Wedding Photography

I have moved

2011-09-28T20:55:00.001+01:00

I have moved to www.nedalahrodiblake.com just click here and you be there instantly reading about Claire &Daniel.

I was recently featured on the fab Whimsical Wonderland Weddings
please have a peak and leave a comment for the lovely Lou.

Appreciate all your support with my blog.

Many thanks,
Neda xxXx

Quiet

2011-09-25T21:12:00.001+01:00

Hi everyone

Thank you for visiting me I have been sporadic lately with blog writing as have been working on website come over and visit: www.nedalahrodiblake.com

Many thanks
Neda

Engagement Photography: Claire and Daniel

2011-09-20T23:30:00.000+01:00

Engagement Photography, Green Park London, Claire and Daniel - if you like to win your very own engagement shoot please click here !

I have been uber busy with my new website which will be launched this week so apologies for lapse in blogging!

Having spent majority of my Sunday with the lovely Claire and Daniel for their Engagement shoot, I could have easily have spent the whole day in their company. First and foremost they are so incredible thoughtful and respectful to each other making their company enjoyable. They also made my role easy by obliging to all my ideas which was an added bonus. I’m always looking for new ideas, backgrounds to photograph too vary the images and it is fun to have couples excited as much as I am about it. We had to stop ourselves short from climbing trees, we weren’t dressed for that sort of exercise!

They first met at the London triathlon in 2007 when Daniel was on duty for St John Ambulance's logistics team and delivered equipment to her first aid unit. Daniel finally gathered courage and asked Claire out and from their gone from strength to strength. Less than three years later they are engaged and planning on getting married having recently bought and moved in to their new flat.

But it hasn’t always been easy Daniel explains ‘I helped Claire through a very difficult time last August which involved the sad passing of her father. It showed that I would never leave her, even when times were bad…I ended up popping the question on the one night I thought would be special to both of us, New Year's Eve!!! Which, of course, Claire said yes!!!’

The engagement photography took place in Green Park with a walk around the area including Westminster and St James Park. It was a relaxed and fun day capturing their easy going and down to earth personalities.

With the large family they have, I am certain the wedding will be special with a whole heap of fun!

We love to hear from you our your friends so pass this on xx

Sultry & Smouldering

2011-09-08T21:36:00.001+01:00

share your fire with me

Following my stint as Dame Edna yesterday, all though I wanted to be more like one of those madly talented actors in Priscilla Queen of the Dessert (but sadly cannot pull off) I thought I share a few more pictures. No offense Dame Edna I bet you would agree when you see what they can pull off in those cupcake dresses FAB!! Elizabeth from Bridal Musings who described the shoot I blogged about yesterday (read here about it Shabby Chic Photo Shoot) as ‘sultry and smouldering’ has certainly set the tone for today’s blog. We are gonna get some steam going folks so brace yourselves, get ready for some Sultry and Smouldering pictures and as a bonus gain cleaner pores for all that steaming. It is always a pleasure to look back on a day and think it was worth the effort. Photo shoots are tough work and there is always something that occurs unplanned to kick my butt but I love challenges and like totally ‘show must go on’ attitude on its butt but boy is it draining!

So got Lee Hazelwood & Nancy Sinatra ‘Call Me Sand’ on not the raving music you expect but makes me do funny dance and gestures with my hands and feel funny…’she whispered Sand …share your fire with me’ . Crack up music I love it ( hubby cringes)....

I now know what they mean by 'it is all in the eyes'

Oh yes back to shoot, well Asa is so fun to shoot and certainly gets a lot of attention from the public ahem boys, men, gizers you know the lot very annoying when you have little day light and working to rap it up whilst these Italian language students think they are so 'creative' not asking but barging on your scene to put their arms around (yes on her person) to be included in the picture. Wow the arrogance of it!! Gold star to Asa for handling it great, whilst I firmly asked them to move their feet off my scene or I start charging them for using model, my time and equipment (and certainly testing my patience).

So I'm against smoking this is 'prop' she is building her acting portfolio and needed this type of pics

Leave a comment and share the love

Shabby Chic Photo Shoot

2011-09-07T21:52:00.000+01:00

Can You Handle It ?

Last time Asa Nygard came to visit me we ended up on a Lavender Field with vodka and OJ (orange Juice) at 9 am. Before your mind start going off thinking about the crazy madness we may have gone up to let me assure you it wasn’t that sort of excitement. I certainly would have loved the thought of running barefoot, feeling off-balance (jolly/boozy) in a Lavender field but practically these things do not happen. Lavender fields are full of Stinging Nettles & Bee’s and secondly I was there to do my photo shoot –Oh the vodka was to settle some nerves that’s all, just an FYI (For Your Information).

So back to today’s post well well I say this whilst imagining myself as a fabiliciously cool drag queen pimped up in my mansion writing about sexy and hot photo shoots I get involved with every day. As these photos got that air of coolness I lack and sexiness I want to have. Admittedly me imagining myself as a drag Queen is rather odd and far from the truth but …back to character to spice things up ( In my head I have rings on all fingers, long nails with zebra prints yes!).

Starting with my favorite pictures (top two luvv it)

Seriously hot - I did warn ya

This is how this shoot went: Asa comes over, Asa opens her bag (more like suitcase), she says what she likes to wear, we talk, we agree and I add few more stuff in (dress & accessories) we eat, she puts on makeup and we hit the cement. We wanted to do shabby chic so council flats where the target background.

Asa is a long-term friend of mine; she mastered smoky eyes before I knew eye liner. She makes crazy transformation with makeup, she is an actress and a fab model. Enuff said.

This is one of my favorite pics as well so hard not to love them all she is so photogenic !!

