Beautiful baby

I’m not doing a lot of Bebefoto portraiture at the moment – I’ve been concentrating on Fotoamour and so been chasing less children’s portraiture.   Bebefoto has been a big part of my business over the last few years though and every so often I get asked to photograph the younger siblings of children that I have already photographed a few years previously.

 So it was really lovely to meet Rosie, sister of Katie.

 

She was a real sweetie – very placid and even tempered.  On some of these photos she looks a little serious but, in truth I prefer the really gentle expression of a child’s face when deep in thought.  There is nothing worse than a false smile which has been prized out of a little dot who has been trained to grimace whenever a camera is pointed in their direction.  That way children learn to hate the camera and avoid it – or worse, perform for it. 

See how trusting and warm the expression is in her eyes whilst she is contemplating the camera, and making up her own mind about it.

So when you do get a smile, its genuine and relaxed and true.  How lovely is that?

The postcards below are a great idea for Christmas presents. Rosie had lots of lovely natural expressions and she was, generally, a contented little girl.

I like to spend a bit of time getting the right shots not only for the big framed pieces, but enough of a variety for the mini-montages too.  The mini-montages are really popular and make great gifts, framed or unframed, for grandparents.

We do two montages, one vertical and one horizontal and quite often one set of grandparents will be given one, and the other side of the family gets the other.  When Baby Number Two comes along they get given the next one for their ‘collection!

Bebefoto is working on a promotion at the moment for grandparents and children to celebrate Grandparent’s Day which was back in October in readiness for Christmas.  We’re offering a fabulous framed montage of your children and their grandparents photographed together - that’s  one set of Grandparents to one family group of children -four mounted 9×6 prints, and a set of 10 postcards, and four mini-montages for an amazing £395.  There are enough goodies there for everyone to have a lovely memory to keep and look back on in future years –  you, your parents and your children.

Shoots take place in your home and will take about an hour – weekend bookings are now possible in the run-up to Christmas.  The usual Bebefoto/Fotoamour practice applies - you get loads of pictures for your money but we choose the images and the layout.  

If you’re interested please just give us a call quoting Grandparents Day Promotion and we’ll book you in.

And if you’d like to book a Bebefoto shoot in the comfort of your own home for your little one, please don’t hesitate to call.

You know the number  – 07960 531477   

Back to Rosie – you’re a lovely bouncing, cuddly little girl and I think you’re going to grow up to be truly beautiful.  Isn’t she edible?!

Martyn Pearson Exhibition

Just a little note to tell you that Martyn Pearson, my husband, is exhibiting some of his work at an Exhibition of Mixed Media Art at Sides Art & Frames at Sides Art and Frames Gallery in Lytham.

The Private View is this evening from 6pm (11th November) and the exhibition will run for two weeks.  There is also another Open Evening tomorrow night too. 

Martyn’s work will feature some of his travel photography with funky abstract views of San Francisco and Venice.  Have a look at his new website www.martynpearson.com and you will see some of his superb work there.

The framing is really beautiful – by David, who runs the gallery there.  One of these fabulous pieces would make a wonderful, special Christmas present – particularly if you honeymooned there or those places have a special significance to you.

Why not pop along on your way home from work and come and share a glass of wine with us?  Look forward to seeing you!

Blackpool Football Club – Superfan

Its a little while since I took pictures of Ken Young, Blackpool Evening Gazette’s Superfan at Bloomfield Road.

Ken is a lovely bloke who has been an avid fan of the Club for years and deserves his moment on the hallowed turf.

Ken has a load of Blackpool memorabilia and he allowed me to photograph some for his montage.

Here are just a few pictures from the day.  They are currently being framed and will arrive on Ken’s door, courtesy of Fotoamour, any day now.

Here also is the finished montage – or near enough.  I hope he likes it.

 

If you  have a football mad person in your family – or someone with an equally consuming hobby, maybe you’d like to give them a Fabulous Fotoamour Fotomontage for a Christmas or birthday gift.  They make brilliant Father’s Day or Mother’s Day presents too.   Maybe we could even think something up for Valentine’s Day too!  Just give me a call and tell me about the person and their passion and we’ll build a fabulous montage for them.  The number is 07960 531477 or email info@fotoamour.co.uk

Take care, Ken, and your fabulous Fotoamour footballing montage will be with you very shortly.

