Lena & Thomas at The Beaumont Estate
India and Austria came together recently for an exotic winter wedding at the Beaumont Estate near Windsor. It was a pleasure to meet and work with Suzie Jay of Chasing Moments Photography who had a nice low key approach and was obviously capturing some very special images. The reception was held in the recently restored 19th century chapel which is quite an amazing place as you can see.
As usual I had great feedback from the wedding. Lena kindly complemented me, quote from her e-mail:-
"It’s official, you are a genius! Just returned from Vienna to the most fantastic DVD, we really are both thrilled with the results. Despite this being my own wedding (I’m not being biased here!) it is undoubtedly the best wedding DVD I have watched, there is not a single dull moment, the quality is spectacular, you captured all the right moments and the music blends perfectly."
Whitney & Andrew at Christ Church Cathedral and Blenheim Palace
Fabulous locations and perfect weather helped make this a day to remember for Andy and his American bride Whitney. The Cathedral in Oxford city central is beautiful but quite a challenge to access, particularly with two cameras, tripods, gadget bag etc. but hey, nobody said this is an easy job and I was determined as ever to capture the best possible footage.
I was working again with old pal and top photographer Stuart Bebb and his local knowledge was invaluable enabling us both get our best but individual views of the day.
A magical moment was as Whitney & Andy walked through the grand corridors and squares on the campus. They came across a group of very excited Italian student tourists who spontaneously sang "Happy Wedding to you" to the tune of Happy Birthday. Fortunately I was able to capture this moment in the best possible way - on video - and even Stuart admitted that photos would not do justice to it.
Then followed a fun trip back to Blenheim Palace on a London bus. With the sun out but storm clouds in the distance we took Stuart & Andy on a buggy ride around the palace grounds. I can't think of another venue with quite so many photo opportunities so we were only too pleased to make the most of it.
As usual it was great to get Stuart & Andy's feedback. They told me that they loved the DVD, had watched it many times and thought it a wonderful way to remember the day. Job done!
Therese & Alastair at Sanctum on the Green
Gorgeous Therese recently wed lucky Alastair at the fabulous Sanctum on the Green. Situated in the picturesque village of Cookham Dean, the glamorous country retreat has individually designed bedrooms, a blacked-out heated swimming pool and a hot tub. The vintage style restaurant is headed up by Michelin Star celebrity chef. So great food and loads of character, the Sanctum is now one of my favourite wedding venues.
They had an outdoor ceremony in the garden followed by drinks around the pool and a fun photo session with photographer Roger Brown around the village green. I hadn't worked with Roger for some time so as usual we swapped wedding news and enjoyed a chat over our very tasty meal.
We stayed until the early part of the dancing and for once it wasn't too far to drive home!
Shoot It Yourself?
On Dragon's Den this week was a new wedding videography company called Shoot It Yourself. It's basically what it says on the tin i.e. they loan you one or two cameras, give you tips on how to operate it then you or your guests film the wedding. The company then edits the result to a short montage of 20-30mins. The real selling point is that they make it look a lot of fun and, because it's done by friends/family you should get good reactions. Well it looks fun on their demo anyway with lots of gurning at camera and cheesy sound bites despite the awful wobbly out of focus shots. Strangely the service isn't much cheaper than a professionally produced film but if that's how couples want their weddng video to look then maybe it's the way to go.
But I was hoping a Dragon would say "I wouldn't want to give any of my family or friends the responsibility of doing this. If it went wrong I'd never forgive them and besides it would ruin their enjoyment of the day, so I'm outta here"
But they didn't.
Dodging Summer Showers
Despite the poor weather this summer was as busy as ever. It's surprising how often the sun comes out on a Saturday afternoon even when a day of rain is forecast and all my weddings managed to dodge the showers for the important parts of the day. Here are just a few of the lovely weddings I filmed. I'd love to tell you about them but so little time, so much to do!
