Friday Night Confessionals.......September you're here!

Feeling grateful…….

So as I sit here Friday Sept 17th, FINALLY writing a Friday night confessional for what feels like the first time in forever (I realise I have started and not completed about 3 others over the last 3 weeks!! - Not from lack of wanting!) I am thrilled to share just a snippet of recent work which will be updated in the galleries soon and in the meantime here is a sprinkling of the fantastic clients I’ve had the pleasure to create imagery for :-)

OK, short and sweet :-) Happy Friday everyone xx

Friday Afternoon Confessionals.......

I still have the best job in the world....

When you get to work, ok I lie, when you get to spend the afternoon in a super stunning setting, basically falling in love with it AND then you get to create what you love to do, your heart sings + you feel full of positive vibes…that. Embrace that, smile, breathe it all in and then get to work….

Flowers √

Fresh Air √

Soft Light √

Amazing Client √√

Cute Model √

Texture √

Amazing Details √

ummm… my list is actually pretty endless lol

Textures, subtle colour, intricate details…..beautiful light. It is always amazing to observe a space as the light changes and witness how it’s look and feel changes too, the images below are a great example of this, strong shadows, bright light..

A certain ‘drama’ is added when shadows get involved, whether softer or a little starker.

Have an AMAZING weekend everyone!!! xx

Friday round up :-)

Goodness, it’s been a week that feels more like a year x

So sometimes we pottle along with life, we get caught up in things, busy with work or time just seems to slip past, fly away or you blink and you’ve missed a month (or two!)

Being March 1st, I have actually scratched my head wondering quite where February went - this year I am very consciously working on more of a life / work balance - over the last 3 years I have enjoyed being massively busy but that comes with the flip side of not catching up with friends, seeing family or hanging out as much as you would like and seeing someones face is awesome.

I’ve said recently, many times, that I will post more this year bcos quite frankly last year I barely took a breath let alone posted very much and I intend that to change but more now, today I have to change that bcos I miss that connection (this now feels like a Friday night confessional lol) and I’m going to hang out, see friends, go to a supper club or three and ahh breathe. It’s funny how subtly the balance can tip and then all of a sudden it catches up with you. So Friday 1st March 2019, you got me, I’m on it :-)

Here’s to more Friday night confessionals - I know next week I’ll be in Croydon for International Women’s Day so expect pictures!! Have a great weekend everyone x

Croydon August 22nd 2018

How awesome is this blast of yellow and fabulous smile!!

Creating and capturing portraits and head shots is always such fun (I think) + it was so much fun working with Saffron yesterday capturing new ones for her professional profile and as a Trustee of LKN - Lives Not Knives for their annual trustee report!

#WeddingWednesday

Farnham Castle - love the drama of the main room, first dance and a touch of smouldering smoke

dip low

Jon & Izabela's wedding at Farnham Castle was divine and I particularly love these shots from their first dance, swoshing, sweeping drama #love #weddingday

The Light in London tonight was pretty special x

London in the evening light always looks beautiful 

As I walked from Covent Garden to Waterloo this evening the air was warm and I kept seeing beautiful snippets of light everywhere as if I was in a Philip Lorca Di Corcia picture x

Studies in Red

PLAY

Photography isn't about being serious all the time or using the best equipment - it's about play too. This morning I grabbed my Instax instant camera as I headed out to early morning yoga and in my mind I simply wanted to take a 'shot of the day' if I was lucky or one picture with my instant camera which would inject some fun in to my morning and make me smile.

As I drove to yoga I considered the mist rising off the fields and a tree lined road but nothing grabbed me long enough. Then as I left yoga I suddenly thought - what about a colour, as much of one colour as possible or just look out for the colour 'RED". As I made my way out of the car park, there, right in front of me was a bright red facial so out of my (red) car i popped and incorporated the car into the image. 

It's not ground breaking or award winning BUT it is play, it's loosening me up, it's getting me to connect and to see in the moment knowing I have one shot, knowing that I will wait a few moments with eager anticipation as to what will emerge slowly as the image clears + that, at 8am on a Tuesday morning is kinda fun, playful and made me smile.

It's all a process.

an exhibition of celebration

I am thrilled + so excited to share this invitation + announcement for 'Ladies First' a photography exhibition to celebrate these inspirational women.

OPENING

March 8th 2017, 11am

Bernard Weatherill Community Space,

Croydon CR0 1EA

This exhibition is open until May 14th

During January I had the absolute pleasure to meet all these wonderful ladies + hear their stories. We laughed, joked, got serious, went deep + created great portraits which are window sized + larger than life!

The 'UnderCroydon' project is a fantastic initiative to inspire young women of Croydon + all of the women who were photographed were interviewed by 'mentee's' + their work is on display inside. 

