MWIP

The decorating continues this week with me trying to decide whether to put a bold colour on the staircase or not and visits from my Sister and American Nephew. Dad has been showing them the finer points of England and we tagged along when it didn't mean a 3 hour journey across country. Enjoy signets, samples and general english quaintness. 

Photographing My Everyday

There are so many photographers out there, each have differing levels of ability and a variety of styles. It can become overwhelming to even think about adding more photographs to the enormous amount already out there. On top of this my studies have helped and hindered me equally as I look at  photographers whose works are far beyond my ability and creativity. I look at how they became so great and I feel that it's impossible for me to do what they did. I'm a student, my husband is about to become a student again, we have a little boy and a house that needs work put into it. I have projects and weddings to do, everyday household chores to attend to, how do I become the photographer I want to be under these circumstances.

My answer is to start taking pictures again. everyday. Starting today.

and to tell myself not to be intimidated by what others are creating, just create.

My Muse

I have lots of things to do with photography in my life. Studying for my MA in the subject and working as a freelance lifestyle and wedding photographer means that life can get kind of full. I've still not quite balanced the whole taking care of the house and doing all this while looking after an increasingly energetic little one. But that little one is the thing that makes me pick up my camera more than anything. Just like every Mother out there I'm feeling the time go by too fast.

So when I find photography too much I remember why it is something that is so important- it documents the most beautiful things in our lives. And he is the most beautiful thing in mine. 

Things Are Heating Up

I'm definitely busy these days that's for sure. Its a lot of fun, even if my brain can't always handle it.

I couldn't have done it all without Lucy the hands behind my addled brain. She has created some beautiful pieces for the mini sessions,  my favourite being the delicate lace crowns. Lucy is full of fantastic ideas and bursting with projects, and she's also a dab hand at pretty much anything she puts her mind to.

Below is the photo Lucy took of her beautiful creations and here is an example of how they look in practice on the lovely April.

I'm looking forward to future projects with the talented Lucy be it her ideas or my own. 

Pappa's Got a Brand New Bag

I finally decided it was time to get myself a camera bag I actually liked. And I do indeed like it.

I'm not particularly a bag person. I tend to always pick the wrong one and hate it forever because I can't NOT use it despite the fact that it goes with nothing or hasn't enough pockets. This one has lots of lovely pockets and fits all the things I need in it while still looking pretty nice (camera body with 50mm lens, 2nd lens, flash gun and iPad). I looked into quite a few different bags before I decided on "Gracie Mint". I picked her up from Jo's Totes and we're extremely happy together.

Now if you see me wandering around with it you'll know that although I look like I'm carrying just any old bag I am in fact carrying my camera equipment and I am hoping you don't mug me.

Back to School

September to me is more "New Year" than the 1st of January.  Things seem to start up in September and our inner body clocks revolve around term times that are maybe no longer part of our actual schedule.
This time however I am fully involved in back to School! I begin my Masters and start my pre-school children's portraits. So Happy new year to me.
My resolutions for this new year are
-Let go of fear
-Make goals
-Find out anyway how to get a parking permit for university! (public transport and camera gear is a no no for me!)

Wish me Luck for tomorrow! My first pre-school mini session.

Summer Snaps

Colin experienced London for the first time this Summer. we loved/hated the British Museum. Loved the museum, hated all the people. July is obviously not the best time to be a tourist there thanks to all the other tourists. We found a secret spot in Mesopotamia to sit and have a breather then we decided to sack it and get ice cream.

These photos show no evidence of people but trust me they were crawling round the place. Now I know I'm a photographer but I have to admit there are some situations where I just want to keep my camera in my bag. Summer time London was almost one until I realised Colin might be upset with no documentation whatsoever. This is mostly because I think if we're not careful we take pictures of things without really looking at them. Exhibit A of this was when Colin and I were standing in front of a display case having a gander when woman stuck her arm in and took a picture without even a glance at the actual display. Needless to say I got irrationally angry and firmly told the idling teenagers to move it so I could get out of there.

The moral of this story is- Yes take pictures, but look before you snap. Otherwise I will most likely throw a wobbler.

I Can Has Business Cards

Hey you guys, I'm serious about this.

Website Coming Soon to a Computer Screen Near You

I'm currently working hard at getting my website online and up to scratch. I'm super happy with it. I'm happy with the decisions I've made regarding business and the plans I have put in place. 

keep an eye out for my children's photoshoots at ebb & and flo bookshop starting in September.

Baby Tyler

Colin and I just made the gruelling journey home from Essex today where we were visiting my sister and her little family. The drive was horrendous in this heatwave. Our car's passable air conditioning merely blew the warm air around which was a shame. And the desperately needed chocolate sustenance had to be axed due to its fast melt rate which was nothing short of devastating. Irregardless we made it home safely and Colin almost immediately took a shower.
I took some pictures of my darling chubby nephew and me and Colin acting as if he was ours. I thought I'd throw them up here because I just love looking at him and his chunky thighs and cannot comprehend how no one else would feel the same.

Salvaged Beauty

Due to our lack of gardening knowledge our peonies bowed down with the elements making me extremely sad. Our once beautiful fluffy pink blossoms are now starting to turn brown as they lay on the ground. I decided to cut off a few of the more salvageable flower heads to fill my crown jar and make my living room beautiful. 

Happy Birthday Darling

Colin entered his solid mid twenties on Monday.

It's bad when a tie holder becomes a valid present that is received with genuine gratitude. 

And money from grandparents goes into savings.

