Laundry Day

Posted on October 13, 2017April 8, 2018 Posted in Fashion Photography, Photography, Portrait PhotographyTagged editorial, editorial image, fashion, Fashion Photography, launderette, model, mua, photographer, Photography, Portrait Photography, retro, vintage1 Comment

Do you ever just get the feeling you want to roam around a launderette, on a Saturday, while customers wash their duvets? I have for the last year as I drive past one on my Friday journey home from work. A launderette, I thought apart from Eastenders, who even uses one now?

I contacted the owner of laundramagic, Helena, which was a big deal for me because this was my first official location pitch. This is where you say “what are you scared of? You do this for a living”, well actually a lot of my work was very studio based at the beginning or locations that are convenient to me. The pitch for the launderette was completely new to me, and I hate to say it, social media helped me combat that, I met with Helena through facebook and arranged a meet-up. Hindsight will tell me to create great art you need to get out of your comfort zone. Give up your preconceptions of people and attitudes because people want to be a part of something awesome, and that’s what this was. If only I was this sane.

It’s at this point where I highly recommend building a Pinterest board showing your ideas. No one tends to understand them until they see the finished result, in this case it’s a load of washing machines in a photo, how is that aesthetically pleasing?
That’s how!

I approached a friend of mine, Bex Sweeney, a makeup artist in Swindon and got a plan together. Filled with wacky and wonderful ideas that then stemmed to, why don’t we just have fun with washing machines as a theme? Original huh?

Our model Beats returned to work with us, who I originally shot in the image below, how skills change! And we went cameras in tow to the launderette.

By far the most exciting photoshoot I’ve experienced, customers trailed in throughout the day with socks and pants from the previous week, I met what felt like the entire family of Helena and was made to feel a part of it and the tumble dryers were too hot so were a shutter away from melting the makeup off! Helena was taking photos of the shoot to tell her daughter what was going on who didn’t believe this was happening in her mum’s launderette. I love telling people my ideas because they look at me like I’m insane and I get to prove to them that I am but I also take great photos!

To use the launderette, as payment, we made a donation to Mind, a mental health charity which I would recommend looking into, they do great work.

Body Confidence with Lilly

Posted on October 2, 2017April 8, 2018 Posted in Blogger Photography, Photography, Portrait PhotographyTagged be positive, blogger, body, body confidence, Confidence, lifestyle, love your body, love yourself, personality, Photography, Photoshoot, portrait photographer, Portrait Photography, positivity1 Comment

We all know that body confidence is such a big topic, a topic that I love to see how people combat and express, and for a while, I’ve used it at the subject of a lot of my photography without knowing it.

Taking inspiration from Alexandra Cameron who started offering confidence shoots, first with Meg at Wonderful you, I approached Lilly who had written several blog pieces on her attitude towards her body. Her recent post about this shoot was very eye-opening from me as a photographer, the irony is not lost on me where I hate having my picture taken, and knowing my images made someone feel that great made me feel great.

View some of the images below and don’t forget to read Lilly’s post all about how to gain the confidence to do something like this, the complete collection is here.

Be warned, this post may contain bottoms.

Life of Lilly lying on her bed in her green jumper Close up innocent portrait of life of lilly Life of Lilly holding her body with her back to the camera Overhead portrait of life of lilly lying on her bed Life of Lilly Blogger lead on her bed with her back to the camera Close up portrait of Life of Lilly led on her bed

Living it up with Lilly

Posted on September 23, 2017April 8, 2018 Posted in Blogger Photography, Photography, Portrait PhotographyTagged Colour, lifestyle, people, photographer, Photography, Photoshoot, Portrait PhotographyLeave a comment

Bicester Village is one of the coolest places to roam around and (if you’re normal unlike me) shop, Lilly and I thought we would explore, resist the urge to shop and do a mini photo-shoot. Lilly is a blogger full of brilliant ideas and definitely loves the camera – which makes my job easier.

Take a look at the images from our venture round Bicester Village.

