Alexander House Wedding Fayre, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Good Morning All,

I had a fabulous day at Alexander House Hotel yesterday. Primarily it was an open day with a few selected suppliers and I thought it was particularly nice for Brides and Grooms to be able to fully appreciated what the venue has to offer and then not be inundated with suppliers trying to catch their attention. I had loads of space to exhibit and people could wander by and look at my imagery and products without feeling harassed. As usual I had many great chats and I am very much looking forward to meeting with you all again. One fact that I found out yesterday; in Norway the engagement and weddings rings are worn on the right hand not the left. I think that this lady's Fiance may want to throttle me as I suggested that to keep up with both traditions, she should also have another one for her left hand! She thought it was a marvellous idea...I am naughty!! The imagery in this post shows a couple having a gentle stroll on a warm day under the shade of the monkey tree.

Hope you had a great weekend. It has been a great week here at Woodland Hill Photography; I have sourced another location for my secret project and hope to be creating the imagery for that in a couple of weeks. I have another project on the go, and the first shoot is taking place this week. Once I have tested the concept fully I will be offering it as a completely new product, it has been whizzing around in my head for a while and it was only last week that I felt it had that little va, va, voom!

I am exhibiting at South Lodge this coming Sunday 5th February and if you are in the area please pop by to have a look at the venue, its beautiful grounds and the many suppliers that can make your day just as you want it to be. I always love a chat so pop by and say hello.

Enjoy your week and wrap up warm.

Claire

If you would lke to see more of my work pop along to my website Woodland Hill Photography

Grace: Baby Photographers East Grinstead West Sussex

Good Afternoon,

I had a great session photographing beautiful Grace, she is such a yummy little girly all I wanted to do was give her a big cuddle! I first met Grace when she was in her Mummy's tummy and again when she was a month old. She is now 6 months old and such a bonny little girl; this session had to be split into two because she had enough and the mood we needed for the shots she was not prepared to do. She is a girly who knows her own mind so it was back today for part two with Daddy who makes the most wonderful assistant. He never fails to bring a lump to my throat when he talks to his baby girl; I just know I am going to blub during the edit! I am also very excited as she is going to be part of my secret project.

I have posted two images of Grace today, one very solemn moment and another showing her pink frilly dress and gorgeous feet to perfection.

Enjoy your weekend everyone and if you want to pop along and say hello I will be at the Alexander House Wedding Fayre this Sunday 29th. I don't know if you have gathered but I do like a good chat!!

Claire

Alexander House Wedding Fayre, East Grinstead, West Sussex

Good Morning All,

Mid-week already and nearly February where does the time go.

I am exhibiting at the Alexander House Wedding Fayre this Sunday 29th January. The show starts at 11.00 am and finishes at 3.00 pm and entry is complimentary too.

Alexander House will be showcasing local and recommended suppliers, but they will also be showcasing their lovely venue and grounds. New for this year is the gazebo situated on the Shelly lawns, so those of you who want the choice to be married outside now have the choice with the magnificent house as a backdrop. If it rains, and don't forget folks we live in the UK, the house will be equally gorgeous to make your vows to each other.

If you are in the area it would be lovely to see you and have a chat so pop in and say hello.

Hope to see some of you on Sunday.

Claire

Shelley and Matthew: West Sussex Wedding Photography

Good Morning,

I recently had a lovely engagement session with Shelley and Matthew; I am photographing their wedding this year at The Felbridge Hotel and ahead of the pre-wedding shoot this session made their engagement 'official'! The session was very romantic and I know I keep saying it Shelley, but you have the most beautiful hands and Matthew has chosen and equally beautiful ring to show them off even more...well done Matthew!

I have chosen two images to show you, one that will eventually be printed on my new black and white paper...I know, I know I keep mentioning it but it is new and I am excited; and the other to show Shelley's hand with the exquisite ring that Matthew gave her.

Looking forward to another shoot and then the Big Day you two.

Have a lovely weekend all whatever you are up to and just a quick heads up, I will be exhibiting at the Alexander House Wedding Fayre next Sunday 29th January. If you are in the area pop in and say hello.

Claire

Yas - West Sussex Children's Photography East Grinstead

Good Evening Folks,

I recently had a lovely session photographing the beautiful Yas. We started the session with high key as Yas needed some headshots then it was what I like doing best; creating a mood. I have photographed Yas a number of times now and she is just adorable, she has the sweetest disposition and to work with her is always a pleasure. She has also participated in my secret project that took us to a lovely location too.

I have chosen three images all from the 'moody' session; one in colour and two in varying black and whites. These images have had very little post production and all the work was done in the studio and camera, so what you see here is just simple, pure imagery. I am going to get some printed on a new paper that was delivered today that has a very warm tone to it. I produced the .icm profile this morning so I am all ready to go.

