Landscape Photography Lisbon Coast

[dt_gap height=”10″ /]Landscape Photography Lisbon Coast

A few hours south we arrive at Lisbon, spread along a hillside overlooking the Rio Tejo and it’s iconic red bridge.  Home for the next few days is between the town of Cascais and the Western beach of Praia Do Guincho.  We caught a local train into Lisbon and had a great day exploring the city, starting at a stunning riverside square the Praca Do Comercio, a great place to grab a coffee and people watch.  We climbed the narrow backstreet alleyways up to the Sao Jorge Castle with it’s magnificent views of the city and river.  Time to jump on a local tram and see if we can get lost, luckily it went vaguely in the right direction??  As we had visited the most Westerly point of mainland Spain we thought we had better go and see the most Westerley point of mainland Portugal and Europe, Cabo Da Roca.  A few miles North along the windy mountain road is the beautiful cliff top village of Azenhaus Do Mar, a great spot for a sundowner while waiting for the sun to set over the wild Atlantic breakers.  We also had a great day exploring the beautiful hillside down of Sintra with it’s historic gardens, mansions and fairytale hilltop Palace, a home to many of Portugal’s monarchs.  We also visited the beautiful clifftop village of Azenhas Do Mar where the wild Atlantic surf batters the coast, lying about 40 minutes drive North West of Lisbon.

 

For a further look at our images of our Cardiff, South Wales landscape and travel photography, please have a look at our other Blog Posts and if you have any questions about our services don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or contact us.

The Barn at West Farm Wedding Fayre

[dt_gap height=”10″ /]The Barn at West Farm Wedding Fayre

The Barn at West Farm in Southerndown is THE place to get married on the Heritage coast in the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan, with the converted stone barn and the marquee it offers views over the Bristol Channel and pretty gardens providing an amazing backdrop for photographs.  Town and Country Hotels are responsible for the efficient running of the venue and for providing the amazing food that will be served on a Wedding day from canapes to the Wedding Breakfast and including the evening buffet, Claire, Scott and Ashley were on hand to take bookings and enquiries at the first Wedding Fayre here, run by Eternity with Love yesterday.  The sun shone and a steady stream of excited Brides, Grooms and their families arrived to see the venue dressed as a wedding day would look to give them an idea of how gorgeous their own day could be.  We joined other top suppliers in South Wales who were there to meet them, we were situated in the marquee where we displayed our beautifully designed Wedding Albums and  frames and offered advice about what to look for in a potential wedding venue – for example looking at areas indoors as well as outdoors for your Wedding Day Photographs in the event that it may rain, the Barn offers many areas to take photographs indoors as well as the outdoor areas – along with Ceri Wynne Jones who played the harp beautifully adding the perfect ambience, Flowers with a Twist had provided a wide variety of stunning flower centre pieces and bouquets and Totally Co-Ordinated had dressed the tables and chairs with the most elegant choice of chair covers, table places etc.  Zuccherro had completed the look with an exquisite chocolate cake design.  It was great to catch up with our friends Emma Hall Designs, have banter with Picasso Griffiths and meet new ones such as Butterfly Brides and Laura from Dream Wedding Photographer and we also caught up with Prices cars who were set up proudly outside.  A big thank you to Jamie and her team who kept us fed & watered throughout the day.  It was lovely to meet some new people and we have already had some emails from a Bride and Grooms that we met, can’t wait to hear from a more!!!

Welsh College of Music and Drama Wedding Photography

[dt_gap height=”10″ /]Welsh College of Music and Drama Wedding Photography

The Welsh College of Music and Drama was the venue for this Wedding and it was no ordinary wedding, it was the marriage of our very close friends Sera & Stuart and we were honoured to be involved in their big day from planning to pre-wedding photographs to attending and photographing on the day and enjoying being guests!  Sera started her day at Jolyons No.10 where Victoria from MAC Make Up expertly applied Sera’s and her daughter Georgia’s make up whilst their hair was coiffeured by Sarah Bonet who is a freelance hairdresser and Harry from Belle Toujours.  Sacha helped Sera in to her stunning ‘So Sassi’ Wedding Gown from High Society, it suited her perfectly, so elegant covered in small sequins and with padded shoulder straps and then Georgia in to her sleek, black Desi Bridesmaid dress, Sera rocked her dress with a fab pair of black Kurt Geiger shoes that were a gift from Georgia!  Sera’s son Sam arrived looking smart suited & booted in readiness to give her away.  Sera had chosen deep purple Cala-Lilies for her bouquet which incorporated a small photograph of her late Dad Tony and white Cala-Lillies for Georgia’s the contrast with their dresses was striking, Karen from The Florist in Birchgrove had done an amazing job.  We met Stu and his Best Man Shane outside the old converted stables at The College of Music & Drama, where both the ceremony and the wedding breakfast were to be held both looking extremely dapper in their Red Herring suits and managed to get a few pics of them before Sera arrived.  the cute Flower Girls Izzy, Lily Rose & Ruby were waiting patiently for Sera to arrive too in their pretty dresses.
Sam proudly walked Sera down the aisle, the ceremony was very relaxed and included a reading by one of Sera’s best friends Sarah!  In true Sera & Stu style they ‘rocked’ back down the aisle to Madness ‘It must be love…’ to which we all joined in to sing them out!  Once we had taken a few photographs the wedding breakfast took place and we enjoyed beautiful food prepared by the college and  the orange cake made by Paul at Happy Occasion Cakes fitted in beautifully for desert, with the wine & prosecco flowing it was on to the speeches!  Sera’s brother Nigel had written an awesome poem about him & Sera growing up which was just hilarious, Stu followed with a heartfelt poem that was completed with a slideshow of photographs compiled from their favourite occasions taken over the last couple of years, including some of their pre-wedding shoot with us!  Shane ended the speeches with some genuine, meaningful words and some funny stories thrown in for good measure. The colour theme for the day was black, orange and white, the button holes were orange Cala-Lillies and Karen had decorated the tables with orange gerberas in tall vases, Emma Hall Designs had supplied the chair covers with black sashes.  After our meal we went back outside where Sera, Stu and some of their family members released huge balloons from Dave at Cardiff Balloons with messages attached to Sera’s late dad Tony, a really moving gesture, then it was time to party!  The main entrance to The Welsh College of Music and Drama had been transformed in to a stylish party venue, with the band The Kiltics set up and the evening guests arrived Sera & Stu made their entrance by walking across the walkway above the room much to everyone’s delight.  Once they had kicked the evening off with their First Dance the dance floor didn’t empty as The Kiltics played all the best tunes!!
If you’d like to get in touch or view more weddings from Cardiff Wedding Photographers Andy & Sacha of A.L.S Photography please visit our contact and blog pages and feel free to have a look around.