So tell me what is your favorite picture & don't fret some more seriously fab pictures will come soon xx

Thursday Wedding Networking

2011-09-02T22:35:00.002+01:00

Making across the cobble streets of Covent Garden holding my ever so trusty iphone navigating with the compass as if I was in the labyrinths of Venice I finally made it to the Dirty Martini a brisk 3 minutes’ walk from the station. However maneuvering around the tourist, the performers, magicians, singers and all the distractions had added few minutes to the journey time. I was delighted that I had made a good choice leaving the heels home not worrying getting stuck in the treacherous cobbles of Covent Garden. I know many shoes have been broken in action here.

I was relieved Janet Mohapi-Banks was instantly recognisable with her sweet smile. Janet had organised the event inviting individuals within the Wedding industry for a networking fun evening and adding cocktails usually means great success. Equipped with my trusty notebook for any notes on inspiration and good advice it seemed everyone was keen to meet new people and make the most of the evening ensuring Happy Hour was utilised and benefited from.

Having given Janet heads up that on my wish list of meeting people was Fiona Kelly she assured me Fiona was to arrive shortly. Fiona Kelly takes beautiful wedding pictures and her work is inspirational something I hope to learn from. She certainly did not disappoint and it was lovely finally talking to her face to face sipping cocktails and chatting about photography. Whilst wondering if in between talking about our passion if it would be odd to ask about how she keeps so darn fit!!!

The evening also had familiar faces including Louise from Bijoux Bride and Andri from Always Andri who I met at Love My Dress Soiree read here about it Love My Dress Summer Soiree

Carey Sheffield was the stunning women who blew me away, first of all she was immaculately dressed, killer accessories (I want her bag) and had a bundle of good advise and then some. Besides she had a lush fringe – enough said.

Surprises Bump In was Anna from Anna and The Ring we had chatted and had twitter banter but not met face to face nor did I know she was coming so it was a fun bump’in.

Then I had the pleasure to spend quality time with Simon Nickell from Euphoric Flowers now this gentleman has a lovely aura. I truly don’t say this very often but he is lovely like really kind and did I mention he is so easy to listen to. He is on my list of people to lunch and dine with.

I cannot mention Simon without mentioning Lester from No 10 Weddings as Simon introduced him to me and I felt I knew both longer then the brief evening we had spent in each others company.

So on Friday, the day after if you like, I see a picture flash by my eyes on Anna-Marie Stepney’s website. The pictures is part of a slide show of Wedding couples. So I send a curious twitter to Sian & Dave and they confirm it is them and in fact been published on RocknRoll Bride now that is like super uber cool. They are one talented duo and I would defo check their art out!!

Some extra love also goes to:

Kim Price from Roseberry Weddings a Wedding Planning service by the lovely Kim
Ana Ospina Ruiz Freelance Make-Up Artist
Natalie from Miss Ballooniverse
Megan Howes Wedding planning service

Hoping we keep the sun over the weekend xx

Street Photography

2011-08-28T21:53:00.000+01:00

Just few pics from Saturday's walkabout photography in Hammersmith.

As I was preparing to put camera away this dad and his daughter parked up and it was perfect opportunity to take a picture

Hammersmith Bridge


I caught her very last minute and felt the picture suited a grainy old look

This is my favorite house walking down to the waterfront

Life is Hectic

2011-08-27T21:26:00.001+01:00

Today's special LOVE goes to: Entrants to Engagement Shoot, The inspirational and Imaginative work of Kirsty Mitchell, Lightroom for making my work easier, discovering the site Flingly, Blogstomp which enables a story board

Life is very hectic at the moment and filled with many things and I certainly think life is to short to concentrate on anything but the good stuff. I'm delighted that entries for the Engagement Shoot is trickling in and it makes me very happy that couples are taking part, their friends and family are referring it on. It is a really fab competition where the winning couple will win a FREE Engagement Shoot so please keep the entries coming and read more about it here: Engagement Shoot. I will write about individual entries further along the competition but let's just say I had an adorable entry last night from a couple with a heartwarming story that will be up soon.

Until then below is an update on recent courses I've been on and software I've played around with:

Before picture above

After picture added warmth

Engagement Shoot Competition !!!!

2011-08-24T21:43:00.001+01:00

Congratulations to your engagement

Very exciting times ahead! To give you a bit of taster of what’s to come I’m holding an engagement photo shoot completely FREE of charge for the lucky winner. The winning couple will have opportunity to be part of a four hour photo shoot in a venue which represent their style and personalities. Whether in a pub, on a street corner or in a Fair is your kind of thing I go with it. This is just as exciting for me and it will be hard to only choose one couple I tell you now. But emotions aside let’s talk through what you can do to get in it to win it.

I’m bursting tell me how to WIN!!!

Like my Facebook page Neda Lahrodi-Blake Photography
Follow me on twitter Neda_L_Blake
Comment on the competition blog and ask your friends, family, colleagues and why not even your neighbours to support you and write their cheers & encouragement in the comment box
Describe in brief why you think you should win this engagement shoot
Send me a picture of you and your fiancé giving me a bit of idea of your personalities
Your wedding story (when and where are you planning to get married and style of it)
Indicate that you are available in London for the shoot in October 2011
Your contact details including telephone number and full names

Entries need to be sent to info@nedalahrodiblake.com

Subject line: WIN

Closing date: Friday 30^th September 2011

Winning couple announced 1st October 2011

What do I win exactly?

Four hour engagement shoot in London area zone 1-4

Full consultation to choose right style and venue for the event to suit your personalities

15 pictures will be provided to be added on Facebook so your family & friends can gush

The small print also known as TERMS & CONDITIONS

Deadline for entries is 30^th September 2011
Couple will need to be available for engagement shoot in London (zone 1-4)
The engagement shoot will need to take place prior to 30^th October 2011 and don’t worry about the weather our venue will be indoors and weather permitting outdoors as well
The winners must agree to the use of the photographs on blogs, websites, publications for promotional purposes

Seriously cool competition so don't spend time thinking email me TODAY xxx

Entries need to be sent to info@nedalahrodiblake.com

Add subject line: WIN

What doesn't break you makes you stronger and hopefully better

2011-08-21T23:13:00.002+01:00

'If you want it come and get it for crying out loud'...David Gray

As I grow older more mellow I like to think, I’ve learnt to improve how I manage my reaction to situations around me a tiny bit better. In all honestly it is difficult if you are passionate and enthusiastic person, to take your feelings out of the equation and be clear headed. With all the best intentions I might have it is inevitable that things just don’t go the way I had hoped and wished. Lately I have had to prepare myself for rejection as in photography you are not only dependant on your own skills but also on others from photographers to learn from, to individuals who market your work and many others.

