News
& Blog 
Special Effects.
Many clients have enjoyed the film "300" and have marvelled at the special effects; for example the film characters were shot on a Chromakey backdrop and the backgrounds were created in software such as Adobe Photoshop; if you as a client like the "300" look as a "one off" we can create this to order.Also when you come to see us please ask about the "Crazy Montage".
Peter Jones 21/11/10.
Family, Baby & Portrait Photography
After requests from past wedding clients we now offer a family & baby photography service normally within South Buckinghamshire; using the minimum of equipment we set up studio in your own home or suitable location, the whole session rarely takes more than an hour; for more details please phone us: landline: 01494 678616, mobile: 07754 398978
Peter Jones 06/11/10.
info@prettypictures.info
If you have tried to email using info@prettypictures.info your email may not have got through; this email address is now no longer in operation due to the large amount of spam received; For more details please phone us: landline: 01494 678616, mobile: 07754 398978 ; if you have info@prettypictures.info on any records, documents or paperwork please delete it.Many apologies for any inconvenience.
Peter Jones 18/08/11.
Pre Wedding Nerves & Jitters
It is only right and human nature for people to feel nervous before their big day; I can remember the first wedding I ever photographed, I was more nervous than the Bride and Groom so I do know what you feel like.Why not give yourself a chance to relax before the wedding with a female masseuse? Please contact Jill of Abbots Langley Herts on 07725 078631; highly recommended; sorry, definitely ladies only.
Peter Jones revised 17/07/11.
Issues of Privacy
Many clients concerned about intrusiveness into their daily lives and privacy issues do not want their wedding photographs to be published on this or any other website; we are more than happy to carry out your wishes and not publish your wedding photographs on this site.As a result of these increasing concerns not all weddings we photograph are on this website.
I now suggest to all clients that I password protect their weddings for as long as they are online.
Peter Jones revised 10/05/11.
Photographer's Qualifications.
There are a few organisations representing the interests of photographers:All of these bodies offer a qualification procedure that enable photographers to present usually 20 images in front of an adjudication panel of photographers who assess their work and award the successful applicant a Licentiate, Associate or Fellowship of the institution concerned; the successful individual may then use letters of distinction e.g LSWPP, ASWPP or FSWPP after their name.
The Licentiate award demonstrates good competent photography with excellent technique.
The Associate award demonstrates the above along with more creative interpretation, better choice of background, more thought and faultless technique.
The Fellowship award quite simply demonstrates the highest standard in photography.
When you choose your wedding photographer if he or she has such letters after their name you may be assured that they have gone through the above process; there is however no suggestion that any photographer who does not have the above qualifications is any less of a photographer.
Peter Jones 31/01/11.
Address Change
We haven't moved!Due to the exhorbitant increase that the Post Office has made for a PO Box address we no longer use a PO Box address; please do not use the PO Box address that you may have on existing brochures and forms; if you wish to place a print order Click here for a print order form.
Peter Jones 09/09/10.
Peter Jones revised 16/09/10.
Personal Work
Many people particularly potential clients ask me what I do when I am not taking photographs of weddings; answer is that I take photographs of other subjects as well.I have many images online at the Alamy photo library here; just click on Images by Peter Jones on the Alamy page.
Peter Jones revised 18/08/08.
How safe are our Wedding Images?
This question is asked a lot by potential clients; we can honestly say very very safe indeed; we use cameras that write images simultaneously to two cards i.e. the camera automatically backs up every image immediately; as soon as we return home after a wedding the files are uploaded to a PC and immediately saved to an external hard drive; the wedding files are then written to two DVDs; one is stored onsite and the other identical copy offsite; we store the files indefinitely as we often have clients come back to us years after a wedding for reprints; Pretty Pictures will do absolutely everything possible to ensure your wedding images are safe.Peter Jones 09/01/08.
Getting Ready for the Ceremony.
At your leaving venue naturally everyone wants to get involved however it is my experience that here less is most definitely more i.e. the less people you have at the house the faster proceedings flow. I do not advocate the decision of one bride to clear everyone out of the house except her chief bridesmaid and herself but certainly try to avoid the scenario once that I came across where there were about 45 people in a tiny house.The family pet will also pick up on your vibes during the wedding preparation and get overexcited, budgerigars, canaries, fish and hamsters rarely give cause for concern; cats will have the good sense to make themselves scarce however an overemotional dog is a different matter; you will have enough to do to contend with your own and the emotions of others so I suggest delegating a non participating friend or neighbour to take your dog for an extremely long walk.
