FIND OUT WHAT I LOOK FOR, WHEN VISITING YOUR WEDDING VENUE ...
[10 minute read]
‘THE BIG BOYS’
The Big Boys are your reasons for choosing the venue and what I need to ensure that I include in my coverage of your wedding day. First, I clock the 3 or 4 obvious reasons why you chose this particular place - it could be the house itself, the grounds, the location, it’s unique feature.
Then, I look a little deeper …
Henry David Thoreau’s quote “It’s not what you look at but what you see” is highly significant in my quest to provide you with my very best work
We are blessed with a large number of talented photographers and filmmakers in the UK. Each of us seeing scenes and situations differently to one another. Each one of us drawing on our vast technical and creative skill set for the ever changing location, weather and lighting scenarios that a full day’s service demands of us.
It’s our work, our profession. It’s what we do.
We interpret your event and occasion in a way that presents itself to us. Each one of us, as individual as you and your venue.
Exceptional standards run throughout all that is Cosawes Barton, Ponsanooth, Cornwall. The venue and it’s self catering accommodation (which sleeps 18 persons), the immaculate grounds that have been prepared and nurtured for you (by the same dedicated Gardener of 35 years), the personal welcome and the customer service (both on line and face to face) is all a superb demonstration of devoted workmanship, care and attention in all areas.
You and I are invited to enjoy it. All of it. Bride, groom, guest, photographer, filmmaker … What a treat!
MY COSAWES BARTON’S BIG BOYS ARE …
5* ACCREDITATION
The high standards that Louise, Andy and their team maintain is clear from the moment we arrive at the estate and greatly inspires what’s possible with regards to photography and film. The 5* accreditation plaque displayed at the top of the drive is a nod to all visitors of what’s in store. Despite being temporarily closed due to the Coronavirus lockdown, the estate remains immaculate. A sure sign that the custodians of Cosawes live by a love for their family estate, all day, every day.
During the drive to the venue, I consciously discarded all else about my day and gave myself the clarity to live in the moment and to take notice of the obvious. Thereafter, I enjoyed looking for the deeper, more geeky benefits of what this venue offers to photographers and filmmakers alike. Geekiness that all photographers and filmmakers seek out on your behalf.
A warm welcome awaited me from Louise, who was on hand to greet me immediately and I quickly accepted her open invitation to wander the grounds.
I had well and truly arrived and my first experience of this exclusive, small wedding venue was about to begin. I was so excited. Never again will I be able to experience Cosawes Barton for the very first time and this moment was the time to drink it all in.
As I stood at the gate, I saw what you will see when you arrive and stand at this spot. With my senses overloading over the next hour, my mental mood board drew inspiration from every texture, shape, colour, birdsong … all of it inspiring me with images for you.
My first wander is always without my camera, so I can be sure to visit as a guest. I want to be able to walk in your shoes as much as possible and to see what you see. My second look, that same evening, is through my lens - my geeky self.
COLOUR
The floral choir that initially enticed me through the contemporary gate and guided me along the stone pathway, led me to what I consider to be the ‘ooh la laa!’ french style frontage of this historic house. Each element offering itself as a prop for pictures, whether they be stills or video.
FEATURES
On arriving at the front of the house, I felt the glory of this luxury venue. To my right, was the iconic aisle announced by the conifer footmen. In front of me, the pristine gardens extended further still and to my left, the estate house of Cosawes Barton. I noted the features. A grand front door, columns, wooden shutters, patterns, reflections, a palette more gentle than that of the choir that had just greeted me and brought me to here.
Geek: Shade, in front of the house will provide us with protection from the harsh sunshine later in the day, if we wish.
LIGHT
It was later in the evening by now but the sun was still quite high. As the taller trees swayed, the light played with the many natural elements that defines the estate. On a day like today, bright and sunny, the contrasting light catches the attention of it’s permanent residents; the granite walls, the bark of the trees, the ground. I thought about how I would schedule certain areas, in keeping with your timings to catch the best of it. I thought how I could play with certain spots and pools of light, in various weather conditions. I considered how I would soften the harsh light, as needed. All beautiful options.
YOU AND ME
I imagined who you would be. What you would enjoy as your experience on the day. How you would like to spend your time here on the estate. I thought about how much time you would want to allocate for the stronger set of images so it would marry with the rest of your day and being with your guests.
In fact, at Cosawes Barton, it’s very much how little time you will want to spend with me as you have so many fantastic options which are just a hop, skip and a jump away. This particular venue is a wonderland of opportunity and I suggest that you plan very little time for your photography/film. Simply grab a glass of your favourite tipple, tip each other the wink and disappear with me for just minutes at a time. As soon as you’ve had a few, short moments with one another, your beautiful images will be captured. Fresh, fun and natural.
5 minute sessions are all it takes to create those powerful Mr & Mrs pictures for your wedding album. Trust me. I’ve got this and I cannot wait to photograph or film my very first wedding at this beautiful, tropical garden of Eden.
Geek: I took note of which direction the sun went down and what that would mean for your early evening options.
As we took our own walk ‘up the aisle’ that evening, Louise pointed out that the sunlight had moved along by this time (approximately 7pm) … ‘perfect!’ I thought. Lets use these gorgeous, rich and saturated colours which lie unchallenged from this evening’s flat light to our advantage. Of course bright and sunny days are nice, but wow oh wow, do not fear if you are given an overcast day - just look at how it makes these greens sing!
Geek: What fun we will have together!
As I thought about your wet weather options, this little chap popped by for dinner …
My Gift to You
Thank you for reading my blog, which I hope you enjoyed. As my thanks to the very first couple who hire me for your wedding day, I offer you my very favourite Jorgensen wedding album, with my compliments.
Traditional Annabel Jayne Jorgensen Wedding Album | 9 x 9” | 10 pages
Photo credit: Simon Burt Photography
‘It was a total pleasure to welcome Annabel to our venue at Cosawes Barton …’
“It was a total pleasure to welcome Annabel to our venue at Cosawes Barton for a photo shoot and her images were amazing! We can't wait to work with her on weddings and shoots in the future”
Louise Bishop, Wedding Co-ordinator
Cosawes Barton
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