It's always a really special thing for me to take photos of people I love - my friends, my family. Especially when the shots turn out nicely. I had volunteered Freya for a photoshoot (probably) within a week of meeting her, and, three years on, I still hadn't delivered - and she was about to leave university!
So we settled our balance in June, in a student house/garden, in clothes she loves (and the hat she bought when she visited me in Rome) , and here are the results!
Ever wonder how a photography business begins? This is how mine started...
I was invited to the wedding of some family friends of ours, over in Coventry. We were staying at the groom's house, and at some point I got out a book I had stuck some of my pretty portraits in and showed the groom's mum (this is the day before the wedding) . She says, "Oo, show that to Matt! He would love to see them!"
And so I go and show the groom.
The groom, Matt, then asks if I can take a few pictures the following day too, so they can have another angle to their official photographer's. I say yes - as long as there is absolutely no pressure on me to deliver, and as long as they don't pay me anything at all for it. Shooting someone's special day is scary stuff!
So I bring along my camera, and try not to get in the official photographer's way, and take as good photos as I can, in the hope that a few will turn out nicely. I took over 3000 that day.
Here are some of those photos, revisited, four years later. They're probably quite different to what you're used to in my photos, but they're how I started.
Happy anniversary Matt and Sarah! And thank you for putting your trust in me four years ago - you allowed me to start something off, almost by accident, which has grown into a real passion of mine.
It's always very special taking photographs for someone you know - and this was no exception, Taylor having been more or less my boss at some point last year. One of the most original (and warm!) weddings I have had the chance to photograph so far. Enjoy!
[Click on the images to see them full size.]
A selection of my favourites from Becky & David's wedding, a lovely (if pretty rainy!) June wedding. Enjoy!
[Click on individual images to see them full-size]
One wonderful thing about spending time abroad is that when you spend long enough in one place you get some unique insights into what daily life can be like.
These are the four sons of one of the teachers I worked with in Lombardy, Italy. Their great-uncle was having fun with the wheelbarrow and their hens...
