Henry Aarvold Photography Blog

Baby portrait - Oscar, Part I

2012-01-03T22:02:00.000Z

This little fella is Oscar. I was delighted when his proud parents asked me about arranging a photoshoot for him a little while ago. Not least because they were two of my favourite wedding clients from 2011; you can read about their fabulous Guyzance Hall wedding in a previous blog post. Nick (über-assistant) and myself travelled over to meet Oscar and spent a couple of hours with him, Andy and Katy. If you've read any of my previous blog posts on family photography you'll know how I feel about the importance of ensuring I don't just get photos of the baby or child but include parents as much as possible. I believe that children should be able to look back in time to the beginning of their life's and that those sort of picture stories are not complete without the parent or parents. Fortunately I didn't have to do any convincing with Katy and Andy, they 'get it'. As existing clients of mine I like to think that they already understand the power and value of good photography. Here are a few of my favourite shots from Oscar's first shoot. I look forward to photographing him again in an few months time.

These were all taken in my client's home using day light or off-camera flash.

Portrait - Billy: Part 2

2011-12-04T23:13:00.001Z

The second of Billy's portrait sessions is the feature of this post. He's around seven months old here and able to sit up and interact with people a bit more. This does make a huge difference in many ways. However, it also means that he's aware of his surroundings and people a bit more. He was definitely not happy to see me at first! I used a mix of natural and flash light through out the shoot, as well as a few fairy lights. And as always, the rest of his family are included. Never underestimate the value of having photos taken with (not just of) your kids. Photographs of babies can amazing and wonderful but a photograph of a baby held by it's parent/s is so much more powerful and emotive. Compare the first two sets of images to the ones after - see what I mean?

Henry

A walk in the park...

2011-12-01T22:36:00.001Z

A few snaps of my brother and my daughter, during a little walk we took this week. I should probably take a few more of these sort of photos.

Light Painting Photography - Part 2

2011-11-13T16:14:00.001Z

Continuing on from my last efforts but with better, brighter lights. Which makes quite a bit of difference. I also had my brother assist on this shoot as my über assistant Nick had the audacity to have a life and be elsewhere.

Didn't quite get the flash exposure right on these shots and more "flame" was needed. But not a bad start.

Definitely the best "burning man" effort so far. With our alternative "Green Lantern" flame. The shot on the right is inspired by sorcery type FX in films. My brother wanted to conjure a column of green flame in his hand, so after a few goes we came up with a specific technique which turned out quite cool I think.

And this is the "Orb". These aren't exactly amazing examples but considering it's the first time I've ever tried it and I'd only constructed the lighting tool earlier that day I'm quite pleased with the result. More to come soon.

We also had another go with 'on-camera' light painting. Here's my light-spider.

Then my brother got stuck in. If you're wondering why he draws like a five year old, these are all first time efforts with no practice. Can you tell what it is yet?

Writing your own name backwards in the air in the pitch black is harder than you'd think. Check out the light-shark attack!

Portrait: Annie - Part 3

2011-11-10T22:39:00.001Z

This was my last of three shoots spread over Annie's first 14 months on the planet. It's always a fascinating experience seeing how my client's children change over their first year of life. Seeing the beginnings of their personality, observing the physical change and documenting it is actually a privilege when I think about it. I also try to get the parents in on a few shots. This is extremely important as these sort of photographs will have untold value to the child/children in the future. Consider how often you've looked at a photograph of you as a child with a parent or grandparent who is no longer with you. Now try to put a price on that photograph. Not easy is it? Never underestimate the value of a photograph. And yet how many people are prepared to pay for good photography these days? Ironic. Fortunately, Annie's parents and indeed her aunt, uncle and maternal grandparents are probably my best clients. If memory serves, including pre-wed shoots, weddings, family gatherings and baby portraits I've photographed members of this family some 11 or 12 times! I'm certainly not a religious man but that's going to count as a blessing in my book! Here's a few of my favourite shots from Annie's last 3 in 1 with me but I do hope it won't be the last time I ever photographer her and her family (I have a sneaking suspicion it won't be). The last set of pics is a little reminder of how much Annie has changed in 14 months.

Henry

Graduation Portrait: Tim Brown

2011-11-09T21:52:00.000Z

I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Tim recently. He'd recently graduated from Leeds University but had been abroad when the award ceremony took place so he'd missed out on getting any photographs of him wearing the gown and mortar board. I was asked to take some portraits of him during a the short period of time he was back in the UK visiting his parents, which fortunately was very near to where I live. I didn't just want to turn up a get a few basic single flash shots, that would have been easy and not my style at all. So in the space of an hour or so I shot six or seven different spots around the house and garden using a few different sources of light. I think the end result is a little more creative than the standard graduation photograph if nothing else. Here's a few of my favourites.

Henry

Light Painting Photography - Part I

2011-11-08T17:14:00.000Z

Painting with light isn't a new thing. I did a bit when I was at Newcastle College of Art & Design studying photography. I have not done any since. Recently inspired by some rather creative [infamous] American light painters, my new uber assistant and I decided to give it go. At the very least it would make use of the next few months of dark nights. This first foray into the infinitely creative world of light painting wasn't what I would call hugely successful but we did learn a few things and will be getting out there again in the very near future to improve on these basic efforts.

This first group of pics are just a bit of experimentation really. The 'creatures' are literally 'drawn' with a torch pointing back at the camera. Obviously you can't see what you've already drawn so it can be a bit tricky. Imagine trying to draw a picture blindfolded without being able to feel what you are drawing on. The circular patterns are created by twirling various light emitting devices and moving towards the camera.

One of the coolest light painting images I've come across is Dennis Calvert's Burning Man (check out that gallery to see how this stuff should be done). So we had a go at trying our own versions. Our variation used a torch to draw an outline (of me) and then we 'applied' the flame effect and single glowing eye. We only had a chemical glow stick to create the flames so I had to tweak the shot a bit in Lightroom (which is a big no-no in Light Painting circles) but the overall effect is quite cool. Each photograph is done in one exposure. There is no compositing of images. So the last shot had four separate stages of light painting in and ended up being a 281 second exposure. Brighter LED based glow sticks will help improve this type of shot we think. So stay tuned for more light painting photography adventures.

p.s. Look out for the very cool Light Orb effect next time too!

p.p.s Any couples planning a winter wedding - some of these techniques could be applied to create the most spectacular wedding photographs ever!! I'm game if you are... Get in touch via my website.
Henry

Wedding: Louise & Andrew

2011-11-03T16:14:00.002Z

My last wedding at Guyzance Hall this year was with Louise and Andrew. It was to be quite a relaxed wedding apart from all the kids running a-mock. Only joking. I guess when you've been together for quite a while, had three kid and forged succesful careers your wedding day is going to have different priorities. The day felt more like a big family party than a wedding, which I liked. There were a few of the usual stresses, like the bad weather but that's to be expected. Especially in October. Still, if it's raining I will try to make use of this in my photography. Here's a few of my favourites from the day.

Henry

Portrait: The On family

2011-09-28T22:06:00.000+01:00

I had the pleasure of photographing Nick and Nicola's wedding in the Lake District last year. For their pre-wed shoot we involved all their children to make it more of a family shoot. This time I returned to photograph them as a family again and hopefully document how much their four wonderful kids have changed in the past 12 months.

The weather (for a change) was just about perfect. My aim was to get a few of them altogether and then try to capture a bit of the personalities of each child. Lighting was mix of sunlight and flash. I also did a few shots using their trampoline, which was fun. This family is so photogenic. I really enjoy photographing them a great deal. I look forward to the next time and the time after that!

Here are a few of my favourites.

Oh, before I forget it was Anja's birthday too - so Happy Birthday Anja, thank you for letting me photograph you on your 8th birthday.

Henry

Pre-wedding shoot: Louise & Andrew

2011-09-25T13:55:00.001+01:00

A short but productive pre-wed shoot for Louise and Andrew. Sometimes an hour is all you need and sometimes it's all you get. People have busy lives these days and fitting in around that is just part of the job. For this pre-wed we took Louise and Andrew to a nearby spot that had promising light. For those that know this area it was Armstrong Bridge and Jesmond Dene (well the edge of it at least). We mixed natural light and flash to get the best out of each little location. Some early autumnal colours helped brighten up a few backgrounds too. Louise and Andrew get married at Guyzance Hall this autumn so I'm hoping for more colour and great light for then too. These are a few of my favourites from their shoot.

Henry

Wedding: Vilma & Alasdair

2011-09-22T12:29:00.002+01:00

I have to say I really enjoyed this wedding and not least because all the venues (in North Yorkshire) were new to me. The venue where Vilma got ready is Thornton Watlass and is one of the most stunning family owned halls I've ever seen. I could have happily spent the day there photographing just Vilma. I really hope that I get the opportunity to do an entire wedding at that venue one day. After a very entertaining (and lovely) church ceremony in Bedale Alasdair and Vilma made their back to Excelby in a gorgeous classic Triumph sports car. We managed to stop off on the way a grab a few shots before joining their waiting guests at their home. Yes, the marquee in the last few images below is actually in their own back garden, so please don't email me asking what the venue is called. I'm pretty certain that Alasdair and Vilma will not be going into the wedding business. There was a little rain on the day but only micro showers and as you can see from this few photos the weather was really pretty good. It certainly provided an interesting sky for me.We had a reasonable amount of time before the ceremony for photography. Afterwards, things were a little bit tighter from a time point of view. I believe that one of the indicators of how good a wedding photographer a person is, is what standard of work they can produce when time is short. This wedding was a real test of that. I like to think I did ok. Hopefully, Vilma and Alasdair will agree when they see my album design. In the meantime here are a few of my personal favourites from their wedding day.