I am certainly feeling the cold snap that we are having and I keep telling myself it is good for the garden; not sure my chicken agrees with me though!

Claire

Mark, Elaine and Page: East Grinstead West Sussex Portrait Photography

Good Evening All,

I am posting a little late tonight some imagery that I took just before Christmas of a gorgeous trio. It is extra special as Paige has had to travel back to South Africa so she will always have memories of this Christmas! The last time she visited we were covered in a blanket of snow.

I have chosen three images to post and I think that Mark looks particularly dashing using split light, and we were all blown away when we saw the image on the back of the camera! The girls looked effortlessly gorgeous. I had the great privilege of photographing Elaine and Mark's wedding a couple of years ago and they are wonderful people, so it was really lovely to have them in the studio so I could prove to Elaine once more that she is beautiful.

I have just returned home from a brilliant couple of days at the SWPP convention. The week started with a Yerbury training day in Mayfair. Trevor and Faye Yerbury are true masters of their art and I have been looking forward to this for some time; it did not disappoint and learning from them was a wonderful and gentle experience. I was print handling on Thursday and catching up with suppliers and friends over the weekend. Exhilarating but exhausting!

I often think that I sometimes live in the past with regard to my photographic inspiration; to be honest I am pleased that I do as these people are the true greats and their work has truly stood the test of time. I really do not get the time to attend enough exhibitions and the last one I attended of Julia Margaret Cameron's work was sublime; so I really must try to see more of these photographers work close up if I can.

Anyway, enough of my ramblings. Enjoy your Sunday and have a great week.

Claire

Harry and Jack: East Grinstead West Sussex Portrait Photography

Good Morning,

I was going to post one of my 'sunny' posts today but it is so lovely outside I am going to save it until we have a dreary day!

This is one of my Christmas sessions with Harry and Jack; they came over with Dad to have some pictures taken as a Christmas surprise for Mum. We had a good session and it was finished off with a tickling session, Jack tickled Dad with gusto and as you can see probably too much gusto! I have posted one image of Harry and Jack and the other one makes me laugh as you can just see Jack and Dad about to topple out of view.

Enjoy your Tuesday and this extraordinary spring like weather we seem to be experiencing at the moment.

Claire

Will, Dan and Isobel: East Grinstead Portrait Photography

Good Morning All,

Happy Saturday and the first full weekend of 2012! Today's imagery was taken just before Christmas of three lovely children Will, Dan and Isobel. We had a great session of some high and mid key photography and the aim was to produce some imagery to give as a surprise gift to their Nan. I was most impressed as we had a sausage roll break half way through, which I might add were homemade. I must say I am thinking of incorporating this into all studio sessions! It was definitely a first for me :)

Julie, Steve and Karen have chosen a beautiful frame for Nan and it will be presented as a surprise birthday gift today. I was so pleased that we were able to get everything done in time as we all knew that it was going to be tight; it has made my weekend though. Many thanks to my suppliers for being fabulous as usual, they pulled out all the stops to ensure that I could pick it up myself yesterday. Julie is going to report back but she said there will be tears for sure....I love my job.

I have chosen three images all from the mid key session; Isobel's image has muted colour tones, Will's is in full colour and Dan's image is full black and white. Look out for a compilation that will be called 'the many faces of Isobel' on my facebook business page. I did my first one of these back in August, 2011 called 'the many faces of Jess' and they do make me laugh.

Whatever you are up to this weekend...enjoy; I am having a weekend off and we will be catching up with some friends this evening.

Claire

Happy New Year! - West Sussex Photography

Good Morning,

Welcome to 2012 and Happy New Year to you all. January is often considered a rather depressing month; we have enjoyed the festive season and it seems ages until we can look forward to long warm days with blue skies. Looking out the window this morning January is certainly living up to its expectations.

With that in mind I thought I would post some imagery to cheer us all up a bit. I received a Christmas gift in 2008 of a cherry tree that is part of an orchard called Rent a Cherry; I absolutely loved it, as soon as I opened the envelope I was instantly taken back to summer and the promise it held, so it was a gift that had so much to offer from the moment I opened it until that first succulent cherry. I loved it so much I have renewed each year since.

Today's imagery will take us back to April, May and July. We visit our tree during blossom time (we were lucky enough to see some of the cherries setting last year) and again in July to pick the wonderful fruit. The first image shows the beautiful blossom, the second shows the fruit beginning to form and the third shows the delicious cherries ready for picking and eating.

I hope it cheers you up a bit on this dreary day and it will not be too long before I am back to Northiam to watch our lovely tree in blossom again.

Enjoy your week folks,

Claire