London wedding photographer blog, Exhibit Emotions

INTIMATE DUBLIN WEDDING - TRACY AND COLM

2012-01-24T08:50:00.000Z

You might remember Tracy and Colm from their pre-wedding shoot in Richmond. They are the most wonderful, fun and loving people, who've gone through a lot to be together. They got married in an intimate ceremony in Dublin at the very end of December. It wasn't the brightest of days weather wise, and it was raining a lot, but Tracy and Colm were smiling and looked so happy and in love. Luckily the downpour stopped when we needed to take photos outside, and we enjoyed taking a stroll along Georgian streets of Dublin. We even found a blossoming tree (in the middle of winter!), so we couldn't miss the opportunity to take some portraits next to it. It was very beautiful, and so unusual for this time of the year.

Tracy got ready in the Schoolhouse Hotel together with her best friend. I liked the calm atmosphere of the morning))

Reception was very relaxed, and guests were mingling and chatting. The feeling of happiness and cosiness was definitely in the air))

Thank you to Tracy and Colm and their families for having me as part of their day! It was a pleasure! Wishing you all the happiness in the world in your new life together. You really deserve it!

Lots of love,

Dasha

RUMMAGING IN THE ATTIC, AND OLD FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS

2012-01-19T08:41:00.000Z

As some of you may know, we went to Ireland for Christmas to spend it with hubby's family. His parents literally have hundreds of family photographs from different times. They are all kept in boxes up in the attic, and that's where I keep my 'treasure box' (not a box with treasures, mind, but a box with little things that are extremely important and valuable). So every time we are over for a visit, I like going up to the attic and rummage through boxes of stuff and look through old photographs. I could easily spend hours up there if I wasn't called down for tea))

This time was slightly different as I discovered 2 very old photographs. One dating back to approximately 1910, and the other one (seemingly taken on a wedding day) to 1920. As long as I remember myself, I've always been fascinated with old photographs. I always wanted to know who were those people in them and how they lived. I took these photographs and a couple of old albums down with me, and for a couple of evenings the whole family was sitting down and looking through them. Hubby's parents were remembering who was who, what happened when etc. We discovered a photograph of Michael's grandfather from 1950 taken in the UK during his work on the construction of a tube station. The background behind him is plain and there's pretty much nothing there. We were wondering what tube station it was, and how it looks completely different these days. There were wedding photographs of Michael's grandparents from 1960. A photograph of his great-grandparents from approximately 1920. It was taken in America on their wedding day. It's a simple photo, however, I could look at it for ages examining what they were wearing and what they looked like, how they got married.

We came to the conclusion that the other old photo from 1910 is of hubby's father's great-uncle. Little is known about him, and no one is sure about his name, but they know there were two brothers who served in the British Army and went to India, then on to Australia. Name of the place where the photo was taken is printed on it, so we googled it :-) It is in Pakistan now, and Wikipedia has told us it used to be a base for British legions since 1850. Fascinating! Having a copy of this photograph I will try and go to archives to find out more)) This whole thing made me think a lot about the importance of family photographs. Simple ones, funny ones, historic ones, photographs of people we love and of people we know - they are all very important!

Some of the photos on that attic are not organised, so I have a project for this year - get family albums, organise the images and write on the back who people in them were, while we still remember...

BORDEAUX WEDDING VIDEO - CLARK AND PALMER FILMS

2012-01-17T09:05:00.000Z

On this cold winter day I want to share this beautiful wedding video full of sunshine and love on my blog. A video by Clark and Palmer Wedding Films from the wedding of Jasmine&Adrian I photographed in Bordeaux in October last year. It was truly an amazing day, and these guys managed to capture the atmosphere and sense of the stunning location perfectly! Smiles, anticipation, happiness, love, feel of the day and the atmosphere - it's all there. I love their work and style, so if you are looking to have a beautiful film as a memory of your wedding day - do not hesitate to book these guys! They are incredible at what they do, and are a pleasure to work with)) Enjoy the film!

Jasmine&Adrian - Bordeaux Wedding Trailer from Clark and Palmer Wedding Films

To see the images from this beautiful vineyard wedding click HERE)).

AT HOME ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS - STEPHANIE AND GARY

2012-01-12T08:59:00.001Z

When Stephanie first enquired with me and after a few e-mails back and forth, I knew these two would be a special couple. Stephanie is from Miami and is studying photography in uni here in UK, and Gary is a graphic designer. They are both super fun, bubbly, easy to be around people, and they are so very much in love with one another. Stephanie wrote their story to me after reading a story on my website about how I met my hubby, and I can definitely say they were meant to be together))

"We met online when I was 15 and we just reallyconnected. He was actually visiting Orlando with his parents a few months afterwe had begun to talk, so I decided to take a bus and meet him and his parentsfor the first time. We always laugh about how crazy that must sound to otherpeople, especially with how young I was! But the risk was definitely worth it!Actually, while I was on the bus (it was about a 4 hour journey - but it feltmuch longer!!) his parents got Chinese food and he got a fortune cookie thatsaid 'Love is on it's way'. He gave it to me when I arrived and I still have it. I actually had a tripto England booked (this was before I met Gary) to meet a friend but thingsdidn't end up working out. So when Gary and I met for the first time in Orlando(we only were together for 3 days) we knew we wanted to see each other again. Coincidentally,my flight to England was on the same day as his flight back home (differentairports)!! We got to England within an hour of each other and everything else you can say ishistory!"

Scroll down to the end of the post to see Gary's proposal!

