Eliza Boo Photography

Southwood Hall Wedding Photography, Norfolk: Part 2

2012-01-27T19:43:00.000Z

I promised a 2nd part to the stunning wedding of Dawn and Ben, held at the beautiful Southwood Hall in Norfolk. There were so many wonderful photo opportunities that I didn't want you to miss out on the beautiful results. At the end of a wonderful day, the evening reception began and following a traditional English menu, the couple prepared for their First Dance. What a surprise! The bride, a professional dancer, had taught her new husband to dance - and the result was a First Dance worthy of a Strictly Come Dancing final! Fantastic day and fantastic evening!! Truly a wedding day to remember!

Southwood Hall Wedding Photography, Norfolk

2012-01-07T14:52:00.000Z

I love Southwood Hall; a truly spectacular barn conversion in the Norfolk countryside, it truly is a stunning wedding venue. Dawn and Ben were a joy to photograph; they were so happy, and surrounded by so many of their lovely family and friends. I'm breaking this wedding into two posts as there are so many wonderful pictures. Today, please enjoy the bridal preparation photos and the wedding ceremony. As always, a huge thank you to James Rouse, without whom I wouldn't have been there!

Professional Photographer Magazine.

2011-12-21T13:31:00.000Z

Just a quick post in between getting my Christmas orders out to clients. I'm so pleased to see my 2nd article for Professional Photographer magazine in the January edition which is on the shelves now! Do have a read to meet some of the fabulous ladies in the Click Collective network and to find out how a close professional group can really support the individual members!

London; Battersea Park Ice Queens in Narnia

2011-12-16T16:59:00.001Z

A couple of weeks ago I had great fun meeting up with many of my fellow Click Collective friends when we joined Claudia Carter in her first organised photo shoot. The them was Narnia and Ice Queens - and it was certainly cold enough for us all to turn to ice, even though the sun shining through the leaves gave an impression of summer warmth and sunshine! Many other photographers I've come to know over the last year also came - so it was a fun and very sociable way to keep in touch whilst doing what we all love best. My daughter Flora, modelled again, and well done to all the models for braving the bitter cold in dresses which whilst extremely beautiful, were not made for English winters! I also had great fun meeting up with the lovely Catherine Connor from Aspire - and we were able to have some short discussions which have now led to an exciting new project for January! Watch this space!


The models prepare.

Following the shoot, all 40 photographers, together with models still in full make up, made our way from Battersea Park to Sloane Square and then down the Kings Road til we reached the pub where we sank down gratefully for hot drinks and prepared for some talks from Julia West, Catherine Connor, Melissa Love and Gary Lashmar. You were all completely inspiring guys!

Flora and I left Norwich really, really early (6.30am train -I don't do that for just anyone you know), and made our way to the hotel where the make up artists were doing amazing things to transform the models. We had a slight hiccough when leaving the room to get in the taxi as there was a real life bride in the lobby - and needless to say, I and all 4 models leapt into her taxi. It was only through Claudia's intervention that we were prevented from going off to be married to some poor perplexed groom whilst his bride was saved from the taxi which would have taken her to model in Battersea Park.


Where's my taxi?

I was so excited to meet my lovely friends at the park that I completely forgot to photograph the first model!! Instead I managed to capture an awful lot of pics of my fellow photographers....

This cute little man was on his first walk.

Flora wearing original Edwardian

Huge thanks to models: Lexie Lambert, Hayley Buckingham, Helena Willcocks, Natasha Rozhdestvensky & Flora Marshall - Dutton.

Make Up by Julia Plant

Costumes from Luella's Boudoir

Caldecott Hall & Hemsby Wedding

2011-11-14T22:30:00.001Z

A few weeks ago I had the lovely task of shooting at the wedding of Kerri and Alan; thank you to James Rouse and big thanks to the lovely bride and groom. It was a warm and beautiful family occasion with the couple attended by their three gorgeous girls.

For some reason I've had huge problems tonight loading the pictures in order - so instead, please enjoy them as they come! I'm so pleased with them all - I think they really display the friendliness of this lovely family. Congratulations Kerri & Alan, I wish you all the best for your future together.

Little Walsingham and Fakenham Racecourse Wedding.

2011-09-29T14:23:00.002+01:00

A big thank you to Katie and Paul for letting me come to photograph their wedding with Danni Brooks. The Little Walsingham Church was beautiful and to make the day even more special, the priest had just become a Bishop and this was his first wedding! Katie looked stunning in her fairytale dress and there was hardly a dry eye in the Church when she first walked in! Congratulations and I wish you every happiness in the years to come!

Aspire: Burton-in-Kendal, Cumbria, Pt 2, The Wedding!