Henry.

Pre-wed: Vilma & Alasdair

2011-08-15T23:37:00.000+01:00

I met Vilma & Alasdair just a few short months ago. When they told me they planned to have their reception in a marquee in their own garden I was a little surprised. Having visited their home for their pre-wedding shoot any trepidation I had, went. It is going to be a very special day. It just had such a great feel to it and that's without any marquee or wedding decoration. After a chat about the plans for their wedding and how I fit in we spent an hour taking a few shots outside along with their lovely Labrador, who's named after a Scottish mountain that I can't remember! But considering Vilma's family are from Eastern Europe I suspect that the dog's name isn't the only one I'm going to have trouble remembering. I shall try my best of course, but no doubt embarrass myself terribly in the process. Here are a few of my favourites pics, obtained with the help of my new trusty side-kick Nick "Kato" Shek.

Henry

Wedding: Alice & David. "Hexhamshire"

2011-08-11T17:25:00.000+01:00

Finally a summer wedding with summer weather! Alice and David got married in a beautiful part of Northumberland, still referred to locally as Hexhamshire (it was a separate county before being incorporated into Northumberland in 1572). They'd chosen a lovely and historic church not far from where Alice grew up for their ceremony. With clear blue sky all day it was pretty much a picture perfect setting. Dealing with rain is as much a part of UK weddings as dealing with strong overhead sunlight; with the right approach, good images can be had. This was definitely my first wedding with a Square Dance in the evening though! It was also the first wedding with my new uber-assistant Nick. Despite coming down with a cold he did a grand job. Here's a few of my personal favourites from the day.

Henry

Portrait: Albie Part 2

2011-07-31T16:07:00.000+01:00

A return to photograph Albie and his family for this post. It's been a while since I last saw Albie. He's about 11 months in these images, normally I'd do the second of three shots at around 6 months but for one reason and another that didn't happen. So there's certainly quite a big change from the last set of pics. The weather was great, for a change, so all I had to deal with was harsh light and a hyper older brother! Fortunately I had my new assistant Nick along for the ride and between us we managed to tame the elements. Big brother Quinn was another matter entirely. Great to see my former wedding clients, Michelle & Kieran, again (yes, them of the Train video fame) coping admirably with two boys. Rather them, than me! Here's a few of my favourites.
Henry

Portrait - Billy: Part 1

2011-07-29T18:04:00.000+01:00

Another 'first of three' portrait sessions in this post. Introducing Billy, the brother of Violet who appeared in a post not too long ago with her lovely parents Ruth and Scott. Billy is around 8 weeks old in these pics and had not had the best night's sleep the day I arrived. Consequently he wasn't awake for too many of my shots. This isn't actually a bad thing when photographing the very young and certainly preferable to screaming. The basic rule of thumb is to just be patient. The more children involved, the more patience is required. Don't force anything and the shots will come. Getting his (almost) two year old sister to pose for a few pics was actually easier than I thought it would be, the results were really nice. Here's a few of my favourites.

Henry

Wedding - Emma & Stuart at Guyzance Hall

2011-07-11T15:32:00.001+01:00

Back to one of my favourite venues again for this wedding - Middleton Lodge. Although, the ceremony was in a church I'd not been to before so it did feel different. What wasn't different was the threat of rain. And boy did it rain. And thunder. Fortunately only for half an hour and after we'd all got back to the Lodge. A little juggling of the timetable and all was well. I think it's fair to say that Emma can be described as a natural beauty and her choice of gown, make up and hair all complemented and accentuated this. Stuart chose a three piece suit with classical tailoring and a tie with a difference! If there's one thing about weddings I never tire of it's the individuality of outfits and how they reflect people's personalities and tastes. I always strive to capture some of these details in my portraits. A couple of other great things from this wedding that stand out in my memory; six bridesmaids in blue, great speeches and a stunning sunset. All in all, a fabulous day. Here are a few of my favourites.

Henry

Wedding - Hannah & Dilip

2011-07-08T22:18:00.000+01:00

A long overdue return to Alnwick Gardens for me on this wedding. Such a great venue, especially when the sun is shinning. This is also the second wedding I've done with an Alice in Wonderland theme to it. Although there was absolutely no detail that wasn't unique to me. And plenty of detail there was. Hannah and Dilip's wedding win this years' prizes for "best bridal shoes", "best gift to groom", and "most elaborate cake". A really great couple and day filled with laughter. A pleasure to be there. Here are a few of my favourite images from their day.
Henry

Pre-wed: Alice & David

2011-06-13T14:47:00.000+01:00

The Travis song "Why does it always rain on me?" keeps on going round my head these days - mainly when I'm trying to photograph my clients! Yes, another wet and cold pre-wed shoot features in this post. Fortunately for me my clients, Alice and David, are a very happy couple and, apart from turning slightly blue by the end, were good sports in enduring the unpleasant weather. Much of the shoot had to be done in doorways, window light and under trees to keep my kit dry as much as them. My fingers are well and truly crossed that their July wedding is going to be a bit warmer and dryer.
Henry

Amazing wedding film - Gi & Iain

2011-05-20T21:44:00.000+01:00

Last year I had the very great pleasure of photographing a wedding for a truly lovely couple, Giovana and Iain. I blogged a few images here. Accompanying me for the first time on this wedding was a very creative gentlemen called Rob Summers. His company, Promofilms produces amazing (you guessed it) films for the wedding and commercial market. Our aim was to see how well we worked together and try to provide the right opportunities (not easy on a wedding day) to create something really special and not often seen on these shores - a wedding video you can actually watch from beginning to end in less than 15 minutes (12:40 to be precise) and not feel you've missed out on something. The result is totally stunning. I need not say anymore - it speaks for itself.

Giovana & Iain: Promofilms.co.uk

If you would like to hire me and Rob to cover your wedding day, providing a you with a beautiful album filled with stunning photography and an incredible wedding film capturing all the emotion and detail, then please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you.

Henry

Pre-wed: Hannah & Dilip

2011-05-16T17:18:00.000+01:00

Another pre-wed shoot where minor exposure was a definite possibility - the wind does blow down the Tyne on occasion! Mainly when I'm trying to work it would seem. Still we persevered for around 60 minutes until fingers went from white to blue. I'm really looking forward to Hannah & Dilip's wedding at Alnwick Gardens this summer. There's a whole world of photographic possibilities there and it's one of the few venues I know where rain showers don't have a huge effect on photography due to the huge glass roofed pavilion used for the wedding reception.
Here are a few favourites from the chilly pre-wed shoot.
Henry

I found out afterwards that Dilip plays guitar in a band - these moody album cover influnced shots are a complete co-incidence, promise!

Wedding: Laura & Mark

2011-05-15T23:23:00.000+01:00

Venue: Linden Hall

A first visit to Linden Hall for this wedding. An interesting venue with a lot of potential if you're lucky enough to have the right clients who are willing to give you some time. I had just that luck with Laura & Mark. We'd planned plenty of time for photography pre and post ceremony and surprisingly that plan didn't go out of the window as a result of horrendous weather or some other wedding day "challenge".

Laura had chosen a great dress for photos (not so good for sitting, walking or breathing as it turned out but hey, there's always a price to pay for beauty) that just looked great in any light. I hope I did it justice.

Although it was an 11 hour day for me it did seem to fly by with so much photography squeezed in to all possible moments. The highlight for me isn't something I can share with you in photo form as it was audible not visual - Laura and Mark's 2 year old son walking down the aisle a head of his mum with shoes that "quacked" with each step. Very funny and not something I've seen before at a wedding that's for sure! Here's a few of my favourites from the day.

Henry

Wedding: Natalie & John

2011-05-12T17:49:00.000+01:00

Venue: Middleton Lodge

My second visit to Middleton Lodge this year. A really great wedding venue. Although the weather seems to have it in for me when I'm working there - first snow, now rain. Still, although inconvenient (it started just before the ceremony ended), it didn't cause me too much trouble. Having an extremely good looking couple (and bride's maids, best men and ushers for that matter) certainly helped as well. I worked for 12 hours on this one so I was definitely feeling it by the end of the day but probably not as much as my new assistant for the day Ali Lovegrove was. Put it this way, if you work with me you will learn a lot but it is no easy ride! Natalie had chosen some lovely colours for her day, key amongst which were the fab bride's maids dresses. I know I'm just a bloke but I think the contrasting sash with the right bold colour just looks great. You can also match it with the icing on your cup-cakes! Thanks for being a great couple Natalie and John - working for you has been a pleasure.

Henry

Pre-wed: Emma & Stuart

2011-05-10T21:32:00.000+01:00

It was a little chilly down by the Tyne for this pre-wed shoot, so time was a bit short. Still the sky was interesting and Emma & Stuart were great models. I did feel a bit like Gulliver at times as both Emma and Stuart towered over me (probably only by a few inches but it felt like more) - hence a lot of raised camera angles: I was climbing about like a monkey onto anything I could find just to even the balance! Looking forward to their wedding day in July - another chance to shoot at the fabulous Middleton Lodge.

