I was fortunate to photograph Jimmy Choo following a wedding where he made a pair of wedding shoes for his friend the bride, and now I am very honoured to have this Jimmy Choo photograph in the National Portrait Gallery Archive in London.
Jimmy Choo was born in Malaysia into a family of shoemakers and graduated from college in Hackney London. Jimmy is known for his celebrity clients and designer shoes. However, Jimmy Choo’s shoes, bags, and perfume that are now on the high street and in the big West End stores are from the company that Jimmy Choo sold his 50% stake in, in 2001 for £10 million! Jimmy now concentrates on a very personal business where he designs directly for clients in high-end couture. Jimmy Choo was awarded an OBE in 2002, and girls and women around the world continue to covet owning a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes!
As a Berkshire wedding photographer, I am recommended by many of the most prestigious venues in London and the UK. One such venue is the stunning Danesfield House set on beautiful grounds in Marlow-on-Thames, Buckinghamshire. This is one of my favorite wedding venues and most recently hosted the celebrity wedding of American actor George Clooney.
On the day of the wedding, I arrived to photograph the bride getting ready. Her stunning designer dress was hanging up and she looked beautiful as her hair and make-up were perfectly styled. As the bride got ready she was very eager to share her most precious wedding gift and bridal outfit accessory, a pair of bespoke handmade shoes designed by Jimmy Choo – truly a thing of beauty, and I’m a man!
The couple had a wonderful day with their families and guests and I captured the events naturally so that they had an album of beautiful storytelling images that they could treasure for a lifetime, remember those precious moments and relive the emotions of the day. The couple posed for some bridal portraits and her dress and shoes were captured in all their glory!
After the wedding and the couple had received their album the bride got back in touch with me and asked if I could possibly meet with her and Jimmy Choo at his shoe studio in Connaught Street London called Jimmy Choo Couture and photograph them together with her shoes. Well, as you can imagine, I did not need to think twice, of course, I would, what an opportunity.
Jimmy Choo niece Lucy Choi
( Note the shop is now called Lucy Choi London. Lucy is the niece of Jimmy who grew up watching her Uncle Jimmy making luxury shoes. The lure of the family foot ware business was always there and now she has her own shop in Connaught St )
On the day I met the bride at Jimmy Choo’s and took the Jimmy Choo Photo at his exclusive London couture shop hidden away in central London. I can tell you that he was totally charming and so unassuming. He greeted us so warmly and was happy to pose for the photographs, including some portrait shots. Jimmy took up position in front of my camera with of course a pair of shoes and an enigmatic smile – perfect! He then poured us a glass of champagne before taking us out for lunch, such a generous and warm gentleman, it truly was a pleasure to meet him. During the meal a young lady spotted him and asked if she could have his autograph, he took a napkin drew her a pair of shoes, and signed his name, she was overwhelmed.
Although my work is predominantly weddings I still enjoy portraiture especially when I can photograph a celebrity person like Jimmy Choo in his natural environment where they are relaxed and their true character can be captured candidly.
As with a lot of my work, I love the way Jimmy Choo’s image looks in black and white, his eyes pull you in and you can’t help smiling back at him.
https://www.jimmychoo.com/en/homeJimmy Choo Shoes
Jimmy choo at the National Portrait Gallery
Born in Penang, Malaysia, into a family of shoemakers, Choo created his first shoe at the age of twelve. His father taught him that every shoe is a unique work of art. This belief has led him to create some of the most coveted footwear in the world. In his early twenties, Choo moved to London, to study at Cordwainers’ Technical College (now the London College of Fashion), later working from a studio in Hackney. His reputation grew, and by the mid-nineties, his couture designs were worn by royalty and celebrities. In 1996 he expanded the business into ready-to-wear collections, designed by his niece Sandra Choi, with the flagship Jimmy Choo store opening in London in the same year. Although he sold his stake in the company in 2001, Choo continues to make couture shoes. He was awarded an OBE in 2003 and in his native Malaysia he holds the title of Honorary Dato, equivalent to a British knighthood.
You can purchase a copy of this Jimmy Choo photograph print here………..https://markseymourphotography.co.uk/art-photography-1/
If you are interested in wedding photography please contact me directly on 07786 377197 or via my contact page
Buy a print of Jimmy Choo
If you would like your own print of Jimmy Choo please contact me and I will be pleased to print and send to you
