Melanie East Photography

The business blog of Bristol wedding photographer and portrait photographer Melanie East

Welcome!

Welcome to the Melanie East Photography blog. I am a fully qualified full time professional wedding and portrait photographer. I qualified with and am a member of the prestigious Master Photographers Association.

Here you'll find the latest news, promotions and of course some of my favourite images from recent shoots. I photograph weddings, newborns, babies, children and families throughout the South West.

Photography is my passion, - I left my career as a lawyer to pursue my dream and have never looked back. I love capturing the special moments in people's lives - but moreover I love to exceed my client's expectations. I offer a client service which is second to none and the entire photography experience, from first consultation to final product, is unmistakably one of a kind.

Check out the main website for information and pricing on our photography experience and exceptional bespoke products. New promotions are always posted in this blog - so be sure to check back often!

WE TAKE INFRINGEMENT OF COPYRIGHT VERY SERIOUSLY. All images and text are copyright Melanie East Photography. Apart from the legal implications, it is not very nice to steal other people's images or text and shows lack of creativity. We monitor all activity on our website and blog.

Melanie East Photography :: Distinctive Wedding and Portrait Photography for Bristol Bath and the South West of England.

{MEP loves …} – vintage tea cups!

Friday, July 16, 2010

I’ve started collecting Vintage tea cups. I’m in love with Vintage tea cups and crockery!

I visited Bristol Vintage – who not only are lovely people, but offer everything for hire you could possibly wish for when planning a vintage style wedding, from crockery, bunting, jugs of wild flowers and even wind up gramophones – what could be more fabulous than that ?! Imagine sipping your Champagne out of a pure vintage tea cup – it tastes so much better that way, I can vouch for it! Not only that but if you decided to buy rather than hire, they would make wonderful wedding favours, filled with a cupcake, fudge or barley sugar … or whatever takes your fancy!

So of course, I bought some tea cups. How could I *not* with such a wonderful selection from which to choose?

Shot at 4000 ISO in natural light in my kitchen – front three tea cups in this picture, all from Bristol Vintage …

My favourite Bristol Vintage tea cup is this one – a two handled very dainty tea cup and saucer …

And – it also doubles as a bonbon dish! – somewhere to keep my strawberry bonbons on hand – fabulous!

I was also very very lucky to receive this tea cup and saucer which dates back to 1827 as an impromptu gift from my husband this morning. Its absolutely exquisite – 183 years old and beautiful. This he purchased from Everything Stops for Tea who deal in true vintage crockery.

I’m planning a summer vintage tea party for my little girl, but I doubt I’ll let her loose with my 183 year old tea cup – that would just be tempting fate!

by Melanie

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Anna Bennett - Uhhhhhh, am *so* jealous. Wow at the 183 year old china, how on earth did that survive? Makes you wonder. Bristol Vintage looks amazing – what a find!

sarah - I have just been looking at your lovely photos! what a truly remarkable person you are! you have such talent for capturing a moment in time for ever. I smiled to myself re the tea cups! I sometimes look at pretty cups although for me I also love hand made mugs you should see my mug cupboard!I like differant mugs depending on what a want to drink or just a fanciful thing!! but I do agree pretty painted old style cups and saucers are so special and you feel special when using them too!
Look forward to catching up soon!
Saz x x

I’m flattered!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

I find it mildly amusing when a photographer copies everything I do – because it just confirms to me that they don’t really have any creativity or thoughts of their own – and creativity in photography is pretty important! From copying chunks of text from my website and just rearranging a few words, to attempting to copy my style of baby photography and my blog posts – Hmmm.. doesn’t say much for the photographer’s own confidence in their ability.

Its annoying, its pretty low, but luckily, I’m pretty flattered! :)

And I’d refer to the quote at the top of this blog :

“There is hardly anything in this world which man cannot make a little worse and sell a little cheaper …” – John Ruskin

I always prefer originals to copies..

Meanwhile, here’s a recent shot of my beautiful Amelia, taken in the studio …

Posted in Baby and Child photography Chew Valley, Baby and child photography Bristol, Baby photography Bristol, Baby photography Bristol and Bath, Baby's first year photography

by Melanie

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Anna Bennett - I would take it as a backhanded compliment too. I know it is *so* annoying when people copy you word for word and image for image. Hell, I even had someone come and copy my entire studio set up when I was starting out, do you remember that? Ridiculous. All I can say is that your images speak for themselves and they will continue to evolve, whereas someone who has such a lack of imagination themselves, who can’t even get started by themselves without using other people – well, how can you evolve from nothing? :)

James Lazering - They can copy Mel but you’ve hit the nail on the head – if they need to copy then they don’t have their own ideas or creativity and that speaks volumes. Plus your images are in a league of their own. We looked at a lot of photographers to photograph our wedding and we are very excited and thrilled to have chosen you.

Gill Taylor - I feel your pain. It’s difficult to know whether to laugh or cry when this happens … I guess we SHOULD call it flattery but it’s also pretty annoying on some level.

