September 2016 - Bella West

Sep

Portraits on the beach

For those of you who have visited my gallery here, you may recognise this portrait hanging proudly, all 5 foot of it with this beautiful smile beaming out at you as you climb the winding stairs to my office. It never fails to put me in a great mood on a Monday morning!

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I photographed Seraphina when she was around 5 months old and then again at 3, as above. It is so humbling to be invited back by my clients and I love that because I don’t sell the digital copies, my photographs (real hard copy prints that have a chemical aroma) grace the walls of my clients homes forever. That is the biggest compliment I could ever receive.

So I was delighted to see Seraphina at my recent portrait day on Studland beach at the grand age of 7 years. Still as beautiful and whimsical as ever, if not more so, and such a pleasure to photograph her energy. Fortunately for me, Seraphina has a connection with people and with the camera which in turn gives me the opportunity to give more and am only limited by my own creativity and imagination. Some portraits just develop as they go along, goal posts move, light changes, moods swing and that diversity is what keeps my ideas fresh, rather than having set templates. So although nothing in photography is truly original, how a picture happens and the doors that open during a shoot is what gives both me and my clients such enjoyment. Laying down rules and guidelines in natural portrait photography, has the potential to stifle the portraits. The only stipulation that I make upon myself is to position myself for the light – whatever happens within that area is mine to take.

Portrait Photographer

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My portrait days, I have been holding for a few years, and gives my clients the opportunity to have portraits on the beach, on location, beautiful venues such as Pythouse Walled Garden and in the grounds of my gallery here in Shaftesbury. The beach in Autumn and Winter is spectacular, the light is muted and soft, there are less crowds and its a wonderful experience for the children to run and kick sand, even paddle.

I hold these special days throughout the year, there is no fee for the shoot and you can also purchase vouchers for prints and frames if you know someone who is booked in. I also offer an incentive for clients to host their own Portrait Day at their home, do get in touch if you would like to know more..

Sep

Autumn Portrait Days

We’re all back into the swing of things here after a wonderful summer of childrens portraits and wedding photography. I have spent some time in France and Cornwall but like most of us after the summer break, hit the ground running with new projects and looking forward to the cosy autumn days of rich reds and golden light. Spring and Autumn being my seasons of choice for childrens portraits, I select locations at this time of year for their natural enhancements as their canvas organically develops into winter almost enough to see the changes each day with the human eye.

The beach may not be an obvious choice for autumn and winter portraits but the tones of the sea and sand at knoll beach take on a muted aura which lends itself to beautiful smooth tonality and colours. And a few less people on the beach of course..

So a new season and with the countdown to the festive season, some new Autumn Portrait Days to give you the options of portraits of your children and family for Christmas gifts.

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Sunday 25th September I will be at Knoll Beach, Studland. You do need to book in for these special days and if you would like to know more, all the information is here or do get in touch to book your place.

Portrait photographer Dorset

Sunday 16th October at the wonderful Pythouse Kitchen Garden and cafe. For those of you who have been visitors, you will understand that the team at Pythouse have created an enchanting space to eat and while some time. I have been known to throw my laptop into the car and head to Pythouse to work, if nothing else, an excuse to eat from their incredible menu and the gardens and cafe have a way of being peaceful even when it’s busy. So to offer my Portrait Days here, not only gives my clients the opportunity to have some wonderful photographs, but to take some time in the gardens for lunch or afternoon tea. That’s not something you would get at a studio portrait!

Portrait photographer Dorset

Sunday 30th October While Autumn is at it’s majestic finest, it has to be captured. As all my portraits are taken on location and in natural light, I like to create not just a portrait of a person, but to incorporate the landscape and environment around them. Being ambushed with abundance of colour and richness takes me out of my black and white zone that I favour in the stark winter months, it forces itself to be photographed. So we head to the woods, just over the border in Wiltshire to a wonderful ancient forest with lakes and space for the children to run – bring a picnic or hot foot it to the Beckford Arms for Sunday roast afterwards.

You can book on to any of these dates through my contact here, I look forward to meeting you and creating something very special for you.