Towcester PHOTOWALK - STARTS Thursday 8th September - Book NOW!

Taking bookings for the second course - simply BOOK HERE course starts Thursday 8th September 10.00am

If you are local to Towcester and are interested in knowing a little more about your SLR, Bridge or Advanced Compact camera then maybe this is for you!?

WHEN DOES IT START? ~ The course commences on Thursday 8th September at 10.00am till Midday and runs for 8 weeks, term time dates only.

WHO IS IT FOR? ~ If you are interested in Photography and class yourself as a Beginner/intermediate photographer who owns a Digital SLR, Bridge camera, or advanced compact camera.  No experience or knowledge required.  I want you to take control of your camera and move away from automatic modes to achieve fantastic photographs.

WHAT DO I NEED? ~ To own a Digital SLR or Bridge camera, own a computer or tablet and to have connection to the internet at home.  No software, additional equipment or fancy lenses are required.

HOW FAR DO WE WALK? ~ Each session has 60 minutes of class room based knowledge before we head out and test our knowledge for an hour; we can walk up to 2 miles per session dependant on location.  Please wear suitable clothing and shoes. We will be out and about walking aside from days with inclement weather.

WHAT DO WE LEARN? ~ The course will cover the basics of the concepts of photography, using Aperture and Shutter speeds alongside ISO, plus the ‘softer’ skills of photography looking at creating and composing your photographs, lighting and personal style.  The course will also cover basic editing on both computer and tablets through to you creating a product.  Each session will be based on a core photographic subject but centred on Towcester, its history, buildings and landscapes.    It’s not just technical advice you will get with our walk, we will put the things we learn into practice, I will be on hand at all times to help you.

WHERE DO WE MEET? ~ Each session will start at the pod, within Towcester Library for up to 60 minutes tuition then out and about throughout the town (aside from days with inclement weather). 

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE COURSE? ~ The aim is for each student to print, mount and frame their favourite shot/s from the course to display at the Library.  Each student will be confident on the operations of their cameras, be able to look artistically at a scene and judge the best way of capturing the photograph and be able to present photographs to friends and family using many various methods of display.  Have a passion for photography and continue your photographic journey.

HOW DO I PAY? ~ Payment of £95.00 for the entire 8 week (term time) course is required on or prior to the first session either in cash, bank transfer or Paypal.

WHO IS TAKING THE COURSE? ~ I am Suzanne Kentish I have enjoyed photography my whole life, but has been professional for the last 8 years,   I specialise in Portrait photography and teaching.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE COURSE? ~ On the final sessions we will be printing, mounting and framing our favourite prints and presenting them to our friends and family.  If there is enough interest the course will continue, furthering our knowledge and expanding our photographic repertoire. 

HOW DO I BOOK? ~ Simply contact me here and I'll be in touch, spaces limited to 10 people on a first come, first serve basis.

Why 'YOU' need to be in the photographs ~ Spring Photoshoots

How many photographs have you taken of your children in the past year!!! Loads!! I hear you say, its so easy to do these days with the convenience of a phone.......

So, how many of those photographs do you appear in with your children?

Okay, I know, no-one likes their photograph being taken, you either haven't done your hair, need to loose a few pounds to get back into your skinny jeans or you got up in a rush and forgot to put on your make-up.  These excuses mean we rarely get in front of the camera to be in the shot with our children. Does this mean we will never be in any photographs again?

In years to come your children will want to show their children photographs of you with them, they will want to have them in their homes, to keep and cherish.  They will love the photographs regardless of your make up, hair etc........ because its YOU!!

Each year my family have a photoshoot (I know I am a photographer!!) but I need to be in some family photographs too!!

So, here it is.......

1. I encourage you, get in front of the camera, take selfies, get someone else to take the photo, book a photoshoot!! 

2. Print off your photographs, frame them and dot them round the house, give them to the grandparents, enjoy them xx

Spring is coming........

I love the first signs that spring is on its way, seeing the trees budding with the knowledge that spring blossom is about to arrive.  I have taken shots of the blossom trees in our road for the past 5 years and without fail it falls within a three week window from end of March to the beginning of April.  I can't wait to get out and see what colours the trees bring this year.

With Love in the air..... Nearly Valentines day.......

Capture your beautiful wedding with natural photography

Visit my Wedding page to browse the package and look at some recent photography

LOVE:SHOOT

~ LOVE:SHOOT ~

With Valentines fast approaching I am offering an exclusive hour LOVE:SHOOT.
Couples rarely capture more than a selfie or snaps together these days, I am happy to help gain these memories for your future 

heart emoticon~ Hour shoot with USB of 20-30 edited images = £149 ~

LOVE:SHOOT engagement photographs are complementary when you book a wedding with me 

wink emotiWhen you book your wedding with me this package is complementary 

Family Photography { Growing up so fast }

I absolutely love to photograph families year on year and see them as they grow up....... to capture the small changes and to see the family dynamics evolve as the little ones develop their own personalities.  Look at these two brothers, they are scrummy :)

Time rolls around so fast and capturing it takes only a moment but is treasured for years to come.

“Family, like branches in a tree, we all grow in different directions, 

yet our roots remain as one.” – Unknown

Here are the photographs from last years session 

{ 2015 } A round up

What an amazing year, through my business I have met some wonderful new people at both weddings, family portrait shoots and my new 1-1 photography sessions.  I have also caught up with some regular customers, it is great to see how a family are growing up.

2015 has seen a move to teaching photography, I absolutely love it and am thrilled to share knowledge with other enthusiastic people who have yet to master SLR cameras.  Each session I learn a little more myself, whether it be a different style or technical specification.

Of course I still continue to shoot weddings and portraits which will always be a passion.  2016 I shall be taking on some more personal education and research into areas such as landscape photography and some of the great photographers of our time.......

"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn"  John Cotton Dana

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 :)

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

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.

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

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.