The Blog

Beautiful light dappling through Woodlands is a magnificent sight, team that with masses of bluebells at their prime and you have one breath taking backdrop for a portrait shoot. I met up with Julie who is a nature and wildlife loving pagan, having seen some of my other bluebell portraits she said 'I wish I could look like that in the bluebells'.  Of course you can, I replied, my aim is to make each shoot unique and different, to make my clients feel special, fall in love with their photos and to have a fun experience along the way.  Armed with some medieval dresses, a wedding tiara and her husband, we set off on an early morning adventure to 'Hitchwood'.  It's an area I know very well, but the three of us explored finding new areas thick with bluebells, fallen trees, timber shelters or good light.

Julie said "I was a little apprehensive about whether I'd look silly, look like I was trying to do what I thought models do, not understanding Sharon's directions and wasting her time etc. However Sharon was patient, very personable and with my husband assisting and encouraging me, my confidence emerged and we had a very enjoyable morning."

When she saw her images, Julie said, "I was amazed, my first thought was 'is that really me?!'  I could see the difference between a photo taken by someone with a decent camera and a good eye, and a photo taken by an experienced photographer who has a variety of equipment and who has the knack of putting someone at their ease enough to be the centre of attention of a photoshoot." 

I was delighted at the feedback from Julie, and her family and friends who she shared her images with, as a photographer, thats what I aim for.  But this smiling one is one of my personal favourites, because that isn't a posed smile, it's the smile of someone enjoying her photoshoot and after relaxing into the zone, realising that this isnt awkward, silly or out of place, but a memorable exciting adventure.  

I took along my lensbaby, (these above are taken with it) which isnt the easiest of lenses to use, but often the results are described as 'swimmy, magical and natural' so I thought it was a perfect choice for the beautiful blue and green setting.

I always wanted to be a fairy princess, said Julie, when I look at some of the photographs I see an 'elvish' princess, who wouldn't look out of place in Rivendell!  From a more personal point of view, I have looked at photos of me from the dim and distant past which portray a different person, a very thin and deluded person, and thought I could never be comfortable in another photoshoot now I have rehabilitated into a healthy size 14-16 38 year old.  However Sharon's work in one morning has instilled more self confidence in me than I ever thought possible, helping me see that to create a beautiful photograph you do not need lashings of make up and tons of airbrushing.  My album of beautiful photographs is just one of many things I have to thank Sharon for.