In The Simple Things!

It has been quite hard keeping quiet about this.  But now, as the magazine in question is out in the shops, I can natter away!

I love a beautiful magazine.  The way they feel, and for for some, (and I know this sounds strange), the way they smell.  I love the sound of the pages as you're flicking through them.   I admit that, for some, I just pour over the gorgeous pictures.  When I picked up the first issue of The Simple Things though, I needed to sit down properly to take it all in with a cup of tea.  I completely immersed myself in it!  It's a celebratory magazine, enjoying life's little pleasures, concentrating on the simple things that fulfil our lives.

So, to the story of the shoot. I had a very excited call from Hannah saying that the magazine would love to do a feature on her, creating something illuminating, and she wanted me to take the photos for it!  She came up with the idea of candle covers that people could deisgn and make themselves.  We sat down for a chat about the shoot, and decided on the pictures that would best document the making process.

Hannah decided on a gorgeous snowdrop design and the cutting began.

Then it was onto the next section of the crafting.  The stitching of the candle cover.

 The finished product:

 Here is a peep at the section in the magazine...

For me, this is a great end to a busy and exciting year.  I hope you all enjoy designing and making your candle covers!  I'm off to finish reading my copy of the magazine and looking forward to finding out what's in store in the next issues - thanks to my sister for my Simple Things subscription for Christmas!

Dream For Life - Taylor

In January, I will be launching a shiny new portrait package called Dream For Life.  I've been really excited preparing for this!  The idea came to me earlier in the year when I did my annual photo shoot with Amy.  This year I asked her what she would like the theme to be, and she came up with the gorgeous idea of a Teddy Bears' Picnic.  You can see this shoot on an earlier blog post here.

After taking and looking at these images, my mind was racing with new ideas.  That a child can come up with the concept for their own shoot.  It might be a character from a book or film, being a magical fairy, racing through the woods being one of the Wild Things, or sailing a ship alongside Captain Jack Sparrow, it’s entirely up to them! 

In the first instance we will sit down together and talk through their Dream For Life shoot, plotting and planning and deciding on the props we may need to make their dreams a reality.  This is what happened when I met up with Taylor.  She decided that in her shoot she wanted to make perfume.  So, we sat down together and the preps began!

We both really enjoyed styling the shoot.  So, the day came and we went down to Hardcastle Crags armed with fresh flowers, mixing bowls and perfume bottles.  We were greeted by a magical winter wonderland scene, everything was frosty and glistening.  It was perfect!  

Here's Taylor's Dream For Life shoot in full.

After we had taken all the shots, and finished sipping our last mug of hot chocolate from the flask, we packed up and left our magical winter scene behind.  I really can't wait to launch this new addition to my portrait packages.  Capturing wonderful bespoke memories that will last a lifetime.

Jacob

What a wonderful little chap Jacob is.  He made me smile all through this shoot!  His Mum & Dad, Debbie & Ian, told me about his love of the outdoors when we first met. Jacob is a real nature boy!  He loves trees and leaves, so this formed the backdrop for the shoot.

 Whenever Debbie or Ian mentioned that we were going to be playing in the leaves, this next shot was Jacob's reaction!

Some of the photos I took reminded me of when I was Jacob's age, always carrying a leaf or a twig around.

I like this little series of shots.  A little guy, in a big clearing, with the lovely autumn light shining through.

We saved the leaf throwing to the end.  Jacob was in his element!

Debbie and Ian are expecting their second baby imminently.  A new little playmate for Jacob.

This is what it's all about for me.  Natural family portraits in the great outdoors.  It was a very pleasant day at the office!

Arts Festival Exhibition

Next Thursday, December 6th, the Arts Festival team are having pre-Christmas drinks to celebrate their new move to Hebden Bridge Town Hall, and to introduce the newly appointed board members.  In conjunction with this, they are launching an exhibition celebrating twenty years of the festival in pictures.

For the past 3 years, I have been taking photographs of the Arts Festival events.  The street theatre, the comedy and music acts, and the behind the scenes photos that people don't necessarily get to see.  I've really enjoyed documenting the festival in a series of pictures.

There have been some great festival moments.  Kissmet were a highlight for me in 2010.

I was just a little bit nervous meeting Martin Parr and taking his photo whilst he was watching his amazing photos of Hebden Bridge on the Picture House screen.  A little less daunting was another Picture House encounter.  This time with comedian Chris Ramsay.  A very lovely chap.

Another nice moment was when my cousin Liz met Val McDermid.  I've never asked her what they chatted about, but I'm sure there was a meeting of minds.

And the street theatre.  I think Granny Turismo brought a smile to many a face this year as they roared over the brow of the hill on their pimped up trolleys towards the square!

I don't want to give TOO much away!  It would be great to see you all down there, either on the launch night (starting at 7.30 on December 6th), or throughout December.  The exhibition will be up until Christmas!

Caught On Camera!

At weddings, I sometimes take pictures of people taking pictures.  I occasionally wonder, when wedding guests are looking through their photos of their friend's big day, how many images of me and my camera are in there! 

I work with an assistant at a wedding and we capture the day as it unfolds from different angles.  Sometimes me and my camera make an appearance in a wedding album.  I love this shot Suzi took at Nicky & Ben's wedding this summer.

 
Recently a wedding guest specifically asked for a photo of me and my assistant.  Apparently he takes a photo of the photographers at every wedding he goes to!