Wedding Photographer in St. Lucia - Bill Mortley Photography

Ruth Francom Testimonial

2010-06-10T05:18:00.000-04:00

Hi Bill

Thought I would drop you a line to let you know how happy we are with the photos and the really positive comments we have had from our family and friends. Am looking forward to getting the album sorted as the possibilities with it looked great.
Unfortunately other couples were not so happy with the hotel photographer, Dave and I talked to a couple who got married the day after us and they were so disappointed with there pictures,and had been told that they could not have there own photographer and would have to marry elsewhere if they wanted this and more negative comments on Trip Advisor about the same.

We are so pleased with the pictures and keep looking at them, I know we will treasure them for a long time, despite being hot and uncomfortable at the time am grateful for your persistence and encouragement.

Dave and I are preparing some comments for Trip Advisor and are happy to alert people of the poor photography service provided by the hotels. Happy to help in any way we can, so let us know if there is anything we can do to help.

Bye for now
Ruth Francom

Perfect wedding and holiday

2009-05-22T02:56:00.002-04:00

Reprinted from Trip Advisor

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147344-d589407-r29859935-Almond_Morgan_Bay_Beach_Resort-Gros_Islet_St_Lucia.html#REVIEWS

Almond Morgan Bay Resort

My husband and I travelled to St Lucia alone to get married and a fab 10 night stay at the resort.
On arrival we took the helicopter transfer which we booked a little nervously as I was worried about what would happen to our luggage, however St Lucia Helicopters were very professional and they take you luggage separately and we had no problem whatsoever - when you land at the heli pad they also provided a free taxi to the resort - certainly recommend it - especially if you’re getting married - pull out all the stops!

Joanne & Richard Collins

As we arrived into the resort about an hour before everyone else our room wasn't quite ready however we soon found that the pool bar was open and they had set up a TV in the sunset lounge (open air) with the football (soccer) on showing the Champions league games.
Our room was 743 which was on the 3rd floor and was right next to the pool. The room was beautiful, clean and spacious - it was really handy having British and US plugs - no need for an adapter and the voltage meant that my hair strengtheners worked ( I know the girls reading this will find this valuable info! Sorry boys!) The only tip I would say is take more coat hangers as these are few and far between!
Food wise we had no problem with choice, however the standard and service was hit and miss - however that said we never once had a problem with any of the waiters - all friendly and helpful.

Bar service was great and we can recommend the BBC cocktail (baileys, Banana and Coconut cream) and we would like to say thanks to Emmanuel - he was always happy and we find this adds to the enjoyment of any holiday. The nightlife is as expected - low key - but this is why we went to the Caribbean - to relax.
The beach is as the resort description small - but uncrowded (and we were there for part of the Easter Holidays) the water isn't crystal clear - but that's not to say it is dirty, it's just the sand!!! I think people the people that are complaining about the water quality have never seen the North sea?!
Trips - we joined the Joy's cruise from on the beach $80 (US) per person and loved it - thank you Joy for the surprise wedding cake that you prepared for us.

Wedding:
Just the two of us and I have to say the paperwork side of things was hassle free and just what it should be. Jessica the wedding coordinator arranged for the minister to come to the resort a couple of days before the wedding and basically that was it!

We decided to get married in the Gazebo - before we left we were determined to get married on the beach however the location is not what you want - people eat BBQ food around it every day and to us it just didn't feel quite special enough. We went for a walk to both locations when we arrived and once we set eyes on the views from the gazebo instantly we knew it was the place for the big day - Jessica was only too happy to switch the location for us.
I got the free manicure offered by Virgin - I have natural nails and let me say ladies - do them yourself and spend the hour with your fiancé instead! Not great - luckily it was free!
I had my hair done the morning of the wedding at the salon and was happy with the service. My fiancé was given a room free of charge for a few hours on the morning to get changed which was really good of them to arrange - speak to Jessica and she will point you in the right direction.
The day itself was PERFECT and fab. We used Bill Mortley wedding photographer as recommend by other brides - he was extremely professional and worked very hard to get every shot he could – he is full of excitement and vision. He persuaded us to get dressed again the day after our wedding and drove us, at no extra cost to the Pitons and the botanical gardens to take more photo's... he even introduced me to a US custom of "trashing the dress" - yes I went into the sea in my dress.......... x
Finally - thank you to Anthony the Virgin rep - we would have missed our flight home if it wasn't for your help,
love Mr and Mrs. Collins xx

Our Fairytale Wedding

2009-05-21T14:10:00.003-04:00

A fairytale wedding is hardly complete without the perfect photographer. One who not only goes by the books, capturing every precious moment of the occasion but who's enthusiasm to the job transcends though professionalism, creating a blissful atmosphere that is most of all, conducive to just about the best wedding memoirs one could wish for.

