NEW WEBSITE & BLOG!!!!!!

Well, after many months of planning and techy stuff, the new Level Eleven website is up and running!

Part of the new site is that it includes a blog, so we won't be posting on this one any more - in future it's all under one roof.

The new site has some great functions - for instance you can build your own gallery, selecting images from a specific venue, or shot during winter for instance. There's also lots of complete albums searchable by venue, and it's integrated into Facebook and Twitter with RSS feeds for the blog etc. But the best bit is that you can click on the images and see them full screen. All terribly clever stuff and our thanks have to go to Tony at MT Studios for such a great job!

So, take a look at the new site at www.level11.co.uk - we'd appreciate any feedback too - is it fast enough? any pixellation of images? navigation clear?

And that's it for this blog, we'll leave it up for a while yet, but of course, all new posts and updates will be on the new one which is held within the new site.

Russ

Linz & Dom's wedding at Quex House

Well, it was close run thing but Dom ultimately prized himself out of the Jaguar XJR-S that he'd treated himself to for the weekend.....and walked into Quex House to marry his gorgeous other woman!

Linz looked stunning, more than a match for a £90k supercar! After the ceremony, we took a drive in the Vintage Vows Rolls down to the beach at Minnis Bay for some off-the-wall wedding day photos!

Back to the sunny gardens at Quex House for a superb wedding breakfast, speeches and fireworks.

It was great to be working with our good friend Mark from The Short Film Company again, and you can see the 2-minute film clip HERE and Linz & Dom's album online HERE


Andy. It was Andy!














Great to bump into an old school mate Ian Mileham at the wedding -we haven't seen each other for about xx years!

Louise & Mark's engagement shoot

I've been really looking forward to meeting up with Mark & Louise for their pre-wed. They booked us at the Cooling Castle last year. I well remember Louise suddenly grabbing Mark's arm as she saw the images on our stand and dragging him over to see them - we were booked on the spot! So, it was with some excitement that we met up for their pre-wed, I love photographing couples who appreciate their photography!

All the things I love.......!

A couple of weeks back I was asked to shoot some images of Gardline's new catamaran operating from Ramsgate's Royal Harbour on the wind farm construction.

So, boats and photography then. Happy days!

With me mostly aboard a Rib operated by Dover Sea School, even the weather played ball and we got some lovely images of this fabulous boat. During the day I also met Ryan, and you can read below where that lead us!

'Model' shoot with Lauren & Ryan

Sitting in a bar with my wife a while ago, I spotted Lauren. Well, you can hardly miss her! She's an amazing looking girl, tall with long blond hair and endless legs. In any case I handed her a card and told her to look over our website if she fancied having some photos taken. In the event, my assistant Katie photographed her a couple of months back and seeing the photos, I couldn't wait to book a date top photograph her as well! Whilst it had taken a while to arrange, last week I met Ryan whilst doing a commercial shoot for Gardline and knew that photographing the two of them on the same day would be a blast.

So here's a few. I really wanted a low-key grundgy kind of look to the images, and the back streets of Margate certainly provided it!

Felicity & Phil's wedding at St Paul's Canterbury.

What a great day! Lovely couple, another vicar who put no restrictions on photography (two in a month.....wow!!!!) and a fabulous marquee reception in the grounds of the historic St Augustines Kings School just a thirty second walk away. On arrival, guests were greeted with Whitstable Oysters, Ice Creams, a coconut shy and Champagne - everyone seemed more than happy despite the weather getting the hump mid afternoon!

Fliss & Tim's engagement shoot

With a three month old baby having just come along, it's taken a while to get Fliss and Tim in front of their camera and their wedding's nearly upon us - August 24th! It's a black tie do (it'll be nice to chuck the tux on again!) at Chilston Park with the reception in the hugely haunted village of Pluckley - gulp! Why will the gents be sporting dinner jackets for the big day? Would it help if I told you that Fliss & Tim's baby is called James......? Think about it!

So here's a few from our pre-wedding shoot. That's 'shoot' as in camera, not Walther PPK.

