Last Tuesday (15th June 2010), I attended a Professional Photographer's Workshop that was facilitated by two of the UK's most celebrated Photographer's, Damien Lovegrove and Chris Hanley. Both had invited me to attend and observe the 'Vintage Cherish The Dress' workshop, knowing how much the subject they were photographing appealed to me and my Blog readers. What lovely chappies indeed!
The workshop took place at East Lancashire Railway Station in Bury, Manchester, on a beautiful warm and sunny day. The venue was perfect for a vintage style photoshoot; the platform is beautifully maintained by a group of volunteers - there are stacks and stacks of vintage suitcases dotted about and the whole scene is beautifully evocative of the 1940s - I could easily imagine a young lover excitedly awaiting the arrival home of her wartime sweetheart.
On the day itself, ten Professional Photographers gathered to learn all about the techniques they could employ when working with their own clients on a 'Vintage Cherish The Dress' style photoshoot - that is, a post wedding photoshoot of the Bride in her dress, all glammed up vintage style. 'Cherish The Dress' photoshoots have gained much popularity with newlywed Brides in the past twelve months. Afterall, most Brides invest months, sometimes years of energy into planning their wedding and after their big day comes and passes, they want to be able to celebrate their beautiful wedding dress one last time through a professional photoshoot.
"Cherish The Dress™ is now an established genre of photography; we have had many clients including celebrities eager to experience our concept. With the growing popularity for all things vintage, we have enhanced our brand to include Vintage Cherish The Dress™..."
Love My Dress Wedding Blog - Photography Below is Copyright (c) 2010, Damien Lovegrove/Lovegrove Consulting
Chris goes on - "The concept of Cherish The Dress™ is to put a thoroughly British twist on the very American ‘Trash the Dress’ concept ~ Many Brides can't abide the idea of ruining a dress that they have paid many thousands of pounds for. But it's not just about the money ~ these days, respect for the dress designer is a key factor too. After all, a dress has usually taken hours and hours of design, before being crafted into a beautiful garment."
Models Chloe and Jay (below) were fabulous working together on the day - posing as the newlyweds participating in a Cherish The Dress™ shoot ~ but a Cherish The Dress™ needn't involve both Husband and Wife; a newlywed Bride might prefer to have a girly day, pampering herself with this very special photoshoot and final wedding dress outing. Chris's Cherish The Dress™ package includes Professional Hair & Makeup Artists and complimentary champagne, to ease any of those 'smile for the camera' nerves on the day.
A Chris Hanley Cherish The Dress™ photoshoot last around 2 hours from the moment Chris starts shooting.
"The shoots happen in fine hotels, penthouse apartments, city centre cafés, and if the weather is fine then urban exteriors too. There are no wedding day pressures, no weather worries, and plenty of time to get the hair and make up perfect between shots."
Such an incredible talent behind the camera, Damien Lovegrove would quite literally blow me away when he'd step back from the 'teaching scene' to show me the latest photo he had captured via his very impressive looking lens! The delegates in training would watch and listen eagerly as Damien darted this way and that, adjusting lighting, describing camera settings and directing the brilliant models to dip their heads slightly this way, a little lift of the chin that way - and smile - you're in love!
Up to now, all images on this page were shot by Damien Lovegrove. From hereon, all the photographs were shot by Chris Hanley.
I HEART (with a BIG BOOMING BEAUTIFUL HEART!) these photographs of Chris's ~ and I love this particular shot below because it reminds me how model Chloe suddenly broke out into the most fabulous redition of Marilyn Monroe's 'Happy Birthday Mr President' - AMAZING! And so much fun, just like any cherish the dress photoshoot should be.
Like Chris told me "it's all about the dress - the dress and the newlywed Bride - they are the star of the show". I can't stress how much Chris kept emphasising the 'client experience'; these photoshoots aren't just another job for Chris, he is absolutely dedicated to the subject he is photographing. And the direction he gives is wonderful too. I'm not the most relexed subject in front of the camera, but I could well imagine thoroughly enjoying a photoshoot with Chris...
Love My Dress Wedding Blog - All
Photography Below is Copyright (c) 2010, Chris Hanley Photography
The dresses on the day were provided by designer Kathryn Hanson, who specialises in bespoke bridal that is strongly influenced by the designs, shapes and cuts of the 1940s and 1950s. Think 1950s prom style with bags of tulle and netted petticoat layers peeping from beneath full-circle skirt halterneck style dresses - very Marilyn Monroe!
Watch out for a full interview with Kathryn soon on Love My Dress - any Bride into her vintage style will adore her designs. For now, you can visit the Kathryn Hanson Bespoke Bridal webpage for further information...
The photograph below is one of my favourites from the day, because it is so beautifully cinematic - a style very much favoured in the Chris Hanley Vintage Cherish The Dress™ experience. But then I guess the whole point is to make you look and feel like a movie star...
Just stunning photography -and it could be you in the photos!
