Film Photography | Polly Alexandre Photography

Wedding Photography Ibiza Private Coaching Workshop

May 4, 2015

Are you a wedding photographer in need of some inspiration and a bit of a recharge? Do you dream of shooting high end destination weddings?

Come and join me in Ibiza for a bespoke 2 day private photography intensive coaching course. Let me help you create a successful high end photography business by addressing your specific needs. The course is tailored to cover specific points that will be most powerful and effective for your business. Have a look at the available topics or make use of a complimentary discovery session to find out how this photography intensive can help you achieve your dreams.

As a certified coach and a successful international wedding photographer I am uniquely positioned to help you take your business to new heights, build your confidence and fast track your path to success.

If you have any other questions please contact me here.

Make Up: Marie Duchar Clark // Hair: Kellie Fairfield // Styling: Daniella Tasca York //Dress: Kurru Kurru// Nails: Laura at Glam Ibiza

Lou & Rocco – An English Country Wedding

April 27, 2015

When you are a cool, edgy couple working in the entertainment industry, you don’t throw a wedding that is like anyone else’s right? No….. you stamp your own very personal style and create a celebration at home that’s full of meaning and personality, and uniquely your own: both laid-back and lively and a ton of fun!

Lou and Rocco chose Lou’s family home to host their wedding, which her parents had very kindly held onto a little longer so the couple could complete the family tradition of marrying there, before her parents sold the house and moved on. The celebrations were hosted in different locations around the gardens – from a humanist ceremony is a marquee in the apple orchard – to a lively band in the driveway.

The stars of the show – after Lou & Rocco of course – were the amazing original Doritos band off the TV advert – the Mariarchi Band. Hilarious, fun and awesome musicians to boot, these guys got the party going at full swing right from the drinks reception.

As the sun set the family released gold balloons into the dusky skies, one to mark each dear family member who had moved on, in a meaningful and poignant acknowledgement to those loved and lost, but never forgotten.

And as the balloons flow off into the sky, so this couple were about to fly off to their own new life. Lou and Rocco’s wedding was a statement of their love and marriage, a coming together of 2 happy families, and also a send off to the newly married couple who shortly after emigrated to the US to begin a new life together.

To Lou and Rocco: America is a better place for your sense of fun and personality, and I hope your have a long and happy new life together and a marriage that is filled with just as much laughter and love as the day it started. All my love xxx

Venue: Clients Home // Bride’s Dress: Pronovias // Band: Mariarchi Band

Castelo di Melato, Tuscany

April 20, 2015

This week allow yourself to be transported back to sunkissed Chianti in Tuscany, Italy. I had the privilege of visiting the enchanting Castelo di Meleto for a wedding last summer and captured the estate and surrounding area whilst I was there.

Set on a hill overlooking the Massellone Valley, the historic and elegant Castello Di Meleto is set in Chianti and has incredible views. It offers rooms and apartments with Tuscan-style furnishings, and a traditional semi restored original interior, which is wonderfully atmospheric. I love it when old interiors are not restored to within an inch of their life, and still hold some character and signs of age.

The best part? You can actually stay here without getting married! Yes, it is also a hotel, and has some gorgeous swimming pool areas with beautiful views, perfect for a summer holiday.

It truly is an authentic castle, and a taste of old Italy. As well as the stones and bib urns of flowers, it has those quintessential rows of poplar trees lining the roads and views of rolling hills and vineyards.

The wedding I shot here will soon be published on Martha Stewart Weddings. Keep your eyes open for lots of gorgeousness on their site very soon!

Cassie and Benjie – Chateau La Durantie Wedding Photography

July 16, 2014

Cassie and Benjie met through work and had a whirlwind romance. They have a great sense of fun and absolutely love each others company, partying together as well as building a life together and supporting each other. Benjie used to be a ski instructor and this sense of fun and adventure is at the heart of their relationship, and it’s a joy to witness. True to their adventurous spirit the couple even went heli-skiing in Santiago on their honeymoon.

“When Benjie and I first talked about what we wanted our wedding to be like the answer was always “it’s got to be one huge party with the people we love most in the world.”