Henry

Portrait - Violet

2011-04-26T20:26:00.000+01:00

This is the last in a set of three photoshoots for the lovely Violet, spread over a year [and a bit] of her life. Documenting a few choice ages in the first year of life is always interesting as there is so much change - check out the last composite to see just how much Violet has. Violet is very close in age to my own daughter and they often play together. So photographing her was hardly like work at all but I still strived to capture a range of images using various techniques. It was a beautiful day, blue sky and bright direct sunshine. Nice for a barbecue but tricky for portraits when there is no open shade. Which there was in the back yard when we played with a bubble maker but not so much on the allotment we visited. In those circumstances you really only have two choices when working without an assistant; turn the subject's back to the sun and expose the image carefully or use fill flash - a lot of fill flash. Hope you like them. If you are a new parent and would like to discuss a portrait session or two then please get in touch via my website.
Henry

50mm 1.4 lens wide open for these (above) in case you were wondering.

One of my favourite family portraits to date this one (above right). Shot using the Elinchrom Quadra.

A little over a year of life - and just look at the difference! It goes so fast too.

Wedding - Katy & Andy

2011-04-04T12:04:00.000+01:00

Venue - Guyzance Hall

It's always a pleasure to photograph at this venue. It has such a lovely atmosphere and a beautiful vista. On the drive up from Newcastle I did have my fingers crossed as it was raining quite heavily. Fortunately, shortly after arriving the sun came out and it stayed like that all day. Blues skies and fluffy white clouds - what a difference they make! Spring was in full swing in the gardens and surrounding landscape adding a touch of colour to my details. I really enjoyed this wedding - both from a professional point of view and from a personal one. My clients, Katy and Andy were as close to perfect as it is possible to be. Giving time and energy to the photography we had planned as well as being very excited all day. This may have had something to do to with a couple of other events... This wedding was like the perfect storm in a way. A culmination of several things that combined to create a truly memorable and special occasion. Not only was the weather on our side and the venue stunning; it was Katy's birthday. Not only was this their wedding day but Katy and Andy are also expecting a baby later this year. I hope they don't mind me mentioning that - it wasn't a secret on the day. As a new dad myself I do get a bit caught up in the excitement surrounding any news of that sort when it involves my wedding clients. Katy would have looked stunning anyway but one can't help wondering if there wasn't a little extra 'glow' about her on the day. Thank you for choosing me Katy and Andy, I will certainly remember your wedding day for a long time to come. Here are a few shots from their day that I'd like to share with you.

Henry

Exciting news...

2011-04-03T21:47:00.002+01:00

In 2008 I had the pleasure of travelling to the island of Santorini to photography the wedding of Michelle and Kieran. For their first dance they played a song [I'd not heard before] called Drops of Jupiter by Train. Needless to say Michelle and Kieran are big fans of Train. So when the band announced via their website that they were looking for wedding images from fans to be selected for use in a new video for a track off their latest album "Save me, San Francisco"; Michelle contacted me immediately. I loved the idea and sent them a few of our (theirs and mine) favourite images. And would you believe it. Their wedding and one of my images features in the video! What's more it's the third wedding shown. How cool is that. Accompanying my shot are the lyrics - "Forget the world now we won't let them see".

So if you have a few minutes, check out the video here.

Marry Me Video

or on YouTube where it has reached (at time of posting) over 6400 views

or visit the Train facebook page

Better still, share this with your friends and please tell anyone you know planning a wedding or just recently engaged about Henry Aarvold Photography - referrals are always appreciated.

Many thanks to Michelle and Kieran for their time and effort in making this happen and for being such great clients.

Henry

Pre-wed: Laura & Mark

2011-03-29T22:46:00.003+01:00

I've been lucky with my skies on the past few pre-wed shoots and this time was no exception, fortunately. Time was short on this one and I was without an assistant, so I needed to work fast to get a decent variety of shots for my clients. I used my trusty Elinchrom Quadra throughout the shoot. It was fitted with an 18cm reflector, rather than the usual softbox, to avoid it and the light stand it was on blowing over as there was no one to hold it. I am quite pleased with the quality of flash light despite there being no diffusion. Laura and Mark get married this May at Linden Hall. A venue I've yet to photograph at believe it or not. So not only am I looking forward to photographing Laura and Mark again (for they were great subjects) but also a venue that will be new to me.

Henry

Studio shoot - Jade

2011-03-24T22:02:00.000Z

Make-up by Amy Pilkington
Model - Jade Turnbull

I don't get the chance to photograph in a studio very often, so when the chance presents itself I take advantage if at all possible. Working with flash in a studio environment is part technical skill and part art form; something that takes many years to master. I'm a long way from that level so any practice is a good thing. In the studio, the photographer is in complete control (or should be) of every photon of light emitted from their flash/es. What this means is that this environment offers the potential to not only craft and mould light to achieve a desired look but in working towards this much can be learned about how light "works".

The studio I was using belonged to my friend and fellow photographer Ali Groves who'd offered me use of her brand new FYEO Portraits studio, unlike most photography studios this one is painted entirely black (instead of white). A blacked out studio is actually a very good space to learn flash lighting because there is virtually no bounced light. All you see is what you are directing or reflecting from each light used.

I use flash a lot at weddings and on location shoots but in those situations I'm normally trying to balance the flash with the ambient light or over power it. Neither of these approaches are necessary in a studio, especially one with black walls, floor and ceiling. So for this shoot I wanted to keep things nice and simple but also show what can be done with just one light. Often the temptation in the studio is to use all the lights available which can turn out to be a bit of a mess. Not unlike using (with unpleasant consequences) all the spices in a kitchen just because they are there. Once I felt comfortable (again) using one light, with some bounced reflection where needed, I'd then try a second accent light for hair or back lighting.

Both model and MUA were sourced via a casting call on Model Mayhem. This can be a bit of a gamble sometimes but in this instance I was very lucky to be contacted by a very talented make-up artist looking for some more experience and a model who turned out to be perfect for the kind of look I was going for.

I was ably assisted by another photographer and FYEO Portrait shooter, Karen McGowran - even for a practice shoot the value of an assistant is not to be under estimated!!

Here are a few of my favourites.

Single Bowens with Beauty Dish, positioned above and forward of Jade's face just out of frame.

As above but I moved to the right to change the relative angle of the light falling across Jade's face.

As first image but with the dish moved toward the camera to 'fill' more of the face.

Shot with a single Bowens light fitted with a 6' softbox

As above but with Jade's body turned away from the light. A large white reflector was positioned to the right of frame to give a little fill

Same softbox as above, Jade is positioned much closer to it, within 2 feet.

Same as above but with the addition of a wind machine to add some movement

Combo of the above shot and the one with the reflector.

Two lights. Large softbox to the left and a beauty dish to the back right.

Softbox again, this time with a tri-grip reflector held close to the right of frame.

Beauty Dish again but this time a second dish is added as a hair light. Note the different quality of light in this image compared to the previous one.

The 6' softbox was used again for this image but an additional diffusion/gobo panel was added to narrow the light even further. Basically this changes how much 'fall off' there is, increasing shadows and reducing the wrap-around quality of a large softbox.

And finally, mainly because it was such a nice day and we got a bit fed up being in pitch black room, we did a few shots outside using my Elinchrom Quadra kit. As luck would have it, Ali's studio is located right next to an antique salvage and restoration business that was just crying out for a bit fashion style photography.

Single Quadra softbox to left of Jade to create texture and dimension.

Single Quadra again, this time front lighting Jade.

Once again a single Quadra light through a softbox positioned at around the 45 degree angle. This lighting position will nearly always give you a good compromise between creating depth through shadow and providing enough fill for eyes to have catch lights in them. A bit of directed posing doesn't go amiss either.

If you'd like to arrange a one-to-one training session with me to learn more about how to use flash lighting be it studio or portable, in doors or out, please get in touch via my website.

If you are a model in need of new portfolio images please get in touch via the above link or my ModelMayhem page

Henry

Pre-wedding shoot: Katy & Andy

2011-03-02T10:46:00.000Z

I rather expected this shoot to be cold and quick. I like it when first thoughts are proved wrong. I'm not saying it wasn't cold, it was. But I'd remembered to put an extra layer on and gloves! The sun even made a brief appearance or two. It is no exaggeration when I say it feels like the best part of six months since I last photographed any clients with actual direct sunlight. What an injection of much needed energy it was. I think this might be why wedding photographers from Melbourne and California are always so positive and happy!! What also made a difference was seeing my clients Katy and Andy warm to the photography process even thought they were slowly getting colder. The vast majority of my clients are serious about wanting good photographs of their wedding day but aren't that keen on actually being photographed - I know that sounds a bit odd but it is the norm for me. This is one of the reasons I include a pre-wedding shoot as part of my wedding photography service. Investing just a few of hours with each couple makes such a big difference to them and how comfortable they feel in front of my camera. Here are a few of my personal favourites from the shoot. I hope that you'll agree with me in thinking Katy and Andy look great together.