We also got to take some photos with Stephanie and Gary's dog Chief. He loved being on the blanket and all the attention he was getting!

Gary's proposal is very different from anything I've heard before! Being a graphic designer and a gamer, he proposed in style! Here is a bit of a story followed by the video which had over 860000 hits on Youtube!

"Gary proposedto me on August 22nd, the morning of my 21st birthday at home through our favouritegame, Portal 2. I had no idea what he was up to, he just told me to startplaying. I thought it was just going to say 'Happy Birthday, Stephanie' when Ifinished playing a level. But instead it was all custom levels he had createdwith the help of an 18 year old in America and a 23 year old from theNetherlands. He then got the voice actress from the actual game to read out hisscript that he wrote. He worked on it for 4 months and I had no idea!! I stillcan't believe it! We were in the Lancashire Evening Post and the Daily Mail, aswell as an interview that Gary did for a new American TV show on internetvideos and many blog sites have featured the video. He always said he wouldpropose to me in a geeky way and I never wanted anything in public, so it wasperfect. If you listen very carefully, throughout the whole video are subtlehints of what is to come, but I was clueless!"

Of course she said yes! Stephanie and Gary are getting married in February and I'm really looking forward to their wedding!

WINTER WEDDING IN DUBLIN - PREVIEW

2012-01-10T10:03:00.000Z

Not only I spent Christmas and New Year in Ireland, I also photographed a very sweet intimate wedding in Dublin. You might remember Tracy and Colm from their pre-wedding shoot in Richmond. These two couldn't be more in love. They are a very special couple who have gone through a lot to be together. A quick sneak peek from their wedding day. We couldn't miss these beautiful yellow Georgian doors, which are a well known feature of Dublin. We also found a blossoming tree near their venue (yes, a blossoming tree at the end of December!), so keep an eye out for the full post to see the beautiful portraits ;)

INTIMATE CHELSEA WEDDING

2012-01-04T16:33:00.000Z

It seems like a long time since my last post on December 20th, but it feels like it was only yesterday at the same time! Christmas holidays went by so quick! Hope everyone had a great time and enjoyed themselves! We spent Christmas and New Year in Ireland together with family. It was great to see everyone again, and fun times were had! I will write a separate post soon about the holiday, importance of family, history and family photographs)) For now, here are a couple of images from a small intimate wedding I photographed in Chelsea, London, the day before we left. Hope you like :)

REFLECTING ON 2011

2011-12-20T10:01:00.000Z

This post has been 'brewing' in my mind for the last couple of weeks, and I thought it would be quite easy to just sit down and write it. Here I am though, sitting in front of the screen and not knowing where to start... When I look back at 2011, the whole year feels so overwhelming! I know I probably say it every year, but honestly, it feels like we've only just celebrated Christmas and New Year like a couple of months ago!

This year has been really good to me... I met some great people and made great friends. I worked with wonderful couples and photographed their beautiful weddings. One of the reasons why I love my job is meeting so many different people from different backgrounds. Getting to know them and hearing their stories makes me "richer" as a person, if that makes sense)) I travelled all over UK, as well as to Ireland, Paris and Bordeaux to document weddings. I fell in love with Paris, and you can see some of my personal photos Here. It's such a perfect place for photographing two people in love))

Also this year has seen my work being published and featured in some of the biggest UK wedding blogs and wedding magazines, including Cosmopolitan Bride, Perfect Wedding, Wedding Flowers, Love My Dress wedding blog, Rock My Wedding blog, Bijoux Bride wedding blog, Whimsical Wonderland Weddings, Eco Beautiful Weddings blog. I would like to thank everyone for choosing my images for features and articles. It's a real honour))

I feel like I'm doing a speech here :) My husband has been so supportive all this time. I wouldn't be where I am now without him. He puts up with my moods when I'm feeling down, and he has given me some of the best advice when it comes to weddings and my little business))

The huge Thank You goes to all my couples who I met and photographed in 2011. I'm very privileged to have been chosen to document one of the most important days in your lives, and all I hope for is for my images to bring back happy memories in years to come)) Here are a few of my favourite images from this year (in no particular order ;):

Well, hope you enjoyed that :-) 2011 has been an incredible year! I still have two beautiful weddings to photograph, which I'm really looking forward to! 2012 is shaping up to be a very busy year with lots of different weddings which take me all over the country! I'm really excited about what the new year has in store)) Wishing everyone very happy holidays! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Hope you are spending it surrounded by those who you love the most))

GATE STREET BARN WEDDING - BEHIND THE SCENES

2011-12-13T09:51:00.001Z

I've read today that it's only 12 days till Christmas! I am really excited! I love Christmas and celebrating New Year. It's always been a magical time of the year for me)) I'm looking forward to having some time off, seeing family, snuggling on the sofa in front of the fire, going for winter walks with our dog back in Ireland, visiting everyone, and just generally to all the festivities! :-) I'm also photographing a winter wedding in Dublin for a very special couple, so I'm looking forward to that too!
For now, I would like to share a few behind the scenes images from my last wedding, which I photographed at Gate Street Barn. I had my lovely friend Antonina Mamzenko helping me on the day, and she took some photos of me 'in action' :)

The last image on the right resulted in this photo:

WINTER WEDDING, GATE STREET BARN - PREVIEW

2011-12-08T12:20:00.001Z

After super sunny and warm Bordeaux vineyard wedding, I would like to get you all into Christmas spirit with this sneak peek! Lucy and Tony got married in a Gate Street Barn last Saturday, and their wedding was so festive, warm and cosy, and included a Christmas tree completed with real gifts underneath it! Here is a little preview, more to come in a few weeks ;) Have a good one!

