Iceland 2012: North Herts Portrait photographer

It was a spur of the moment thing, that resulted in us booking a short break to Reykjavik, Iceland. We used to travel so much before my spine problems, but the fact I couldn’t sit down, put paid to a lot of our travelling in 2010- 2011. I have now been given a clean bill of health and signed off from my surgeon. My bone graft in my spine is doing very nicely and I just have another year and a half to recover fully and be as good as new !

We left England on what was going to be the hottest weekend of the year. We arrived at a grey, drizzly Iceland .

Great !

It’s a bit of luck I don’t really like it hot, so I was glad to be away from the oppressive heat of our house. But as it turned out the sun came out for us, when it really mattered in our trip. Above is the views from the shore right outside our hotel.

Reykjavik is so small. It’s centre is not really more than a few streets. We got to know it very well over our 4 days there.

More people live in my home town of Stevenage than live on the whole of Iceland. It also doesn’t ever get that cold there and has a pretty constant temperature. I bet that surprises you !

We went whale watching, and got the giggles when I said to Chris that someone had dropped their peanuts on the boat deck. He pointed out to me, that it was in fact a poor old blokes muesli from his earlier breakfast. We had made sure we had taken travel sickness pills, I bet he wished he had.

We then went to the Blue Lagoon. A geothermal spring in the middle of the biggest volcanic landscape I have ever seen. Chris said it was the most expensive bath he had ever had, to the coach driver. At 80 Euros it was a bit steep. We both got so sunburnt from the reflection off the sun on the water.

In fact a familiar eggy smell from the baths has just wafted up to me, here at my desk?……. Low and behold it’s Teddy farting away in his sleep below me. It’s the same yucky sulphur smell. Chris moaned everyday after his shower about the smell from the tap water. I steered clear of it, I didn’t want to waft of that smell all day, thank you very much.

Just off the main high street in Reykjavik is the most amazing graffiti. It covered a lot of the buildings and looked like most of it was done by the same artist.

What a great backdrop for an urban style photo shoot.

We got to see Iceland's famous geysers and waterfalls. The split in the earth you can see in the image below is where the American and Eurasian tectonic plates are moving .  This is what creates all the volcanic activity on the island. The evidence is all around you when you are there.

and of course I couldn’t finish this post without including an image of Chris wearing a beautiful Icelandic woollen hat. It’s a shame it was so expensive, I mean doesn’t he look dashing with a moustache and a beard……. LOL

All the way from Texas: North Herts Portrait photographer

I have been so busy lately, I just haven’t had the spare time to blog. At this moment I am waiting for some children to arrive for a shoot. The car is all packed up, so I thought I’d start this blog post.

A month ago I attended a Jinky Art workshop in West Sussex. It’s fair to say I didn’t have the greatest of times. I became ill on the day I left and deteriorated over the three days.  Add to that disappointment about the workshop, weather and other things that happened I haven’t felt in the mood to blog about it. I thought that maybe it was just me and my high expectations, and I came home and deleted the feedback email and just put it all down to a lesson learned. But it turned out I wasn’t the only one disappointed. This is all really for another blog post, as I still am a little hot under the collar about it. So I decided I would give them feedback after all.

It turns out Barbs assistant has informed me that mine was the worst feedback they have ever received ! I received a reply to mine from Barb’s husband ! Any way that’s all for another post. I haven’t even looked at the photos from the workshop or edited any of them yet.

I came home thinking I didn’t want to be part of this “ professional photographer ” profession. I had major issues with the pricing that was talked about. So I decided that I was going to put away my camera for good . But I had some shoots already booked, and I am never one to let anyone down. so I went ahead with them.

It was already arranged that a Texan couple, Jennifer & Dwight who live and work in London, would be bringing their two beagles for a “family” style shoot. I arranged some beautiful locations and we talked a lot in emails before the day arrived. Sadly, just days before the shoot, one of the dogs was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

It was a beautiful warm Saturday that Jennifer, Dwight ,Tye and Teddy arrived in Baldock. Tye was too ill to be taken to some of the locations, so we used the beautiful nature reserve opposite my home. He picked up during the shoot and enjoyed walking along the trail.