Jade and Tom’s Wedding

Posted on September 21, 2017April 8, 2018 Posted in Couple Photography, Photography, Wedding PhotographyTagged anniversary, photographer, Photography, Wedding, wedding photographer, Wedding Photography, wedding planningLeave a comment

On Friday 16th September last year, Jade and Tom tied the knot, and I was the lucky one allowed to capture their special day! This post marks their one year anniversary, congratulations to you both.

Childhood sweethearts, these two have been together since Secondary School. What an achievement in itself! As well as this, all their friends, from their childhood that have seen them grow up together, helped create such a special day for them both.

Mary Berry eat your heart out!

Situated in the heart of Wiltshire. Wellington Barn provided the perfect backdrop, with acres of fields, beautiful views and a stunning venue to work with.

Make-up by Freya Pixie Makeup Artist

Hair Styling by Sian Hadden Hair Stylist

behind the scenes wedding portrait of bridesmaid

Wild wedding bouquets with a vintage filter

wedding sunset portrait with bride and groom kissing

Blue bride shoes inspired by sex and the city

Polaroid is back

Posted on September 17, 2017March 18, 2018 Posted in Film Photography, PhotographyTagged camera, classic, film, impossible, photographer, Photography, polaroid, polaroidoriginals, polaroids, vintageLeave a comment

On my twitter this week you would have seen various tweets from me losing it over Polaroids very exciting, and cryptic, return. Impossible project, who I have been an avid investor of in the last three years, went dark and on 13th September became Polaroid originals.

After the purchase of Polaroid by the family of the Impossible Project, back in may, the long process of re-branding and getting the iconic Polaroid’s name back on the film began.

For those of you who don’t know, back in 2004 Polaroid stopped producing instant film, believing that they had enough to supply, however demand exceeded expectations and by 2008 the film was almost gone. Due to the digital movement Polaroid shifted it’s business plan and would shut it’s factories. With the resources from Polaroid sold off and destroyed, Impossible had to start again, hence the long developing time, quirks in the film, expense and the “Impossible” name. They all believed it to be impossible!

Impossible bought an old Polaroid factory and begun, from scratch, to produce instant film for classic 600 and sx-70 Polaroids again. With the knowledge there was a market out there, just look at vinyl! Starting from scratch their film wasn’t perfect, especially wasn’t instant, but this was part of my love for it. They brought back the Polaroid we all remember, it was expensive but, it was just amazing to see the passion again.

The first instant camera was imagined by Edwin Land’s daughter, at the age of 3, who wanted to see the photo her father had taken of her on holiday straight away. And with that Polaroid as we know it was born. Now 80 years later, Polaroid’s name is back on the instant film products, with a new kid on the block. The new i-Type camera is bringing Polaroid into the 21st century with the one step 2, it looks like a Polaroid camera but it has rechargeable batteries (WITH A USB!), a self timer and powerful flash. A Polaroid for Millennials

This is why I own two Polaroid cameras instead of a Fuji Instax, the Instax can be fun, but the Polaroid has blood, sweat and tears – maybe I’m a bit bitter.

Let’s bring back the Polaroid generation!

I live it I blog it

Posted on August 29, 2017April 9, 2018 Posted in Blogger Photography, Photography, Portrait PhotographyTagged aboutme, dreams, iliveitiblogit, Inspiration, Motivation, nomination, Personal, photographer, Photography1 Comment

A couple of weeks ago, Lilly nominated me to post for the #ILiveItIBlogIt series where the subject of your blog post is a personal story that means something to you, or shaped you in some way. I spent quite a while racking my brain for something to tell you, thinking nothing has really happened to me that has shaped me, and then something came to me and it’s more of a chain of events really.

So here is my personal post – with Beth Roach Photography, I always try to give a personal experience so you can get to know the woman behind the lens (Wow bit cringey) but this is something I’ve never really written about.

