portrait photographer Derby, Burton-on-Trent, specialising in child family photography, Ashbourne, Tutbury, Lichfield » Jennifer

Child photographer derby

Jennifer — Fri, 11 May 2012 19:28:22 +0000

This week has been busy, tiring and exciting, full of eureka moments, new friends and hopefully the start of something special. I know I must follow my heart and my heart is in child photography. More on this at some point.

portraits at Elvaston, Derby – a few more

Jennifer — Sat, 05 May 2012 12:18:33 +0000

Well April was a damp squib and so far May is proving no better! While we are waiting for an improvement in the weather here are few more from the recent couple shoot at Elvaston Castle Derbyshire and a reminder of that glorious spell of weather in March.

On a personal note I’m extremely excited to be attending a workshop, very soon, with the fabulous Barb Uil, otherwise know as Jinky Art. She is a wonderfully talented and highly regarded Australian child photographer and I feel extremely lucky to have a place on her first UK workshop.

prelude to a portrait session!

Jennifer — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 18:57:58 +0000

Today I visited a beautiful family home in Derbyshire. Though I went with the intention of just discussing a session in Summer, I couldn’t resist using my camera. I love this natural shot and look forward to photographing the whole family properly when the weather is warmer.

PS: another shot of the gorgeous four-legged friend can be found here on facebook.

professional photography – a post for Amy

Jennifer — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 21:52:22 +0000

Earlier this week I received a phone call from a school girl by the name of Amy. She was very complimentary about my work, but sounded very shy and the compliments rather wrong footed me, so I’m not sure I gave her the answers she was looking for.

On reflection I think she may have been asking about photography as a career/study choice. If that is the case these are my thoughts for Amy and any one else considering this path:

Social photography (portrait, wedding photography etc) is a wonderful career, however it sometimes seems undervalued; everyone now constantly snaps away with the latest compact or camera-phone. If you have a good eye, create beautiful work and develop your own style, there is work to be found, however you do need a good business head on your shoulders.

Which leads me to the next biggy: should you study photography at college or university…….. I was hanging out with a bunch of young talented and successful photographers today (I don’t put myself in that bracket especially the young bit!) and asked for their thoughts. Overwhelmingly the answer was no – though many do have degrees, just not in photography. It maybe better to choose a degree in something other than photography, something that would help you develop your ‘business-head’ or give you something to fall back on should you decide that photography as a career isn’t for you. So yes go to uni, have a great time if you want the experience and a good foundation for the future. As for the best way to learn and improve your photography: read, practice, look at the work of others, practice and practice some more, developing your own style along the way! When it comes to the business of photography there are many working pros out there running courses as well as companies such as Aspire that can give you the confidence to get started.

All posts need pretty pictures so here is a previously unposted image from a session last year that Amy particularly liked.

Marcela – business portrait Derby

Jennifer — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:13:50 +0000

Child and family photography is my passion and what I focus on (pun intended!) however when I received an S.O.S. from the lovely Marcela I couldn’t refuse. Marcela is getting ready to relaunch her authentic Mexican food, rebranded using her own name; Marcela Flores and needed a photograph for an article in Speciality Food magazine. So glad I was able to help out and good luck with your venture Marcela.

baby S {a portrait at six months}

Jennifer — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:38:36 +0000

It’s a while since I’ve posted a photograph of my lovely little granddaughter, so here she is at just over six months on her Daddy’s birthday.

portrait session at Elvaston Castle Derby

Jennifer — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 08:47:57 +0000

I’d arranged to meet this lovely couple at Elvaston Castle in Derbyshire, the weekend was glorious and it seemed that the whole of Derby was there! Fortunately we managed to find some quiet areas not too far the madding crowd and visited some beautiful areas of the Country Park that I hadn’t seen before. Here is a sneak peek from the session, a black and white version can be found on here on facebook.

