An Afternoon with Sarah

I had a lovely afternoon with Sarah today, baking, gardening, playing on the climbing frame that her Daddy had built for her, and playing in her bedroom with her teddies.  I was also spoilt with a chapter from Matilda, as Sarah's Mummy read to her - that is such a good book!

Sarah was great fun to be around, she is so full of laughter, and very chatty.  I really enjoyed photographing her doing the things that make her happy.  Thank you for a good afternoon Sarah!  I hope you like the photographs - this is just a tiny selection showing a mix of the photographs.  And as promised, I have included the shark!

Emma and Anna in the Garden

Emma and Anna wanted to play in the garden for their photographs - and being May there were daisies everywhere, so the girls were quite happy to be picking the daisies to make daisy chains ... I haven't done that in years!  They were two of the loveliest girls I've met, full of character, and such lovely personalities - and we were really lucky that the forecast rain didn't happen.  In fact, the bright sunshine was more of a problem!

Here is a small selection of the photographs, with Mummy showing off the daisy chain!

Down at the Beach

Rob and I went down to the beach in Formby tonight - we had to drop Ellie off for Sefton Youth Wind Orchestra rehearsals, and the dog needed a good walk, so where better to do it than down on the beach with the sun setting on a gorgeous day.  It was such a lovely evening, and I just loved this scene - the clouds, the dunes, the rider, and the reflection of horse and rider in the water.  I wish every evening was like tonight - it was just perfect!

Lewis

I had a good play today with Lewis round at his grandparents.  He was so cute, and just at the stage of testing out words.  He loved looking at himself on the screen on the back of the camera, and each time I showed him a photograph of himself he pointed, smiled and said his name.  And what a gorgeous smile too!  Here's just a small sample of the photographs we got today.

Mike And Penny's Wedding, Stretton

Venue: Crabwall Manor

Mike and Penny only booked me a few weeks ago to photograph their wedding, and I am so glad they did!  Rob came along with me and we had such a great time - though at times I had to get bossy with the boys for the constant chattering whilst I was photographing them!  And they say women can talk!  At least getting Mike to kiss Penny kept him quiet!  LOL

Here's just a small sample of photographs of the day - there was no confetti, so the boys created their own with the cherry blossom, and at Crabwall Manor everyone let off a balloon to celebrate the day ... after some of the kids had experimented with the hydrogen and its effects on their voices!  

Chris and Emma at 'Another Place', Crosby Beach

Down at Crosby Beach there are 100 statues of Anthony Gormley all looking out to sea - and this was the backdrop for today's pre-wedding shoot with Chris and Emma.  I don't think I've come across anyone as happy and full of laughter as Emma - or such a great sense of co-ordination!  Even the wellies co-ordinated with her outfit.  So here is a small selection of photographs from todays shoot, some including one of the Gormley men statues ... along with Chris and Emma of course!

North West Environmental Portrait Photographer of the Year 2008

I can't believe I am writing this - last night was the annual awards dinner for the North West BIPP (British Institute of Professional Photographers) and MPA (Master Photographers Association). I had succeeded in getting some of my photographs through to the finals, which I was really pleased about.

After hearing the results I am now really excited! I won the Gold Award for Environmental Portraits (also known as lifestyle portraits), which means I am Environmental Portrait Photographer of the Year 2008!  I am particularly excited because I just love lifestyle portraiture, and photographing people in their natural environment, be that at their home or out somewhere that means something to them, so it means a lot to get this award and to be recognised by my peers as being particularly skilled in this style of photography.

I also won 3 merit awards - 2 in Environmental Portrait and 1 in Fashion.

Here's the photograph that got me the Gold Award, taken on Birkdale Sands, Southport.

And thanks to Ian Stewart for taking this photograph of me with my award, certificate and winning image.

Playing at the Park

Hesketh Park was a great backdrop for having fun with a group of children - and I love looking for ways to capture the essence of child, like on this one with just the hint of the nose, a suggestion of the eyelashes.  I regret not getting these kinds of photographs of my own daughter when she was little, but it didn't seem to matter then.  It's only now that she is 15 that I realise I struggle to remember the little details. 

The seesaw was a favourite with the children.

Look Mum, one hand!



It was really cold, even though it was bright, so we needed to take a break to warm up.  And even the break gave a chance to get some lovely photographs.

How is that kids can run around in t-shirts and not feel the cold on a freezing day!