Well, some of the West Midland’s most glamourous brides braved the torrential downpours to come and see us at the Hotel Du Vin‘s “Save The Date” Wedding Fayre.

And they weren’t disappointed!

With high-end vendors such as The Wedding Club (who’d done a magnificent job organising the event with Kirsty Lee at Hotel Du Vin), Jimmy Choo (yes, a table full of sparkly shoes to fawn over), Clements and Church for the gentlemen, Skinny Nib stationery, image consultant Emily Jayne, dentist to the stars The Dentist in Town, Tallulah’s Trinkets and of course, your ever faithful snapper, Lisa Carpenter Photography, this was an event worth getting your hair wet and frizzy for.

Fellow photographer Wayne Fox was on hand to assist me in my new wedding package add-on. A photo-booth (as yet un-named although “Lisa In Disguise With Glasses On” is getting some strong backing!) I had amassed an arsenal of props, from boa’s and glasses to moustaches and hats and even a pair of handcuffs. My lights were set up and all I needed were groups of people happy to make fools of themselves. Most were up for it!

This is such a great package add-on and well worth considering if you’re booking me to photograph your evening reception too. An hour of photo-booth fun gets all your guests in the mood for partying and mixed with copious amounts of booze, gives you some great photos to laugh over after the hangovers clear!

As always, get in touch if you have any questions about any of the packages and I’ll give it my best shot to answer them !

A few snaps of my stand first :

And straight onto the fun stuff!

My very glamorous assistant, Wayne, photographed the Fashion Show, all dresses are available at The Wedding Club.

A few months back, Zoe contacted me to ask if I’d be available to photograph her family. In the time that I’d been gone, Zoe had managed to bag herself a rather dashing young man from Italy, Antonello, and had  two gorgeous children, Ella and Luca.

Recently, Zoe and Antonello were left devastated by the news that little Luca has a very rare and terminal condition called Tay-Sachs disease.

Tay-Sachs is a terminal genetic condition for which there is no known cure or medical treatment.

Their friends and families rallied round to launch an appeal to raise funds for him and the charities he relies on for support and care.

The appeal aims to raise money for:

Acorns Children’s Hospice

Birmingham Childrens Hospital

Tay-Sachs Research

And essential equipment to make Luca as happy and comfortable as possible and financial assistance to help the family be together through the hardships ahead.

On Saturday 9th June, there will be a charity auction held at The Spotted Dog in Digbeth and in May 2012, Zoe and her friends will be climbing Mount Snowdon, collecting sponsorship money for the climb. If you would like to contribute to this amazing cause, please visit the facebook page Luca Loves Life.

The funds raised will help Luca and others like him to live their lives to the fullest in the short time they have been given.

Please help this amazing family in any way you are able  and feel free to use the links above to do so.

Lisa x

What a treat to shoot a wedding so close to home. I rolled out of my bed, jumped in the car and shot down to the hotel. By the time I’d finished the days shoot, I was back with plenty of time to load up my photos and head out for a relaxing drink and a curry with Jason and tell him all about my day.

And what a day it was.

Jacinda’s dress blew me away. So beautiful, adorned with tiny pink flowers. When I hung it in the window to photograph it, I think my heart grew wings! And the shoes… oh, the shoes! Jacinda could give Sarah Jessica Parker a lesson in stilt walking! She even ran in these amazing creations!

Scott had broken his leg 2 weeks before the wedding (a lesson to all future brides to plead with their fiancee not to take a skiing stag weekend!) He covered it up well though and still managed to wear his kilt, I don’t think you can even tell in the photos. Kudos to you Mr Invincible!

Enough chatter, onto the first wedding of the year -

I think this is my favourite father and daughter photo ever!

What did I tell you? Running in wedding heels!

My usual jump shot was missing the groom thanks to the broken leg but he egged the ushers on all the same. Don’t you think kilts help this photo?

I love this photo of Scott and Jacinda. It sums up the day perfectly…

Little Hannah made for the most gorgeous bridesmaid…

After the meal, Jacinda and Scott were more than happy to head back out into the cold and shoot a few more couple photos. I’m so glad they did, the light was aah-mazing!

Please be sure to leave some love in the comments section for Jacinda and Scott x

Four weeks later they had a swish party at the Hotel Du Vin for all those friends and family who didn’t make it to the ceremony. I got the golden ticket to photograph the event.

I had only met with Peter a couple of months prior to the wedding when he came to Birmingham to collect the wedding rings (I never saw a man hold a bag so tightly !)

We met for a coffee and chatted about their plans and I immediately felt at ease and knew this couple would be great fun !

