Mimosa Photography

Mimosa Photography is run by the talented Megan Hope. We have worked together on a number of exciting shoots in recent months, the first being our Duke Mini Collection which took place in March this year. The event provided engaged couples with the perfect opportunity to see the hotel set up for a wedding, and to meet some lovely suppliers for inspiration. Meg captured the evening beautifully, focusing on each element with fantastic attention to detail.

If you would like to see our Collection from March, click here to read our ‘Magic, Music and the Mini Collection’ blog post.

Meg was also the mastermind behind our styled shoot in May, turning her vision of traditional with a touch of opulence into a reality. Meg worked closely with a selection of expert wedding suppliers to create a shoot that was visually stunning whilst also promoting local businesses. Meg was inspired by the décor of the hotel, using navy and gold for a luxurious feel that also reflects the naval heritage of the city. These colours looked exquisite together, especially when combined with the pink floral accents. As well as capturing gorgeous photographs, Meg told a story with her images in a way that allowed the day to unfold before your eyes. To view all of the beautiful photos from Meg’s shoot, click here. We think you’ll agree that the end result is something to behold!

We wanted to catch up with Meg and find out all about her business and what makes her so good at photography.

I started Mimosa Photography towards the end of 2016 after spending a couple of years working alongside Colin and Lorraine of Studio 5 Photography as their second wedding photographer.

I’ve always loved taking photographs and dreamed of becoming a band’s official photographer and travelling the world with them, but I soon realised that this wasn’t likely as the bands I’d loved whilst growing up, such as The Killers and Muse, had family or old school friends documenting their rise to fame. Wedding photography really wasn’t something I’d thought of until Colin asked me to help him out – I loved it and realised maybe I was a bit more girly than I thought. Colin and Lorraine always encouraged me that photography was the way forward and have been so supportive and helpful, I could never thank them enough.

I’d completed GCSE and A level photography at school, but chose not to take the university route preferring to get a job and take some evening classes instead. I did, and this is how I met Colin and Lorraine when I joined their photography and photoshop classes. After a few years, as well as continuing my learning, I helped out with the beginner’s classes. I’m not really that academically minded, preferring the creative side of things and have learnt my preferred style of photography ‘on the job’. When I decided that maybe it would be a good idea to branch out on my own, I attended a few workshops with Amber who owns Liberty Pearl Photography and these proved to be invaluable when setting up. Amber is a fantastic business woman and enthuses people with her knowledge sharing. (Amber in fact recommended Meg to us, what a treasure!)

It’s hard to pick a favourite part to be honest. I love meeting couples at wedding fairs, chatting through their plans with them and helping to put their ideas together as well as coming up with suggestions. I enjoy the bridal preparation part of the day, joining in the morning’s fun. Sometimes I get asked to help out with tricky parts on the bride’s dress or I’ll volunteer to iron something if the need arises, I really am very hands on! This time also gives me an opportunity to capture some detailed shots of dresses, shoes, etc. It’s then great to see everyone arriving and capturing the joy throughout the rest of the day. Oh, I love a confetti shot!

I like to describe my style of wedding photography as natural, chic and romantic. I like to use natural light where possible as well as incorporating nature’s surroundings which can often produce a lovely frame for an image. Although I enjoy doing the more posed or portrait shots, I love capturing the candid moments during the day which I hope bring a smile or tear (of joy) to the viewers.

Not that I can think of no. When I first took pictures of a couple’s pet at a wedding, I thought that was a little different. However, the last two weddings I’ve covered have both wanted portraits of them with their dogs and I actually now think it’s lovely for the couple to include their much-loved family pets. Not sure what I would think about photographing anyone’s pet reptile though!

The Mini Collection had been organised by the team at Duke of Cornwall to provide suppliers with an opportunity to meet couples and chat about what they could provide to help make their day special. For me, photographing the event, it gave me the opportunity to meet with some of the area’s wedding businesses. It’s a lovely event for couples to attend and as for businesses, you can never do too much networking. I’m often asked by couples about wedding suppliers and it’s always a good feeling to be able to recommend someone you are familiar with and think would fit in with the couple perfectly.

