Hitchin Lavender Farm

I haven’t really been doing much on the photography side at the moment due to work and other commitments.  I did however manage a visit to the beautiful Hitchin Lavender Farm.  As well as having the opportunity to practice a little more on other types of photography, we actually wanted some advice on lavender.  We have planted lots in our garden (mainly to attract the bees due to the declining population) and also it looks nice. 

We arrived at about 10.30 and after a quick coffee (great little cafe there) we made our way over to the lavender field.  They do charge £4.00 each for adults which is fair enough, it is a business after all.  For that £4.00 they do give you a small bag and some scissors and you can cut as much as you like. I was more interested in taking pictures and getting there early was key as it does get very busy. 

This is a great location for a photoshoot if you are local, there was one going on when we were there. 

I was trying lots of different things from sitting down in the lavender, which was a little worrying at all the bees were buzzing round my head to trying to capture the lines it made up and down the hill. 

Meanwhile Rob was armed with my compact camera doing his own thing.

This is very much farming community as there are lots of other fields nearby and a fair bit of harvesting going on when we were there.  We probably stayed about an hour and a half by which time it was filling up and difficult to get shots without other people being in them. Then the clouds started looking grey as the photo underneath shows we decided it was time to go.

Definitely worth a visit, we learnt that there are actually 39 different varieties of lavender !  I am not surprised so much of ours looks different.   Check out there website for more information www.HitchinLavender.com.

 Thanks for stopping by ...

Jackie xx

Lucetta, David and a wedding ....

First and foremost I am not a wedding photographer and I have no intention of venturing into that area of photography. Far too stressful !  However, when my lovely friend from work Lucetta announced she was getting married the conversation naturally got around to wedding photography.   A friend was going to do the wedding photography for them and I asked the question, ‘who is going to do the photographs of you getting ready at the hotel?’ which I then found out was something Lucetta hadn’t thought about.  I therefore offered my services as I knew I could do this and there wouldn’t be too much pressure!

Lucetta was getting ready at the Petersham Hotel about a 10 minute drive away from the venue which was ideal, it made sense for us to book into the hotel the night before so I was ready on hand when the make-up artist arrived at 9am on Saturday morning. I was more nervous than she was and didn't sleep very well the night before probably to do with a nightmare about downloading my card and there was nothing on it !   I did however manage to get some great shots of Lucetta getting ready.

The hotel had some wonderful features and an amazing staircase which we made use of.  Thankfully the hotel was very quiet and any other guests we saw kept out of the way !

Another few areas I was helping out with were getting some shots of Lucetta coming down the aisle with her dad.  Ian the other photographer was also the best man so couldn’t really do these shots.  So there I was sitting up the front with the registrar, camera in hand (which I was hoping wasn’t going to shake) ...and the music started.  Next thing I knew I was clicking away ...

I managed to get lots more shots during the day from David and Lucetta signing the registrar to them cutting the cake, the speeches, room/table shots,  and lots of candid outside shots of them and the guests...phew  ......

One thing I would like to say at this point is a huge ‘thank you’ to all my friends from work who kept Rob company during the day, I think I only saw him during the sit down meal and one of the only photographs I was in !

By 8pm I was completely worn out and we said our goodbyes to the happy couple.  I have such great admiration for the professional wedding photographers out there, keep up the good work,  I don't know how you do it ...

It was such a pleasure to be part of Lucetta and David’s special day, I know they now have lots and lots of photographs from me, Ian and all the other guests who were snapping away.

Congratulations David & Lucetta !

The Studio Is Finally Ready !!

After all the ups and downs at the beginning of the year I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get my little studio finished.

Well tah dah ..welcome to my studio ....

Now everything is set up it means that when Rob comes home from work the lounge furniture is where is should be ‘in the lounge’ !!  It also now means that if I want to go and practice something I can without having to unpack everything, set it up, then pack it all away again when I have finished.  Now this doesn’t sound too difficult you may think, but when you do a full time job, have to cook dinner and various other ‘housey’ things it does make a difference !!

So everything is ready, now I need a model, step forward my lovely friend Heidi who has recently given birth to her first child.  What an opportunity and challenge for me, not only was this an opportunity to christen the studio, but also my first ‘newborn’ photoshoot.  .

Say hello to Phoebe Mae who was born on the 31^st May.

I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better model.  She was simply perfect and no little ‘accidents’ either!  It was an absolute pleasure and joy to photograph her, posing her and moving her around was so easy, she occasionally stirred, opened her eyes, looked at me,  then she was back in the land of nod. 