2011-09-22T16:43:00.000+01:00

Gosh, Aspire really know how to provide the trimmings! The flowers and bridal details were all so pretty. And I did mention the food yesterday? I actually can't bear to think about the food. I put on weight just remembering how delicious it all was. Well, I've worked the workflow plan as shown by Stuart and it went very well. Thank you for showing a professional way of getting through hundreds of wedding photographs. And here's my selection of wedding shots from the A-Z of Weddings course.

Aspire: Burton-in-Kendal, Cumbria

2011-09-21T19:42:00.000+01:00

I spent last week at Aspire, the renowned photography business training centre, situated in the stunning Cumbrian countryside. I had a bit of a hair-raising drive as the weather forecast a windy hurricane, and it was nerve-wracking overtaking high sided lorries on the busy M6 which shook particularly badly on exposed bridges! Much to my relief I arrived within the time set by the sat nav and settled in to The King's Arms before the wind really began to howl. By the time I had finished my scampi and chips, and settled into my bed with a book, the wind knocked the power out and the electricity was gone! The next morning was beautiful and after breakfast I drove up to Aspire for the first day of A-Z Wedding Photography! Aspire is based in a wonderful converted stable; great care and attention has been given to every little detail, and it was lovely to be welcomed into a room with comfortable chairs, real coffee, fresh orange juice and large jugs of iced water. Our first day was spent learning about marketing our businesses under the experienced eye of Catherine Connor. Day two we shot an engagement and a wedding, day three was coping with workflow and the final day saw us learning about sales! For today, enjoy some of the engaged couple shots and I'll bring you the wedding later!

A Perfect Day

2011-09-07T19:26:00.000+01:00

On the way back to Norwich from my Welsh Summer holiday, I detoured to the fabulous Jane Austen Orchestrated Shoot organised by Melissa Love and Orchestrated Shoots. The whole day was spent in a beautiful parallel universe, with stunning scenes and beautiful models, including, I am so proud to say, my own daughter, Flora. I had a great day and wished it would never end. Please enjoy some of the pictures.


Sisters: Ella shot a small film, (to be published here in the future) and Flora modelled.

Organised by:
Melissa Love Design. www.melissalove.co.uk
Orchestrated Stylised Shoots. www.orchestratedshoots.com
Venue. Wiston House. www.wistonhouse.co.uk
Styling, food & flowers. The Tea Set. www.the-tea-set.co.uk.
Dresses. White Mischief. www.whitemischiefbridal.co.uk
Tailoring. Gresham Blake. www.greshamblake.com
Makeup. Natalie Clark of NC Bridal Beauty. www.ncbridalbeauty.com
Hair Accessories. Cherished Vintage Bridal Accessories. www.cherishedvintage.co.uk
Hair styling. Caroline Kearney. www.mobilehairandbeauty.co.uk
Stationery. The Girl Tyler. www.thegirltyler.com
Children's vintage clothing. Dinky Vintage. www.dinkyvintage.com
Children's clothing. Bonnie Baby. www.bonniebaby.co.uk

Love These Kids!

2011-09-06T21:42:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I had huge pleasure photographing the very grown up Miss E and her brother, little L. Managed to persuade Mum, Julie to have her photo taken for a couple too - and I think she's stunning! Hoping to go back soon for a return Julie make over session! With L just turning one, it's the right time to start thinking about yourself again and what could be better than a whole portrait session! Oh, and the cat is called Ron!

A Most Fantastic Week!

2011-09-02T21:21:00.000+01:00

I really can't tell you what an exciting weeks it's been. After weeks of an aching neck and shoulder I made the decision to stop trying to edit on my lovely MacBook Pro - but invest in the desktop iMac. So here I am, tap tapping away on this truly enormous 27" screen. Well, practically the first message I received on this huge beast was the news that my picture had won the Jane Austen Shoot photography competition!! It's the first time I've won anything, and the first time I've ever entered a picture of mine for any competition. And not just that, but it was there, in a gallery of some truly exquisite photographs! The day itself (as you will discover in a future blog post) was brilliant and organised so well by Melissa Love Design - - it was like winning a prize just to be there. Congratulations to the other winners, Liesel Cheney, Tracey Barrow and Anna Wilmot Bowkis - your pics were beautiful!

My winning picture! The Picnic Scene

So how did it come about that here I am, winning a photography prize? Surely this was never in the stars for the girl who went off to study Philosophy and thought she would end up in a really academic job? Well, there are two amazing people in my photography world who I hold responsible for this. I first joined Flickr because it was a convenient way to get in touch with an old friend I'd lost contact with! After a while I began to look around and came across the photographs of Kerry Harrison. Well, they were breathtaking. And I started to study and started to learn, and before I knew it I was the owner of a DSLR. Well, more months passed and then I stumbled upon Claire's pictures. Well, Claire was already ahead of me in the learning game, but she took time out to support and encourage me and ensured I was included at the start up of an amazing group who have gone on to become close friends and photographic mentors! But Claire was not just there with photography/marketing/pricing/packaging advice either - Pigs to Sticks became an oft used heading in the 'subject' tab of emails.