The couple fell in love with Chateau La Durantie in Lanouaille in the Dordogne region of France. It offered them the opportunity to host a house party style wedding, with their close friends and family staying in the Chateau or nearby for the whole weekend. A traditional ceremony took place in the local church in the village before a drive through the beautiful countryside to the Chateau, with summer cocktails served on the terrace and lawns accompanied by a local jazz band. Rumour has it the night before the wedding was *almost* as much fun as the wedding itself!

“Looking back through Polly’s photos never fails make me smile. I can almost hear the jazz band playing as we sipped cocktails on the lawn and feel the warmth of the sun as it started to set across the rolling French landscape. We are blessed to have had the happiest day of our lives captured so perfectly, I hope you enjoy looking!”

To Cassie & Benjie: I wish you both a very Happy 1st Anniversary and a long and fun life together, full of adventures!

You can read more about Cassie and Benjie’s celebration on Style Me Pretty where it was featured this week. Credits: Brides Dress by Lazaro Perez; Ceremony: St Pierre es Liens; Reception Venue: Chateau la Durantie; Florist: Liza Gatenby at French Flower Style; Band: Chris Southgate

Renata and Johnny – Wedding Photography at Villa Ephrussi de Rothchild, Cap Ferrat, Cote d’Azur

June 17, 2014

I’m delighted to share this beautiful wedding, one of my 2013 highlights, with you today to mark the launch of my new redesigned blog. Renata & Johnny’s love story involves 2 jetskis, 2 cities, 1 sea urchin, 40 spikes and a hospital. You can read more about their story, and see their Ibiza pre-wedding shoot here on the blog.

The Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild is one of the most beautiful villas on the Cote d’Azur. It overlooks the Bay of Villefranche and the Bay of Beaulieu and is in one of my favourite areas of the South if France; such gorgeous coastline, so romantic; it’s a perfect choice for your wedding.

Béatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild was a strong, intellectual woman who built a dream villa and put together an exceptional collection of art and antiques.When she discovered this plot of land in 1906, Béatrice fell in love with the beauty of the spot. However, back then, it was no more than an arid rock crossed by a mule track. When she learnt that the land was for sale, she bought it immediately. It took 5 years to build the villa and when finished she used it to home her incredible collection of porcelains, paintings by the masters and furniture. She made this her winter residence from 1912 onwards and came here regularly for over ten years, during which she split her time between Paris, Monaco and Deauville. The villa is now owned by The Academie des Beaux Arts, and open to the public, as well for private hire.

Renata and Johnny got ready at the Grand Hotel du Cap, and had a private first look in their gardens, before travelling together to the Villa Ephrussi for some pre-ceremony photographs in the gardens. A beautiful and moving Jewish ceremony followed under a glamorous huppah in the centre of the gardens, and as Renata and Johnny walked down the aisle together as husband and wife, the music started and the fountains shot high into the air in celebration. Guests explored the gardens over a cocktail reception and then were seated for a beautiful outdoor dinner in the gardens. Speeches followed, live music and then a wild party to the sounds of an awesome band from Marseille, a dessert table, macaroon pyramid, lively hora dancing and yet more dancing late into the night. As you can see from the photos, the day just got more and more fun as it went on!

Want to continue dreaming?! You can see more images of Cap Ferrat here on my blog. The couple’s post wedding brunch will be coming up soon on here too…love the extended celebration that a destination wedding affords…..more time with your family and friends and a chance to really anchor in your time together.

To Mr & Mrs C: a huge congratulations to you both, wishing you all the love and happiness and shared adventures in the world. Happy 1st Anniversary! xx

Credits: Ceremony & Reception Venue: Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild; Preparation Location: Grand Hotel Cap Ferrat; Bride’s Dress: Monique Lhuillier; Evening Reception Dress: Femmes Fatales by Ella Tatarinova; Hair: Fabrice at the Grand Hotel St Jean Cap Ferrat; Groom’s Suit: Tom Ford; Florist: Ronni Fleurs; Cake: Potel et Chabot; Wedding Planner: Lavender and Rose Weddings; Stationary Suite: Louise Richardson; Videography: Allora Visuals; Wedding Story: The Wedding Reporter