Daniel Speller Photography

I got up early yesterday morning to get sorted ready for a family photo shoot. The family wanted a 9.30 start and had travelled from Cornwall so i thought that was only fair enough! The family included two lovely girls aged 5 and 18 months the latter of whom did not look like she wanted any photos taken at all! I went to get some of my daughter’s dollies to appease her and this seemed to do the trick, then the bubbles came out and I reckoned it was time to start taking some piccies. However, half a bottle of liquid from one of the bottles of bubbles was spilt all over the studio floor and that delayed things a bit!!

It all turned out good fun though! I also took some pictures for a big family shot i’m going to be stitching together over the next few months, a request from the family who want to create a large photo of around 20 people who live in all different parts of the UK and Australia. Look forward to the challenge!

Two weddings, one in London, a portrait shoot with some lively twins and a nursery shoot with loads of toddlers plus I took a couple of wedding bookings! Not a mad busy month but not bad all the same.

The wedding in London took place at a church in Chiswick, then we went onto the Bank of England Sports Club in Roehampton.

Beverley and Chris wanted a big group photo inside the church

Everybody smile!

Mike and Lou, whose wedding i’m shooting in a few weeks asked me if I could get some shots of them down at Bournemouth pier. They wanted to pick one of the photos for a signature board for the guests to leave messsages on the wedding day. Great idea. However with some funny weather around late August/early September we had to keep cancelling. Finally we managed to find a half decent day so headed down to the pier eager to get some shots.

We hit a deserted beach around 6′ish and tried a few different ideas. Posed but fun sort of stuff.

It was one of the those really cloudy days when the light seems to fade quickly. Therefore we had to get through as many shots as possible. I was tyring to have a laugh with Mike and Lou and take some extra shots when the couple were less aware. This shot turned out to be their favourite.

All of a sudden, it seemed to go quite dark and my shutter speeds were getting slower and slower. The pier lights were switched on and I noticed some nice reflections in the sea so i switched my flash off and went for some ambient shots

Mike and Lou were great sports and if this shoot was anything to go by, I’ve got a feeling i’ll get some great shots on the wedding day!

This wedding was a couple of weeks ago now and it was my first visit to Holdenhurst village church, a lovely old church tucked away in Holdenhurst village and probably only known to locals. It was quite a windy day with some rain though it rained when it mattered least which was a blessing.

After the ceremony we all headed up to Horton Village Hall which really is a gem and again in the middle of nowhere really. It’s a very attractive hall incredibly well renovated and perfect for weddings.

 I managed to get some nice shots of Sarah and Jason before the guests arrived at the hall and then it was straight onto some more group photos. Jason and the lads seemed to be in good posing mode

But the girls were not going to be outshone

Then the guests hit the bbq and the party got into full swing! I’m sure they all had a great day!

The last Saturday in June saw Natalie and Grant from Worcester getting married outside at the Highcliff Marriott Hotel in Bournemouth.

Grant posted for a few photos in his tux by the swimming pool in a bit of James Bond style photo

It tuned out to be quite an emotional ceremony and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house!

The sea view made it an extra special ceremony

The beach was busy but I still got some lovely shots. Grant and Natalie looked great together!

It was the last Friday in May and the weather was wonderful for Luisa and Paul’s wedding. Luisa arrived at Highcliffe Castle in a seriously funky camper van and my camera went into paperazzi overdrive!

After the ceremony the couple were treated to a few moments with their pet dog (sorry can’t remember it’s name!)

After taking loads of candid shots and some posed groups we headed off to the beach for some romantic shots

It was a perfect afternoon topped off by a wedding reception at the nearby Lord Bute, a place the manager told me, he had worked for the last 23 years!

Anyway, well done to Luisa and Paul for being a great couple and very easy to photograph!

I got home from a wedding and straight into some portraits of Natalie and Grant, a friendly couple from the Midlands.

We went to a local park for a few relaxed portrait.

They were a very photogenic couple but didn’t seem to realise it!

Last Saturday I photographed Andy and Donna’s wedding at a new venue for me-the East Close Country Hotel in Hinton, near Christchurch. It’s quite a simple venue as it’s all on one floor plus it’s  nice and quiet so perfect for  smaller weddings.It also has lovely private gardens which boast the oldest tree in the New Forest.

The photos went smoothly and then the two bridesmaids caught my eye.

I can sort your dress, don't worry

Donna was a bit worried about having lots of photos done but then seemed to enter into the spirit of it which was great

 It was a very mild day and everyone started to relax, it was like a garden party.

just chill!

It was going to be a long day heading up to Surrey but the weather was amazing and the venue was a top notch golf club where i knew i could get some great pictures. I arrived at the bride’s mother’s home about 10.45 on the day and Tracey the bride seemed to be in good spirits and nice and calm too.

The hairdresser put some beautiful flowers in tracey’s hair which looked stunning and then i set up a nice shot on the landing

I took loads more shots before heading off to the church where the groom, Michael, was equally calm despite the unusually warm weather in April. After the ceremony, i wanted to get a nice shot of the couple at the church door

After a few group shots and some nice candids it was time to go to the golf club. With Michael being a member there it was possible to get some nice shots on one of the nearby greens which i wasn’t expecting.

Then Suddenly a thunderstorm erupted but fortunately the meal was just about to start. The speeches were great fun and then it was into the first dance. Tracey showed what a great mover she is and then the party started.

It was time to go. It had been a long day but it was all good fun and i couldn’t wait to get home and look through the pictures.

Last Saturday proved to be a lively night at the Hub in Verwood.  I was there to photograph Chrissie’s 60th birthday party and what a wonderful night it turned out to be! I had no idea what a treat i was in for, as on the dancefloor were some of the UK’s leading modern jive experts.

The audience was also treated to a few amazing dance routines from the UK’s leading latin and ballroom dancing champions.

It was hard enough photograhing them due to their swift movements around the dancefloor and i didn’t mind it a bit when the girl in the duo reached for a swig of my beer after one of their very energetic dances. After that we were treated to Chrissie being lead through a dance blindfolded and before you ask no she didn’t fall over-very impressive.

Lastly we were treated to a rendition of the Charleston which was performed in perfect synchronisation by a large number of the party’s guests. It was all very entertaining and i’m sure everyone had a fantastic night out. To be honest everyone looked at least 10 years younger as they all seemed to be having such a good time!