Keeping my head screwed on but also feet firmly on the ground ...as below pictures shows sometimes I go with the clouds...

As I realise I have a long path of learning curves and lessons to learn I will need to learn to take the punches and not only that but be prepared for them in advance. I have surrounded myself with good friends, I must make time for them and my husband especially (date night is coming back). I am, as we speak pumping my brains with some fantastic Florence and The Machine tunes. Music has a huge impact on my mood, I’m one of those people who supermarket research on. You know if the crank up the music with melancholic sounds of David Gray I go home with family sized chocolate and tubs of ice cream. My secret dream is to be in a flash mob, I know I give it my all if anyone is looking…

Life is full of surprises who know what be presented to you next...

So few notes to myself: research better before my actions to give best impression first time when talking or writing to other professionals, be more personal about me as people need to buy into me and my personality, find a mentor like ASAP (any takers email me x), Review my achievements so far and focus on future ones.

On a lighter note life is good, I have nicely washed and crisp sheets to sleep in which makes me very happy (hold judgement), I have eaten some heavenly Thai food and even cooked a lovely healthy meal. My mum shared very good news so I’m happy for her and know a part of me is at ease because of it.

Wake up and smell the Roses...ahem the flowers be positive and realistic but dare to dream...

So with that keep sailing folks xx

Wedding Photography Shoot Part Deux

2011-08-20T18:51:00.000+01:00

I’m writing this as the hubby is enthusiastically cheering for All Blacks, New Zealand rugby team. Pretty sure he wouldn’t notice if I’m there or not as the way he is acting he is transported, in his mind to the stadium.

Recently I wrote about a wedding photo shoot I did in a Mayfield Lavender field in Surrey, please read here about it: Wedding Photo Shoot

I certainly did learn a lot and I'm pretty sure I went slightly over my head as I had seven other people on the day with me and many others who helped it all come together so LOVE goes to the following people:

Bridal dresses by Lizzie Jayne, Jewellery by Victoria Mary Vintage, Hair & Makeup Belle of The Ball Hair, Creative & Technical Support my good friend Boris from Mulondon, Model 1 Asa Nygard,

Model 2 Ruta Aidukaite, Model 3 Verity Finn

1. Start with the end in mind

Be clear about what is the purpose of this shoot and the results you are after

2. Preparation is key

You will save time and a lot of stress by planning way ahead. You will also come across professional to your models and can concentrate making fab pictures

3. Have a plan B

Even the best of plans fail so prepare well have a plan B so you don’t have to panic on the day

4. Gather inspiration and share it

To get everyone on-board with your thoughts and ideas make sure you communicate it. This way you are all working towards same theme, idea and you get most out of your photo shoot

5. Don’t be afraid to ask

I admire many people within the wedding community and I took a chance and asked individuals I liked working with if they wanted to participate in my shoot. In the end I had to say no to some vendors as through twitter people got in touch and wanted to take part. The response was overwhelming, so don’t be afraid ask.

6. Equipment

This is incredible important so invest/borrow spare batteries, memory card and have a spare camera. If you are out and about cleaning your lenses will be very important

7. Photo wish list

I read so many magazines before my shoot that I had too many key photos I wanted to take home, I plainly over stretched myself. It is good to be ambitious but if you have a timeline you need to reduce that and concentrate on the most important shots.

8. Timeline

I know next time I will take extra care and actually write up a timeline or schedule of the day and send it to everyone involved prior to shoot. This way your make-up artist knows what she has towork towards and can add changes if it is not reasonable. Models know their timings and people in general know their purpose more clearly and what needs to be done when.

Lastly HAVE FUN it is important you enjoy the experience! Please write to me about your experience I love comments xxx

Couture

2011-08-14T23:04:00.000+01:00

I didn't know who she was but followed her with my camera until she stopped next to her stunning Wedding Collection. She had caught my eyes wearing a stunning flattering frock that followed her every movement. Charlotte's collection is inspired by vintage corsetry and couture principles giving every women wearing them a flattering, feminine and glamorous look.

Charlotte Casadéjus is wearing in the below picture a stunning dress from her collection, it is actually very difficult not to love each and every one of her chic and stylish dresses. Visit her website to find your dream dress.

Keep Laying The Tracks

2011-08-13T01:19:00.001+01:00

My determination can be exhausting to people around me, as once I’m in my zone I will be undeterred, full force ahead and in constant action. I need to remind myself to take breaks from it to look after the people who I care about and be present. I know I can keep going with half charged batteries but perform at a fully charged capacity when I’m doing something I want so badly to workout. I’m motivated and strong and surrounded by unbelievably strong friendship which I’m grateful for and hope in return I’m just as a good friend as they are to me. What I can say about the people in my life is that they are honest and in their encouragement they are in equal measure frank in their feedback.

To lighten things up I hope I never be one of those individuals who brave X-Factor based on their family & friends encouragement and then rejected brutally and laughed at.

Head screwed on tightly – checked, a dose of patience taken – checked, motivated – checked.

I have worked so hard last few months but never been so happy and I hope I remember this and carry it with me. It is so incredible hard sometimes, a photography career is an uphill struggle but I know in my heart this is where I belong. Blood, sweat and tears for happiness – well I take that anytime. I hope one day I can in turn help someone like myself who is starting off and lend them a hand and offer advise. Like an admired photographer keeps saying Keep It Real, thanks Jasmine Star.

