Emma And Stephen Lissanoure Castle Wedding

I had a wonderful time a few weeks back doing a pre-wedding shoot for Emma and Stephen.
It was a lot of fun and we got to know each other a bit better before their 'big day' which was last weekend.

I really enjoyed this brief shoot and it only filled me with anticipation about what was to come on the actual wedding day.

The venue for the wedding was St Saviours Parish Church in Conor and then this was followed by a reception at Lissanoure Castle. Thankfully the weather held up on the day and we managed to get some lovely shots. Emma and Stephen have received their broof book of images and are now deciding on the ones they would liek to include in their album.

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The following is a little sample of what is to come:-

Colin Turtle Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer

http://www.colinturtle.co.uk/

Tips for your Wedding Photography

Don't take chances.

You only get one chance at wedding photography so make so make sure you get a qualified photographer who is a member of a professional organisation. Uncle Bob might indeed have a good camera and be a decent photographer but there is a lot more to wedding photography than simply taking the pictures. Also your professional will have experience of several situarions and have equipment to deal with the weather etc. Also he must be fully qualified and insured.

Make sure you see complete albums of weddings and not just the best shot from lots of weddings or
portfolio training days.

Look at how everything is arranged and organised in the photographs. You will be spending a significant amount of money on your wedding and dress and you want everything to look great. Check the pictures for bits and pieced of debris that have not been noticed by the photographer. You want a photographer who notices all these things and address them quickly and properly.

Look at the how group shots are arranged. Inexperienced photographers will often fail to organize groups properly resulting in awkward and unsightly arrangements, or worse some people being hidden.

Consult with your photographer about time. It is better to allow too much time and have some free to spend with your guests rather than having a to rush and perhaps have to miss some of the photographs you wanted. As a general rule you need to leave roughly 3-4 hours from the start of the ceremony to the start of the meal plus driving time. This might seem like a lot but if you take out roughtly 60-80mins for the ceremony and allow for a couple of locations etc it is better to have a little extra time and have a relaxed approach rather than continually watching the clock to ensure you are on time for your meal. It also allows a bit of contingency for trafffic or possible breakdowns etc.

Have a alternative plan for your pictures in the event of bad weather or other problems.
Does your venue provide a room where pictures could be taken etc.

Think of the time of year. Remember in some months of the year it can be dark in early afternoon so the lovely gargens that you saw in August with the great blooms might not be possible if your wedding ceremony is at 1:30. I normally suggest that winter weddingd shoudl be as early as possible to allow for the limited time for outdoor shots.

Ideally the hairdresser and makeup artist to get the bride ready first before anyone else.
There are a number of good reasons for this.
1: You will be ready in plenty of time and can relax.
2: Your photographer will have time for bridal portraiture shots with you while the others are getting sorted.
3: It avoids the scenario where your photographer has to leave for the church without photographs of you ready
4: The photographer can 'stage' a few shots of you 'leaving home' etc

Ask your photographer if he can supply you with details of other weddings he has done that you could contact for feedback, though this shoudl not be a major factor.
(This might not be possible because not everyone will agree to having their details passed on. In addition no-one is going to give details of a reference unless they are fairly sure it will be a good one!, but it is still worth asking)



Wedding Photographer in Northern Ireland

www.colinturtle.co.uk

Orla and Paul at Garron Tower Engagement

A wee while ago I had a mornings fun with Orla and Paul for a pre-wedding/engagement shoot. I had actually the pleasure of knowing Orla and Paul after covering Orlas sisters wedding in 2009 and must have done something right as they have booked me for their own wedding next year.

Anyway we headed off early one morning during the Easter holiday break to Garron Tower school near Carnlough a bit of fun. The following are a few of the shots that were taken
















Colin Turtle Northern Ireland Photographer
http://www.colinturtle.co.uk/

Engagement and Pre-Wedding Photographs

A pre wedding or engagement shoot is a great way to get to know your photographer better. It is a chance to have a bit of fun and try out a few things so it builds a rapport and really helps you to relax in front of the camera, and have fun!
It also allows your photographer to get a feeling for the type of shots you enjoy and it also allows us to experiment a little and find out exactly what works best for you
Lifestyle shoots are very casual & relaxed and fun. It is a great chance to get out in the fresh air go for a walk and get great pictures!

Normally these would be scheduled as a weekday or evening session.

