Wednesday, 17 August 2011

Lizzy & James: Frinton Cricket Club Wedding

Lizzy and James got married on a gorgeous hot day in July. The morning of, was grey, overcast and humid and I ran out to buy a pretty umbrella just incase the rain did come. However as soon as I arrived  at the venue the sun came out to make their wedding day perfect.

The wedding ceremony took place at Frinton Cricket Club in Essex which meant that they could have a outdoor ceremony. Well kind of, because of silly UK laws Lizzy and James said their vows inside whilst their guests soaked up the sun outdoors. It was a brilliant way of getting as close to an outdoor ceremony as they could. It was a lovely ceremony and Lizzy looked glowing in her simple yet gorgeous wedding dress.

After the ceremony I whisked the two of them off around the cricket pitch boundary for some couple shots and to give them some alone time to enjoy their first moments as husband and wife. Frinton Cricket club is set in such a picturesque area it really did make my job easy!
























Lizzy and James, thank you once again for having me as your wedding photographer. Your day was gorgeous and I enjoyed every moment of it! Wishing you both all the success for the future.

Tuesday, 16 August 2011

The Bedford Babies - Back Garden Photoshoot

You may remember my recent sneak peek from a fun baby shoot I did recently. I felt it was time to show you all the images because to be honest they're both far to cute not to share!

Harry and Mayli are just gorgeous, we had some fun in the garden with bubbles before the rain came down and forced us inside. But we still managed to get some beautiful shots.

Take a look for yourselves!








Monday, 15 August 2011

Ellie & Aimee - Sneak Peek

This morning I had some fun with these two at the park and beach. This was the last shot of the shoot, and the ice creams were certainly needed in todays weather!


Look forward to showing you the rest from today's shoot! 

Nic & Lewis - Sneak Peek

In two weeks time these two tie the knot in Colchester. I visited their home for their engagement shoot and met a very nervous Nic! I'm sure she's not the only one who gets nervous when a camera is pointed her way (I know I do!!) but you'd never guess when seeing the pictures.

Here is their gorgeous summery sneak peek!


Thursday, 11 August 2011

101 in 1001

So this is a list of 101 goals that I am aiming to accomplish in 1001 days (just over 2 and a half years). I've decided to make this not just a list for my business but also for my personal goals as well. Some are very ambitious, some out of character and others quite simple, but the main point is that I want to do them all. Since writing the list out I already feel really motivated to start crossing things off it!

I'll be blogging about each item as I manage to cross it off from the list. Once they are completed you'll be able to click on each one and read the corresponding blog post.

