So that’s a wrap for 2018! In my last blog post I made a new year’s resolution to blog more! Sadly, I didn’t stick to this due to being extremely busy getting out and about with my camera doing the job I love and I have recently been questioning the value of blogging versus social media and in particular Instagram; this platform seems to have taken over the world and as much as I’m always keen to share my work, the editing process seems to take over which limits the amount of sharing I can actually do! Anyway, I’ll add blogging to my new year’s resolution list for 2019 and see how I get on but please do let me know your thoughts on blogging and if you would like to see more of my ramblings!? 

I was incredibly lucky last year to take some time out, before wedding season kicked off, to visit a yoga retreat in Dubai. It was great to have a bit of down time and detach myself from the real world to focus on other things. I had no access to a phone for almost a week! It felt a bit like rehab for social media addicts! We trekked through the desert, got up at stupid o’clock in the morning to drink chilli and turmeric shots, practiced yoga, took part in HIIT sessions (reluctantly), meditated and indulged in some extremely healthy but incredible food (without alcohol) and it was an eye opening experience that I can highly recommend - check out the Alma Retreat it could be the alternative hen/stag location for the health conscious out there! 

In other news, we welcomed apprentice Charlie early last year! In case you haven’t witnessed the puppy spam, Charlie is actually a dog! We’re working on his camera skills but in the meantime he’d make a perfect ring bearer for your wedding so do let me know if you’d like to add this on to your package! And all pets are welcome! Haha! 

Thank you to all my couples, suppliers and everyone I have had the pleasure of working with in 2018 - I’ve been up and down the country working at some of the most fabulous wedding venues and meeting some awesome people. I was also very excited to launch my new commercial website early last year and I will be concentrating more time on this in 2019 as well as developing my international photography starting with a destination wedding in the most stunning venue in Majorca followed by a wedding in Sorrento, Italy where I’ll be teaming up with the lovely Victoria of Sophisticated Weddings 

Wedding season kicks off earlier than usual this year and my first wedding is on the 6th January at the stunning Hampton Manor an ultra refined Michelin starred venue in Hampton on Arden. I can’t wait! 

Here is a very small round up of my personal favourite images from 2018! Happy New Year and I hope you receive all you wish for in 2019. 

Jo x

Thank you to the following venues for welcoming me and feeding me to ensure I continue working at my optimum! I hope to see you again this year….

Berkeley Castle 

Caswell House 

Cripps Barn 

Jephson Gardens

Stanwick Hotel

Wethele Manor 

Lapstone Barn 

Hampton Manor

It’s almost a wrap for 2017! My sincere apologies for the lack of blogging this year - it’s on my new year’s resolution list to get better at! I love to share my work but most of the time I’m so busy getting creative with my camera and doing the part of this job I love the most which is being in the moment with my lens! I was incredibly lucky this year to take some time out before wedding season to explore one of the the most amazing countries and take part in a challenge that pushed not only my physical limits but my mental abilities too  - you can find out about my epic adventures in Nepal here. Thank you to all my couples and everyone I have had the pleasure of working with in 2017 - I’ve been all around the country working at some of the most amazing wedding venues and I was so pleased to be reunited with my friend Irene Recupero at La Dolce Vita Events for a wedding in Sorrento at the  Hotel Grand Cocumella this September (despite taking the English weather with me). This year has been an incredible journey and I feel so lucky to be able to do a job that I love and stay inspired by working with so many wonderfully creative people. Thank you to all my couples for the opportunity and also my commercial clients this year who have enabled me to expand my business into other areas - I’m very excited to be launching my new commercial and lifestyle photography website very soon so watch this space! Here is a very small round up of my personal favourite images from the year! Happy New Year to you all and see you on the other side! Love Jo x

A big thank you to all the amazing venues I’ve worked at this year, for accommodating me and keeping me working at my optimum with all your yummy catering. I hope to see you again in 2018.

With thanks to: 

Dodmoor House Exclusive Wedding Venue, Northamptonshire 

Cripps Barn, The Cotswolds 

Caswell House Wedding Venue, Oxfordshire 

The Grand Cocumella Hotel, Sorrento 

The West Mill Exclusive Wedding Venue, Derby 

Jephson Gardens, Royal Leamington Spa  

St John’s Smith Square Wedding Venue London

Park Farm Wedding Venue, Shuckburgh 

Primrose Hill Farm, Warwickshire 

Alrewas Hayes Wedding Venue, Staffordshire

Millbridge Court Wedding Barn, Surrey 

Severn Valley Railways Weddings, Worcestershire 

Beware of oncoming traffic

Misty morning arriving in Kathmandu

Symbolic Prayer flags

Getting ready to fly into the gateway of Mount Everest - Lukle airport is reported as being the most dangerous in the world

Lukle Airport

Thankfully not the accommodation for the night

Simple living

simple pleasures - this little girl was over the moon with her power ball we gifted her!

starting young with incredible strength and determination

mesmerised by the blue eyed mountain dog

Bathroom facilities for the next two weeks

Innocence

The bridge of terror - well only when donkeys and yaks are crossing

Guarding their teahouse

Symbolic good luck wheels

Looking fresher than at the 85 mile mark

trekking friends

The most amazing toilet stop view

He just wanted my watch! I just wanted to kidnap him!

A day at the office

How much further!?

Aerial view of beautiful Namche! almost half way!

Monastery in Tengboche - no photos allowed inside but an eyeopening and overwhelming experience

So much respect to the Porters and Sherpas - such strength and determination

Everest is there somewhere?

Mountain Yoga Vibes

On the road to Everset

Made it! Phew! 5380 metres high!

Cheers!

Professional climbers set up camp in preparation to reach the summit! Everest Peak - 8,848 metres high

We made it! but the boots didnt :(

welcome home canapes?!

An unsuspecting monkey at the Pashupatinath Temple where people are cremated publicly on the banks of the river Pashupatinath Temple

Colourful Sadhu Monk at the Pashupatinath temple

Colourful Tika powder used by hindus

Durbar Square

Durbar Square

Entrance to the Boudanath Stupa Temple

Kathmandu by night

So…another one to tick off the bucket list before wedding season kicks off! Climbing to Everest Base Camp wasn’t quite the relaxing holiday I had in mind. And I can tell you, it was no holiday! More of a challenge shall we say! In actual fact, the most mentally and physically challenging thing I think I have ever done but the most amazing experience I will hold close to my heart for as long as I live. I trekked 85 miles in total, battling altitude sickness to reach heights up to 5550 metres, I met some wonderful people and experienced a country that is rich with unique cultures. The warmth and charm of the nepalese communities truly made me feel at home and their determination and resilience to rebuild their country after the 2015 earthquake made a powerful impression on me. I have so much respect for the sherpas and porters whose livelihood from a young age is to trek daily through the mountains carrying heavy loads of luggage and other items necessary for mountain living and to the people who run the tea houses that accommodate 1000’s of trekkers each year providing warmth and food to make their dream of reaching base camp a reality. I won’t go on here as I think the photos speak for themselves but thank you Nepal for allowing me to realise one of life’s dreams :)