National Awards for Children's Photography

This month I was delighted to received three awards for my entries into the Image of the Month competition with the Guild of Professional Photographers

The Competition is open to professional photographers throughout the UK and this was my first time entering the competition.

I selected three images which I felt were both strong compositional images as well as images which represent my style of photography.  Images submitted are graded by a panel of expert judges who represent some of the best in the industry today (Kate Hopewell-Smith, Tamara Peel and Lisa Aldersely to mention just a few).

A bronze bar is awarded for "Images of a strong standard at a professional level".

A silver bar is awarded for "Images that are very well crafted at a professional level - difficult to achieve"

A gold bar is awarded for "Images of particular distinction at a professional level (A Gold Bar) - very rare"

Only images scoring 70 or above are graded.

I was delighted to be awarded two strong bronze bars and a silver bar for my entries.  Here they are:

 Silver:

 Bronze:

Children's photography is a great passion for me - as a Mum myself I love capturing these precious images of your children as they grow.  I love shooting out on location where children have the freedom to be themselves and I can capture their true personalities. It is a great thrill to have my work recognised at the highest level by some of the countries leading photographers.

If you would like to have some portrait of your family and children then please do get in touch - I love hearing from new clients!   Lifestyle sessions are available at your home or at a location of your choosing. Contact me for more information or visit my website at www.judicheckettsphotography.com to discover more about my lifestyle photography sessions.

Judi  x



Judi is a fine art lifestyle and wedding photographer based in Oxfordshire working mainly in Oxfordshire,  Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds but will consider comissions throughout the UK.  Working on location using natural light Judi focuses on capturing beautiful relaxed images of you and your family. Using an artistic eye Judi will not just capture your memories but create a work of art which can be presented in luxury fine art albums or as framed art or canvases to hang in your homes. 

Judi also provides services for commercial businesses including headshots, nursery and pre-school portraits as well as special events such as birthdays and christenings etc.

Seductive Boudoir - making women look fabulous!

Last week I shared with you a blog about having a boudoir session and how it can do wonders for a women's self-confidence (read it here)  - today I'm showing more images taken from a recent boudoir training session with Kate Hopewell Smith, acknowledged as one of the countries leading photographers in this genre of photography.

These are some of my favourites from the session all taken by me at the fabulous Boutique Hotel Pipewell Hall in Northamptonshire.

If this has fired your imagination and you want to see what a boudoir session could do for you then please call for an informal chat and more information.  Boudoir sessions are available in your home or at a location of your choosing.

Judi  x



Judi is a fine art lifestyle and wedding photographer based in Oxfordshire working mainly in Oxfordshire,  Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds but will consider comissions throughout the UK.  Working on location using natural light Judi focuses on capturing beautiful relaxed images of you and your family. Using an artistic eye Judi will not just capture your memories but create a work of art which can be presented in luxury fine art albums or as framed art or canvases to hang in your homes. 

Judi also provides services for commercial businesses including headshots, nursery and pre-school portraits as well as special events such as birthdays and christenings etc.

Christmas Wedding at Compton Verney

Stephen and Layla picked the gorgeous art gallery at Compton Verney as the venue for their winter wedding which was held a couple of weeks before Christmas and as such was beautifully decorated for the festive period. I had the honour of shooting once again with John Cleary - professional photographer based in Leamington Spa.  While John went to photograph the bride getting ready I went to find the boys who had decided to get ready early and were already in the pub when I arrived.  The advantage of having two photographers for your wedding day means every aspect of your wedding is captured. For the bride it can be fun to look back and see what your husband was doing when you were getting your make up and hair done and for the groom and insight into the bridal preparations while he is with his groomsmen. During the ceremony you are able to get images both from the front and the back of the church and for larger weddings it really helps capture all those candid and intimate moments.

Although winter weddings are invariable cold they have a unique feel to them, the light is different being soft and lower in the sky, and in many cases there may be snow or frost which can enhance your images or as here, having a Christmassy wedding really sets it apart.  The setting in the Art Gallery at Compton Varney made a superb venue for a unique twist - here are some of my favourite images from their day.  If you are planning a winter or Christmas wedding please get in touch to discuss your photography.