Lighting this new vinyl background is very different from lighting the Lastolite hi-light cube background.  I haven’t cracked this new set-up yet,  but at least I can now experiment.  My friend and fellow photographer Jo said it took her several attempts to get the look she was after so there is hope.  Thanks again to Jo and Richard for the hints and tips on the editing side too, so much to learn and so little time !  I think my next purchase will be from the local DIY centre as I need something I can use as flags, now that’s a whole different story !

Thank you so much to Heidi, Stuart and nanny Penny for coming round and being my models for the day.  It was a truly wonderful experience for me to be able to be part of creating some wonderful memories for you all to look back at over the coming years.

The best part for me was the email I received from Heidi, and I am sure she won’t mind me quoting a little bit from it ......

“You had me in tears again last night, thank you so so much, we love every single photo, so beautiful & loved the music you put along to them too, you've done a fantastic job & we are so grateful, it’s such a special gift & means so much to us!  Thank you so much”

For me, this is what my photography is all about ...

Thanks to all my lovely friends and family for their support and patience.

Love to you all, until next time

Jackie xxx

p.s. Ladies watch this space, Alex the gorgeous fitness model wants to do another photoshoot.  Well it would be rude to say no wouldn't it ??

Singapore Sling (or mojito in my case)

They let me out again recently !  Well they do let me do 'long haul' every few years when the business need is there.  I was lucky enough to be able to visit our Singapore office again recently for the third time.  This trip was different though, I was not travelling alone but with my friend and work colleague Richard who I have to say was the perfect travel companion ! Previous trips I have travelled on my own, and whilst Singapore is a very safe place with a very low crime rate, I still didn't feel like going out for a meal or a drink on my own but maybe that's just me.

The trip started well as we were lucky enough to fly to Singapore on a brand new Quantas A30 airbus (one of those new huge things) and wow was it good.  You didn't even feel like the plane had taken off, and soooo quiet, hardly any engine noise. Sadly I didn't sleep which was frustrating as I knew the 'jet lag' would get me big time as it has done in the past.

As this was a 'business trip' I really didn't have the room to take my DSLR which was a shame.  A laptop case and handbag was all I could manage.  Maybe I should look in to buying one of those camera come handbags like the ones by Jo Totes.  So I had to make do with my little compact camera, which I have to say has been playing up of late, not sure why but that will teach me to buy a Nikon !

The weather in Singapore is tropical  at a constant 30 -32 degrees.  Amazing thunder and lightning storms that disappear as quickly as they appear,  The humidity levels of between 70-90 % really take it out of you when you are not used to it !  Marina Mandarin hotel was pleasant enough, however I wished we had booked into the Shangri-La where I had stayed in the past as this was much nicer. 

Couple of views from my window ....

And one from when I couldn't sleep ......

One place I really wanted to visit was Raffles, the home of the famous 'Singapore Sling'....and wow what a place.  I have no idea how much it would be to stay at this hotel but it's not cheap.  Blessed with an imagination,  the place evokes something of a bygone era.

We visited the famous 'Long Bar' which I understand was inspired by the Malayan plantations of the 1920's.  The large wooden boxes of unshelled peanuts are found on each of the tables and patrons are encouraged to drop the shells on the floor, something I struggled with for a while making nice little 'neat' piles on the table.  I have to say that eventually I did dispose of them on the floor with one big sweep with a beer mat, and it felt good !!!

All in all, a very good trip, got loads of work/training done (despite the jet lag) and it's always nice to spend time with the folks in the Singapore office.  I hope I get the opportunity to visit again as this is a wonderful (albeit very expensive) place with friendly and charming people.

Now sadly back to the reality of the UK climate ..... rain and cold, and some sad news that a friend and fellow photographer David has decided to give up photography.  A real shame to lose someone as talented as he is.  He kindly took some great shots of me a while back which I use as my profile pictures on this blog and the one on my FB page.  I hope one day we will see him back but in the meantime wish him lots of luck for the future in whatever direction he decides to take next. 

Signing off for now ...hoping to set up my studio over the next few months so will be looking for models again in the near future. Watch this space....

Love to you all and thanks for stopping by ....

Jackie xx

P.S.  I am pleased to report that there was NO flicking of eye masks across the cabin either on the outbound or return flights this time :)

One Day At A Time

Following on from my previous post which was a little depressing (sorry), we are beginning to start looking forward.  It's not easy, we were in all I can describe as a state of 'limbo' between the date Rob's dad passed away and the funeral which was only last week (3 weeks in total due to Easter).  It felt like life was moving on yet we were standing still, a bit like being in a dream, you are there, but not really if that makes sense ?  Special thoughts to some special people out there who are also having a tough time at the moment.  You know where I am if you need me.

Apologies too if I have not seemed myself lately or I haven't been in contact.  My head has been all over the place and I have been doing some daft things without thinking.  My only excuse is that I was probably away with the fairies (no alcohol was involved), that's my story and I'm sticking to it !

So to continue, I got back on the proverbial 'horse' when Becky and Mike contacted me and asked me to do a photoshoot with them and their lovely new addition 'Zac'.  I did a maternity photoshoot for Becky in late December so it was nice to finally meet their new son.

Meet Zac, who for such a lovely little thing has some lungs on him !  Thankfully though he did seem to like me !

I think the family spent about 3 hours here, well with a baby you never know what is going to happen next.  We did find out however, that he likes looking in the mirror, so my new mirror did come in handy again !

 A nice couple of hours spend with a lovely family.

I still have work to do as my lighting 'sucks' as the moment.  I thought I had it cracked, just shows you should never become complacent, I definitely need more practice.  It is difficult though when you come in from work and have to unpack everything, set it all up and then pack it all away again.  The studio idea is moving forward slowly and I have yet to order the ceiling mounted background (thanks Jo for showing me yours) but in the long run it will be much easier.  I will therefore be selling my lastolite background, train and bottle top cover at some point for a good price as long as it goes to a good home.  If anyone is interested let me know.

Time to sign off, apologies to some and thank you to others.

Jackie xx

Time to get back on that horse ....

Many of you will already know that we have suffered a particularly bad few months with Rob’s dad’s illness.  Sadly he passed away on the 28^th March after losing his battle with cancer.  We are now taking comfort in the fact that he is not in pain and suffering anymore.  Thank you to all my friends at work and at home for all their support during these difficult months, it’s nice to know that there are some truly special people out there.  All your emails and texts meant a great deal and showed that despite your busy lives, you still had time to contact me. THANK YOU.

While all this was going on I was also beginning to question my ability as a photographer.  A few disappointments knocked my confidence quite a bit.  I seem to be saying ‘thank you’ a lot at the moment, but my friends and fellow photographers Jo & Richard were there with some wise words.  Thanks for making me realise that it’s not just me that has the occasional ‘wobble’ ! I’m going to have to toughen up !

So what does the future hold?  Who knows?  A new camera body would be nice and also the website is a definite as I keep getting asked.  It’s all paid for, I just need to enlist the help again of the wonderful Elisa Everitt (she designed my logo).  Spare time is always an issue (having a full time job as well), so any going spare  is used on the photography side so I will leave the website to the expert!

I have some a few things lined up and have recently been asked to do some shots at a fitness boot camp! (thanks Holly).  So I guess all I can say for now is ‘watch this space’ ...and it's time to get back on that horse !

Love and hugs to you all,

Jackie xxx

Introducing Alex .....

I really didn't expect much contact from the Model Mayhem website, so when Alex (a fitness model) contacted me asking if I would like to add to my portfolio I just couldn't refuse !

Meet Alex .....

I had already been speaking with my lovely and very talented friend Richard about working together again, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity as neither of us had worked with a 'fitness model' before. 

So, the 18th February arrived and I was back moving the furniture out of the lounge and setting the studio gear up.  It's times like this that I actually wish I had my own studio !  Richard arrived nice and early on Saturday morning (thankfully his drive up from Waterlooville in Hampshire was pretty good) and this gave us an opportunity to have a coffee and catch up which was great. 

Alex arrived around 1.30 and in the nicest possible way 'got his kit off' ...sorry but I just couldn't think of a better way to put that !!  Both Richard and I managed to get some great shots of Alex who I have to say was a pleasure to work with...such a lovely guy ! 

It was great working with Richard as he let me try out his very expensive Canon 70 -200 mm L lens which I have to say was much too heavy for me ...but the 24 - 105 mm lens was really nice and I loved the results.

I even managed to get a sneaky photo with Alex who must have thought I was a complete fruitcake !  Well sometimes you have just got to do it ...and no, I didn't touch the abs, but I was tempted !

This is probably going to be my last blog...something is missing on the photography side, not sure what, but if I find it I will be back.

Thanks for stopping by.

Jackie xx