Recommending a wedding photographer

We’ve just had one of our questionnaires back from Joanna and Mark Needham who had their wedding earlier this year.  I’m going to copy it here for you now.

” Its a joy to deal with a company that is so slick and professional.  Your attention to detail and organisation of your business is fabulous and we would highly recommend you.  PS….we love your blog!”

Thank you, Jo and Mark.

We have had a mega busy time of it this year.  That’s fantastic.  We’re really happy that so many of you have beaten a path to our door.

We pride ourselves on our service both before, on, and after the big day itself.  With all the weddings that we have been shooting there is inevitably the danger that we will miss something, or be a bit late in delivering your stuff to you.  Or we might make a very rare mistake – because we’re human.

In such cases we will go out of our way to rectify the problem as quickly and efficiently as possible.    We never question your right to get the best service – ever.

But most of the time we do get it magnificently, fabulously, wonderfully right.    We know we do.   Because we ask all our couples to fill in our questionnaires and return them to us with their comments on our service.  And what they tell us is that they love what we do, they love our customer-friendly pricing and payment systems and they love our professionalism.

Sometimes you also tell us that some of our products are a little beyond your budget and you’d like us to make them a little less expensive.    We have listened to these comments but the bottom line is that we have to make some profit to enable us to keep trading.    We’re a small business and not a nationwide conglomerate.   Nevertheless, through a variety of different methods and by asking the right questions we frequently find more manageable solutions to the problem.  All you need to do is ask the question!

We always try to be kind, always honest and want our customers to go away with the best possible impression of us.   We’re only human and we occasionally get it wrong but when we are, we always put it right.

See you soon.

Marmite Wedding dresses

Marmite.  You either love it or hate it!   Its a bit like some of the wedding dresses that I see.

Just had a link given to me for wedding dresses and you might get some inspiration from some of these frocks.  It is mainly meant as a mickey taking exercise so be warned.

www.visi.com/~dheaton/bride/the_bride_wore.html 

Now I have to say…..take away some of the extreme elements – the wacky hairdos, the babes in arms, the goth make-up etc and some of them aren’t that bad!

Check this one out too  www.englishrussia.com/?p=255

A bit odd.

Here’s another wacky wedding idea – it won’t be long before we see it here!

www.littleisland.biz/english/products_robot_wedding_type/htm

Please note the gaps are underscores, not just spaces.  It doesn’t show up well here. 

Hope you enjoy this bit of lighthearted wedding stuff!

Wedding album delivery times

Just a quick note as I know that one or two of you are expecting albums back and that some have just put your orders in.   I don’t want anyone to be disappointed so I am writing to ensure that you all understand the timescales involved in getting your album to you.

At Fotoamour we do not get you back for a viewing after your honeymoon.  Most photographers do - and the point of this is to upsell ie: get you to buy more photos for your album. 

There is nothing wrong with this because your album is an item that you should spend the most amount of money on that you can afford. Its a choice that you will live with for life so don’t stint.   There will be loads of photos that you would dearly like to purchase and my advice would be to take your time and save up for these in order to get them in your final album. 

I wanted to make Fotoamour transparently honest in its dealings with its customers when I started the business 3 years ago.  I had been shooting with my husband Martyn for the previous 6 or 7 years so I know all the sales methods in the book – and I didn’t want to go that route.   Hence the in-your-face pricing you see at wedding shows and on our website.  We do things differently and give you your montage and preview book within about 6 weeks of the wedding.  This means you have a fabulous finished piece to put on your wall and a selection of 250 plus images from your day to peruse at your leisure.  Without the pressure of a viewing or the necessity to buy more unless you really want to. 

The compromise with this is, however,  that you have to make two trips to Fotoamour.  One to collect your montage, preview books and thankyou cards and a second to collect parent’s montages, DVDs, the album etc etc.    With customers that live a little while away this is a consideration, but it is a small hassle when viewed in relation to the quality of our work and our very competitive prices.  (And besides Lytham, nearby, is a lovely spot and great for a day out with a leisurely lunch at one of the many gorgeous restaurants and cafes followed by a spot of shopping at Stringers!)

