2011 The Year of Firsts

For me 2011 was definitely a year of many firsts. I started my blog in November, I did my first couples shoot, my first equine portrait shoot, my first family shoot, my first baby shoot and spent a very cold day photographing a equestrian team for their naked charity calendar. I got some lovely comments from bloggers and photographers that I really admire and my work was featured in Equestrian Life Magazine.

So on the days where I sit and think there is no way this is going to go anywhere, I remember that my journey is just beginning and looking back at the things that I achieved in only a few months makes me realise how exciting it all is, meeting new people and getting advice and support from the people I admire most, endlessly learning and embracing the mistakes, and above all loving every minute.

I will be going into 2012 with a bucket load of smiles and exciting plans for the new year, starting tomorrow when I begin the 366 project which I hope will help to improve my photography greatly and from there, who knows but I can't wait to find out.  

Happy New Year 

x x x 

Aimee, Mike and Skye {family shoot}

On a very chilly December morning I met Aimee and her beautiful family at the Humber Bridge Country Park. My first ever family shoot and I couldn't have asked to meet a more lovely family, we were also blessed with the brightest sunshine even in the bitterly cold wind.

Here are some of my favourite photos from the day and this was my lovely email from Aimee.

Just received the photograph disc and wow, they are just so amazing. They are just what i wanted and even better then what i imagined them to turn out like, you really have captured the essence of our family and the personality of our daughter. Although we picked one of the coldest days in December to have the photos done it was still worth it. Thank you for everything and no doubt you career as a photographer has a prosperous future as you truly have gift to capture the moment. We will treasure the images for ever and will be calling upon you again in the both the near an distant future.
Aimee Mike and Skye Isabella 

 

Port Isaac {personal}

In September Dan and I plus Meg the sprollie but more collie dog piled into the car and started the long journey down to Cornwall. We rented the most beautiful cottage for the week and spent our days wandering the local area, eating chips on the platt and chatting with the locals......Meg is very popular in Port Isaac as she has one brown eye and one bright blue eye and everyone has to stop, comment about it and give her a belly rub, which she loved. She also drank far too much of the sea water, made friends at every turn and ate too many dead crabs.....odd girl.

Best bits : eating pasties in Padstow.  horse riding along the coastline in Bude. the charity shops. seeing the guys from Fisherman's Friends and being a little starstruck. watching Meg make friends with everyone and learning to play football. getting mistaken for a local. our sat nav being set to exciting and dangerous on Cornish roads. having a beaming smile on my face for a whole week.

.I'm pretty certain I left my heart in Port Isaac.

{phone pics}

Sian {equine portrait session}

When Sian got in touch about having some photographs taken of her and her horses I was so excited, I love horses and was very excited that Sian was wanting a set of images that reflected their relationship with each other. So on a bright but chilly autumnal afternoon I headed over to meet Sian, Ceaser and Sara.
Sian is one of those people when you meet you know instinctively that she has such a good heart, the bond between her and her horses is incredible, the love and the respect between them is beautiful to see.

Here is what Sian said -

Well, I must admit I'm crying a bit. Thank you to Gemma for the lovely photo's (even if these are only the sneak peeks!). I can't thank you enough, just looking at them makes me realise all over again how special Ceaser and Sara are to me, and how much I don't know what I'd do without them. They're lovely, and something I will treasure forever.

 

Sian {sneak peek}

Just a little sneak peek of Sian and her horse Ceaser........I think I could very happily photograph these two everyday.

Alex and Jade

So here it is, my first ever 'proper' shoot. I had a brilliant afternoon with the hilarious and completely adorable Alex and Jade. Being my first shoot I was a little nervous, nervous about giving direction and nervous about the light being so dull.
We met at a location that I knew well, and my nerves settled a little. Both Alex and Jade are so down to earth, beautiful and friendly, they made the whole afternoon such a pleasure. We spent a really enjoyable couple of hours trampling around the woods, they even agreed to walk some distance with me while I searched for a giant billboard with a picture topless lady and a prize bull on it.....in the middle of the woods of all places.....I think they thought I was making the whole thing up, and I will now admit I did get a little lost trying to find it but it was worth it in the end.
So a huge thank you to Alex and Jade for letting photograph you, I learnt so much on this shoot and loved every minute with you two. 

The Curiosity Project {personal}

So just a few weeks a go I sent out this lovingly put together box of treasures and sent it to 'A Curious Person' (cue some funny looks at the post office).

Organised by the amazing Tiffany Grant Riley, The Curiosity Project is basically a giant secret gift swap.
All you are given is an address, and it is down to the sender to choose the things to send to the anonymous recipient. I really loved taking part in this project and so excited that there will be a Christmas one.

http://thecuriositybox.blogspot.com/