Henry

Pre-wedding shoot: Natalie & John

2011-02-06T17:32:00.001Z

At least it didn't rain! But it was rather chilly. Thankfully Nat & John were great sports. Tried out a new spot for this shoot that I'd not used before. Amazing how a different environment can re-energise one's creativity. Will definitely shoot at this spot again but I'd like a little sunshine next time.

Henry

Wedding - Florence & Mark

2011-01-14T13:15:00.001Z

Venue - Middleton Lodge

I've always thought it would be great to shoot a wedding in the snow. I've photographed in the snow many times but never a wedding. Well, on this wedding it snowed and I got to find out what it was like. "Challenging" and "very cold" spring to mind! It was minus two degrees when we arrived and thirty minutes later it was snowing and it didn't stop until after the ceremony. Compromise was the name of the game on this wedding. But that is wedding photography in a nutshell. Just do your best to capture the wedding and help to ensure your clients enjoy their day. Florence and Mark were so laid back about the weather and the difficulties caused by it. Which is absolutely the right attitude I might add. They were a pleasure to work for. Not sure I want to do another wedding in the snow for a while though!
Henry

Pre-wedding shoot - Florence & Mark

2011-01-04T15:18:00.000Z

As the first of this winter's snow melted I drove down to North Yorkshire to meet up with Florence and Mark for their pre-wed consultation and shoot. As luck would have it the sun came out for what felt like the first time in months. We only spent about sixty minutes on these shots (it was still quite chilly) but sometimes that is enough. This couple are very definitely the 'outdoor type' so I wanted to use that influence a bit and mixed a few more formally posed shots in than I normally do. The sunset (and quality and colour of light) was spectacular. Well worth lying face down in the wet grass to get a final silhouette shot that I'm pretty proud of. Let me know what you think.
Henry

Baby portrait - Annie

2010-12-16T14:47:00.001Z

It was a pleasure to photograph another baby of former wedding clients last month. Annie (not named after my own daughter in case you were wondering) is around 12 weeks old in these pics and looking very cute in a selection of outfits. I shot Vics and Stephen's wedding back in 2007(that long ago?) so it was nice to catch up and spend sometime with them, not to mention seeing them as proud (and ever so slightly shell-shocked (- I know that feeling)) parents.

These are a few of my favourite shots done with natural light but I did shoot a few with the Elinchrom Quadra as well.

Henry

ProPhotoPublishing eBooks - my reviews. Part 4

2010-12-10T17:50:00.000Z

Travel Photography Tips - Christopher Grey

Although the title of this book gives the impression it’s about travel photography it is less about travel and more about sensible tips and guidance for getting better pictures regardless of whether in your own backyard or in a foreign land.

My feeling is that this ebook would be quite useful for someone very new to photography without much time to spend on reading lengthy books on photographic technique and practice. All of the tips and advice are good and useful but they are very basic and would really only benefit a person who’d just bought their first camera or were perhaps in their first year of learning camera craft. There are 25 ‘tips’ ranging from exposure advice to compositional rules, changing your perspective to what lenses to try out.

Each page of the ebook offers an individual tip or piece of advice supported by an image/s. These images are as diverse as the text is broad in scope. They help get across the point effectively and many are pleasing images in their own right. The author has obviously travelled a great deal and I look forward to reviewing his next book of tips.

H rating for this ebook: 3 out of 5

ProPhotoPublishing eBooks - my reviews. Part 3

2010-12-07T21:51:00.001Z

On the Set and Behind the Scenes - Stephen Dantzig

This ebook is quite an eclectic mix, in that there’s a very broad range of studio flash setups and techniques. So it’s difficult to gauge just what level it’s pitched at. I would say that many of the ‘behind the scenes’ chapters are based in a proper photographic studio with props and large light modifiers etc. very helpful for an inexperienced photographer lucky enough to have a large shooting space but perhaps not so directly useful to others. However, the author’s aim to demonstrate how he shapes and directs light in each scenario does provide useful instruction in what can be achieved and indeed why certain techniques are used. Learning how to modify, multiply, subtract and manipulate light is one of the most challenging aspects of photography. Any reference material that demonstrates how to use flash lights by showing their effect at each stage is going to be worth having I reckon.

In all there are nine photographic sets, three outdoors and the rest in studio. All of which utilise proper strobes (flash light) rather than flashguns. There is also a fair number of reflectors, scrims, gobos, bounce cards and baffles in use. For a photographer with little or no experience with studio equipment some of this book may be a bit confusing as the references to bits of kit aren’t supported by pictures of said kit very often. Likewise there is a lot of technical references to f-stops and apertures which may be a bit above those new to photography. If you are interested in using (or improving your) flash photography then you should of course learn all there is to learn and getting to grips with these things is just part of that process.

The writing in the book does tend to vary between in-depth [photographic] explanations of the shoots and mildly annoying “shout-outs” to those involved and assisting with the shoot. Obviously this is just the authors personality coming out in his writing but I did find it detracted a little from an otherwise useful and informative ebook.

I should say that the author, Stephen Dantzig, is quite a prolific writer and an accomplished photographer with over 10 years experience. He’s based in Hawaii (lucky fella) and has been widely published.

If you are trying to develop your studio flash skills and are perhaps looking for a short introduction to get you started or progress beyond a basic level then I’d recommend you take a look at this ebook.

H rating for this book: 3.5 out 5

ProPhotoPublishing eBooks - my reviews. Part 2

2010-12-03T13:54:00.000Z

Lighting the Evocative Nude - Christopher Grey

So what’s the difference between an ‘evocative nude’ and an ‘artistic nude’? Come to think of it when is a nude evocative and when is it not? Not exactly life altering questions I grant you but the subject of nude photography has always been a bit of a polariser of opinion. I myself haven’t ventured into nude photography of any sort simply because I felt it was too difficult to ensure that client perception of that sort of work was what I wanted it to be. I’m not averse to tasteful and artistic nude photography and I wouldn’t rule it out of a future porfolio. Like most photography, especially the stuff I don’t do, I still interested in it. This ebook by Chris Grey caught my attention and I thought it would be interesting to write a review on it. Unlike like 101 Glamour Poses, this book has both explanatory text and lighting diagrams to accompany each image. This immediately elevates this ebook to a different level, both in terms of value for money but also in terms of what can be learned/gained from it.

Chris makes a good attempt at trying to explain what “evocative nude” means to him in his introduction and I find myself agreeing whole heartedly with it. The basic premise is around the control of light - not a bad place to start with any sort of portrait photography - or to put it another way (his) “... lighting evocatively usually means to not light everything”.

The ebook contains twenty evocative nude images using various lighting techniques and styles. Each image is supported with a description of the lighting used (or how to setup your light to achieve a similar effect), what the author was trying to achieve and sometimes a lighting diagram. The text ranges from relatively in-depth to quite minimalist depending upon the image and the complexity involved in creating it. I would have liked to have seen a lighting diagram and more text for every image, simply because those images where they were used worked better as learning aid so why not continue this throughout?

For a 43 side ebook there is quite a variety of work and as such it does a good job of giving the reader a useful overview of the subject. It also provides more than enough instruction and information to assist with your first ‘evocative nude’ photoshoot. Although all the images are created in a proper studio and the level of this book is aimed at photographers who probably don’t have that sort of facility I think that most of the examples could be duplicated outside of a professional studio. Certainly with a little understanding of photographic practices there is enough in this ebook to provide plenty of basis for variety of strong images more than suitable for a first nude portfolio.

H rating for this book: 4 out of 5

ProPhotoPublishing eBooks - my reviews. Part 1

2010-12-01T18:20:00.000Z

The phenomenon of the ebook has, I think, arisen without much of a fanfare. I suppose after all they are just a digital book, nothing remarkable there. But hold on a minute. Consider that a paper book destined for the shelf in Waterstones has to go through a huge number processes and cost to get there. Getting yourself published and earning a decent wage from it is by no means easy. The ebook offers an opportunity for those professionals out there willing to share their knowledge and expertise to self publish at very little cost and reach a global audience. Great. Of course this does mean that any one can write an ebook and offer it for sale, without any elkxternal editing process this does mean they could be complete rubbish. This is where another great internet phenomenon plays it’s part, that of peer [and purchaser] review. Write and offer for a sale a poorly written ebook and you can be sure that the world will tell you exactly what it thinks! That said, ebooks are not really a competitor to the proper published hard or soft back book. They should be seen as something different. Shorter, cheaper, easier to digest, more focused in scope and simpler in content the ebook has a the potential to be of great benefit to many and should not be over looked when looking to expand one’s knowledge or skills.

I have the pleasure of being invited to review several photography ebooks available through prophotoresource on my blog. If you like the look of any of these books then please use the link at the top of my blog to find out more.

101 Glamour poses - Christopher Grey

This ebook, by it is own admission, has a simple objective. It aims to achieve no more than provide you with an ‘aide memoir’ in creating your own glamour and fashion images. This ebook only covers glamour poses, there are no male models featured in it.

You could probably learn as much about posing by buying several back copies of Vogue, Cosmo or Vanity Fair, cut out the ads and editorial photography then stick them into a scrapbook for you to look back over. However, that would cost you a lot more than this ebook and you’d probably get glue on your favorite jeans. Plus this pdf is a bit more convenient than a scrapbook, well I think it is anyway.

