Extended Family Shoot in Oxfordshire

Spring is not just in the air but arriving in our gardens every day.  The snowdrops here in oxfordshire are coming to an end and being replaced by the first daffodils. I was helping out at my son's school the morning and we making spring flowers from card and tissue paper to serve as table decorations so perhaps the end of winter is truly here.  I love the arrival of spring but before we leave the winter months completely I wanted to share with you some images from a Christmas shoot.  I never like to blog my clients shoots until they have had plenty of time to review the photos with family and friends - after all it is their shoot!

Emily contacted me in November last year looking for a photographer in the Oxford area.  A large party gathering was occuring over Christmas and with three generations of the family getting together for a holiday she wanted to capture some images of the occasion.  The shoot took place on Boxing Day - not usually a day I work but their stay was short and I had a pre-booked engagement the next day taking my son to the pantomine with his grandparents!  The shoot took place 5 minutes from where I live so I knew even if it was snowy I would be able to get there.  As it was we didn't have snow but a clear winter's morning. The children were adorable and comfortable in front of the camera.  here are a few of my favourite from the day, I hope you enjoy them.

Bespoke Photography Albums - your story book!

In the digital age, print is becoming a luxury item for the discerning customer who still enjoys the feel and touch of an album. I don't ask you to choose between a DVD or album as every album comes with its own set of low resolution images on disk suitable for use on your computer or social media sites so you can enjoy both! A bespoke family photo shoot is an significant investment and you will review a choice of 50-75 images from your session - it may take a while so don't worry I'll put the kettle and provide the nibbles while you relax and choose your favorites.  No doubt you will want to choose some as framed prints or canvases or perhaps a multi-aperture frame of those special images.  However, nothing quite captures the story of your family than an album where you can document all the family in flattering individual and group portraits while mixing into these relaxed, informal shots which capture everyones true personality.



There are some truly beautiful albums for customers wanting the ultimate presentation following a bespoke photo shoot.  The choice and range of styles is incredible and makes it impossible for a photographer to keep every option in stock.  My customers are looking for stylish albums with a contemporary feel that will remain a classic (and classy) choice in years to come.  Like the photographs within, the album does not want to appear dated or unfashionable in the years ahead - these are keepsake albums to be treasured and passed down through the generations.  Your memories of your life's journey are held here and I will ensure you have the products which exceed your expectations.

I have chosen two album suppliers which offer the very best: Loxley and Albums Australia. Each provides a high quality album in a range of styles and materials with choice to satisfy every customer.  Loxley albums are produced in Glasgow and include digitally printed magazine story book albums as well as matted photograph albums.  These are a classic choice and allow for a wide range of layouts. Albums Australia offer a luxurious product reflected in the price.  These albums are hand crafted in Australia and are truly bespoke. Consider a unique fine art album using your own specially chosen photographs printed onto fine art paper with a choice of cover designs, making your album one of a kind. Also available are gorgeous magazine and matted albums and a choice of leather, suede, acrylic covers in modern colour choices.

Whatever your choice, you can be assured of a superb album from the very best suppliers in the industry. Following your photo shoot I will help you select the photographs you love most and which tell your story. I will then use these to design a beautiful album for you. All albums will be boxed on delivery, ready for that thrill when you open it for the first time!!  I guarantee you won't be disappointed and you will have an album you'll keep returning to relive precious moments and share with friends and family.


Judi x

Share the Love on Valentine's Day: A Joint Promotion with Thanks A Bunch, Faringdon

I've been working with Holly at Thanks A Bunch in Faringdon almost since we moved here to The Vale of White Horse in Oxfordshire 18 months ago. I have done a collection of images for her website as well as promotional images for special occasions - Christmas, weddings and recently Valentine's day.

In the summer Debbie joined Holly and they have expanded their weddings portfolio and we did a bridal shoot at Kingston Bagpuize House. I really love going into their shop in Faringdon - the gorgeous smell or floral blooms hits you as soon as you step through the door.

Now that spring is on its way (well, it was approaching... I had a daffodil almost in flower and then the cold snap arrived!!) and Valentine's day is round the corner it presented a fabulous opportunity to do a promotion together.

Everyone ordering a bouquet of red roses (or equivalent spend) with Thanks A Bunch will receive a voucher for a complimentary photoshoot with me - What a fantastic opportunity to get some great images!!

If you are one of the lucky couples to get engaged on Valentines's Day what better than to celebrate with some romantic photos of just the two of you. A lifestyle photoshoot is all about celebrating your relationship and documenting a moment in time which forms part of the story of your lives together.

Many people wait for their wedding day or a significant date in the calendar to celebrate their love but this doesn't need to be the case - share your love this Valentine's Day with your partner and family and have a bespoke photoshoot to remember how much their love means to you.




Judi x

Oxfordshire Christening, Bridal shoot, Family portraits....reflections on 2011!

Bring on 2012!
Coming to the end of January and so many plans are beginning to form for the coming year.  First though a time to reflect on 2011.  Its been a great year after our move down to Oxfordshire and finally getting the business up and running.  I had some wonderful shoots - highlights include a gorgeous oxfordshire christening on a perfect summer's day and despite the tricky lighting with full sunshine captured some great images.  A golden wedding anniversary provided the chance to catch up with old friends and a summer picnic in Suffolk provided the perfect backdrop to the close of summer.  For me the year finished with a lovely extended family shoot on Boxing Day.

Its always great to network with local businesses whether you have a new or old business and so this year has seen me working with florist Holly Green at Thanks a Bunch in Faringdon, helping her with images for their new website.  We also worked together with Cariad bride on a bridal shoot at Kingston Bagpuize House near Abingdon - you can see the images in the new wedding brochure for Kingston Bagpuize House.

Its also been a year to keep up to date with my own personal development: workshops with Morag Macdonald and John Denton have been inspirational and allowed me to further my own creativity in my photography.  Next year will hopefully see more of this as I plan to undertake a personal mentoring course to take my photography to a higher level and really make my business deliver at the highest level.

Last but not least thanks to all those who were part of 2011 - my customers, suppliers, friends and family have all been a big part of my year and from whom I take my inspiration that pushes me forward.  As always a year comes with mixed blessings and like so many I have experienced highs and lows in the year, the joy of welcoming new life into the world as well as sadness of loved ones departed who will be greatly missed.  Photography is about capturing those moments in life that are meaningful to us and maintaining a record for years to come where we can look back and relive the memories and reflect on those times.  Life will never stand still but an image can capture a moment in life forever.

Some of my favourite images from 2011 are below, I hope you enjoy them and here's wishing you all a very happy, healthy and successful 2012!

Jx

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

Summer Picnic in Suffolk

As the days turn colder summer seems a fleeting memory, but one day in August was a day to remember for Alan and Amanda as they celebrated one year in their lovely new suffolk home.  They marked the occasion with a summer picnic to share with friends and family.  The day was a mixed one - typical of the summer just gone, with sunshine and showers, but nothing stopped the enjoyment of the occasion. 

The rain stopped in time for everyone to enjoy some glorious evening sunshine dancing to the band .  With a marquee and band playing, games for the children and plenty of food and drink on hand it was a lovely way to celebrate their move from London to the beautiful Suffolk countryside.

The photographs captures the spirit of the day and Alan and Amanda will have a beautiful album of memories to remember this special occasion.

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.