Maria & Rob certainly had a sunny day in June with a reception at The Runnymede-on-Thames hotel. I had filmed Maria's friends Roberta & Franco the year before so as ever being there on recommendation was a big bonus. Maria's Sicilian family were very welcoming to myself and Rob's family and they made it a very lively day as you can see! Fortunately I haven't had any unwelcome or sinister visits from "The Family" as they all loved their DVD. Phew!
Later in June Ann and Jordi dodged the showers to perfection in Marlow. A downpour eased up just as they took the boat over the Thames to The Compleat Angler and the sun shone for a lovely photo session by the river until the moment they entered the hotel for reception when the heavens opened. Jordi is Dutch and had plenty of family and friends there. I believe they are the tallest race on earth, it certainly looked like it to me. Love was definitely in the air all day. Thanks to top photographers Mark & Tris aka Lord and Leverett Lifestyle Photography for being great to work with and good company.
Heavy rain was forecast in July for Fiona and Thomas's wedding at the fabulous and historic old church of St.Nicholas in Compton, Surrey. Fiona wanted to walk to the church and sure enough the rain ceased a few minutes before she left the cottage and didn't resume until they entered the marquee a few hours later. 
Also in July Melissa and Kevin were married at fabulous Wasing Park where I am fortunate to be recommended. They and most of the guests came up from Kent having fallen in love with Wasing and I met them there for the first time on the day. A family friend was doing the photos which put them at ease and as you see they were a stylish and funky couple!
Vaida from Lithuania and Stephen from N.Ireland were married at impressive Warbrook House recently and there were no showers to dodge for their fine day. Thanks to photographer Guy Collier for being such good company on the day.
Filming Online Art Lessons
Most of my filming work is for weddings which I always enjoy but it's refreshing to do other work occasionally. Over the last few years I have been working with local artist Dee Cowell to produce a series of online instructional videos. Dee is renowned internationally for her watercolours, oils and pastel work. She is also a brilliant art tutor and has decided to share her knowledge and experience of art techniques and materials with students around the world.
I was always top in art at school but stupidly never followed it up so it has been great for me to have these lessons while I filmed! The lessons are free so anyone, anywhere can benefit from them on http://www.virtual-artstudent.com .
Spring Weddings
This year's glorious spring and Royal Wedding/Kate Middleton fever has given me lots of beautiful weddings and lovely couples to film so not much time for keeping the BW blog up to date, but here goes!
Victoria & Joe were married at the historic and romantic Notley Abbey. The sun shone all day as it did for all my spring weddings. My pal and top photographer Neale James did the honours.
Holly & Henry married at Wycombe Abbey School where I had filmed her sister Kirsten five years ago. They had a vintage car ride around the grounds which was good fun, apart from me risking my life clinging to the running board for a shot as you see. I didn't realise vintage cars could go so fast! It was so nice to see Kirsten's young family with little George and Amelia almost stealing the show.
Claire & Ben married at The Grand Hotel, Eastbourne. It was my second wedding at this very grand Victorian venue and a chance to meet up with another pal, local photographer Peter Prior.
Faye & Gok married at the Prince Regent Hotel, Chigwell. Many thanks to amiable photographer Joe D Miles who recommended me for this very colourful and lively day. I stayed all evening to cover Turkish traditional dancing including disco, the pot dance, a belly dancer (wow) and pinning the money. Unfortunately they hadn't heard of that old English traditional dance of "pinning the money on the videographer".
Tracey & Raymond's reception was at Stirrups Country House Hotel. Evening entertainment was provided by Elvis Shmelvis who is a class act. As you can see he actually looks a bit like him (unlike many impersonators) and he has a great voice to match.
BW is First to Film Kate Middleton Walking Down the Aisle – True!
Yes it's really true, I've beaten the BBC and SKY to film Kate Middleton "walking down the aisle". Twenty years ago I filmed a wedding where Kate was a bridesmaid together with her sister Pippa and her little brother James was a pageboy. I have lovely shots of them all including "walking down the aisle" - behind the bride that is. I can only tell you that nine year old Kate looked shy and very sweet so it's fascinating to think that I was actually filming the future Queen.