VINEYARD WEDDING IN BORDEAUX, FRANCE - JASMINE AND ADRIAN

2011-12-06T09:43:00.001Z

I've been looking forward to sharing this beautiful French château wedding for a while! At the beginning of October I got a chance to travel to Bordeaux in France to photograph Jasmine and Adrian getting married. It was such an amazing experience and I loved every minute of it! They got married in a beautiful Château De La Ligne surrounded by vineyards, their family and friends. It was a very emotional day with lots of smiles and laughter, hugs and happy tears. And oh my, these guys know how to party! Almost everyone was on the dancefloor until the wee hours! Despite getting married abroad, Jasmine and Adrian incorporated both their cultures into their wedding and made it their own. It was fun and colourful, it was personal, and it was all about love and celebrating it with people who matter. Their families were so welcoming to us - we are really grateful! Here is a selection of photos from their beautiful wedding:

And this is where Jasmine and Adrian got married... Yeap... :) It was a 30 degrees heat outside, so they put lots of white brollies outside for guests to shelter from the sun during the ceremony. Ice cold lemonade was served to guests when they arrived. Nice touches))

Speeches were very emotional and heartfelt! And the whole reception feel was warm and cheery))

Jasmine and Adrian, thank you so much for having us as part of your big day! It was a real pleasure getting to know you and your families! I'm wishing you all the best in your new life together! Lots of love x

EXHIBIT EMOTIONS PHOTOGRAPHY IN PRESS

2011-12-01T12:40:00.001Z

The last couple of months have been hectic to say the least! I though I was going to take a break in November, but nope! Still busy busy with shoots, retouching, bookings, and I have two gorgeous winter weddings coming up in December, one of which is in Dublin. Can't wait! I'm looking forward to our Christmas holiday with my husband's family! I love how everyone is getting together, sitting in front of the fire, and just having fun! Tis what Christmas is all about, isn't it? :)
I'm finally blogging a beautiful wedding I photographed in Bordeaux on Tuesday morning - don't forget to 'tune in' and have a look)) For now, here are a few recent appearances of Exhibit Emotions Photography in the press :)

Thank you, Charlotte, for choosing one of my photos for this feature in Wedding Flowers magazine. Charlotte also featured Nicola and Jon's beautiful wedding on Rock My Wedding blog))

Anna and Pav's beautiful vintage inspired wedding was featured on Love My Dress wedding blog:

Also been published in Perfect Wedding magazine:

Thank you, everyone, for choosing my images for features, publications and blogs! Means the world to me :)

PERSONAL PHOTOS FROM PARIS

2011-11-28T10:39:00.001Z

As some of you know I went to Paris earlier this year for an all day pre-wedding shoot around this wonderful city. I never been to Paris before, but it has always been my dream to go. Michael and I stayed for a couple of days after the shoot to explore)) We didn't have a plan (although we probably should have had one!). We did all the 'must see' places, as it was our first time there, and the rest of the time we were just wondering the streets of Paris. Oh my, what a beautiful captivating city! I think what stuck with me most are doors and windows. So many pretty doors and windows! All I wanted to do was to open them and have a peek at the life inside. Some of them were slightly opened, as if they were inviting us in. I felt like behind those doors and windows was life totally different to mine, and people who live this life and call this place their home. I wanted to know who those people were and what they did. I loved wondering the streets and just looking around me.

Chairs in Parisian cafes are placed facing the street, which we thought was perfect for people watching :-)

We came across this amazing bar Le 138. Loved the interior - such an eclectic mix of things you wouldn't normally think of putting together, but it works perfectly!

More of Parisian loveliness:

We had our own hotel cat)) He lives there and walks the streets of Paris)) What a lucky cat

This place had also become my favourite ever book store... If you are ever in Paris and love books - you MUST visit this place. It's magical. I could spend all day there, just looking for treasures, playing the piano, and getting lost in reading. Also, people from all over the world leave notes on a wall there, and I found this one... Shakespeare and Co:

Paris, I'm in love and I will be back! :)

INTIMATE LONDON WEDDING - NATASJA AND GRANT

2011-11-23T09:16:00.001Z

Natasja and Grant are the kind of people who just radiate happiness. I absolutely loved documenting their wedding day, as it was what weddings are all about - love, family, happiness, and things that matter and mean something. Natasja and Grant met while studying at London Business School. They went to South Bank for their first date (where they had their pre-wedding photoshoot), and ended up standing on a bridge, overlooking the Thames and Big Ben, and looking at each other... Then Grant said "I think I like you", and Natasja replied "I think I like you too"... The rest is history as they say :-) Couple of years later they were getting married in London, surrounded by their family and friends, who came from all over the world.

Natasja got ready at their home, together with her best friend and her parents. It was an intimate and perfect morning))

The beautiful Tiffany rings were placed on a little cushion made by Natasja's mum using fabric from her wedding dress. So sweet:

Natasja's purse was custom made in Japan (a nod to part of Grant's family traditions) using fabric from a kimono:

Grant picked up his bride from their home on the way to the ceremony. I think everyone cried happy tears when they first saw each other on the day, including me)) They were standing at the exact spot where they first kissed a couple of years ago...

Do you like my tie? :)

Having this sort of First Look meant that we had time for portraits before the ceremony. We went to beautiful St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel, and were shooting inside and around it. The location also had a special meaning, as Natasja used to live very close to it, and she saw the hotel covered in scaffolding and everything. It is now restored and is opened.

