Paul Maven Photography

Majestic Hotel Wedding Fayre

2012-02-20T11:20:00.000Z

I will be exhibiting a wide range of wedding albums by Queensberry and Flamboyant Creations at this Sunday's Wedding Fair at the Majestic in Harrogate. Paul will be on hand to discuss your wedding photography requirements. Come along for some exclusive show only deals and free chocolate! See you there.

Harrogate Wedding Photographer

2012-01-16T14:10:00.003Z

Paul Maven Photography is now featured at http://www.weddingphotographyselect.co.uk/

A great resource for those seeking quality wedding photograpy.

Alexa's New Website

2011-12-23T05:04:00.000Z

Our friends at Alexa Van Pagh have a brand new website, and very nice it is too. I worked with Alexa a few months ago and was bowled over by her professionalism and expertise. Alexa has over ten years professional experience and works across North Yorkshire offering mobile beauty therapy, specialising in threading, lash enhancements and Aviva Inspires spray tanning.

Check out her great new site here.

Veiw Engagement Shoots on Flickr

2011-11-28T04:48:00.002Z

Rachana & Alvin Engagement Shoot 079, a photo by Paul Maven on Flickr.

A great way to get used to being in front of the camera before the big day.

Wedding Favourites

2011-11-22T04:55:00.002Z

Wedding Favourites, a set on Flickr.

As the season draws to a close and things slow down on the weddings front, a chance to reflect. Here then, a few past and present favourite wedding shots from the last couple of seasons.

Salford Quays

2011-11-18T13:07:00.002Z

Some shots I took early morning around Salford Quays this week. Some gorgeous autumn light and colours. Let me know what you think.

Beautiful Black & White

2011-10-21T16:54:00.000+01:00

I am nearly always asked about whether I can provide black & white images. This short slide show demonstrates just how effective they can be, and why many couples choose to include them in their album. Click here to view the video at its best or to watch more slideshows.

Back at Last

2011-10-20T08:27:00.002+01:00

After a very hectic summer season I am ready to start blogging again. I will be posting regular slide shows and images. Real weddings will also feature, and as usual these will be accompanied with links to top wedding suppliers from around the Yorkshire region.

So, without further ado, here is a short slide show from Abigail & Richards wedding which took place at Rudding Park this summer. Enjoy!

Leeds Loves Food

2011-07-06T11:09:00.003+01:00

I paid a visit to the fantastic Leeds Love Food festival last weekend. What a treat! If you haven't had the privilege, this is a three day event now in its fourth year. It show cases a whole range of superb culinary delights from around the region and beyond. I was hugely impressed with the range of world cuisine on show and was dizzy with the choice of what to have to eat! As much as I like them, fish and chips were definitely off the menu!

It was great to see the girls from Buttercream Cupcakes at the event. My six year old was hugely impressed! Incidentally, they have just launched their lovely new website, so please do check it out. It has a great gallery, menus and all the information you need to book these fantastic treats for your wedding.

I was also hugely impressed by a display put on by Suko Thai of Leeds and Harrogate. I ate their amazing Thai food on my birthday and the place is fantastic. These 'garnishes' were works of art. A flower carved from a water melon and a dragon carved from, believe it or not, a turnip! Stunning.

The Leeds Loves Food festival might be a good exercise in self control if you are on a strict calorie controlled diet! I for one will definitely be paying a visit next year!

You can view a wider selection of the images on my Facebook page. Why not 'Like" the page while you're on.

When it all comes together!

2011-06-01T13:27:00.030+01:00

It never ceases to amaze me the time and effort that goes into planning a wedding. Every element is researched, sourced, fine tuned and executed with astounding attention to detail. My most recent wedding was no exception. Rachana and Alvin were married at the stunning Sun Pavilion which is situated in the Valley Gardens, Harrogate. This superb Art Deco building is a perfect venue, especially for photographers! It is hugely photogenic and offers a myriad of opportunities, both indoors and out. And with the weather being something you cannot plan for, consideration should be given to choosing a venue that can cater for bad weather photography. As you can see, we were lucky with the weather.

The Pavilion was beautifully enhanced by a stunning display of flowers supplied by Arcadian Weddings. Again, the attention to detail was evident, with the displays being shown to their full potential via luxury urns and augmented by an aisle carpet of roses.