Albums take about 8 to 12 weeks from the date that you return your list of selected photos to us.  This includes the design and production time.  

If we were to use off the peg albums it would take a considerably shorter period of time.  Like-wise if we were to design your album using standard templates.  But we don’t - because everything at this stage is personalised and built around your particular set of wedding photographs.  I don’t believe that it can be done any other way with the sort of photography that we are commissioned to do. 

Some customers of mine tell me that they consider it a long time between their wedding and getting their album.  Add it up.  You get your montage and preview books 6 weeks after the wedding.  The album takes 8 weeks minimum.  That is already 3 and half months.  Most B&Gs take a least a couple of months to get their choices in to me (and if they get them back to me sooner than this I wonder whether they’ve really spent enough time considering their choices!).  That already adds up to 5 and half months since the date of the wedding.

That sounds like a long time.  But in reality it is no time at all for an item that is going to live with you for the entirety of your marriage.  That might be 50 years!

As an aside…. recently, I was also approached by a potential client who asked whether I could provide an album and DVD for £400 at his forthcoming wedding.  The answer is no.  I don’t believe that there is an album worth having on the market that I could provide for my clients, along with the photos inside it, the time shooting the wedding and in post-production and provide me with a modest income for that fee (I have to finance my cake habit somehow!). 

Guys, you get what you pay for in this life.  Times are hard and we appreciate that, honestly we do, but wedding photography is a one-off expense that you cannot go back and recreate.  So either save up a little longer to get what you really want, or be prepared to compromise on quality.

Seemples!

Joanna and Mark – 5th September 2009

Jo is a make-up artist and we first met her when Martyn shot Rochelle and Simon Billington’s wedding a couple of years ago. (Jo was wearing this fab spotty dress and looked amazing – and she is a really good make-up artist too.)  So we were really pleased when she asked Fotoamour to photograph her wedding.

As you would expect her prep shots were lovely and Jo was particularly keen that we get some good shots of their bulldog, Frank.  How’s this?!

I love the White Church in Lytham and particularly the minister, David Philips, who presides there.  He is very laid back and is happy for front of church shots – though we try to be as unobtrusive as possible.   Mark looked at bit nervous at times but he was supported by a great Best Man and a bunch of usher/mates!

It was a fab dress – by Frothimoon (never heard of it – you’ll have to google!) and cars were by one of my favourites for sheer unobtrusiveness – JetSet Limousines.

It was a bit of a miserable day weatherwise, it has to be said, so all group shots were taken in the church which was a bit of a life-saver as everyone would have been chilly outside.  However, as with all good weddings the inclement weather didn’t spoil the mood – this was a real bunch of party people!

Jo and Mark were photographed in their room at The Grand Hotel, St. Annes.  Jo and Mark have the most amazing blue eyes – stunning.

I loved their cake too – simple but with a real ‘wow’.  It was made by a family friend – Robyn.  Flowers were also by a family friend, Bev.  This is one of the very best ways to go about sorting out your wedding – budget or no budget, as every element of your day will really mean something special to you. 

Rachel and Andy 5th September 2009

I met Rachel and Andy about a year ago when Rachel was bridesmaid at the wedding of her sister Stephanie.    So I was really thrilled that they asked me to be their wedding photographer too.

Their wedding took place at The Willows Church in Kirkham and then afterwards at Singleton Lodge.     The Willows is a particularly lovely church and I very much like Father Johnstone who is the priest there.  Again it wasn’t such a great day – and we were extremely lucky to get a break in the weather to do the groups.  But the sun shone on Rachel and Andy for those few minutes and by the time we got to Singleton Lodge it wasn’t too bad at all – in fact we got some rays of sunshine!

Rachel looked fab and I had a moment of deja-vue when her Dad walked her up the church path, only this time it was Rachel and not Stephanie on his arm!

Stephanie was on hand to do some last minute tweaking and adjusting before taking her place with the other bridesmaids.