Writing an ebook about how to pose a model, I imagine, would be difficult if not impossible. Showing a selection of poses is much more effective - a picture tells a thousand words is certainly true in this case. 101 Glamour Poses does just that but no more that than. It consists of a compilation of carefully selected images from Christopher’s extensive portfolio rather than one model in different poses. Whilst this did mean I found myself judging his photography rather than concentrating on what he is trying to show it does result in a better book than a “paint by numbers approach” to posing using the same model. As he states at the beginning of the ebook - it is about ideas for a photoshoot and the poses you could use rather than a strict guide or list of poses to you should be using. I commend him for this approach - too often authors of these kind of ebooks will attempt to show “the” way and ignore the fact that photography isn’t really that prescriptive. All of the women featured look like models [with experience] and are certainly photogenic so don’t expect any help with posing plus size subjects or any other ‘real life’ challenges a social photographer might face. Again this doesn’t really detract from the simple intent of the book but I mention it as I rarely struggle with posing a beautiful experienced photographic model. The images featured range from fairly traditional studio portraits to quite elaborate and theatrically inspired ones, with a fair amount in-between. Despite the impression the ebook cover may give the images do not feature any full nudity and are all tastefully shot. In British culture “glamour photography” generally means topless nudity. In the US it is usually used to define beauty work and any nudity is usually the implied kind.

When I first flicked through this ebook I was a bit taken aback - a “is this it?” moment. After “reading” (can one read a book that is entirely pictures?) it many more times I’ve begun to appreciate it more and more. If you struggle with posing your [female] subjects or with generating ideas for a shoot then there is a good chance you’ll get something out of 101 Glamour Poses. I know I have.

H rating for this book: 3 out of 5
Not a lot of explanation or indeed any text but plenty of inspiration.

Baby portraits - Amanthi and Albie

2010-11-22T15:14:00.001Z

I don't post enough of my baby and children photos as much as I should. I guess I'm worried that it might put a prospective wedding couple off by fooling them into thinking I'm not a "proper" wedding photographer. Well, shame on me. More often than not my lifestyle and family session clients are former wedding clients. So, I intend to post pics from all shoots from now on.

Here are two smalls sets of pics from recent shoots. The first is from the second session (out of three in her first year) with the beautiful Amanthi. I photographed the wedding of Amanthi's mum and dad back in Apil 2009. Time flies and here I am documenting their six month old.

This second set is from Albie's first shoot. Michelle and Kieran, Albie's parents, are no strangers to Henry Aarvold Photography having been photographed by me on no fewer than five separate occasions before this one. For Albie's first portrait session we even managed to get Albie to pose (for twenty seconds) with his older brother, Quinn. No small achievement I can promise you!

Commercial work

2010-11-18T12:52:00.000Z

Note to self - Must be more disciplined about updating blog.

Thought I'd post a few shots from some commercial stuff I've done recently.

Often my commercial work is not that creative but it can be more difficult than the other sorts of photography I do because of time constraints, available space, a specific brief etc. It is a totally different experience from the world of wedding photography.

This first set of images is from another shoot I did for Eutechnyx, a fantastic independent software design company based right here in the North East. They needed a new set of head shots for their website and the brief was simple - black and white images, contrasty light without being too dark and moody. I used two 580 flashguns one through a large Ezybox for a main light and one through a Honl honeycomb grid to provide some separation and hair highlight. The relatively simple set up was completed by hanging a strip of black velvet as an improvised background as these shots were all done in a spare office in the client's own building.

In an ideal world I would have modified the lighting a bit for the female members of staff to make it a touch softer and therefore flattering. But time was not on my side so I ensured the Ezybox was as close as possible to the subject, therefore increasing the relative size of the light source = less harsh light. I also kept the light at around 45° to prevent too much cross lighting, which is great for dramatic effect but doesn't do any favours for skin texture.

I took several shots of each person, allowing for different expressions (smilling or not) and the most flattering head and upper body position. I shot every image at the same focal length, f-stop and distance from the subject (give or take a few inches) to ensure some degree of consistency across all the shots.

This shoot was for Belmont Dental practice. A dental business based just outside Durham recently acquired by former wedding clients Charlotte and Catherine. They asked me to provide a set of portrait head shots of them and their team for promotional use. Instead of just plain old school phototype images we decided to make it a bit more fun. Everyone had their make up done in a nearby salon before the shoot which definitely helped with confidence levels. I then proceeded to shoot several different "looks" to ensure there was plenty of choice when it came to using the images. It was also a good way of keeping the energy levels up and ensuring everyone enjoyed themselves. Through out the shoot I used my Elinchrom Quadra RX heads with softbox. No other lights were used. Here are a few of my favourites.

Wedding: Nicola & Nick

2010-10-12T11:48:00.000+01:00

Venues: Merewood Country House Hotel and Cragwood Country House Hotel.

I still can't believe this is the first wedding I've shot in the Lake District. I've been shooting weddings now for over six years, why on earth has it taken this long to get the opportunity to work in one of the most beautiful parts of the UK I'll never know. Still, now I have it might bring a few more my way.

If you have spent any length of time in the Lake District you'll know it's infamous for something other than it's many lakes. Namely rain. Difficult to have a lot of fresh water lakes without it I suppose. But not necessarily the best climate for weddings. The morning of Nic and Nick's wedding day was pretty unpleasant from a weather point of view. No chance for any photographs outside, it was chucking it down. Fortunately there were a few over hangs I could use to keep people dry whilst exploiting the daylight. It was also helpful to have a nice big window in Nicola's room that I used to capture some stylised shots of bride and her gorgeous bridesmaids. Nicola had a stunning designer dress and fabulous hair and make-up to match (thank you Tina). I could have photographed just Nicola all day, such was the strength of Nicola's look and style.

Not to take anything away from Nick mind you. He wins my 'favourite suit of the year' award with a superb tailored suit with an Italian cut and William Hunt shoes. Nor for that matter their lovely children, Anja, Elenor, Daniel and Christopher who added to the style-fest with their own personalised wedding outfits.

After dodging rain all morning, the ceremony got under way and as it did the clouds parted and the sun burst through. Rather fortuitous timing. So despite a damp ground it meant we could at least do some outside photography and I got to play with some rather spectacular skies in my backgrounds.

My thanks also to my own brother, Silas, who gave up his weekend to be my assistant.

Here are a few of my favourites shots from Nicola and Nick's wedding day.

Wedding: Jayne & David

2010-09-28T22:38:00.000+01:00

Venue: Ellingham Hall

If you get married in the North of England in September you are always going to be taking a gamble with the weather. Fortunately for Jayne and David it was an absolutely perfect day, which meant that the majority of the day was spent outside in the sunshine. This was my first wedding at Ellingham Hall and despite a major fire there earlier this year I was really impressed with the venue and the overall feel of the place. Definitely a great location with plenty of scope for creative photography. Jayne and David had put a great deal of thought and planning into their day, with plenty of fun and unusual details - from a very good slight-of-hand magician, to a twinkly-light dance floor with live band and culminating in a spectacular fire juggling act. It was hard to concentrate on the photography at times there was that much going on. These are a few of my favourite shots from the day.

Henry

wedding dress photoshoot for Kate Colllins

2010-09-16T22:39:00.000+01:00

This shoot was a collaboration involving several wedding businesses, organised by and for Kate Collins a talented dress designer I got to know a few years ago when I photographed a wedding of a mutual client who got married in Italy. Kate wanted a selection of images to promote a selection of wedding dresses. I even talked her into modelling her own bridal gown for a few shots - can you guess which model is actually as dress designer? The fabulous hair and make up was by Louise Lunn. We were lucky enough to be given permission to do the shoot at the stunning newly refurbished Eshott Hall. Definitely one of my new favourite wedding venues in the North East.

I photographed several gowns using a variety of locations around Eshott Hall utilising natural light and flash. This was my first chance to use Elinchrom's Ranger RX Quadra light kit on a location shoot. It worked flawlessly and I was very impressed with the quality of light, the power, flexibility and versatility. I look forward to using the kit on my next wedding.

Here are a few of my favourites from the shoot.

Henry

Nicola & Nick: pre-wed/family photoshoot

2010-09-13T17:16:00.000+01:00

Nicola and Nick are getting married in the Lake District this autumn. I'm really looking forward to this event as I've not shot a wedding in the Lakes before. Bit weird that. I've photographed weddings in Italy, Greece and Kenya but not the County next to the one I live in.

For their pre-wed shoot we spent a couple of hours on the beach near to their lovely home. And to add to the challenge their four kids also joined us. So it turned into more of a family lifestyle shoot than a pre-wedding shoot. It was also an opportunity to test my Elinchrom Ranger RX Quadra flash kit again. Filling in against strong sun is a true test of the power of any flash but when you are trying to light six people with one [small] light it really is asking a lot. Needless to say it coped very well, I continue to be impressed by the Quadra kit. More pics using the Quadra on a different shoot will be posted soon.

