Category BLOG

I am really excited to see this month my Boudoir Photography is featured in Absolute Bridal Magazine page 118.

I have been a Freelance Photographer since 2009, along the way I have learnt quite a few lessons here are five tips I would like to share.

1. Don’t compare yourself to others.

In the beginning I lacked confidence in my own ability and almost felt a fraud when I said out loud “I am a Professional Photographer”. By looking at the best Photographers in the world only made me feel inadequate and made me question my own ability. Look at their work and be inspired by ideas but believe in your own work it takes takes time to develop your own style.

2.  Keep it simple.

It’s easy to get so involved with what you are doing and over complicate things. For instance when I first started to use studio lights with portrait work I would read up about different set ups, use too many lights, reflectors, flags, and different lens. I have learnt to keep things simple and build up my lighting using one light at a time, if a portrait looks great with one light stick to one light.

3. You don’t need to buy every size lens.

When I started out I did a lot of research on what lenses I needed as well as talking to other Photographers about why they chose a particular lens. I still use every one of those lens today depending on the job. What has worked for me is to have a good wide angle lens 24-70mm, to have a great zoom lens 70-200mm and to have selection of prime lens including 35mm, 100mm and 85mm.

4. Keep taking pics for fun

As a professional Photographer I was finding I started to stop taking pics for fun and was only doing it for paid work. I now take pics for fun when I have time off. It allows me time to experiment, it keeps my ideas fresh and means I can take pictures without the pressure of having to produce an image for anyone but my own enjoyment.

5. Connect with other Photographers

I find it incredibly useful being friends with other Photographers, we share ideas, we refer work to one another and we have also borrowed each others equipment when needed. Try not to feel threatened by other Photographers connecting and building friendships has only ever worked in my favour. Having fellow ‘togs’ as friends can also provide you with an invaluable support network. I have joined FB groups, I network and also meet up with fellow Photographers to shoot for fun or talk over ideas.

I thought I would post a few black and white images from a recent baby shoot, can you believe little Miya is only 3 weeks old, she was sooo smiley. If you would like to know more about baby, children and family shoots at my studio please click here.

Summer is a busy time of year for most togs, so it was really nice to take a few hours off and spend it with my friend and fellow tog Jacqui Mellor. We decided to experiment with taking each others portrait in my studio on Friday.

Here are some of the shots taken by Jacqui of me…

And here are a few of my favourites which I took of Jac…

So pleased the rain stayed away, it was a delight to take pics of such a lovely couple. To see more examples of my wedding photography please click on any image below or click on this link to go to my wedding photography site ‘Love in the Lens’

This shoot was influenced by the style and feel of the TV series ‘Peaky Blinders’…

Click on the announcement below to go straight to my family photography website…

The Terrace Cafe which is in the Firstsite gallery in Colchester is under new management. A great place to get yummy cake and coffee or even share a bottle of wine over lunch. Here are a few ‘meet the new team’ pics…

I have been waiting for a fluffy cloud day, perfect to use my ND filter. A few images I took today to go on the front covers of Adams Publishing Magazine ‘Around Colchester’.