The addition of a Harpist and unique seat covers (provided by Posh Frocks 4 Chairs) further complimented the luxury feel of the Pavilion.

The Valley Gardens are perfect for photography, and provide a host of (free!) settings. Even on the busiest of days, a quiet setting can be found.

The dress is possibly the most personal consideration for the bride. Rachana employed the able services of Hoops a Daisy, based in Wakefield. The rings were provided by Image Jewelry, also of Wakefield. Hair was by Laura Peters at The Uber Rooms, Wakefield and make-up was by Pam Lota, Harvey Nicholls - Leeds.

The evening reception was held at Harrogate's Old Swan Hotel, walking distance from the Sun Pavilion. The Old Swan has a history dating back 200 years, and is famously linked with crime writer Agatha Christie. Victorian splendour could describe the surroundings, which are all very photogenic, especially at night, when the front of the hotel is illuminated. The Old Swan is licensed for civil ceremonies and have a range of room sizes depending on number of guests attending.

The very tasty cupcakes supplied by Mama Doreen's of Harrogate proved to be hugely popular with the evening guests, who tucked in before being entertained by Delsonic. As well as providing a fantastic sound system, they also created a hugely atmospheric visual backdrop for the first dance.

And the whole day was faithfully recorded by Picture House Wedding Films. Picture House provide a high class service and have over 15 years experience. They remained totally unobtrusive all day, always aware of what was going on around them and dovetailing into the way I work perfectly! Video is often an after thought for couples, a sort of bolt on if there is 'enough money'. Picture House were using at least three HD cameras on the day, and a fantastic portable device used for creating lovely gliding 'tracking' shots, which you can check out in the sample below. So money well spent!

The list of elements that go to make up the whole wedding day experience can be as long or as short as you want it to be, and is obviously dependent on budget. This post has shown a glimpse of that list. What was evident on the day, was the care and attention that went into the building of that list. It is important that you source suppliers that are prepared to go the extra distance to reciprocate that care and attention.

What is so special about a Queensberry album anyway?

2011-05-24T11:55:00.000+01:00

A wedding album is not just a receptacle for photographs. It is a family heirloom. Something that is picked up regularly and viewed lovingly. It needs to be tactile, yet robust enough to deal with the years. The materials used should be varied enough to reflect your style and tastes. It needs to be modern, utilise contemporary design and yet retain those classic elements that will prevent it from dating. A tall order indeed.......

The Power of Recommendation

2011-03-31T11:26:00.008+01:00

The purpose of this blog has always been to provide you with a range of answers to pertinent questions relating to your wedding photography. It also is my intention to direct you to other quality suppliers in the region.

It would be quite easy for any business owner to spend spend spend when it comes to promotion and advertising. Not a week goes by without a handful of calls relating to this very subject, all of them trying to get me to part with my hard earned cash! And the same goes to you the client. When planning your wedding you will be faced with a whole range of choices and a shed load of business owners all vying for position in a very competitive market. It is hardly any wonder that the most effective form of advertising is without doubt word of mouth. So after a number of visits to a Harrogate based professional make-up artist, Alexa Van Pagh, my wife could not recommend her enough. I hasten to add that she was referring to my approaching her as a business contact and not my need for a make up artist! A few months have passed and I am now in the position of having met and worked with Alexa on a recent shoot. Alexa has been a professional make up artist for over 10 years, and has now established her reputation as a bridal make up artist and beauty therapist at the forefront of her field. She offers a full range of therapy solutions at her lovely Harrogate lounge and also offers a full visiting service. Contact Alexa. The shoot took place at The Harrogate Wedding Lounge. The ethos behind the Wedding Lounge is to offer brides "an unforgettable service" when planning their wedding as well as offer a superb range of stunning bridal wear from industry leading names such as Maggie Sottero Ronald Joyce and MGNY. You can also view a great range of accessories in the "unstuffy" atmosphere.

Our four models were expertly made up by Alexa, and then were handed over to the equally talented Hayley, founder of the Harrogate Wedding Lounge.

Also in attendance were Blush Bespoke Flowers, also of Harrogate. The display at the lounge was stunning, and put the finishing touch to the lovely surroundings we were shooting in. A few of the results are on display below. A big thank you to all concerned and I hereby recommend them all!

