” or even “I don’t look good on any pictures ever!” I can’t teach you to pose like a model but I can make you feel relaxed and the position you naturally and cleverly without being awkward. I can pose you without looking posed.

When I kneel down and shoot from a lower angle, I can cut the landscape out and just frame you with sky.

If you are a professional model you don’t assume a pose, you know how to pose. But let’s face it, 99% of us don’t know how to pose and that is totally ok. Because I will tell you all you need to know!

I love taking wedding portraits! I love the challenge of using what the venue and landscape around it offer. I love working to time restraints and having to be creative quickly. There is no point planning those pictures in too much detail before the wedding as you cannot predict the weather, how much light you will have at what time, which angle the light comes from, what flowers will blossom, where is the grass is high…

“We don’t really like having our picture taken.” You’re not alone and it’s ok to feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. Don’t be afraid, I will take you by the hand and make you feel relaxed & comfortable.

I am great at taking quite different portraits of you in a short time and in just one place. I will tell you where to stand but I will not tell you small things like where to place your hands – I let you do that naturally. I will tell you to look at each other or look at me without making you smile minutes at a time. Instead I will distract you and let you be you.

Here are 5 easy ways of taking fun and creative portraits of you.

1) I step away & leave you alone.

At the beginning of our little portrait session I am trying to keep it really simple. I look for a beautiful setting, leave you there and step away. By leaving you alone you can be yourselves, have a chat, a laugh or even a sneaky kiss. I use a zoom or portrait lens which works great when you are far away and produces amazing results.

bride and groom in the garden of the royal crescent hotel

2) I use frames.

I find features that frame you, whether they are ornamental like an arch or spatial like a path leading through an orchard. Framing the couple always looks good, whether it is during the day or at night. All you do is gaze at each other in amazement!

This shot is spectacular but the set up is extremely simple and quick to achieve.

bailbrook house staircase with newly weds

3) I encourage you to be yourself.

I ask you silly questions that make you interact with each other and forget about my camera. “Tell me your favourite moment of the day” or “How do you feel right now? I don’t want you to think about me and my camera, but about how special the day is, how much you are enjoying yourself and how awesome your new husband/wife is.

4) I am getting closer

Once you have warmed up to this process I get my portrait lens out and get a little closer. Don’t worry, I will never be right in your face or on your toes or in your pockets, I’m just having a little closer look, which is still at a little distance with my trusty 85mm portrait lens.

5) And finally: Have fun

Jump, dance, kiss, hug your friends. It’s your day and it’s special! Whatever you want to do that is you and makes you happy!

My method is easy: make sure you enjoy the day – you will look happy on your photographs. Delegate all duties before the day – you will look more relaxed. And don’t worry about your photographer too much. Then you will achieve natural, relaxed and genuine photographs that you will hopefully cherish for many years to come.

More weddings you’ll love:

St Michael in Great Badminton Wedding Photography

May 5, 2019

Rain on your wedding day (and how I deal with it)

Mar 7, 2019

Roman Baths Sunset Wedding Photography

Jan 10, 2019

For more information & to check availability:

(or so simply say hi)

I’m located in Bath, Somerset.

email betty.bhandari@gmx.net

phone +44 (0)7984 029 639

I will get back to you within 48 hours maximum. In the unlikely event that you don’t hear back from me please check your email spam folder.

How I photograph your newborn at your home

by BettyBhandari | Jan 27, 2018 | Newborn Portraits | 0 comments

Home sessions are about making you feel comfortable and capturing precious first moments.

The best part of my newborn portrait sessions is that they take place in your home (= your comfort zone) where you are most comfortable after giving birth and I will bring everything that is needed for a variety of natural and posed newborn portraits. We can take the photographs in your living room or on a bed in the bedroom, wherever the lighting is best.

I’m not taking your baby away from you. I am working with you to create awesome pictures.

You will be present at all times during the newborn portrait session and depending on what images we want to achieve (we will discuss this before the portrait session) you can be very involved in the portrait session, either by holding the baby or as a spotter (a spotter is someone who will be right next to the baby when we pose it on it’s tummy to ensure the baby is safe and cannot roll off the pillow).

how to achieve certain photographs during a newborn portrait session

It is totally ok to feel self-conscious after having a baby.