Bill Mortley is one of those photographers that set subjects at ease. John Walsh and Holly Walsh, who worked in the Corporate Asset Finance banker found that out when they set off to St Lucia for their tropical destination wedding.
John was a manager a CPA London and Holly worked in the Corporate Asset Finance banker division for Lloyds TSB, a Major Bank in the London. They'd met at a bar randomly through mutual friends. Conversations progressed rapidly from that initial meeting and one year later, they moved to London from their hometown Jersey, together.
"I chose to share my life with John because he is perfect in every way," said Holly.

"Holly "is an absolutely stunning, beautiful woman", John says.
Once they'd moved in together, the couple engaged within 10 weeks. They settled on a destination wedding, and later, on the lush isle of St Lucia.
"Our flight from London while fine, was a bit stressful. As soon as we arrived at the Resort we just chilled out and relaxed for the whole week before the wedding. We wanted the day to be really special and we brought along a wedding party of family and friends to ensure it would be."

Holly and John agreed that the outstanding beauty of the island had drawn them in. They'd never been to St Lucia before but heard reviews that the island was "simply stunning."
"St Lucia is beautiful, we've been able to verify that for ourselves. We looked at so many venues and St Lucia is the one that really stuck out. We chose Almond Morgan Bay after seeing the photos of the property and reading reviews on Trip Advisor. We decided that was the ideal place for our "perfect day,"

The soon to be newlyweds tied the knot on May 9th at Almond Morgan Bay. John looked absolutely thrilled as he watched daughter Courtney Ember Walsh, 12-years-old and one of the bride's maids, walk down the aisle. After the wedding he said he'd been excited, as his daughter Courtney just loved the island.
Twenty-four family members and friends were present for the nuptials, including John's parents Margaret and John, Holly's brother Dean who represented her father who passed away recently, and also gave her away. Other attendees included Holly's cousin Lindsey, John's Mother Marian and her best friend Pauline, John's Best man Dean, and groomsman Ross and friends.

The facilities at Almond Morgan Bay far exceeded John and Holly's expectations. They particularly loved the location and view of the wedding gazebo where they were married, and were "absolutely delighted" with the cuisine at their dinner that evening.

Destination Weddings & Planning

2009-05-21T14:09:00.000-04:00

So, you have decided to plan a destination wedding! Congratulations, you are making a choice to have a wedding that will be both an adventure and a unique experience. Most destination weddings are planned “from afar” which means that the couple will have a bit of organization and work to tackle long before they leave for their trip.

One thing that all professional wedding planners suggest to anyone hoping to have a destination wedding is to do a little comparison shopping before signing any contracts. Destination weddings are incredibly popular and they can range from very traditional, full-size events to incredibly small and intimate affairs. Regardless of size, however, they all require the same decisions, events and plans.

This means that there should be a realistic price range for most destination wedding venues, and if budget is a concern it would be best to inquire at a few resorts, hotels and locations before making a choice. Because the planning is going to be done from another location, it is best to work with a hotel like Almond Morgan Bay Resort, or facility that specializes in weddings or to hire a local wedding planner.

Consider the following: the couple planning a destination wedding is going to need to arrange for all of their “hometown” paperwork and documentation, find and book an official who can legally marry them at the destination, schedule the location for the ceremony, locate and reserve the reception hall, arrange for beverage and meal services, find entertainment or a DJ, schedule the photographer and make arrangements for their honeymoon. Now, that is standard business for any wedding, but the couple planning a destination wedding will need to do all of this via the phone, fax and email. Clearly they are going to need local support, and this is the reason that a local wedding coordinator or planner should be considered.

“The perfect wedding!”

2009-05-21T14:06:00.003-04:00

Reprinted from Tripadvisor.com
Almond Morgan Bay Beach Resort: The perfect wedding!