I like it that Natasja's parents are holding hands while waiting for the ceremony to begin:

Because so many guests came from different countries, Natasja and Grant hired an old London Bus to have a short tour for everyone to see the city. We hopped off at London Eye for the views over the Thames and a few photos:

Bride and groom held an informal reception at the Opera Tavern in Covent Garden:

Natasja and Grant - huge thank you for having me as part of your wedding! You two are such wonderful people and so perfect for each other! Wishing the best of the best! Dasha x

WEDDING PREVIEW - LONDON WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER

2011-11-10T08:22:00.002Z

You might remember Natasja and Grant from their pre-wedding photoshoot. They are both from different countries, but have been living in London for the last few years, and now consider it their home. I really enjoyed documenting their wedding! It was just so personal, so relaxed, and so them! Also, we had almost the whole hour for portraits in and around magnificent St. Pancras Renaissance London Hotel, which is finally opened after years of restoration. Below are a couple of preview images from Natasja and Grant's truly international and intimate wedding. More details and full post coming in a couple of weeks :)

LONDON PRE-WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY - CILLA AND ALAN

2011-11-08T08:25:00.000Z

When I first met Cilla to chat about their wedding, Alan wasn't there, but I could feel they were such a wonderful couple and belonged together. Cilla was saying she thought Alan wouldn't be comfortable in front of the camera. Well, I think it was quite the opposite! He rocked it! Together they absolutely rocked the shoot! They found a perfect spot for photos - a walled garden not far from their home. It was a warm September day, and the light was so soft and glowing. Cilla and Alan are just so comfortable with each other. I hope I managed to capture the silly giggles and the tender love they have for one another.
Cilla and Alan are getting married in spring next year and are planning a vintage inspired wedding. I can't wait! I just know it's going to be a beautiful day filled with joy))

MY FRIENDS

2011-11-03T08:48:00.000Z

As some of you may know I travelled home recently to visit my family and see my friends. I was obviously taking my camera with me for this trip, and when I asked Valeria if they were up for a some photos, she immediately said yes)) I love these guys, and I miss them like family when I'm away. I've known Valeria for what feels like all my life (well, since we were 6 years old, so kinda yes, for all my life!). We went to dancing classes together when we were kids, we went through 10 years of school together, we lived across the road from each other, and were maids of honour and witnesses at each others weddings... You know when you don't see someone for a long long time, and it can be awkward when you meet again, and you don't know what to say? Not with her... Things are never awkward! We meet after a year or so of not seeing each other, and we talk for hours! I know I can talk to her about things I would never talk about to anyone else. She married a great guy, and it was the first wedding I ever photographed! They've been together for 8 years, and I'm so happy for them. I didn't have any good photos of them together apart from their wedding images, so I knew I had to take some when I visited home! Here they are, and I love them so much:

Valeria also loves photography! She got her first camera a couple of months ago. We went on a sort of a photowalk, and I showed her a few tricks. While taking photos of each other she noticed that I look through the viewfinder with my left eye, and she with her right eye. I've never actually thought about this, it just feels natural to me! We tried and 'switched' for a bit, but it only made us laugh! As you can see from the photos, she is taking things very seriously :). I haven't seen pics of myself YET (wink, wink!):

PRE-WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY LONDON, SOUTHBANK - LUCY AND TONY

2011-10-27T10:59:00.000+01:00

October has been a little bit crazy this year. I travelled a lot. First to Bordeaux to photograph a beautiful vineyard wedding, and after shooting another truly international wedding in London, I jetted off to Russia to visit my family and friends. I'm back in London town, and have dived into work straight away. I have some lovely weddings to edit, and also would like to share some personal images from Paris and from home. For some reason, it was harder to leave my parents' home this time. More than any other time. I think subconsciously I know why, I just need to collect my thoughts)) It was amazing to see my best friend and her hubby. We've known each other since 6 years old, and she is like sister to me. I took a few photos of them, which I will blog later as well))

For now, a selection of my favourite images from Lucy and Tony's pre-wedding shoot in London. These guys are getting married on December 3rd, and will have the whole Christmas and family feel to their wedding, which I'm really looking forward to!

JUST BECAUSE

2011-10-25T08:07:00.000+01:00

There is nothing more beautiful than two people in love...

Cilla and Alan's pre-wedding photos coming to the blog soon :)

ELEGANT KENT WEDDING, CAMDEN PLACE - AMY AND MATT

2011-10-18T07:42:00.004+01:00

You might remember Amy and Matt from their pre-wedding photoshoot - such a beautiful and kind couple, who have a gorgeous little girl, easy-going and fun to be around. I was really looking forward to photographing their wedding. I knew Amy would look stunning, and it would be a great celebration of their marriage with many friends and family. Amy and Matt tied the knot on 23rd of September in Chislehurst, Kent, and it was such a perfect day! The sun was shining for them, and we got to take some portraits during the sunset (my favourite light ever - so soft and glowing). Their wedding was vintage inspired, and very elegant. Amy put so much effort into making everything look pretty.

Amy was getting ready at their home, together with her mum and bridesmaids. It was a fun morning filled with giggles! Matt surprised her with a Wedding box, full of special goodies like a lucky sixpence coin, beautiful earrings, and a triple photoframe with pictures of them as babies at the same age as their little girl - perfect gift.