The Way to My Heart is Through My Stomach

I had a really lovely day with Colin for Valentines. I think because we don't go on adventures enough, both being quite home birdy, getting on a park and ride to go to have a yummy lunch in preston was extremely refreshing and exciting. There's something about going out together that is so different to being together at home. We have to actually put down our books and phones and studies and cooking and cleaning and just talk. It makes you see each other clearly rather than through the haze of other stuff you've got to do. 

We took my Fuji X100 which doesn't get much of a look in sometimes as I tend to want a flash but it's worth getting out as Colin looks good with it round his neck. I'm glad we did because ever since I read an article about restaurants hating on foodie photographers (apparently some go to the lengths of standing on their chair to get the shot) I've decided that discretion is the way forward if I'm determined to show people what I had for lunch.

So here's my lunch, don't be too jealous, it was delicious. It's not my usual cheese and ham toasty or heinz tomato soup instead it's a much more elevated form of soup and toasty - celeriac and pear soup with a parma ham and fig chutney toasty on the side - which actually made me say mmm out loud (another word I can't resist in food "chutney). I'm sure you don't care anywhere near as much as me, Colin didn't, but I was in food heaven. 

If You Can't Stomach Cute Things Look Away Now

Me and my sister with her little Tyler.
Lady's man

I Was Left to My Own Devices

My current reading list as I attempt to get back in shape for a Masters. I have to admit progress is going slow and I find my hand often reaching for my Lord of the Rings. I finally got through the slightly heart wrenching Gollum adventures in the Two Towers and into Gondor with our friend Pippin. I wish I could get as lost into essays on photography as I do with Tolkien. I often have to shake his world off me when it's time to put the book down.
Not so much so with Michael Fried's slightly pretentious "Why Photography Matters As Art As Never Before."
I labour on.

99p Fondue Set

The 99p fondue set isn't what this post is about as it has been maybe 5 years since the wondrous charity shop find that was my fondue set. I though it was important to bring attention to it because I'm still chuffed about it.

This post isn't really even about fondue, although it was delicious. It's about a new diffuser I bought for my flash by Gary Fong.

So on my reading up I heard mixed reviews about the Lightsphere Collapsible especially reviews about how it showed a lack of skill to use one instead of utilising other flash techniques however one thing that I've found frustrating doing weddings and portraits is when I find myself in a situation where things go a little bit wrong.

I was taking photos for a couple for their wedding invites in a park recently and felt I was all kitted out for the occasion. I had an off camera flash kit which is a white umbrella over my flash on a stand which allows me to have the light come from any direction I fancy instead of having a harsh flash right on the couple. I used this because I had nothing to bounce flash off out in this park with an open sky and orange brick walls. 

And it failed me. 

for some strange reason my flash fell off the stand and the batteries were knocked out and I was foolish enough to have not brought backup batteries. 

I ended up having to try my best with my flash being on my camera but I was so disappointed with the harshness of the light and my lack of control over the situation. So I decided I don't care if people think it is due to lack of skill I'm not being caught out again.

So the day the lightsphere arrived I tested it out on my lovely Brophy family who had come over for dinner and really didn't want to be tested out on (thank goodness for Colin who is now resigned to his fate). Now you may not think these pictures are anything great but I rubbed my hands together with glee at these images. These pictures were taken in my living room at night with a small light on which would usually produce a grainy, often not as sharp as I would like, image but with this flash I could get the details in and that wonderful sharpness which comes with using a lovely diffused flash.

I can now use this bad boy at weddings where I'm stuck for a light source or a convenient wall to bounce light off and it means the off camera light kit can be used for formal group shots or specific lighting situations and I can focus more on getting the shots. 

This makes me very happy. 

And so does chocolate fondue. Full circle.  

Obligatory Snow Pictures

It is a rare occasion indeed when the place I live gets any other weather than rain. This means that come even the slightest hint of Summer men's tops come off to reveal teenage abs and multiple seasonal Santa Claus employees and women sprawl themselves on the nearest grassy hillock to squeeze a tan out of the struggling sunlight. It also means that come Winter a small snowfall means every school has a snow day and the local Asda runs out of sleighs within 10 minutes of opening.
Colin who works at said local Asda told me this morning as he was gritting in front of the shop this morning a group of school kids started a snowball fight with him over their exuberance at school being cancelled. It just shows how kind of lame Lancashire can be that snow beings on a kind of hysteria. But I'm sure the snow is smugly thinking "I still got it".

Thankfully for me working from home means that most days are snow days. While driving to do my weekly grocery shop today I thought it was a wonderful day to actually go outside. Colin kindly braved the outdoors with me although I knew he'd rather be snuggled up warm inside, and I though-rally enjoyed myself.
Having no work on currently meant this was the perfect time to take photos for my own pleasure.

On Top of Spaghetti

I made some delicious meatball last night. The recipe is so good from Tessa Kiro's "Apples for Jam" who's book I love for my eyes and for my belly. We had my Mum and Dad over for dinner for the first time since we got married and started living in our little house, which is actually ridiculous as they practically live on the same street. The best part was seeing Dad actually relax for once. For a retired man he's extremely busy.

Also, cannot remember if I mentioned this before but my only regret from my wedding day was that the chocolate mascarpone desert I had been looking forward to eating (really quite deeply looking forward to eating) was cleared away after 2 bites. My Mum surprised me in her task of bringing deserts when she brought me a slice of that exact piece of delectable yummyness.

speaking of yummyness.