Judi is a fine art lifestyle and wedding photographer based in Oxfordshire working mainly in Oxfordshire,  Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds but will consider comissions throughout the UK.  Working on location using natural light Judi focuses on capturing beautiful relaxed images of you and your family. Using an artistic eye Judi will not just capture your memories but create a work of art which can be presented in luxury fine art albums or as framed art or canvases to hang in your homes. 

Judi also provides services for commercial businesses including headshots, nursery and pre-school portraits as well as special events such as birthdays and christenings etc.

Seductive Boudoir - boost your self-esteem with a session just about you!

A couple of months back I took part in a specialist training session with Kate Hopewell-Smith dedicated to shooting gorgeous pictures of women and making them feel very special.  Kate has developed an impressive portfolio in this genre of photography and is acclaimed as one of the countries best boudoir photographers.  She is also a fantastic trainer as many budding photographers who make the trek up to the reknown Aspire training school in the Lakes have experienced.  This was my second Aspire training course with Kate and as before it was a great learning experience.

Based at Pipewell Hall in Northants this boutique hotel provided a chic location for our shoots and was the first Aspire Boudoir Training course to be held outside the Lake District. Stylist Rachel Hayton from Aspire was on hand to offer advice together with hair and make-up artists to make our ladies look sumptuous. Location is important when deciding to have a boudoir shoot - while there are advantages to choosing the right hotel for the shoot it can also be done at your home. Careful selection of your rooms for lighting, colour and overall furnishings is important as this brings your images to a higher aesthetic level.  Another key factor is preparation - this shoot is all about you as a woman.  Making you look the best you are and a little pampering in your preparation not only rewards you emotionally but also enhances your photographs. A manicure and maybe a little light tanning session before your shoot combined with a hair and make-up artist on the day will make you feel, and look, on top of the world.  Pure Indulgence!

Put a little thought into your choice of lingerie too - silk wraps and furs can be added to create a more seductive look, and soft, muted colours tone better than hard red and blacks.  Lacey tops and sheer materials also help create that seductive feel to an image.  These sessions are not about explicit nudity but celebrating a woman's body and her curves - for which the hint of what is underneath can be just, if not more, exciting. And of course don't forget your heels!

Many women choose to have a boudoir session as a present to their husbands or boyfriends but a great many also do it purely for themselves - a treat or reward which can really boost self-esteem.  None of the women we shot were models - just ordinary women for whom a little pampering, pretty underwear and good lighting can be photographed to look as beautiful as they are.  And the results are incredible - most women do not realise how wonderful they are and how good their bodies look and its worth remembering most women seeking the boudoir experience are 30-50 years young and have had children.  Seeing yourself in this way is such a rewarding experience and you have the photographs as a constant reminder of that.

The images from your session can be purchased as a fine art album, a box set of photographs or a beautiful framed fine art print to hang in your bedroom.

After your session you leave on a real high - and having invested so much in the day there is no better way to finish off the day than with a special evening out so make sure you have booked something in advance.  Keep the basque on and throw over a favourite jacket and go and have dinner with your husband/partner or girl friends.  Its been a day you won't forget!

Thank you Kate and the Aspire team - a great day learning and shooting with you!

I'll be following this up with another blog posting detailing more of the shots I took but if you are interested in booking a boudoir session call or email me for further details.

Judi  x



Judi is a fine art lifestyle and wedding photographer based in Oxfordshire working mainly in Oxfordshire,  Wiltshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire and the Cotswolds but will consider comissions throughout the UK.  Working on location using natural light Judi focuses on capturing beautiful relaxed images of you and your family. Using an artistic eye Judi will not just capture your memories but create a work of art which can be presented in luxury fine art albums or as framed art or canvases to hang in your homes. 

Judi also provides services for commercial businesses including headshots, nursery and pre-school portraits as well as special events such as birthdays and christenings etc.