Amy and Matt, thank you so much for having me on your big day! Wishing you and your family every bit of happiness and lots of exciting things in this new chapter of your life! Lots of love xxx

SOUTHBANK PRE-WEDDING PHOTOS - NATASJA AND GRANT

2011-10-12T19:54:00.000+01:00

Hi there! Today finds me blogging from a different part of the world. I'm home in Russia with my parents and brother. We haven't got together like this in over a year, so we are having great time! It feels so good to be home after so long. Things feel weird, cause I'm not used to them any more, but it still feels good. Yesterday, when I came in through the front door, I immediately felt the smell of home. Like, not just the smell of the house, but the smell of my parent's place - the place where I grew up. All four of us sat down for dinner and some wine, and we were just talking and laughing at silly things. I looked through old family and school photoalbums, which I absolutely LOVE, and which reminded me that I shall start making our own photoalbums with hubby. They've also reminded me why I love photography and photographs so much - I had nothing but a smile on my face, and it made me so happy to remember some days and things that I could have otherwise forgotten. I noticed that I always liked to photograph other people, from the first camera I was given. I was looking through my old school photos and was wondering where all these people are now, who are they as personalities, what do they do, what makes their live. I shall bring these photographs for a 10th graduation anniversary :-)

Also, I would like to share the pre-wedding photos of Natasja and Grant, who got married last Saturday in London! Their wedding was truly international with friends and family coming from all over the world. It was very personal to them, and even I got emotional on several occasions)) Natasja and Grant decided to have their pre-wedding shoot on Southbank, where they went for their first date. It was a gorgeous warm Indian Summer day, and the light was very pretty. Natasja and Grant were such a pleasure to photograph. They are so in love and they belong together...

Huge congratulations to Natasja and Grant! Hope you guys are enjoying your honeymoon! xxx

DESTINATION WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY, BORDEAUX, FRANCE

2011-10-06T20:03:00.000+01:00

I've been absent from blogging and generally the web for the last couple of days. The reason being - I was shooting a beautiful and quite eclectic vineyard wedding in Bordeaux, France! I'm not going to say much at the moment, apart from mentioning that it was such an amazing day! The setting was perfect, the sun was shining, the guests were happy and ready to party! Jasmine and Adrian and their families were so welcoming, and their whole wedding was just heartfelt and full of happiness! I can't wait to start working on their wedding photos! As always the full post is coming to my blog in a few weeks)) In the mean time I'm jetting off to visit my family and friends who I haven't seen for over a year! I'm really excited and can't wait to give them a hug! I might not be blogging in the next two weeks, or I might ;-). For now, here is a sneak preview of this beautiful Bordeaux wedding:

ELEGANT WEDDING, CAMDEN PLACE - PREVIEW

2011-09-29T08:29:00.001+01:00

It's been crazy busy at Exhibit Emotions quarters over the last few weeks. I've photographed some beautiful weddings, which I've already shared on my blog, and there are still more to come! I'm off to beautiful Bordeaux soon to shoot a wedding of these guys. Really looking forward to it! Then I have an intimate London wedding with friends and family of bride and groom coming from all over the world! After that I will be flying home to see my family and friends, whom I haven't seen for the whole year - I miss them so much! So, no rest for the wicked! I'm really excited about all the trips and weddings though - I love being a busy bee)) If you are in UK, I hope you are enjoying this Indian Summer we are having! Sunshine and some warmth in the air make so much difference, don't they? If I'm outside I'm trying to face the sun, and I'm smiling, and I noticed people who pass by smile back at me, which makes me smile even more, hehe)) I must be looking like a right lunatic from the side, but I don't care. Let's make a world a better place and smile at each other - it will make us all just a little bit happier ;-) And because every post is better with a photo, here is a preview from a recent wedding:

LONDON PRE WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT - JASMINE AND ADRIAN

2011-09-27T08:22:00.000+01:00

The weather on the day that we chose for Jasmine and Adrian's pre-wedding shoot was threatening us with thunderstorms and downpours. Thankfully, it decided to be kind to us, and even the sun came out for a bit. Jasmine and Adrian are very kind, caring people. I love their relaxed casual style, and I think their wedding will reflect that. They are getting married in Bordeaux, France, in a beautiful chateau this Saturday, and I'm really looking forward to photographing their big day! For the pre-wedding photos we headed to Greenwich. Even though we didn't need an umbrella, we used it anyway - made for a cute prop))

BUTLEY PRIORY WEDDING - PART II

2011-09-21T10:27:00.000+01:00

Very excited to share the second part of Nicola and Jon's wedding in Butley Priory, Suffolk. In case you missed the first part, you can see it HERE. Nicola and Jon's big day was what weddings are all about - love, family, friends, and having fun. You could definitely see their personalities shining through in everything they did!

This part starts with couple's portraits. Heavy rain was forecasted for the day, but thankfully it stayed dry for photos and only started raining when everyone was in the marquee. Then the sun started shining after the meal and speeches, so it was a perfect day! Everyone's speeches were too funny and had guests and myself in stitches! I don't remember when I laughed so much for so long! 80-s disco band was playing in the evening, and I think I caught myself half dancing and taking photos at the same time. The atmosphere on the dance floor was electric! Even Nicola's Grandma joined the dance floor to show everyone how it's done!

Clearly a few stories were told about Jon, that he ended up with his head on the table for a couple of times :-)

For Part I of Nicola and Jon's wedding click HERE.

