Bengali wedding photography in Leicester

January 3rd, 2015
natural pics of Bengali wedding in Leicester

Bride’s family about to set off for the wedding

Bride is about to leave to go to the wedding

 

Last minute details Bengali wedding

Time to fix on the buttonholes

Bengali wedding in Leicester Bengali wedding in Leicester Bengali wedding in Leicester

Stretched Ferrari for Bengali wedding

Stretched Ferrari!

Inside a stretched Ferrari at Bengali wedding

Inside a stretched Ferrari

Inside a stretched Ferrari !

 

Bengali wedding stage in Leiceste - The Platinum Suite

Asian wedding stage inside The Platinum Suite in Leicester

Picture of the Platinum Suite in Leicester

Inside the Platinum Suite in Leicester

The groom arrives with his family

Entrance of the groom

floating candles

Floating candles

Groom’s entrance.

huge Asian wedding venue in Leicester

The Platinum Suite in Leicester with all the tables nicely presented

large capacity Asian wedding venue in Leicester - The Platinum Suite

This wedding venue is massive

large capacity Asian wedding venue in Leicester - The Platinum Suite

Inside The Platinum Suite

The wedding videographer showing the bride some of the video footage

Bengali bride

Asian wedding photography

Bengali bride’s bracelets

Bengali bride

Bengali wedding photography

Bengali bride’s bracelets

Bengali wedding dress

Detail of the bride’s lengha

Detail of the bride’s necklaces

Bride adjusting her earrings

Indian bride in all her finery

Bengali wedding Taal

Bengali Taal

Bengali wedding food - the traditional taal platter

Bengali wedding food – the traditional taal platter

Indian wedding food

Indian wedding food

Bengali wedding food

Indian wedding food

Asian wedding at the Platinum Suite in Leicester

Asian wedding at the Platinum Suite

Bengali wedding reception in Leicster for a thousand wedding guests

I lost count of how many guests there actually were.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cuban cars in Old Havana – Habana Vieja – before photographing a wedding in Cuba.

December 31st, 2014
old Cuban cars in Havana

Cuban car in old Havana with two little boys playing by the side.

To see the wedding pictures look on our site , here and Facebook.

inside a Cuban car

Inside a classic Cuban taxi car

Cuban classic cars in old Havana

Real life in Cuba as a Cuban lady walks past a red and white classic car

Cuban cars in old Havana, Cuba.

Blue and white classic car taxi in Havana

Classic Cuban car in Old Havana in blue and white.

An elegant young lady in black walks past a blue and white classic Cuban car and a red moped. Arty photos in Old Havana.

Real life in Cuba - old classic car and Cuban kids.

Two little Cuban boys playing by a classic car in Habana Vieja

Red and white classic Cuban car in Old Havana

Red and white classic Cuban car in Old Havana

Real life in Cuba - colourful classic cars on the road in Havana

Colourful classic American old cars driving along a street in Havana on the way to the town centre

 Cuba and classic Cuban cars

Red classic Cuban car

Cuban classic car driving along the streets of Old Havana

These Cuban cars just keep on and on, as you can see with this one looking immaculate as it is being driven along the streets of Havana

Real life in Cuba - classic cars and young people hanging out/

Kids the world over hang out in the streets listening to music. However music is deeply embedding in the soul of all Cubans. To the right a classic American car is being repaired at the roadside

Roadside repairs of a classic Cuban car

Roadside repairs of a classic Cuban car

Real life in Cuba as an engine is taken apart in the street

Real life in Cuba as a classic car engine is taken apart in the street.

Real life in Cuba - man repairting his old American car in Havana

Under the bonnet of a classic Cuban car.

This was my 6th visit to Cuba since 1996, but the cars have not changed.  I was in Havana to photograph a real Cuban wedding – on 14th December 2014 –  but couldn’t resist spending a day in Old Havana just taking pictures of cars and people.

 

I actually met my husband here, on the last day of my very first trip to Cuba, but it wasn’t till my second visit 18 months later that we got together.  I had just completed a 6 month’s rapid course in Spanish, but even so by head ached after spending hours and hours talking in Spanish on that second visit that change the course of my life.   He was working as a Sound Designer /Recordist/Engineer at Cuban TV, and I had just graduated from  Huddersfield Uni. Fortunately he was a very accomplished English speaker too, so no problems of communication at all.