Well, the diets failed - but years later, the photography endures. Claire developed a love love relationship with New York, which I completely shared - and then one day, after a visit to New York, up popped a new photograph from Claire. Now, for me, visual art is like poetry; for it to mean something I have to not only find it aesthetically pleasing, but it also has to make something go 'zing'! right in the middle of my heart. The zing has to be audible (to me anyway) and it has to set off a chain reaction - either tears in the eyes, a lump in the throat, a huge ear to ear smile - you know the kind of thing!

This new photo did just that. When I went to New York, I popped up in Grand Central Station and was so overcome at being in such an iconic terminal, that I forgot, yes I forgot, to take a single photograph. I had even bought a new camera - but I was too overcome by being in an iconic city, in an iconic station and I didn't remember I had a camera let alone remember to take a picture. And I always regretted it. But Claire, like I said, is a step ahead of me - and rather than be overcome by the place she finds herself in, she uses that emotion to grab the camera and take a shot - and what a shot. I can't describe it - but it makes my heart go 'zing'! And it makes me smile (sometimes) and it make my eyes wet (sometimes) and it brings a lump to my throat (sometimes) - but what it ALWAYS does, it remind me of three things I love. 1). Photography, 2) New York 3) Travel.

I've wanted a copy for ages, but it had to be the right time. I knew that if I just ordered it, it would arrive and get stored on the dining table, and then knocked onto the floor etc etc. So it had to come when I could be organised enough to take it straight to the framers. So it arrived this morning, I took it straight to the framers and begged them to have it ready for me on the same day. I collected it half an hour ago. Claire's fine art prints are available here. And here, is the photograph I love.


by Claire Penn Photography

It has indeed been a stunning week - and everything stunning about it has been to do with photography. So thank you Kerry for luring me into this world and thank you Claire, for keeping me in it.

Rock My Dress Part 3. (Extras)

2011-09-01T20:26:00.000+01:00

The whole experience of the Rock My Dress shoot was great fun. The only downside was the rain - but smiles were still evident throughout both days. The owners of Kennexstone Campsite were brilliant. They didn't bat an eyelid when we said we'd love to take some wedding dress shots in their yard with all the machinery - and offered to move anything, tractors, trailers, caravans that we wanted moved! If you visit the Gower in S. Wales (which you must do) - do take your tent and pitch here - we had lots of space, clean toilets and showers and by booking in advance, they made sure we had a wonderful sheltered spot. So the following photos are to show you the in-betweens! The fun we had putting this together.

In the next blog post I'll be sharing the really fab week I've had, but until then - enjoy the Rock My Dress extras!! xx

Rock My Dress Part 2.

2011-08-24T16:12:00.000+01:00

We were camping in the Gower. The family who runs the site were very friendly and the site itself was spacious and clean with a very useful shop. They were very amenable to my request that we use some of the old farmyard as a setting for the Rock My Dress shoot. The rain had not let up at all on the day of the Cove shots, and Maureen didn't bother changing out of her bridal dress for the climb back up the cliff and the three mile trudge through cow and sheep fields back to the car. So although it wasn't a bright Summer's day, it was a relief that the heavy rain was keeping clear of our farm shoot. Maureen tidied herself up in the comfort of our large tents, rather than the knee high cave which had been the previous dressing room - and then set off across the campsite to the farmyard. The other campers crowded around, thinking she was off to her wedding!

Rock My Dress Part 1.

2011-08-23T16:28:00.000+01:00

I've been off the blog for a while due to a long awaited camping holiday in Wales with family and close friends. Those of you who know me will know that I love my time away from it all in my Bell Tent. Camping is a form of luxury for us - for England, we go with heaters (plural) duck down duvets, kelims and top of the range Therm-A-Rest memory foam mattresses. For this holiday, I wanted to organise a Rock My Dress shoot for Maureen who was married not too long ago and hadn't had the chance to wear her dress again. We picked an isolated cove, forgetting the 3 mile walk through fields of sheep, cows and a bull. And more importantly, forgetting what was almost an abseil down a cliff. And an abseil with wedding dress, 'bridesmaids', ukelele, camera equipment and filming equipment - as my eldest daughter wanted to make a short promo film for me. To make matters worse, having abseiled the cliff face, the heavens opened and my models were reduced to dressing in the relative shelter of a knee-high cave. The rain lashed the cameras - so quality is very reduced. But despite being wringing wet, and freezing cold, my models were brilliant fun and took it all in their stride! Maureen, Geri and Flora - thank you. And thank you too, the umbrella bearers, Simon and Graham, Ella for getting your new camera wet beyond your worst nightmares - and Sammy - for keeping all our spirits up and helping us to avoid cow poo and bulls. The photo shoot is in 3 parts. The isolated cove, a deserted field and a farmyard - so here, are the pics from the cove.