A party of eight of us ranging in age from 6 to 66 went out to St Lucia for our wedding. The hotel really had something for everyone- quiet adults only pools, a kids pool with slides, pool table , table tennis and kids club, and great entertainment in the evening, that impressed us all by its high quality. Not to mention a good range of watersports that are part of the package.

In our second week we got married. The day was really relaxed and everything ran smoothy. We should mention our fantastic photographer Bill Mortley who is a resident of the island- he took so much time and care to capture every moment of our day. He is both a perfectionist and real professional- we are absolutely delighted with our photos. Anyone considering a wedding in St Lucia should visit his website. He was substantially cheaper than the hotel photographer, and having met a disappointed bride who had taken up the hotel photographer, we were so pleased that someone had recommended him to us before we went.

All in all our two weeks were pretty much perfect- just a bit more rain than we had expected. Our top tips for getting married at this hotel would be 1. The gazebo is a much more private location to get hitched than the beach- its quite public. 2. Pay the extra to have a steel band play - it was well worth it for the great ambience it created. 3. Check out the photographer we recommended above, rather than just going with the hotel one.

Sara & Greg Musson exchange vows at Coconut Bay

2009-05-20T21:22:00.003-04:00

From every indication, April 8th, 2009 was going to be a delighful day. Sara and Greg Musson, along with her Mom Rae, best friend and Bestman Kat, Don and Patricia - Greg's Mom and Dad, bridesmaid Becky and several other family members traveled from Canada to witness and celebrate Sara & Greg's special day. The showers started about 3:00pm while everyone was getting dressed and continued through the ceremony and reception.
The following day the couple got dressed again and traveled to the botanical gardens in Soufriere to shoot the formal photos. The following photos will gave you an idea how that went.

Happy Coconut Bay Bride

Reprinted from www.tripadvisor.com

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g652398-d534892-r28952525-Coconut_Bay_Resort_Spa-Vieux_Fort_St_Lucia.html

18 of us traveled to Coconut Bay for our wedding this month.
I read lots and lots of reviews (negative and positive) for all aspects of the trip. From the resort itself to tour companies to wedding venues/photographers.

Our rooms were on the harmony side and I pretty much stayed to that side of the resort. We found it to be very quiet even though the resort was full. The harmony side beach/pool area was nice and relaxing not having any kids running around.

Yes, the beach does have seaweed, so what! Just walk 10minutes down the beach and it was absolutely gorgeous with no seaweed. We frequently swam in the ocean and didn't find it to be too rough. We just wished Coconut Bay offered water sports. That would be one reason why we would look into staying at another resort.

The food was OK and this is coming from an extremely picky eater. I never went hungry! I loved Bellagios, but wasn't big on Silks. We often ate at the grill since it offered quite a bit of food that we all liked. The bar service in the main lobby was painfully slow but quick at all the other bars. The girls loved "H" and Junius.

We opted to tour with serenity tours instead of the tour desk at coconut bay. I liked that they personalized the tours and you could do it with just your group, not a bunch of strangers. AND it was CHEAPER than the hotel! John was fast in returning messages and we loved Sherma's energetic personality.

And now the reason we went there for...The Wedding!

Greg lost his footing while posing for the camera at the beach in Laborie

While ideally I would've liked to of gone of property for the wedding I took the easy way out and stayed at Coconut Bay. Jeanelle worked very hard to make sure everything was gorgeous and perfect. I just wanted something simple, quick and laid back. I picked the colours and then left everything else to her!

However when it came to the pictures I wasn't the easy to deal with! After talking to other brides on here and hearing about their experiences I decided I did not want to use Coconut Bay's photographers. Don't be fooled into paying them the $US500 they want for you to bring another photographer on property! Its a gimmick to force you to use theirs!
I was hunted down and quizzed about why I wasn't using them. All that did was make me glad to have not picked them and annoyed they wasted an hour of my time.

After careful consideration we narrowed it down to two photographers, then decided to go with Bill Mortley. When it came down to the final 2 the deal maker was that Bill was willing to take us off property at no additional charge! He said he would take pictures till we quit and he was good to his word. Being beautiful is exhausting work! lol

Not thinking about the sun setting so early I picked a 4:00 wedding time so that didn't leave time to leave the resort that day. Bill spent the afternoon with us and then came back the next morning to take us to multiple locations. And we made him work! Probably drove him nuts as well. But he never lost patience with any of us and we kept him laughing! Unlike what I read about some other photographers, Bill listened to our suggestions even when I wanted to start 4 hours earlier than he did! I think he was more panicked about my dress than I was after I feel into the ocean.
Bill went above and beyond to ensure we have gorgeous pictures and hundreds of them to choice from.
We love our pictures and enjoyed our time with Bill.
Hopefully we will be using him again for another wedding....he just has to find a man for my bridesmaid!