Start Date: August 9th 2011
End Date: May 8th 2014

1) Have my business rebranded by a professional designer - Completed 17/11/11
2) Create a Showit Website - Completed 17/11/11
3) Invest in consistent packaging and stationery that reflects my new brand.
4) Put together 'consultation packages' to give to potential clients.
5) Have informative flyers printed to give to potential clients when they enquire.
6) Make a promo video.
7) Have a wedding published on a blog
8) Create a sample wedding album
9) Create sample products for lifestyle sessions.
10) Create sample products for weddings
11) Reach 500 'Like's' on  my business' Facebook page
12) Have a wedding featured in a local magazine
13) Have a wedding featured in a national magazine
14) Exhibit at a wedding fair - Completed 29/01/12
15) Exhibit at a local event - Completed 27/08/11
16) Blog every weekday for a month
17) Buy a house
18) Visit Katie in New York
19) Comment on someone else's blog every weekday for a month
20) Regularly attend a yoga class
21) Get a makeover with a professional make-up artist and purchase products to use afterwards
22) Donate blood
23) Have photos taken by another professional photographer - Completed 15/10/11
24) Work for myself full time
25) Read 3 business books in 6 months
26) Run (or jog!) 3 times a week for a month
27) Own or rent a office space for my business
28) Get a dog
29) Get custom pens to give to clients
30) Advertise on a wedding blog
31) Photograph a wedding in a different country
32) Create a business systems manual.
33) visit Australia (and the ship friends that live there)
34) Book 20-25 weddings for one year
35) Own a iMac
36) Gather client feedback and testimonials through surveys
37) Regularly attend a aerobics class
38) Print more personal photographs
39) Read one fiction book a month for a year
40) Go back to Canada for a holiday
41) Visit Hannes in South Africa
42) See a musical - Completed 07/01/12
43) Go to Disneyland Paris
44) Organise a girls night out (or in) once a month for 6 months
45) Donate a photo shoot to a charity for a prize
46) Create a workflow chart to keep myself on track
47) Have a girlie holiday or weekend away
48) Plant a vegetable patch
49) Own some chickens
50) Send out a monthly newsletter by email
51) Switch to a Wordpress blog
52) Do a 10k run for charity
53) Make photo books with the pictures taken whilst working for Princess Cruises
54) Visit friends that have moved away
55) Eat breakfast everyday for a month
56) Find a new hobby (to replace photography now its my job!)
57) Go to Glastonbury festival
58) Host a dinner party for friends
59) Organise a charity event
60) Grow a herb garden
61) Have a spa day or weekend
62) Take pictures with film and develop and print them myself
63) Pay off my Princes Trust loan
64) Buy a film scanner so I can use my Diana camera more
65) Meet up once a month with another photographer
66) Offer 'Day In The Life' family photography
67) Buy another D700 camera to replace my current back-up
68) Trace my family history (on my mums side)
69) Come up with and stick to regular blog features
70) Revise my business plan each year
71) Make prints of the photo albums on my personal Facebook profile
72) Complete monthly business accounts on the first day of each month
73) Own a pair of Louboutin's
74) Buy a sewing machine and learn to sew
75) Send christmas cards to my friends
76) Ask my brides to send me their wedding day story to accompany their photos on my website
77) Improve my SEO
78) Re-decorate my bedroom
79) Use twitter every weekday for business for one month
80) Photograph an on location look book for a clothing label
81) Take a holiday in Italy
82) Become affiliated with a local clothes shop for teenage photo shoots
83) Have my hair cut into a style I like (and keep it!)
84) Compile a list of suppliers, venues and other industry professionals to recommend to wedding clients
85) Buy a flat screen TV
86) Plan a meet-up with my friends from university
87) Arrange regular Skype chats with friends from cruising
88) Finish decorating and furnishing my office
89) Find a local frame supplier to use for framed products
90) Implement a better backing up process for all photos and files
91) Overhaul my wardrobe
92) Organise my office cupboard
93) Buy fresh flowers every month for my office
94) Buy a potted plant (and keep it alive)
95) Purchase two SB-800's
96) Join a photographic society
97) Find a prettier way to store my jewellery
98) Purchase a camera bag to store back-up equipment
99) Write a Marketing Plan and revise it each year
100) Photograph a styled engagement session as an example for potential clients
101) Re-decorate a piece of old furniture

Monday, 8 August 2011

Sneak Peek - The Bedford Babies

Yesterday I squeezed a photo shoot in before the rain came down with these two cuties. I had to get a little preview up for their mum and dad today (and also because I just couldn't wait to edit a couple!)



Friday, 5 August 2011

Sneak Peek - The Costanzo Family

This morning I had lots of fun with these three, so much so that we were all worn out by the time we finished our walk-about photo shoot!

I had to get a sneak peek up, and look forward to showing the rest soon.



Behind The Scenes on a Studio Shoot

After posting the results of the Kerry O'Brine Womenswear shoot on Tuesday I thought it would be great to show you the behind the scenes images I also shot on the day. I love seeing these kind of insights behind the shoot when I look at other photographers work.

Please ignore the dust in the shots! My camera has since been cleaned!












Below is the team on the day L-R: Cassandra, Kathryn, Lucy, Kerry

Hair: Cassandra of Love Your Hair
Make-up: Lucy of Lucy Baker Make-up
Studio: Courtesy of Jeff Turnball at Excel Photography Training

Tuesday, 2 August 2011

Kerry O'Brine Womenswear Autumn/Winter Collection 2011.

You may remember the sneak peek I posted a couple of weeks back now of Kerry O'Brine's Autumn/Winter collection that I had the opportunity to photograph.

This was my first return to studio photography since leaving cruise ships, and the studio photography on ships was really nothing creative! So I was a bit apprehensive about the shoot incase I'd just have forgotten everything! 

Luckily though I hadn't, we decided to use just one light and keep the lighting simple. We'd been looking through some workwear editorials the morning of the shoot and loved the ones that showed some shadow and definition. Working with just one light meant we could achieve this look easily and just move it around the model to create different effects.

This is Kerry's first collection, and we were all smitten by it! It's made me think that I need a job to dress up for like this! 














We worked with a fantastic team on the day who all made the look we achieved so perfect.

Hair: Cassandra of Love Your Hair
Make-up: Lucy of Lucy Baker Make-up
Studio: Courtesy of Jeff Turnball at Excel Photography Training





Monday, 1 August 2011

Rebecca and Daniel - Sneak Peek

Rebecca and Daniel tied the knot on Saturday 30th July in a church ceremony in Chevington. Their day was so relaxed and such a pleasure to photograph. Below is a sneak peek at their reception venue Abbots Barn, the rest will be up before you know it!