Back on Track!

Gosh, it has been some while since the last post and for quite a good reason too.

A few weeks back I was out of the country again, this time in Florence. I was fortunate enough to have attended a workshop run by an amazing photographer Jerry Ghionis. Jerry has won countless awards for Weddings, Portraits and Album Designs and was voted as one of the world's top ten photographers by American Photo magazine in 2007.

The flight over had some great views as we passed the Alps :

We stayed in Villa Il Poggiale, located in the Chianti region of Tuscany. This is the gorgeous view we had from the front of the Villa:

Jerry's workshop was all about wedding photography and we studied various subjects to improve our overall "efficiency" in many areas, covering such things as lighting, posing, marketing, business etc Many of the topics covered took me right out of my comfort zone, especially posing, as that's not what I do as a rule. However, with perseverance, I realised that everything has its place at the right time and I have taken away some exceptionally valuable ideas.

All in all it was a fantastic workshop, with great company and great food in a great location. The following shots are a couple that I took during the week, and I am obliged to point out that these are professional models and that makes the job sooo much easier. Having been shown some 'poses' by Jerry throughout the week, the aim was to try and replicate them, whilst not looking too contrived and keeping it real.

Melissa and Renee looking lovingly lovely:

My artistic take on a pose setup by Jerry:

Our gorgeous model, Sylvia, posed by me in the centre of Florence:

The lovely Melissa again:

With all this new found knowledge and alternative approaches to posing and lighting, I cannot wait to get cracking with it! I shot a wedding this weekend just gone and have already employed some of what I picked up at the workshop. Look out later in the week for some of Jayne and James' photos.

A QUALIFIED Master Photographer I am!

Well, good news all around. On Wednesday of this week, I officially qualified as a member of the Master Photographers Association.
MPA is the professional organisation for Master Photographers in which all qualified members adhere to a strict Code of Conduct and have undergone qualification to at least Licentiate standard.

Established over 50 years ago, the MPA is unique in that it only allows full-time professional photographers to remain in membership. Each must have undergone a rigorous assessment of their work - and only then do they appear in the MPA's Online Directory and can add the MPA logos to business cards and stationery.

According to the MPA website, all members :

* Strive continually to uphold the professional standard of their work and to improve the standard of practice in the profession as a whole.

* Conduct themselves so as to uphold the reputation of the Association and with it the spirit and dignity of their profession.

* Deal fairly, honestly and helpfully with their clients, employer, employees, suppliers and fellow members and when required to give professional opinion shall do so conscientiously and without malice.

* A member shall exercise all reasonable skill, care and diligence in the discharge of their duties and, in so far as any of their duties are discretionary, shall act fairly and in good faith.

* A member shall at all times and in all respects conduct their professional and business operations within the law.

Well, this sounds about right, and all of these points are things that I have been doing for some time now, as a matter of course.

So, if you have booked me for your wedding or lifestyle shoot this year, this qualification should come as good news to you. If you have not yet booked me, or are thinking about doing so, please get in touch soon.

Weddings are almost at a close this year - I will only be accepting a few more bookings, so call now for a no obligation consultation.

Harriet & Alex's pre-wedding shoot

Yesterday I found myself at Pembroke Lodge again, in Richmond park, for another pre-wedding shoot. The deer were out in force and the squirrels were scampering around and boldly presenting themselves for food!

Harriet and Alex will be married on the 21st June 2008 at the gorgeous Petersham Hotel. We took a quick trip to the Petersham after the shoot and it's amazing! Lot's of wonderful opportunities there ... I am really looking forward to shooting there.

Now, a recurring theme amongst my couples is the nervousness and worry about having photos taken. Most people are nervous the first time, you are not alone. Harriet was especially not looking forward to the shoot yesterday, but within 20 minutes or so, she got into the groove and did brilliantly - we worked some lovely shots.

This is why the pre-wedding shoot is so important, even if you start to wonder whether it can be skipped ... one recent bride to be saw her shots and told me, "my confidence has grown after seeing those shots! Can't wait for the day.... "

Testament to a successful pre-wedding shoot, don't you think ?

So, enough rambling, here are my favourites from yesterday's relaxed and most enjoyable shoot: