We first met Tortie and her amazing furniture over at Bucks University when we photographed their Furniture: Design & Craft graduate work. Well, Tortie’s designs have gone on to win her the title of BDC New Designer of the Year 2010 – one of the most prized awards there is for a new designer!

So, firstly, congratulations to Tortie – who is a) really lovely, b) incomprehensibly talented and c) very photogenic. A good mix in my opinion.

We took some more pictures for her press and PR releases – only this time we stepped outside to capture the images (well, her work is very organic and so it seemed appropriate somehow!)

I loved it. Beautiful furniture and an unusual location. Oh, and good company too – Dr. Lynn Jones from Bucks University, a long-time friend of ours and one of Tortie’s course leaders, also came over and it turned into quite an impromptu social event. Which is, I think, how photography should be!

Cheers
P.

PS. If anyone would like to talk to Tortie about her furniture, her email is tortshoare@gmail.com

We’ve been working with the guys at Bucks University in High Wycombe on and off over the past couple of years and it’s always one of the most intriguing and interesting sessions for us. Trying to capture the essence of someone else’s creativity (rather than just our own) is both challenging and hugely rewarding.

This session was for some of the artists in residence at the university and their work is extraordinary. Hopefully that’s how it comes across in the pictures!

Yup.

Call me old fashioned but there are few places I find quite so convivial. So comforting. So British. There is nothing quite like finding yourself on a lazy afternoon with a well-pulled pint and a roaring fire listening to the background chatter of one of this nation’s greatest legacies. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: The Pub.

That being said. I do lament the smoking ban in pubs and bars.

Now don’t get me wrong here, I have never smoked and, not withstanding a suitably apocalyptic midlife crisis, I probably never will. But the smouldering presence of tobacco smoke in a public house or bar always seemed somehow, natural.

I know, I know, I love not going home smelling of everyone else’s smoke and not having to wash my jacket every time. I love not having a sore throat. And I love being able to actually taste my beer.

But, and here’s the thing, I’m a photographer.

And I miss the light.

I used to get so excited about that familiar smokey, hazy, drifting light. Some of my favourite images have been captured so simply with nothing more than a basic camera, a good quality 50mm lens (the staple of all 35mm photography until the new digital formats emerged), some window light and a creamy pint of Guinness. And just a smidgen of tobacco smoke. Sigh.

Still, I digress slightly in that I meant to write about one particular pub I photographed recently: The James Figg pub. The pub (previously the Abingdon Arms) has been in the middle of Thame ever since I’ve lived here but was old and tired (not in a good way) and so it was with some excitement that I was asked by Peach Pubs, who also own The Thatch, amongst others, to create some images of their newest pub for its website and to cover the inaugural night.

And I was right to be excited. What they’ve done is pretty much perfect: a good English pub serving great beer and great food (of the pie’n'chips variety at least).

And I’ve been back since for a quick half and it is still fantastic. The service is truly friendly and hospitable and the place was seemingly full – both of people and of atmosphere.

But, sadly, still no smoke.

Ah, well it’s almost certainly for the better. I just need to find new ways of recreating that wonderful light!

Martin Baynes (who’s an old friend of ours and the UK Sales Manager for Graphistudio – you might remember me raving about the books that Graphistudio produce for us, often under incredible deadlines that our other suppliers simply can’t match!) asked us to capture some images for them to use for press and PR which was a real pleasure to do.

Yervant is an absolute legend in the photographic world but this seminar was as much about his wife, Annie, as it was about him and his images (and they are both hugely engaging characters on stage!)

It is, in fact, she that has taken what he does and turned it into an international business at the pinnacle of the industry. It is her work and her business-like approach that has made the Yervant brand (both in terms of the name and the iconic images) what it is today.

