Well, it's late in the summer now and the nights are getting darker, but there is still some good weather about - but the recent rain has made my house move a little fraught! I have been living out of baxes for a while but I am now back to normal and up and running again.
I would like to pass on my thanks to all the couples who asked me to photograph their weddings over the last few weeks and endured longer than usual waits for proofs and albums - your patience has been very welcome.
I don't know if I am getting more sentimental in my "advancing years" but I am really enjoying weddings this year, probably more than ever before - maybe I am just an old romantic!
And the ideas couples come up with for their pictures are wonderful - thanks to all for your suggestions.
When I visit couples, they often have little or no idea of what they actually want in their finished album, so I now carry a digital photo frame with me to show samples in different styles.
It seems that most couples want "a bit of everything" - some pictures in black and white, some in colour, some in a sepia tone and some in black and white with a splash of colour.
I suppose that, in this way, every time you turn over a page in the album, you are never quite sure what you will see. The days of the "themed" wedding album seem to be numbered.
Whilst I am here, I would just like to point out that I also get several phone calls asking me "What is the catch? - Why are you so cheap? What is missing?"
In response to this, let me tell you the answers now.
1) There is NO catch - the price I quote for my wedding package is the total price and includes absolutely everything. The albums I use are of excellent quality, the prints are produced on Professional heavyweight paper, and you get a CD of all the album images at full resolution.
2) I can charge the prices I do because I do not advertise (except in the free press, Google Maps etc) and I do not go to Wedding Fairs - most of my work comes from personal recommendations or people finding me through Google - my overheads are consequently very low.
3) What is missing? Well, to put it simply,I do not employ salesmen, office staff, booking clerks, and I do not have a High Street branch - again, I keep my overheads to a minimum.
My previous customers have not found any reason to complain about the quality of my work, and the vast majority have been delighted with the pictures I have taken, and the service I have provided.
I hope you will try my service and join the band of satisfied customers I have met over the past few years.