Happy Christmas!!

It has been a rather manic month in the lead up to xmas. With three weddings and a wealth of portrait assignments it is now time to put my feet up and enjoy a mince pie or two, or three!!! However I cannot put my feet up for too long as we have a lot of preparation and planning for 2009!!!!

I want to thank all my clients in 2008 for what can only be described as one of the most exciting years to date.  To me it is all about the people who I work for and we have had some laughs along the way!! From hanging out of a helicopter with the door open, held in by one belt, just to get “that” image to doing some beautiful images of newly born children.  Why do I do my job? To see the reaction on the client’s faces when they see their images!! A hug, a tear, the emotion of seeing their moment captured in time.

So what does 2009 hold? Over the next year you will see me travelling to Australia, New York and New Zealand to work on location. I have some new ideas and new products being introduced for wedding and portraits. I have also been given the opportunity to do more landscape work up in Scotland, so keep an eye out for that. I am pleased to say that my magazine shoot has produced a front cover as well, the much awaited January issue is out soon and all will be revealed!!

So thank you to everyone who has worked with us this year and I look forward to the year ahead!

Happy xmas

:-)

Strictly Come Pole Dancing!!!

It was great to photograph Liah on Monday. Liah is a pole dancing instructor (and I thought I had a good job!) who teaches normal working ladies how to pole dance in the evenings! It is such a good way to keep fit and boost confidence- Go girl power!!!

I was asked to do a few sample images with a view of doing a full photo shoot with her clients in the near future. Here is one of the shots and click on the video below.

We have also produced a small video showing the images to music, click on the "Play" symbol to start.

Working with Hitched.co.uk

We are very happy to become a nominated supplier in North Yorkshire for Hitched.co.uk. It is a great pleasure to be associated with such a large company and shows our commitment to continue to grow and expand the business. But it is not all about what we do, our customers are an integral part of our business.

At the Hitched.co.uk site you can leave feedback that is displayed for newly engaged couples who are looking for a photographer. We would welcome any feedback to share with other couples to smooth that decision process.

If we have photographed your wedding recently and you would like to leave some feedback please follow this link and click on "Please write a review on this company"

http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-suppliers/Photographers/in/north-yorkshire/detail/Riff-Raff-Photography_6260.htm

Pippa and Guy's Wedding

What a great day! It was a very emotional day for two people who are absolutely perfect for each other. Pippa took everyones breath away as she walked down the aisle, she looked amazing. Below are a few of the images from the day, the remainder will be online when Pippa and Guy come back from honeymoon. Did Pippa mention she was away for a month?? Oh yes, just a few times!!!! 

Enjoy

;-)

Teresa and David's Wedding

It is always a pleasure to not only be invited to a friends wedding but also to do the wedding photography. The day was wonderful, a perfect venue with a 12th Century church then onto the reception nearby. Teresa certainly made an impact with one of the most striking wedding dresses I have seen for a long time! Ladies and Gentlemen, Teresa has entered the building!!!!!

More of Alex

I had a second portrait shoot with Alex Lovell recently where we got out of the studio and went into town to try out some more urban styles. The results are absolutely amazing, Alex was over the moon and some of the shots will be used to promote her further. We will be doing more work with Alex and her friends in the near future so watch this space!! 

A few days away from it all!!

It has been a very busy and successful few months recently with a large number of weddings and portraits. When my mate Jon asked me if I wanted a few days sailing of the West Coast of Scotland I felt it was well deserved with the aim to meet up with Marjorie and Tom from Glengorm Castle. Glengorm Castle is a stunning wedding venue on the island of Mull and it is not often I arrive in a forty foot yacht!!

Richard and Amy's Wedding

After a day of torrential rain and floods the day before, no-one expected such wonderful weather as we had!! The church service at Barwick-in-Elmet then onto Thorpe Park Hotel in Leeds for the wedding photographs and reception. It was a really great atmosphere and all the guests were up for a photograph or two!! Here is one image from the day, the others will be presented to Mr and Mrs Thomas and put online when they return from honeymoon.