Portrait session at Hackwood Farm Derbyshire {Lifestyle Photographer}

Jennifer — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:39:40 +0000

I recently met up with this fun and rather photogenic young couple for photo session at Hackwood Farm in Derbyshire. Apart from my own ‘kids’ I don’t often have the opportunity to photograph this age group, so it made a lovely change not to have to bribe and cajole!

Baby J

Jennifer — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:47:31 +0000

Enjoying a quiet Christmas break with family and catching up with friends. This morning I visited my lovely neighbours and as they have a new addition to their family I took my camera. Here is the handsome baby J and his beautiful mum.

Kedleston Hall, a walk and what not to wear! {Derby photographer}

Jennifer — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 13:35:52 +0000

(if you are looking for information on the walks at Kedleston, you will find a little by clicking HERE.)

This weekend my son came home for a visit from university and he kindly consented to accompany me on a walk round Kedleston Hall’s lovely grounds AND let me take my camera….. parents of teenage boys will understand how special this was!

Now had this been a real portrait session I would have had the ‘wardrobe conversation’ with my clients before the event and hopefully avoided the dreaded ‘red’ and ‘large logo’ choices. I say hopefully as ultimately the choice of clothing is yours, but the suggestions I make are really well founded, so that you have the best possible images from your session, I’m not being pedantic or arty – honest!

A splash of red was/is often used by artists to draw the viewers eye into a picture, as it is an extremely attention grabbing colour. As such it is on my list of colours/things to avoid in portrait shoots, you need to be centre of attention, not the clothes you are wearing. Logos are the same unfortunately, I know they are trendy and teenagers love them, but in a still image they scream at you and distract from the person wearing them.

Back to my son and our lovely walk……. fortunately his jacket hides most of the Bath Uni logo and I have managed to tone down the red a little or cheated and made black and white!

Child photo session at Crich Tramway Village Derbyshire

Jennifer — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:53:46 +0000

A beautifully sunny Autumn half-term morning found competition winners and myself at the Crich Tramway Village, for their mini session. Thank you all for a fun morning and a fab location idea

new family member {Derbyshire photographer}

Jennifer — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 19:10:58 +0000

My (step) granddaughter arrived at the end of September and I thought I’d share a few photos taken of her at a week old. She is a real sweetie and I’m sure she will be popping up on the blog quite a lot over the coming years.

Aqua Narrowboats – commercial shoot

Jennifer — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 20:14:49 +0000

I spent a couple of hours on Saturday, with Justin, Jane and their family, aboard ‘Tom Kitten’ on what was a most obligingly glorious October evening, to capture a few summery lifestyle images for next years brochure. I can certainly see the appeal of holidaying on the waterways now – so relaxing and Justin and Jane’s boats are beautiful, don’t just take my word for it – pay them a visit! Aqua Narrowboats

Competition – win a child portrait shoot {Derby photographer}

Jennifer — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 13:27:07 +0000

I thought I’d have a little fun, so here it is:

The competition is for a school aged child/young person (5-16yrs) the prize includes a session plus five mounted frame ready prints and is easy to enter but does require you to put your thinking caps on!

I’ve recently bought two chairs as props; I’d love it if you could come up with some wonderful locations we could place them for a portrait session. I recently took one of them plus my daughter to Sunnydale Park to test drive it (blogged here) but I’m sure there are much more interesting locations.

Locations to be within a 20 mile radius of DE23 (though I might be tempted further a field if you come up with something truly spectacular) and needs to have road access for transporting the chair.

Competition closes 30th September and sessions to be taken by the end of October 2011.

Please follow this link to fill in the entry form.

Equine photography Derbyshire

Jennifer — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:35:16 +0000

I had fun this week trying to photograph a naughty two year old Hugo is extremely sweet and very photogenic but didn’t quite ‘get’ modelling, preferring to play (much like any two year old really!). Hugo’s owner had me in fits of giggles with renditions of ‘Singing in the Rain’ whilst flapping an umbrella in an attempt to capture his attention and create a nice pose with her daughter. It didn’t quite come off but the slightly older and wiser Pearl was most obliging. Thank you all for an entertaining afternoon