THE END

Fliss & Tim will be back on August 24th 2009

Rhonda & Mike's engagement shoot.

Having just announced their engagement, Mike & Rhonda were beating down our doors for their engagement shoot. So we headed out to a blustery Ramsgate for some pictures. Rhonda giggled, Mike looked sternly at her for it and the combination worked somehow!

Their wedding is booked for June next year at a new venue called Winter's Barn in Canterbury.








A little holga magic! Taken with a plastic chinese toy camera - cool huh?!!

Charlotte & Andrew's wedding

With a 'country fayre' theme, Charlotte & Andrew were pretty dependant on good weather and got lucky! A church wedding was followed by a tractor and trailer ride back to the reception and a lot of action centred on the coconut shy and quiots - with that most English of drinks - Pimms - flowing it got very competitive of course!

With Charlotte being of Belgian descent, first off we had a 'first look' where the couple met up before the wedding and the couples entrance into the marquee was quite something - marching music accompanied by wildly waved napkins!

A fantastic day, and we got some great images!

Helen & Karl's wedding

A true English Country wedding was the choice of Helen & Karl. With 160 guests, Katie & I were kept busy (including a big group shot at great personal danger (!) taken from Cherry Picker....) and the lovely vicar at All Saint's Church at Staplehurst allowed us to shoot throughout the ceremony - hooray for once to a sensible vicar! The couple were greeted outside by friends forming an archway of hockey sticks and pitchforks, which was a new one to me!

The spectacular marquee was host to the weding breakfast and party afterwards, with a great laser show by the DJ, as you can see!




DangeRuss!

And the resulting image, I'm considering taking one to every wedding!

Alison & Mark at Cooling Castle Barn

Last week's run of three weddings was tiring but satisfying! I've been looking forward to Alison & Mark's wedding for ages, since they booked us at Cooling Castle's wedding open day last year. Alison loves being photographed (which is a rare quality in a bride!) and I knew we'd get some gorgeous shots of the two of them.

Their wedding took place outside in the fantastic gazeebo, and the sun shone - happy days!

I know Alison will have spotted this blog before I've finished typing it - she's been bombarding me with emails demanding to see them so here we are Alison....just for you!

Justine & Chris's pre-wedding shoot

With their wedding just around the corner on September 4th, it was time for Justine & Chris to get used to having their picture taken!

Together with their spaniel Marley, we headed for Whistable on a sunny weekend, early - before the place went mental! They soon got into the swing of things, as you can see.

Sarah & Neil's church wedding and Chilston Park reception.

With three mid-week weddings followed by a weekend off and a monday wedding, last week felt odd, and I'm still not entirely sure what day it is!

Sarah & Neil booked us a couple of weeks back to shoot their intimate wedding at St Mary's church in West Malling and we were told 'LOTS of pictures of our little girl Megan!' which we duly undertook! With 18 guests, it was a very different day and we had time to capture lots of fabulous images (without lots of family shots, we could spend time on story telling....) including one image (below) which must rate as one of my favourite pictures of all time.

After the ceremony, it was off to Chilston Park for the wedidng breakfast, with music supplied by Stirling Austin - a superb band I'd not come across before!

Here's a few from their day.






Technically rubbish - but i loved it!













Finally, THAT shot. I really think this is one of the top three photographs I've taken at a wedding, I just love the light and moment.

Justine & John - Newick Park

Russ very rarely lets me blog mainly because I always post far too many pictures! So while he is out doing what he does best (shooting a wedding that is!) i'll blog!

Justine & Johns wedding was at the lovely Newick Park. One of Russ's favourite new found venues, and yet again the sun shone on him! It was a beautiful day, planned and organised wonderfully by Claire & Matt from "Weddings with Unity" and Justine & John were a really lovely couple. When Russ came through the door he was beaming which means he's really enjoyed himself and has got "some crackers" as he would put it!

So I need say no more, I give you some of "the Crackers"!