When I left college I was a determined/stubborn girl who was going to follow her dream no matter what. I decided against the idea of uni, which many of my friends and peers had prepared for, sure that if I was to do any degree it would be photography and to me, it was a waste of money and time when I could go out into the real world and develop my skills on my own.

Soon after the summer was over and people went away, I fell into my “dream” job. A studio where I was actually getting paid to do what I always wanted. I met lovely people, used a camera every day and began to grow as an adult – everything I ever wanted.

As time went by, the job began to be a chore, I wasn’t getting paid on time/in full, I was getting stale in my work and it just started to feel like a sales pitch each day. For someone so young it became a massive burden on me and I just believed that I had to do it because it was my dream.

A year of these feelings took a hold on me, I hated getting up for work, people would think I was taking things for granted – how “easy” it was to get into this industry. For a while I believed them, thinking I was ungrateful and this was just the “real world”.

On a day off, I had gone to the beach with a friend and was due to see an old work friend that evening. I got talking with my friend’s parents about how much I didn’t want to go to work the next day, how my love for photography had gone and how I had failed at my dream. I was a wreck, I had never shown myself so vulnerable to almost strangers before and it was like I’d finally admitted something I’d hidden from myself and others for so long.

Over the next few days, I went back to work, nothing got better and I quit and went back to the job I had at college. Feeling like a complete failure. I was completely taken advantage of for my age, talent and enthusiasm and I was never going to touch my camera again.

It took me a year to fall back into photography, friends and family would nag me and say it’s such a waste that I don’t do it anymore and I always promised I would one day just give me time. And here I am.

As I look back on it now all I can think of is that you are not prepared for this at school or college, you are prepared to get grades and go to uni, but what do you do when you completely lose your way.

Don’t let anyone take your passion, dreams, confidence or enthusiasm away.

Award winning studio portrait

Posted on August 21, 2017April 9, 2018 Posted in Awards, Photography, Portrait Photography, Studio PhotographyTagged award, Awards, Canon, competition, Photography, Portrait Photography, Portraiture, Studio, Studio PhotographyLeave a comment

I’ve never entered a photography competition before, mostly out of fear and lack of confidence in hearing what others think of my work. Jess from busy bees photography suggested that I submit an image I created from our photography group last month, an image that I loved the moment I created it, to the monthly national photographic society.

Sceptical at first I submitted it anyway, telling myself that it didn’t matter what anyone thought as long as I loved it!

I received a highly commended award and I couldn’t be happier. It’s given me such a buzz and I would encourage everyone to just push yourself out there, it can do you the world of good and it’s so motivating to create something new! If I can do it, you can!

Andrew & Pia – A year of marriage

Posted on August 17, 2017April 9, 2018 Posted in Couple Photography, Photography, Wedding PhotographyTagged anniversary, marriage, photographer, Photography, Wedding, Wedding Photography, weddingphotography

It’s crazy to think it’s been a year since Andrew and Pia got married, a lovely celebration and a big day everyone had been waiting for. To mark their anniversary I wanted to look back on their happy day and see how their first year as man and wife has treated them.

What was your favourite part of your big day?

Andrew: “When Pia walked through the door.”

Pia: “When I was standing there with Andrew, it was like I didn’t need to think about a thing. He also gave me a massive bear hug when they pronounced us as husband and wife which made me feel so safe.”

Do you have any advice you would give your past selves or anyone else about to embark on their own wedding?

Pia: “Don’t stress, at the end of the day everything will happen, and because you are marrying the right person you will have a lovely day whatever happens.”

Andrew: “Plan and make several lists in time order, also buy plenty of alcohol. Remember: you’re not marrying a cake!”

How has the first year gone by for you?

Andrew: “It’s been fantastic!”

Pia: “Nothing has really changed, just a sense of calming and a feeling of security and safeness.”

What have you learnt from each other in the last year?

Andrew: “Pia farts!”

Pia: “She can’t post that! What I have learnt is that it is possible to feel complete.”

What has changed since you’ve been married?