How about that vintage shoot, Alexa!

Do I have to smile!

2011-02-18T10:07:00.000Z

It is a fact that most couples I photograph often state that they are not comfortable in front of the camera and are not looking forward to having their photograph taken all day. To be perfectly honest, I am not that keen on being in front of the lens myself! It is also a fact that in my experience, most couples (even camera shy grooms!) are swept away with the whole occasion and more often than not are real posers on the day! Having said that, the inclination for someone who is not used to being in front of a photographer is to stand square onto camera, be unsure as to what to do with their hands and smile, smile, smile! Of course, the skill of a good wedding photographer is to put people at their ease, as well as pose them correctly. And although my job is to capture the joy of the day, I often tell people to stop smiling and look away from the camera. This means that the face muscles don't go into a cramp from smiling continuously for 6 hours! It also makes for a more natural, relaxed feel to the photography. Candid shots of people smiling and laughing, in my opinion, work much better.

Its all in the detail.

2011-02-09T20:54:00.000Z

Detail shots of your wedding are important. When so much preparation and planning goes into every aspect of your day, it needs to be recorded! Flowers, the dress, the cake, the layout of your room, all are part of the story of your day, and I love detailing these elements.

Your wedding photography should not just be about those physical details, however important they are. Sometimes a fleeting moment caught on camera or a grouping of articles on a table are just as revealing to the viewer as shots of the cake and dress. The skill of the wedding photographer is to gather all of that detail and keep an eagle eye open for those fleeting decisive moments.

When the wind blows.....

2011-02-07T14:50:00.006Z

So on a day like this a few images of windy weddings are fitting. These shots were taken on days when confetti travels horizontally! All good fun but hair stylists hate it! And not surprisingly. Debbie & Stephen got married at Lindisfarne Castle, a stunning spot but prone to a touch of sea breeze now and again! This was just such a great day! It was small wedding, just a handful of guests. So despite the fresh breeze this was one of my favourite weddings of last year. Lindisfarne is a truly fantastic place to get married. It can be found on Holy Island, which is connected to the Northumberland Coast via a tidal causeway, and provides for some spectacular backdrops for your wedding photography.

Q. What happens if it rains on my wedding day?

2011-01-27T08:08:00.005Z

How many photographs will you take? Can the shots be made black and white? How much of the day will you cover? All these are questions I am asked by clients on a regular basis. And I can give an answer to all the above. Being asked what will happen if it rains is another matter. The last thing a couple want on their wedding day is for the heavens to open and the day to be a wash out. They want the sun to be shining and the few clouds in the sky to be white and fluffy! And after literally years of preparation and planning, who can blame them!

Is a wet day an absolute disaster, it is a question that couples need to ask themselves and perhaps this story will help. Before I launch into that story, it is worth noting that bright sunny days are, from a photographic point of view, a bit of a headache! The light is harsh and contrasty, producing unflattering shadows. People also tend to squint a lot; I once heard someone say that the gathered throng standing in high summer sun, hands held up to their eyes in a mock salute, looked like the participants at a Benny Hill convention! I would be getting people into the shade on overtly sunny days for their comfort and to improve the quality of the light. Photographers LOVE overcast days!

Back to the story. Its mid summer and I am driving up the A69 in Northumberland on my way to photograph an outdoor wedding. It is taking place under canvas in the brides parents garden, a fantastic spot overlooking the Tyne valley. Only the view was utterly obscured by rain clouds, which had been dumping their contents for two days solid. The A69 was closed due to severe flooding 10 minutes after I drove up it. When I arrived at my destination, the caterers were trying to find some power to run their ovens, as the generators they brought with them were water logged and were slowly sinking into the mud. Guests were using sticks to push the gathered water from the marquee roof as it was in danger of collapsing. It was pretty wet!

The bride was traveling up from Newcastle and was as a result very late. I think she was escorted in by the Police. And the punch line? The couple live in the British Virgin Islands and had made the journey over from the sunny Caribbean to be married in the English summer countryside.

What a disaster. Well, completely the opposite actually. They made the most of their day. We had brollies. We used portable studio flash and soft boxes (which we take to EVERY wedding) to do small intimate indoor groups. The bride wore wellies and we got great shots. And I am talking about the day that people were rowing boats down streets in Morpeth, a few short miles away.