Emma

Rebecca & Lawrence's wedding in Central London

So, the best city in the world, good weather, two fabulous venues, a gorgeous bride (and a handsome groom of course!) - Saturday's wedding with Rebecca & Lawrence was one that Katie and I had really been looking forward to.

After seeing the girl's at home, it was off to Trinity House, overlooking Tower Bridge for the ceremony. Afterwards, two Routemaster's took us to Pall Mall & The RAC Club for the reception.

A wonderful day, I absolutely love photographing weddings in London - the energy and buzz is so contagious. Our final picture of the day involved Katie stopping the traffic in Pall Mall so I could capture a picture of the two of them strolling down the middle of the road!






























Finally, Katie's photograph of Rebecca arriving was one of my favourite's from the day!

Karl & Helen's E-Shoot

With a Church Wedding followed by a marquee at Helen's father's farm, Karl & Helen's wedding should be a quintesentially English affair - even if it does take place on US Independence day!

It was off to Canterbury for a shoot with them last week, to chase away the fears!

Here's a few from their pre-wedding shoot.

Ashley & Brooke's e-shoot

It was an early start to avoid the inevitable crowds on the beach last sunday, when I met up with Brooke & Ashley for the pre-wedding shoot.

Their wedding is to be held in September at Chilston Park - hopefully the weather will be as good as it was for their shoot last week. I'm sure we'll be fine, September seems to be the most reliable month of the year!

Here's a few images.

Justin & Emma

It was a pleasure to meet Emma & Justin on Saturday, to discuss photographing their wedding at The Royal Naval College at Greenwich next year.

Following a stroll through Whitstable to give them a taster of how we photograph on the day, I was delighted that they chose us for their big day. The Royal Naval Museum is one of those venues that has long been on my radar as somewhere spectacular to shoot a wedding, so I can't wait!

In all honesty, meeting Emma & Justin, and demonstrating how we work made me realise that it's a great idea to photograph couples who are considering us for their wedding photography. It's really important that you're comfortable with your photographer, or the images just don't 'happen.' So if you've got any doubts, why not call us and we'll be happy to prove that we're anything but the stereotype bossy wedding photographer!

All we ask is that you can confirm your venue and date are booked, and we'll be happy to take you out for a relaxed, fun engagement shoot - show you som ealbums and answer any questions - then you're free to go away, and decide in your own time whether Level Eleven is the photography company for you.
















Is it just me, or is SuBo everybloodywhere?

Chris & Marie's Wedding

29th May saw us back at Chilston Park for the wedding of Chris & Marie. A really relaxed day, with lots of (happy!) tears and laughter. Marie & Chris made their own vows to one another which didn't leave a single dry eye in the room...!

Anyway, enough words, here's some pictures!

Vicky & Russ's Wedding at Whitstable All Saint's Church

Vicky & Russ held their church wedding at Whitstable All Saints on May 23rd. I'm often worried before church weddings - so many vicars contrive to ruin couple's albums with their rediculous rules preventing us from photographing weddings in 'their' church.

No such problems with Father Simon! A genuinely lovely feller, and a charismatic, warm speaker. If only more were like him! Following a delightful ceremony, we were off to Quex House for the reception, where the weather allowed us to make the most out of the beautiful grounds.

Fantastic day with a fantastic couple - good luck to you both!

You can see their album HERE

Vicki & Chris' e-shoot

Vicki & Chris booked us way back last year at the Detling Wedding Fayre for their big day at Leeds Castle. I've wanted to shoot a wedding there for some time (it's on my list of places I've wanted to photograph a wedding!) so i was delighted that they chose Level Eleven to provide their album.

Here's a few from a hot, summers day down the beach!

Katie flies solo! Emma & Aaron's wedding in Hadleigh.

For me, the June 6th was D-Day in more ways than one! I was shooting my first wedding alone without Russ, back in my home town of Hadleigh in Suffolk.