Please come along for the opening or pop by and check this fantastic project out! xx

Head Shots, Professional Portraits...raising your game!

If I had a £ for everyone who had said to me "I hate having my picture taken" I would seriously be a millionaire by now! In fact I am thinking I should start carrying a piggy bank around with me and demanding £1 from all the future people I am going to photograph lol

I digress, but seriously there are very few people who aren't terrified by having a camera pointed at them, but it is really important to keep your pictures updated and freshen things up with great representations of who you are and the direction you would like to go in.

Clients approach me for a variety of reasons,

• Linkedin profile pics,
• Bio head shots,
• dating profile pictures,
• actor head shots, 
• Social media handles
• Company profile updates

I TOTALLY get the thought of having your picture taken brings you out in hives (hopefully not) cold sweats or night terrors BUT I promise, it won't hurt AND you'll have fun, I work to ensure you feel comfortable and almost forget you're having your picture taken - I talk A LOT so you'll probably be more relieved when our session ends that your ears can have a rest! lol :-) 

Prices range from £175 for an hour and includes 5 digital images, edited and ready to upload/print/share

LOVE seeing how clients use the images we create!

I'm always so thrilled to see how our images integrate into a clients promo and these beauties made me beam!!!

Ernest and Matilda and I worked together on their lifestyle and fabric ranges and had great fun creating these images below and many more gorgeous ones :-) 

PHOTOMONTH - Jane Bown, An Influence

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 19th - 6.30pm - St.Margarets House, Bethnal Green

We are all mega excited for this event tomorrow night, Luke Dodd discusses Jane Bown's work and panel guests discuss who has inspired them! 

Panel members include Dan Gaba, David McCoy, Jackie King Photographer, PhotoVoice, Shutter Hub, Photomonth will share who have influenced them and their careers! Free to attend & all welcome! #GirlTown

Come along, please RSVP, free entry!! Be there!! x

still life's whilst waiting for a shoot to start

So I'm just hanging out, early Tuesday morning waiting for my shoot to start upstairs and I notice how pretty the light looks and how in this usually busy pub, it's silent save for me and the barman ...my camera meets my eye and I record what I see, pretty stillness....I feel like Karen Harvey should be with me (of shutter hub and blog fame) wherever she goes she fills her instagram feed with obscure wonderful finds which are a delight to see and very inspiring - maybe she's been rubbing off :-) 

Pretty pink ceiling shades, tea cups, wood, grey paint...I mean, how divine! what more could I ask for x 

XMAS MARKET - December 2nd 2015!!

FOR ONE NIGHT ONLY!!!!!!!!
DECEMBER 2nd!! 5pm-9pm AT Victoria Market, 42 Francis St, London SW1P 1QW (Map Attached xx) I'll be exhibiting at this awesome XMAS MARKET + possibly freezing my touche off lol xx

This is super close to Victoria Station - so pop in on your way home!! The market is full of amazing artist makers with TONS of gorgeous presents for xmas! Some of us are QEST Scholars who specialise in traditional crafts and were fortunate in being awarded scholarships to pursue training in our fields (the quality is super high!!)

I'll be displaying my gorgeous photo packages, selling vouchers for sessions next year, running a competition and promoting ‪#‎SmallBusinessSaturday‬‪#‎thiscan‬'tbemissed!! please share with friends and family and DEFINITELY come say "HI" grin emoticon

OH! + it's outside so please bring warm hugs and hot water bottles lol grin emoticon

‪#‎qestscholar‬ ‪#‎artistmaker‬ ‪#‎photography‬ ‪#‎smallbizsaturday‬‪#‎familyphotography‬ ‪#‎weddings‬

The Knot – Great Questions to ask your Photographer

There are lots of great questions to ask your photographer when you meet with them in order to decide whether you’re a great fit and you have THE ONE who will capture your day. 

The following questions were posted on 'The Knot' and I think are brilliant so I am sharing them here – along with my answers