The location of the shoot is entirely up to you. It could be a garden or park. It might be somewhere that holds special significance to you. There are also a multitude of beautiful locations in Northern Ireland. It might be somewhere you go simply to walk the dog or ride your horse (if you have one) . On that front pets are also welcome (though I draw the line at lions and tigers).
Belfast Castle, Carrickfergus Castle, Dunluce Castle, Glenarm ,Various Beaches, Glenariff, Crawfordsburn, Roe Valley, Mussenden, Bishops Gate, Botanic Gardens, the list is endless.

In terms of what to wear my advice is always to wear what ever you feel most comfortable in and something practical. Casual outdoor clothing. Jeans are great, and sensible shoes. Stiletto heels and forest paths are not a good mix.
Dress according to the time of year and the weather we dont want anyone getting frostbite, it should be fun and enjoyable and it wont be if you are freezing.

Rain is not a problem as we can usually find some shelter and can always use an umbrella. Admittedly if there is a force 10 gale and it is blowing a blizzard we might have to reconsider our options. Dont work we wont do anything unsafe, unless YOU fancy your shots abseiling down a cliff!

Sometimes we also use a picture from your pre-wedding shoot and get a 'signing board' made. This can be taken to your wedding and all the guests sign the mounting board and the result can then be framed thus you have a totally unique picture for the wall with all your guests names etc.


You are under no obligation purchase any photographs from a pre wedding shoot -
unless you are so delighted you just cannot help yourself!

The pre wedding photoshoot is the perfect ice-breaker - and a great deal of fun!


Colin Turtle
Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer
http://www.colinturtle.co.uk/

Fun -Lifestyle Kids

Kids generally get a bit intimidated and dont enjoy a formal portrait session so I love to simply let them go out and enjoy themselves having fun and then they really do not even notice the camera. Here are a few shot taken 'at play' in the Roe Vally Country Park.








































Photographer in Northern Ireland
Colin Turtle
http://www.colinturtle.co.uk/

Avoid the Stress

Your wedding day is one of the most important days in your life and you will possibly have spent months and even years making the plans.
With all the planning etc that goes on it is very easy for what should be an enjoyable fun occasion to become very stressful.

However a little bit of planning and common sense can help ensure everything runs smoothly and as stress free as possible.
Bottom line is dont worry, the hotel,wedding photographer , florist, drivers etc are paid to do that for you.!!

Budget:
It is important to have a rough idea of your budget in mind and work out what you expect to spend in each area.Often this will change significantly but it is a good starting point. There is no point is looking at wonderful exotic flower arrangements for the entire bridal party if it would blow 90% of your entire budget.

Planning your guest list
At the initial planning stage try and work out a rough list of guests. This gives you an idea of approximate numbers attending the ceremony and the reception , this may be a deciding factor on where you have your reception.
Visit your venues and meet with the hotel to discuss your menu options and approximate numbers also agree the costs for each menu to ensure you are remaining within the budget.

Decide on your bridal party bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen, ushers, flower girls etc..
This can often be an area of some contention as you dont want to leave some out for fear of offending etc. However you must know who will be on your bridal party before you can start considering the outfits.

The Girls
Dresses can be bought for very little or as much as you’re willing to pay , there are also plenty of places to hire on a limited budget.
Consider the style of the dress as it is important that it suits the bride in particular, however you should also what will look good on your bridesmaids etc.
Not all styles and colours will suit everyone. In all cases the bridesmaid’s dresses complement the brides dress but the brides dress is the most important.

Make-up
I would suggest that you get a professional make up artist for the day , no matter how confident you are it is one less thing to worry about .
A professional will be much more aware of what works and does not for wedding photographs and various skin tones .
It is important that the makeup does not look shiny or this will show up in the photographs. Arrange for someone to carry a small portion of makeup to
allow you to touch it up throughout the day

Hair
Your hairdresser or stylist will be able to make recommendation on a suitable style for you hair for the wedding this wmay also be impacted by the dress you have chosen.
It is worth having a couple of 'trial runs' to ensure you are comfortable with any style.

The Boys
Clothing the men is not really that difficult. Normall the men hire the suits in a sytle agreed with the bride and groom. Sot it is just a case of ensuring htat the correct sizes etc are
got and that the colours are appropriate. If you have decided on special outfits e.g. Highland wear ask the outfitters to demonstrate how it shoudl be worn etc
unless you are confident in this area yourself.

Insurance
I am often asked about my own professional insurance and can confirm that I am fully insured. However it is also worth you considering taking out wedding insurance, it is relatively inexpensive and will protect you in the case of any disasters, which may affect your wedding plans. Many people find it reassuring to have this insurance and there are many different providers who can arrange cover for you.


