Private Portrait - November 2009

When you run a photo session it's important to get the balance right. There's a fine line between relaxing your subject enough to make them feel comfortable in front of the camera and winding them up to fever pitch. I know of some photographic companies who like to create a highly excited atmosphere for the families they shoot but that's not my style and I find that parents don't appreciate leaving with children that are hyper.
So, we had great fun on this session and still managed to exercise a little control!

Christmas Fairs - November 2009

 I have two Christmas craft shows this weekend where I be selling calendars, postcards and prints as well as discounted offers on photo session gift vouchers. Do come along and say hello:

Friday 27th November - 6-9pm Christmas Shopping Event @ St Margaret Clitherow school, Tonbridge

Saturday 28th November - 10am-5pm Christmas Fayre @ The Old School House, Tunbridge Wells

Playground Magazine - November 2009

The winter issue of Playground magazine is now out, so grab yourself a copy. I got to visit a wonderful organic farm shop to photograph and came away having bought lots of delicious goodies. Yum!

Playground magazine

Editorial portrait - October 2009

Playground Magazine

Wedding photographs - October 2009

 

 

 

My first wedding, what an experience - nerve wracking, exhausting and exhilarating. I have so many photographs that I wanted to post here but I've chosen just four that I hope convey the emotion and fun of the day.

Christmas cards - October 2009

 Christmas - it'll be here before you know it so it's always good to be prepared. We had great fun with a photo session for my client's Christmas cards and the kids, as always, looked adorable.

Pinhole camera workshops - October 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can't believe that Pinhole workshop time has come around again so soon. I had four great days with sixth formers making a camera obscura and pinhole cameras out of shoeboxes. For students who have only really used digital cameras the process is nigh on miraculous. I love that excitement in the darkroom when they watch their image appear in front of their eyes.

Business portrait - September 2009

The last business portrait for this week. Sarah is a freelance health and fitness writer. She also runs a running club and regularly takes part in triathlons. Phew! Makes me tired just thinking about it.

Self portrait - September 2009

Taking all these business portraits reminded me that I needed to update my own shot, so I set up the tripod and jumped in front of the camera.

Business portrait - September 2009

Another business portrait, this time for Suzy Bolt. It's been fascinating working with different women who run different businesses, the style of photography needs to reflect that person's needs and uses and convey the personality they want to show their clients.

Suzy Bolt

Business portraits - September 2009

When you have your own business it's important to show your clients the human side of it. A business portrait can be more or less formal, it's entirely up to you, just make sure you look professional and approachable.
Carolyn's business is Spa Wellness


While I was there I shot some images of her adorable dog, Robbie - CEO of Carolyn's other business - Waggatails

Private Portrait canvases - August 2009

I am very proud to finally be able to show you the canvases that I have been working on. They are the result of a complex process which began with black and white photographs with my Rolleicord, then salt prints which were scanned colour adjusted and finally printed on to canvas. Phew! Both the client and I are delighted with the results.

Private Portrait - August 2009

Another fun portrait session. As you can probably tell, I have a couple of standard poses that I use when photographing three children. One of them is featured above. Sitting the children one behind the other gives them a sense of security, creates interaction between them all and often comfortably turns into a calming triangular composition. The other poses just seem to happen naturally.
The other thing that works is doing the group shots first. This relaxes everyone, creates interaction and laughter and gives individuals the confidence to come in on their own later. It also has the advantage of getting those shots in the bag before fidgety younger ones get bored.

Remote Workers Award - August 2009

Exciting news! I have been shortlisted for the remote workers awards. It is an award for freelancers who work from home - that's me. The award ceremony is in September and I will keep you posted on the results.

Remote Workers award shortlist

Lifestyle Showcase

I had a great day on Saturday. There were lots of complimentary words about the frames and the beautiful children featured in them and I talked to lots of lovely people about the work I do.
Hopefully I will get a chance to photograph them in the near future.

August 8th - Lifestyle Showcase

I will be at the Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells all day on Saturday selling postcards, prints and discounted portrait sessions. It would be lovely to see some faces, so do come by and say hello.

Private Portrait - July 2009

Call me twisted but I do like to see a client cry.
This gorgeous trio's mum wanted two large framed photos for her husband's birthday. When I delivered the final product I was touched to watch her wipe a tear from her eye as she looked at her beautiful children - the best kind of compliment I could hope for.

Yoga Magazine - July issue

I took these photos for Suzy Bolt, who I know from Tunbridge Wells Mums in Business. She is a yoga teacher and runs yoga holidays, so it was important that the poses were really accurate. A real education for me, as I have never tried yoga.

Yoga Magazine
Suzy Bolt
TW Mums in Business

Playground Magazine - June 2009

Chickens, I love chickens. I wish we had a garden big enough to keep them but sadly we do not. So, the next best thing for me is taking photos of them and this article was the perfect opportunity. Caroline at Playground is a pleasure to work with, she appreciates my love of black and white film and vintage cameras and uses the images I make with them.
Thanks!

Playground Magazine

May 2009 - ongoing projects

Didn't want anyone to think that I have been neglecting my blog, or that I haven't had any work. I am currently working on some one off portrait/artworks using a combination of salt prints and canvas. Above is a work in progress. It's a lovely project to be doing, allowing me great artistic input and I'm hoping the results will be stunning.
There's always lots of other projects bubbling under the surface, including exam board work and a wedding coming up in October.

The Times newspaper - March 2009

This image was originally taken in response to a call for a book cover. It didn't make it. A year down the line it was put to good use for this Agony Aunt column in The Times. It just goes to show, just because something isn't used as you expected it would be, doesn't mean it won't be used at all. Photo agencies are a great place to lodge this kind of work. Who knows what it might be used for next...

Millennium Fine Art Photographic Agency

Salt Print Workshop - March 2009

Another school workshop, another challenging and rewarding day. This is the first time I have done this particular workshop and it was with younger kids than I've taught before, but it was great fun. We spent the day creating digital negatives, salting and coating paper and exposing the images. We talked about the health and safety aspects of using chemicals and they spent time searching for and exploring historical and contemporary artists using alternative processes.
All in all success, we're already talking about doing some more.

Playground Magazine - March 2009

Thought you might like to see how those images turned out...

Playground Online

Commission for Playground magazine - Feb 09

Horses. They're big, they're strong, they're unpredictable. They are also incredibly photogenic and, put together with people they know and love, the results can be wonderful.
These portraits are part of a commission from Playground magazine to illustrate an article about Point to Point races.

All You Need Is... January and February 09

Just off the High Street in Tenterden, up a winding staircase is a lovely place called the Garret Gallery. This month they are holding an exhibition of images that would be perfect for Valentines Day. I have 10 pieces on the wall - lots of hearts and soft colours - I never thought I had a particular theme to my shooting but it looks like I do!
The Garret Gallery hasn't been open very long and I hope that it is very successful as it's great to have somewhere that supports local artists.

The Garret Gallery