POSING TIPS FOR COUPLES.

I,m often asked how do you get such relaxed looking pictures of people. There is so much to think about when taking pictures like camera settings and do I need fill flash, Or will I need the reflector for this picture. Then of course there is the background to think about, no one wants a lamp post coming out the center of the head, So I thought I would put together this small posing sample.

I used my son and his girlfriend they are not models and in fact like most males my son is very reluctant to have pictures taken. The location a small open space near my home. The lens used was a standard 50mm F1.8 .

Here they  are just standing holding hands

Let try relaxing them by asking them to step apart a little

Lets getting them facing each other and looking towards me

Now ask them to look at each other and hug.

Now lets move in close and get Sarah to look at me.

Make use of your location to add interest to the pictures...

My sons arm would have been far better wrapped round Sarah yet he felt comfortable with this pose so its best not to push and make a person feel uncomfortable...

Lets come in close so the picture feels a little more romantic...

Lets move them slightly to make them look more comfortable..

Take a few images as we move down the field a little ,capture them unaware..

Having a little informal chat can mean you get a great capture..

Just observing your clients for a second or two can mean capturing their real personalities 

No couples photo session would be complete if you didnt get that kiss....

Thank you for viewing my blog do please leave a comment you can find me on facebook or contact me via my website. The couple I used here to show how to take better images of your  loved ones or friends are not models, They are just regular every day teens. I decided to use these two to demonstrate posing for the simple reason they dont know how to pose. Being a photographer is not just about clicking the shutter button but relaxing your clients and being able to make them feel comfortable so they come away with great pictures

Frinton Essex seaside fun

I had the pleasure of photographing Jaquelyn Gladden last week, Location choice was Frinton This Essex sunshine coastal town makes a great backdrop for my vintage style  sessions. I was assited by my friend Amanda Hayler.

Poppins 

Lets Rock The Prom Frock

The year of 2011 and all those school leavers stepping out into the world, saying goodbye to old friends and hello to new ones. Leaving school can hold a mixture of emotions suddenly the people your saw everyday are embarking on a new direction in life. You may even miss the lessons you hated. Its also a great time in your life a time to have fun and decide on what path to take in life.

Then of course there is your school leaving prom a chance to dress up and say goodbye.

Sarah opted not just to wear her dress for her prom but to have a photo-session with her boyfriend. This will give Sarah some lovely pictures to look back on when she is older and maybe her daughter is getting ready to leave school. Sarah will have the memory of being sweet 16 forever.

We had a wonderful time taking Sarahs pictures and she loves them all. Many of the image you will see on here were Sarahs own idea of how she wanted the photo session to be..

Photographing the photographer

Now thats a challenge, no one is more critical than a photographer . I was up for the challenge and along with my friend and fellow photographer Simon Rich we braved a rather windy Southend on sea.
We opted for the beach area although I must admit the wind did course some problems with Joanna's hair .

I am pleased to say that Dean and Joanna love their pictures. They were a great couple to work with and Joanna was a natural in front of the camera .

Baby T,s newborn session

I really must  get more up to date with this blogging. I have had the great pleasure of being asked to photograph a fair few  tiny newborns. There is just something so special about babies, We do tend to take them for granted but every baby is a unique little miracle and to be asked to capture babies first portrait is an honour.

I differ from other photographers in my area as I come to you. I am a mum myself and know how hard it is to even get dressed in the morning when you have a new little person in your life.

All I ask from you is you have a clear space for newborns a table is actually best my time with you is not per hour I just go with how long it takes. I want my clients to feel relaxed I allow time for feeding, changing and include family and siblings where possible .

The best time to take pictures of baby is around 5 to 6 days old. I normally arrange to come as baby is having his/her lunch time/afternoon feed. This allows me to set up while your still seeing to baby.

Baby is normally sleepy which allows to get the cute little picture you see here.

I bring with me an assortments of hats and nappy covers in fact all you might liked to provide is a nice warm cup of tea.

I also do a first year book which can include maternity bump pictures right through to babies big first birthday I will return every three months to capture your new little person growing. For parents that dont mind the mess the last images can be a smash the cake session. Baby loves this part and I provide the cake and backdrop so no mess on your furniture or carpets.


Baby T was a joy to photograph  he is just  six days old in these pictures, such a darling little snuggly boy

My baby session are on special offer right now at just £15.00 for me to come out to you, images are at extra cost  starting from just £8.00

Family Time

December is a family time for me, my  very last photo session was a babies first Christmas on December the 21st. Then I was free from work to spend quality time with my family or so I thought.