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

Brides or anyone wanting to get some great pics: www.billmortleyphotography.com

Weddings Far From Home

2009-05-20T21:13:00.000-04:00

Many weddings take place in either the bride or groom’s home town. This is very traditional and can make for a wedding that is full of family fun. There are also weddings that take place far from the hometowns of the bride and groom, and these are usually destination weddings.

Some couples return to a meaningful place, such as the resort where they met or the scene of their first kiss to exchange vows and officially get married, and quite often this is a location that is neither “local” or nearby.

Some people worry that such a wedding may not be valid, but the fact of the matter is that a wedding is validated only by the documentation required back at home. This means that if a couple takes care of all the paperwork in their hometown, they are actually officially married already, but they can still plan their formal ceremony and celebration anywhere they’d like. This is the reason that destination weddings are possible and so incredibly popular.

Weddings far from home can be as grand and formal or as small and simple as the bride and groom would like, but it does really help matters to have support from a local wedding authority. Usually many hotels and resorts offer the services of a wedding coordinator who is more than happy to help plan and arrange a wedding of almost any size.

The wedding coordinator can schedule everything from the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner to the food, flowers, and official who performs the actual ceremony. Imagine how beneficial that can be for the couple planning a wedding in a far off location where they may not even speak the language!

Planning a destination wedding must also take into account the needs of the guests who are going to have to travel in order to attend. It is best to ensure that affordably priced accommodations and plenty of travel support will be available for them upon arrival in the location where the wedding will take place.

My Wonderful Smugglers Cove Wedding

2009-05-17T11:20:00.006-04:00

Reprinted from Trip Advisor
"http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147343-d646063-r27036217-Almond_Smugglers_Cove-Castries_St_Lucia.html"

I hate to repeat what many others have said but I too was dreading to see if the negative reviews of Smugglers Cove were accurate. For all who are reading this, I can now put your mind at rest!!! Almond Smugglers Cove is the ideal Caribbean holiday resort.

We arrived at Hewanorra airport after a good Virgin flight. We upgraded to Premium Economy, which in my opinion is essential after experiencing economy on our return and flights to Vegas. We passed through immigration in about 30min, but we were quite near to the front, so felt sorry for passengers at the back. I would guess they were there for at least an 1hr 1/2. Once you’re through and have got your luggage we were asked by the local porters if we needed help with our luggage, they were friendly but quite persistent like other international airports I’ve visited. However I did very

quickly regret the decision as the desk for our Helicopter transfer was literally 20 yards through some doors on the right. We were then quickly taken and put onto the helicopter. I highly recommend the helicopter transfer and is well worth the cost. Hints: your luggage is taken by road and we received ours in resort approx 3 hrs later, so pack some underwear/swimwear in your hand luggage. A quick10 min taxi from where the helicopter touches down to Smugglers Cove.

The resort is brilliant; your first sight is the lush green, well maintained gardens. You’re then met (as everyone has said) by rum punch and a cool towel. We were then escorted to our room. We upgraded to a Superior Deluxe Beachfront Room. The room was excellent and had been decorated (as we were getting married) with rose petals on the bed, towels folded into two swans and a bottle of champagne with a huge plate of fresh fruit. The view straight onto the sea was beautiful and the huge hot tub in the bathroom - fantastic.

The resort is brilliant; your first sight is the lush green, well maintained gardens. You’re then met (as everyone has said) by rum punch and a cool towel. We were then escorted to our room. We upgraded to a Superior Deluxe Beachfront Room. The room was excellent and had been decorated (as we were getting married) with rose petals on the bed, towels folded into two swans and a bottle of champagne with a huge plate of fresh fruit. The view straight onto the sea was beautiful and the huge hot tub in the bathroom - fantastic.

