NEWS/BLOG - Latest Shoots

2012 was an interesting study in meteorology, if you like that sort of thing. It also showed the power that a hosepipe ban can have over the weather too, i.e. announce one in Summer and watch it rain for the rest of the year!
This photo shoot was victim to the weather on too many occasions. The first attempt had to be abandoned half way throuth because of the wet stuff, and two rearrangements were postponed before we started. Eventually though it did happen, even then it was very grey and cloudy.
This was a first for me...the first time I'd shot portraits of identical twins. Namely Thomas and Jack, along with little sister, Hannah. I know people close to them could tell them apart, but me? No way!! They were even dressed the same, I mean, what chance did I have??
Still, with guidance from Mum, I got there in the end. Hannah was a star as, like most girls, she couldn't wait to have her photo taken, but the boys were fantastic too. Teenage lads and photo shoots don't generally go hand in hand, boys of a certain age aren't normally too comfortable in front of the lens, so hats off to them...Well done boys!!

Samuel and his mum Natasha were the subjects of my first shoot of 2013. It was a rather chilly affair, snow free, but it certainly felt like winter on Gorleston Beach last weekend. The Easterly wind in this part of the world is particularly lazy, selecting not to go around you, but instead right through you. So the order of the day was to inject a bit of energy into proceedings to keep everyone warm, well except yours truly. I wouldn't have lasted five minutes trying to keep up with my two subjects! A few Mother and Son races seemed to do the job. Despite Samuel coming a close second each time, he was sporting enough to reward Mum with a congratulatory kiss....

As some of you may or may not know, I turned forty earlier this year. My wife bought me a Norfolk Broads & Coast Landscape Workshop with local professional Landscape photographer Chris Herring.(www.theuklandscape.com). Photographically speaking, landscapes were my first love. Trudging around the Norfolk countryside and beaches alone and at some ungodly hour capturing images is not everyones cup of tea, but I love it. So this gift from my long suffering photography widow, was more than appreciated.
It was a warm, cloudless Saturday afternoon when we started at the derelict Brograve Mill, near to Horsey Windpump. After shooting for an hour, we moved onto Happisburgh Lighthouse then to the beach to capture some incoming wave action, finishing off at the beautiful How Hill, and Turn Fen Mill for sunset. Here we jostled for position with the pleasure boats, and waged war on a cloud of very hungry midges. For the record, I lost twelve bites to nil, but I will have my revenge...mwah ha ha ha!!
It didn't dampen my enthusiasm one bit, as the shots in the bag more than made up for the constant itching of the next three days. I posted below my three favourite images from the day. I'm left itching again now, only this time to get out and do some landscapes now the conditions become more favourable....

Happisburgh Lighthouse


Waves battering the sea defences at Happisburgh Beach


Turf Fen Mill at Sunset

You may have seen a piece I posted earlier this year called 'Boudoir To Do Or Not To Do'. Well, I'm pleased to report someone decided not only 'to do', but has also allowed me to post a few of the images. In return, I promised I wouldn't mention any names!!

The shoot itself was brilliant. It all went to plan, and felt very easy and comfortable for both myself and initially nervous subject. My only problem has been which images to post! I had so many wonderful ones to choose from, but as I couldn't show them all, I've decided to pick a few which represent the different settings and backdrops used in the shoot.
This shoot took place at the clients home, I made use of a couple of rooms to give a number of different scenarios for the images. Some are solely flash lit, some are just daylight, but it goes to show what can be achieved without fancy studio set-ups.

Just to give you the clients point-of-view, I asked the lady in question to give me a few words words which summed up the experience for her, and this is what she said.....

"Before the shoot I was really nervous, but as soon as the shoot started I felt really at ease with the whole process. I was excited about seeing the photos, and I wasn't disappointed, the photos were exactly what I wanted, they are amazing.
I would definitely recommend it to any ladies out there, it makes a fantastic present for hubby/boyfriend/girlfriend. It does wonders for your self-confidence, a brilliant experience, and one I think everyone should do once in their lives!!"

I can't really follow that, other than to ask you to check out the images below. Comments are very welcome either here on my Facebook page... Thank you!

Young Polly was the subject of another my recent shots, this one taken in her granparents' picturesque back garden in Corton. After all, a pretty girl deserves a pretty location doesn't she?

At the end of July I carried out my first planned portfolio shoot of the summer. I've been trying carry out a few of these sessions in order to update my portfolio with some different styled images. With the wonderful wet weather we've been having, it's been more than frustrating, resulting in a number of weather related postponements. However, my luck changed one evening, with a shoot finally coming to fruition. This session was carried out on North Beach, Great Yarmouth with Emma and Ashley. I was more than pleased with the shoot and the final images....