Henry

Wedding - Fausto & Eifion

2010-08-29T21:41:00.000+01:00

Venue: Hardwick Hall Hotel

Another civil partnership wedding for me this weekend and this one had more fabulous details than you could shake a stick at. From bespoke suits, to crystal and pearl themed decoration at the reception, to live opera entertainment, it had it all. Tribute should go to Fausto and Eifion for their attention to detail - everything was either designed by them, made by them or planned by them. A truly staggering amount of preparation, much much more than I normally see and I see quite a lot of personal input. As it happened I ended up shooting this wedding solo, which wasn't planned or easy! Assistants are definitely worth having. Fortunately is was a single venue wedding so I could carry and cover everything I needed to. The weather stayed dry when it mattered and we had a few minutes of shooting away from the hotel in Hardwick Park. This is a great landscape that offers so much shooting potential it was almost a shame not to have several hours to photograph Fausto and Eifion (pronounced Avian btw) resplendent in their cream silk three piece suits. Their two sons wore matching linen suits that I would have been happy to wear (a few sizes larger of course) so cool were they. The evening do was topped off by a great performance from the always superb Jason Isaacs.

Henry

pre-wed: Jayne & David

2010-08-09T15:09:00.000+01:00

Location: Gateshead Quayside

I've been looking forward to photographing Jayne and David's wedding for a while now as they are getting married at Ellingham Hall, which is a venue I've not yet had the opportunity to work at. From the website it looks like an ideal wedding venue. So you can imagine I was more than a little concerned when Jayne told me during the pre-wedding consultation that there had been a major fire at Ellingham Hall and that the damage would not be repaired in time for their wedding day. Fortunately no one was hurt and the venue's ability to accommodate guests and a full wedding isn't compromised. *sigh of relief*.

We met for the pre-wed in the Baltic Cafe Bar and then spent an enjoyable hour or so shooting in the near by surroundings that Gateshead Quayside has to offer. I even managed to bag some funky flash shots, which is always nice.

Henry

Family photoshoot - Quinn part III

2010-08-06T19:14:00.000+01:00

Now nearly one and a half years old, this was the final portrait session in a set of three. This time we met up in a convenient park and spent a couple of hours entertaining Quinn. The more observant amoungt you may notice that Michelle is working on their second baby (due a mere few weeks after this shoot) so there's a good chance we'll be meeting up again soon to start all over again. Here are a few of my favourites from Quinn's last shoot with me as an only child.

Henry

This is how ice cream should always be eaten I think.

I always bring a big wooden box with me when photographing children, when they get a bit boisterous in they go. That was a joke in case you were wondering.

amazing ball skills for a lad so young... or is it well timed photography?

wedding - Giovana & Iain

2010-08-04T23:30:00.001+01:00

Venue - Slaley Hall

This wedding was easily the most international UK wedding I've ever done. Giovana and Iain had friends and family travelling from all over the world for their day. This really did create an amazing, emotion filled atmosphere. I choked up pre-ceremony, during the ceremony and the speeches this time! Frankly I'm surprised my camera hasn't suffered from water damage! Giovana is from Brazil and her family, including her amazing Grandmother, travelled all the way over here to celebrate her marriage to Iain. No pressure to deliver great images then!

There were so many shots to choose from for this blog post I struggled to pick them and these are by no means all my favourites. This was also the wedding that I'd arranged to test out shooting video alongside my stills. My good friend Rob Summers was again a man on a mission, capturing video magic as I worked. Keep watching this space for more on the results of this collaboration.

I left this wedding totally exhausted but with a great feeling. Knowing that I've played a part in capturing (and even creating) some unforgettable moments and memories is a privilege and an honour I do not take lightly. Giovana and Iain, it was a genuine pleasure to be part of your wedding. May the only pain in your marriage be Champagne!

Henry

Two best men for Iain. Double the cool I say.

One word - "wow"

Giovana had specifically asked for a "storm of swirling confetti shot" - I aim to deliver.

I really pushed the boundaries of my client's trust in setting this up. I didn't realise that Giovana would have to cross stepping stones to reach this spot! It could have gone horribly wrong. But it didn't. When my clients go the extra mile for me, I really try to deliver. I think that the effort was worth it.

I've been dying to try this technique for ages, finally got a chance when the heavens opened late in the day. Giovana is standing in a doorway in the dry, there is a flash gun outside backlighting her and a softbox flash providing the main light. The sparkles are rain drops caught in the flash. Cool eh! My thanks to my mentor and friend Brett for providing the inspiration for this shot.

Much of the interior of Slaley Hall is as dark as a mine shaft. This might deter some people from even trying to take ambient light photos. But not me! If there is light enough to see, chances are there is a picture to be had. Again it helps to have fantastic clients!

wedding - Jenni & Graeme

2010-07-28T16:23:00.000+01:00

Venue: Ramside Hall

Jenni and Graeme's wedding was my first return to Ramside Hall in three years. The welcome addition of a lovely marquee provided a great setting for a summer reception. I was particularly impressed by the attention to detail and coordinated colours of the decoration - a marquee often needs a little more help to look the part and theirs really did.

My heart goes out to Jenni and her family, for although this wedding was full of happiness and love, a very recent family bereavement meant that there were a few extra tears shed throughout the day, not a couple by yours truly I might add. Events like that again make me realise how important photographs can be and that photographers should never ever see their role and reason for being at a wedding as insignificant. I always strive to deliver the highest standard and produce the best imagery I'm capable of but occasionally 'life' helps me to remember to continue to doing so.

Along with great weather there was just enough time for me to get a really nice variety of images across the whole day. The vast majority of photographers working at Ramside will use the fountain by the 18th hole as back drop and the small bridge and walkway behind the hotel. Me being me, I'm always looking to deliver something a bit different and dare I say it more original to my clients. So I took Jenni and Graeme into the car park and used some old shipping containers to provide a more colourful background. Fortunately my clients either trusted me enough to do this or there were too tired to argue by then. Here are a few of my favourites from this wonderful wedding.

Henry

Wedding - Laura & Oliver

2010-06-30T00:04:00.000+01:00

Location - Horton Grange Hotel

A new venue for me at this wedding. Loads of potential, so much so I'm looking forward to working there again. Laura and Oliver's wedding day was full of colour, gorgeous kids, an old double decker bus, great weather and even a ceilidh (pronounced "kay ley" in case you were wondering. Difficult to ask for more really.
Henry

pre-wedding video - Giovana & Iain

2010-06-18T18:19:00.000+01:00

This video is a little taster of an idea I've working on with the very talented Rob Summers of www.promofilms.co.uk

It is both an example of how I shoot (and the lengths I go to - watch for the shot of me lying on the soaking wet cobbles) a pre-wed and a new concept (for me) in fusing video with photography for the wedding martket. More on this as the idea is developed. Meanwhile, hope you enjoy this teaser.

Giovanna & Iain Pre-Wed Shoot from Rob Summers on Vimeo.

pre-wedding shoot - Giovana & Iain

2010-06-18T12:27:00.000+01:00

Location: Newcastle city centre

Some days it just rains and you've got to get on with. You either let the weather get you down or you see it as an opportunity to create some different looking images. And so it was for this pre-wed shoot. Fortunately Giovana and Iain trusted me enough to venture forth one wet Sunday and follow me around as I looked for shots that would work and at the same time not completely soak them! There are some great locations in the city centre, an all most limitless array of colours, textures, shapes and backdrops to utilise. It certainly doesn't hurt to have a fantastic couple to photography either!

This pre-wed shoot was also the beginning of something new and quite exciting for me. It's so cool that I'm going to put it in a separate post! Keep watching this space.
Henry

family photoshoot - Quinn, Michelle & Kieran

2010-06-08T22:56:00.001+01:00

Any followers of my blog may remember Michelle & Keiran's rather special Santorini wedding that I had the pleasure of photographing in 2008. Last year saw the birth of their son Quinn. In the past I've refrained from posting most of my baby and family photoshoots to my blog, preferring to concentrate on wedding imagery. Well, after becoming a dad myself last year I feel it is now time to change that policy. So I thought I'd start off with Quinn. Michelle & Kieran booked a 3-in-1 shoot with me after Quinn was born. This is simply three photoshoots in the first year of the baby's life. Great for capturing some of the big developmental stages in those amazing twelve months. However, as life would have it, several bouts of baby-illness meant that I've only just been able to photograph Quinn for the second time, not long after his first birthday. So I've still got one more session with this little guy. He's a real character so I thought I'd share a few shots from his recent shoot. But I'm starting with one from his first shoot when he was just a few months old, just so you can see the difference. These were all shot at Quinn's house (Michelle & Kieran think it's theirs but everything in it seems to belong to Quinn) using mostly natural light. Although I did manage a bit of flash lighting for a couple of frames but Quinn kept trying to eat my flashgun so I abandoned that idea quite quickly. I will be following up this post with more baby-shoots from the past year or so in the next few weeks. I might even post another pic or two of my own daughter.
Henry

Pre-wedding shoot - Laura & Oliver

2010-06-06T11:43:00.000+01:00

Location: Heaton Park, Newcastle

Laura & Oliver are to be married in a few short weeks. I sincerely hope that the weather is as good for their big day as it was for their pre-wedding shoot. After a coffee and a chat we took a drive down to Heaton Park for the photos. Although busy we managed to find a quiet corner. Dealing with the harsh sunlight and high contrast is always a challenge when photographing couples with a minimum of kit. Utilising the open shade is always the best bet. So I did. But as we were heading back to the car we encountered the most glorious sunlight I've seen in a while, just perfect for back-lit and semi-silhouette shots. Not normally the kind of shot I get the chance to do on a pre-wed. I'm quite pleased with the results, especially the last one.
Henry

pre-wed shoot: Jenni & Graeme

2010-05-17T17:32:00.000+01:00

Jenni & Graeme are getting married this summer in the same church her parent's married in, which I don't think I've come across before. A lovely link to the past I thought. Jenni has just become a firefighter and any regular readers will know I lost an uncle recently who just so happened to be a veteran firefighter - I like those strange coincidences that life brings us. This pre-wed shoot was done mostly in Whickham Park, that just so happened to be bursting with floral colour if not sunshine.
Henry

Old friends

2010-05-06T18:50:00.000+01:00

Opportunities. You never know where the next one might come from. A short while ago I reconnected with some people I was at High School with [many years ago] and one of these people was a lady who happened to be in my form class and actually remembered me. Ambreen, for this is her name, immediately struck me as a great photographic subject. So I offered to shoot her portrait and she said yes. Here are a few of my favourites from the short shoot we did. All the images were shot in and around her house with just window light or daylight (and several changes of outfit). The background of the third set was achieved with coloured organza material and a video light.

