Friday 28 August 2015

Milton Hill House Spring Engagement

I met Angela and Lee when Lee was best man at Laura and Alex's wedding last year.  They not only loved my photography but booked me soon after for my relaxed style of capturing the wedding without too much fuss - they didn't want a photographer who was going to boss them about but who would photograph the day with a mix of informal and formal shots from the day.

They picked spring for their engagement shoot  in the grounds of Milton Hill House where their wedding will be held this weekend.  Here are a few from that session.










If you're planning your wedding or are newly engaged and already thinking about your photography as an important part of your day do get in touch as I'd love to discuss more about my wedding services with you.  All packages come with a complimentary engagement session which includes a fabulous printed 8x6" photograph of your choice and I have some gorgeous albums to show-off your wedding day photographs.  More information about my packages and further examples of work can be viewed online or call 07535 613606 to arrange an appointment for an informal chat.


Judi x




Judi is a wedding and lifestyle photographer based near Oxford working mainly in Oxfordshire,  Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds but will consider commissions throughout the UK.  Working on location using natural light and countryside landscapes, Judi focuses on capturing beautiful relaxed images of you and your family using a mix of reportage and fine art style photography. Using an artistic eye Judi will not just capture your memories but create a work of art which can be presented in luxury fine art albums or as framed art or canvases to hang in your homes. 



Judi also provides services for commercial businesses including headshots, nursery and pre-school portraits as well as special events such as birthdays and christenings etc. She is a member of both The Society for Wedding & Portrait Photographers and The Guild of Professional Photographers.


More information is available on the website www.judicheckettsphotography.com or contact Judi via email

Monday 11 May 2015

Bluebells at Badbury Clump, Oxfordshire

Having been decidedly under the weather for the past few weeks it was nice to be feeling good again this weekend and getting out for a bit of shooting with my camera once more.  The bluebells at Badbury Clump have been in peak flower this last week and an early morning sojourn to the woods found the early morning light soft and the bluebell woods to ourselves.  Perfect for a few family photos….















Friday 6 March 2015

A cruise down the waterways - our canal boat holiday on the Llangollen Canal

Do you dream of a holiday waking up with nature - bird song, fresh air, country walks and breakfasting by the riverbank?  Add to that a warm summer day and the gentle sound of water lapping against a boat and you have the perfect canal boat holiday. Last summer my family did just this and we had one of the best holidays ever.

We live in a peaceful rural Oxfordshire village - away from big cities and heavy traffic which was once the norm so it maybe surprising to hear we wanted a holiday "away from it all" - surely that's our current status quo?  But even a quiet village is not immune from everyday life trying to steal your every second of the day. The physical doorstep maybe quieter and true there are black spots of reception in the countryside but mobile calls and emails and social media pervade our lives here as much as anywhere.

So the thought of a week where we would travel the canals that meander through the northwest English and Welsh counties without computers, phones or TV's had much appeal.  As we started our journey northwards my heart sank -  the heavens opened with rain. The sort of rain that normally has you running for shelter and not venturing out again without wellies, considerable waterproofs and a jolly good reason for not remaining indoors. It may have been the first week in August but I was starting to wonder if we were facing a week of being continually soaked by the elements and destined to feel miserably damp all week. And had I packed enough warm and waterproof clothing?  I can even confess to feeling slightly smug that we had booked the following week in Greece for guaranteed back-to-back sunshine to recover from what was increasingly looking like a once in a lifetime experience - not to be repeated under any circumstances!

Travelling up the M6 is not my favourite route on the best of days but 5 hours later we arrived at the marina to pick up our canal boat from Pea Green Boats.  One day we will learn to stick to the plan and set off early! Already the sun was now breaking through and it turned out to be a glorious week of summer weather. Our boat - The Owl - was perfectly proportioned for our family of three with a comfy double bed, a pull out bed for our son and best of all a hot shower and flushable loo onboard!  After some basic instruction and hands-on guidance through the first lock we were off on our week's adventure.  The peace and quiet was immediate and as the sun began to fall lower in the sky, the sounds of birdsong and the gentle, rhythmic motion of The Owl making its way down the canal we could feel our bodies physically relax.  The red wine on board probably helped a bit too.