The bug hit them first of all my wee daughter , then my husband had man flu, Then my 14 year old who insisted while whining on the couch  that he was brave and wouldn't give in, finally on Christmas eve my 17 year old . As for me on Christmas eve I whizzed off down to Brighton to collect my eldest son and whizzed back again to Essex getting back early hours of Christmas morning.

Christmas eve Brighton

I set out the present that had taken 5 days to wrap with a fair amount of Sellotape stress under the tree and retired to bed for an hour or two.

My little girl woke me at a sensible time of 08.30 to declare Father Christmas had been she duly then woke all her brothers who then came downstairs and demolished my hours if not days of delicate wrapped presents with ribbons and tags , the room was a mass of screwed up paper in less than 10 minutes.

At this point I did silently wonder why I didn't just  leave all the gifts in carrier bags.

Then it was off to the kitchen for me to tackle the turkey and the stuffing the pigs in jackets and roast potato,s oh and the starters. The dinning room table needed dressing with all these ill men it was left to me.

Being family time it meant collecting my  less abled mother from her home to bring her to ours for the day this was made  10x worse because of the ice.

The master piece was ready to serve and my family just kind of sat there  just staring with ohh we dont feel like dinner GRRRRRR. Half a ton of washing up later it was time to escort mother back across the frozen ice  this took two people and more than an hour.

I finally sit down at 20.00 thinking oh yes some me time when 3 boys appear at the living room door and declare they are hungry.

I some how pictured myself  in cosy clothing with a fluffy blanket a box of chocolates and the Christmas tree lights gentle twinkling around the quiet room. How wrong my dream was by now i was fit to scream.

I have come up with a plan for Christmas 2011 its called go on strike. I wont be cooking dinner they can have a buffet and help themselves . I will ask for some good books and retreat to the bedroom with a bottle of wine and box of chocolates .

Heres to Bliss

Christmas Cheer.

Those tangled lights

Not amused

THE JOY OF A NEW LIFE

Baby Alistar 7 days old 

For awhile now I have been trying to specialize in the areas of maternity and new born baby picture, I now aim to take this further offering maternity sessions right through to babies first or second year, returning to take pictures of baby and family every three months. The early years to me as a mother are some of the most precious years, The joy of watching your child turn into a little person, Those wonderful little mile stones from first smile to branching out into the world with first steps.

Of course these session could be booked after the second year for a session on the same day each year until the child reach,s 18 I feel this would make an amazing family  history book, To capture the way the family change and grow from maternity through to adulthood. Just contact me if you would like to arrange a wonderful pictorial family history.

So how and what is involved with taking images of a wee little one. For a start for me as a photographer there is nothing so special about taking babies first portrait. It is an honour when parents ring me and ask me to take these pictures. My youngest little one this year was just 4 hours old. There is something amazing about a new born a miracle we take for granted, but babies soon lose that little newborn look within 7 to 8 days its gone forever.

To photograph babies means I have to be flexible. Its best to schedule the session for just after a feed although of course new borns  have no idea when lunch time is let alone night time . I know how  difficult being a new parent is this is why I come to you, There is no time limit on the session as your little  baby hasnt a clue on time. While I am with you  its fine to take a break for feeding in fact sometimes this is a great time to get some beautiful images of the closeness of mother and baby. Just recently two of my new mothers have asked me to take images of them breast feeding and believe me that are wonderful close moments capture forever.

I ask that the room is warm enough for baby to be comfy with no clothing on, and special outfits put out as plenty of time  for clothing changes, I need a little space but not much. I try not to use flash but do use a modeling light. I bring  soft white clean blankets with me and its really helpful if dad is present just to hold these up a little. The session is relaxed with plenty of input from mum and dad as to what type of images they  would like.

Unfortunately it can be pot luck to get a picture of a newborn whom has their eyes open after all the first 10 days or so are spent doing what babies do best feeding and sleeping.

As a mum myself I understand completely that your baby is the best baby in the world, I also understand how important and precious the first few weeks are.

To arrange a baby session to fit around your needs please do feel free to contact me for a chat

Below are  some beautiful little bundles of joy I have photographed in the last 6 months as you can see each one is a unique little miracle  and a pleasure to photograph

Baby Josh aged 4 days

Baby Hector 10 days old

Baby Sienna 4 hours old

Baby Ethan 10 days old