ASPIRE...just fabulous!

Such downpours as we are experiencing up and down the country right now always take me back to caravanning holidays with my parents in the Lake District. My parents were not for going abroad so we spent our summer holidays in Scotland, Wales and most often the Lakes.  On this particular occasion we did not step out of the caravan for four days due to heavy and continual rain - it was pretty miserable, even as a 6 years old the delights of camping in a forest were staring to wear thin. Mum kept us busy doing drawings and sticking pictures in our holiday scrapbook.

The similarities and contrast with my visit in March to the wonderful Aspire photographic training school were marked!  The weather was glorious - warm and sunny and awash with daffodils.  Spring at its best in the Lakes! Although not my first trip to Aspire, this visit was to be the first of many training sessions to come over the next 12 months as I embarked on their renown Bespoke programme.  I met my fellow Bespokers for the first time and was happy to be amongst a bunch of like-minded creatives with a passion for photography, each pursuing their own business goals.

The three days flew by and covered an array of different topics;  Catherine and Jane welcoming us and preparing the business ground work, highly motivating as always; Melissa Love discussing branding and creating our personal scrapbooks - yes, here I was about to get sticking again!

Our photographic shoot was led by Tamara Peel - her warmth and individual style put a smile on our faces and kept us engaged as we hunted for perfect light. By the end of the session we were all adopting brummy accents and "fabulous" catchphrases!  Finally, Phil Barber engrossed us with workflow and post-processing, and inspired us with a selection of images from his wedding shoots.  With our heads buzzing and emails of homework pouring in as we packed up to leave it was an inspiring start to our year of learning. First thoughts running already as to where to get hold of our scrapbooks...

I can't wait to see what is in store for the next visit later this month.  Until then, here are some images from our shoot on day 2 with Tamara and our gorgeous model Courtney with her Mum Anne-Marie. Tamara really couldn't have put it better. It was all "just fabulous"!



Judi x

Art Nude/Boudoir Workshop with Denton Photography (Please be aware this blog includes images of nudity)

Christmas madness has finally taken hold in our house. Icing chocolate reindeer buns at 6.30am was probably the event to tip me over the edge so in an effort to remove myself from the chaos I'm posting some images here from a workshop I did last month.

Boudoir is all the rage right now, and increasingly a popular event for brides-to-be to offer a special surprise for their future husbands.  However, its not exclusively for the young and many in their fabulous forties, flirty fifties or even sexy sixties are seeking out the attention of a good boudoir photographer who can provide a makeover/pampering session and come away with some fabulous images showing off their body at its best.

So when I found out John Denton was offering a workshop down in Dorset I decided it was a must.  As a member of the SWPP I have worked with John before, attending a members' training day earlier in the year (see earlier blogs). John is a well known photographer both as a creative and a trainer. I love working with him as he is open and willing to share his knowledge to those of us trying to get a foothold in this overcrowded industry. He also encourages you to think for yourself and try things, whether they work or not. I have been to some workshops where the stage is set up and you file through one at a time to take your shot without any thought or input to what you are doing.  Nedine of Fera Photography had kindly opened up her studio for the day to a small group of attendees and the beautiful Camilla was there as our muse for the day.  It was a typical November day - damp and freezing cold - but she gave us some great work both indoors and out with blankie and hot water bottle close to hand between shots! These are my images from the day, including Camilla's trade mark test shot pose!

This was my first attempt at nude/boudoir style shots and started with some head shots (above). We then moved on to try different poses in the studio before going outside from some nude shots, finally ending the day back in the studio (after Camilla had warmed up!).

The art of boudoir photography is a wide ranging genre and likely to be interpreted differently by every photographer out there offering this service. 

And finally the test shot - familliar to all who have worked with Camilla!  I take my hat off to her (but no more mind!) for working in such extreme temperatures to such good effect.