Mooring up for our first night - we made our own dinner on the boat and played a few board games.  There was a TV on board but no reception - perfect;  a week oblivious to anything happening in the world at large. We watched a DVD before turning in for the night - Wind in the Willows with the wonderful and sadly departed Rik Mayall as the charming Mr Toad. We slept well all week and thoroughly enjoyed our week on the boat. The slow pace of life was just what we needed and the scenery was beautiful - of course I had packed my camera to capture it all.  Would we do it again?  Absolutely - not least as we didn't make it to the Viaduct at the end of the canal so we have a challenge to return to see that.  If you are looking for  holiday with a difference then look no further than a week on a canal boat.

While a strong arm is required for some of the locks it well worth the effort and our son thoroughly enjoyed helping out (do make sure children wear their life jackets at all times when out in the open).  I took on steering the boat through the locks and was quite proud to find I mastered it with ease, once I'd worked out which way to steer the tiller. There is the hydraulic lock at Wrenbury (which also has a great little shop for provisions if you run short just 5 mins from the canal) as well as the little village of Marlbury with its church, pub and lake if you want to stretch your legs off the boat.  The tow paths are also right there for a walk along the canal and in late summer/Autumn provide an abundance of brambles for crumble pies and custard!

A good sprinkle of pubs offer meals and a pleasant place to sit out on a summer evening if you want a change of scene from your boat, and if your lucky you'll also capture a sunset or two.

Essential items to pack - games, books and custard!  Leave the mobile at home…. you won't get a call all week!






























Canal boats holidays are available on the all the canal waterways in England and Wales.  We booked our trip along the Llangollen canal through Pea Green Boats where you are assured a warm welcome from Nic and Mike   http://www.peagreenboats.co.uk/wordpress/




Judi x




Judi is a wedding and lifestyle photographer based near Oxford working mainly in Oxfordshire,  Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds but will consider commissions throughout the UK.  Working on location using natural light and countryside landscapes, Judi focuses on capturing beautiful relaxed images of you and your family using a mix of reportage and fine art style photography. Using an artistic eye Judi will not just capture your memories but create a work of art which can be presented in luxury fine art albums or as framed art or canvases to hang in your homes. 



Judi also provides services for commercial businesses including headshots, nursery and pre-school portraits as well as special events such as birthdays and christenings etc. She is a member of both The Society for Wedding & Portrait Photographers and The Guild of Professional Photographers.


More information is available on the website www.judicheckettsphotography.com or contact Judi via email

Friday 23 January 2015

Pretty summer church wedding and reception at Witney Lakes, Oxfordshire

I met Emma and Michael at Sudbury House Hotel wedding fayre back in 2013 when they were planning their wedding day.   Both were living in Faringdon, a place which holds special memories and where they were to marry so we did a lovely pre-wedding shoot up by the Folly.  They were so at ease in front of the camera I knew then this was going to be a great wedding to shoot.

They had a wonderful wedding day held on a gorgeous mid-summer day during July 2014.  After the ceremony at Faringdon Church the wedding reception was held at Witney Lakes Resort and in the evening the warm sunshine provided a perfect  "golden hour" - a term photographers use to refer to as the best time of the day for photographs where the sun is low in the sky but warm and flattering on the skin.  Even better we were able to nip out and make the most of this light is a nearby cornfield.


I hope you enjoy looking through these highlights from Emma & Michael's special day.

































If you are planning your wedding and looking for a photographer to capture your day using a mixture of documentary and fine art style then please get in touch me.


           Judi x




Judi is a wedding and lifestyle photographer based near Oxford working mainly in Oxfordshire,  Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds but will consider commissions throughout the UK.  Working on location using natural light and countryside landscapes, Judi focuses on capturing beautiful relaxed images of you and your family using a mix of reportage and fine art style photography. Using an artistic eye Judi will not just capture your memories but create a work of art which can be presented in luxury fine art albums or as framed art or canvases to hang in your homes. 



Judi also provides services for commercial businesses including headshots, nursery and pre-school portraits as well as special events such as birthdays and christenings etc. She is a member of both The Society for Wedding & Portrait Photographers and The Guild of Professional Photographers.


More information is available on the website www.judicheckettsphotography.com or contact Judi via email