Food: The food was good. I was impressed. As with other reviews, the Cove is a buffet restaurant with a good selection each day. The Italian, the Waterside and the adult’s only restaurant Cafe Enids are all a la carte. My new wife is quite fussy with food and there was always something she enjoyed too. However if you’re expecting 5 star with a massive selection, you will be disappointed (like my father was).

Wedding: The location for the gazebo for weddings is ideal. It looks over the cove and was decorated beautifully. Our wedding co-ordinator, Lorna, was brilliant. I can’t praise her enough.

Always happy, smiling and laughing. She made our wedding day the success it was. Our only little hiccup was that the register put wrong details on our marriage certificate (even though it was my job to check it). Lorna sorted the problem quickly.

Photographer: IF YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED IN ST LUCIA, YOU MUST, MUST USE BILL MORTLEY!!!
He is absolutely brilliant. I cannot praise him enough. He not only took the world’s best Wedding pictures on our big day but took us on tours around the island. This enables you to see and experience the island and all the tourist hotspots with your own personal local guide. He was born in St Lucia, and everyone knows him. He’ll take you to places like Pigeon Island, Rodney Bay, Castries, the botanical gardens with the waterfall, Marigot Bay, the Pitons and the drive through volcano in Soufriere.

Having photos of yourself touring the island adds to the magic of your wedding photos and memories that will last forever. Tell Bill if you have ideas for photo’s as he is very accomodating.

Message me if you have any questions on St Lucia, Smugglers Cove or Photographer Bill Mortley

Your Unique Wedding Day

2009-03-28T06:46:00.007-04:00

Weddings aren’t always held in religious buildings, they can occur almost anywhere. Some people get married while standing on a beach and others in decorative buildings overlooking gardens. The ceremony is totally determined by the wishes of the bride and groom. The only obligations they must meet are the legal processes that are required by the Country or State where they plan to marry.

Many couples really aim to plan a unique wedding day by holding the ceremony in a special location. This is something known as a destination wedding and is actually a huge trend in the wedding industry, especially in the Caribbean. Not only are destination wedding ceremonies unusual, the entire event, from the days leading up to the wedding to the days afterward, is incredibly memorable as well.

One way to enjoy a destination wedding is to work with a resort or hotel that specializes in them. Interestingly, there are many options all around the world for someone who wants to be married in an unusual way. A couple could get married in a Scottish castle, luxury resort in Hawaii, or on the sands of a beach in St. Lucia – it just takes a bit of planning and organization.

The great thing about a destination wedding is that all of the guests get to be part of the unique experience as well. Consider the couple getting married in the Caribbean, their guests would travel to the location a day or two ahead of time and spend the days leading up to the wedding enjoying uninterrupted time with friends and family. The day of the wedding could be marked by special meals and events and culminate in the ceremony and reception.

Even the days after a destination wedding can be extra-special as a resort or hotel organizes a farewell breakfast or brunch and then arranges for special shuttle service to a nearby airport from which all of the guests can head home.

Pregnancy and Newborn Photos - Memories in the Making

2009-03-27T11:47:00.000-04:00

We've talked quite a bit about wedding day photography. However, today we want to talk about another milestone. The photography milestone will be discussing today is childbirth.

Once you've decided that you're ready to become a parent, the process of conception and pregnancy can be overwhelming to say the least. However, this life milestone is also very beautiful and something that should be remembered for a lifetime. As such, we recommend that during the latter part of your pregnancy you should schedule an appointment with a high-quality photographer in order to capture the beauty of this time in your life.

Photographers can be very creative with pregnancy photographs, shooting you and your spouse from a variety of angles to put an artistic spin on a pregnant belly. For example, one of our favorite shots incorporates both the husband and wife. The father-to-be stands behind the mother-to-be with his hands on her bare belly. Shot in black and white or color, these photos always turn out beautifully.

Once you’ve had pregnancy photographs taken, many women elect to hire that same photographer to shoot photographs of their newborn baby after they’ve come into the world. The birth of a baby is a miracle and one of the most memorable times in life; why not immortalize that time with high quality photographs?

Photographers find it enjoyable to shoot newborn babies because they sleep so much and can be incorporated into a variety of creative and adorable photographs.

If you've never seen photographs of a newborn baby on a bear skin rug, in the palm of his or her father's hands, or better yet, resting peacefully in a basket or flower pot, you have not yet experienced all the photography has to offer.

