Jersey, Channel Islands, what an amazing place to get married!

So recently I was looking around for somewhere 'different' to go on a post-wedding season short break, preferably flying from Newcastle Airport... and I discovered that EasyJet fly direct to Jersey, Channel Islands in just over an hour. Having been to Guernsey as a teenager and loved it,  I checked the weather estimates, and a quick look on google images and was absolutely sold, beautiful beaches and green sea, and I didn't even need my passport to get there! 

So last month we (me & friend!)  had a trip over there. From the first morning waking up at L'Horizon Spa Hotel  we didn't want to leave! 

Then I discovered that L'Horizon Spa Hotel does weddings. Because there was a bride and groom walking through reception looking very happy, of course, they were getting married with a beach view. This beach view.... St Brelades Bay... wow. It's October, and the sea is that colour... 

And I decided at that moment that I really, really want to return to Jersey to photograph a wedding.... 

sooooooo I had to do a blog post about it to tell you how much of an amazing place it is...Please excuse the not amazing quality of the photos as these were just snaps, mostly on my phone... (well I was on holiday after all......)

At L'Horizon Spa, you can have your wedding overlooking the beautiful bay, sea, and it has a terrace for drinks... lots of windows so you can see the view as much as possible. And sunshine, lots of sunshine... plus.....

It has sunsets like this: 

Secluded beaches such as Beauport Bay, with a rocky dramatic backdrops for some romantic wedding photos..... 

Seriously. I didn't need my passport to get here?! 

You could also get married at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, which has some amazing animals such as gorillas and orang-utans.... 

ANNND if that wasn't enough. Jersey has some AMAZING food. Jersey cream, Jersey butter, Jersey Potatoes, Jersey Black Butter (seriously, look it up!)... the food is incredible and really will wow your wedding guests.

In October for around six weeks, Jersey plays host to Tennerfest which where lots of restaurants across the Channel Islands put on some fantastic and great value menus to sample their food. Of course we took advantage of this by going to the 5* Longueville Manor. A beautiful cosy country manor just outside of St. Helier with amazing food. If your wedding style is more country than beach....don't worry, you can also get married at Longueville Manor....

And there's me, happy in the sunshine and blue sky, in my sunnies, after a wonderful meal at Longueville Manor. 

Even the clouds make love heart shapes above St Brelades Bay....

If you're getting married in Jersey or on another of the Channel Islands,  and you're looking for fun & relaxed wedding photography... please drop me a line via my website . I am more than happy to travel for your big day :)

Copyright Katie Byram Photography

Harry Potter Studio Tour & London at Christmas (Personal)

Back in early December I had the opportunity to visit London to see some friends. I've been a fan of Harry Potter since the books first came out, and love all the films, so a trip to the Warner Brother's Studio Tour was a must!! 

First I stopped off in Yorkshire to see my family and WOW this sunset was right outside their front door, these photos are hardly edited at all this is basically what the sky looked like, it was amazing. I have never run as fast to get out the door with my camera. 

On arriving in London we were greeted with this gorgeous purple sky above Oxford Street! 

We also visited the famous Choccywoccydoodah's London shop & cafe near Carnaby Street. It was so much fun to visit somewhere i've seen a lot on TV and also sample their chocolate. We had a tasting plate (Which we saw some of the customers having one each of) but even between two, it was FAR too big and we had to take some home....

What can I say about "Harry Potter Land" as I called it. WOW. It was absolutely amazing. It exceeded every expectation I had. I would go back there tomorrow!! It felt so fantastic to get to walk around 'Hogwarts' in the Great Hall and when you see behind the scenes how much work goes into everything it is just mind blowing! Here are a few highlights...

The trip was so much fun I've decided I want to go back to London again this year in early December to spend more time at Winter Wonderland... I would also love to shoot a wedding or pre-wedding shoot in London so if you know anyone who may be interested in having a slightly mad Northerner shoot their wedding please do drop me a line (Website here)  !!

All photographs copyright Katie Byram Photography and must not be used without written permission. 

Poppy Field Durham...... and a realisation to slow down!

So this blog entry will be a bit more on a personal note today. This week I realised something... I have been so so busy over the past few weeks and months that I forget to catch my breath sometimes. I am sometimes editing from morning until well after midnight, I am running from place to place, forgetting to eat, forgoing doing things for myself. I absolutely love my job and I love how far things have progressed with my work, with the things I get to do, the fact I get to  do something I love everyday... But I realised I need to take a bit of time out now and again to avoid the burnout..... Burnout is not good for anyone but especially not creative people. You need to keep that energy and spark to create something..... you can't just make it out of nowhere.

As some of you will know, being a photographer is a lot more than taking photographs, there's the editing, album design, meetings, admin, customer service, venue visits, marketing, networking, paperwork. All of this takes an enormous amount of time. I'm currently working in excess of 60-70 hours a week. I don't have an official day off, I just schedule in when I can. The last time I had a day off to see my family I actually just fell asleep in exhaustion. 

 I have already turned down last minute wedding bookings for the next couple of months, despite being free on the actual dates, as well as several other photoshoots.  This is because I want to provide the VERY best for all of my clients, and I do not want to get overloaded with work as I want to deliver quality every time. I am also trying to take a few hours out of each week just to relax and recoup.

 I read a fantastic blog article this week on Rock & Roll Bride (fantastic blog) and the last paragraph really spoke to me:

"Instead of feeling you have to work 24/7 to get anywhere, focus on accomplishing more in less time. Streamline your tasks and work towards doing the very best you can. Two hours a day of really solid work is much better for your business, your life and your happiness than a full day of stress, strain and pressure.

I get it, everyone’s busy these days, but being overworked should not be a badge of honour. Our goal should be efficiency and productivity not burn-out and 84 hour work weeks. "

 To read the rest of the Rock & Roll Bride blog post click here.

Thanks Kat from Rock & Roll Bride for that great bit of inspiration & advice on her blog. 

So after a very hectic week last week, and after a beautiful wedding day, I raced back to this poppy field that I'd seen on the way to the wedding. The sun was just setting behind the hill. I am not a landscape photographer but I knew the light was fading fast, there was no time to grab my tripod and do a fancy set up. I took my camera with the lens it had on (85mm). I got stung by nettles, and had to navigate myself over some stiles, but finally got there and got a few minutes to capture these beautiful flowers in the fading light.  Check this stunning field out: 

After i'd taken these photographs I took a few minutes to just look out at this magical field and enjoy it. I took some deep breaths, it was the first part of the day I'd actually stood still and just taken it all in, I realised at that moment how much I love life, and how I need some moments like this to stand still, view it rather than be constantly chasing and running around.... 

Life is beautiful!!!

(C) Katie Byram Photography 2013. Images must not be used without written permission.

To see more of my work visit my website.