Tuesday, April 1, 2014 | Christening
I wanted to share with you a Holy Trinity Christening photography book which has just gone out to clients. Tiffany’s parents arranged her Christening at Holy Trinity and St Saviour on Sloane Street, knowing it was opposite the jewellery store of the same name.
The book’s cover is a photograph of her second outfit for the day – a gold-bodiced dress and matching shoes, which she wore for the reception, after being dressed in a white Christening gown for the service itself. The lovely and personal service was by Rev. Rob Gillion, who was exceptionally kind to Tiffany and her family, making her giggle and laugh throughout.
I love the candle-lighting part of a Christening – it’s symbolic and beautiful.
After the Holy Trinity Christening and Tiffany had received her Certificate of Baptism, we went outside for some family group portraits in front of Holy Trinity’s beautiful architecture designed by John Dando Sedding.
Tiffany’s family couldn’t resist walking across the road to Tiffany and Co. for photographs outside the store. While we were there, two staff members came outside to present a bottle of champagne in celebration.
One of the things I love to do at a Christening, is get a portrait of the parents together by themselves. I also photograph details such as the shoes, cake or carefully-chosen accessories.
Here the family is at the Le Chinois Restaurant at the Millennium Hotel on Sloane Street, during the celebratory meal. Tiffany sits on her father’s knee, sharing his food as she does when the family has its evening meal at home. Their celebration ends the 20-spread book, which Tiffany’s family had made in a 12×12″ size.
Monday, January 6, 2014 | Christening
I wanted to share the Greek Orthodox Christening book from Nicholas’ Christening at Christ the Saviour Church in Welling. It tells the story of the day so well and includes all the details that his mother and family arranged as well as formal portraits of the godparents and family. The cover has a classic, white theme chosen by Nicholas’ mother Cleo featuring his Christening clothes and cross.
It starts with details of Christ the Saviour church, including its carved wooden chairs, the greenery surrounding it in Welling and the priest preparing for the Christening, then switches to the family arriving. 
Here is Nicholas’ special clothes – those he will be Christened in and which will absorb the oil he is anointed with – then those he will wear afterwards. On the right is a portrait of him and his mother Cleo before the Christening started.
Here are a few pages from the Christening itself featuring the godparents and Nicholas being put into the font, filled with warm water.
The book then switches to the reception, hosted at Cleo’s parents home, where she had been preparing for days. Cleo had a turtle theme with a large turtle cake as the feature and a selection of cupcakes with miniature turtles on the top of their icing. Turtle mugs and jars with turtle charms were given away as favours.
The remainder of the book had black and white reportage photographs of the Christening celebrations and ended with some of the family groups.
Friday, January 7, 2011 | Christening
I have just finished editing a Greek Orthodox Christening from last month and although don’t have permission to post photographs of the family, really wanted to share some images of the stunning Greek Orthodox Cathedral of St Sophia in Moscow Road, W2. I have worked there before and it’s dark – so tricky to photograph and definitely somewhere to use specialist equipment – the rich woodwork, mosaic tiles and precious metals and stones glint with a dull beauty. This collection includes perhaps my favourite photograph from 2010 – can you guess which one it is?
Sunday, October 14, 2007 | Christening, London wedding
Alexandra was today christened by her grandfather in Temple Church, built at the time of the crusades, almost 850 years ago. Alexandra cried at being splashed with water, but soon settled in her grandfather’s arms before being returned to her parents Sara and James for some London Christening photos. All then went to the Savoy’s River Room for drinks & lunch. The tables were named with her birthstone (pearl), star sign (gemini), patron saint (alice), Chinese year animal (pig) and flower (rose). A table for the three children attending was appropriately enough named Cupcake … and there were some of these, iced in girly pink and white from the Hummingbird Bakery. Alexandra has just the cutest toes … contrasting with her yummy mummy’s fishnets in the final photograph below.