High-quality photographers will be able to provide you with a wide variety of both pregnancy and newborn photograph options. Your photographer should be able to put together a portfolio of photographs to represent this special time in your life.

If your new baby has siblings, it's also advised that you incorporate your other children into the photographs as well. You’ll be so pleased with the outcome of your pregnancy and newborn photographs that they’re sure to become a conversation piece for years to come.

Another Trip Advisor Review...

2009-03-11T15:56:00.001-04:00

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147344-d589407-r25818544-Almond_Morgan_Bay_Beach_Resort-Gros_Islet_St_Lucia.html

Our son's wedding 18th Feb and our wedding vow renewal 21st Feb were the best days (See below for exceptions) The day of the wedding was fantastic, Bill Mortley (Photographer) found on Trip Advisor was exceptional. www.billmortleyphotographer.com Certainly good times to remember.

Laurie & Beant Hamilton Wed at Sandals Grande

2009-03-10T03:36:00.009-04:00

Your Big Day

2009-02-24T03:22:00.006-04:00

Adam & Jade Mullins, wed February 18th, 2009 at Almond Morgan Bay Resort, St. Lucia

Hi Bill,

That's it, you have been a total success - just about every female family and friend that has seen our pictures has cried!
They are totally amazing! We both thank you a million times over!
I already have people asking if you come to the UK to take their wedding photos!

I have left a report on trip adviser and put in a bit about you -
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g147344-d589407-r25584588-Almond_Morgan_Bay_Beach_Resort-Gros_Islet_St_Lucia.html

My father also wrote a report about you and said how wonderful you and your services are!

Once again Bill, our hero, thanks!!

All the best,
Adam and Jade now Mullins!!!!

Once you've fallen in love there is no limit to where your imagination can take you. Falling in love is like no other feeling in the world and when it happens to you, you begin to see visions of wedding bells and layered cakes. Once you finally reached the point your life or you're ready to say "I do" to that one special person, a whirlwind of emotions can overtake you. And when you get down to the nitty-gritty of planning your wedding, all of these emotions combined with the pressures of planning a wedding can manifest themselves into stress.

While a certain level of stress is expected when planning a wedding, it's important that you not allow the stress of the planning to overtake the emotions of the process. Planning your wedding should be one of the most truly is an auspicious occasions of your life. Whenever you find yourself becoming increasingly stressed about the process, take some time out to remember why you're getting married in the first place. Think about all the emotions of love, you feel every time you lay eyes on your special someone.

One surefire way to avoid some of the stress of planning a wedding is to enlist the help of high quality professionals. One of the most important decisions you make is who to hire as a wedding photographer. Because wedding photography is the one component of your wedding, besides your vows, that will last a lifetime, you should spend some extra time in your selection. Setting aside your major decisions first and then concentrating on the details will help to manage your stress effectively.
The big decisions to which were referring are the dress, the location, the photography, colors, the cake, and the attendants. It seems as though once the bride has selected her dress and the location of her wedding, everything else begins to fall into place. Remember, you can pull off a successful and beautiful wedding without suffering the stress so many people face during this time. In fact, many couples find that they can successfully plan a beautiful wedding and a relatively short period of time if they take it one day at a time and stay organized.
It is our recommendation that you first enlist the services of a wedding photographer and perhaps a caterer, and of course book your venue. Once you’ve made the major decisions, the details will simply be the icing on the cake.