Another busy six weeks have flown past since my last update, so here are the highlights and some of the images from my recent shoots.
It was back to Burgh Castle Fort, my new most popular location, for two more shoots. The first was a family portrait session on an overcast Sunday morning in July, with Sintije, Lee and the very smiley Oliver. The youngster was a very easy subject, and appeared to enjoy the outdoor experience as the photos go to prove....







A different shoot in August with siblings Will, Lara and their cousin Danielle. This one was an evening shoot, with the beautiful soft light that accompanies this time of day. There was a lot of energy being expelled during this session, which I did my best to keep up with, but at my time if life, there was only going to be one loser...!

My third new portrait location in as many shoots was the very quiet Priory Gardens in Gorleston. At the time of the session we on the East Coast were suffering with high winds, and so, with this shoot being for a recently turned one year old little lady, a suitable sheltered location was a priority. Young Maci-Jai was a star and after a little bit of coaxing from yours truly, and a lot of hullabaloo from her parents behind me (which included a fantastic rendition of the Chuggington theme tune), the little lady did what she was meant to do, that being to be cute in front of the camera.
Pick of the shots is this one of her studying a daisy flower.....beautiful!!

Another new portrait location for me, Caister Beach. If you peruse my landscape images, you will see I am no stranger to this wonderful stretch of sand, but I'd never taken a portrait session here. That changed with a family shoot for Emma, Stephen, Harvey & Skye on a very hot and sunny Saturday June morning. As well as the usual stationary shot set-ups, I harnessed young Harvey's energy to capture a few more dynamic images. I enjoyed the shoot immensely, even though I finished it some what more tired than I started. Having to keep up with the action certainly kept me active too!

It's been a busy last month and a bit for me, and as usual the one thing that seems to suffer is posting what I've been up to onto this website! Let me change that now, and fill in what's been happening....
Back at the end of May I was asked to take images of at Bluebell Woods near Gorleston. This was a new location for me, and always a good thing to expand the amount of locations to offer. Sadly, the bluebells were just coming out of their peak, but I'll be setting myself a reminder to get there slightly earlier next year to catch the show! Despite the minor floral setback, the shoot was a success. Brothers Ben and Robbie with their older sister Bethany and her boyfriend Daryl were the subjects getting back to nature, some embracing it more than others, much to my amusement!

I was back to the wonderful location that is Gorleston Beach at the end of March, to shoot images for Emma, Ashley, Lucy & Alfie. It was a beautiful, bright spring afternoon with a slight chill in the air, but this didn't stop young Alfie, who kept out the cold by constantly moving! I can't speak for the family, but I certainly enjoyed the hour or so I spent with them for the session.
Family shoots are so rewarding, as the children are very entertaining just by being themselves, and images captured always bring a smile to my face. This session was no exception, Alfie was fascinated by the sea(why wouldn't he be?!) and kept Mum and Dad on their toes by making the odd dash for the surf. Both Lucy and Alfie were fantastic throughout, and I am more then pleased with the shots I took.

On Tuesday night I managed to achieve some good luck with the weather and conditions for my continued work on my latest landscape commission.Fresh(?) from a 30 minute run only an hour before hand, I made it to Burgh Castle and yomped to the riverside view in time for the golden light that had been missing on Monday evening. I was far from alone though, the place was very popular, with a lot of people gathering to view the sunset.
I'm hopeful of a more dramatic sky to appear in the not too distant future, but whilst we have this hot period, I doubt it will be anytime soon. So I'll be back to anxiously watching the sky in the west every evening until one appears, which is a ritual that my wife enjoys hugely!!

Editing has begun on my latest portrait shoot images, a fantastic session with the Buckoke family at Gorleston Beach. One of many great locations in the area for some portrait shots. I didn't have time to make sandcastles, but had a lot of fun getting some great photos. As good as the Buckokes were, the real star models were George and Rosie, seen below, having a cuddle on the post. Surely this must count as the pinnacle of my career so far!!

Now that summer is fading and autumn is on it's way, I can add some landscape photography back into the mix. Sunday morning I had the pleasure of working on a landscape commission at the ruined remains of Burgh Castle fort. As you may see by my landscape portfolio I have shot many evenings at the marshes near Burgh Castle, but never at the fort.
I arrived late at 6.30am, most of the pre-dawn colour had faded (Note to self, the snooze button is not an option!!) Luckliy, the sky was fairly clear, so I didn't miss too much, photographically anyway. I'll soon get back into the habit.
That said, I loved the hour and a half I spent wandering about the ruins, trying various compositions, I had the place to myself, bar one or two occassional dog walkers. The peace and quiet was food for the soul!!