8 days to go....

As you may or may not know, indecision seems to be my forte when it comes to this wedding planning malarky! So the countdown is well and truly on.

8 days... 8 measly days... that is all I have allocated myself to choose the 'perfect' wedding dress. Why 8 days? Well that will be 6 months to the big day and apparently ordering after this date is sacrilege amongst the wedding dress fraternity! And it would seem amongst the 'wedding chat room' bridezillas! I visited youandyourwedding.co.uk last week and what a mistaka to maka... In the 'I'm getting married in August 2010' room, they are all chatting away about how they are having their final fittings on the dresses they bought 12 months ago! Are they mad!

Feeling rather deflated and a little worried that maybe I have left it rather late to purchase the dress of my dreams, I have vowed to abstain from this site until further notice (i.e. a week before my wedding, when I feel I can actually be smug too!)

I have, with a LOT of help from two of my long suffering bridesmaids and my mum, narrowed it down to 4 dresses, in 3 different shops! So that's a start! Although I did spot another beauty today at the Tatton Hall Wedding Fayre, which I have requested to try on at one of my final trying on sessions.

They are just all so darn pretty. I'm hoping for some kind of epiphany next week, but I doubt it, instead knowing me, there will probably be tears...

I hope I pick the right dress, as today when I dragged my lovely husband-to-be around the wedding fayre, he was pointing out dresses telling me how ugly they were, most of which I agreed on, but there were a few I actually rather liked. Note to self... no bling and no lace that looks like a tablecloth, or I may be walking down to an empty alter!

2010...the year of change

2009 was an amazing year for me; I had a now or never moment and gave up my Marketing job enabling Andy and I to spend 7 months travelling the globe soaking up different cultures (and the sun) and along the way, I became a fiancee overlooking one of the 'new' seven wonders of the world. My gorgeous husband to be got down on one knee at 'The Sun Gate' overlooking Machu Picchu, and asked me to be his wife! It was the perfect start to our year.

2009 really will take some beating, but I am super excited about 2010!

The wedding date is set and I am currently in the throws of trying to decide on a wedding dress.Who knew I am so indecisive?!

It is also the year that I pursue my dream career of becoming a professional photographer...but where do I start??

I need to believe in myself more; I CAN make this happen. It's just in my nature to doubt myself at times. I sometimes wonder if I'll ever be able to make my goals and ambitions come to fruition. In an ideal world, I would have someone take me by the hand and show me the ropes, but this isn't feasible.

So where do I start??

Do I just ask people if I can take photos of them? Is this how other photographers started their careers? Maybe that's what I'll do...but first I need to buy my new kit, the Canon 5d Mark ii to be precise and master photoshop! That way I can correct, crop and improve my images before anyone sees them!

The many faces of Hong Kong

Modern and westernized, yet traditional and Chinese, Hong Kong is full of surprises and contradictions. And I LOVE it.

I spent the last week visiting my sister and her husband who are currently residing in HK, along with my family, including my Granny, who at the grand old age of 81 was game for everything we threw at her. She could often be found late at night in many of the City’s finest drinking establishments, proving that you’re never too old to enjoy a Mojito or Sex on the Beach!

This is the third time I have been to HK but you never tire of its many faces.

With the view from the Peak by day, HK Island’s skyline by night as the skyscrapers flash their neon lights trying to out-display each other, the traditional Chinese markets, the stunning countryside and beaches, the incredible amount of amazing bars and restaurants, it really is no wonder that HK means different things to different people.

These images showcase just a few of HK's many faces.

Humble beginnings...

So here begins my online journal of where I am heading. I really want to document my photographic adventure, along it's long and winding path, so I never forget my humble beginnings in the photographic world! It will also be interesting to see how my personal style evolves and develops as I gain more experience and confidence behind the camera.

This blog will be all about me...although that sounds rather self indulgent, it will not only showcase my work and images, but also give you an insight into me and what makes me tick.

This blog will be my online journal documenting certain aspects of my life and my daily goings-on. I have no doubt over the coming months, I will be airing my frustrations and deliberations in the planning of my own wedding, raving about certain photographers I meet and gain inspiration from, stating how much I LOVE Christmas and I will blog whenever I feel I have something to share with you, be it family holidays, weekends away or good nights out - everything that I do with or without my camera.

WELCOME TO MY BLOG

Welcome to the first official post on the blog for Stephanie Oakes Photography!

For those of you who know me, you may think taking Andy's name before we are married is somewhat premature(!), however it will be my legal name and trading name as of the 7th August 2010 (as long as everything goes to plan!) so I thought i'd use it from the off!

I am currently in the very, very, very early stages of a career change to become a photographer!  Growing up with a father and sister who are both keen (amateur) photographers, I have always appreciated this amazing art form and loved tinkering around with cameras and creating beautiful images. But it was when I started searching for a wedding photographer for my forthcoming nuptials, that I completely fell head over heels for photography again. When I found my wedding photographer, Jodie Chapman (http://www.jodiechapman.com/), I knew this is what I wanted to do. Her imagery really inspires me and has prompted me to pursue my dreams of being a photographer.

Ideally, I would love to specialise in weddings, as from a photographer's point of view, a wedding is the perfect occasion to photograph with a full roller coaster of emotions; a contagiously happy day with beaming smiles, tears of joy and happiness, butterflies and pre-wedding nerves and post-wedding bliss!

But, whether it be weddings, bumps and babies, commercial or portraits I am just excited to get behind my camera and create some natural, beautiful images.

So....now I just need to bite the bullet and invest in training and equipment! I am weighing up my options at the moment regarding which training path to head down, so i'll keep you posted when I have made up my mind!