Two of Marie’s friends asked me to help them surprise her with a big announcement. can you guess what is was?

Peter and Marie had previously been to a wedding where the guests had been able to take part in a Prop-Box Shoot – this is something that I hadn’t included on any of my packages before but, as always, I love hearing new and creative ideas so I was more than open to the suggestion.

They supplied the props for a Hollywood and Gangsters theme and I provided the photographer (me!) and the lighting. There was no need for a backdrop as the Hotel Du Vin had a lovely area called The Snuggle Room (cute!) which Peter and Marie had set aside as my mini studio and the decor in there was so in keeping with the laid back vibe of the party and the venue that there was no need for a white wall behind them.

For my final hour with them, the guests were able to come into my Snuggle (love it!) and play! There was jumping, shooting, fighting and laughing. And that was just me!

While you look at their pretty photos, I’m heading out to my local fancy dress store to stock up on some props of my own.

I’ve not got a name for this new add-on yet but Jason has suggested “Lisa In Disguise with Glasses On”! Watch this space!

I love Marie’s mom, she got right in there and had a great time!

The Smile Booth (aka “Lisa in Disguise With Glasses On”!) will be available for weddings and wedding parties this year – just ask me for further details.

Dis-guise the limit! Ha! I could go on all day!

Ava’s Mom, Lou, has some very good work friend’s who bought her The Journey package for her maternity leaving present.

The Journey consists of three photoshoots choosing from a maternity shoot, newborn shoot, 6 months (or when the baby is sitting comfortably) and a birthday shoot at the age of 1.

Little Ava has proved that practice makes perfect and my morning with her was a dream! She laughed, she giggled, even her crying made for the cutest photos.

Now, I can’t wait for shoot number 3!

She wasn’t keen on the hat but doesn’t this photo make you say, “Awwwww”? I couldn’t resist. She’s just the cutest!

How could I show my face at playgroup again if the photos were anything but perfect?!

Little Benjamin was determined that I wouldn’t have an easy time of it but luckily, crying, smiling, awake or asleep, he is one beautiful baby.

We tried and tried to get him to sleep for those contented “dreaming baby” photos, relying on milk, cuddles, rocking and singing (note to self – my voice has the opposite effect!) but each time he dropped off and we got started, he would wake again to see what was going on.

Still, we managed to get some beautiful shots of Benjamin and I think I’m safe to turn up at playgroup this Friday!

I met his Mom, Sara, when I first took a 10 week old Frankie to baby sensory classes. Now Sara has a baby of her own and booked a newborn session to surprise her husband for Valentines Day… don’t we ladies give the very best of pressies?!

Baby Noah was in and out of the studio in the space of 30 minutes, my speediest baby shoot to date ! In that time, he didn’t cry once, he posed perfectly, he even rolled over for the first time (he was only 10 weeks old!)

I think I fell in love a little bit – baby Noah is the definition of cute and he has the most beautiful eyes!

So, be prepared – a public service warning would tell you that these photos may cause severe broodiness.

Introducing Baby Noah…

See! What did I tell you?!

She was an absolute star and even when she was awake, she kept her eyes closed and posed like a perfect sleepy newborn for me!

Mom Cathy has an amazing job, applying semi-permanent make-up, so if you’re after a perfect eyeliner or an HD brow, get in touch with her via this link and be sure to compliment her on her beautiful Baby Daisy!

To make V-Day even more special, here’s a little shoot I’ve been working on. Another beautiful bridal shoot that gave 2012 the kickstart it needed!

The Blue Piano in Edgbaston is a beautiful restaurant. When I learned it would open as a wedding venue I teamed up with some of the wedding world’s coolest movers and shakers to come up with the inspiration for this bridal shoot, featuring the gorgeous Robyn.

Wearing two lush gowns from The Wedding Club, Robyn was a joy to photograph. The first gown – sleek and contemporary by the inimitable Jenny Packham. The second – cool, fun and sophisticated, by style-genius Matthew Williamson.

Sandy Bahia was in charge of hair and make-up and Invitation Only styled the shoot. Check out the pretty-as-a-picture aisle that they built especially for us !

The Blue Piano not only has the most amazing food but it’s very many rooms give couples looking for a romantic, intimate and super-stylish venue everything they could ever ask for.

I’ll happily come and take their photos !

Again, the ever astute Alexis, at OMG I”m Getting Married, has featured these photos on her blog so click over to take a look and if you want to check out The Blue Piano, there’s a great Boutique Bridal Fayre happening there on March 25th.

Come by and say hello.

It helps that he’s my cousin’s little boy so I am slightly biased but, come on, look at his gorgeous chubby cheeks and tiny little toes. Completely irresistible!