Thank you. Such an important phrase, and so fundamental to the way we interact with others in society. It elicits satisfaction and pleasure from both the giver and the recipient. We are taught to say “Thank you” almost at the same time as we learn to say “Mum” or “Dad”. It might even be shortened to “Ta” but the meaning is the same. Thank you.
My customers frequently say thank you to me. The messages come by e-mail, phone message, hand written cards and verbally. These votes of thanks are very gratefully received because a thank you inspires me to go on and create wonderful images for my next client in the firm knowledge that what I have done before made my previous client happy.
Now and then some clients go the extra mile to say thank you…
I photographed Louise and Neil’s Wedding at De Vere’s Ponsbourne Park Hotel, Nr Hertford in October. I had previously photographed Louise’s sister’s wedding at The Plaisterers’ Hall at One London Wall in 2005 so this was a family I knew and loved. Louise told me that she didn’t have strong opinions one way or the other about most of the wedding arrangements, but when it came to photography she stood her ground and said that she wanted me and none other. How flattering! And given the divine but unseasonal weather the day of Louise’s wedding I was able to create images that really delighted and excited me too. But Louise went the extra mile to say thank you. She came to see me, and presented me with the most beautiful bouquet of flowers.
So, as this New Year begins, I would like to take this opportunity to say the following; To all of my many past clients a heartfelt “Thank you for the business”. And to my new and returning clients who have booked me to record their functions this year and next, a big “Thank you for trusting me to create lasting memories for you.”

In my planning meetings I always ask if parents are together or not. If not, I enquire about new partners, how my bride and groom feel about their step parents, and whether or not the divorced parents are amicable.

When photographing family groups I aim to get a photo that will keep everyone happy. Bride and groom want photos with their birth parents. Divorced parents want photos with their new partners. I swing birth parents and their new partners in and out of my groups as I build them up so that no one feels left out. This is a skill that I have developed over many years of working as a photographer, and family groups are summoned from memory and without any lists in front of me on the big day.

Luckily for me this Sunday, Mitchell’s parents and their new (well….not so new) partners were extremely amicable. In fact Mitchell’s Dad made some very tasteful and amusing references in his speech to how both his ex-wife and his new wife were both smiling and happy to be together today, and how happy he was to be sharing the day with his ex-wife’s new husband.

This contrasts starkly with some weddings where ex’s won’t even be in the same room as each other, let alone sit on the same table or be in the same photograph. This is the rich fabric of life which I am privileged to capture as I photograph my way through my clients functions. It is also something that I will be mindful of when one day my two beautiful daughters get married! Did you hear that Fred?

Dentist Dad with gaps (before)

The art of post processing is to make the images look great and natural, after all a wedding is a wedding not a Vogue photoshoot. Some photographers fiddle and photoshop their images to death. The images become so arty that they become far removed from the reality of the couple. The other issue is the clients who think photoshop is the magic and cure all for everything. I had one bride say to me last year “I didn’t go on a diet before my wedding because I knew you could slim me down”.

Dentist Dad without gaps (after)

The reality of post processing for me is that I’m quite fussy about the way my images look. The final images always look real, if not a bit colourful which is my personal preference, but they aren’t processed to death. I tidy up blemishes and hide shine and sweaty bits, but I don’t turn my brides into Angelina Jolies or my grooms into Brad Pitts! One day when I shoot for Vogue (P.G) my style might change, but until then….

By contrast, photographing a friend’s wedding is one of the accepted ways a new photographer gets into the industry. It always amazes me that a young couple will save a few pounds by trusting their once in a lifetime memories to a friend who is just starting out.

I also have couples say to me that they have a friend who is a very keen amateur photographer and do I have any objections if they take a few photos. As long as he or she isn’t a professional and they don’t get in my way, I have no problem. I always add that if their friend takes a wonderful photo that they want to use in their album that I don’t have a problem with that either. The big day comes and one of three things happens. The friend sidles up to me and wants to talk about cameras and equipment. Yawn! The friend smiles sweetly all day and summons enough courage at the end to ask if they can be my next assistant. The friend takes pictures all day like a pro, gets in my way and yet when I enquire of the couple afterwards how the friend’s photos came out and was there anything usable, I get vague whimpers and eventually the answer is no.

In July I was invited to a family reunion which was tied in with a silver wedding anniversary celebration. I was very good all day until the appointed photographer took the reunited group shot. Fifteen people were organised into a long “conga line” and shot with a wide angle lens. My heart sank and I spent the next hour twitching until I finally asked the host and the photographer if they would mind if we took the shot again. It turns out that it was the photographer’s first professional job, and he was really grateful to learn. The group was reorganised around a bench to get a really compact composition. The camera was set up on a tripod and the photographer took the shot. Yes that’s me at the back feeling uncomfortable the wrong side of the lens. And as I was leaving I caught a quick shot of the tall lady at the back who was missing when we took this shot and I “photoshopped” her in later. The digital file was sent to the photographer so that he could include it in his coverage.

