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!

New Space!

I really like my little attic office space.  It's quiet and cosy and has served me well over the last year and a bit.  But every couple of months, I've been craving a different space.  A space where I can have meetings with my families and couples who are booking me.  A viewing space where I can show people their photos after their portrait shoot or wedding.  And a display space where I can have all my work on the walls.

Well, at last, it's going to happen!  January 2013 will be the start of something very new, my new office in a great space.

This is a view of the building - the one with all the windows!  My office will look straight out onto those copper beech tress.  And it's a mere hop skip and a jump from my house.

The seed was planted when Hannah started looking for a bigger studio to design and create her lamps.  She was very excited to have found an amazing space and mentioned the other 2 offices.  My head started buzzing with ideas of how this could be the perfect spot and it came in a week when I was REALLY craving a different working environment.

So, I popped in for a peep.  I was bowled over by how light the space is and how quiet it is.  This room will be Hannah's new studio.  The carpet is going!

This is one of the other office spaces.  I'm just trying to design the room and what to put where!  The carpet is making an exit and I'm thinking about wallpaper on one of the walls.  The other two will be hanging space for my work.

No more disturbances from an attention seeking cat during a big edit (as lovely as he is!). It's just right.

Hannah's partner Robert will be moving into the other office.  It will be a creative hub.  A space for new ideas.  Designing, viewing, making, meeting, all under one roof, and we can't wait!

We get the keys at the end of this month and then December decorating will commence.  New year, new beginnings!

Franki, Ant & Luca

I have grown very fond of Franki and Ant over the past 12 months or so.  I met them last year when they booked me for their wedding in 2013.  Then, a few months ago,  I had a very excited call to say they were expecting their first baby!

Over the past few months, we have had a baby bump shoot together...

Then a few weeks later, a lovely shoot with their beautiful baby boy, Luca.... 

Franki even found time to write some lovely words on her blog about the whole experience.  You can read it here.

 It's been great to get to know them, and I know we're going to have a lovely relaxed time on their wedding day next year.  But first, we have a pre-wedding shoot to plan!