Kelly and Tony's Wedding Photographs at The Racquet Club, Liverpool

Some people come into your life and you are just touched by them immediately. Kelly and Tony are those kind of people. I imagine everyone who is in their lives for however long or brief a time know that they have had a very special kind of relationship with them as they are fairly unique, lovely, kind-hearted and generous spirited people. Plus, they have the most gorgeous kids that I'd be happy to adopt (mind you, I'd spoil them ... and not in a good way!)

Kelly and Tony got married on one of the windiest days I've photographed in - but it didn't affect their happiness and being married to one another, surrounded by family and friends who clearly love them dearly. It's actually hard to say anything about their wedding at The Racquet Club in Liverpool without sounding like I'm gushing over them! And so I'll let the photographs do all the talking.

A rare photograph of me in that last shot! Now moving swiftly on ....

Joel who works with me was also booked to film sections of the day for Kelly and Tony, and here is the results of his work.

Kelly & Anthony's Wedding Day from Joel Penn on Vimeo.

And finally, I love the magic of a wedding album arriving and being unveiled - and Kelly let me film her looking at her album for the first time when their album arrived just 2 months after their wedding.

Ali and Dom's Crosby Wedding Ceremony and Wedding Reception at The Vincent Hotel, Southport

Ali and Dom's wedding was a very elegant affair at The Vincent in Southport with a black and white theme. Ali's dress was gorgeous (the back of it particularly so), and Dom and all the men were dressed in tuxes - very dapper. The Vincent was a great backdrop to the black and white colour scheme, and I just loved the white taxi that they used from the church to Southport for their wedding reception.

Paula and Ulrich's Wedding at the Radisson Blu in Liverpool

Some weddings are just full of laughter - and Paula and Ulrich's Christmas wedding at Liverpool's Radisson Blu was no exception. I think it's Ulrich's cheeky sense of humour and the glint in his eye that added to the humour of the day and had everyone laughing. As much as he could, Ulrich was avoiding me with the camera, but you can see that I did manage to get him in a few shots. It is clear that he and Paula are extremely well suited, with Paula's bubbly personality and quick wit keeping Ulrich entertained just as much as his humour keeps her laughing.

I think I particularly love the shot of Ulrich pointing at me, and the one where they are in the doorways - a very typical looking Liverpool street.

Magic Happens

Something magical happened yesterday. A registrar in Southport was relaxed, fun, funny - and happy for photographs to be taken throughout the ceremony, including during the signing of the register. Why is that magical, I hear you ask. Well, let me tell you.

For many year in Southport, and at other places around the country, registrars have been under the mistaken belief that they can stop photographs being taken during a wedding ceremony. The reasons given vary, with the most common being:

• it's illegal
• you can't do that under the Data Protection Act
• the register cannot be photographed
• it disturbs the couple and distracts them from the legal process they are following
• you can't do that (this being from aggressive registrars who are generally misinformed)

None of these reasons have any substance to them - in law or anything else. And as a professional photographer I often find it frustrating that I'm told I can't take photographs but 50, 75, 100 and more people in the wedding party are left holding their cameras, all of them snapping away, beeps going off on their cameras, flashes going off too. And here am I with the quiet professional camera that doesn't need a flash and has no beep to it being told that I can't take photographs.

Now, in Liverpool it's never been like that - it's very relaxed, very personal, and you get the friendliest, happiest, most fun registrars I've come across anywhere. And here is where we come to the magic. A Liverpool registrar has emigrated ... to Southport. She has taken with her that fabulous spirit of her Liverpool days, and is introducing them to an area that has felt to me like it was in the dark ages. It's such a breath of fresh air after years of registrars standing between me and the couple to prevent a photograph being taken; of registrars being strict in their instructions that NO photographs can be taken; after registrars misquoting the law and being rude when they are politely informed that there is no law that prevents the taking of photographs.

So Paula, you are wonderful, and I look forward to working with you again in Southport, to your fun, relaxed and gentle way of working, and to the laughter and joy you encourage at a wedding. Thank you for bringing magic to Southport so that more couples can enjoy their memories of that fun and relaxed ceremony in their photographs. May it seep through to your colleagues too, and give all couples getting married in Southport the same fabulous experience.

My Lovely Sister

My mum has written this beautiful post about my sister - I don't think there is anything I need add, as her words say it all.

My mum's blog post

The Liverpool Wedding Show 2013

Click here for a reminder of Zoe Photography at the show

It was lovely to meet so many brides and grooms, and grooms and grooms over the weekend (where were all the brides and brides this weekend?) at The Liverpool Wedding Show - what a busy show! I loved hearing so many lovely stories about proposals and wedding plans, and I hope I can serve some of you as your wedding photographer in Liverpool, Southport, Wirral, Ormskirk, Formby, Chester and beyond over the next year or two.

I know it's a bit overwhelming attending wedding shows, and I'm sure by now you'll have forgotten who you saw that you liked so here is a little reminder of my wedding photography - click the link here, and you can even download the slideshow app to your phone or tablet, and share it with your friends too.

And great as always to meet up with old friends like Marry Me Films, Becky Brooks Singer, The Paper Doll, Hope Street Hotel, West Tower, Thornton Manor, Knowsley Hall, and Thistle Hotels. I loved meeting new friends too, like The White Attic, Red Floral Architecture, Natalie Ann Brides, and Mel from Beauty Studio.