Although I cannot control the weather, I can plan for what will happen if it does rain. Your wedding photography is the story of your day, and if it's wet, why disguise it. Make the most of it and the photography will take care of itself.

So when speaking to photographers it's a good idea to ask them 'what happens if it rains on my wedding day!'

A shot of the happy couple under canvas!

View a real wedding

2011-01-25T16:15:00.001Z

Photographers are often accused of selecting the very best two or three shots from each wedding and putting these on public show. Obviously, as a photographer selling a product, I want potential clients to see my best work. It is also important to be transparent with clients, and what better way than to showcase a full albums worth of images. My latest Facebook Album features a set of copper toned images of a wedding I shot in Newcastle last year. I would love to hear your feedback!

Looking for inspiration?

2011-01-25T14:16:00.000Z

I try and look at other photographers work on a regular basis. It is utterly pointless being a visual artist without looking around. Its how I improve. On my travels I happened across this fantastic wedding blog Take a look, it's full of great photography and has a wealth of ideas regarding your wedding. It has a lovely fresh feel to it and stood out from the dozen or so I looked at this afternoon. Nice One!

On Line Gallery

2011-01-24T17:40:00.001Z

You can see loads more examples of my work on my Flickr stream

Buttercream Cupcakes

2010-10-19T19:20:00.000+01:00

Possibly far to delicious for their own good! I had the distinct pleasure of being in very close proximity to the Buttercream Cupcakes stand at the wedding and lifestyle show. These delights are very much in demand at the moment as an alternative to more traditional wedding cakes or just as an attractive and tasty addition to the wedding breakfast. Buttercream Cupcakes was founded by Natasha Spreckley in 2009 having spent many years as a child enjoying her grandmother and aunties baking and it has now grown rapidly into a home based business. Their delicious home baked cupcakes are made from only the finest ingredients including free range eggs and fair trade chocolate, then finished off by hand with a variety of frostings and toppings.

Thanks for the free cake girls!

How much does quality cost: a note on pricing

2010-10-19T19:10:00.000+01:00

Over the years, I have used many album suppliers. Suppliers come and go, as fads and fashions are reflected in book styles. In fact, I have been stung a few times in recent years, buying sample albums from companies that shortly after have gone under. So what is different about my current supplier, the New Zealand based company Queensberry. I first saw examples of the books a few years ago, and was blown away buy their build quality, luxurious feel and look. The company ethos is quite simple, why settle for good enough, strive for as good as it gets! What helps set these wedding albums apart as well as their luxury brand status, is the fact that you the client can choose from a wide selection of page styles, cover materials and book shapes to ensure that your album is truly bespoke, unique to you. I have never seen two books alike. As far as I am concerned, Queensberry albums are miles ahead of the competition on this score alone.

The books are not, as you can see if you have looked at the film, off the shelf. They are lovingly put together. And holding one in your hands gives you that definite feeling of quality that is hard to describe.

"Is this quality going to cost me an arm and a leg" is often asked of me. Well, the books are not cheap. In fact I look at it as a true sign of quality that a typical Queensberry book costs me more to buy than some of the less reputable photographers out there are charging for an entire package! I suppose you have to ask your self what do you want from your wedding photography. A book to stick photographs in, or piece of timeless design that you will pick up in twenty years time and be proud of.

Suffice to say my other samples are gathering dust; nice as they are, they simply cannot compare. What can I say, I was married in May of this year. Our album is going to be a Queensberry.

Made By Hand from Queensberry Partners on Vimeo.

Timings: how long will my photography take?

2010-10-19T19:06:00.001+01:00

So, I am sat in front of the couple and have established that the service ends at 2.00pm and that the guests are due to sit down to eat at 3.30pm!

With a smile on my face I politely explain this leaves only 90 minutes to get everyone out of the church, allow for milling around and congratulations, start the process of shooting the 15 separate group shots they have asked for (only after the illusive Uncle Dave has been found!), usher everyone onto the waiting bus (which is 10 minutes late!), drive the 25 miles to the reception venue, shoot the additional group shots (but only after all your guests have grabbed a drink, been to the loo and found the illusive Uncle Dave again) and take stunning technically perfect pictures of you, the couple, looking relaxed. We then have to hand over to the venue for your receiving line. And as venues/chefs DO NOT like to be kept waiting, this needs to happen ON TIME!

