I think I’ve been on cloud nine all day after meeting the fabulous Jessica Claire yesterday!

She is hands down one of my favourite wedding photographers in the world. If you’ve been watching facebook you’ll know myself, Janine and Sara have been buzzing about this for quite a while! When I read that Jessica Claire, JESSICA CLAIRE!! was coming to the Lake District to do a workshop at Aspire I booked my ticket right away. I didn’t know how I was going to get there or who I was going with, I just knew I was going. And, after five years, I would need to get on a plane. It took Jessica Claire to get me on a plane. That’s how much I love her. Lucky for me, it turns out two of my photogchums were equally excited about her and booked to go also. We hired a little car. The journey (apart from the scary flying) was as much fun as the workshop. We traveled on a very relaxed route through the countryside. We saw baby lambs, pheasants, quaint villages and farmhouses, a hawk flying with a rabbit in its tallons! We did not stop talking from 5am in the morning until 10pm last night.  Phew! By 8pm, I think myself and Janine were sleepwalking. But luckily we had the energizer bunny to keep us going.  Sara could have easily done the next day’s workshop as well!

Everything just worked out perfect. The travel, the timing, the weather. The team at Aspire were fantastic. So welcoming and so organised. I would definitely go back there again for another workshop. If your going fly into Leeds Airport and take a car. It’s so nice! The grounds of Dalton Hall were also magical. We met lots of other great photographers. New facebook and twitter friends!

And as for Jessica, she was everything I had hoped for and more. So down-to-earth, friendly, funny and very, very smart. I’ve gained so much knowledge from spending one day with her. She is so giving of everything she has learned in 10 years of being in this industry. Watching her in action and hearing her talk has definitely inspired me to rethink a whole lot of things I have been unsure about.  I’m excited about the future:)

Here are some photos I took of Jessica in action. We also took some shots of the models. I can’t take credit for these as Jessica found the beautiful light and gave them direction. They were fantastically in love after 10 years of marriage and didn’t need a whole lot of direction though. Maybe it gets easier the longer you’ve been together. NI grooms – please take note of the fabulously romantic Tony bringin’ it! He was so dapper:)

x

Sara behind Jessica. She’s like, “Excited!!”

Janine making me laugh:)

And this is what they were shooting…

These treasures were waiting for us in the woods. It made me smile to hear collective ‘oohs’ and ‘aaahhs’ from everyone. We photographers delight in the little things.

Jessica shooting the details.

I like the way she casually hooks that camera into the shootsac. She’s so cool.

Post-ed: btw, I meant to say “I can’t take credit” not “I can”. I’m always blogging when I’m half asleep.