I spent my first week cycling from Havana to Trinidad (a town in Cuba)  – a distance of about 250 km – in aid of the National Deaf Children’s Society, then in the second week stayed with this lovely Cuban family I had met on the last day of my initial visit when on a study trip. They had a 50 year old fridge that needed a new motor, so I made it a condition that I was allowed to pay for that to be repaired.  Towards the end of that week, we went into Havana to try and get an umbrella repaired  – yes repaired  – and on our way back as we were waiting for a bus, I asked Jorge why he didn’t consider coming to the UK to work.  his reply was that in order to work in the UK, he would need to be married.  Without even thinking , I replied,

 

“Well that can be arranged!”

15 years on , we are still married, so sometime things are just meant to be.

 

 

 

Real life in Cuba - Cuban taxi more than 50 years old and still on the road.

Cuban taxi more than 50 years old and still on the road.

Cuban art photo

Art picture of classic Cuban taxi.

Cuban street life with classic car and local Cubans.

Cuban street life with classic car and local Cubans.

Cuban taxi - over 50 years old.

Classic Cuban taxi in Old Havana December 2014.

Strong image of a Classic Cuban car in Havana.  Copyright Reel Life Photos

Love the grille in the front of this car.

Art photo of Cuba

Art photo of the back of an old car by a Cuban window in Havana.

Roadside mechanics - real life in Cuba.  Copyright Reel Life Photos

They have no private space of garage so just set about repairing their cars where they stop.

Real life in Cuba - classic Cuban  cars still driving round Havana.

Cuban streets are so full of beautiful old cars!

Cuban cars in Old Havana. Copyright Reel Life Photos.

A classic Cuban car driver spots my camera and waves to me as he drives past.

Real life in Cuba .  Classic cars an old motorbikes.

Cars and mopeds being driven through Old Havana.

Woman hailing a share taxi in Old Havana.

A Cuban taxi stops to see if it can get a new passenger.

Old Cuban taxi in Havana.  Copyright Reel Life Photos

Cuban taxi in Old Havana.

Real life in Cuba

Lime green Cuban taxi driving past a street in Havana with peeling paint.

Brown classic Cuban taxi car in Havana

Street in Old Havana with classic Cuban taxi car driving past.

Street in Cuba with red classic taxi car in Old Havana

Red and white old American car used as a taxi, driving past pedestrians walking along the pavement in Old Havana. (Habana Vieja)

Old white taxi  - classic American car in Cuba

Classic white Cuban car used as a taxi in Old Havana

Real life in Cuba, Cubana and classic old cars in Havana.

Real life on the streets of Old Havana

Real life in Cuba - Cuban cars in Havana

Cuban lady looking at an old American car in Havana

Cuban cars in Old Havana - a street in Hbana Vieja.

Cuban cars in Old Havana drive past as girls cross the street in Habana Vieja

ClassicCuban street scene  in Old Havana with old American cars

Classic street scene in Old Havana

Old Cuban cars in Havana still work as taxis.

Old American car used as a taxi in Havana

Lime green and white classic Cuban car in Old Havana

Lime green and white classic Cuban car in Old Havana

Lime green car in Old Havana,  Cuba

Close up of the lime green car with white roof in Old Havana.

Life in Cuba, car, moped, and Cubans

Blue car by candlewick twisted (sugar candy?) columns

Old Cuban car in Havna

Blue Cuban car in Old Havana

Old American car in Cuba

Blue car in Havana.

Red motorbike with sidecar in Cuba

Conversation piece: red motorbike with sidecar in Havana.

Rickshaw and old American car in Cuba

Red, yellow, green and blue!

Classic Cadillac cars in Cuba

Old Cuban cars by El Malecón.

Old Amercan cars in Cuba.

Havana may look as if it is crumbling, but in reality it is full of life.

Dramatic photo of street in Havana in the winter.

Street in Havana

Old Cuban cars.

Old Cuban cars everywhere, gleaming in the sunlight.

Life and old cars in Cuba

The appeal of Havana is in the feeling that time has stood still.

Old Amercian cars in Cuba

Love this shiny blue classic car as it drives past the tall decorative columns of a 100 year old block of flats in Havana.

Old Cuban cars in Havana

Symphony of colour in yellow, blue and green.

