Family and Children's Portraits

Anyone who follows my work on Facebook will probably have already seen these images, but I did say that I would post the photographs from a family photo-shoot and here they are!

Now I may be a little biased here, seeing as these beautiful children pictured are my own nephew and niece, but they did very well at the studio, enjoying their photo-shoot and generally having a great time.

My nephew Finley has been more than comfortable in front of the camera since he was less than a day old, and now appears equally at home behind the camera too, setting out his toys and "posing" them for his own photographs. I may have an heir in the making!

Maddison is no stranger to the lens either and at only 7 months old makes a wonderful subject to photograph with her big beaming smile.

Children's photographs are perhaps one of the most important (and enjoyable) types of work I create, in fact there's a whole section of the website devoted to it at http://www.sallymarie.co.uk/Portrait_Photography_Wales.asp?ID=7&Level1ID=2&Level2ID=3

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Ruthin Castle wedding fayre

I've just confirmed attendance at Ruthin Castle wedding fayre and fashion show, 23rd and 24th January 2010. I will be exhibiting lifestyle and wedding photography, of course, but there's always so much to see, not only amazing wedding photographs but flowers, cars, cakes, and dozens of beautiful dresses!

Based on previous years I've found this location to be an excellent venue for its wedding fayres and fashion shows, and am really looking forward to the new 2-day format! A whole weekend chatting to brides-to-be (and grooms, and mums etc!) about all things wedding - fantastic!

December is traditionally a very busy month for me, and it seems this December will be even more so, as I'll be busy refining exhibition materials and ordering fabulous new sample albums and display products - it's all so exciting, I can't wait!

My glamorous assistants and I at Ruthin 2007

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Siobhan and Charlie's Wedding at the Conrah Hotel, Aberystwyth

Charlie and Siobhan, both artists from London, held their wedding at the Conrah Hotel, Aberystwyth last month.

The tone of the day was very much relaxed and informal, and the couple requested mostly candid, unposed shots capturing the guests expressions as they enjoyed the day. Featuring probably the most colourful wedding cake ever, it was a beautiful day and everyone had a fabulous time.

A few wedding photographs from Charlie and Siobhan's day:

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Wedding Thank Yous

I've just received a great note from the parents of a groom whose wedding I had the privilege of photographing in July. They enclosed this picture, which they took as I was setting up the big group shot:



Well, when you're a 5'0 photographer sometimes you have to improvise!

I love the thank you letters from my brides and grooms. Some of them go onto the website at http://www.sallymarie.co.uk/ as client testimonials, but some of them I just like to keep as a little reminder of how much my job means, not just to me but to so many other people's lives.

So this post is, in my own sentimental way, a quick "thank you for the thank yous" - that are a big part of the adventure that is being a photographer. It's awesome!

Another coffee beckons and then on with the image processing.

(I have a very special family shoot booked for this weekend, can't WAIT to see what it brings and will certainly be putting some favourites onto the blog afterwards, so watch this space!)

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

My Week In Pictures

A few images from Tuesday's shoot with Brett Harkness. Just goes to show that rain doesn't necessarily have to stop play, it can be a perfect excuse to get really creative, especially at a wedding.

These were taken in a very industrial setting around a mill yard, and I'm pleased with the funky results. You really don't need jaw-dropping locations to create amazing, individual portraits. Just a little imagination and a clever eye.

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.

Blog-raphy - an introduction

Welcome to my blog!

Firstly I'd like to explain what prompted me to start a blog today.

I've spent the last three days at the Annabel Williams studio in Cumbria surrounded by fellow photographers (including the very cool Crash Taylor, recently named one of the top 10 wedding photographers of our time and a thoroughly great bloke!)

They were a really inspirational bunch and it's been a brilliant opportunity for me to mingle with these people and share ideas and stories. That's one of the great things about photography - you never stop learning, no matter where you are in the industry, no matter how many awards you've won and how much experience you've had. For me, the day I stop learning is the day I hang up my camera.

So, a lot of these photographers were talking about blogs, and the way they use them within their business and as a communications tool, and it struck me as a fantastic way to keep friends, family, customers and prospective customers up to date with my work, my plans and my photography life in general.

I should, perhaps, have read a few other peoples' blogs before starting this. I don't even know if I'm doing it "properly". But I was just too excited to wait. I will have a look at some of the others when I've finished typing this, and see what everyone else thought of this week.

I've come away from this week with a head full of new ideas, and Sally Marie Photography Ltd is going to be heading for some exciting changes in the very near future. My intention for tomorrow is to sit with a laptop and a good coffee, somewhere pleasant, and type up all these new plans. I can't wait to get started and I'll keep this blog updated with each new idea as I start to put them into place.

I would also like to use this blog as a rough wedding guide, with ideas and stories from the weddings I photograph throughout the year which could help brides planning their own wedding. As always, feedback would be extremely valuable so please tell me your thoughts and I will do my best to keep this blog packed with information that's useful, interesting and personal.

Bring on the blogging.....

All Blog content ©Sally Marie Photography Ltd - No reproduction without express permission.