This was possibly the most interesting seminar I’ve been to from the perspective as it reminded me of how our company works: yes, I capture the images; yes, it’s my signature everywhere; yes, it’s my ability to see and seek out locations and light; but it’s Sarah who picks out those priceless images for our clients (she sees the world differently to me – she’s only influenced by what a bride or parent would wish to see rather than a photographer’s desire for the dramatic or the moody. Don’t get me wrong, these are important too but you need a healthy balance.) It’s Sarah who talks to most of our clients, helping to understand what is required and make sure we provide it. It is Sarah who watches the numbers and makes sure we’re on track. It’s Sarah who manages our alarmingly complex diary. It is Sarah who crafts our amazing slideshows. Quite simply, I would not be in a position to create the images that I do if it wasn’t for the fact we run the business together.

And that’s the point.

Sometimes, when I’m desperately trying to capture a particular image or moment, it’s easy to forget that this is a business. I am lucky as it’s the business of memories. It’s the business of beautiful images. It’s the business of bringing joy (and, occasionally, poignancy) to our clients. But, and here’s the rub, it’s still a business. A very successful business with the most incredible clients that we are both hugely proud of.

And seeing Annie and Yervant side by side (and please forgive the pun here) brought that sharply into focus.

Brilliant.

I have to admit I wasn’t certain who he was initially but when you real off the fantastic restaurants he’s been responsible for (Mash, Coast, The Atlantic Bar and Grill, Admiralty, The National Gallery dining rooms, Inn the Park – the list goes on) that you know exactly who he is – and I have had many a good night in the venues he’s been responsible for. Ah, those were the days! He’s also one of the judges on the BBC Great British Menu programme so if I ever sat down to watch the telly…

Anyway, I met Oliver at his Inn The Park in St James Park to get some images for use in Owner Manager magazine – the official magazine of the Small Firms Association in Ireland.

Before I had met him, I knew his time was tight but when he arrived 15 minutes late, it rapidly became a shoot that we’d need to complete under a load more pressure than I’d hoped. Still, it was a gorgeous day in a London park so I just sat and soaked up the fantastic atmosphere. All good.

When Oliver bowled up we had an extremely rapid session (I think it lasted a total of 20 minutes) and we created 40 diverse images ranging from the cover image on a black background through to some really enigmatic images of the man himself on the balcony of his restaurant. Fast, yes, but creative. The images have turned out exactly as I would have wished (and they’re now in the magazine) even allowing for it being such a short session.

And Oliver is an absolute character – the man is a live-wire and very funny! So it was 20 minutes of photography with chat! And he seemed most pleased with the fact that I had only ’stolen’ 20 minutes of his valuable time.

And who can ask for better than that?

Let us know what you think!

Cheers
P.

A month or so ago, we’d persuaded three of the lads from the club to give us a hand grabbing a shot for the programme – with some fantastic results!

I’d had this idea of a shot of one of the lads scissor-kicking a ball over the top of the camera as I thought it would be really dramatic and eye-catching. So, having hauled ourselves in a suitable goalmouth in the pouring rain, we rigged a couple of remote flash guns to see if we could get the shot.

The shots we caught are absolutely fantastic (all three of the lads are exceedingly talented when it comes to the beautiful game) but it was at the very end when we grabbed just a quick image of the boys soaking wet and covered in mud that, and I have to say somewhat unexpectedly, the best photo of the day emerged. Funny how it happens that way sometimes. You work hard at getting the image you had in your head (and, in this instance we did get some great shots!) but so often it’s an image that sort of creeps up on you and takes you by surprise that is ultimately the killer picture. 3 lads, 3 footballs, a liberal coating of fresh goalmouth mud and a constant drizzle of August rain and you have the perfect image.

And that’s the one we used in the advert.

Let us know what you think.

Cheers
P.

PS. Should just add that the Funday was awesome – hats off to everyone involved in its organising and the running of the day. Just brilliant!
PPS. Should also add a huge ‘thank you’ to Ciaran, Tom and Evan for providing their not inconsiderable talent and skill to help us get the shot

For us, it’s not just about having lots of clients (though, of course, it helps) – it’s just as much about the type of clients we have and the opportunities they present for us to create beautiful images. And on both of those fronts life couldn’t be better. We have a wonderfully diverse client base that every single day brings new and exciting challenges – and on top of that, we get to meet the nicest people possible!

