Georgia getting ready - wedding photography at Hawkwell House Hotel, Oxford

Beautiful bride: Georgia

2012 was a wonderful year for weddings and partnerships at mimsaxl.photography.  I worked with a number of lovely couples through the year, creating images for them to treasure, using a mix of informal reportage-style photography and more formal posed group shots.  I met some great individuals, all nicely loved up.  I haven't blogged about many of the weddings, so thought I'd catch up a bit now, as we head, full speed, into the 2013 season.  I've decided to start with the last wedding of 2012, that of Georgia & Gerry, in December at Hawkwell House in Iffley.

I don't always cover the couple getting ready, and it is a treat when I do.  You can get some really atmospheric and personal shots, particularly of brides, in the often highly-charged hour before the guests arrive: moments of pause and reflection, last-minute nerves, laughter and warmth between close friends, all there to be captured.  Yum!  Georgia was really pleased with her getting ready shots, as that time was a bit of a blur and her friends look gorgeous.  Here are a few favourites.

Enjoy,
Mim x

Last minute adjustments

Oxford wedding photographer
Civil partnership photography Oxford

Happy mother's day to all fellow mothers!

If you're looking for a gift for mother's day, how about one of my portrait session vouchers? I photograph real women, creating beautiful authentic portraits using natural light. I work carefully with clients for the hour to help them relax and feel confident, and am on a mission to prove to people we can all look great in photos, without the help of photoshop. By all accounts, my sessions are good fun too :)

Here's what one happy client said:

"I was rather nervous at having some professional business portrait pictures taken - I don't think I look good in photographs, and was quite nervous at how they'd turn out. However, Mim took the time to find out what sort of effect I wanted - casual, rather than overly formal - and we had an enjoyable hour at the Ashmolean (and a coffee!) whilst she took lots of pictures. I'm really pleased with the results, and so are my family. Seeing good pictures of myself have made me, personally, rather more confident, which is a double bonus!" - Sue D

And above is a beautiful picture of another, taken at her home, with her daughters in the background.

As a special offer for mother's day, and because it is spring (yay/phew), I am offering *** 20% off my portrait session vouchers ***, for the next three days only.

love Mim x

Kismet - group photography session

Way back in February, I spent a wintery afternoon working with folk quartet Kismet at Iffley Church.  The remit was to create images which spoke of abundance, and we spent a lovely time creating a stunning mandala using cross sections of fruit, on the church floor.  The images which have been subsequently used by Kismet in their publicity material, and in The Oxford Times, don't feature any fruit as it happens, but I'm sure you'll be glad to know it was very tasty - if only all my sessions culminated in a fruit binge on a cold church floor, with the sound of laughter and friendship echoing around the room.  A great gang to spend time with.

Kismet make beautiful music.  'Tender songs and passionate uplifting tunes. An exciting ensemble weaving delicate vocal harmonies with a rich variety of instruments.'  They are playing as part of Oxford's upcoming 'Kicking the Bucket' festival (www.kickingthebucket.co.uk), which began with an open morning at Helen & Douglas House, and runs into November; much anticipated highlights include a Mexican Mariachi Band and dancers at the Four Pillars on October 26th.  See the website for details and tickets.

The festival organiser is Liz Rothschild, who runs Westmill Woodland Burial Site (www.woodlandburialwestmill.co.uk).  I did a shoot with Liz over the summer at the burial ground and her beautiful farm, to create images for the festival publicity, so look out for my work on the site - blog post to follow soon.  In the meantime, here are a couple from my shoot with the lovely Kismet.

Group portrait Oxford