Wedding Photography Shoot

2011-08-11T23:46:00.001+01:00

Well the decision was surprisingly easy and overwhelmingly scary and I felt determined to go through with it. I had exhausted every little inch of my body as well as my brain until the dots, links and connections between my brains flared. Fire by friction, was caused in my mind and a spark was caught in the millions and trillions of cells and neurons wondering in high speed through my brain. I had woken up with a determination that I was capable of arranging a wedding photo shoot on my own and make it fantastic one at that to.

The main reason to hold my own wedding photography shoot was to make sure I was the only one with these pictures giving me full artistic power. Of course I could have gone to a workshop where gorgeous models are provided and you are supported by a trained photographer. In my case those wedding workshops will be invaluable and will be considered down the line but at this time I decided to go ‘my way’, the wedding photography shoot option.

To make it even more challenging I had decided to hold the shoot two weeks after with no models, vendors or friends involved I was running on share stubbornness. We were in the middle of London monsoon season with non-stop heavy rain but my gut and heart told me my shoot would be held 24^th July come rain or sun and I would make it work.

Hair & Makeup Belle of The Ball

I went through with my wedding photo shoot and it was incredibly challenging and difficult and I ended up with a migraine, a poor tummy and ghostly skin reflection that made most people around me worried. But I was smiling inside cause I knew once my head was clear, tummy cheered up I would have my pictures forever.

My day involved the support of seven friends ( four models, my husband, hair & makeup and 2^nd shooter) which I’m very grateful for.

Left & Right dress by Lizzie Jayne, middle dress from Monsoon, jewellery by Victoria Mary Vintage

Start with the end in mind

It is in grained in me to try to act with the end in mind and this may sound selfish but in actual fact it saves a lot of trouble. Once I had decided about the wedding shoot I sat down and thought of what I wanted to come away with from this and worked backwards. If I was going to use resources, my own money, friend’s time & effort and involve vendors I needed to be able to have a clear idea of my outcome goal. I knew I wanted pictures for a future site as well as a portfolio I could send to blogs to promote my work. With this in mind I knew I had building blocks to develop my thoughts and ideas on and sites I needed to approach with eventual submissions. From there my ideas of the actual look of the shoot started to take strong shape and helped with the direction I wanted to take.

Terri Capone from Belle Of The Ball adding final touches to Ruta Aidukaite

Preparation is Key

I can’t emphasize how important preparation is and this is probably where you reap most of the benefit of spending extra time and effort on. I knew what I wanted to achieve so I spent a lot of time thinking and preparing for the finer detail giving things due thought. I desperately wanted to eradicate as much stress from the day as possible so I ran around like a fanatic before-hand ticking checklist, writing new ones, hysterical telephone calls, picking-up supplies and re-thinking what didn’t work. I started with the bigger important key details and for me I needed brides dresses first and foremost, models to wear it, location, jewellery, hair & makeup. But I also made a long list of everything I needed to the detail and kept it as ‘Work in Progress’ as it needed updating constantly. My list looked something like Vendors: dresses, hats, jewellery, makeup & hair artist, create Facebook event and invite friends, book large van, inform venue of my intentions and obtain approval to shoot as well as making sure sandwiches are prepared, drinks and snacks available. My models were my friends pitching in to help me. They all came over to my flat to try dresses and jewellery discussing best hair and makeup before the shoot. This was invaluable as this helped free me up on the day as I felt I could trust them to work things out whilst I shot the first model. Where I missed a trick was to have a time schedule showing who was to be photographed first, including preparation time.

Plan B

Even the best plans have glitches but as I had prepared on the day I felt I could cope with the minor details and faults, the prep had taken a chunk of stress out. That said always have a plan B especially for venue as depending on weather this may cause the biggest stress. I was holding mine at Mayfield Lavender Field and judging by the rainy July there was little hope the weather would turn but in my case I got very lucky and it turned out to be a warm sunny day. I had three female models and two of them were similar sizes which helped enormously with swapping clothes and encase one cancelled I knew the other could still wear the dresses. Thinking of gaps and things that potentially could risk the shoot was a good way of working on my plan B and improving my preparation for the day.

Gather inspiration and share it

I made sure my Facebook event page had links to the kind of poses I was after, videos of how shoots worked to inspire my models. There was no point to keep all this to myself, sharing my thoughts and communication was the only way to get everyone on same wavelength. Working with friends who had never modelled meant sending pictures of poses an ideas incredible important and reassuring them that this would be a fun day. Creating a buzz before hand really helped me and my friends and the atmosphere on the day.

Jewellery by Victoria Mary Vintage Dress by Lizzie Jayne

Don’t be afraid to ask

Simply ask vendors if you can borrow their creations and you will be surprised how many are happy to help. From earlier blog post you’ll notice I spent some time writing about Chiswich Wedding Fair where I met all of the vendors who helped me with my shoot. Some offered to lend me their jewellery before I even had thoughts of holding a shoot. Be polite, stay in touch and ensure you mention and link them, this is courteous and favours are always returned. If you do involve vendors, make sure they are aware of how and what you can provide in return, ask them to mention you on their blog/site.

Equipment

I stocked up on memory cards as I had decided to shoot RAW and two batteries was a given, running out would not have been acceptable. I also brought my laptop and my husband was in charge of downloading pictures. My good friend Boris from Mu London was my left hand man on the day assisting and keeping me calm as well as shooting with his SLR camera meaning if mine decided to go on strike we had back-up. What is really useful is to prepare shooting settings for situation so you know what to do if its harsh sun or overcast so you spend more time taking photos.

Picture wish list

I had printed and also emailed Boris a list of pictures I needed as well as mental note of pictures I wanted to take home. Next time I will make sure to condense that list and have a top 10 wish list I can’t leave without just to make it manageable and spend my time more making excellent pictures rather then spread myself thin.