More from Steve and Deanna's Wedding

The photos are ready now for Steve and Deanna to view on their return from Hawaii (as long as he doesn't miss the plane again!!!). I wanted to put a few more on the site as there has been a lot of interest in the images. Steve and Deanna have now seen them and I am pleased to say they are on the online gallery.

Enjoy!!

:-)

Job Satisfaction

I do love my job! I get to capture wonderful moments in peoples lives which can only be the most positive experience! Whilst every photograph taken is to be a very special one, sometimes I take one that can even warm the cockles of my heart! Here are two from a recent baby photo shoot that just make me smile!!!

Enjoy :-)

Alex Lovell

Alex is a television presenter who works in differing roles, my brief was to capture the personality of Alex. Now some may say that is quite a wide brief to work to! When you meet Alex, her personality is infectious and that made getting good pictures so much more fun!!

Below is one of my favourite images of Alex as it shows her in a quieter, calmer environment than the usual extrovert nature of a television presenter! I look forward to working with her again soon!

Byland Abbey- Helen and Jim Moore

This has to be one of the best settings for my weddings this year!!! Byland Abbey gave the most amazing backdrop for photographs at the wedding of Helen and Jim. They were married at the Golden Fleece in Thirsk then onto Byland Abbey for the wedding photographs. We were so lucky with the weather, the rain kept off and a fun day was had by all!!

The photos will be going online after I have met up with Helen and Jim to show them the photos first!! Here are a few to have a look at for now.

Chris and Ruth's Wedding

Congratulations to Chris and Ruth on their wedding last week at Leeds Cathedral then onto Bagden Hall. It was a great day with some fantastic wedding photographs set in the gardens of Bagden.  The photographs are now ready for Chris and Ruth to view then they will be uploaded onto the website. Just for a quick peak, here is one I prepared earlier!!!

Steve and Deanna's Wedding

After all the recent rain both Steve and Deanna were so lucky to have one of the best days for ages! Their wedding at St Johns Church at Knaresborough then onto the Sun Pavilion in Harrogate was the perfect setting for a perfect day. They are truly a special couple who are perfect together and that can be seen in the photos.

Whilst they are on honeymoon I will edit the rest of the images and the photos will be online when they return.

:-)

Gemma and Ben

It was a beautiful wedding for Gemma and Ben at Headlam Hall near Darlington. We were very lucky with the weather which made for some stunning photographs. It was a very emotional day for them both and I cannot wait for them to see the photos. They will be online for viewing after we have met up, here are a few to see what is in store!

Beautiful Beatrice.

It was a great pleasure to photograph Sarah and her family last weekend. I have followed the family through Sarah's pregnancy with Beatrice, just born and now finally nine months on. This has given the family some fantastic photographic memories through one of the most special moments in a families life.

I look forward to showing the remainder of the images to the family as I know they will treasure them forever.

:-)

BBQ Season!!!

Last night I went round to my mate Dave the Chef's house for a BBQ and a Peroni or two. One of Dave's favourite chefs is Gordon Ramsey so we couldn't resist a quick photo to give Dave his own "F Word" style photo. Once again a perfect example of a character portrait!!

:-)

Baxter

Yesterday I had the pleasure of photographing Baxter with his mum Sophie. Right from the start of the shoot you could see the connection between mum and son and I wanted to capture that on camera. 

The images were taken using natural light in Sophie's living room. Baxter was a star and fell asleep halfway through which made my job easier and made some wonderful photos.

:-)

Photographing villas in Croatia

When people found out I was going to Croatia to "work" no-one would believe me!! So i thought i have to put some photos on to prove that I was there for a purpose. This is one of the villas, Villa Vista and some shots of nearby Porec that I had to photograph. I think you would agree this is a beautiful place and thank you to the client Rob and Petra for the opportunity. I went with my trusty friend and fellow photographer Glyn, my brief was to capture the detail of the villa and Glyn took wider aspects of the villas.