Flowers were by Anne Molloy and she did a great and very seasonal job – they looked great against those dark brown satin dresses.

They had an adorable little boy, Finlay (what a cool name!) who was a cheeky monkey.  Always laughing and smiling, he was just mischief on a stick!  Particularly when it came to the group shots – they were better for being a bit less formal!

Cars were by Clouds again – with two of my favourite drivers – always really pleasant without getting too involved in the photography.  A big thankyou to Clouds this year – they have been total stars.

I was really pleased with the shots of Rachel and Andy together.  I loved Andy’s suit – really 50’s in style and very classic. 

Finlay was so sweet and he obviously had a great rapport with his grandad who was trying at this point to stop him climbing out the window!

 

These two little ones were brother and sister and I had a bit of time wandering around just observing,  in between arriving at Singleton Lodge and the wedding party sitting down.  This is why it is really important not to fill up your photographers time purely with formal group shots – otherwise you lose the opportunity for this kind of lovely moment to happen and for the shot to be seen.  You can almost feel Mum breathing in the baby fragrance, can’t you!

Lauren and Peter – 29th August 2009

Fotoamour started the day at Lauren and Peter’s house – it was a bit mad with loads of people coming and going, and lots of very proud Mums, Dads, brothers and sisters looking on.  It was a great atmosphere and Lauren really seemed to enjoy it – once she got into her dress!

Lauren and Peter have the most adorable little girl, Nell.  She was just such an angel and looked so sweet in her bridesmaid’s outfit.

Lauren was looked after by two friends, who were hyper efficient, and a large entourage of gorgeous bridesmaids and a very cute pageboy.

Peter was obviously a very proud man when Lauren stood beside him that day.  He had two lovely ladies on his arm, even if one of them was actually sitting on it!

The wedding took place at Springfield House which is run by Sara.  Sara took over this venue about 2 years ago – it could be longer – and she and her team have worked their magic on the place.  The interiors now look elegant and fresh and they have improved the gardens too.  I think you can now hire a marquee if you have a very large party of guests, but this is something that you would really need to talk about with Sara as this is the first wedding I have shot here since just after the refurbishment.  Happily I have more booked here in the forthcoming months.

Cars were by Clouds and this time Kelvin was driving – he’s always so helpful.  I’m not a photographer who likes to go down the traditional route and I try to ensure that it is only the couple and their friends and family that feature in their photographs – not the other wedding suppliers.  But it is always nice when you get a great looking car and I do happen to know that Kelvin of Clouds takes a great deal of pride in the service he offers to his customers.   So don’t be offended Kelvin – you were on some of the photos.  Just not this one!

Lauren and Peter worked really well together – even though I did happen to ask them to visit a local maize field.  I just liked the backdrop it provided (I think Kelvin thought I was a bit barkin’ though!).

The cake was cute – I love Nell’s little auburn moptop!  What a sweetie!

Great wedding!  Lovely weather!  Congratulations!

Ashleigh and David 22nd August 2009

Oh dear!  Its been quite a difficult job to keep up to date on the blog with the weddings that we’ve had in over the summer.  So I’m posting Ashleigh and David’s wedding a little later than I’d like.

Their photographer on the day was Paul who did a fantastic job – I hope that you have enjoyed looking at the photographs, Ashleigh and David.

The wedding took place at St. Paul’s on Whitegate Drive, which has some pretty impressive interiors, and then the reception was at the lovely Singleton Lodge. 

I like Singleton Lodge.  The gardens are great, the interiors have improved hugely over the last couple of years and also, I like Jo – the wedding coordinator there.  She really is helpful and always smiling.

Ashleigh wore an incredible dress which I think came from Dan Kerr (correct me if I’m wrong, Ashleigh).

It was a beautiful summer’s day, they had the most gorgeous bridesmaids all dressed in the most amazing mauve colour with fabulous accessories.  It had obviously all been considered very carefully.

 When Ashleigh came and picked up her photos, a little while ago now, she wasn’t feeling very well so I hope that they cheered her up.  Hope you like these photos here too – just a few picked out that I liked.  But there were so many great images it was difficult to choose.

Another post tomorrow and hopefully I will catch up with them all by the end of next week!