Dresses by Lizzie Jayne
Jewellery by Victoria Mary Vintage
Hair & makeup Belle of The Ball
Location Mayfield Lavender Farm
Support Mu London
Models in appearance order Brad & Verity, Ruta, Asa & Verity

Love My Dress Summer Soiree

2011-08-04T20:01:00.005+01:00

There is no other way to start my post today other than by sharing some well deserved Love to all the fantastic people I've met so far. With their talent, passion and experience who can blame me for being indulgent and struck by their passion.

Love My Dress, Bel's Flowers Sugalily, Corrine Smith Design, Craig & Eva Sanders, Wedding TV, Bridal Musings, Always Andri, mintyslippers, Oh My Honey, Bijoux Bride, Pocket Ful of Dreams, Cat Hepple Photography, The Barbers

Last night the fab Annabel Beeforth from Love My Dress held the very anticipated and glamorous Summer Soiree (I love that word) at The Baltic Centre of Contemporary Art. The venue was beautifully decorated with such sweet touch that photographers and non photographers where spending some quality time taking pictures of the decoration. Some even choose to tuck into the decor, including the cutest cupcakes known to me and the delicious chocolate disguised as cherry's.

With the ambiance set the atmosphere was vibrant and exciting. I was in a room with all these talented and gorgeously dressed people whom I only had the pleasure to stalk online. There was so much to take in I had to stop in the bar to rest my eyes and rehydrate.

As I was greeted by Annabel I was instantly put at ease, her friendly hug certainly helped and I was pleasantly surprised I didn't have to do air kisses which I secretly practiced in the elevator at the hotel. With the girly upbeat atmosphere and the stunning women and men around me who had dressed to the Vintage inspired evening I could only feel lucky! The evening was filled with light conversation and jokes, no scripts all genuine and some good cheeky banter. On my way out with the last glimpse of all the bags, clutches and purses piled on the stage used as dance floor etched in my memory making my smile to myself. I can still see all the ladies circled around the bags dancing, smiling and twirling & ruffling their skirts. As I negotiated the cobbles on the street barefooted to my hotel, a man shouted with a cheeky tone "are you a runaway bride love?". Well I wasn't just a guest at the fab soiree - that's what.

Cake decoration by Ava Event Styling

Andri, Me and Louise

Far right Michelle

Dani and David

Portrait Photography

2011-07-17T22:17:00.000+01:00

I'm bursting with excitement and it is such a good feeling that I hope you all experience it. The photography has taken many bends and turns and I decide to take it in my own hands. I want to make sure my pictures are the type of images that only I have and created from the start by me. I have asked some excellent and creative people to assist making my first solo shoot happen. I'm thrilled that so many are lending a hand and helping I am eternally grateful and can't wait for the shoot to happen and pictures to be uploaded with all the credit to these fab people.

Meanwhile if you haven't had chance to like me on my page on Facebook please do and keep track and stay on touch I love emails Neda-Lahrodi-Blake-Photography!

I have uploaded pictures from portrait shoot which was whole load of fun and I met some fab people with just as much passion as I have.

Wedding Ideas

2011-07-11T22:31:00.001+01:00

There are so many creative people who make stunning and beautiful art for weddings that I want to marry all over again. Of course this entirely for selfish reasons but who can blame me. The world of Weddings opens up millions of doors to all sorts of fun and whimsical bespoke creations. These days brides can tailor their wedding into every little detail and everything is possible ensuring brides get that unique wedding. How fantastic that couples can celebrate with their own personal style from 50s inspired Vintage Wedding to a RockN'RollBride wedding.Just have a look at Kat Williams' blog and you can just get a taster for what's is out there currently and collect ideas. I bumped in to Kat Williams at the Vintage Wedding Fair and with her encouragement I actually started taking pictures there. Picture of her here to the left.

Another gem is Shallmarsh who source vintage curios and collectables where you can find fab gifts. I fell in love with these two little doll ornaments, a french love letter in a tin and much much more.

If you are considering a Vintage bash the cherry on the cake would be having The Marjorie Belles who sing beautifully performing. First of all I love their outfits and they sing such cool tunes ...

Lizzie Jayne is a women of many talents making stunning 50s style wedding dresses as well as lovely bouquets. All her dresses are handmade with modern twist but still super feminine - have a peak at her site www.lizziejayne.co.uk and write comments as I love hearing how it goes if you do visit.

Lizzie Jayne with one of her designed bouquets

Shallmarsh

The Marjorie Belles

Wedding Cake and All Things Sweet

2011-07-03T19:45:00.001+01:00

When I took pictures of Victoria's Kitchens beautiful wedding cakes, cupcakes and cookies at the Vintage Wedding Fair I was tempted to let the pictures do the talking. But of course I'm going to talk and write about the precious things as I'm smitten. The love these cakes demonstrate by their beauty says it all - Victoria sure bakes them to show artistic perfection. Her work is wonderful for all occasions including for a bride striving for an individual and bespoke wedding cake for her special day. Visit her website to see more of her wonderful work at Victoria's Kitchen!

This Cupcake Wedding Cake absorbed most of my attention as it has all the ingredients to grab you at first sight. It has the Vintage look for brides looking for that vintage inspired style to fulfill their dreamy wedding ideas. But it also has romance written all over it and looking at it takes me to warm summer days and happy memories with family and friends.

Victoria is just the kind of person you would expect by looking at her creations, an incredibly friendly and passionate person with a lovely smile inviting you in to her world. She is naturally reassuring which made me feel like I was in safe and kind hands, all though it was I who was taking pictures of her work (glad she trusted me!) The wonderful thing about this is, brides or cake lovers can very much just let their fantasy loose and create their dream cupcake design which represent them and the occasion perhaps a Wedding, birthday, hen, office due ...I say find an excuse just to indulge.

Just look at the cuties here to the right designed as a Rose, stunning color and with the sweetest 'I do' sign attached but to top it all look at the actual cupcake wrappers. The attention to detail and going that little extra has made this stunning. I would just love nothing more to put my face into these and go to Cupcake heaven, only of course after cuddling them and staring at them for a while. Who would not agree...