Love your work !

Gill xx

Baby Oscar and big brother Jacob

Thursday, July 15, 2010

I photographed baby Oscar who is 13 weeks, and big brother Jacob who is two, in my studio. I really enjoyed this shoot. Oscar is such a sweeeet baby! Jacob was great to photograph, and although I really like the smiley images I shot of him, I also *love* the more serious ones. I mean, just look at these two children – aren’t they just scrummy?!!

For exceptional photography of your newborn, baby, child or family, whether studio photography or on location lifestyle photography please just shoot me an email right here, or call me on 01761 490412. Babies and children change so quickly, don’t let the memories fade…

Posted in Baby and Child photography Chew Valley, Baby and child photography Bristol, Baby photography Bristol, Baby's first year photography, children's photography

by Melanie

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Anna Bennett - I love the serious ones too, always! Really beautiful shots Mel. Lovely lower key lighting :) Anna.

Louise and Marcus - WOW! Thankyou so much. The photographs are amazing. You have really captured both of our boys personalities. Can’t wait for the next sitting.

Jacob

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Coming soon, Jacob and baby brother Oscar …

Be sure to check back!

Posted in Baby and Child photography Chew Valley, Baby and child photography Bristol and Bath, Baby photography Bristol, Baby's first year photography, Bristol baby photography

by Melanie

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Today I was photographed

Monday, July 12, 2010

…and the only people I trust to take good photographs of me are professional photographers!

Today, I met up with my great friend, and fellow pro photographer, Anna Bennett. Anna is a very talented commercial photographer and we’ve known and worked together for years. We had lunch, we laughed, we chatted … and, being photographers, we took some photographs.

Now I don’t usually like photographs of me, but *this*, I love … captured by Anna today in natural light.

She’s rather clever isn’t she? For fabulous commercial photography, you need to head on over to Anna’s site. She’s lots of exciting things in the pipeline …

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by Melanie

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Anna Bennett - It’s not hard to make you look good though, Mel! Thanks so much for today – I had such a great time and I haven’t laughed so much in ages. Thanks for all your advice on the new “baby” !!! Can’t wait for next month’s catch up xxx

Natasha Clatworthy - Wow, you look stunning hun x

{Location} : Elizabeth and Oliver

Sunday, July 11, 2010

I met up with Elizabeth and Oliver to carry out their E-session and we had great fun. These two are really lovely people and make a great couple – they were so much fun to be with and were great sports.

Here are a couple of my favourites from their shoot with me …

I really adore the feel of this shot …

and this …

and this! …

These images along with the other great ones I have of Elizabeth and Oliver would look great in an album or as a canvas montage on the wall – many clients go for an acrylic montage which looks incredible, particularly as sets of 3, 6 or 9 – and it’s really great for a couple to have some relaxed images of the two of them in a different location and with a different feel to their wedding photographs.

Liz and Oliver – I really enjoyed spending time with you and will look forward to seeing you soon!

To book me for a location portrait session email me here or call me on – 01761 490412. Great to celebrate an engagement, an anniversary or just for no reason at all! We’ll have fun and you’ll receive images you’ll *love*!

Posted in Location photography Bristol Bath Somerset, Location portrait photography, Portrait photography Bristol, lifestyle photography

by Melanie

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Elizabeth - Thankyou Melanie for an enjoyable morning. We love the pictures and can’t wait to see the others. Look forward to seeing you in 2 weeks.

Liz and Oli

Anna Bennett - OMG, I *adore* the ice cream van shot – I want one of those !!!

Happy letter :)

Saturday, July 10, 2010

“Dear Mel

We can’t thank you enough for our beautiful beautiful wedding photos.

We have really enjoyed working with you.

At every step you were professional, helpful and lots of fun! You really helped us relax during our pre wedding shoot and it was a pleasure to have you there on our wedding day – you had terrific patience with us who were on Cloud 9!

We are so pleased with our photographs and album. They capture the emotion of our day perfectly. There are so many beautiful photos which we will always treasure.

We look forward to working with you again in the future to capture all our special times.

Thank you so much

James and Linda Barnes”

{sob} Thank you guys. Letters like this mean so much to me. I loved your Day. Thank you very much for the bottle of Champagne. I *love* Champagne :) You really didn’t need to do that – but oh! – I’m glad you did! – omnomnom!

To have me capture exceptional photographs of your wedding day – call me on 01761 490412 or shoot me an email right here

Posted in Wedding photography Bristol, Wedding photography Somerset, Wedding photography The Park at Wick

by Melanie

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I’m on to it!

Friday, July 9, 2010

If you are waiting for your password to view your gallery, please rest assured – I’m on to it!

It’s the busiest time of year with the wedding season in full swing. If you have had a shoot with me recently then your images are being edited and post-processed and you’ll hear from me with your individual gallery passwords shortly.

The stunning results are always worth the short wait :) I’m right on to it!

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by Melanie

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