Real life in Cuba Real life in Cuba Real life in Cuba Real life in Cuba Real life in Cuba Real life in Cuba Real life in Cuba Real life in Cuba

 

 

 

 

Plaza de Maceo, Havana, Cuba with old Cuban cars at night.

Old cars going past Plaza de Maceo in Havana, Cuba at night. on el Malecón.

 

 

 

 

Real Cuban wedding in Havana, Cuba

December 20th, 2014

Its not often I get to photograph a wedding in Cuba, so am excited to post these first few pics following my recent trip there for this wedding.  It isn’t set in a glamorous hotel or on an exotic beach, but the happiness in the couple’s faces shows the true meaning of a wedding day.

If you are planning to get married in Cuba, or are having your wedding reception abroad then get in touch , as we only charge the same as a UK wedding, other than a bit of hospitality if I don’t know anyone in the particular country your are getting married in.   I have places to stay in The Seychelles, The Gambia, Cyprus and Cuba, and possibly others in different countries, depending on the towns.  I am happy to travel anywhere really, and have already covered weddings in The Ice Hotel in Sweden, in Australia, Norway, Nigeria, Pakistan, Jordan, Egypt, France, Southern Ireland, Cyprus, Gambia and The Seychelles.  We can come as a video-photography team or I can also shoot some video footage, as well as taking photos.

xx Elaine and Jorge

http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk

http://www.facebook.com/destination.wedding.photographer.uk

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Cuban wedding dress

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

The bride’s friends fuss round her as they arrive to help her get ready.

A male friend sits by as he knows he can't do much at this stage to help the bride get ready

A male friend sits by as he knows he can’t do much at this stage to help the bride get ready.  As you can see it is Christmas time too – 14th December in fact .

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Bride’s wedding shoes hanging on the base of an old sewing machine, in this lovely house in Cuba.

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Simple makeup.

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Artistic room in Havana where the Cuban bride is getting ready for her wedding, as a friend applies her makeup for her.

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Hair tweaking as the tiara goes on

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Hairspray lovingly applied and duplicated in the mirror reflection. The natural light adds to the magic.

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Now the male family friend can help out by doing up the bride’s shoes.

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Look at your shoes. You look so pretty.

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Happy bride in Cuba!

Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba Real Cuban wedding in Havana , Cuba

Black and White wedding Photography

November 25th, 2014

I am, above all else, a colourist.  From way back in the days I started out as an artist, living and painting in Greece, colour dawned on me like a thunderbolt: strong ultramarine brush strokes, vibrant reds and contrasting areas of light and shade became my trademark.  Yesterday however, I was challenged to post a series of black and white photos on my Facebook site, to show off the potential of that medium.

Black and white used to be the only medium available for photographers when I first started out.  I spent hours and hours with my Brownie Box Camera – a present from my father for my first ever school trip to London when I was 11 – sticking the family photos I shot into an album, using gold photo corners and labelling them in white ink on black card with a dip in pen.  Sadly these photos albums no longer exist, as my parents, blessed with a large family – of whom I am the eldest – completed various moves after I left home, so I guess they were abandoned in an uncleared loft space loft space, or found their way accidentally, in the bin.  I do however, still have the photos my grandfather took of my parents on their wedding day, and two pictures of me with my grandmother, as a baby.

So, now my art has come fill circle – allowing the images to speak for themselves, not from lack of colour, but from the unconstrained and uncluttered emotions, that become the focus of pure black and white.

 

Natural black and white wedding photography

Natural black and white wedding photography – shows off the smiles and emotions.

nature black and white wedding photography in Yorkshire - the champagne

Black and white wedding picture of the froth flowing from a freshly popped champagne bottle

An emotional moment captured ina black and white photo, as a little girl hugs her cousin during a wedding.

Hugs from the bride;s son to his little cousin, – an emotional moment in time.

 

Coincidentally. these three wedding pictures are all from the same wedding story.

 

xx Elaine Borges-Ibanez

 

http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/destination.wedding.photographer.uk

Gypsy first birthday party in Wakefield

October 26th, 2014

Yesterday – Saturday 25 October 2014 – I photographed  an Asian wedding in Dewsbury,  and today a gypsy family’s little girl’s  first birthday party: two very different events!  Face-painting and balloons, are to be expected, but the huge castle cake was something only  a traveller’s family would think of: very creative!