Andrew: “Nothing has changed, just a continuation of how it was before we were married, you just feel more complete. It’s the natural progression of a good relationship.”

Pia: “The ceiling needs painting Love.”

You did buy a cat, Eva, as a wedding present to yourself…

Andrew: [Chuckles]”Big mistake…”

Pia: “She is both of ours then – she’s crazy, lovable and fits in our home perfectly. We’ve been through some troubles since we’ve been married and if it was possible it brought us closer together, things have happened and we’ve been a huge support to each other.”

What advice would you give people about to celebrate their first anniversary?

Pia: “Don’t overthink everything, nothing needs to be perfect, keep things simple.”

Andrew: “Everyday is an anniversary.”

What were your favourite images from the big day?

Pia: “I have two; the one of George and I, even though he did drag me down the aisle, and Andrew and me hugging – we didn’t realise you were taking that and it just captured the feeling that in that moment all that mattered was Andrew and me.”

bride and groom hug as they are announced as husband and wife

Andrew: “This one was mine”

Photographing their special day was a pleasure and I wish them many more happy years together.

We run the world

Posted on June 8, 2017April 8, 2018 Posted in Photography, Portrait PhotographyTagged camera, Canon, Photography, Photoshoot, Portrait, portrait photographer, Portraiture

Today I’m talking about us girls – no sexism intended! In my previous post, I briefly mentioned joining an all female photography group, a place where female photographers can feel safe and inspired while offering photography workshops to develop skills, or even just for a chat.

Every month we will be participating in a competition based on a topic or phrase and our first was “Women only” – very fitting to start us off. Mind maps and lists later I had an idea, something a bit out there(“You’re a bit weird, darling. A good weird though!” – the boyfriend said.) but I wanted to stand out, there’s no point in hiding it all away, plus as a push to my confidence I had forced myself to do it. The shoot did not go to plan, I had one specific idea that was not going right, until my last shot where something had finally fallen into place!

Now you might be looking through this post and seeing images I took of Chloe and Maddy and be thinking “This doesn’t look very Women Only to me”, and that’s because I won’t be sharing my image on here. The reason being is it took a lot for me to share it with a group of women I don’t even know, and the people that know me know how hard that would have been. It’s an image that will prompt a lot of debate, and a debate I’m not ready for, maybe one day though!

I did receive a runner-up prize for having confidence in my work, which seems pretty ironic now. The criticism is always something I will struggle with, but hopefully, as I progress I get used to it and don’t take everything to heart. We’ll be going for the win this month!

Oh! So these images of the girls and the reason for them (if you need one) is I was given a new lens for my 22nd birthday. It’s a very exciting bit of kit that has me reaching for my camera bag every day – she says even though she left it at her boyfriends for 4 days, seriously, who manages to leave a camera bag behind? All the images above were taken with it, big thanks to the girls who just wanted a quiet drink but, it was the golden hour and I just needed to practise!!

Bluebell Photoshoot with Evie

Posted on May 27, 2017April 8, 2018 Posted in Baby Photography, Photography, Portrait PhotographyTagged family, Flowers, PhotographyLeave a comment

“Why aren’t they pink?” – Evie

April 2017

To mark the beginning of Spring, I had the pleasure to shoot a gorgeous little girl and her mother. Evie and Danielle were a pleasure to have a session with, a time full of laughter and love, which makes me smile just by being able to share the images. Not only did I want to show Evie’s character, the love between mother and daughter was more such an important thing that I had to do justice.

To start the session off with “Why are the Bluebells not pink?”, was telling to how much fun we were going to have. Evie played, jumped, ran and laughed, so quickly it was almost a challenge to keep up with her. And her beautiful ginger locks were a perfect contrast with the backdrop of bluebells.

Evie was full of laugh’s until the last ten minutes when she told me it was time to go home, however, not before capturing this gorgeous moment between the two of them. All I can say is it was a pleasure to spend time with these ladies, get to know Evie, and start looking for other locations with Pink flowers instead of Blue!