Please Get in Touch

Have you tried to email me recently and the email just hasn't gone through? The fault has been located and sorted out and emails are now coming through again. So please resend to zoe@zoephotography.co.uk and I'll be happy to get back to you. Apologies for any inconvenience anyone has experienced.

Photographers! Last Chance to Help with the Survey

Any photographers and aspiring photographers, I'd love you to help if you have a moment. I will be closing my survey at 5pm tomorrow night where I am collecting information for my book aimed at photographers wanting to set up or grow their wedding photography business, ready to launch in 2013. Everyone who completes the survey and enters their email address will receive a free e-book as a thank you for your time.

Please click here to enter the survey before it closes at 5pm on Friday 14th December 2012. Thank you for you help - and thank you to all the photographers who have helped so far, I am so grateful that so many of you have helped me out completing this short survey. Thank you.

My 50 List Update

I keep getting asked how I'm doing with my 50 list (those of you new to this, I am doing 50 things, challenges to myself, some hard, some just because, and some for fun). So a quick update.

1. Do a stand up comedy routine DONE - and more than once. Toughest thing I've ever done!
2. Go to New York DONE - and doing it again next year for another item on the list ... see below.
3. Eat Breakfast at Tiffany's (eat a croissant out of a paper bag looking in the window of Tiffany's in NYC, of course!) - NOT DONE because it was pouring down when we were there so next time .... but I got Rob inside Tiffany and he bought me something :D
4. Visit Rome DONE
5. Visit Paris (again) NOT DONE
6. Visit Amsterdam for one day PLANNED
7. Visit London as a tourist (always seem to go for work reasons) PLANNED
8. Visit Prague NOT DONE
9. Sing at an Open Mike night IN TRAINING
10. Walk Ben Nevis IN TRAINING - next summer, here we come
11. Walk Scafell Pike IN TRAINING - next summer, here we come
12. Walk Snowdon IN TRAINING - next summer, here we come
13. Learn how to make perfect pastry off my Mum - DONE - and in fact, mmmm, let's make some mince pies :D
14. Learn how to make yummy chocolate - NOT DONE
15. Sell something on E-bay - TRYING, BUT NOT SOLD YET!
16. Go on the Williamson Tunnels tour - NOT DONE
17. Travel on the Yellow Duckmarine around Liverpool - DONE - and it was SUCH fun with my wonderful friend Mary.
18. Swear in front of my Dad! DONE
19. Volunteer for a week NOT DONE
20. Walk the Big Big Day 5K on my wedding anniversary DONE
21. Get the Ferry 'cross the Mersey PLANNED
22. Get under 11 stone DONE but I need to lose a bit more to be able to sustain that.
23. Be photographed in a 60s styled shoot NOT DONE
24. Cycle the Coast to Coast bike ride PLANNED and in training
25. Grow my own tomatoes DONE
26. Go to a rugby match - even though I have no idea what the heck they're doing on the pitch! NOT DONE
27. Go to a cricket match - might take a good book to alleviate the boredom though hehe NOT DONE
28. Go in one of those ball things that roll down hill PLANNED - got the partner now need to book the slot.
29. Go to a music festival (Leeds Festival tickets are booked!) DONE
30. Travel in an open top bus NOT DONE
31. Meet up with 5 people I only know through Facebook but have never met! PART DONE - met up with Vanessa Hall from Melbourne, and plans in place to meet up with others.
32. Write a book and get it published DONE - and the book became a bestseller on Amazon on the day it was published!
33. Test drive a Morgan NOT DONE
34. Be an extra on TV NOT DONE
35. Run the 10k route of Central Park, NYC PLANNED and in training
36. See the Northern Lights NOT DONE
37. Get a tattoo DONE - though only small and not quite finished because I burned my arm on top of the tattoo. Soup's dangerous, you know ;)
38. Go to the other side of the world DONE - and for such an unexpected and pleasurable reason (Nicole and Will's wedding)
39. .... I have 11 more to add - any ideas?

What a Weekend! The Business of Wedding Photography Book is Coming

This has been something of a whirlwind of a weekend. For sometime now I've been writing a book for wedding photographers on the business side of things and just not getting on far enough with it. And then I came across Alicia Dunams via Creative Live who was offering a virtual bootcamp, online training over an intensive weekend to take you from concept to publication. Now, Alicia is based in the US, and as far as time zones are concerned for me, the wrong side of the US! So the course didn't start each day until the evening, and went on into the early hours fo the morning. I'm exhausted, but it's worth it.

Some readers who follow my Facebook business page will have noticed that I have had exercises to complete over the weekend, including helping me get the title right - I think that still needs a bit of tweaking.

The working title is (it keeps changing!) "The Business of Wedding Photography: How to start and grow a profitable wedding photography business".

I am interested in including real life experiences from photographers in business and aspiring wedding photographers. Please email me (click here to email) if you have a story to tell and are happy to share it, and if you have a moment, I would really value you taking a few minutes to answer this short survey - click here to complete the survey. I know some of you have helped with a really short survey on Facebook - this one goes into a little more detail, so please answer using this survey if you are happy to help.

A huge thank you goes out to Alicia Dunams, and to the Bestseller in a Weekend community that I shared this workshop with. I'd give some particular mentions, but I think there are just too many and I'd miss some out. I am really excited to be getting my book finished and published, with a view to a launch date on 1st March 2013 (just in time for Focus on Imaging).

Thank to everyone who has helped so far, and who has agreed to help me in the coming weeks. This book can only help wedding photography as an industry.

Oh, and one more thing - there's a free e-book for everyone who completes the survey, as a little thank you for your help.