They had planned their wedding down to the finest details. Lavender filled church windowsills and the lavender filled wheelbarrow by the entrance to the place where they would become one.
Ysceifiog was alive on this particular August Saturday.....
One very special day.
Thank you for asking me.
Summer.
Hot.
Family.
Love.
Union
Wishing you all the most amazing and healthy future.
Ray xxx
It was October 2016, I was so looking forward to meeting up again with my friend and makeup artist Lizzie Griffiths MUA. I've worked with Lizzie earlier in the year. However, this shoot was going to be even more special when I discovered Lizzie had invited along BALTHAZAR Gary Hayes.
The Dream Team:-
Dresses: BALTHAZAR Gary Hayes
Makeup/Hair: Lizzie Griffith MUA
Model: Katy Byrne
Photography: Raymond Jones
It was summer and the start of a day full of emotions and so much love and happiness for Rebecca and Aled. I don't usually get so involved in weddings. The only time I usually shed a tear is when the bride and groom say yes and I focus on the couples reaction and the audiences reaction. But this wedding from start to finish grabbed me in so many ways.
The story began in Llandudno on a hot, sultry morning....
One special day.
Thank you for allowing me to be such a big part of your day, Rebecca & Aled.
Love to you both,
Ray xxx
World Mental Health Day caught my attention to raise awareness of this illness. You may be surprised to know that I've suffered depression off and on for a long time.
We forget when we're happy of those dark days of desperation where we see nothing but negativity.
It's been a whiles since I've managed to free up a weekend but I did manage it.
Stratford was superb to see and feel. At the theatre, we watched Two Noble Kinsmen which was atmospheric and romantic.
Enjoy some snaps that I managed to take....
I was determined to photograph Stratford at the best time of the day as far as light was concerned so I'd wake up around 6.30am and catch the blue sky hour which I love.....
Our favourite coffee shop and restaurant was at Mida. We'd sit there for a couple our hours chatting about what we had seen and what we plan to see and also people watch....
Walking around Stratford was the most pleasant experience. Black and white houses with their crooked beams almost seemed like they were about to fall over. I was in heaven here.....
On our way home we decided to miss the ugly motorway and drive through the Cotswolds and stop at Hidcote Manor Gardens. Such and amazing house and the garden was a dream. Every section of this splendid garden gave surprises. So glad I took my camera to document this quaint garden....
We shall return here in spring 2017.....
And here it is, the final part of Sarah and Cymon's special day. The beautiful window light shots and those speeches were some of the best I've ever heard....
Enjoy....
One very special day.
Sending all my love to Sarah and Cymon.
Ray xxxxxx
We, me and mum, had waited all week for our day at Mike's home and garden in Chirk. I particularly wanted to see mum's reaction when she would see his amazing garden. I wasn't dissapointed and nor was mum.
Mum's reaction when she saw his garden: 'It's like a friggin' jungle!' We all laughed at this. Mum just says it how it is.
We were so lucky with the weather.
The wine flowed after our delicious roast lamb dinner and we just chatted the rest of the day away taking in the views and talking about yesterday and the day before.
I love summer and I love the people in my life. Enjoy the pictures and have a great day and week ahead....
I love to edit. I use Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop. Here's a short video about how I remove unwanted elements in an image....
How lucky was I. Some time ago, I always dreamed about photographing a wedding at St Mary's church, Flint. Here was I photographing my third wedding here.
It was such an honour to photography my friend Susan Hughes's son's wedding. Susan and I had formed a close friendship some time ago.
The weather was perfect just like Sarah and Cymon's day in Flint and the reception at the Holiday Inn, Ewloe.
Enjoy part one and part two will follow shortly....
It was a pleasure and delight to visit Yscefiog recently. I met up with a great couple who are getting married there in a couple of weeks.
I always meet wedding clients at the wedding venue so I can visualise the day and take a few pictures, etc.
A wedding I'm really looking forward to for so many reasons.....
It was such a relief to be able to travel with Mike today to visit Stokesay Castle, Ludlow and a few villages on the journey back home.
A relief in that the past week was a blur having to deal with a tummy bug. And also at this moment in time I'm really not sure what lies ahead of me for the rest of the year but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna deal with whatever happens but with the warm thoughts that I have have special supportive friends.
Enjoy my day through my camera....
How wonderful would it be to photograph a wedding here?
We were so lucky with the weather at Stokesay. The day before was mainly rain. We drove to Ludlow, a few miles down the road from here. Ludlow: I fell in love with this quaint old town a couple of years ago when we drove to Cardiff and stopped to have a break here....
We headed home having a great time in Ludlow. We drove through little lovely villages and came across Clun and a few more....
My poor feet! What a day to chat about.....
Why do I love photographing weddings so much? I often ask myself that. I've loved everyone I've photographed on my own and with Martin and Janene.
I love the atmosphere on a wedding morning. The happiness, the joy. From the children playing around in the bridal sweet with the brides shoes. Chatting to the father of the bride and listening to stories about their family. It's a such a privilege to be asked and to be a part of this awesome day.
I particularly love photographing the bride getting ready in the mirror and the candid moments that always seem popular. After the ceremony, I love that time when the newlyweds head away with me to get those sweet loving moments. I just love weddings and will continue with them for as long as I'm asked.
In the run up to this years weddings I thought I'd look back and some of the weddings I'd never blogged before. Well, at the time, I didn't have a website.
Watch this space....