Every new mum feels insecure about her body and sometimes mums need several weeks to recover from a traumatic birth. This should not stop you though if you would like to have some beautiful photographs of your new baby. The whole point of having home sessions is so that you can stay in your comfort zone, whether you feel fit as a fiddle or are tired and sore. I will not drag you in front of the camera if you don’t want to show yourself yet. if you however would like some photos of you and your baby, we can easily just use your face as shown on the examples below.

My setup is easy and safe.

I would never endanger your baby so my setups are always safe. I don’t suspend babies in hammocks nor do I balance them on chairs. I pose babies in sleeping positions or other natural poses, all depending on whether it is awake or asleep. Oh and it doesn’t matter if your baby wees or poos on my blankets. Lots of babies have done it before. All my blankets and wraps are washed with non-bio washing powder and are clean. It’s part of the business. Plus: I have a child myself, I have been peed, pooed and vomited on more than once. Doesn’t phase me the slightest!

What is the baby doesn’t cooperate.

You can hardly expect a brand new baby to ‘cooperate’ that’s why it is important to work WITH and not AGAINST the baby. If it is tired, let it sleep where ever it is comfortable. If it is hungry give it a feed. I come with lots of time & patience. Being a mum of two small children I distinctly remember the first few weeks after birth and that you have no other choice but to go with the flow.

I have found hair dryers extremely useful for small baby portrait sessions. They create warmth and wonderful white noise – both of which most babies cannot resist! You can take beautiful close up pictures in almost every setting and location.

What you need to provide.

I’m trying to make life as easy for you as possible but there are a few things that we might potentially need and that would be great to have to hand: wet wipes, a couple of clean muslin cloths if you have any, a large clean towel (white if possible), a dummy if baby has one, a bottle of formula milk if you don’t breastfeed, any clothing you would like to put your baby in (please don’t chose more than 2 or 3) and a breastfeeding pillow if you have any.

I will bring blankets, wraps, a backdrop stand if required, a wee proof underlay as well as a little heater.

Please also read my Frequently Asked Questions.

Contact me now.

Considering your baby could be born two weeks either side of your due date, please try to contact me as early as you can. Newborn portraits are best taken within the first fortnight of the baby’s life but if you or your baby are not well enough during that time, we can do newborn/baby portraits in the weeks following. It’s never too late to take portraits of your new baby and I am never too busy to fit you in last minute!

For more information & to check availability:

(or so simply say hi)

I’m located in Bath, Somerset.

email betty.bhandari@gmx.net

phone 07984 029 639

I will get back to you within 48 hours maximum. In the unlikely event that you don’t hear back from me please check your email spam folder.

Surprise Engagement at the Palladian Bridge in Bath

by BettyBhandari | Nov 9, 2017 | Couples & Engagements, Surprise Engagements | 0 comments

Prior Park engagement portrait session

In the summer I had the pleasure of photographing a surprise engagement on the beautiful Palladian Bridge in Bath. Shehan had contacted me a few weeks in advance to share his plans of proposing to his girlfriend on a day trip to Bath. They were lucky to have a beautiful sunny summer’s day.

I got to Prior Park well before them to set up camp not far from the bridge, with my cameras ready and hidden under my rucksack. Once Shehan and Kumari finished their picnic, they started wandering towards the bridge and it all got very exciting. After a short while (of probably gathering his courage) Shehan fell down on one knee and held up his ring. They were too far away for me to hear them but not too far to catch them with my zoom lens. She said yes and there were hugs, kisses and tears.

Then he turned around and pointed at me, which added to Kumari’s surprise. After a moment of calming down, we went for a walk together through the park and took some portraits of the newly engaged couple. I have to say I have a lot of respect for Shehan to propose in front of my camera as I have no doubt this must have been an immense act of courage. But now they have the moment captured in pictures forever!

If you are planning a surprise engagement for your partner and would like to have the moment captured, please don’t hesitate to contact me – I can help you find the right location, plan the necessary details and help make it a memorable event!