Below you'll find a beautiful tiered cake with button decorated on it, in different sizes super cute which shows the different styles to order.


	And below the lady herself Victoria from Victoria's Kitchen

I have such a sweet tooth and this is just up my street x

The Vintage Wedding Fair

2011-06-22T23:03:00.001+01:00

I get really excited when I discover something knew but old, a little treasure in an antique shop, rummaging through decades and history. I feel like the Vintage Wedding Fair is just that, a little treasure and I'm glad I went last Sunday meeting some great and creative people. I therefore have the great pleasure to share some of the pictures I took of the folks at the fair starting with the lovely Debbie Carlisle from DB Bouquets. Her creations speak for herself, she creates one-off vintage and vintage inspired bouquets and tailor makes them to suit each individual bride... a lasting memory.

I really enjoyed looking at Debbie's stand, beautifully presented, food for my eyes! She is also genuinely lovely who knows what she is doing as obvious from her treasures.

All in all I met some interesting people and took a lot of pictures, I will add more lovely pictures as I'm writing about Victoria's Kitchen next and of course the picture of RockN'Roll brides creator Kat Williams will follow.

Lovely Debbie

A big thanks to Debbie for letting me takes pictures.

The Vintage Wedding Fair

2011-06-19T21:57:00.001+01:00

I had an uber fab day today! Found out by chance that there was a Vintage Wedding Fair on just around the corner from me in Chiswick. I grabbed my camera and left the flat with a nervous frown as I was excited but in equal measure also really anxious. I get slightly shy in these kind of environment and talk sometimes way too much. I know what you thinking how can you be shy and talkative at the same time but you haven't met me yet...I think RocknRollbride might have had experienced that - sorry was surprised bumping into her.

If I only known that everyone literally everyone, were so kind and friendly I might have indulged in lunch but as it happens the excitement kicked in an lunch was all forgotten until dinner time.

Now I have taken some pictures of lovely creative things and I like to share it eventually...why the dispense you might wonder. Well I like to revamp by blog, just registered my domain so website is in process and I want to make sure I feature all those kind and creative people from the fair on it.

I also need to start working out specially my upper body as that camera sure weighs some!

Rain

2011-06-17T21:21:00.000+01:00

...it is June and London is living up to its rainy reputation. Umbrella wars, pot holes and frizzy hair did I say its June?

Good things comes to does who ...

2011-06-12T22:41:00.001+01:00

Perhaps its the weather it has been pouring down non stop - its June or when I think of it maybe it is because my shoulder is aching. It does that with the cold gets all granny like and start aching and I end up looking like ET as Paul cheekily puts it - my hoody comes on...but I know what it is exactly.

It feels like I've been waiting for Christmas just like a kid does, anticipating, getting excited, counting the days waiting patiently cause they know the day is approaching and all that excitement building up. I see all the signs, people around you are happy for you, they get into the whole holiday spirit and smiles all around. But then they get tired cause you eat, breath and talk it non-stop like when you're asleep you dream it and when you are awake you yab yab yab about it. They want you to let it go and be patient.

I've been doing just that about the camera I bought, I researched it for months, I called and talked to everyone I know for advise just to make sure, I posted on forums for in-put I then called my mum who said go for it. It was her wedding gift to me her kind words as usual so warming always wanting me to succeed. Just before I pressed the buy-button I held my breath and with a smile pressed it knowing this was my choice to better things.

I have know waited 7 weeks for delivery and I wouldn't have minded the wait if I had known it would have taken this long but more likely I would have bought elsewhere. Spoken to 9 different people at The Call-Centre and they all told me different things (sadly this is not an exaggeration) what happened to 5-7 working days delivery? I thought cornerstone of any company is good services - I can be very forgiving when things go wrong as long as the human touch is there. But this electronic company has no soul and very little heart in my experience. So much time wasted waiting and how silly of me letting weeks go thinking I should be patient and given them the benefit of the doubt. Surely some where in the big scheme of things they value me and they are doing their best to get this camera to me. But as my friend put it honey did they even bothered emailing you an apology, surely - no, not at any point.

So it feels like a disappointing holiday season and the rain and the achy shoulder just makes it feel worse and I still don't know when it will arrive.

Much Funny

2011-06-11T23:31:00.001+01:00

Many years ago my brother who was only seven at the time, in excitement proclaimed he had had ' much funny' in Disneyland. From there the term Much Funny came about and I have to say I have a lot of fun using it, not just to tease my brother but to express having fun whilest having fun - are you with me..?

Today was a much funny day with my good pal Boris from MuLondon not only because he personally delivered my Lavender and White Chocolate Truffle moisturiser which I love but we just had such a nice day together.

Our itinerary started in Green Park and coincidentally we fell in the path of the the Trooping the Colour parade and we saw the Queen, visited several Open Gardens and had some fab like AweZum vegan food. My night has been finished with Paul and I indulging in some deliriously delishh brownies - that is how to end a night on a sweet note note.

After The Wedding...

2011-06-09T21:58:00.000+01:00

After our wedding we had some flowers left all though we had ensured as many people as possible took flowers with them before they left...a nice parting gift. We used the flowers many days after...they lasted it seemed to us a long time ...

I love floating flowers in vases, bowls and martini glasses. I have seen some very cool crazy floating decorations as well as some more subdued ones, very easy to do even for dinner parties.

p.s can't remove the date marking ha!

The Royal Wedding Dress-Up

2011-06-05T20:55:00.000+01:00

The Royal hype could be described at the very least enormous and some people I know were using this event to re-enact their childhood fantasy the Princess kind. Yes, most of these are women and yes, suddenly William was described amongst some of my girlfriends as dashing. But what would our world be like if we didn't have events such as the this to live out and live a little eccentrically. I'm mean we only need to google the word Alien and you'll find some very odd events - look I'm not judging just adding perspective.