Above images: A luxe Winter Wonderland styled shoot

I adore a styled shoot, so was thrilled when Toni and Leila gave me the opportunity to work alongside their team at The Duke of Cornwall. I’d never organised one myself before but knew when I’d been on Amber’s workshops that this was something I would like to be part of. Walking through the doors of the hotel, you’re thrown back in time to the hotel’s ostentatious past. Thankfully saved from being destroyed like so much of Plymouth, the Duke of Cornwall has retained its original features, luxe and charm. I wanted to create a shoot that would reflect this and the began first to think of colour schemes choosing navy (maybe subconsciously thinking of the city’s marine history) which classically contrasts so beautifully with blush shades of pink, accented with gold for that luxurious feel. All beautiful and timeless colours for weddings. Showcasing what wedding suppliers had to offer in and around the Plymouth area was important to me and I found myself working alongside such creatively talented people. Their generosity in not only supplying their exquisite products, but also their time, was overwhelming and provided the shoot with my envisaged elegance. We included a number of different areas, both inside and outside of the hotel, to capture the feel of how our bride and groom’s day unfolded, from bridal preparation in one of the hotel’s sumptuous bedrooms through to the wedding breakfast in the ballroom where the table settings, cake and stationery were the stars of the show.

I’ve got all sorts of ideas floating around in my head at the moment. The more I become involved in weddings, the more I adore every part of a couple’s big day. Since the hotel’s shoot, I’ve completed another styled shoot and am planning some for early next year. I’m designing a website based business aimed at weddings which I’m busy working on now, I can’t say too much about it as yet, but I’m planning to spend time during the quieter winter months getting this up together. Also, I own an old Citroen HY van and after several years getting this renovated and converted, she’s finally nearing completion. In fact, this is where the name for my business, Mimosa, originated. The idea for the van is for use as a cocktail/gin bar at events, especially weddings. When trying to come up with a name, Mimosa was one I fell instantly in love with, being the name of a champagne/citrus based cocktail as well as the beautiful, exotic and aromatic tree with its bright yellow or delicate pink blossoms. It seemed to fit with the name for my photography side of things too.

Hopefully, by now, readers will understand how much I love photographing all things wedding related and I’d like to emphasise the importance of this if they are looking to book a photographer for a wedding or an event. Obviously, working within their budget and looking at examples of previous work are extremely important, but I would encourage all couples to meet face-to-face, or maybe Skype, with their photographer before making a final decision. It’s so important that everyone gets on well enabling the couple to relax as much as possible and for the photographer to gain their trust.

Above images: Styled shoot in Cornwall

Thank you so much to Meg for taking the time to talk to us. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Mimosa Photography!

All suppliers featured in the Duke Mini Collection in March were:
Venue – The Duke of Cornwall Hotel
Photographer – Mimosa Photography
Flowers – Flourish
Chair covers and sashes – Celebration Balloons and Events
Cake – Cut me off a Slice
Stationery – Anon Design
Uplighting and Overhead Fairy Lights – Imattination
Entertainment – The Carlton Big Band
Magician – LB Magic UK
Videographer – Soundview Media
Pianist – Roger Miners

All suppliers featured in the stylised shoot:
Venue – The Duke of Cornwall Hotel
Photographer – Mimosa Photography
Videographer – Focused Memory Productions
Florist – The Secret Garden Flowers
Dress, Chair Covers and Sashes – The Wedding Hub
Dress – Rock The Frock Bridal
Necklace – Lavish Lockets
Cake – Centrepiece Cake
Stationery – Anon Design
Headpiece – The Lucky Sixpence
Sequin Table Cloths – The Pretty Accessory
Hair Stylist – No4 Hair
Make Up – Chloe Jane Make Up
Female model – Emily Ball
Male model – Stuart Mcintosh