Apr
27

Dorset and Wiltshire Portrait Days 2016

Dorset and Wiltshire Portrait Days 2016

I’ve new dates for my Dorset and Wiltshire Portrait Days 2016 – a  significant dates in there being Fathers Day, 19th June at Pythouse. Not being a big lover of rules, I’ve kept them to a minimum. In order to avoid disappointment and chaos, you do need to book in as each Portrait Day is at a specific location that I have chosen, you pay no shoot fee on my Portrait Days and each session is around 30-45 minutes. When you book your shoot with me, we will discuss clothing, and the styling you have in mind. We will also fix a day for you to come and view the images at my gallery in Shaftesbury, we provide tissues and tea.

There is absolutely no limit to the number of people in your portrait, and pets are very welcome. Here are the dates, do get in touch if you would like more details and to book your portrait

 

Sunday 19th June (Fathers day)
Pythouse Walled Garden

Saturday 25th June
The Bell Tower, Shaftesbury

Wednesday 6th July
The Bell Tower, Shaftesbury

Sunday 24th July
Fonthill

Wednesday 3rd August
Pythouse Walled Garden

A full list of upcoming Dorset and Wiltshire Portraits Days is here and is updated regularly so you can plan ahead and book your place.

 


Jan
28

Weddings on location

 

Weddings on location

I’m just working through some images for Sloanes who I often work with on both weddings and with their brilliant director of styling, Lisa Standerwick on various editorial projects. Its a creative relationship that has been developing for some ten years or more between us. So just to update their portfolio, there’s a few weddings that spring to mind last year. Not least this one of Carly & Dom…


 

May
31

Fathers Day Gifts

With the jubilee frolics well under way alongside half term, it may have slipped your mind that Fathers Day is just around the corner – 12th June. This year, instead of that last minute mad rush to Tesco’s for the biggest Toblerone on the shelves, you could give your wonderful dad something which has slightly more emotive value than nougat chocolate. Portraits of his children are something unexpected – they can’t be eaten, they can’t be put on the shelf with the DIY books from previous years and you can’t polish the car with them, but they do have longevity and hold an emotive value that no amount of money can buy.
At Bella West we will offer you the opportunity to covertly have some wonderful portraits in time for fathers day, alternatively we can provide gift vouchers and then he can set a date to be involved in the shoot if he wishes. To book fathers day gifts and order vouchers, just give us a call at the gallery 01747 854509 or drop us an email mail@bellawest.co.uk.

May
22

Portrait Days Wiltshire and Dorset

Here are my new dates for Portrait Days – I have varied the locations to suit all. The shoots are free and there is no limit to the number of people in the portrait which lasts around 45 minutes. But you do need to book in as these days are hugely popular! 01747 854509 or drop me an email bellawest@me.com
Bring a picnic and take some time out at some of the countys most beautiful spots..

Mar
21

A week of portraits, a showcase, an award ceremony, teaching & time with my girls..

I love that my work is so varied and each week brings something new and interesting, whether it be out and about shooting, a new project to get my teeth into, travel or new inspiration.
Last week was a special one, starting on Sunday with a shoot for Anna and Alex whose Charlton House wedding I did around five years ago. this time with the uber cheeky George and Henry along with their cousin Ellie. On location at Granma’s house…

After the Grosvenor showcase on Thursday we hotfooted it to London on Friday to the great venue that is the British Film Institute for the prestigious BIPP National awards where I was nominated & awarded a bronze award in the wedding category for an image I took last year at Pythouse Walled Garden