So in summary all I can say is that I love what I do, whether I know the celebrants or not. And next time I am invited to a celebration as a guest rather than a photographer could you please send some handcuffs to keep me tied to my chair!

In my work I witness many weddings; those who are very definitely in love, those whose love will grow and develop over the years even if it is not fully formed on their wedding day, those who have married for money or passport reasons, and those whos love stands no chance of lasting or possibly wasn’t even there in the first place. The loveless weddings give me a great deal of pain. How do you create beautiful, romantic photographs when the body language of the bride and groom are definitely giving you other signals? How do you convey love and harmony when the parents of the couple are divorced, not amicable and won’t pose for photographs in the same room as each other? And worse, how do you reconcile two families coming together in marriage through their children where one is asking me to do X and the other is asking me to do Y because they hate each other so much.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I am tempted to send potential clients straight to Daniel Russell. They might save a lot of time and money by getting divorced before they get married! Or maybe there should be more laws for kids to divorce their parents. But on a more serious note, what I do as a photographer is done with a great deal of love and empathy. My art is full of intangibles, and after all these years and having seen it all, I have reached the stage where I am comfortable enough in my profession as a professional photographer to say that I don’t want to cover a wedding. So please think before getting engaged and married; is this really ‘til death do us part, or is this a process where you’re caught in a tidal wave of excitement and preparations for a wedding after which we’ll see how it goes?

Hayley Lehmann has been photographing at many London wedding venues for the past 15 years. She knows most venues backwards. She knows all the best nooks and crannies for taking wedding photographs, both inside and out. Hayley knows where to go and how to light the space should the weather be inclement or if the event is held at a West End Hotel without an outdoor space. She knows about Parks Licences and advises that if you are thinking of booking a venue, don’t only think about the rooms where you may have your ceremony, reception, dinner and dancing, but take the time to think really carefully about where you can take photos too. Ask the banqueting manager where photographs are normally taken. But remember, family photos in a corporate conference room with “naf” contract art on the wall won’t cut it. The most wonderful nook or cranny won’t work if on the big day the caterer has set up a bar in that area. The gardens might provide a divine backdrop but not if the sun is in front of you making you squint in all the photographs. Flowers placed strategically to brighten up a backdrop might grow out of your guests shoulders in photos.

Choosing the right wedding photographer is not all about getting the right financial package. Sure, the cost is an important part when planning wedding budgets, but many couples have paid the price big time by getting it wrong. Choose your wedding photographer very carefully. You are trusting them with a life time of memories.

For without the Central line, Will Gull and Katie Crammer might never have met – looked across a crowded Tube carriage – and fallen in love, nor employed me as their wedding photographer.

It was a cold December evening in 2006 when Will, a 30-year-old tax advisor, on his way home after some post work drinks noticed 27-year-old teacher Katie Crammer boarding the train at Bank station.

Not wanting to let this opportunity pass him by – he wrote Katie a note: “I think you are beautiful, from Will” with his phone number scrawled at the bottom and passed it to her.

Katie, deciding to reply in a similar fashion, passed back a note saying: “You’re not so bad yourself, from Katie” again with a phone number included.

After this the pair abandoned writing and started chatting as they travelled along the Central line until they arrived at Will’s station, South Woodford, when they decided to carry on their conversation at nearby wine bar, Switch. After a drink they parted ways and completed their journeys home.

I was captivated when this couple came to book my wedding services and told me their romantic tale particularly as it nearly went awry.
For the next few weeks the pair made calls and texts to each other, but were unable to find a time to meet up again and then it nearly all went wrong because incredibly they both lost their phones! But then they remembered the notes on which they had written their numbers and they finally arranged a date and they have been inseparable every since.

Almost exactly three years after they met, on Katie’s birthday Will treated her to a celebratory meal at The Ivy and then they travelled home on the Central line. When they got to South Woodford station, Will told Katie she must get off the train because her birthday present was here. Will got down on one knee and proposed to Katie in front of commuters and station staff – which is why they decided to travel back to South Woodford station to let the staff know their journey had a very happy ending, and get some wonderful photos to complete their fairy tale story.

Katie Crammer, of Buckhurst Hill, Essex, said “But for that fateful Tube journey I might never have met Will, fallen in love and married him, so I am very grateful to London Underground. The Central line and South Woodford station where Will proposed might not seem very romantic to other people but they are special to us. Who would have thought that Oyster cards could be such a natural aphrodisiac”

Hayley took this story to TFL who facilitated the shoot at South Woodford Station and PR’d it across London, Essex and Hertfordshire. The story of Will and Kate’s romance was first published by the Evening Standard on 15th August 2011. Hayley always goes the extra mile for her clients!