Sadly, Tye had to be put to sleep on the Monday after the shoot. It felt wonderful that I had been able to capture some beautiful images of Tye and his family for them to treasure for always.

It restored my faith in working as a photographer. It wasn’t about the money for me. Yes, I put in LOTS of unseen hours before and after a shoot. Hours, that I think people would be shocked if they knew how long I sit at my computer editing. I do get why people charge for this. But for me at the moment it’s about sharing my skill with a camera and being able to offer amazing photographs, that are within everyone's grasp.

Anyway the crux of it is. I didn’t get the planned photography business website or domain name for my birthday. I just didn’t want to continue down that route. After deciding that a photography business wasn’t for me, I was asked several times in that week alone, if I could be booked for shoots. So I did the shoots, and I am still getting bookings.

But I am doing things my way. No pushing myself and putting myself “out there” networking. I am charging what I am happy with. No big framed sales or expensive albums. But lots of one to one help with fashion styling, make up and how to get the best from the photographs from their sessions. I am know for my use of inexpensive design ideas in my home and my own personal style. So I am putting that into practice advising my clients how best to display their images in their homes.

At the moment I am happy with the way things are going. The moment it is all about “ business” is no doubt the day I stop. For me it’s about meeting lovely new people, that I can capture at their best and allow them to record the memory in an inexpensive, affordable way.

Chicago and a runaway model/ North Herts Portrait Photographer

Now, not a runway model but a run-a-away model.

I got to shoot our great friend Gino’s family whilst we were in Chicago.

But boy was Gianna hard to shoot. We had a beautiful golf course as our backdrop, and a rare sight for me, a beautiful sunset. Along with a vintage fire truck and some props bought by me.

But I had to work my socks off to keep up with her.

I gave up for a while and shoot Gianna’s beautiful mother Joanne

as you can see, they have another little one on the way soon. Another little girl.

and then I took a few shoots of the legendary Gino. Who is a great friend of our Brit, Gary Barlow. If only they could have joined us here for the Jubilee celebrations we might have got VIP tickets for the concert Gary is giving the Queen tomorrow.

I even finally got to meet Gino’s poor dad, Nino who takes in all my endless piles of parcels. Poor man, I don’t think he realised what he was letting himself in for when he said, I could send A parcel to his address.

I put a My Publisher book together for them, here. Gino said it bought a tear to his eye. Aahh.

I can’t recommend this photobook company enough. I have made several books with them and it is so easy and they are amazing. I wish we could get the deals for them here in the UK. They offer amazing discounts all the time in the States.

All the flags are out- North Herts Photographer

Sorry, I have been away for so long. My feet have hardly hit the ground.  I have lots to share in the future. Today I had a day off from my mountains of photo editing.

The weather forecast for this weeks Queens Jubilee celebrations was dire. But I didn’t want to spend it sat at home , having not experienced any of the atmosphere. So today we jumped on a packed train to London. We knew we wouldn’t have a chance of getting near the Thames to see the Royal pageant, but we could soak in the day and have a spot of lunch in our favourite restaurant.

We saw squirrels being hand feed in St James Park

and this old dear wanted her picture taken with Tasmin.

we walked around and did a spot of shopping.

and then headed towards the Thames.

It was pretty empty along the riverbank by Westminster. We soon found out that was because the police were stopping any more from entering the areas along the entire length of the Thames. It was a shame really as there was loads of room. So we listened to the bells ringing out around us as the Queens boat went past and walked around enjoying the atmosphere.

Buckingham Palace was completely blocked off, for the upcoming concert. As we approached the tube station, the heavens opened, so we were on our way home at just the right time.

I hope everyone here in the UK, continues to make some great memories for the future. We have a street party to attend on Tuesday. the first I have ever been to. No street I have ever lived in has ever had one before. So I hope it stays dry for Tuesday.