J is for…
Thursday, July 30th, 2009A good couple of weeks has gone by since the last post about our Jack, so when ‘mum’ took some pics as the sun went down with a wide open aperture at 1.4 (gotta’ get some techy stuff in there) these were the results. No vegetables were harmed during the making of these shots, the carrot really is a J shape! Jack’s first home grown carrot, never mind first steps and words, this is a milestone.
Those natural shots are always the best!
Ready for my close up!
Notley Abbey prewedding shoot – Laura and Sean
Monday, July 27th, 2009We’re about to enter the busiest August wedding season we’ve had at Breathe and frankly I can’t wait. I just know we’ll all emerge the other side richer for the wonderful things we witness and amazing people we meet. Talking of which, meet Laura, Sean and their amazing son Dylan. I look forward to a fabulous day at Notley!
Father’s day
Sunday, June 21st, 2009‘Boy’ as we affectionately refer to him is now 15 months old and this is the first Father’s day where he’s been able to assist in unwrapping a couple of pressies for me! I guess from now on I’ll not get to unwrap stuff at birthday’s, anniversaries and Christmas as it’s far too much fun watching him do the honours. We were at a playground earlier this week when I took the following shots. The look of satisfaction on his face when he pilots from one thing to another on his tottering ‘ickle feet is a joy. Being a photographer of course, I had to find a playground where the props and activities colour match his clothing!
Look what flew in
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009Every now at Breathe, I’m thrown an artistic curve ball during a shoot. This one literally flew in from nowhere! My late father was a military aircraft enthusiast (I know each and every corner of Duxford) and I’ve continued to share that enthusiasm for winged vehicles, although I’m not that fond of commercial tin cans. We were shooting just off the taxiway of an unlicenced airstrip, so when a 1930s Tiger Moth made a welcome appearance my arty petrol head kicked in (would that be a wingnut in aviation terms?). It would’ve seemed rude not to have utilised this out of the ordinary prop. It didn’t become a shoot for Moth Monthly, but this was one family shoot that yielded some unusual images.
Smile for the man?
Sunday, May 3rd, 2009I reckon, standby – HUGE generalisation about to emit via this ‘ere blog… I reckon, that the main reason people have a fear of being photographed, is not that their soul will be stolen and sold to the cheapest bidder via Ebay, but they feel a pressure to bring on an unnatural smile. Such is the memory of school photographs where the history tutor (why was it always the history guy) would stand in the school photographer’s doorway and threaten you with six of the best if you failed to show your parents via a smile how wonderful your schooling days were, that many an adult now likens a trip to Doctor Camera with a one hour subjection to root canal surgery. It is true that I may as a photographer ask a sitter to smile, or at least crack a faint smiley type expression thingie to show enthusiasm for the session. But usually that’ll be during a family shoot, where you know your work won’t be displayed if you return a Victorian presentation of earnest intensity. Often though I won’t ask for that, opting to create some kind of diversion, usually by conversation, where the subjects engage more naturally. I shot two pre-wedding shoots today with couples I’ll see over the next couple of months – and I like to think, both shoots will yield some cracking images. Each session started with the usual mantra; “I hate having my picture taken.” By the end of it though, I hope that both couples felt we’d done nothing more hellish than simply walk through the countryside adjacent to my studio, popping a couple of shots here and there, and talking about their wonderful honeymoon locations. I asked one of my couples; “Now, how many times in the last twenty minutes have I told you to smile?” Just as an aside, some parents who bring their children for a family shoot will feel the shoot hasn’t yielded any gold if they don’t remember a particularly smiley visit. I’m delighted when I receive a mail or phone call to say how surprised and delighted they are with the results. A little wry smile appears on my face, naturally that is.
Indulge me, just for a moment…
Thursday, January 1st, 2009I couldn’t let 2008 go by without a simple indulgent review of some of our favourite family moments of the year past. It’s been a fabulously eventful nine months since the birth of our son Jack; certainly our busiest as a business, and undeniably our busiest as new parents! Thank you to our clients, all of whom we count as new friends. It may sound disingenuous, but when you spend your working life covering peoples’ wedding days, you really do feel privileged to be a part of something so personal and special. It feels like the start of a journey to me, as I steer the course of documenting their lives as husband and wife, and then for many, mother and father. Here are a few of our 2008 documentary moments with my warmest wishes for a fabulous 2009 (despite what the BBC and media would like to drag us in to!)
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Jack, above… during what will become the annual Sunflower contest. His mother and I have one each, Jack has one, and then Grandma and Grandad have one each also. It was all a bit competitive. Mother-in-law won.
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Just a little grab shot on my compact Leica. In the old days, luggage netting was used aboard trains to store brief cases, holiday luggage and grumpy seven month olds.
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“Not now Daddy, I’m too busy being camera shy.”
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This is perhaps my favourite from the year. Just cute. Butter wouldn’t melt… and so on.
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I saw this red car when I was Christmas shopping with Sam in Winchester. I had a green car when I was Jack’s age, and I have the rather faded picture to prove it. Kind of historical significance for me.
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A sleepy boy and it’s not even lunchtime on Christmas Day.
Parents, the real workers
Friday, June 1st, 2007[photopress:Morgan.jpg,full,alignleft]We’re not as yet blessed with the patter of little feet, but fear not ‘Mother in Law,’ our plans to keep you occupied of a Saturday when we’re out as husband and wife photographing weddings are underway! We clearly spend a lot of time in the company of children, as the family and schools side of our business is a strong part of our operation at Breathe. The wife and I, sounding like I’m at the starting line of a wedding speech, would like to think that we’re the hardest working adults on the circuit. But nothing reminds us quicker that the juggling practised by parents is a step up from where we stand today, when we watch our friends with their bundles of delight. Sam’s good friend Sophie dropped by for a couple of days Thursday through Friday with her three young lads! When I say dropped by, I fear I actually mean ‘invaded.’ If the energy of three lads aged 15 months, 4 and 7 could be harnessed in some fashion, government policy on green issues would be assisted immesurably. Joking aside, fab to see you all – and we even had a chance to grab some pics at the studio. Here’s Morgan, the eldest, enjoying a few short seconds of quiet. When children depart from the scene of devastation, they leave little presents. I’ve realised why I’m shifting so uncomfortably in my seat this evening. That’ll be the toy laser gun then.
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