Credit to the full team that made this day possible:-♥ The Fixer ~ Claire Hanley
♥ The make up artist ~ Samantha Gardner
♥ The Hair Stylist ~ Victoria Cunningham
♥ The Dress Designer ~ Kathryn Hanson
♥ Models ~ Miss Jenni Hanson &
Miss Chloe-Jasmine
Whichello & Mr Jay Grant
♥ Thanks also go to Mr Andy Coward and his team
for all his help and hospitality and for allowing the team to use his beautiful station
I would like to thank Chris Hanley and Damien Lovegrove for inviting me to attend this fabulous workshop. Not only was it a huge privilege to meet and see these Photography Masters at work, it was a great deal of fun and a wonderful insight to be able to observe how the professionals are trained (even if most of the technical speak baffled me at the best of times!) and I also got to catch up with my gorgeous friend and Co-Love My Dress Blogger, Cat Hepple, who was in attendance as a delegate. I also made several new contacts with Photographers whose work I look forward to featuring in Love My Dress in the near future.
For more information on a Vintage Cherish The Dress™ photoshoot experience, visit the Chris Hanley Photography website, or email Chris directly on chrishanleyphotos@mac.com.
To learn more about the Professional Photographer's workshops facilitated by Lovegrove Consulting, please click here.
Cherish your Sunday folks, it's back to work for most of us tomorrow! :)
Annabel xXx♥
OMG, WOW!!!!!!! I just adore the shots of the blonde model on the stairs! Totally gorgeous!
Posted by: Zoe | Sunday, 20 June 2010 at 11:08
These are stunningly gorgeous photographs. I'm sold on a photoshoot after my wedding now! Only 12 months to wait!!! :-)
Posted by: Mrs Chapman (soon!) | Sunday, 20 June 2010 at 11:14
Hi Zoe and Mrs Chapman (oooh when is your wedding date? - are you going 'vintage' - email me!).
I can't tell you how incredible these photographs are - it's all very well seeing them on screen here, but imagine having a little coffee table or bedside table album full of the most incredible shots of you looking like a film star!
Just brilliant :)
Hope you both have a good day,
Annabel xXx
Posted by: Annabel ~ Love My Dress Wedding Blog | Sunday, 20 June 2010 at 11:18
Hi Annabel,
The love and beauty you share with your readers is inspirational and I feel flattered to be a contributor to this truly delicious blog.
Thank you for taking the time out to spend the day with Chris and I last week on this memorable shoot. I am left with a warm fuzzy feeling inside when I read your comments about my work - Thank You!
Your readers can see more pictures from this set here:
http://www.prophotonut.com/2010/06/18/vintage-cherish-the-dress-part-1/
And here:
http://www.prophotonut.com/2010/06/19/vintage-cherish-the-dress-part-2/
Chris and I will definately run this workshop again, we all had such fun.
Love my Dress is a great resource for inspiration and ideas. Keep up the amazing work.
Damien XxX
Posted by: Damien Lovegrove | Sunday, 20 June 2010 at 12:37
I first fell in love with your blog and writing style last christmas. What you bring to the industry is refreshing and beautiful and your blog and writing is one of my favourite places to visit and is part of my daily routine. Thank you for yourkind and generous comments on mine and Damiens work. It is a privelege to be featured. Myself and Damien often speak warmly of you when we get together to discuss the industry, who is hot and who is bringing inspiration to discerning people. We wish you much success, and a heartfelt thank you to you for continuing to inspire. xXX Chris Hanley
Posted by: Chris Hanley | Sunday, 20 June 2010 at 13:09
Damien and Chris - they're fabulous!
Posted by: Sara | Sunday, 20 June 2010 at 13:18
HUGE love to Damien and Chris who continue to inspire and support fellow photographers like me.
This shoot was absolutely amazing to be a part of, I am so proud of the images I caught that day, and its thanks to their endless and boundless enthusiasm that I learnt so much.
I cannot wait to offer this style of shoot to my clients too.
These images are utterly gorgeous.
Cat
x
Posted by: cat hepple | Sunday, 20 June 2010 at 18:37
Beautiful photographs, so inspirational! Ive never ever thought of doing anything like this but Im rapidly changing my mind. I marry in Feb next year, perahps I can book a Spring/Summer shoot afterwards, this will help me keep my wedding figure to lol!! :)
Posted by: Sophie | Sunday, 20 June 2010 at 20:05
Wow..She looks like Marilyn Monroe..Its nice and glamorous! Keep it up..
Posted by: 25th anniversary invitations | Monday, 21 June 2010 at 06:19
Absolutely stunning photographs, and very encouraging for someone like me (camera shy at best of times)! I'd absolutely love to do something like this after my wedding.
Posted by: Lorna | Monday, 21 June 2010 at 06:22
I am crazy about these photos; just love the Orient Express feel - they're fabulous! and I am a much bigger fan of cherishing the dress than trashing it!
Posted by: Sara {Style Me Down The Aisle} | Monday, 21 June 2010 at 14:00
Thank you so much all - and wow, thank you for the absolutely wonderful comments Damien & Chris! *curtseys* :)
Annabel xXx
Posted by: Annabel ~ Love My Dress Wedding Blog | Monday, 21 June 2010 at 16:24
Simply stunning wedding photographs. Well done!
Posted by: Mike McCann | Tuesday, 20 July 2010 at 00:35
Wow! Lovely Photographs! She looks so beautiful in Bridal gown. I am crazy for her Photos.
Posted by: Fort Worth real estate | Saturday, 27 November 2010 at 06:20
I have seen some of these images before, some on Damien's training courses some in magazines, but all the ones above - they are brilliant.
Posted by: Tony | Sunday, 14 August 2011 at 10:55