• Do you have an album I can look through? Yes, I have several I am more than happy to share with you
• How many weddings do you shoot a year? This varies year to year but generally between 12 – 15
• How long have you been in the business? I’ve been working professionally for over 10 years and started with wedding photography when I lived in Dublin in 2002 and photographed a gorgeous wedding at The Shelbourne Hotel on St Stephens Green.
• Will you be photographing the wedding solo or will there be more than one photographer? (A second shooter can capture spontaneous moments while your main shooter works to get the shots on your must-get list.) This depends on the package you choose, for larger weddings I always recommend a second shooter, for smaller, more intimate weddings I will capture them myself and bring along an assistant
• What’s your backup plan in case of equipment failure or if you get sick? I carry a double of everything in my camera bag to cover all bases and ensure I am firing on all cylinders, so if I felt even slightly sick the week of your wedding I rest up to ensure I’ll be fit and ready for action on your wedding day, (as an extra back up I am also a member of the BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photography) and have access to a huge network of photographers)
• What are our options regarding packages? In my “Wedding” page I give an idea of price points but it really depends on what you are looking for to fit in to your day, my couple tend to begin around £1795 - £2225 and go upwards
• Does the price include an engagement shoot? My full day packages include an engagement shoot, if you have selected a half day package this will be an additional fee
• What’s the process after the wedding? Within 72 hours a small selection of images from your day will be viewable in your online gallery and 10 days after that your whole gallery will be ready to view.
• Will I get digital files? If these are included in your package, yes.
• How long before the files are available to me? 6-8 weeks
• How much do prints cost? I have a large selection of print and image finishes available, including framed prints and gorgeous acrylics which really create amazing fine art pieces, these range in price from £10 to £1500 depending on size and finish  
• How much do albums cost? Albums start at £325
• What’s the turnaround for proofs and final albums? I can send you a proof book within 14 days and once you have chosen your album images there is a 6 week turnaround time once you have signed off on the final design, on average allow about 8-10 weeks incase of any tweaks you'd like to make
• What sort of touch-ups do you do? I tidy up all prints and images for your album and for an additional fee of £25 per hour I can offer skin touch ups and further editing.
• Do you offer mini albums? Yes, I have a gorgeous selection for you to have a look at
• Do you offer online proofing albums so that my guests can buy prints without going through me? Yes, I offer an online gallery which is password protected and I personally give each of your guests a password card with the login details on
• What’s the payment policy? I require a deposit of £150 to secure your date and then full payment 30 days prior to your wedding, we can also split the remaining balance so you can pay in two or three parts before your big day
• Will there be additional fees for travel and lodging? For all weddings outside of the UK, travel and accommodation will be an additional fee, for weddings outside of London and the Home Counties this will also be an additional fee
• Is there a cancellation policy? Yes, you may cancel at any time and you will be liable to pay to me compensation based on a percentage of the Package fee depending upon when the notice is received: 121 days or more – Booking fee only, 91-121 days – 50%, 61-90 days – 60%, 31-60 days – 75% and 0-30s prior to your wedding – 100%

Summer Mini Sessions are here!! :-)

Every so often I open up 'Mini Sessions' and I am delighted that this summer I have 3 possible dates to offer through the summer holidays!

If you're unsure how your son or daughter would react to a professional photo session this is the perfect way to introduce them to the idea (I promise lots of fun and giggles!!)

                            ****HAMPSHIRE & LONDON AVAILABLE xx **********

a snippet of 30 minutes and you will be sent 3 digital files and a Facebook timeline to share with friends, you also get access to a password protected online gallery and can share this with friends and family and I have two fantastic packages available should you wish to book in for a longer amount of time and a more personalised session! :-) 

The 'Mini Session' is suitable for all ages and can also be booked to celebrate a fun occasion or treat,

For more info call me on 07754 757716 x speak soon x

Remembering Mary Ellen Mark

Yesterday power house photographer Mary Ellen Mark passed away, she was hugely inspirational and I just want to share a few images from one of her books in case ure not familiar with her work :-)

I was lucky to take a workshop with her in Maine way back in 2001 after being introduced to her work whilst I was working on a feature film + the professional photographer I met told me it would "change my life". I researched Mary Ellen Mark diligently + was in awe - she'd won an award every year since I'd been born and her work blew my mind. 

The week spent in Maine was tough + challenging + one of the most amazing, it did change my life, had I not have taken the class I wouldn't have ended up in Maine changing my career path + becomming a photographer, I wouldn't have had any idea about what goes in to being a photographer or met such a force of nature in Mary Ellen Mark. 

Her spirit was strong, decisive, determined, her stature + dress - tall with jet black hair and black clothes slightly intimidating and the last night of our course we all had dinner together + went to the movies to watch a film she raved about ('Amores Perros' - 'Loves a Bitch' with Gael Garcia Bernal) it was the coolest film I'd ever seen at that time + the beers and wines we drank made our tutor sparkle. 

Mary Ellen Mark was and always will be a photo hero and a profound inspiration + it's a sad day she is no longer here to capture life in her immutable way, love + light go to her + her family xx

A beautiful morning in the Bluebell Woods

One - 2 - One Photo Workshop

Have I mentioned HOW much I LOVE working outside?? Wearing a pair of wellies and exploring?? Well, it makes my heart sing when I get the chance to teach outside, especially first thing in the morning, with beautiful soft light, with students who have a passion for wild flowers :-) The images above are ones I captured whilst my student set about her photo challenges x

Photography Workshops, Teaching and One 2 One's

I do love this time of year, that nip in the air of inspiration and hope for the year ahead and a list of considered aspirations and achievements that are firmly on the 'To - Do' list.

