Lights... Cameras... Action

10 February 2025 (Monday)

What an appalling night's sleep I had… I was woken around 2am by noise in the street and didn't really get back to slumber time until after I’d heard five bongs of our chiming clock, and as I was to be driving down to the Great Green Barn for an important styled sustainable weddings photo shoot and would be leaving home by 7am… when the alarm went off in time for me to hear six bongs I really hadn't had enough sleep for the day.  However, I had to get up, get ready and get on with the day.

The drive went OK.  I listened to the Today programme on Radio 4 and how one bishop is being thoroughly open in her belief that another bishop who’s about to be anointed as the new Archbishop of Canterbury is, in her opinion, unfit and unwelcome in the job. Just like the last archbishop, he appears to have a history of burying certain unpleasant happenings under the carpet.  I was somewhat surprised when another bishop, who was interviewed later in the program and I'm sure we’d all expect to have Christian leanings, commented that the dissenting bishop is no longer a friend of his.... He didn't say this in so many words, though he did say that he hoped they’d be friends again one day, which for me is the same thing.  Christianity, as most organised religions, is something which I don't understand nor adhere to.  Fortunately, I can be kind, thoughtful, understanding, forgiving and generous without a doctrine, I just needed my parents to bring me up right, which they did!

So, back to the drive… It was pretty easy, though as per usual there was a delay getting off the M25 at the Wisley junction (Nightmare Junction it should be renamed!), further delays going through Guildford as there was a set of temporary lights at roadworks where no-one (except lots of drivers and passengers) was to be seen, and I didn't get to the Great Green Barn until just after 9am… yet another two hour drive, and I am so thankful for Radio 4!

As I got near the end of Upper House Lane, turned in on the right and parked up on the shingled side courtyard between Small Barn (where Vanessa currently lives) and the Great Green Barn I noticed through the vast glass doors that there were already sundry people in the body of the barn.  I’d meet them all soon enough, though first, and most importantly, I went into Vanessa's to make myself a cup of tea; there was no way I was going to carry on with my work work day without at least another modicum of tea inside of me.

The day continued swiftly, with lots of introductions as I entered the barn and as others arrived…  Zoe Mills, our calm and hugely talented photographer who I already knew as she’s done various shoots for us before (including last year’s Winter Wassail where she took my favourite photo in the barn so far - today may likely change that!).  There was also Helen who’s the most delightful celebrant, person and terrific organiser, Claire of Plant Passion doing amazing seasonal flower displays and bouquets including beautiful, delicate hellebores, Claudia of Green Box Bakery with that delicious cake (!), Tanya of TH Design Studios who creates the most amazing and intricate bespoke stationery, Mel and Tracey doing fabulous hair and makeup to make our models even more gorgeous and handsome than they already are… and lastly, though by no means least the said gorgeous and handsome models Danielle of Blooming Love Stories, Sarah  of Beyond the Brief, and Eres of Atlantean Life.  It became clear I was amidst a bunch of true professionals in their fields, each knowing what was needed for them and for all, and how to get it!​

Of course, at a photoshoot there’s always a need for hires and props, so as well as the vast amount of items Vanessa has to hand, and elements brought by those taking part today, we had some hires from AB Event Hire in Woking, bridal dresses from Catherine’s Bridal in Horsham, a light and floating dip dye evening gown (shown above) from Lucy Can’t Dance, and a fabulous suit from Dapper in Dorking. Oh, and there were a few cocktails from Mandira’s Kitchen of Guildford, just to set the scene!

Now, having worked in theatre and events for many, many years I’ve run many photo shoots in my time; Cliff Richard and Helen Hobson in a studio near Angel (Islington) for the main graphics for Heathcliff the Musical, and an immediate post-Atlantic flight shoot for Lynn Redgrave in Shakespeare for My Father at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, to pre-production studio shoots of quickly costumed actors for publicity images used to promote a show for months or more prior to rehearsals even starting; and then of course the many, many production shoots on theater stages around the country, and on Broadway, running three or four scenes from myriad productions several times for photographers from the main national and regional press to either publicise the show prior to opening or sit alongside reviews following Press Night. As an organiser, it's not something that’s particularly easy, though at the same time it's not rocket science! The most important thing is to know what the right shots are that you need, and ensure they are got… and when you’re working with professionals, well, the job is much easier.

So, the good thing about today is having so many professionals in their individual fields knowing what is needed, especially with sustainable weddings which will be the only weddings allowed at the Great Green Barn.  You see, I’m not a regular wedding attendee, so I was very glad others knew what today’s style choices and arrangements for weddings are, and for the Gen Z brigade in particular (sweetheart tables… who knew?).  

I was delighted that with so much knowledge and talent in the barn, others took charge and got from the long day all that was needed; it was to be a micro shoot, giving a taste of all that these amazing sustainable suppliers have to offer, and of course the backdrop of it all were the walls, and the floor and the ceiling and the ambiance of the Great Green Barn.

So, once all the shots and setups were agreed, I got on with my day and kept on dipping in and out whilst sorting out all the other jobs I needed to do.  Vanessa was on hand in the barn should anything be needed, and with a few members of her team and me popping in and out the day went incredibly well, albeit being rather tiring for some.

So, I got on with the many other jobs I needed to do whilst I was down at For Earth’s Sake and the Great Green Barn: changing prices on the scales and on the till to ensure that we sell products at more than we buy them for; working alongside Vanessa's new personal assistant who started in the role a few weeks ago, showing her the ropes on a number of regular tasks that are really in my wheelhouse of teaching; ensuring that we processed through an order with Suma so that we had the right amount of goods on the shelves to be able to sell to our customers once shop opened on the Wednesday; informing people about the local village shopping hubs that we’d be collecting empty shopping bags from on the Wednesday to deliver back full shopping bags on Thursday; plus a host of other minor jobs that are best sorted on site rather than at my desk.

And so the day wore on…

As the light began to fade in the late and the shots required were all ticked off, people began to collect the tools of their trades, and props and returns and wend their ways home.  Vanessa, Zoe and I sat down for a quick debrief and had some tea and warm scones (there had been an Afternoon Tea micro-shoot, so of course we needed the goodies for that which came from the lovely Ellie of Figs Bakery who supplies these for the monthly afternoon teas in the Great Green Barn).

All in all a great day!

The drive home was not too bad, and by 7.30 I came through our front door to a heavenly smell… Richard had made a vegan Lasagne, and god it was rather fabulous… and leftovers for tomorrow!!!​

Weather:  Wet… and cold - both in London and Shamley Green.

Breakfast:  Bran Sticks, yogurt, oat milk, and a few freeze-dried pineapple pieces
Lunch:  Half a round of cheese sandwiches and two scones with butter (photoshoot food!)
Supper:  Vegan Lasagne ( ie, no cheese!) - made by Richard and bloody delicious!