Lamenting a week of inspiring clients

Sunday afternoon confessional….

Full of gratitude this Sunday afternoon for incredible clients, for them trusting + entrusting their briefs to me.

Grateful for variety, for natural light, cloudy days AND sunshine. For the moments between moments and for getting up every day to work on something I love.

This week reminded me to take my time when something just doesn’t ‘feel’ right, to move around until I feel that synergy with what’s infront of me and if that means taking a breath or a break and coming back, that’s Okay.

Commercial shots, event photography, portraits

Discovering old gems

That twilight time, reorganising work or boxes or offices when there's no real rush and you can enjoy finding pictures you took 20 years ago…..in film…..printed in a darkroom…on photo paper…..lol utter bliss creating and curating this project…I mean it was stressful at the time lol BUT I had that feeling in my abdomen that it was just so Or just right and kept being hit by fizzes of inspiration on how the images could sit together - or not - + doing every single part of this process was magical and it enabled meticulous crafting of the materials.

Loading the film, actually choosing which camera aesthetic would suit, which film to load, all the locations, all the elements of the ‘story’ or narrative. The decisions on processing times, paper to print on, chemicals used in printing, size and scale. Mounting, cutting the windows in the board, carefully attaching archival tape to secure them, sequencing the set, framing and displaying….photography is always a series of decisions. It’s always a process and that’s where the magic lies…..

Friday Night Confessionals.....it's been a while...

Soooo, I did a thing,

Writing this from a hotel in Brighton, the night before a wedding I’m photographing, I’m on catch up and wanted to share the week, I’ve missed doing this and I hope it continues, fingers x’d!

So, the masters, it’s been going on for a while and aged me more than anything else I’ve ever done!

For the last 2 years I’ve been working on a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Photography, it’s a qualification I have wanted to work towards since I completed formal photography training on the certificate programme in America and as we came out of lockdowns in 2021 I became a little more serious about achieving it. Fast forward 2 years and here we are, my foiled certificate arrived this week and it became ‘real’.

Around a month before we finished I FINALLY felt I was drawing all my threads of research together and so the plan now, after the summer, is to dig in, continue the project and fine tune the prototypes and iterations I have started!!

Photograph certificate

Wednesday evening

Highgate Pergola - Emily & Stuart rocked their engagement pictures!!!

I’ve been missing my morning walks and Tuesday showered me with a gift of a walk - it was so joyful, out the door by 7am, 2 hours of bird song and fresh air was THE BEST start to the day!!

Here we are in Brighton, urban art everywhere + I’m snapping like crazy the ever changing landscape of the graphic art in the Lanes!!!

Sunday morning confessionals

I can’t believe this time last week I was a bag of nerves preparing to hang my photo show at The Allen Gallery.

I’d been to a hot yoga class to help find some calm/grounding/balance + it worked but I was also a mixture of excitement to be displaying images in a different way (tacked to the walls) + nervous as to how it would look and be received.

A week on and its been pretty intense. The volunteers at the gallery, Mick and Josie were soooo helpful and encouraging and Tony gave the seal of approval when it was all in place and between them they were such a tonic :-).

International Women’s Day 2023

Celebrating International Women’s Day, 2023

 What’s your ‘Wish or Hope’ for the future? 

This photography project began with Ivy, then 5, in 2021. I was curious at that time to understand what people were thinking and I loved the idea of using audio and visual references to record each sitter's response. The project lay dormant until last year when I picked it up again as part of my masters programme and began asking girls and women in our community if they’d like to participate. 

Photographing in the garden at The Allen Gallery (which is beautiful) and around Alton, it was my vision to create a variety of images, at differing distances from each sitter with a mixture of quiet moments, reflections and laughter in order to begin building a collective visual.

 

I am incredibly grateful to all the sitters who shared their time and stories with me, it has highlighted just how much of a rich tapestry of inspiring, creative, generous and kind women we are surrounded by here in Alton.



Tuesday morning reflections

The joy in the morning walk, time spent in nature and new magical discoveries

Gosh what a few sunny autumn days it’s been, back at luscious long morning walks, research visits to Wisley + 3 exhibitions at The Victoria & Albert Museum!!

Still....here!!! :-)

I finally discovered that my Mac operating system isn’t supporting square space anymore and that’s the reason I haven’t been able to see my images and so post anything…..I have circumnavigated the problem and things will change!! More images incoming :-)

When film processing…..

goes wrong, get’s caught BUT produces some interesting effects.

As an interim measure I’m sharing this fail of film photography which I actually feel is quite beautiful despite being chewed up through the processing machine!!

So as I leave you with this………know they’ll be more posts and updates coming sooN! HURRAH

Happy Summer Solstice everyone xx

WOW Tuesday ev/// Thursday afternoon confessionals...