BUTLEY PRIORY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY - NICOLA AND JON

2011-09-20T09:35:00.000+01:00

I'm going to blog this beautiful wedding in 2 parts, which I haven't done before. There are just so many lovely images I want to share! After meeting Nicola and Jon and doing their pre-wedding photoshoot, I was looking forward to their wedding. They were so much fun to be around, and I knew their wedding day would be special. They are both bubbly, kind, caring and so much in love. Their wedding was a true reflection of them, and it was also about celebrating their marriage with family and friends. Nicola and Jon made everyone feel so welcomed, and they thought about so many details for their guests to have a great day and enjoy the party. Sweet table (or Jon's Tuck Shop), photobooth, bbq, pizzas made in wood burning oven, homemade jam as favours, football/soccer table set up in the marquee, groucho masks for fun, 80's disco band - to name just a few things! They chose beautiful Butley Priory in Suffolk as a venue for their wedding. What a stunning place! It has so much character and light - a dream to photograph!

The preparations began early in the morning. Nicola was getting ready together with her bridesmaids, her mum and her Grandma - it was very special.

Three generations, all looking gorgeous:

Meanwhile Jon with his Best Man were getting ready for the ceremony:

Jon promised to make Nicola laugh every day, starting from there and then :-)

Pretty details and wedding decorations:

Nicola and Jon, I just want to say it was such a pleasure to be a part of your day! Thank you for choosing me to photograph your big day - it was very, very special! You guys are so good together! Wishing you all the happiness in the world for the years to come!

This is it for Part1! Visit my blog tomorrow for Part2 - couple's portraits, speeches, party and all things fun!

VINTAGE INSPIRED WEDDING - ANNA AND PAVLO

2011-09-15T10:12:00.000+01:00

Gosh, where do I begin with this beautiful wedding?! I first met Anna and Pav back in April for their pre-wedding photoshoot . I think we clicked straight away, and had a laugh walking around London for photos. So, when I met Anna again in the morning of their wedding - it was like meeting a friend. Anna and Pav live in Dubai and they've planned the whole wedding from there, with help of their friends and family. They did a amazing job putting all the details together. Everything looked so pretty and elegant. I loved Anna's style, and the vintage inspired details and feel to the day.

Morning preparations were very intimate. Anna was getting ready in the hotel together with her mum and two bridesmaids. I knew she would look stunning when I saw Temperley Long Jean dress in the room. Her look was completed by a beautiful Kat Swank headdress. Anna was wearing handmade shoes (Shoes of Prey), which she designed herself.

Boys were getting ready as well... to go to the pub :)

Anna and Pav decided to do the First Look and see each other before the ceremony. I never photographed the First Look before, so needless to say I was very excited! I wish more couples did that! It was very intimate, with just the two of them (I was photographing from a distance). Later they both said it made them feel less nervous and more relaxed for the ceremony. After the First Look we had some time for portraits:

On our way back we saw a rabbit. Random, but he was cute too cute not to include him in the photos!

Details, details...

Speeches were too funny! I think I was photographing through tears of laughter... Very personal and coming from the heart

First dance was beautifully choreographed, and everyone joined the couple on the dance floor after. Anna had a quick change into Monsoon dress for the evening

Anna and Pav, it was a brilliant and beautiful day! Thank you so much for having me photograph it! Hope you are enjoying your honeymoon! ;-)

BUTLEY PRIORY, COUNTRY FETE WEDDING - PREVIEW

2011-09-08T07:57:00.000+01:00

Time for the preview of the second wedding from last weekend! Nicola and Jon got married in Butley Priory in Suffolk. It was a beautiful and emotional day, and they both put so much of themselves into the wedding to make it personal. It was perfect! Speeches had everyone in stitches, including me! Nicola looked stunning in her dress. Her Grandma was there to give her pearls she was wearing for her wedding...

Anyway, here is a little teaser, more to come in a few weeks!

VINTAGE INSPIRED WEDDING - PREVIEW

2011-09-06T11:23:00.000+01:00

Hello, lovely readers! Over the last weekend I photographed two beautiful weddings in different parts of UK. Weather was very kind on both days and the sun was shining for my couples)). I can't wait to start processing the images and see the final results!

For now, here is a preview from Saturday's vintage inspired wedding. Think First Look, Temperley wedding gown, Art Deco, beautiful flowers, emotions and a rabbit... Yes, the rabbit is a bit odd, but there was one! :) Full set of images to come in a couple of weeks))

ROMANTIC RICHMOND PRE-WEDDING SHOOT - TRACY AND COLM

2011-09-01T10:14:00.000+01:00

All my couples are very special to me, but Tracy and Colm are just that little bit extra... Tracy lives in Canada, and Colm lives in London. They have to spend a long time apart from each other, until they can be together again at their wedding in Dublin in December. It was something Michael and I went through a couple of years ago, before we got married. The hardest thing was not seeing one another for five months after the wedding. It's very hard to describe. Phone conversations weren't cutting it... We just wanted to hold each other. Simple things like having breakfast together, doing food shopping and watching TV seemed like a dream! But we've gone through it, and because of that time we love each other more than anything. I'm wishing the same for Tracy and Colm. Guys, you'll be together again very soon! Time will fly! I'm looking forward to seeing you both again on your wedding day!

