London and Sweden Wedding Photographer - Tamara Kuzminski Photography » Weddings

A celebration of 2011

Tamara Kuzminski — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:42:19 +0000

I have been photographing weddings for a few years now. Just slowly getting bigger and hopefully better each year. Little by little, improving my craft, honing my skills, making new friends along the way and learning how to bring the best out of these new friends, my couples. I’m not one of those wedding photographers that have had a huge eureka moment and suddenly everything has fallen into place. I’ve had to work hard, plan, think, work some more. I’ve cried a bit and I’ve laughed a bit too. This year I’ve also neglected my own family and friends too much and probably pushed myself too far in my desire to be and do the best that I can. That’s not to say that I regret my decisions or that I shouldn’t look to improve myself, my photography or my business; but I have realised that in order to really get the best out of myself, I need to make a space for me too. I can’t be only about wedding photography. That’s when I burn out and can’t give my couples my best.

So in 2012, I am going to find time to also go back to my first love, landscape photography. I’m going to make time for personal projects, which enable me to continue finding my own voice in my work. To search deeper into my own artistic motivations and desires, and to not be influenced by others quite so much. To find out who I am as an artist, and to enable me to be my creative best for my lovely couples who want their wedding to be photographed in a way that really speaks to them, and really is them.

But to celebrate all the wonderful couples that I was lucky to photograph in 2011, here is a selection of some of my favourites from 2011. I look forward to continuing the journey during 2012.

Oxfordshire wedding photography / Suzie & Rich

Tamara Kuzminski — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:28:34 +0000

Nothing makes a wedding more special than a couple who do it totally their own way and make it work for them. And Suzie and Rich did it just perfectly. They threw out the rule book and decided that they would have their wedding day in a way that was a real expression of themselves. A topsy-turvy wedding by most standards, but a relaxed and wonderful topsy-turvy.

Suzie grew up in the heart of the Chilterns, in a wonderful old house with beautiful views and majestic, towering trees. So it was a natural choice for both Suzie and Rich to get ready for their wedding there. In separate areas, out of view from each other. Occasionally some tantalising words would waft through an open window, like a game so each other knew they were both around but remaining just out of sight. And the occasional “close the door!” as one or the other would pass through the corridor. It was like the celebrations had already started, with the whole family present from the very start. And this was the way it would continue.

Suzie and Rich opted for a “first look”. Instead of having their wedding portraits taken after the wedding, they decided to see each other for the first time, for a first look, before the wedding, allowing them more time to relax after their wedding with their guests, but also providing an intimate and special few minutes together, with just the two of them, to anticipate their new life as husband and wife together.

After their ceremony, they broke tradition again. Arriving at their reception, Suzie and Rich decided to cut their cake and everyone enjoyed a slice with a cup of tea while spending the afternoon in the autumn sunshine.

Suzie and Rich are also not big fans of dancing and decided that they wouldn’t feel pressurised into having a first dance because really it just wasn’t them. A non-traditional wedding, but a perfectly Suzie and Rich wedding. They couldn’t have celebrated their new life together any better.

Some suppliers worth mentioning for their excellence and/or friendliness…

Venue: The Crown Inn, Pishill, Oxfordshire
Wedding Dress: Ian Stuart
Flowers: Stemtation, Henley-Upon-Thames
Jazz duo: The Groove Company

Highclere Castle wedding photography (a Downton Abbey wedding) / Lucy & Christian

Tamara Kuzminski — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:47:16 +0000

Lucy and Christian are one of the most genuine and lovely couples I have photographed. They had their wedding reception at Highclere Castle in Berkshire. Home to the Earl and Countess of Grantham and their family. Or rather, the fictitious family. Of ITV1 Downton Abbey fame. And the venue is every bit as grand and wonderful as it looks on the TV. And even more lovely being filled with such a fabulous couple and the laughs and joy of their family and friends.

A big thank you goes to the amazing and talented Antonina Mamzenko, who asked me to second shoot for her at this Highclere Castle wedding.

Beautiful new wedding album

Tamara Kuzminski — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:21:43 +0000

It’s taken me a long time to find a wedding album to offer to my couples which I totally love. One that I wouldn’t hesitate to own myself, one that suits my brand, and also shows off your wedding photographs in the best way possible but also that you won’t want to put down! I’ve had so many positive comments from every couple that I’ve shown this to, and I want to also compliment Folio Albums for their dedication to produce a beautiful UK, eco-conscious but utterly gorgeous album. Here are some photographs of my sample album to tease you. If you’d like to see more of it, contact me and we can arrange a meeting so you can get your hands on it.

Thank you also to the beautiful and wonderful My and Marcus, whose Swedish wedding is featured in this album.

One last picture / Lorna & Stuart

Tamara Kuzminski — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:00:22 +0000

I really have to give Lorna and Stuart a high-five for being such an amazing couple. Even though their cake had been cut and eaten, the first dance long since danced, and the guests were getting relatively tipsy and making crazy moves on the dance floor, we persuaded them back out into the darkness (actually, there really wasn’t any persuasion involved) for one last photograph. And, yes, Lorna is rocking an amazing black wedding dress!

Today / Lynsey & Iain

Tamara Kuzminski — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 20:56:59 +0000

Today I did my first same-day slideshow at a wedding. Only time will tell whether it will help me grow my business further, but I had some amazing feedback from not only Lynsey and Iain but also their friends and family. So while I wait for all their friends to book me for their weddings, here’s a sneak peek from their wonderful wedding. One of the bonuses of the same-day slideshow and also photographing a wedding that’s only 4.9 miles from home – from goodbyes to sneak peek in less than half an hour!

Zoo wedding photography / Sarah & Rob

Tamara Kuzminski — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:00:39 +0000

I first met Sarah and Rob when I photographed Sarah’s step-sister’s wedding last year at Brocket Hall. But I never had a chance to stop and chat with them then. So when they contacted me to say how much they loved her wedding photographs and that they’d love me to photograph their wedding too, I was of course excited to. And when they told me that they were having their wedding reception at a zoo, I did a little jig! I love all weddings, but when you get the opportunity to do something a bit different it’s always a little bonus. And feeding the tigers at Paradise Wildlife Park in Hertfordshire was definitely different.

Bride’s dress: Get’N'Hitched, Enfield
Flowers: Big Day Flowers, Old Harlow

Oakham Castle, Rutland wedding sneak peek

Tamara Kuzminski — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 06:31:35 +0000

Oakham Castle in Rutland was the setting for the wedding of Mr and Mrs C, a couple of weeks ago. With its walls literally covered in 240 horseshoes, it is a totally unique wedding venue. Here are just a couple of photographs from their wedding.

Hexton Manor wedding photography / Caroline and Shaun

Tamara Kuzminski — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 18:00:42 +0000

Caroline and Shaun first met while they were still at school. Caroline asked Shaun if she could borrow his homework and Shaun was smitten. But it took many years for them to finally go on a date together and many more years for them to decide to finally get married. But it was worth waiting for.

Venue: Hexton Manor, Hertfordshire
Bride’s dress: Maggie Sottero at The White Wardrobe, Hitchin
Bridesmaid’s dresses: The White Wardrobe, Hitchin
Flowers: Linda Masters Florist
Campervan: Calico Moon
Magician: Steve Dean Magic

Zoo wedding sneak peek / Sarah and Rob

Tamara Kuzminski — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:19:14 +0000

A few from the weekend. Sarah and Rob’s wedding at a zoo. Yes! At a zoo! More animal madness (and wedding gorgeousness) coming soon.