Anyway, I have to admit, I’m trying to catch up on some of the blogging that has been so woefully absent for the past month or two: please forgive me on that front as I am sure you will understand I would always choose to be creating beautiful images rather than writing my blog (though actually I love writing this thing – it’s just that I love photography more!)

So going back to one of our favourite clients – The Crazy Bear. We were lucky enough to be asked to photograph their new Members Only Club in Covent Garden, London. Once again the guys have created the most magical venue that is both a pleasure to be in and a pleasure to photograph. I can highly recommend a trip over there to anyone who loves their Sushi (as I do) as their chef is utterly fantastic!

Let us know what you think!

Take care
Cheers
P.

The whole session was full on from start to finish with the three girls I was photographing being exactly how you’d wish kids to be – funny, exuberant, energetic and spirited (oh, and incredibly polite and well-mannered – even when they were being cheeky!) This just makes for a fantastically creative location session for us to capture a really diverse set of images as the next candidates for The Little Italy Coffee Shop.

I do have to admit that this was one of those sessions in which I’m not entirely certain who was actually in control. I do, naively, like to think it was me but I can’t help but wonder if it wasn’t Jemima, aged two and a half. Even her own family affectionately called her ‘The Boss’.

The whole of this session was held at one of our more regular locations for portraiture – Wendover Woods. We started with the playground area up there. To be honest, I don’t think I had much say in the matter as the girls were off and running as they spilled out of the car! Still, as this fits with our approach to a shoot (i.e. to make it as much fun as possible – particularly with kids) that it worked perfectly.

Once they’d burned a seemingly boundless amount of energy there, we used every bit of woodland we could find that had good light – which is a lot at Wendover! Eventually we were unceremoniously swamped by a large number of Cub Scouts, at which point we retired to the cafe. I love outdoor photography but one should never underestimate the importance of a hot chocolate at the end! Particularly if it means you can grab an additional shot or two. Which I did. So the hot chocolate is almost an integral part of the shoot! That’s my excuse anyway.

The time just flies when we’re shooting and this was no exception. It felt like we’d barely started and we’d already spent nearly two hours running around and had a bag-full of images. I think we’d earned the refreshment.

So, if the next time you’re sitting drinking one Little Italy’s fantastic coffees and wondering who took the photos and how they were done – now you know!

Do let us know what you think as we love to get comments and feedback (good and bad – though clearly, we’d rather it were good!)

Cheers
P.

The photographs needed to capture the feel of the new restaurant which is stunningly modern and quite different to our local Haddenham venue. The restaurant is full of colour with a private dining area (including its own HD TV – perfect for lunchtime meetings and presentations!) , water wall and a beautiful cocktail bar/reception. I think we caught all of that. Oh, and the food is absolutely delicious

Let us know what you think!

Cheers

P.

This particular session was one of a few we’ve been doing recently to create new images for our friends in the Little Italy coffee shop in Haddenham.

I love creating these images as we know exactly how they’re going to be used and, as it happens, they’re one of my particular favourite genres – classic black & white.

For this particular session we were photographing the most beautiful little angel, Emily, who proceeded to take complete control of the shoot from the minute she stepped into our studio right up until we’d finished and, grinning, she climbed back into the car with her mum and waved goodbye.

For the type of work we specialise in this works perfectly. And the images reflect it. They are all full of the life and vitality that kids have, from the excitement of having an entire pains aux raisins to be devoured just for the benefit of the camera to the exhuberance of leaping into puddles to create explosions of water. And all of it done with the biggest smile you can imagine!

And for me, this is what portraiture is all about – capturing beautiful images and still having the most fantastic time doing it. And Emily was wonderful. She was funny and engaging, intelligent and wilful – but always polite and well behaved. Oh, and gorgeously photogenic. Isn’t that what photographing childhood should be like?

I do hope so.

Cheers
P.