Asian and gipsy wedding cakes

Two very different cakes: Asian wedding cake in Dewsbury, and Gipsy castle birthday cake in Wakefield

Both events were similar in that they booked last minute – the Asian wedding three weeks before,

but the traveller little girl’s birthday party just an hour or so beforehand, so extremely last minute!

 

Latina's first birthday party at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

Face painting at The Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

Face painting at The Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

 

Gipsy party pictures in Wakefield  face painting

traveller’s first birthday at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield with the kids having their faces painted.

Latina's first birthday party at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

-Latina's1stBirthdayParty018

Latina's first birthday party at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

   This little monkey is hiding his face, but peeking through his fingers at me.

first birthday party photography in Wakefield

Gypsy children with face paints at a traveller first birthday party

 

The little kids were just like all small children, but from 5 years upwards their characters were already strong and unruly, but hopefully they all had fun.

 

first birthday pictures by castle cake

Traveller family by elaborate gipsy-style castle birthday cake

Latina's first birthday party at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

Birthday girl, dressed up like a princess, sitting on a throne next to her castle birthday cake.

gipsy baby at her first birthday party in Wakefield

The birthday girl.

Latina's first birthday party at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

castle cake at gipsy birthday party in Wakefield

Latina’s first birthday party cake at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

Latina's first birthday party at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

Children’s birthday party fun in the party house at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

Latina's first birthday party at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

Little figures from the castle first birthday cake

Latina's first birthday party at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

 

Well, what’s the use of a party if you don’t get to eat your own birthday cake!

 

Latina's first birthday party at Cheeky Monkeys in Wakefield

Happy birthday Latina!  Hope you had as much fun as I did taking these pictures!  xx Elaine

www.reellifephotos.co.uk

See some of the 20,000 Facebook Photos we have online too..

Eritrean bride marries Jamaican groom at London wedding

September 6th, 2014
Eritrean bride with her Jamaican goom by the Tower of London

Eritrean bride with her Jamaican goom by the Tower of London

 

A chain of people who like my work told this lovely bride about me, hence a multicultural wedding photographer from West Yorkshire, found herself taking photos in front of crowds of tourists, by the Tower of London yesterday!  http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk

Beautiful Asian bride marries a charming Indian

August 24th, 2014
Asian bride's wedding portrait in Leeds

Stunning Pakistani bride putting on her earrings before going to her wedding in Bradford

Inter-racial wedding at Bradford Register Office.

This love match can now go ahead, so the jubilant groom sees his bride arrive for their wedding ceremony at Bradford Register Office.

bride and groom pics in dramatic light at Lister park in Bradford

bride and groom pics in dramatic light at Lister park in Bradford

Pakistani Indian Hindu Muslim wedding Bradford in Manningham Park

The storm clouds and brilliant sunshine on the flowers really make this picture!

Asian bride and groom in traditional Indian dress against modern sculptures in Bradford

Asian bride and groom in traditional Indian dress against modern sculptures in Bradford

Hindu groom in Bradford after his wedding ceremony

Smiling Hindu groom in Manningham Park, Bradford, by colourful, modern sculptures

 

picture of Asian bride after her wedding in Bradford, sitting on a bench in Manningham Park.

picture of Asian bride after her wedding in Bradford, sitting on a bench in Manningham Park.

 

Natural Asian wedding photography in Bradford

Dramatic Asian wedding picture with stormy skies and strong sunlight in Bradford park with a ceremonial sword on the bench by the Hindu groom. as he chats to his Muslim bride.

 

Traditional posed Asian wedding picture in Bradford with dramatic light

Traditional posed Asian wedding picture in Bradford with dramatic light.

 

Happy natural Asian wedding picture in the park in Bradford

Happy natural Asian wedding picture in the park in Bradford on their wedding day.

Cinematographic wedding pictures in Bradford

I have this wedding picture on my wall , as love the light and composition!