Banners with slogan such as ' it should have been me' showcased this frenzy and added a lot of fun to the event and certainly made me giggle. A friend suggested we dress up as ...wait for it... nothing other then Brides, to very much join this Royal Extravaganza team and after twisting my arm and leg ... and then threw in few words ' penthouse party, Champagne Breakfast, time of your life or something in those lines I was sold. A mad search for 80's puffy wedding dresses followed, having just got married in February it did feel like I was over indulging but what don't you do for friends hehehe! I can tell you that on the eleventh hour I finally found a dress pheww but I'm afraid not the 80's puffer shoulder ones I had envisaged and hoped for.

Needless to say we had a whole lot of fun and so did those who didn't participate in the dress-up by wholeheartedly laugh at us and I wouldn't have it any other way. The lovely Verity also known as Event Organiser Extraordinaire is posing in front of the flag. I love her dress and she found if for a bargain!

This is little ol'me in a very unconvincing state of pose trying to show you the extent of my dresses state, which as you can tell has an 'identity problem'. It is not certain if it wants to be a Winter Wonderland dress, or Kooky Wonderland or ...well you get the idea. I wish it had come with a tag describing the history behind who wore this dress and most importantly why it was made with these silver rose petals all over it ...! seriously ?

But there was on dress that left a mark on everyone and is truly a winner in its pink grace...just see below...x

A date with London, my City

2011-06-04T23:04:00.000+01:00

It is such a lovely day, bright and warm sun with happy smiley people everywhere. My shorts are out and so are the new cute flip flops I just bought - life is good. I've lived in London for 6-years now and gone on several dates with my City and thought I share some pics. London is so diverse today I've been to Shepherds Bush Market and it is like traveling abroad to another country, I walked to Chiswick which is a very different world to Shepherds Bush with its super clean roads, young professionals and its coffee culture. As I say London is diverse...and it seems like everyone belongs.

I've made a few connections which I will blog about tomorrow...

This cutey was outside the Swedish embassy and we joked about how great guard dog he would be deterring with that unconvincing growl...yikes!
I love love dogs specially Jack Russell's - the one pictured here is not one, probably a mix I think. Every time I mention I love these little dogs I get told how aggressive they are. I have seen so many ads lately with the cutey pies in them that I think they just must be good dogs with bad rep that's all.

Tottenham Court Road Station must be one of the nicer arty underground stations with great mosaic displayed. I'm having fun with my fish eye here... I must admit I meet my friend Boris from MuLondon here when we go for a bite to eat as a meeting point and I do have this Love/Hate relationship with this place. It is always a demolition going on or some sort of rebuild making the place even more crowded then usual. But it is walking distances to some great places and I as I rarely go in to Oxford Street (like never) it is bearable.

You can't see it but ahead of these two girls are their boyfriends all from Spain working, living and studying English in between. The girl on the right has this colourful tattoo on her shoulder I took this picture with my iPhone.

Well I have covered a distance today in London - it is a City you always have things to do. From exhibitions, photography workshops, musicals, theatre, gigs, pubs and soo much more. I had a productive day - you know one of those days you actually work on your day off but it is the kind of work that makes you happy and tingly.

All the pictures have been Lomo'd (iphone app) to create vintage effect.

Photography in Riga

2011-05-30T15:53:00.000+01:00

We had such a random long weekend in Riga - Whilst getting slightly lost we found ourselves on a closed dual carriageway near the river. It was closed as they where holding a Go Blond Parade rehearsal we obviously had no idea what it was other then a pink and blonds persons paradise but soon found out it was for charity. I snapped a few pics of one of the aspiring models she seemed to be having fun...

The girls were asked to freestyle and they all started breaking moves to Rhianna's 'I'm the only Girl in the world'

But all took part including whole families

the sheikh and his camel - very random ...

This dog was the best ever - he really took this parade seriously, he barked and barked hehehe

So drove Paul mad taking pictures this weekend but got loads of practice which is good ; )
Riga is a sweet little city and I have never seen so many people with SLR cameras before snapping away. Need to buddy up with friends who are just as keen on photography as me...

Twitter, twit, twitted, twitterish...

2011-05-26T21:13:00.000+01:00

Ay caramba ! Joined twitter - slightly premature but done it yikes. It was on my to do list and I thought I'm just gonna do it, learn how it all works, gain new friends and contacts which is soooo exciting. Got two followers hehehe makes me smile specially as they are sweet sugar yummy mates (kisses x). Then I realised all these pro and like supercool blogging-twitting-money-making folkes might not follow me cause why would they right...? Well like anything guess they have no reason to - really...tough hard truths but as anything this will change...moohaahha ( unsure why the evil laugh...probably for comic affect).

Fingers and toes crossed the Icelandic volcano will cool it off and I will be able to fly to Riga tomorrow. Can't wait to takes pictures and post : )

Do a better deed next time?

2011-05-25T23:18:00.000+01:00

A short one today ...

Not a day passes without me learning new things, so many things in life, about me, others, work, photography. Today I found £5 note in the underground and I handed it to the station supervisor who was standing near, not sure why...just did. Didn't feel noble or had any intentions of scoring brownie points with karma. Immediately this lady - a passer by comes up and tells me off like only a grandmother can do - apparently I should have given it to charity and not to 'a supervisor to buy tea'. She grabbed my arm and said I had done a good deed but next time do an even better one by giving to charity.
Guess she had a point if it was an item someone would come back and give description of lost gods and retrieve it but with money slightly difficult. Feel like a donkey.

Something to ponder on ...

Cruising the streets

2011-05-24T21:49:00.000+01:00

Life is busy between reading up on photography, research and making time for a social life I have taken up driving. I have not tried or tempted driving for 6-years. Last time I was behind the wheels was a sunny day in January 2005 in no other place than wonderful New Zealand where I left the handbrake on, did an impressive wheel spin resulting in awful amount of smoke... which scared me for the ...well 6 years. Poor Paul who throughout his encouragement failed to keep his calm in the end - specially when I mixed my left and right turns, faced oncoming traffic and did wheel spins. Just to clarify Paul tells this story often and it is him who calls this wheel-spin incident 'impressive' but I can assure you his facial expression (horror) at the time was anything but. We can laugh about it now as with any survival stories I'm told.

