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Jul
29

Bella West training – portraits on location

  • Posted By : bella/
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  • Under : Portrait, Workshop and Training

Last week took me out with my new mentee, Beth who has signed up to spend six months on my mentoring program and I spent Wednesday assessing her work and going through the areas for improvement that she can work on to improve her location portrait work. The afternoon was out with the very lovely Ellie and Rose, on location in some pretty trying midday light, spent finding some shade but trying to retain some directional light – or using a diffuser and reflectors to keep control of what was harsh sunlight.

Gallery Notice : Images have either not been selected or couldn't be found


Jul
19

Bella West training – childrens portraits on location

  • Posted By : bella/
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  • Under : Uncategorized

This week took me back to the home of the BIPP in Aylesbury. Since attaining Fellowship a few years ago, I have been actively involved in mentoring and training of photographers at all levels. This week, my one day workshop concentrated the delegates to environmental portraiture.
Turbulent weather and turbulent times are forcing photographers to address the way they work (no bad thing) – needing to marry great photographic skills, training the eye to not just creativity but also more importantly, creating images to the very best of their ability. This is fundamental to the success of a business – with all the marketing tools in your bag – if you do not have photographic skills then you are pushing an elephant upstairs. At the end of the day, your best marketing tool is your previous clients.

My teaching this week, very much focussed on this, urging delegates to position themselves for the light, compose and then to stop and think as to how they can then take that picture to another level – through composition, directional light (using the elements), movement, texture/graphic etc. Creating atmosphere when atmosphere is not obvious – and often taking something out of a shot rather than over complicating. We discussed methods of communication, especially with children and I explained how our own personalities will give our photography a feel that very much makes it our own. My photographs are often quiet, occasionally thought provoking, married with strong, some may say, occasionally obscure composition – the quietness comes from me. Compare my work to that of say Venture who are so good at animation and expressions in their own style – whether this is your bag or not, they have created a style that is their own and is been emulated in many smaller studios, because it has a market of its own and it works – it is completely different to mine, but this does establish the need to have a definitive and recognisable style. Composition is what can often set you apart – because it tends to come from you, it is your take on what you see.

The nine delegates on Tuesday were a mix of experiences and abilities, which sometimes in a class can hinder the learning, but I feel that we established a great group that understood that however great a photographer you are, that you can always take on board new techniques, must always look to be inspired from random sources not just within the industry, that being overly creative is not necessarily the ultimate to being a success – its the standard of your photography that resonates your success, so in fact, we were in many ways, all on the same level.


On a final note, I touched on other reasons how establishing a style, knowing your trade, being confident with your camera will give you the confidence to take your skills in new directions rather than sticking to a format – once you have those skills, you really can run with them..


Jul
07

A very British Wedding with weather to boot..

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  • Under : Wedding

As I write this post, the weather outside the gallery is driving rain as the poor stall holders outside are hanging onto their gazebo’s to stop them parachuting over the Blackmore Vale in an attempt to set up for Gold Hill Fair…. No shoots for me today but I’ve come to expect one wedding a year where I just know it’s not going to let up. And in true British style, you adjust and enjoy the day to the full and embrace the elements. From a wedding photographers perspective, certainly mine, I actually enjoy working in weather that gives me opportunities which perhaps are not so obvious as when you have a beautiful balmy summer day. It makes me think and use less obvious locations – it focuses the guests away from the camera while they concentrate on holding onto hats and frizzy hair. It gives me a more animated coverage, at speed with a bit of an adrenalin kick.

So when you wake up on the morning of your wedding and its is hammering down outside, I may turn up on your doorstep a little less disappointed than you, with the kid in a candy shop look of excitement – trust me, wind and rain are a great ingredient for a British wedding photographer.

At Oliver and Kates wedding a couple of weeks ago, the English weather didn’t fail to test us but gave us the breaks when we needed it to do a few groups and of course, I find a barn and an old stable to get some wonderful classic shots of Kate- its amazing how fast you can work with a black cloud looming…
The wind blew a hooly throughout but the day was carried along by immense happiness and love, Kate was quite possibly the most elegant bride I have photographed. A natural grace.
Those great moments on arrival at the church when guest hot foot it from the pub with pashmina’s flailing, clutch bags in one hand, hats being firmly secured with the other – whilst at the same time trying retain some grace and elegance in teetering heels. Thankyou Kate and Ollie for inviting me to photograph your beautiful wedding….

To view the entire collection of Kate and Olly’s wedding take a visit to our online gallery

Gallery Notice : Images have either not been selected or couldn't be found


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