I couldn’t have asked for a nicer couple to capture the happy day of, Emma and Aaron.Emma looked absolutely stunning and I got some gorgeous shots of her in her beautiful dress. It was a day full of fun and laughter and a few tears (of happiness!) And despite the forecast, constant sunshine!

A brilliant day had by all, here's some pictures from their day.

Katie

Clare & Paul's E-Shoot

Clare & Paul's wedding is mid july at Cooling Castle, it's come round so quick! We had a great time with their shoot on Whistable beach despite the weather trying to wreck it! Now, just need to dig out my Open Water diving qualification and talk Paul into that refresher course!

Kathryn & Jame's E-Shoot

Well, the blog entries are stacking up - what with blogger and facebook to upddate, it's a full-time job in itself, and July's not even here yet!

So, here's a few from Ramsgate a couple (cough!) of weeks back with Kathryn & James. More details to follow!









Smack Boys???

Justine & Jon's Pre-wedding shoot

Justine and Jon have chosen Newick Park in East Sussex for their wedding in three weeks time, so it was about time they had their warm up. Together with Lolly The Lab, we took a wander and snapped some really nice pictures of them together.

Here's a few, from a late-night-blogging-got-to-be-up-early-tomorrow-for-a-wedding-Russ!

'night all!























Finally, the gorgeous Lolly!

Kat & Duaine's Wedding at Vaulty Manor

Well, it was a long drive, but worth it!

Katie and I ventured into the very depths of Essex last week for the Kat & Duaine's wedding - and it was a cracker! We had so much fun on the pre-wed that I just know the wedding would be fantastic fun and produce great images.

As usual(!), I was right! Kat & Duaine really threw themselves into the fun of it and the images just got better and better!

Here's a few from a brilliant day at Vaulty Manor and if you'd like to see the album, take a look HERE (I was joking with Duaine when we did the pre-wed that he does 'Gangster' very well so the music chose itself!)

I love my job!

Demelza & Shaun's pre-wed at Deal.

Whilst we were down in th eold smugglers town of Deal, we took the opportunity to photograph Demelza & Shaun, who are getting married at Dorton House, Dorking this year.

With great weather and a great couple, we had lots of fun and got some great images. Camera shy? Not these two!

Heather & Dam (and Marley's) Pre-wedding shoot

Well, it's getting crazy-busy here but just enough time to post a few pictures from heather & Dom's pre-wedding shoot at Deal last week. As you can see, we worked hard not to let Marley steal the show....and almost succeeded, but she certainly featured in a lot of the pictures.

Thats what I love about shooting couples before the day - finding out all about them, getting an idea of what they want from their wedding day images and what's important to them - pre-wed's are an essential part of great wedding day images!

Heather & Dom are getting married in September at one of our favourite venues, 'The Lost Village of Dode' - take a look at an album from this amazing, unique venue HERE - its worth a look!

Lauren's shoot with Katie

A few weeks back whilst on a night out on Ramsgate with my wife, I spotted Lauren. Well, you can hardly miss her! A stunning looking girl who's party trick is getting doormen to give her free entry into London nightclubs in the mistaken belief she's Jodie Kidd (seriously!) We handed her a card and asked her if she's like to come out for a shoot and having checked out our website, we were delighted she got in touch. As it happened, I wasn't able to make it, so my assistant Katie stepped in for me. The two of them had never met before, and Lauren had never been photographed before.

I'm delighted with results as I was devastated that I couldn't do it - and Katie did an amazing job. But my turn will come, and as soon as possible, we'll defintely be asking her to model for us again!

Dawn & Norman's Wedding at Cooling Castle Barn

It was good to be back at Cooling Castle Barn last thursday for the wedding of Dawn & Norman. It was also the first time I'd had the weather on my side and the wedding took place in the beautiful gazeebo in the gardens.

Afterwards, with a champagne reception (and under 11's football match firmly underway!) we took a few family and group shots then took a stroll with Mr & Mrs Downes for some pictures of the two of them together. There's loads of images from the wedding that we love, but we've pulled out a few for you to see whilst the couple honeymoon in the Caribbean!