Henry

Stop press. I've finally found out where babies come from...

2010-04-14T18:56:00.001+01:00

Apparently they are delivered... by courier.

No children were harmed in the taking of this photograph.

My daughter didn't actually come in a box.

Today, my heart is heavy. Tomorrow, I will remember.

2010-04-01T23:30:00.003+01:00

This is another [rare] personal post.

On the 26th March 2010 my uncle, Andrew Jobson, the most resilient and unstoppable man I've ever known, died suddenly and unexpectedly. He was just 52 years old. Today, the 1st of April, my family and several hundred friends and colleagues paid our last respects. An oddly fitting day as Andy really did love his practical jokes.

His untimely passing bought to mind an experience I had last year when I attended a course run by Australian master photographer David A. Williams. David has an extraordinary passion for the power of the photograph and is evangelical in his praise for the true skill of the photographer. If you ever have the opportunity to listen to David's Key Note speech then I recommend you take it. In it (through the use of some truly powerful but simple imagery) he urges us [photographers] to see our profession and practice as much more than just the business of taking pictures. To never underestimate the value of a photograph and to appreciate that a picture can last for a long time and indeed keep the memory of a loved one alive long after their physical form is gone. At the time I was greatly moved by this but didn't truly grasp the power of what he was teaching. Not until my uncle, whom I greatly admired and loved, died.

My uncle loved his golf and had over the past ten years organised many golfing holidays abroad. I had the good fortune to accompany him and dozens of other keen golfers on four of these holidays. From 2003 onwards I took, in addition to my golf clubs, my camera with me. All I was trying to do was document the trip, get a few fun pics. Nothing more. Amongst all the photos I came back with, one stands out, now. Not perfect by any stretch but its emotional value is now priceless. I now understand the true value of a photograph.

So I say to you, my fellow photographers, in the words of David A. Williams "never take for granted that you have all the pictures of your family". And (because I am now a dad) "never miss the opportunity to record yourself with your children for they love you regardless of how you think you look".

This is my uncle Andy. And it is how I will always remember him.

From the funeral order of service -

Death is nothing at all,

I have only slipped away into the next room.

I am I, and you are you

Whatever we were to each other we are still.

Call me by my old familiar name,

Speak to me in the easy way which we always used.

Put no difference into your tone,

Wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow.

Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes together.

Play, smile, think of me.

Let my name be ever the household word it always was,

Without a trace of shadow in it.

Life means all that it ever meant,

It is the same as it ever was.

There is an absolute unbroken continuity.

What is death but a negligible accident?

Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight?

I am but waiting for you, for an interval,

Somewhere very near,

Just around the corner.

All is well.

If you still haven't shed a tear, then consider this. My indestructible uncle Andy got to meet my baby daughter just once before he left us and I did not take the opportunity to photograph her asleep in his arms. This beautiful memory will fade. And for that I am truly sorry.

Always remember - no one really dies until everyone who has ever loved them and all the pictures of them are dust. (D. A. Williams)

Henry

Location model shoot

2010-03-23T18:26:00.004Z

Last week I had a commercial job lined up which got cancelled at the last minute. Boo. So my friend and fellow photographer Claire Dalgarno and I decided to make use of the time and organise a model for an impromptu location shoot in a semi-flooded wood that Claire had been dying to shoot in for ages. Due to the short notice we weren't able to get a full day with a model but this just added a 'real' feel to the shoot by keeping the pressure on. The model Claire was able to organise, the lovely Anna Echels, was a great sport and put up with us asking her to wade about in stagnant water and lie about in her underwear - it wasn't a warm day either.

The lighting for the shoot was all off camera [manually set] speedlights triggered by Pocket Wizards (apart from a couple I grabbed when the sun broke through the clouds for a few minutes). It's quite tricky to overpower daylight (and under expose the ambient light) with such small flashes (see the "behind the scenes" pics below to get an idea of how light it actually was) when "High Speed Sync" isn't possible so we used a minimum of two flashguns to provide the main light for every shot. For some shots these were just bare heads for others softboxes or brollies were used as modifiers.

Here are a few of my favourites

This last image was lit with one CTO gelled flash and softbox with the camera set to tungsten WB.

Behind the Scenes

I snapped this pic as Claire was helping our model get "comfortable" on the roots of a tree surrounded by stinking stagnant water. Yes, they both had to wade to the tree, so why wasn't I helping? Well, someone had to set the lights up. Ahem. The vision for this shot was to utilise the reflections in the water. Shame it smelled so bad!

With this setup I was intending to use a single flash on an improvised boom arm (the kit Claire is holding) to light Anna from above but as we were "splashing" into position, the sun broke through the clouds and bathed Anna in a lovely warm light. Way too much for the flash to work in the way I wanted so I quickly adjusted my camera settings and shot a few pics (second set above) with the available light being careful to ensure Anna kept her head up and turned to the direction of light.

On first inspection the scrubby bit of roadside woodland was fairly uninspiring, so kudos to Claire for spotting it and seeing it's potential. Amazing what can be achieved with a bit of controlled lighting and a creative eye (or two).

regards

Henry

A fling with Fleurtatious

2010-03-21T12:38:00.003Z

Way back in 2006 I had the pleasure of photographing the wedding of a lovely couple, Sarah and Daniel. Why am I mentioning this now I hear you ask? Well, Sarah and her family happen to own and run a successful high-end Florist in Jesmond called Fleurtatious.

Sarah (pictured in the centre) and colleagues.

After 25 years of operation "Fleurtatious" has decided to make the move to a fully internet based business. They will still be providing the excellent service and beautiful products they're well known for but now you can order from the comfort of your own home via a great new website designed by Sean at SMS Designs.

Sarah asked if I'd help out with the product photography for the new site and I was only too happy to get involved. The concept for the images on the new website was to create a lovely warm personal feel and avoid the clinical, often impersonal approach product photography has. After a day of shooting, knee-deep in handties and vases there was "great success", here are a few of my favourite results. The rest can be seen on the Fleurtatious Flowers website.

www.fleurtatiousflowers.co.uk

Incidentally, Fleurtatious Flowers specialise in events. So if you are looking for a florist for your wedding, I may just have saved you a lot of leg work!

Regards

Henry

Secrets of my success - Part I

2010-03-20T12:23:00.000Z

Like many professional photographers I have purchased my fair share of useless (to me) kit over the years. However, I don't let this put me off investing in the right tools for the job. Having the right equipment and software can mean the difference between an efficient work flow and a huge headache. It's taken me quite a few years to get to a point where I feel like I've got my work flow under control.

So I thought I'd share with you one of the best investments I've ever made with regard to my digital editing/processing work flow. The DQ Quikeys set. I purchased this kit a couple of years ago and it has helped to reduce time spent in front of the Mac without reducing the quality of my images. In fact it has improved the quality of my work considerably. Photoshop is very powerful tool but it is also quiet cumbersome and to the uninitiated, extremely intimidating. The Quikeys set is a combination of hardware (that you use in conjunction with a tablet and pen) that interfaces with Photoshop (I use it with CS3 still but it works very well with CS4) via installed custom software. I won't bother to explain how it works more than that because the DQ Quikeys website does that far better than I can. The Quikeys set is the genius of Dave and Quinn Cheung, a hugely successful and very talented husband and wife photography team from Canada. They also photograph weddings and run training courses as well as raising two boys. No idea where they find the time but I know a lot of coffee is involved!

Now, one of the truly great things about the Quikeys set is that it has evolved. When I first started using it the Photoshop interface (allowing much faster tool selection and use etc.) was all it provided. Since then DQ Studios have released two further modules that enhance the Quikeys set. The first was a module that provided the tools for freehand album design in Photoshop. This update fundamentally changed the way I designed my albums, montages and promotional material. The second was a module to enable users to gain the kind of efficiency improvements we've experienced in Photoshop but in Adobe's Lightroom software. Any photographer using Lightroom V2.6 will know that it is a superb piece of software designed specifically for photography (unlike Photoshop) but that it is also quite complex and can require a lot of slider and button twiddling. The Quikeys set puts the majority of the adjustment and navigation control under one hand making the LR experience both faster and more user friendly. Don't believe me? Check this out - RAW Module It also gives you control over the LR presets which most people probably never go near - LR Presets using DQ Quikeys

DQ have also developed a virtual version of the Quikeys set in the form of a PS plug-in that does not require any hardware.