And yes, this is Maureen having climbed back up the cliff, in wedding dress, ready for Part 2!

Thank you visiting, I hope you return for Rock My Dress Pt 2.

TIme For August Break!

2011-08-01T21:54:00.000+01:00

There are so many fantastic bloggers that I count myself really fortunate every time I come across one who I feel a real connection with. Susannah Conway is one of those. Author of the now famed 'Unravelling' blog, I came across Susannah as, unbeknown to me, I was about to approach a major crossroad in my life. Her artistry and gentle nature together with her valuable Unravelling course have helped me stand at those crossroads and select a direction. So it is with no little pleasure that I have embarked on Susannah's annual August break! There are no rules - but to post pictures to share during August! So, to signify a break - here is a photo which is not one I'd choose to put in a professional portfolio, but which is an image which explains a little bit of excitement that's building up in me. Because we are off glamping in the Gower in a few days - and this is a picture of my trailer kitchen. It's incomplete - all the finishing touches need to go on board. And of course it needs a fab paint finish (yes, there's a lovely pot of greeny blue paint waiting)! I will of course, share the completed project with you; once it's on site with my pretty red camping kettle whistling away!

Happy holidays!! xx

Extended families.

2011-07-25T10:54:00.000+01:00

My gorgeous god-daughters arrived for a flying visit from Cork, and the rain let off for a day so we could take some pics in the park.

Aren't they just beautiful!!

Uncomplicated Love

2011-07-17T12:32:00.000+01:00

Dogs and other pets are important members of families. A friend said that owning a dog helps a child develop normally. Well, I would dispute that from the evidence of my own children - but a walk with my dogs does get the youngest son away from the X-Box and even more importantly, as he's at the age where it's really uncool to smile, the dogs do force that smile out of him. Which is so lovely for me!

Pet portraits can be arranged at a time and place to suit both pet and client. Please contact for further details!

Thank you for stopping by!

Boo x

Fine Art to celebrate an English Summer.

2011-07-11T12:29:00.000+01:00

Over at my Etsy shop I've listed some new floral prints to celebrate the blooming of our wonderful, classic, English flowers. Please pop over to have a look - and remember, all prints can be ordered in different sizes to those displayed. My Fine Art page here on the blog gives a great visual example of how a large print could look in your home!!

Books, Authors and Readings

2011-07-06T22:15:00.000+01:00

You may remember that I was recently asked to take some photos of a local writer to help with the launch of her new novel. So it was a lovely follow up to be asked along to Norfolk Libraries to take pictures of Amanda's book reading and signing. The book is great, I'm really enjoying it - and anyone who has an interest in well written fiction and the crafting world will also find it an addictive read!

Classic English Summer

2011-07-04T10:55:00.000+01:00

Summer isn't complete in England without at least once seeing some traditional Morris Dancing. Every year in Sheringham, an old fishing village on the north coast of Norfolk, lots of regional Morris groups get together for a weekend of dancing to the accompaniment of fiddles, accordions and bells. Simon's sister and niece are both active participants in this lively annual dance festival. After dancing in the hot sun, the group were desperate to cool off in the sea!

Lunch with Amanda

2011-06-30T15:47:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I went out to a beautiful village in one of the prettiest parts of Norfolk. I had been asked to take photographs of Amanda Addison, to celebrate the launch of her new novel, Laura's Handmade Life, which I thoroughly recommend! Amanda had several spots around her garden earmarked for photographs, but we soon left the garden behind as the field behind her house still had a fluttering of poppies which begged to be part of her backdrop! After wading through nettles for the best spots, I stayed at Amanda's to enjoy home made vegetable soup, seed laden rolls and a variety of cheese. And just to completely end the meal perfectly, Amanda served up home baked raspberry cake with extra raspberries from the garden liberally sprinkled over the top as a garnish! Here are a few of the shots I managed to take before being made incapable of movement after such a tasty feast!

Wedding Anniversary

2011-06-14T06:45:00.000+01:00

It was a sunny, but very windy, day when I hit the beach with the Pettican family. Celebrating their 2nd wedding anniversary, M & G were keen to have some celebratory pictures taken. The children loved the wide, open beach at Caistor near Great Yarmouth and we all benefited from the fresh air! It was a lovely morning and I really enjoyed every minute!

Welcome to Eliza Boo Photography

2011-06-11T16:55:00.000+01:00

This new blog has been created to share a few of the results of the bespoke photography sessions I offer. I had a lovely morning with this beautiful family, deep in the heart of Norfolk, where every inch of earth carried precious family memories stretching back for more than thirty years.