If you’d like to take a peek at the full set of winning images they can be viewed at the BIPP.
Awards always cause discussion, that is the beauty of photography, in fact any art. It is subjective and personal. The judges chosen are all highly qualified in their fields and represent all genres of photography. Having been on the panel in previous years, I know how a judges true passion is revealed when discussing images. If you entered but weren’t successful, it doesn’t mean you are not good enough, you can use it as a springboard to work hard at your skill and come back next year with something amazing…..
Sadly we couldn’t stay for the rest of the night as I was spending the next day with one of my students, Paul O’Donnell for a shoot at Chettle House. Paul has come into the industry after years as a trader (photography is far more chilled…) and is passionate about refining his skills. Chettle provided some great backdrop for Paul to grasp the use of location. light and theme. Stylist Lauren’s daughter was hanging out with us so I took the opportunity to keep her busy and grabbed a few shots of her in front of a walnut table, (made for a great backdrop)

and Lora being made up in between sets…

So the perfect end to the week being Mothers Day on Sunday – and some special time with Lauren and Evie. After a shaky start (they forgot the teabags….), wine and homemade scotch eggs at the Beckford and a walk around the Fonthill Estate. Lauren made the perfect roast dinner (whose to care she forgot to peel the potatoes, they are healthier with skins on…!). I consider myself wholly lucky to have two beautiful, funny daughters that I consider my best friends.

Jan
25

Portrait Days 2012

I’m delighted to announce new dates for Portrait Days taking place throughout 2012, with more dates than last year and new venues, I’m going further afield in addition to my wonderful usual locations.

We have the following dates fixed and would love to see you and your family for some beautiful, natural portraits:

February 18th Studland Beach
April 14th Studland beach
April 28th West Bay Beach
Saturday 28th April, Pythouse Walled Garden
Saturday 12 May, Pythouse Walled Garden
Sat 21 July Flowers of Hatch
Tuesday 7th August Pythouse Walled Garden
Sunday 12th August Flowers of Hatch
I may add to these dates as the year progresses. There is no shoot fee on the Portrait Days, we will let you know all the details when you book in and also will arrange a time for you to come and view the images at our lovely gallery in Shaftesbury. As always, you do need to book in for these days as they are hugely popular.

West Bay near Bridport is a new venue that I love working at, with its dramatic coastline and cliff face – there is also a fine seafood cafe there if you want to treat yourselves to a bowl of mussels afterwards.

west

Pythouse Walled garden

A great place to spend some time and a wonderful cafe to relax in while I chase the children around the garden!

Studland Beach amongst the long grasses and traditional beach huts which holds such nostalgia for many people, having spent their childhoods running amongst the dunes.

The flower field at Hatch, a wonderfully natural environment for Portraits and a chance to fill the car with beautiful flowers from the wild garden set in the Wiltshire hills.


To book in, drop us an email or call the gallery, we will give you all the information as well as product prices and options. 01747 854509

Oct
23

Wedding Photography. A Small Corner revisited..

Wedding Photography. A Small Corner revisited..

As promised, Elli and Tom have now viewed their images so I can show you a few more from their beautiful September wedding. A tinge of autumn colour on the trees embellished with that lovely warm glow that you see at the end of the day at this time of year.
Enjoy.. x


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Aug
20

Wedding at Pythouse

Wedding at Pythouse

The best weddings are about people – friends & family – I’ve been to some incredible weddings, sumptuous locations where no expense is spared on entertainment and accessories; but remove the grandeur and the one thing that makes a wedding wonderful, is the bringing together of people. Allowing those behind the scenes to do their job in their special way is most certainly conducive to the harmony of how the day will run . Harry and Elena gave me the free rein to work in the way that I most enjoy, and given we had four seasons in one day, made for exciting use of the elements. The Quaker ceremony was a first for me and being the impatient fidget that I am, I admit to struggling with the silences but in fact, it was one of the most moving and sentimental ceremonies I have attended…. Elena’s choice of vintage dress lent itself perfectly to whimsical romance – all very well until the heavens opened on the top of Park Walk and all aspects of grace and demure abandoned as we charged for the car.. Hot footing it back to the wedding reception at the whimsical Pythouse gardens for celebrations. Thankyou guys for being so easy going and allowing me the creative space to work in and of course for Pythouse Walled Garden just for being there….I give you Harry, Elena and Seth.

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