I have come to terms that you need not only a very professional driving instructor but it does certainly require a person with a bucket load of braveness to take up this profession in the first place. Perhaps even more patience is needed to be successful and an ability to turn around a situation to a 'learning curve' and push your students to be better drivers. It also helps immensely that the learner car has brakes on teachers side as well pheww!

Driving will help a lot specially when I like to go for a drive to seminars, courses or photography excursion so push I shall to reach a pass.

My driving instructor said last night that I had to book a practical test due to good progress but that I should be less harsh on myself next time. So note to myself: please screw your head on extra hard but take extra gentle care.

I like my food

2011-05-20T19:02:00.000+01:00

I love food and I'm not a picky eater so when friends ask me over for dinner and asks me what I don't like it's more practical reply rather then I don't like snails etc. I love food and I'm so happy when anyone cooks for me just the sheer joy of it usually is enough! I must must add I'm so lucky that Paul cooks most days of the week as he is usually home before me and likes cooking yummy food. But my reply is usually after insistence from the host, what I don't like is, I don't like burnt food and unless you are professional chef please don't serve carpaccio or steak tartare as raw red meat doesn't suit my inner organs but that's really it.

I was watching creativeLIVE http://www.creativelive.com/live and the class was about food photography, it is such a good place to learn for free. I got all inspired and started playing around with my food and camera - it is harder then it looks my chopping board of breakfast items ...well... didn't make the cut.

Guess what this is ...its me playing around with the manual settings that's what. Two eggs being poached in pan

I love the pastel colours and taste delishhh

I can't wait for my camera SLR to arrive ...

Train...

2011-05-17T20:00:00.000+01:00

So on the train and I end up on the slowest train line possible - Londoners may argue about this but I'm pretty sure I'm right when I say Hammersmith and City Line is incredible slow. Let's not mix it up with tardy - it just like an ancient mummified Pharaoh who decides to take a walk after few thousand years of lying down - Painful.
Luckily besides my stack of freebie magazines, the Evening Standard and a puzzle book giveaway I was entertained by this bright 4-year oldish girl. So this little girl called Mia has had a fun day out shopping by the tell tale signs of Hamley's bags. I can hear her asking her mum all these questions and mother diligently answers showing an ocean deep of patience talking her through it all, why is it stopping hear, why is there no announcement on the speakers, which stop are we at, are we there yet (so sure she picked that one from Shrek) and so on. Mum is so so great during this whole time (45 minutes), taking her time clarifying and answering all questions with a brilliant tone of voice accustomed to being interrogated by little people.

So at this point Mia is running out of why , why, why.... so we are all on the train thinking 21-20 to mum she may have won this battle and little Mia can just take a nap or look out on the view. Cause you can now tell the ocean is drying up...So Mia decides to even out the score. She grabs the bag of grapes mum had given to her and takes one of the larger grapes out. She triumphantly declares that she wants to poke the grape in to her nose and starts attempting the deed. With few good efforts and pokes, the grape just doesn't seem to fit - and I'm getting worried about her nose (now more like Rudolph the Reindeer). Mum with just that tiny, eeny, meeny drop of goodwill left asks in same tone (sarcastically triumphant) why would you do want to do that? to which miss sunshine replies Cause I like it! So mum faces Mia, body languages still passive - and says in a now firm but friendly voice - No Mia, You Just Think You Do - believe it or not with this she goes quiet, almost at peace.

So this is going to be my reply to many things from now on:

I'm feeling a cold coming on - No, honey You Just Think You Do
I'm so bored - No, dear You Just Think You Are
I feel like a big chocolate cake - ohhh no, You Just Think You Do
I feel like giving up - nahh You Just Think You Do

Thanks Mia x

Practice, practice and yes more practice

2011-05-14T15:57:00.000+01:00

I never blogged (is this the correct term) before or even imagined I would be searching online for sites where I can record my thoughts for others to read never the less comment on. But it does make perfect sense to keep record of it all, small or big events it will be part of my learning curve and a reference point to look back on to and reflect on. I have taken steps, perhaps baby steps towards my photography goals and I can only describe the feeling as exciting. I want to enjoy it all not rush through and miss steps in my development, be allowed to make mistakes and improve whilst holding on to the feeling that I'm on the right track.

So I've been driving Paul my husband slightly loopy since I got our holiday camera in actual fact when bought it we called it our 'Family Camera' upgrading it slightly knowing it would be with us at important moments therefore needing a better title if you like. I've been taken photos of of many things stopping every so often capturing, playing around and as Paul likes to put it ...'taking your time hun'. Well he has a point our usual Saturday walks to Barnes market has taken slightly longer..more like double the time it usually takes hehehe.

So today and as per the list I'm trying to keep (as you get to know me you notice I take pleasure ticking off items on my list) the list suggest today my project is Random Items I Can Find Around the Flat. Oh boy its hard with the dingy lights but practice, practice...So samples attached and yes fully aware I may look back thinking 'I should have done this' but its been fun discovering random stuff in my flat so all is good - note to myself: add on to my list Spring Clean.

So this is my lovely scented candle...if only I could capture the scents as its yummy good. Soft vanilla with hint of peach.

So below is where Random comes in...magazines and Pot-Pourri

Today has been fun and I can't wait for the next 'photo shoot' might try the kitchen or who knows the darkest corners of my drawers.

...I did press ON....I think

2011-05-10T23:05:00.000+01:00

photographer's

They work well in the dark
They make things develop
They work well on many settings
They know how to focus
They can make big things look small and small things look big
They work well from many different angles
They zoom in and out. And in and out and in and out and in and out...
They shoot in many different locations
They can find the beauty in anything