Below is the selection of images from their pre-wedding photoshoot in Richmond, London:

So cute together:

And then he gave her flowers as a sign of his love... Errrrm, nope! Conkers (chestnuts) are way cooler! :)

Embracing the flare:

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS IN PARIS - PRE-WEDDING, VIVIEN AND JOE

2011-08-30T09:16:00.001+01:00

Vivien and Joe got in touch with me in spring about the possibility of having their pre-wedding photoshoot in Paris. They are getting married in the USA next year, but they love to travel and Paris is one of their favourite cities. When I read Vivien's e-mail and the words 'photoshoot' and 'Paris', I immediately said I'd absolutely love to do it! And when Vivien told me she was going to wear a copy of her wedding dress - that was like a dream come true! We hopped on the Eurostar on Friday and spent almost all Saturday going to different places around Paris and taking lots of photos. Vivien and Joe wanted to incorporate the amazing Parisian architecture into their images, so with its palaces, quiet cobbled streets, noisy streets, bridges, buildings with balconies and parks Paris was a perfect backdrop for their engagement photoshoot. Paris had it's heatwave, it was full of tourists and it was Saturday, but I think we managed to find some quieter spots :) Vivien and Joe got a lot of attention, as people thought they were getting married - cars were beeping, tourists were taking photos of them, French were smiling and saying 'Belle' and 'Felicitations'. So many random passers-by were genuinely happy for them - it felt great!

The heatwave also meant that we had some seriously beautiful light that day! We also got some night time images around Louvre and Eiffel Tower. Late evening in Paris on a warm summer day was very romantic)) Here is the selection of images from the day:

Vivien and Joe, thank you for inviting me to Paris with you! It was a pleasure working with you and I wish you all the best for your wedding next year!

COUNTRY GARDEN WEDDING - ISABEL AND IAN

2011-08-25T11:13:00.000+01:00

This morning I'd like to share this country garden wedding I photographed a couple of weeks ago. Isabel and Ian are such a lovely couple and have amazing families. They got married in their Grandparents' house garden in a village near Northampton. I wish I had a garden like that, it really is a beautiful place to get married! Ian's grandparents were so kind and welcoming to me and the guests. The day was very relaxed and chilled out, it was all about celebrating the marriage with close family and friends - a perfect wedding in my books. A couple of days after the wedding Isabel and Ian jetted of to Venice, which also makes for a perfect honeymoon)) Below is a selection of images from the day:

PARIS PRE-WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT - PREVIEW

2011-08-23T13:03:00.000+01:00

I'm back in London after absolutely amazing weekend in Paris... Seriously, saying this still makes me stop for a second and comprehend it. I can't quite believe I was in Paris with Michael, and even had an all day pre-wedding photoshoot there! Paris is so beautiful and needless to say it's photographer's dream. I will be blogging personal photos and writing about the Paris I liked as well - keep an eye out, should make for an interesting read, and you might discover a few places you will want to visit when you are there. For now, below are a couple of images from a beautiful photoshoot with my couple, which I will blogging next week! Enjoy :)

RELAXED GARDEN WEDDING - PREVIEW

2011-08-18T21:10:00.000+01:00

So, we have finally got the internet! Omg, it's so fast (well, in comparison with non-existent 3G everything is fast!) and I can actually load stuff! Internet, I missed you! It's official, I am a web addict!

Anyway, the wedding season is in the full swing and the work is full on at Exhibit Emotions quarters. I'm off to Paris this weekend for a pre-wedding photoshoot with a lovely couple. There will be a wedding dress and everything, needless to say I can wee myself with excitement! I've never been to Paris, and I'm looking forward to spending a couple of days wandering the streets and indulging with French food with hubby)) Look out for a sneak preview from the shoot next week ;) For now, I'm leaving you with a preview of a relaxed family garden wedding I photographed a couple of weeks ago:

SEASIDE PRE-WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT - NICOLA AND JOHN

2011-08-16T12:37:00.000+01:00

Have been wanting to share this bright fun engagement shoot with you for a while, but with the move and everything things got a bit hectic)) For their pre-wedding photos Nicola and John suggested going to Rye - small seaside village in Kent. I've never been there, so was totally up for it. Goodness, what a beautiful place! Loved wandering around quiet cobbled streets and discovering little coffee and antique shops here and there. It was also a perfect sunny summer day, so everything was on our side! Nicola and John were so much fun to photograph! It was literally like spending time with old friends. We chatted about their wedding plans, photography and life in general, and had a laugh at the beach when my sandlas got covered in mud)) People on the train on my way back home must have thought I was crazy. Agh well, great times were had! I'm looking forward to photographing Nicola and John's wedding in Butley Priory at the beginning of September!

Impromptu shoe fight on the way back)) Noone was hurt

THE BIG MOVE

2011-08-11T13:01:00.000+01:00

Today sees me blogging from the internet cafe. The last time I used one was probably in 2009 when we were travelling Australia. We moved into a new place last Saturday and I'm currently relying on a veeeery slow 3G, which is pretty much a nay for any kind of blogging or image uploading)) We are very excited about our new place though! We are thinking about little things that will make it feel homey, and enjoying settling in. Little pleasures like sitting in my kitchen on a sunny day, drinking tea and reading a favourite magazine make me happy. I can't wait to get everything sorted and get all the bits and pieces I want, like for example an old globe :) and just enjoy being in our space together.

A couple of pics of what I've got so far :)

LONDON WEDDING, ARMOURY HOUSE - EMILY AND ROB

2011-08-04T11:46:00.000+01:00

Emily and Rob's wedding was one of those when I wish I was a guest. They created such an amazing atmosphere and made their day very personal and special. Emily and Rob both love music, and their wedding was filled with it, from the ceremony till the very end, when guests had a surprise of musical theatre. Even Emily's sister performed! Guests were given hand-outs of words for the songs, and everyone joined the performers. It was electric! At the end everyone was shouting 'more, more!'! Emily and Rob both love London, so their beautiful wedding took place in the heart of the city - Armoury House, which is a very special place for Emily's family.