My list has all sorts of things on it and as the end of January approaches I feel a small panic that if I don't complete my list then well, it's not set in the stone and the other things on that list won't happen - silly I know! But it's almost like it's become a little superstitious....and as I don't want to hamper my year ahead and the things I'd like to smile about in 12 months time, I am putting it out there through my blog

1. Take a Paddle board lesson
2. Buy a wet suit and USE IT! Preferably in Open Water!! (I know, bit mental considering the water temp in the UK)
3. Do more yoga
4. Take an Alt Pro class - IMPORTANT **MUST do!!
5. Run a long weekend workshop in Devon 
6. .....

So the list goes on, a wonderful mix of photography and fun and life and incorporated in to all of this is teaching, my students range from wanting to 'get to grips with their cameras' through to 'Adobe Lightroom' and 'Mentoring' and I'm super delighted to have started this year with students who were given workshop or One2One vouchers as Christmas presents. 

If you've been given a new camera or treated yourself and the accompanying guide book feels like it's in Russian, or if you've hit a 'plateau' - (it happens to all of us!) then have a think about shifting out of that pickle and booking yourself in to a workshop or course with me. Fun is guaranteed!!! :-) + if you come down to Devon, wine is definitely included!! :-) xx

The Blue Poet Dreams

Ok so I’m biased, many people are biased….ok correction, many people love this work and love the man behind it, the two marry up incredibly well together and you can’t help (I don’t think) but become transfixed, drawn in to world of vernaculars woven with mystique and intrigue. 

Each time I visit these pieces, or new works, I feel impish and excitable. I know I won’t be disappointed, and that I will see layers of story, and feel delicately challenged (rare in some cases of photography now and uplifting when it happens). I will feel like I am sneaking a look at a world just within my grasp or finger tips, and my imagination will run away with me. 

I ponder that connection you feel with photography, when you ‘get it’ and the difference of when you just don't engage. I’ve been careful to ask myself if it is more so when you know the creator, and yes, to a certain degree that helps, but the endurance of an image can sometimes be through recognising certain elements within the frame, certainly with this work your mind and eyes dance looking, questioning the elements within it. 

The use of cyanotpyes in this way is exquisite. I know personally how long each of these took to create, I know and understand the process which was involved, the long exposures in sunlight, our photo magician using his lunch breaks** to return to his studio or table and turn and move the pictures and elements within it. Each of these images took many hours, if not days and it is a joy to see them collated all together in this book.

                                        The Blue Poet Dreams, Brenton Hamilton.

Full of texture and hand crafted pieces, I am drawn at first to '1.The Aquatic’. I love the whole book but maybe it’s the painterly qualities I am drawn back to, or the construct of white and blue, or the hidden, just detectable body, with the touch of geometry…? In ’54.Shadow of a Woman’ it is no accident the top left corner has been carefully cut away and then returned to a position which fits, not exactly but closely to it’s original lines, each element of these constructs so carefully placed and the circular images..well, it’s no secret I am a fan of this modern usage (I have been known to dance with it myself).

Whether you are crazy about alternative processes or not, captivated by photography (because lets not pretend it’s letting you go anywhere) or a lover or appreciator of art, this joyous ensemble is delicious…(oh and I really love ’11.All the Mornings of the World’..the composition, colours..peachy tones and blue..).

Brenton has a phenomenal knack, his is the most succinct and honest raw talent for seeing - for creating and for teaching. He is brilliant at sharing his wealth of knowledge about a process and processes which are finding their way back in to our lives and should you wish to peruse a body of work which will challenge you to look a little harder, to untangle the figures, decipher the fruits, the layerings and the hearts and inspire you: this is it. Am I biased? Yes. Am I a romantic captivated by a photographic process as old as can be? Yes, yes! Would I like to see more? …completely and my favourite recent images is ‘Devoured’ (see below). x

Brenton has a solo show opening at the TILT Gallery in AZ February 5th 2015, from what I’ve seen, it's a mix of Ambrotypes (sigh) and Cyanotypes.

**Brenton Hamilton was my Photography Professor.

The Blue Poet Dreams by Brenton Hamilton is published by Obscura Press. For further information and ordering details visit their website.

Beautiful Floral Trends for Autumn/Winter 2014/15

This small body of work is just blowing my mind right now. I recently captured these at the wonderful 'The Lavender Hill Company' a fabulous florist in Farnham.

We wanted to create images to depict floral trends for this Autumn/Winter and Sue and Rachel came up with the most wonderful colour choices for me to photograph. Once I had captured the still life image for each of the three colour ways we then deconstructed the flowers and petals and foliage to create equally enchanting images. These are the results! x

The Lavender Hill Company http://www.lavenderhillcompany.com