Simply put, I can't recommend the DQ Quikeys highly enough. If you are a professional photographer spending days in front of your computer wishing you could afford to outsource or had more to time to actually take pictures, then take a look at what the Quikeys product has to offer. It has helped me to change my business and my photography for the better and I suspect it will continue to do so for a long time to come.

regards
Henry

Wedding Fayre - Fisherman's Lodge

2010-03-16T18:22:00.001Z

I'll be at the Fisherman's Lodge wedding fayre on Sunday 28th March from noon till 3pm.

If you're thinking of booking me this is a great opportunity to say hello, see some of my albums and perhaps make an appointment to have a chat about how I can be of service to you on your wedding day.

I'll be showing sample albums from these recent weddings amongst others -

Jane & Jules
Sepi & Ben
Nadine & Tony

If you'd like to check whether I'm available for your wedding date before making a trip to the wedding fayre, you can contact me via my website or email me direct at: info@henryaarvoldphotography.com

regards
Henry

Model shoot - with the Light Monkees

2010-02-17T00:54:00.001Z

My good friend and fellow photographer John Denton of Denton Photography organised a gathering of like minded souls recently. In addition to some interesting presentations John had arranged for a make-up artist or two and hair stylist to prepare six different models. I had the opportunity to photograph a couple of them in and around the hotel we were staying at. These are a few of my favourites.

Henry

Family Portrait - my family that is.

2010-01-09T23:23:00.001Z

A short while ago my wife, Annie and I had the great privilege of being photographed by my good friend, the very talented Brett Harkness. He has kindly allowed me to post a few of my personal favourites on my blog if I sing his praises. Well he didn't actually say that but I'm going to give praise where it is due. Brett and Kristie (his lovely wife) are a big reason I'm in photography and have achieved what I have so far. Their passion, creativity and drive for this business we are in is a constant source of inspiration and motivation for me. If you are interested in taking your photography or your photography business to the next level you could do a lot worse than attending one of their excellent training days at the fabulous BHP Studio. If you are simply looking for inspiration then check out his blog as often as you can. Or better still become a fan on Facebook. And while you are there, become a fan of my FB page as well.

Snow Day Part 2

2010-01-09T15:54:00.001Z

Endless patterns, limitless pictures.

Lovely.

Incidentally, if you are in the market for a new pair of walking/hiking boots I can highly recommend the Salomon Quest 4D GTX. I've been wearing a pair of these for the past few months (well, not for months... you know what I mean) through mud, water snow and ice. They are light, flexible enough to be worn for many miles but stiff enough to support when the going gets tough. 100% waterproof and warm. Add a decent pair of gaters and you'll be set for some pretty serious weather and terrain.

A study of snow

2010-01-09T00:34:00.000Z

And still the snow fell... so, out with the camera I go.

I really enjoy the way snow and ice clings, sticks, hangs and covers everyday objects and plants. The patterns and unusual shapes are everywhere if we but stop to look.

Photographing snow and snow covered things is quite tricky. The best tip I can give you is; wait for the light. An overcast day (often the case when snow is about) gives very flat lighting, great for easy portraits but it over no contrast. Without shadow it is difficult to define or describe anything in two dimensions and especially so when shooting white on white. So hang on until the sun comes out. The direct light will create shadows, which show texture and create depth in your pics.

You will also need to over expose your images most of the time either by shooting in a manual mode and taking full control of your exposure or by adjusting your exposure using +ve EV. Many point & shoot cameras have 'snow scene' modes that work quite well - this mode is doing the same thing. Without this over exposure your snow will be grey rather than near white. Of course, you can go too far and pure white snow will record as nothing but that - white with no detail.

These images were shot on a Canon 5DmkII using just a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens.

Model Shoot

2010-01-04T19:17:00.002Z

Recently I had the pleasure of working with two of my favourite freelancers, Louise Lunn and Tina Cambers. Louise provided the stunning make-up and Tina did the wonderful hair styles. We were fortunate enough to be given access to a very grand entrance hall belonging to friends of mine (thank you Nicola and Ian) for the shoot. With plenty of space and good natural light I was able to experiment a bit with flash lighting, video and natural light. The main objective was to show off the hair and make-up so I didn't get too creative with the posing... until I'd got the shots for Louise and Tina then I was free to play a bit.

First time I've ever tried a shot where the models are holding the flashguns pointed at themselves. I've seen it done a few times so I've always wanted to give it a go. Surprisingly difficult to stop to model blinding herself and to get the light in the right place. Still, the results were quite pleasing I think. Had a bit of a play with coloured gels as well. Not something I get the chance to do very often during a wedding.

Resolutions...

2010-01-04T18:28:00.001Z

I don't really go for the whole New Year resolution thing. It never really made sense to me. It's just a date after all. No more special or significant than the 1st of any other month when you think about it. If you want to make a positive change in your life why wait until New Years Eve? Do it now.

Having said that, I resolve to shoot more and post more to this blog than I have before. It's pure fluke that this resolution coincides with the 1st of January... honest.

A few thoughts from the past week or so

1. I'd forgotten how tricky it is to get your exposures spot on when shooting in snow - plenty of that in past week or two.
2. How nice everything looks covered in snow.
3. How difficult it is to push a pram in snow.
4. Why can't we have the Christmas celebrations without all the capitalism and overspending?
5. Babies look great in winter clothes. Well, mine does.

See!

Wedding: Jane & Jules

2009-11-03T23:56:00.002Z

Venue: Guyzance Hall

Spectacular weather, all day. Just amazing given the time of year. And the time of year just added so much colour to everything. The light was amazing and the autumnal hues were everywhere. I just knew this wedding would be great and I wasn't wrong. So much to photograph and never enough time. I really hope I did justice to the people and the place. Interestingly, I was at school with Jane's sister over 20 years ago. Although I was the last person to realise this - imagine my surprise when she said hello shortly after I arrived! I really had fun at this wedding, no stress, laughter all day and perfect clients. Professional wedding photography is hard work but on days like these it hardly seems like work at all.

Henry

Wedding: Steph & Eric

2009-10-07T22:54:00.009+01:00

Reception venue: Kirkley Hall

It's been a while since I shot a wedding at Kirkley Hall and it was certainly nice to return there even though the weather could have been kinder to Steph & Eric. With wedding photography, more often than not, you have to deal with less than ideal conditions. So you use what light there is and work with anything available that is going to create a great image. Despite the rain and cold Steph & Eric were determined to enjoy themselves. I was very impressed that nothing dampened their spirits throughout the whole day - which is, of course, as it should be for every bride and groom. It was a pleasure to photograph this wedding and the wonderful people in attendance.
Henry

Henry Aarvold Photography Blog

Baby portrait - Oscar, Part I

Portrait - Billy: Part 2

A walk in the park...

Light Painting Photography - Part 2

Portrait: Annie - Part 3

Graduation Portrait: Tim Brown

Light Painting Photography - Part I

Wedding: Louise & Andrew

Portrait: The On family

Pre-wedding shoot: Louise & Andrew

Wedding: Vilma & Alasdair

Pre-wed: Vilma & Alasdair

Wedding: Alice & David. "Hexhamshire"

Portrait: Albie Part 2

Portrait - Billy: Part 1

Wedding - Emma & Stuart at Guyzance Hall

Wedding - Hannah & Dilip

Pre-wed: Alice & David

Amazing wedding film - Gi & Iain

Pre-wed: Hannah & Dilip

Wedding: Laura & Mark

Wedding: Natalie & John

Pre-wed: Emma & Stuart

Portrait - Violet

Wedding - Katy & Andy

Exciting news...

Pre-wed: Laura & Mark

Studio shoot - Jade

Pre-wedding shoot: Katy & Andy

Pre-wedding shoot: Natalie & John

Wedding - Florence & Mark

Pre-wedding shoot - Florence & Mark

Baby portrait - Annie

ProPhotoPublishing eBooks - my reviews. Part 4

ProPhotoPublishing eBooks - my reviews. Part 3

ProPhotoPublishing eBooks - my reviews. Part 2

ProPhotoPublishing eBooks - my reviews. Part 1

Recommended reading

Baby portraits - Amanthi and Albie

Commercial work

Wedding: Nicola & Nick

Wedding: Jayne & David

wedding dress photoshoot for Kate Colllins

Nicola & Nick: pre-wed/family photoshoot

Wedding - Fausto & Eifion

pre-wed: Jayne & David

Family photoshoot - Quinn part III

wedding - Giovana & Iain

wedding - Jenni & Graeme

Wedding - Laura & Oliver

pre-wedding video - Giovana & Iain

pre-wedding shoot - Giovana & Iain

family photoshoot - Quinn, Michelle & Kieran

Pre-wedding shoot - Laura & Oliver

pre-wed shoot: Jenni & Graeme

Old friends

Stop press. I've finally found out where babies come from...

Today, my heart is heavy. Tomorrow, I will remember.

Location model shoot

A fling with Fleurtatious

Secrets of my success - Part I

Wedding Fayre - Fisherman's Lodge

Model shoot - with the Light Monkees

Family Portrait - my family that is.

Snow Day Part 2

A study of snow

Model Shoot

Resolutions...

Wedding: Jane & Jules

Wedding: Steph & Eric