It is often said that you should ‘never work with animals and children’… However, as a Dorset photographer surrounded by children whose lives revolve around ponies & dogs, most of my local portraiture shoots involve both! This can often be a challenge, and I have certainly taken quite a few hilariously disastrous photos in the process; but with a little patience I often capture a really special image that pulls at the heart strings. This, for me, is one of them. Love really is…
What a privilege to return to photograph Kate Adie in her home town in Dorset, this time for a feature I was covering for Country Life Magazine, out this month. At 71 she looks incredible – perhaps her secret is keeping busy. Although her days of being a war correspondent may be over, she is certainly not one to sit still. Indeed she still works as a freelance journalist and public speaker, she presents ‘From our own Correspondent’ on Radio 4, is ambassador for various charities, and has written 5 books – including her best selling autobiography, ‘The Kindness of Strangers’.
I think this photo captures the essence of this remarkable lady – intelligence, humour, integrity, determination, strength and charm.
I’m just surfacing from a crazy couple of months of photography, with back to back weddings, school marketing & prospectus photoshoots, family portraits, Country Life editorial and frontispiece shoots, sculpture and new product shots and so forth. The highlight however was being commissioned to photograph another incredible Middleton wedding.
As the official photographer for Pippa Middleton & James Matthews’ wedding, I captured the bridal preparations, church service, formal groups, reception, speeches, departure and of course the fantastic party in the evening. It was a tremendous day and huge honour. I am one lucky Dorset photographer!
I would like to thank Dan Pangbourne, a fantastic photographer and great friend, for his help in setting up the lighting for the formal group photographs. These were a great success and I’m thrilled with the final images.
Working alongside with me for the rest of the day were photographer Matt Porteous, and film makers James O’Garra and Patrick Gather – all of whom were a joy to work with.
As a mother of three daughters myself, I love photographing girls.
There was something so special about these two sisters (aside from both being naturally beautiful and photogenic). A combination of their contagiously happy spirit, gentle confidence, humility, kindness, and deep routed love for each other. Whilst I captured a variety of stunning portraits of the two of them together (and individually), this image epitomises their relationship. The subjects don’t have to be looking into the your eye to capture your attention – a moment can be every bit as powerful. This was a moment for me.
Nothing like photographing a baby in water. In fact, I think ‘splash’ might be one of the first words babies learn. This kitchen sink was ideal for a fun portrait – lovely uncluttered background and large windows letting in lots of natural light. He created quite a mess in a matter of seconds – this was one of his ‘milder’ splashes. So needless to say we got quite wet. But it was worth it.
I had such fun on this informal engagement shoot walking the streets of Notting Hill. We had more or less finished our shoot and were wandering back to their flat when we passed this florist’s shop. The striped roof and diagonal wall instantly caught my eye, the light streaming in towards me provided a fabulous backlight glow, but the icing on the cake was the shop name: “Wild at Heart”.
We literally only had a handful of minutes but this is one of my favourite images from our shoot. One of those rare moments when all the elements come together and provide you with an instant gem of a photograph. Rather like Kate and Fred, this was quite simply ‘meant to be’.
Really looking forward to photographing their wedding in a few weeks time.
Thanks you to the Times for featuring my photo of this wonderful inspiring couple, playing in Ali’s brother’s wedding at Sherborne Abbey last November. Huge congratulations to Ali & Guy on their engagement.
Thank you @CountryLifeMagazine for featuring me in their Top 10 Wedding Photographers in their Guide to Weddings, included in 26th April 2016 edition. #honoured!
Lovely to return almost 3 years after her wedding, to photograph the beautiful Lady Natasha Rufus Isaacs with her stunning daughter Georgia, both donning dresses from Natasha’s fashion range Beulah.
Founded in 2010 by Natasha along with Lavinia Brennan, Beulah London was born out of a desire to design and produce beautiful clothes that empower and inspire the women who wear them, whilst being committed to raising awareness of the plight of women trapped by human slavery.
This luxury fashion brand with a social conscience has inspired some of the world’s most influential women to wear the label, including the Duchess of Cambridge.
Wishing them all the success in their journey.
Very honoured to have met and photographing this inspiring young lady – Sophie Montagne. As covered recently on the BBC news, Sophie is part of the first all female team attempting to cross Antartica later in November this year. The team has just returned from 3 weeks training in the Norwegian Wilderness, where they have skied 463km and climbed over 6000m, pulling 50kg behind them (about 75% of their bodyweight).
In November, their 3 month journey will be cover 1,700km during which they will be battling temperatures of -50C with wind speeds over 60mph. Some feat. Follow them on twitter @exicemaiden.