Thursday 19 November 2015

One to One Photography course ~ A review ~

I am very pleased to be able to share this review from one of my recent 1-1 sessions.  If you would like to book one of these sessions for a friend or family member, please contact me here.  Further details about the course are here.


~ Dawn's Story ~

I have long been a keen amateur photographer and I love taking photographs of people, especially my children. My husband treated me to a digital SLR camera for Christmas and I was completely daunted by all of the settings and buttons and was completely out of my depth.
I attempted some shots in automatic mode over Christmas and they weren't great. After wading through some of the manual that came with the camera as it told me what all the buttons did but what I needed to know was in which scenarios these were used. I felt more confused than ever so I contacted Suzanne for help. I have always loved Suzanne’s style and sense of fun in her photography so when she suggested a 1 to 1 course I thought it was a great idea.

The course was 3 x 2 hour sessions, the first session was based around composition and what makes a good photo i.e. where the light is, how people and things are positioned, what they are wearing, where you position yourself to take the shot. Suzanne also covered the basics, how to hold the camera, the different shooting modes on the camera and what they are for and when to use them. There were loads of tips for places to get photographs printed too. At the end of the first session I was given some homework so that I could use of my new knowledge in my own time and just have a go.

Our second session involved looking at the homework pictures and evaluating them, if they weren’t quite what I was trying to capture Suzanne made me think about things I could have changed at the time to get a better shot. She also covered the other settings on the camera that when used in conjunction with the shooting mode can enhance the picture further. We looked at focus points and how to change them, setting exposure compensation, changing the white balance and more. At the end of this session I was given some more homework to do in my own time and at my own pace.

Our third session covered image processing which was just fantastic, I learned a great deal in this session, how to erase items from a shot that are distracting, how to lighten and change the colour balance of a photograph and loads more. All of this knowledge has helped me now make a nice photo a great photo.
I had so much fun on my course and wish I had more time to develop my skills still further. Thank you Suzanne, you have taught me that good photography doesn’t always involve being lucky and getting a good shot but that with a little planning and knowledge beforehand you can achieve great photography. I would recommend this course to anyone with a Digital SLR camera.

Thank you xx 
Dawn

All photographs in this post courtesy of Dawn :)




Sunday 15 November 2015

Moooo...ve a little closer ~ Family photoshoot

Fantastic day on the farm with this bunch not so long ago......... loved working with such an interesting backdrop.  Sometimes families get together to do a joint family shoot for grandparents :)

Here are a few from the double family photoshoot








Tuesday 10 November 2015

Take Better Photos ~ Gift Voucher

Did Santa bring you or your loved one a Camera last Christmas and your still not sure how it works?

This year your not sure what to give your friends or family for Christmas?


I hope I can help!!

Beautifully boxed Gift vouchers are available to purchase offering a bespoke 1-1 photography course.

These courses are individually tailored to your skills, interest and ability.

Simply contact me detailing your requirements and we can work together to compile a suitable package for your loved one.




Sunday 8 November 2015

One to One ~ photography course ~ A review

I am very pleased to be able to share this review from one of my recent 1-1 sessions.  If you would like to book one of these sessions for a friend or family member, please contact me here.  Further details about the course are here.


~Cath's Story~
My husband bought me the photography course for my birthday (3 x 2 hour sessions, one-to-one with Suzanne). I have always enjoyed messing about with my camera and had completed a course at school a very long time ago but was very rusty. I really wanted to get out of the ‘Auto’ habit and learn how to edit more effectively.
For our first session, Suzanne began by talking through what kind of pictures I wanted to take – I have sporty children so this was a subject I wanted to focus on, along with nature shots and portraits. We discussed loads of different ideas and she showed me lots of examples of how to compose a satisfying shot. She also gave me lots of ideas of how I could edit and present the final pictures. We then ran through the basics of the camera workings and discussed some of the main principles of light, settings, etc. It was an excellent refresher and Suzanne was very patient explaining the trickier concepts while whizzing through the parts I was confident with. I had several handouts to take away with me, which gave me time to digest all the information I had received. In one session Suzanne completely reignited my passion for photography and got me really excited about taking pictures again.
In the second session, we went through the ‘homework’ shots I had taken. Suzanne provided me with lots of constructive feedback and was really encouraging with my first attempts. She gave me some really practical tips about how to improve the pictures for next time. This was extremely useful as it was geared specifically to the type of photos I wanted to take. We then went for a stroll and took some photos together. Suzanne gave me even more ideas and introduced me to some clever little tips for improving my pictures further.
In our final session I had asked Suzanne to teach me how to use Photoshop for editing my photos. Again, more excellent handouts with clear instructions on how to do some brilliant editing techniques, such as sunbursts, colour enhancement, creating montages, etc. It was so exciting seeing my pictures turn into the kind of ones I've always wanted to take! There was lots of “oh, so that’s how you do that!”
Since then, I have really got back into enjoying my camera. I have become the unofficial photographer for all school and kids sporting events, as well as the odd hen do, and have received lots of positive feedback from people. My camera is never on Auto anymore and I have a much better understanding of how to compose a good shot. I still have a way to go but I feel inspired and excited by my camera again.

Overall, I would highly recommend this photography course. Suzanne is so encouraging and passionate about her art, as well as great fun to take pictures with. Each session is carefully geared towards your specific needs and she is an excellent teacher. The only downside is that it’s now going to cost my husband a lot more in future birthday presents!
I am pleased to share one of my recent shots ~ Cath

Wednesday 4 November 2015

Give the gift of Treasured memories

This Christmas, give the gift of treasured memories for your friends and family.



Create a personalised GIFT VOUCHER

Either a chosen denomination (e.g. £20, £40, £100) or photoshoot package selected by yourself.

For each gift voucher purchased, a free 12 x 8 print from the photoshoot will be included (as minimum, this will vary depending on amount spent)

The voucher is boxed with details of what is included in their 'voucher' plus little treats for your recipient.

Click HERE to email me with your details and requirements

























N.B. Vouchers are valid until 23rd December 2016.  Book via phone or email.  Date availability cannot be guaranteed although every effort will be made to accommodate preferred date.