Avenue at Holiday Inn Express Golders Green North

The style of the venue speaks volumes about the type of celebration your guests can expect. It’s the place where you will spend most of your day and where the party and maybe even the ceremony will take place, so it’s crucial to get it right. Whether you choose a stately home, museum, hotel, or your favourite restaurant there are plenty of choices within the Greater London area.
If you’re having a religious wedding, the general rule is that your venue should be no more than 20 minutes’ drive from the church/synagogue, so that your guests don’t have too far to travel between the two. The same rule applies if you’re having a civil ceremony in a register office.
If you want a traditional sit-down wedding you will need to find a venue with a function room that is large enough to accommodate all your guests. A buffet-style reception can be held in a smaller room or series of linked rooms but this kind of event is unusual for the kind of weddings that Hayley Lehmann photographs.

The Ballroom at The Landmark Hotel London

If you are planning to have a very large wedding you can create extra space with a marquee if the grounds of the venue are suitable.
Remember that if you are planning any outdoor elements to your function, that sufficient space should be available indoors as British weather is notoriously unreliable.
As you look around the various rooms that are available to hire, think about the number of guests you are inviting. If you are hosting a small reception, you need a room that creates an intimate atmosphere. An overly large room, however impressive, will feel as though half your guests haven’t turned up. Be guided by the banqueting manager as to the number of guests that can be accomodated comfortably in your venue. There is nothing worse than tables being jam packed in and guests being knocked and bumped around in their seats as waiting staff stuggle to get through tight spaces. An empty ballroom will always look much bigger than it really is by the time there is a stage for the band, dance floor and beautifully laid tables.
You may need the following rooms:
1. Ceremony
2. Drinks reception
3. A space for family photos
4. Dinner and dancing

Chuppah Thames Suite Riverbank Park Plaza

Many couples already have a firm picture of how their ideal wedding venue will look, so you need to make sure the setting – and the staff – are capable of working with you to fulfill your dream. As you view each potential venue, try to imagine your colour scheme. A room with little decoration will provide an exciting challenge for imaginative, but often expensive, decoration whereas a beautifully decorated venue may stretch your budget but will need little extra adornment or lighting.
If the venue is spread over several floors, please consider stairs and access for the elderly or disabled. And will you have exclusive use of the venue?
Most hotels and function rooms offer a variety of catering packages from a formal sit-down meal to a buffet, often with a specified amount of

Renaissance London Chancery Court Hotel

drinks included. The price per head should include the food & drink, and hire of tables, chairs, linen and staff. Alternatively, you may just hire the venue and bring in your own caterers. Some venues prefer you to use their recommended suppliers and may charge you for bringing in someone else. You’ll also be charged a corkage fee if you want to supply your own wine and champagne. Make sure you know exactly what’s included as the extras can quickly add up.
Expect to pay a deposit at the time of booking with the balance due a few weeks before the wedding day once final numbers have been confirmed. Now sit back, and start thinking about the menu and seating plan, and remember that on the big day to relax and enjoy yourself leaving all the details to the proferssionals employed to look after you!

These are just some of the venues that recommend the services of Hayley Lehmann Photography;
Avenue which is a very new and wonderful Venue at Holiday Inn Express Golders Green North. Contact Denis Agagjysi on 020 8371 6060 as their website is not live yet. Say that Hayley Lehmann suggested you take a look! Suitable for weddings or barmitzvahs.
Renaissance Chancery Court Hotel
The Landmark Hotel
The Park Plaza Riverbank

Batmitzvah Invitation

A wedding or barmitzvah invitation will sit on the fridges of your guests for quite a while so put the effort into a great design. Off the shelf invitations are generally at the cheaper end of the market, while handmade invitations are next in line. Bespoke invitations are the most expensive but are the first glimpse that your guests will have of your wedding or barmitzvah style. Don’t forget that postage costs can add up quickly, so if you are sending out a lot of invitations (and reply cards) this should also be accounted for in your budget.
When looking for stationery try to consider the paper type, the style of printing, embellishments such as ribbon & bows and whether you want every invitation uniquely addressed to each of your guests

Wedding and barmitzvah invitations are not the only items of stationery that you will need.
• Save the date cards especially useful when the event is abroad.
• The invitation & envelopes
• RSVP cards
• Order of service
• Table plan
• Place cards
• Menus, toast & speech cards
• Thank you cards

Barmitzvah Invitation

If you are having a particular colour or theme for your function, this will really help you narrow down your choice of invitations. Or you could pick a photograph for your invitation that has special memories such as one taken by Hayley Lehmann at an engagement or studio portrait session.
Whatever you choose for your wedding invitation make sure that it is unique to you. And be sure to keep a copy for us to use in your album.