Colin Turtle
Northern Ireland Photographer
Colin Turtle Photography

About - Colin Turtle

Even at school I was interested in photography and like most boys - cars. So I loved going to see car rallys and trying to get shots with my little camera. The I moved to SLRS and began to take people and landscapes (they did not move as quickly).

But it was really just a hobby until I got asked to cover a relatives wedding. That then led to being asked to do some others and it has progressed over the years from there . I now cover weddings and portraits as well as having a decent portfolio of Fine Art Landscapes.

All the information is available on my website www.colinturtle.co.uk

I live near Ballymena, Northern Ireland though I am happy to take work throught N.Ireland and beyond.
A wedding is a unique event and every wedding id different .It is a family day and all about the Bride and Groom so I try and make the photographic experience fun and enjoyable for you and your guests. So while a bit of structure is essential to ensure that your get the pictures you want I try and work in a fun and relaxed style and not to take too long. I also try and blend in a lot and take those candid shots that people are often not aware of. The result is a mix of photographs that capture the flow and emotion of your day.

Your albums can be either a traditional type album or one of the modern 'Storybook' style albums however in either case I design each album individually
so that every wedding album is unique.

You can find out more about my Wedding Photography Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer

I am a qualified member of the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) and am fully insured.

I also love doing portraiture shots particularly 'lifestyle photography' sessions . This is where we go out on location and take a series photographs in a fun an relaxed manner . These are particularly effective for children where the formaility of a studio can ne a bit intimidating. Let them loos in the park or a woodland setting and they can have a ball resulting in some great images. Colour or the classic Black and white is your choice.
I also have a studion wher eI can undertake classioc portrait shots.

We all love to get out in the country and I love nothing more than heading off with the camer and tripod for some Landscape shots , the weather often does not accommodate. But when you get the right lighting and conditions the rewards can be some stunning fine art landscapes.

My Fine Art Landscapes are available to buy either by contacting me directly or via the website http://www.colinturtle.co.uk/group4783.html

All the various links to my site are as follows:

Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer
Northern Ireland Portrait Photographert
Fine Art Landscapes
Northern Ireland Commercial Photographer

Your wedding Day - Relax and Enjoy

You will most likely have been planning your wedding day for months (if not years) and everything will have been planned and replanned so It is important to realise some important things.

Murphy's Law states 'Anything that can go wrong will go wrong' ...Now it is very unlikely that this is actually the case .However it is worth bearing in mind that there is a chance that something will go wrong at some point . The important thing is top relax and enjoy the whole day...there is nothing that can be done at this stage to change anything so dont worry about it. If someone forgets their lines or one of your flowergirls etc does not want to wear the dress simply take it with a smile and enjoy the day.

The weather can rarely be depended on but your photographer shoudl be able to get great shots whatever the weather and no-one can control the weather.
It is important to have contingency plans in place so taht if you have decided to go to a lovely Rose garden which is now under 6 inches of rain you have an alternative.

BUT DONT PANIC

This is one of the most important days in your life and it is usually a really busy day, so It is imprtant thay you take time to relax and enjoy the experience.
It is all about the bride and groom so let everyone else worry about things and simply enjoy the experience.

Your Northern Ireland Wedding Photographer will be more than hapy to discuss your requirements and options for your wedding photography


Colin Turtle
Northern Ireland Photographer
e-mail: info@colinturtle.co.uk
WWW.COLINTURTLE.CO.UK

Weddings - Getting Ready

One of the things that is becoming more popular these days is photographs of the bride getting ready at home before the wedding.
While the thought of a photorapher being around before she has her make-up and hair done fills some brides with absolute terror
this does give your photographer the chance to grab some great candid shots and set the scene for the day.

It is your choice whether or not you wanty the photographer for this and also at what stage you feel happy for him to see you.
However it is worth noting that this is not always feasible as your photographer also has to get to the venue for pics of the groom etc.

Your Wedding Photographer will be able to discuss all this with you and also the timings etc. so that you get the shost you wish but without any intrusion.

It is worthwhile having these conversations as it avoids any embarassing situations for either of you.

The following are some of the shots that help to set the scene

Colin Turtle
Northern Ireland Photographer
e-mail: info@colinturtle.co.uk
http://www.colinturtle.co.uk/

Colin Turtle Photography

If you are getting married in Northern Ireland and want to find a wedding photographer who will
work with you and your guests to produce an album that captures the emotion and flow of your day
then look no further than Colin Turtle Photography.

Based just outside the village of Broughshane near Ballymena , Colin will happily cover weddings
throught Northern Ireland and indeed beyond.

So for a no obligation consultation just get in touch