St. Lucia Wedding Photographer

2009-02-20T17:29:00.000-04:00

Your wedding day will undoubtedly be one of the very most important days of your life. You will likely spend countless hours planning the ceremony, selecting your wedding party, making choices about colors, flowers, favors, and music. And as the big day approaches, you’re excitement will mount and you will experience an odd combination of insurmountable joy as well as stress. It’s very common for couples to look back on that happy day and be unable to remember some of the occurrences of the ceremony or the reception. With everything going on, it’s difficult to truly absorb every moment of the day. UNLESS you have a great photographer!
Your wedding photographs will truly be the level most important wedding decision you will make. You wedding photographs will live on forever, and as your memories fade, the flowers wilt, the cake get’s eaten, and favors go missing or used, and the invitations get tossed – your photographs will be the lasting mementos of your most special day. If ever you begin to forget the details of the day, or there was simply something you missed, your wedding photographs will serve as a refresher.
As they say, marriage lasts lifetime and there’s no better way to rekindle wedding day romance than to thumb through your collection of wedding photographs. As the years pass, your wedding photos will be appreciated by your children and their children, serving as reminders about the origin of your family. Your wedding photos will be a constant reminder of the love you share and the day you made it known to the world.
Selecting a wedding photographer will be one of the most important wedding day decisions you will make. It should be your goal to select a photographer who truly has an artistic vision and who also cares as much about the outcome of your photos as you will. If there’s one investment on which you should not skimp when budgeting your wedding, it’s your photographs. Your wedding photographer should be able to successfully capture the mood of the day and provide you with images that not only depict the details of your wedding, but also evoke emotions in all those who are lucky enough to view them.
Remember, your wedding photos are the one detail of the day (besides your ring of course) that will live on forever as a reminder of the joy you shared when you said “I do.” Don’t make a mistake of going cheap or relying on novice talent. You deserve experience and your love deserves vision.

Simtra & CJ's Wedding at Stony Hill

2009-02-06T08:35:00.002-04:00

Overlooking the Marina

2009-02-06T08:23:00.001-04:00

Simtra & CJ wed at Stony Hill

2009-02-06T08:11:00.002-04:00

Trip Advisor Review

2009-02-05T22:56:00.002-04:00

I just noticed this review and thought I would share it with everyone reading this blog. It is one of the best I have seen so far. I wish I could find out which couple it is so that I can post the photos alongside this review.

“Best Holiday of my life !!”
Almond Morgan Bay Beach Resort

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g147343-d589407-r19877627-Almond_Morgan_Bay_Beach_Resort-Castries_St_Lucia.html

