We are delighted to announce that for the third consecutive year we are finalists in the Westcountry Wedding Awards. These are consumer awards, based on client reviews so we are delighted that for the last three years we have consistently shown such a high level of customer satisfaction. Last year we were delighted to be the only photographers to have been shortlisted for 2 consecutive years, and now it’s even better that we’ve done it for 3! For more information, please look at www.westcountryweddingawards.co.uk/Home.htm
We had a wonderful holiday in Antigua and should have some lovely images ready to show you soon… While we were there we spoke to wedding co-ordinators at a couple of 5 star resorts about Destination Weddings. It would appear that wedding bookings are down at these high-end resorts this year, no doubt a sign that this worldwide recession is far from over. However, it never ceases to amaze me that some people go to huge effort and expense to have a wedding in paradise, and yet settle for photographs from a young and inexperienced hotel staff photographer, taking home poor quality prints. Surely they would prefer to have a beautiful high-quality wedding album to treasure the memories of their special day? We spent a day at Long Bay, and while I was bobbing around in the warm sea, I was watching a photographer with a newly married couple on the beach. I have to say, I was cringing a little, and had to restrain myself from getting out and giving the photographer a few pointers! If any of you are considering a Destination Wedding, please, please think carefully about your photography… It probably wouldn’t cost as much as you would imagine to take a good photographer with you, and the results will speak for themselves!
I thought it was about time I uploaded a photo of me receiving my Award for BIPP Western Region Pet Photographer of the Year from Chris Harper, Chief Executive of the British Institute of Professional Photography. The winning image is now framed and proudly displayed for anyone who visits the studio…
WBIPP Pet Photographer of the Year
What a great start to the year it has been! I have been busier than ever for this time of year, and am very excited about the coming year… Ready for my holiday now, though! But is a photographer ever on holiday???
On top of this, I just had notification in the post this morning of another Gold Award from the SWPP, in the Pictorial Category, for my image of “Let the Dance Begin” (see my New Year post below), an 18″ high sculpture in my home town of Strabane, designed by Maurice Harron.
Our first wedding of the year took place last Saturday at Mt Edgcumbe and the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. Congratulations, Janet and Mark, it was a pleasure to be part of your special day! We were so lucky with the weather, it was almost warm in the sunshine!
Some information for any happy couples planning their wedding… We will have a stand at the Langdon Court Wedding Fair on February 28th, but unfortunately Tim and I are unable to be there. We will be represented by Yves McGrath, another charming Irish lady! Please do pop by and say Hi to her…
Last night the BIPP Western Regional Awards Event was held in Exeter. There were a record number of entries this year and the standard was very high indeed, so I was a little nervous to start with. They started the evening off with the Wedding category, and I was delighted to receive an Award of Excellence with this image of Naomi & Steve Manser in the Bathing Hut at Pentillie Castle on a very wet day in November:
Naomi & Steve, Pentillie
The Pets Category came shortly afterwards, and I was delighted to have all my three images in the awards, with overall Pet Photographer of the Year going to this image:
"Never trust a dog with orange eyebrows..." Terry Pratchett
And Awards of Excellence for both of these:
Bella
Skye
Finally, in the highly contested Portrait Category, I was awarded a further two Awards of Excellence for these very different portraits:
Portrait by the Burj Al Arab
Esme
I hope this reflects the breadth of social photography I enjoy, and also the high standard of the work I produce…
Thanks to all the Western BIPP Committee, and the Judge, Nigel Trebbeck FBIPP! When they email the photo of my trophy being presented to me by Chris Harpur, CEO of the BIPP, I’ll pop it on the blog too… Haven’t seen it yet, hopefully I’ll look ok!!!
Just back from Good Morning Devon and a pleasant interview with Gordon Sparks… Thank you Gordon, I really enjoyed our little chat! I didn’t feel as nervous as I expected to… And thanks for all your kind words and promotion of my website, much appreciated!
Check out today’s Plymouth Herald or this online link:
http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Doctor-clicks-new-career/article-1587604-detail/article.html
Nice to be in the paper!
Hello and welcome to the first entry of my new blog! I can’t believe it is December already! As we come close to the end of the year, we can reflect on what has been a very enjoyable and rewarding year for Sorcha Holloway Photography… Most recently, I won both first and second place in the Master Photographers association regional awards for the “Best 10 images from a Single Wedding”, showing excellent consistency in my wedding photography. The winning entry consisted of 10 images from a wonderful wedding we were very priviliged to cover at the Villa Cimbrone in Ravello on Italy’s Amalfi Coast in May. The winning display is shown here:
The wedding for which I was awarded second place was the first wedding to be held at the exclusive Pentillie Castle & Estate near St Mellion in Cornwall. This magical wedding venue was totally refurbished over the winter, and featured on Channel 4’s “Country House Rescue” in January. I think there is going to be a “Revisited” episode sometime soon. We are fortunate to be on Pentillie’s recommended supplier list; it is a fabulous venue which we are proud to be associated with, and have no hesitation in recommending it… Their website is http://www.pentillie.co.uk/ This is my second place display from the Pentillie wedding:
In addition to winning this category, I was also awarded merits for the following images in the categories of Pets, Engaged Couple and Wedding Reportage. The awards presentation for this will take place in January.
All of this came shortly after being awarded another Gold award from the SWPP for this image of a little bridesmaid waiting to leave for the wedding, a wedding we travelled to Ireland for in July…
I don’t want to bore you already by going back too far, but I’d just like to mention one other thing… We were finalists for the second consecutive year in the Westcountry Wedding Awards, the only photographers to show this consistency. These awards have only been running for two years so far, and considering our business is only now in its fourth year, I think this reflects very well. The awards are judged on client feedback, and it is really satisfying to know that our past wedding clients have been so happy with their wedding photography. If you visit the wedding page of our main site, you will be able to click on a link to view what they have said about us…
That’s all for now… Come back soon…