 

Well this week  we have Asian  weddings every day, for video and photos, so not much time left to even breathe!  This lovely bride was just getting ready to go to her wedding in Bradford, having been getting her hair and make-up at a salon in Leeds, but time was running out. At  9.50 am  there was still no sign of the bride, and only one guest had made it to the Register Office at that point, so it was increasingly looking like they would miss their slot. Register Office weddings on Saturday’s in August are like gold-dust, so if they didn’t get there pretty soon they would then have to wait till 4.00pm!  The guests for the next wedding had already been ushered in, so it was looking very unlikely that this wedding would happen…. Then the bride arrives, with the groom, but she is not getting married without her mum and dad there.  I keep liaising with the Registrar’s assistant, as the tension mounts.  The guests have by now managed to get there so it would  be a huge shame if the wedding couldn’t go ahead.  I go outside to look and a white car is pulling up spilling out the bride’s family, as they clatter quickly across the tarmac.  By the skin of their teeth the wedding can go ahead!

 

After a few family photos, we drive to Lister Park, and midst dramatic light and brooding skies just get the pictures we want before the rain starts to fall.

 

See more pics by multicultural wedding photographer Elaine on http://www.reellifephotos.co.uk

 

Bolton Excellency – Best Asian wedding venue in North of UK

August 16th, 2014
Bolton excellency Asian wedding venue pictures

Bolton Excellency as the groom looks on the cake descends in a blaze of fireworks.

Bolton Excellency wedding pictures

Table décor and lighting inside Bolton Excellency

Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England

Bolton Excellency signature salad of beetroot, cucumber and tomatoes

Wedding limo for Bolton Excellency

The wedding limo arrives

Bolton Excellency - Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England

Wedding guests arriving in the reception lobby at Bolton Excellency, by the fountain.

Bolton Excellency entrance - Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England

The door open and in drives the wedding limo.

Bolton Excellency entance with limo -  Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England

Car driving into Bolton Excellency

Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England

 

Bolton Excellency wedding pictures

All ready for the grand entrance of the bride and groom.

Best Asian wedding venue in the North of England The bridal party enters in grand style

This is one of the most theatrical and dramatically lit and decorated Asian wedding venues in the North of England. The grand chandeliers,  ornate entrance foyer and magnificent stage with full theatre lighting form the most innovative set from which to play out your grand wedding.  If you haven’t experienced it yet , then looking at these pictures from a recent wedding, will surely tempt you to pull out all the stops, and get a slice of the action!

For more info on wedding photography or HD video contact Elaine of Reel Life Photos

Pakistani Asian wedding traditions in the UK

August 12th, 2014

Our weather isn’t noted for reliability, so taking Asian wedding photos outside in the morning, before going to the wedding reception at Bolton Excellency, was a bit of a risk.  The bride and her 7 sisters organised the day well, with a 7AM start filming and taking photos,  for  Jorge and me, plus a one hour drive before that. Well we struck lucky as with a bit of patience, the sun did appear, between the fast-moving clouds, in between the raindrops.  The first pic here is of the bride’s mother, as she washed up at the kitchen sink.  I placed her first, as consider her to be an amazing woman, as she has 10 children of all ages!

natural Asian wedding photo

Bride’s mother

Asian wedding photography - bride's shoes

The brides shoes on her dupatta

Asian wedding with the bride putting on her bangles

Asian bride putting on her bangles

 

natural Asian wedding photography

The bride with her father, as she pins on his flower

 

Asian wedding portrait

sunny portrait of the bride’s father

 

Asian wedding tradition

Asian wedding tradition

 

Asian  wedding photography

Romantic Asian wedding photos in the park

Romantic-Asian-wedding photography

The groom knees in a romantic pose, as he holds his beloved’s hand.

Romantic Asian  wedding photography

What a romantic-looking groom!

Asian  wedding picture in teh park

Just before the rain came down!

Pakistani wedding photography

Asian bride and groom, walking hand in hand.

Hindu wedding pictures Sheffield

August 10th, 2014
Hindu wedding Dhol drummers

Dhol drummers

Hindu wedding in Sheffield

Petals and floating candles in a bowl at a Hindu wedding

Hindu wedding in Sheffield

Hindu god Ganesh .

Hindu wedding in Sheffield

Hindu priest conducts the wedding ceremony

Hindu wedding in Sheffield

Hindu Ganesh

Hindu wedding in Sheffield

Bride and groom exchange wedding garlands

Hindu wedding in Sheffield

Fire as part of Hindu wedding ceremony

Hindu wedding in Sheffield

Hindu bride’s henna on her hands.

Hindu wedding in Sheffield

If you would like to see more Hindu wedding pictures, or Asian or reportage UK wedding photos click on REEL LIFE PHOTOS or  for even more wedding pics visit our Facebook page! xx Elaine and Jorge