Ahh that cheeky, sneaky Bank Holiday + cheeky little 4 day week……

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all the summer vibes last Thursday capturing this very beautiful and special event and a little haze of Bank Holiday pouff as the days since disappear into a blur…

I sit here writing FULL of gratitude for the delights and sunshine the Bank Holiday weekend brought, gorgeous moments creating images of amazing events, sunshine, sunshine, sunshine and to be back photographing events over the weekend continues to be the best feeling and such a blessing :-) Here’s to many more as Summer continues xx

Have a fab rest of your week!

YES!! Friday afternoon confessions.......has anyone seen summer?

If so, could you just politely direct it over here please :-) Thanks so much!!

Well, hello Friday!! How’s everyone doing?

This past week has been a super fab, crazy, zesty mix of editing, photography and client meetings with a slithering of yoga in person as a student and gym workouts to get my fitness + stamina back up as weddings approach!! The challenge of sitting to edit photo sessions is real now and I’m having to take a break and step away from my screen every 45minutes - to think pre pandemic I used to sit locked in for hours at a time now seems impossible!!

BUT I am super excited not only to be back right in the mix of photographing an amazing array of FOOD, PORTRAITS, LIFESTYLE and LITTLE PEOPLE + I am stoked to share a few images from this weeks sessions and commercial shoots!

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Images above taken at The Greyfriar Pub in Chawton ahead of their opening May 17th and capturing their new menu and staff pictures!!

Whooooo it’s an amazing feeling to be photographing, being creative and mixing safely with clients and friends again :-)

Stay safe everyone and have a great weekend! x

Staying safe and socially distanced during photo sessions

PHOTO SESSIONS IN A TIME OF COVID + reintegration

Feeling safe during our photo session is top of my priorities to ensure you enjoy our session together so I wanted to share a few safety measures I have in place.

Outdoor sessions in fresh air are permitted with no more than 6 people - I keep 2 meters apart and provide sanitiser and wear a mask whilst working. I am respectful of breathing space, personal space + take a lateral flow test ahead of our session.

Indoor sessions - From May 17th we are able to hold Family Sessions inside (which is great b’cos this weather!!! :-) ) + I will continue to wear a mask as I work, bring hand sanitiser and wipes with me. I am also allowed to continue with commercial work and product photography. YAY :-)

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Friday Night Confessionals.....getting green fingers......

And selling posters of my peony love series 💕❤️💕

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Amongst my many endeavours over here I am attempting to grow chillis, courgettes and tomatoes this year along with some squash I hope to plant shortly. In the non edible section of the garden things are starting to take shape, the peonies old and new are emerging and the many I planted last year are making progress (keeping fingers xd it continues even despite the current nightly frosts!)

My pansie display looks like an homage to the suffragette movement, all greens, whites and purples and I’m totally ok with that!!

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It’s also been an exciting week as three posters went out the door to their new home in Whitstable!!

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They are part of the ‘Peony Love’ series captured and created last year during lockdown and I’m beyond thrilled their new owner is in love and delighted with their arrival. These images shown above were full frame printed on 16x20 inch paper! So a big gorgeous luscious impact on a wall and this trio sit so well together I’m excited to see them in situ when they’re room redecoration is finished :-)

so happy weekend everyone! Have a great one and enjoy the sunshine xx

Friday Night Confessionals......What on earth happened this week?

Did you speed up time?

So now then, this week seems to have totally and utterly disintergrated into a blur of…..well, what happened and who stole my week? I’m naturally waking up earlier, going on amazing 2 hour hikes to start my day - tbh if I didn’t I think I’d loose my mind and yet still there isn’t enough time in the day and each day is running away with itself…..

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I’ve been busy planning outdoor events (photo workshops in nature - SO EXCITED, yoga gatherings, so much fun) I’ve also been photographing this week, product lifestyle shots which has been awesome, challenging and so much fun! BUT seriously, who stole my week, my last 5 days + please, please, please can you let me have it back lol OK maybe not but seriously…..The return to or re-engagement with the world has been welcome yet slightly scary, not one to be nervous by nature I have found myself a little anxious navigating things and importantly ORDERING THE CHAOS!

I found that line recently and oh my god it hit the nail on the head, you have all these things swirling, life, work, pandemic, and actually sitting down and trying to strategically order things has made a huge difference. It gives you (it certainly gave me) a point of focus + clarity and checking off the list feels good - obvious but important. So next, what’s next?

Well I have a beautiful, peaceful personal project shot on film I’m excited about and want to concentrate on even just for a second AND can we talk about the weather and ow damn cold it is - can it just warm itself up a fraction please. it’s not suppose to get much higher than 14’c for the next week + I’ve still got the flippin heating on!!! Thankfully the nights are lighter for longer :-)

Inadvertently I came across these images and they totally made me stop and smile - London is a super wonderful city and I’m looking forward to photographing family sessions and couples again soon xx

Stay Safe everyone xxx

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