I was chuffed to bits when Gill asked me to photograph her birthday party in Yateley, but I was even more chuffed when she told me she wanted ‘photobooth’ style photography with her guests being a little, well, daft!

So that’s exactly what we did! Bring on the studio lights and funky backdrop and simply insert slightly whacky guests who are prepared to show how much fun the party was. Interesting that people were increasingly whacky as the evening wore on. Must have been a good bar!

Here’s a small selection. ## The whole set is can be viewed (and downloaded for free!) by clicking here: Photographs online here ##

Ta ta for now!

The weather was great, the food was excellent and only one person was unable to make the family party due to Volcanic ash. Wendy and Hilary organised a superb family gathering at the Imperial Hotel, London, and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves, which I hope you can see from the photographs.

The party was organised with the intention of bringing together all members of the family from all over the world. I think it also coincided with a family member’s 120th birthday (not that he was there, of course!) but I was too busy taking photographs to get involved in piecing together the family tree, much as I wanted to!

Parties like this provide a great opportunity for taking photographs. Everyone is having a good time and children are naturally relaxed. But the setting was even better as the weather enabled everyone to spill outside into the park over the road.

Once outside we managed to grab some group shots (perfect for historical records!) and then some very informal shots of everyone enjoying themselves. All the children were running in and out of the fountain in the middle of the park which was great fun!

Sneak peeks below…

Some people may be filled with horror at the mere thought of turning 40, but not Nick and Caroline Lloyd, the forever-young couple who decided to celebrate their ‘coming of age’ in true class and style!

The Hampshire Court Hotel in Basingstoke was the venue for the black tie party which included fantastic entertainment from the ‘On Your Toes’ dance troop, of which Georgia Lloyd and Olivia Woods are keen members, a casino for the gambling savvy and a disco for all the dancing queens (and kings)!

The dance troop entertained us with several great numbers including a memorable routine to Supercalifragilisticexpealdocious (is that spelt right? Answers on a postcard!) which gave great credit to Karla, director of the display team.

The casino drew the crowds all hoping to convert their play money into millions and I can only apologise for my wife’s completely lucky winning streak at Pontoon, being crowned winner of the casino as she walked out with over £1,000 worth of play money (if only it were real, sigh).

After the wonderful buffet it was time for a boogie and it was great to see so many girls and guys up on the floor to a mix of disco classics!

If this night is an example of what turning 40 is all about, then bring it on I say! Caroline and Nick you have just raised the bar (or should I say, lowered it?).

Sneak peeks below.  Full slideshow at www.bonjourphotography.com/nickandcaroline.