Boudoir differs from glamour photography by aiming to produce beautiful, tasteful and empowering fine art photographs capturing the beauty, sensuality and individuality of the subject .  While the client may be dressed in lingerie or partially nude, boudoir photography probably has as much to do with attitude than their clothes, their figure or their age.

I hope to be offering Boudoir Sessions in the near future, but anyone interested in acting as a model for a shoot can contact me and I will happily provide images on disk in return. 

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and Happy 2012!

Now, back to those buns.....
Judi x

Model portraits part 2

Time has excaped me once again and I've been neglecting my blog for too long!  There's so much to post but first to catch up on the second workshop of contemporary portraiture back in September.  Part one covered natural lighting - here part 2 looks at use of flash to give a more creative feel to a portrait.

The first two shots here used side lighting to light the right side of the body - just enough without too much contrast throwing the left side into excessive shadow. The image was shot from ground level to create a backdrop from the sky - slightly underexposing on the sky to bring out the cloud detail and using the side box lighting to light to the subject.

I choose to desaturate these images in lightroom to add to the mood.

The next set of images were taken using the quadra ranger ring flash.  I love this piece of equipment and its effects and am now saving hard to purchase my own!  The set up was simple and shot from directly infront of the subject.   I chose to put these images in monochrome to compliment the subjects outfit and setting.

                    

The final shoot was a creative piece using the oversized chess pieces.  Off camera flash was used, again shooting from a low angle and under exposing the sky to bring out detail.

                                                                                                           

                    

 The use of studio lighting techniques can enhance a portrait even used in an outdoor location. It brings additional creativity and effects the final mood of the image. Use of post-processing techniques in lightroom or photoshop can further enhance an image. 

Many thanks to John Denton, our model for the day Fredau and The Societies (SWPP)  for running the workshop.  I look forward to incorporating some of the skills and techniques acquired in future shoots.

Model Portraits - natural light

Between shooting and editing its great to squeeze in time for training.  Not only does this get the mojo and creative juices flowing but its also a chance to learn from some of the top photographers in the business. Last week I joined a small group of photographers for a SWPP members day session with John Denton.  John is an established photographer with a hugely sucessful business at both ends of the spectrum - shooting and training.

John works with a number of top models and for this session we were lucky to have the services of Fredau Hoekstra to provide our muse for the day. The morning session covered natural lighting techniques while the afternoon covered use of flash for more creative images - more on that session in my next blog.

One of the tasks we were given was to take 6 head shots (and no more!) of Fredau, putting her in the poses of our choice. My six photos are below and using tips picked up from John, I was very pleased with the results.  A good training session and more skills to bring to my next shoot. I'll be checking the SWPP members board to book my next training date!

If you are interested in a portrait shoot please contact me at judi.checketts@gmail.com to book your session. My rates are reasonable and I keep the session fun and informal!

SWPP Members Training Day - Morag MacDonald

Yesterday I attended a SWPP members training day.  It's been a while since I found time to attend an educational course for myself but it was a good reminder of the benefits and inspiration we can get from observing others work. The day focused on using natural light and creating additional lighting where necessary in a way which still retains a natural look. Something all photographers try hard to achieve! Morag MacDonald has I style I appreciate being a fellow documentary photographer so I was particularly keen to learn how she approaches her work and creates her images. Like me, she tries to avoid overly posed images and may direct on occasion rather than formally pose a shot.

Her work shows strong influences of film noir and uses natural light to create shadowy, contoured images which give her subjects a 3D feel and realism and thus creates a natural feel to her work. The ability to place a subject in the available light and position yourself as the photographer correctly to create these images is a skill and an art not learnt overnight but with many years practise and refinement. I came away from the day feeling inspired and with a passion to attempt some of what I learnt.  Although we have similarities in our style, it is not my intention to copy Morag.  As with all art and photography that inspires me, I take the learning on board to use and create images in my own style.  A few images from the day are posted below. (Thanks to our model for the day Vivienne Edge).