My partner and I have just got back from our 2 week Holiday at Almond Morgan Bay in St Lucia. We were in a party of 29 as we were getting married there. You can obviously appreciate the concerns I had but I can assure you it was perfect.
We arrived late afternoon on Fri 16th May and it was a very warm and organized welcome with a delicious Rum Punch. We were able to sit and relax in the lobby which was ideal considering we had been awake nearly 24 hours. I’ve been to Cuba, Mexico and Antigua and no reception has been as organized as this one.
Our room was in Block 6, top floor right next to the beach. The rest of the party were in rooms further away from the beach/pool but they still had beautiful sea views. I believe they were in blocks 3 and 4. The rooms for a couple are very spacious and very clean. The only thing I will say is you don’t get much space to store your clothes, but I didn’t see this as a problem. Tip: Take some Clothes hangers with you if you and your partner have lots of dresses/shirts.
As a group we spent most of our time round the swim-up bar pool (Adults Only). There was only one child in our group, my niece. So my sister and brother-in-law spent the majority of their time by the kids pool (Plum Grill) or the pool next door to the swim-up bar pool, which allowed them to still mix with us. The pools are very nice, yes I can see that work could be done, but there is absolutely nothing to complain about. Some reviews have mentioned the floor being slippery, but there wasn’t 1 from our group that fell over.
The beach is beautiful, yes I’ve been to better beaches but in my opinion you can’t beat a Caribbean beach. We spent many evenings lying on a beach bed with a cocktail watching the sunset, you can’t beat it.
The water sports available were great and the staffs were even better. The first week some from the group were out on the cats twice a day, the second week was very different as it was Half Term in the UK so the resort became extremely fall with Families. But it didn’t have a great effect; we just had to book a time to use the Cats. A few of us also attempted to Water Ski for the first time, the staff were very patient and on my 5th attempt I was up and skiing, and it continued that way for the rest of the holiday. They also had Intermediate and Advanced classes. The Banana Boat was also free of charge along with the normal sports such as windsurfing, snorkeling and kayaking. All were in very good condition.
The restaurants are all very nice; my favorite for food choice was The Morgan Pier and LeJardin. But without a doubt the restaurants with the best setting was Morgan’s Pier and The Bamboo. Not one from our party got food poisoning (although some did get an upset belly but
that’s probably the amount of alcohol we drunk). The food is very rich and I can understand how some people would not like it, but the restaurants are very obliging and will serve you what you like. Some often asked for a main as a starter, and many requested something different to go with their dish i.e. Rice or Chips instead of Mash Potato. We had a few extremely fussy people in the group but even they could see the food was top quality.
The wedding was by far the best day of my life, the wedding coordinator Marilyn was lovely, she was there as I arrived at the location (The wedding Gazebo in the garden) so I can only assume was there making sure all my guests were comfortable. We had our wedding at 3 o’clock; it was still extremely hot so we purchased a Marquee so the guests could sit in the shade. I definitely wouldn’t have done it any later as it would have been a mad rush. We hired an outside photographer Bill Mortley [info@billmortleyphotography.com], I will be honest, I wasn’t sure that I’d done the right thing when we arrived as the hotel photographer was a very pleasant lady and when I called Bill to confirm all was ok, he seemed a little rude. But never judge a book by its cover, on the day he was fantastic. So precise but relaxed too. He was a lovely guy and even though my Husband and I had to crawl around the resort taking photos, it wasn’t a hindrance as he was such a pleasant guy to be around.
He arrived at my room about 2 o’clock to take photos of me getting ready, I did say to him that I would rather have photos outside in the surrounding area when I’m dressed, he said that was fine, but he still carried on snapping some pictures. Which I’m so happy he did, as they are really good and are some of my husband’s favorites. He stayed with us throughout the ceremony and until sunset which was around 6 o’clock snapping continuously. He got some striking model shots and some very beautiful natural shots. We bought all 650 photos in the end as we would never be able to decide on only 150. Without a doubt, I would recommend him as your photographer.
Even if you can get a good deal with a tour operator (i.e. Virgin) avoid it as Bill was by far the best. I was able to compare as we got a free 8×10 photo from the hotel and not 1 photo was as good as Bill’s. For the evening meal we reserved an area in The Bamboo right by the beach (Morgan Pier is closed on Fridays) and it was wonderful. The tables were set perfectly with me, my husband, my dad and the 2 best men as the head table and everyone else coming off on another 2 tables either side. The staff served us like we were the only people in the restaurant; they were extremely organized and very pleasant. After the meal we joined the nightly entertainment and we all continued the night into the Piano Bar till 2 o’clock. I didn’t expect paradise but for me it was.
My group was of mixed ages but there was a fair few in their 20s. For some of these I think the nightly entertainment was a bit placid. Yes they did go into town but this isn’t the easiest of options or the safest and I think they would say there wasn’t much to do there either. It would be ideal if there was a night club on site but you can’t have everything. At the end of the day, you make your own entertainment and that’s what we did. I would definitely recommend the sunset cruise if you’re in a couple, it was picture perfect. My friends from work booked this through Barefoot Holidays as our wedding gift. The other trip that is a must is the Virgin Catamaran Day Trip which covered all the site seeing destinations, we did this as a group and it was fantastic. People suggested going with Joy who was on the beach, he was a lovely guy but because there were so many of us we all wanted to be on the 1 boat which we couldn’t get with Joy so that’s why we went with Virgin.
We all had a fantastic Holiday and Wedding and I would not change one thing. I’m not one to return to a destination that I’ve seen, but without a doubt I will be back visiting AMB one day (hopefully I’ll be celebrating an Anniversary).

Sara & Justin Trudeau

2008-07-19T11:48:00.003-04:00

To kick off a week of real weddings, I want to share this beautiful wedding of Sara & Justin Trudeau that I shot at the Windjammer Landing Resort in St. Lucia. All of their guests traveled from the Us and UK to attend the wedding, so it served as a reunion of sorts. And with only about 40 guests, the couple was able to really spend time with everyone.

2007-10-08T13:00:00.001-04:00

First Day of Blogging

Hey Everyone!! Welcome to my first day of blogging - ever!! I am excited to add this feature to my website. I hope to share tons of experiences and new images for everyone to enjoy! Keep checking back for updates and be sure to check out my website for information.

My name is Bill and I am the founder and photographer for Bill Mortley Photography. One thing I have learned is how quickly time passes and how precious even the simplest moment can be. It is my goal to capture these moments for you and your family to enjoy for years to come. I shoot weddings at various hotels on St. Lucia, West Indies and sometimes on other Caribbean Islands. I love photographing each moment at a wedding - from the smiles to the frowns and everything in between. It is my goal to create treasured memories by providing portraits that capture the spirit and true personality. During our time together I will encourage you and your family to have fun, relax, and be yourselves.......show your true colors.

I'd like to extend a special thank you to the various couples for allowing me to be part of such a special time in their
lives.