Carten 100 Cycle Event 2015

 

[dt_gap height=”10″ /]Carten 100 Cycle Event 2015

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Carten 100!  Cardiff to Tenby, 105 miles, on a bike, why would you?!!!!  To have a great day out with your cycling buddies and to raise money for charity of course!  We followed 1700 riders who started out from the Cardiff City Stadium and arrived in Tenby Town Centre anything from 71/2 to 14 hours later, it is not a competition so a very relaxed atmosphere with plenty of stops along the way at pubs, a harbour, organised water stations and village shops.  The weather was kind to them in the end, though most had got soaked first thing in the morning, the weather improved as the day went on and the sun shone which made the journey slightly easier even though there was a head wind on times – also made it more fun for us spectators too!!  It was an absolutely awesome achievement for everyone who took part and the organisers had done a brilliant job from transporting cyclists kit to laying on food & drink for them at the finish!

 

Chinese Wedding Photography Wales & UK

Chinese Wedding Photography Wales & UK

[dt_gap height=”10″ /]Chinese Wedding Photography Wales & UK

Great Fosters in Egham, Surrey was the gorgeous setting for this Chinese Wedding, it was our first wedding of the season, also our first Chinese one, we were so honoured to be asked to capture all of the ceremonies that were performed throughout the day that included ancient Chinese Customs that had been passed down through the generations.  It was an early start for all of us as Siene had to be ready a couple of hours prior to their Civil ceremony so that Wing had time to play the traditional pre-ceremony games that lead to his greeting Siene and her family.  Wing and his five Groomsmen, including his brother Yuen were encouraged to perform some bizarre forfeits such as, wearing frilly knickers, passing balloons between themselves without using their hands and waxing sections of the hair on their legs!  Wing was finally accepted by Siene’s Bridesmaid Elyn as suitable to meet Siene and her cousins led him to her.  So the first ‘Tea Party’ of the day took place and a lot of tea was drunk and gifts were passed from Siene’s family to Wing, with all of Siene’s family watching on, it was a little crowded in the hotel room, however, it made for a great atmosphere.  When it was time to leave the hotel to head to Weybridge Registry Office for the Civil ceremony, Siene’s Uncle lead her to the car under a red umbrella and Wing’s Father Kim drove them both, the rest of Wing’s family were waiting at the registry office for them.  The ceremony was lovely, attended by close family and friends, the Registry office is a lovely old building with pretty gardens, so we photographed the first of two confetti shots that day in the small garden along with a couple of immediate family groups before heading back to the hotel.  Even though it wasn’t the warmest day, it was dry and we could walk around the grounds photographing in the many pretty areas including the building itself, then around to the bridge, where the Bridal Party joined us for some photographs and for general antics, they were all great fun!  Once we had photographed all of their family & friends groups, the Big Group of everyone and the second confetti shot, we could all get back into the warm and listen to Paul Holgate a Frank Sinatra Tribute singer!  There were more traditions to come such as Siene changing in to her second outfit of the day, which was red and beautifully embroidered and once the wedding breakfast had been served, Siene & Wing walked around to each table and said a ‘Yamsay’ (cheers) the competition was fierce to be the loudest and make it last the longest!  Fabulous speeches followed, then came the ‘Tea Party’ from Wing’s relatives welcoming Siene officially in to their family.  The whole day had been so much fun, with so much going on and everyone enjoying every aspect of it, as we enjoyed capturing it.  The First Dance kicked off the evening entertainment and teh floor was soon full of guests dancing, only stopping to grab some hog roast for supper!

 

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Our style of wedding photography is a mix of documentary photography, unobtrusively capturing moments, personality and emotion with natural, fine art style Bridal Portraits at a variety of wedding venues in and around Cardiff, South Wales and the UK.  For a further look at our images of our Cardiff, South Wales Wedding photography, please have a look at our Gallery or other Blog Posts and if you have any questions about our services don’t hesitate to leave a comment below or contact us.  Also if you would like to arrange your own Family, Child or Couples Portrait Session please email [email protected]