A nightmare scenario perhaps. But allowing adequate time for your photography is often overlooked, if not undervalued.

How much time should I allow? I suppose the way to answer this is to imagine the weddings you have been to your self. A common concern is that as a guest you have been 'kept standing around for hours' by a photographer who spent 'hours' taking pictures and 'shouting at guests'. You naturally do not want this for your guests; you want them to have a good day without having to hang around for hours. But if inadequate time has been allocated, you either have to knock things back, sit down late for your meal or sacrifice time with your photographer. And although it is very rare, wedding cars do break down, or traffic jams do occur between the church and the reception venue. Allow for this in your planning. At the end of the day, you cannot buy this time back on the day. I do work fast, but I am thorough and like to keep things as relaxed as possible. I also pride myself in always handing couples over to venues on time or preferably early! And sometimes do this whilst working to VERY tight schedules.

Having said all of this, my experience has shown that timing is taken into consideration, and that the majority of couples have done their research and allowed plenty of time for photography. I also produce a detailed running order with couples at a pre-wedding meeting, and can advise on timings based on experience. It can be the case however that venues and meal times are arranged before booking a photographer. It is therefore important to consider building plenty of time for photography and possible unforeseen circumstances into your day. As a rule of thumb, a two-hour time slot for photography (excluding shots at the church and travel) would seem sensible, (although as a photographer more time is always desirable). This allows time for drinks, comfort breaks, you actually talking with your guests and finding the illusive Uncle Dave again!

Why having two photographers at your wedding is such a bonus

2010-10-19T18:57:00.001+01:00

As standard my wedding photography packages come with two photographers. Why is this needed, I am often asked. Well, having your wedding photographed by two photographers is not essential, but there are very good reasons why. I photographed many weddings on my own before joining forces with female wedding photographer Nicky Rogerson. Indeed, many wedding photographers still shoot on their own, with fantastic results. And seeing as my outlay is greater, (I 'buy in' Nicky's services for the day), what possible reasons do I have. Is it because we are only half as good as those super human single shooters!

Well, no. I shoot weddings as part of a team for a few reasons. Logistically, it was always a bit of a rush having to start a typical day at the Bride's house, capturing the preparations, and then darting over to the grooms house, and then rushing over to the church, usually frantically juggling an A to Z! Having two of us shooting simultaneously is so much more relaxed. Mostly for us! This is important however, as if we are relaxed, not having to constantly clock watch, then more often than not this is transmitted to you the client. And having a female photographer on hand to shoot the bridal preparations is perhaps a little less imposing!

It also means, for example, while one of us may be shooting portraits of the couple in the church, the other can be setting up group shots.

Secondly, and for me of much greater importance, we see things in very different ways. Although our styles compliment each other, they are different. We are both exponents of reportage wedding photography. But we both had very different routes to our current styles. We therefore are able to tell your story via two perspectives. And this adds a great dynamic to your photographs. It also means that the same scene is often photographed by the two of us at the same time, resulting in very natural shots.

So, it is more expensive in terms of overheads for me, but of huge value in terms of final product. And that is my primary concern.

This is a shot taken candidly by myself as the main group respond to Nicky.

Welcome to my Blog!

2010-10-19T16:20:00.005+01:00

What could be more boring than a photographers blog! Who, apart from other photographers, would possibly be interested?

Well, I am definitely NOT going to be talking about fstops and equipment. I will however be using this blog as a sort of question and answer section. I get asked a lot of questions by couples about their wedding package, what is included in the price, how the day will work etc

This blog will therefore address those issues, and as a result, hopefully appeal to you the client rather than other photographers. No offence to my contemporaries who might be reading.

It will look at budgets, timings, photographic styles and trends, running orders, choosing images, albums and other delights! In fact, all the things that you the client ask me. And in short bursts! A few paragraphs rather than an essay. So hopefully, in a nutshell, of use!

And please do get in touch via the link on this page with your questions or comments.

I will also add pictures from the season as it unfolds. To start, a shot taken at Linton Falls in the Dales, featuring Coral and Chris.

Paul