Recent Press

Since the start of the year I've had my work featured on a few websites and thought that keeping track of it all on my blog is the best place for it. 

Not only that but I'm sure that by clicking through to some of these pages below you'll find some great new websites to follow for advice and tips on photography and also some brilliant blogs featuring real weddings. Great inspiration if you are currently planning your wedding or hen party.

The first feature I received this year was on Whimsical Wonderland Weddings. I sent in Hayley's Rock The Frock shoot and really didn't think anything would come of it, but luckily Lou was excited about the images and two weeks later it was featured. This website features so many beautiful weddings, engagement shoots and rock the frocks, I really recommend it if you're in the planning stage of your wedding.

Then I was emailed by Emma from Aphrodite's Wedding Blog asking if she could do an interview with me about my career in the wedding industry. I have to say, I was pretty blown away by this one because at the time I was only about two months into starting my business and had only shot one wedding. Nonetheless she thought it would make a great feature for her blog and it gave me the chance to explain a bit more about where I've come from and how I hope to succeed in wedding photography.

This next feature also came completely out of the blue. Ross Dean from Photo Night Live emailed me and asked if I'd be interested in taking part in a Skype interview with Emma Case about Creating Opportunities in Photography. I hate seeing myself and hearing my voice back on camera so I've never been able to go back and watch this myself! But I learnt a lot from Emma and Ross on this interview and so many people got in touch to say they found it useful too.

Colchester Circle Magazine featured one of my images and linked to my website in their February edition which was also the first time I have ever had my work in a printed publication (very exciting!)

 Then Claudia Carter from Photo Events UK asked if I'd be the featured photographer on the website until July. I got sent the hardest interview questions from Will Ablett! But again it is another interview that can give you a bit more of a glimpse of me and how I got started. This website when it finally all comes together is going to be a brilliant resource for photographers looking for workshops, shoot-swaps, conventions and seminars.

Finally after collaborating with Hazy Days Caravan Hire at the beginning of May. We had our first feature on Tattybojangles Vintage Hen House blog. Another great resource for those of you who are engaged and looking to plan your hen party. This website is all about classy ways to celebrate with no 'L' plates in sight!

Creating Opportunities...

I started my blog and website just over a year ago now, and during the whole of 2010 I could probably count my visitors on one hand and they were all my family! Last month my blog views were over 4000, thats not huge to some people but to me it's amazing. Thats 4000 people looking at my blog, seeing my work and possibly come back again.

This has all happened because I've decided to do something about it. In 2010 I was working and just didn't seem to find the time to plan shoots, edit and blog. I wasn't on twitter and I only updated my Facebook business page when I had some work to show. This meant that although I had a few followers, people weren't taking me seriously because it didn't seem to be a priority. And I agree, sometimes I'd blog straight after I'd edited a shoot and my next blog post wouldn't be for another three months. I clearly wasn't focused on making this work for me.

In the lead up to January 2011 I kept saying it would be a 'new year, new start' (cheesey!) and as soon as it rolled around I put things into action. I contacted wedding blogs about featuring my work, e-mailed photographers for second shooting, joined forums, joined twitter, networked online til my eyes bled, signed myself up for the SWPP (Society of wedding and portrait photographers) convention and most importantly started planning shoots.

I have to thank the amazing Lou of Whimsical Wonderland Weddings for featuring Hayley's 'Rock The Frock' shoot. Not only did it show potential brides my work, but it got my name out among the photography community. At SWPP a couple of photographers mentioned to me that they had seen it and liked it. That kind of feedback from peers is so overwhelmingly important and really helped me to realise my potential. 

If I'd of known this time last year what I'd be up to now I don't think I would have believed it. Even more unbelievable is that I would have been asked to be interviewed about careers in the wedding industry and invited to talk in a Skype interview alongside Emma Case about creating your own destiny in photography. Craziness but it has happened!

Photo Night Live is a new online video resource for photographers. Each week Ross Dean poses questions to a pro photographer and an emerging photographer and they discuss the industry as well as share tips and advice. My interview with Ross and Emma was invaluable, and I am so overwhelmed by the response from people who have seen it so far. We spoke about Creating Opportunities in the photography industry, because no one can start a business without actually doing something about it!

I still haven't been able to watch this back all the way through, I cringe at the sound of my voice! But it is  full of great advice from Emma and Ross, so if you have a spare 45 mins take a look!

I'm still a long way off this emerging business providing for me. But it's getting there, and people are getting to know my name. So perseverance really is key, keep at it!