I joined Emily in the morning, when she was getting ready. I love the look she created - elegant vintage inspired wedding dress with sleeves, completed with a beautiful headpiece.

Not everybody found the ceremony interesting... Agh well :-)

Sign language interpreter with guests

Armoury House is also a cricket ground in London city, and there was a game going on when the guests arrived after the ceremony. I think I was the only one who didn't know the score :)

Posing for the guests:

Cake for ladies, gadgets for gentlemen - all is ok with the world:

Speeches were very heartfelt. Emily's dad wrote a speech before he left the world last year, and Emily's sisters read it on his behalf. It was very sweet, funny and very emotional...

Onto surprise musical theatre! Honestly, it was amazing!

Emily and Rob, huge Thank You for having me to document your special day. It was a beautiful wedding filled with so much love, laughter and happy tears! I enjoyed every bit of it))

FIVE MINUTES OF HAPPY

2011-08-03T09:47:00.000+01:00

I love summer sunsets. And I love it when clouds are sort of 'painted' with light like in the photograph below. I took this image a couple of weeks ago, and I'm so glad I did. This beauty only lasted for about five minutes, so happy I grabbed my camera to capture it. I felt at piece with myself and the world when I was watching the sunset. I just stood at the window and smiled. I thought about how beautiful, majestic and empowering it was. I thought how grateful I was to be able to notice and see things like that. Like properly see and feel them, to just stop for five minutes and observe this sunset, to take it all in. And I felt very happy. Not jumping around kind of happy, but quiet happy. Stopping for five minutes and forgetting about whatever I was doing at the time was so worth it.

PRE-WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY IN RYE - PREVIEW

2011-08-01T11:23:00.000+01:00

What a fabulous weather we had for this engagement shoot in Rye last Saturday! Beautiful couple plus gorgeous light and location make for a very happy photographer! :-) Full post to follow next week))

PRE-WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT IN KENT - AMY AND MATT

2011-07-28T09:53:00.000+01:00

Amy and Matt are a super nice couple and such a pleasure to be around. It's not just the two of them - they have a gorgeous little girl. She is cheeky and giggly, and looooves the camera! She was properly posing for me like a little model and seemed to be very interested in what I was doing.

We decided to have their pre-wedding aka family photoshoot locally to where we live, and went to pick your own farm. Amy and Matt are getting married in September and are planning a DIY vintage inspired wedding. Amy is very creative and crafting a lot of things for the wedding. I can't wait to see everything she comes up with!

I think the next couple of photos are my favourite of them...

I decided to blog their family photos in black and white. I don't really know why, maybe it's because most of my own family pictures are in black&white, so it kind of makes them timeless I think

How cute are they all together?! Guys, I'm looking forward to seeing the three of you on the wedding day, and I'm sure it will be a beautiful!

PRE-WEDDING PHOTOSHOOT IN KENT - PREVIEW

2011-07-26T08:47:00.000+01:00

Just one image from Sunday's pre-wedding photoshoot for Amy and Matt. I love this couple, they are so good together... Full post coming later this week ;)

LONDON CITY WEDDING - PREVIEW

2011-07-25T11:44:00.000+01:00

Hope everyone enjoyed the sunshine over the weekend and managed to recharge for the week ahead)) On Saturday I photographed a beautiful and very personal wedding in central London. I have so many kind words to say about it, but I'll save them for the full post in a couple of weeks ;-) All I can say for now - it was fantastic and very emotional! I wish I was a guest at a wedding like this.

KIND WORDS

2011-07-21T10:12:00.001+01:00

I haven't blogged in a while. Please, forgive me, my lovely readers! Wedding season is in full swing. I promise to blog several sneak previews in the next few days though ;-)

For now I'd just to share some kind words about Exhibit Emotions Photography)) As a photographer I'm blessed with lovely couples I meet and photograph. Most of the time we have similar personalities and we get friendly, so when I work with them I always want to do my best, as if I help out my best friends. Ariel and Pete are one of those couples. Very warm and welcoming people, and it was such a pleasure to work with them)) Here is what Ariel wrote about me for the feature on Rock My Wedding blog:

"It took a few days to fall upon Dasha’s website Exhibit Emotions. As soon as I read her story about how she met her husband, I knew she would understand our international wedding plight. Plus her photos were beautiful and she had done an Art Deco-inspired shoot I could stare at for hours. When I contacted her and presented my idea, she immediately responded that she would love to do an “I do, re-do” shoot. I loved that. It was exactly what we were thinking, without the actual “I do” renewal (or the big white dress). She went out of her way to meet with me a few days before the shoot and spent, like, five hours in the blazing sun with us, waiting for the light to get ‘just right.’ Obviously, she nailed it! She made us feel very comfortable, although we don’t have too much trouble hamming it up. And to top it off, she saved the day. When I realized I was too late to buy a bouquet and a bit upset, she spotted a gorgeous lavender bush and, after taking some great shots with it in the foreground, picked a bunch of it for me. Perfect.

When we got the photos from her (an unbelievable week later) she had managed to make it look like we had Greenwich all to ourselves. There were hundreds of people roaming the streets and green spaces but in these photos it is just us two celebrating each other and our marriage. In that way, I guess it was an “I do” renewal, or maybe just a reminder."

Thank you so much, Ariel! It was a pleasure ;)