World wide syndication is worth a small fortune according to the red top newspaper which contacted me recently asking my permission to use it. I must give credit to the paper which had been given a guest's copy tape but recognised that I owned the copyright of the video. I must admit my first thoughts involved money, lots of it and the paper chased me daily for my permission to use the video. They kept saying it was harmless and nobody could take offence. Maybe, but to me my copyright means having the sole right to sell copies to family and friends but not broadcasting it worlwide. To me that would break a confidence and reputation that I have taken many years to cultivate.
So I have decided that the master tape is staying in my loft (actually it is now in a far safer place) and I am not going to retire to Monaco. Instead I'll happily carry on filming my weddings, I may add "By Appointment to HM" to my sales blurb and if you see me at a wedding and buy me a drink at the bar I may tell you the full story!
POST WEDDING: Well I thought it was a fabulous wedding, a great advert for getting married and booking a professional video! Having seen Kate as a bridesmaid I was amazed to see that the two little ones were dressed exactly the same as she was 20 years ago, complete with the halos of flowers on their heads. Also it was fascinating to see how they had grown up but remained similar characters to how they appeared in my video. Kate was the quietest one, Pippa more outgoing and James was extrovert and full of fun.
Did I have second thoughts about whether I had made the right decision, you bet I did!
Lucy & Michael – Rockingham Castle
If you've read Claire & Gregor's Scottish wedding below you'll know that Michael is Claire's bother, and that Lucy's sister Emma was.....I've lost track again but anyway they are all beautiful weddings.
Lucy and Michael were married in Oakham School Chapel where friendly, multitasking vicar Revd. Alex Aldous not only conducted the service but found time to chauffeur the wedding car! They had a lovely warm spring day with reception at fabulous Rockingham Castle near Market Harborough. The castle has been privately owned by the same family for 450 years and stand magnificently on high ground visible from miles around.
Lucy's father arranged an air display by two suicidal stunt planes. Great for video and it made the most of the "big skies" that the area seems to have.
It was a pleasure to meet and work with local photographer Nigel Ord Smith who was relaxed and professional throughout the day. As usual with photographers we enjoyed a good chat over our meal and look forward to working with each other sometime.
That man Gregor (Lucy's new brother-in-law from the Scottish wedding) was there again. If you read the previous posting you'll know that he was not keen on having a video. Well now that he'd seen my DVD he'd changed his mind and could not thank me enough. I love all that as you know by now! Then Michael paid me a big compliment in his speech telling everyone that "Barry's DVD of Claire & Gregor's wedding had been watched more times than Titanic". I don't often blush.
Claire & Gregor – Aberlady Church & Lennoxlove House, nr Edinburgh
This is a very delayed post, blogging seems to take so much time, but this was a special wedding. OK they are all special but this was my first trip to Edinburgh and I took the opportunity to have an extra day to look around. What a fabulous city it is to visit. This wedding was one of dozens now all starting from one I did about twelve years ago. I was already booked to film Claire's brother Michael's wedding next April to Lucy, the sister of Emma whose wedding I did six years ago whose mother was a friend of.... and so it goes on. I understood that the splendid and very Scottish Gregor was not too keen to be filmed, I like a challenge........
15th century Aberlady Church is in a picturesque setting right on the coast. It goes without saying that bagpipes and kilts were everywhere. The sun shone all day, despite gathering clouds in the west over the city. Being November the light was failing when we arrived at the dramatic Lennoxlove House.
I knew fireworks were planned but the heavens opened in the early evening and torrential rain hammered the marquee. This crowd were not the types to be put off easily. Dozens of white brollies and those silver foil sheets that marathon runners wear were produced. The fireworks went ahead in front of a spectacular crowd of guests glistening white and silver in the floodlights. Great for my video!
Needless to say that Gregor was a natural on film and seemed to enjoy it. At the end of the day he thanked me very much and I was to see him again in April. See my next post!