From a photographer's point of view the getting ready part of the day gives us massive opportunities for pictures especially the unguarded candid moments known in the industry as "reportage". Of course some clients don't want these pictures and prefer to have the more formal shots with the Bride, Bridesmaid and family freshly dressed and ready to go. These pictures will not hold up proceedings for long.
When the proofs are presented the Groom is always pleased to see these pictures as it is a part of the day in which he has no experience whatsoever.
Peter Jones revised 04/11/07
The things that happen to a Wedding Photographer.
A wedding photographer has to take things in his or her own stride and be prepared for any eventuality that may happen; nothing must prevent him or her carrying on with the job at hand and most of all be on excellent terms with the clients, their families and guests.Peter Jones 24/09/07
Image by Graham Rudge.
Rain
We have all noticed that good weather has been a scarce commodity in the Summer of 2007, 2008 and 2009 rather like good old fashioned British Summers, the kind we used to have before we were all aware of global warming.Poor weather is no excuse for poor wedding photography although you the clients would wish for sunny weather bad weather is easier in some ways for us photographers to contend with. In fact rainy weather sets us new challenges to contend with; we at Pretty Pictures always have a "Plan B" to fall back on; where clients would like formal group images churches almost always have a lovely altar background also almost all reception venues have a very attractive interior.
When booking your venue keep the prospect of inclement weather at the back of your mind just in case ....
Peter Jones revised 19/04/10
Testimonials
A few potential clients ask us for references from former clients and we are happy to arrange this; however here are a few testimonials; to preserve the client's anonymity names have been blanked." Dear Peter, Happy New Year! We just wanted to thank you for our lovely album. The pictures are delightful and you have certainly captured the moment! Have a good year, kind regards, xxxxxxx.
"Dear Peter, We have just received the photos of xxxxxxxx’s wedding and we wanted to thank you very much – the photos are lovely and brought back lots of happy memories. Thank you xxx and xxxxxx xxxxx"
"Dear Peter, We are just back from our honeymoon and I wanted to let you know how pleased we are with the photos you took on our wedding day. I visited the internet cafe several times while we were away to look at them! I especially like the pictures you took of xxxxx & I in the field up the back of the hotel. They are superb. Also, thank you so much for your support and calming influence of the day. You kept me calm at the house before we left for the hotel, especially keeping me on track with the time! A big thank you for that. We are so pleased with so many of the photos that we are thinking of having more than the planned 24 in the album and upping our package.Would this be OK? We would also still like the CD with all the pictures on it. I'll wait to hear back from you as to what we should do now. Many thanks xxx xxxxxxxx"
Peter Jones revised 02/01/07
More questions to ask your wedding photographer ...
To be up to the latest trends, do you travel and meet other top wedding photographers worldwide, to discuss and share information, work together with international models, in order to develop and learn exclusive styles and techniques. Do you do this a couple of times every year?Have you made a deep study of all the equipment on the market and invested in cutting edge cameras, lenses and computers? Have you bought the finest of it's kind to create superlative pictures and in order that everything is totally reliable? Have you then purchased back up gear?
Do you know exactly what a fine print looks like with no obvious colour cast, sharp with plenty of detail? Are you expert in composition and be able to pose your clients so that they look their best in your pictures? Are you able to do this with upwards of at least 100 people and sometimes considerably more? To be sure of the best printing quality have you chosen a professional photographic laboratory which will give the finest prints consistently?
Have you absorbed up 25 years of wedding photography experience combined with 15 years of Digital Imaging practice and consultancy to make sure your equipment is used correctly (there are some tricky operations), minimising interference on your concentration for creativity? Are you working towards and have you gained some professional qualifications within the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers, the Royal Photographic Society, the Master Photographer's Association and the British Institute of Professional Photographers?
Of course you will have insurance i.e, Professional Indemnity and Liability insurance and no doubt you will be aware that some venues will not allow you on their premises without Public Liability insurance?
Finally, in the unlikely event that the weather is not as good as you hoped, have you anticipated a “plan B” so that the bride can still have some memorable pictures taken indoors?
We have done and are continuing to do all the above!
Very few ever regret buying quality after the event!
Peter Jones 13/12/06