All you need is love. Love is all you need.

As I ponder Valentine’s Day, I wonder about the commercialism of it versus the celebration of it… I so wish that it wasn’t quite so much about expensive meals, bunches of roses and fluffy teddybears clutching satin hearts. What it really should be about is celebrating all the love in your life and all the many wonderful directions it can come from: family, friends, pets, partners, sisters, brothers, parents, children – I am priviledged to witness this on a regular basis as a family photographer and I am always really thrilled to be able to capture those special moments… moments when you can practically see the love bursting through the lens.

Here are some of my favourites….. and Happy Valentines Day - wherever there may be love in your life, cherish it.

Kx

Natural, contemporary family and childrens photography in Surrey and BerkshireNatural, contemporary family and childrens photography in Surrey and BerkshireNatural, contemporary family and childrens photography in Surrey and BerkshireNatural, contemporary family and childrens photography in Surrey and BerkshireNatural, contemporary family and childrens photography in Surrey and Berkshire

 

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New Year, New You!

I hate making New Year’s resolutions. There, I said it. To me, January is hard work enough: with the post-xmas bulge to shift, the *still* very dark mornings, the ‘back-to-school’ moaning (thats the kids, not me), and absolutely NO sniff of Spring arriving yet. So, I always wait until February turns up to have a think about what I might like to achieve this year – and I call it February Aspirations!

In the spirit of fresh starts and aspirations, I am running a Special Offer for the month of February & March only. After a month of the January detox, its a great time to think about having a portrait done – whether for your business profile – or just for you. I really believe that everyone should have a great photograph of themselves, one that you actually like yourself in and are proud to show off – it can make a great difference to both your confidence and your business!

As with all my Photo Sessions, I aim to make it a really enjoyable experience, no matter how much you really dislike having your own photograph taken. People often say to me afterwards how surprised they are how much they actually enjoyed themselves and how relaxed they felt! I allow at least an hour for these Photo Sessions – which gives us plenty of time to have a coffee (and cake of course) first and to get to know each other a little. My aim is to produce natural and engaging photography that shows the ‘real’ you in a wonderful way.

This Special Offer price for February & March only is just £99.00 (usual price £135.00) including the Photo Session, your own private password-protected Gallery with 15-20 images to choose from and a disc with three high-res digital files of your choice.

Here are a few from Photo Sessions last year, which were commissioned both for businesses and personal use. And if you would like to start 2012 with a ‘new you’, then just get in touch – I would love to help.

Kx

Natural portrait photography for businessNatural portrait and headshot photography for businessNatural portrait photography for business

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Making and baking…..

It feels like just the right time to do a chrismassy-related blog post… with under a week to go and today being my official last pre-christmas day at work.

I decided this year that I needed to have a go at making my own Christmas Cake for the first time… this is purely for selfish reasons, as I hate the candied peel and glace cherries that you always get in shop-bought ones! So, armed with my very favourite food writer – Nigel Slater, I set about having a go… and it was actually not too difficult at all.

I pre-soaked the dried fruits for a week beforehand in oodles of alcohol and fresh orange juice… (it turned out they tasted rather nice by themselves and it was difficult to stop nibbling them!), then put it all together with the other cake ingredients and some toasted hazelnuts. I have been studiously ‘feeding’ the cake with alcohol over the last few weeks… and my children are looking forward to decorating it for Christmas. I am just looking forward to eating it.

Wishing everyone a wonderfully relaxing, food-filled, festive period…..

Kx

Happy Christmas cake!Happy Christmas cake!Happy Christmas cake!Happy Christmas cake!

 

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Time on fast-forward :: Natural & creative baby photography in West End, Surrey ::

This morning, as I was giving my just-8-year old daughter a cuddle before school, I realised that she has already grown nearly up to shoulder-height up against me. I am not sure when this happened, as I swear it was only a blink away that she used to fall asleep ON my shoulder (and wake up as SOON as I put her down, of course.)

It is fair to say that once you have children, time really does seem to speed up. I think this is probably because the years are measured in their years of growth, and one child’s year can be a time of incredible change. But none more so than that very first year of their lives… from a baby to toddler, it really is a time of rapid growth.

I have to say that this particular client really were very forward-planning with organising their family photography – in fact, they made a list of things they needed to do after their baby was born which included ‘make a will’ and ‘organise some professional photography’ – I love it when a client really values photography in this way!

They booked for the ‘One Amazing Year’ package (which covers the three main stages in your baby’s first year: newborn, sitting up and toddling) and I have really enjoyed getting to know them as a family. Here are some of my favourites – enjoy.

Kx

Natural, relaxed, contemporary baby photography in West End, WokingNatural, relaxed, contemporary baby photography in West End, Woking

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In a split second, your life changes completely and will never be quite the same again…

You can never *quite* explain to expectant parents just how their life is set to change. Yes, there are the sleepness nights of course (and everybody will tell you about those!), the constant feeding, changing of nappies, the fact that NO newborn wants to sleep in their crib or basket… and so on. But what is very difficult to actually put into words is quite how much they will rock your world. Completely on its axis. Oh Yes.

I always feel truly priviledged when I get to meet people who have just undergone this change with the arrival of their very first baby. To be invited into their little bubble of wonder, witness those amazing parental bonds, and get to capture all those little moments of the beginnings of a new journey of parenthood. Portraits that they will truly treasure for a lifetime as their child grows.

Unbelievable really that a little scrunched-up very small human being can have such a profound effect…. one thing is for sure, life will never be quite the same again. The funny thing is, however tough it gets at times being a parent, you will never actually want life to be the same as it was before.

I did warn you it was difficult to put into words! Hopefully the pictures can do the talking…. enjoy.

Kx

Creative contemporary newborn photography in West End, Woking, SurreyCreative contemporary newborn photography in West End, Woking, SurreyCreative contemporary newborn photography in West End, Woking, SurreyCreative contemporary newborn photography in West End, Woking, SurreyCreative contemporary newborn photography in West End, Woking, Surrey

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Things I love about Autumn….

Beautiful, beautiful colours. Crisp mornings where you can see your breath for the first time. Sparkling sunshine through glittering frosts. Crunchy sounds wherever you step. The wonder of my children when they spot the ‘biggest and shiniest conkers EVER mummy!’. Autumnal food – casseroles, pies and crumbles…. toasted marshmallows, toffee apples…mmmmm. Fireworks and bonfires. But most of all…. amazing, soft light.. bathing everything in a golden glow.

Autumn food - toffee applesAutumn lightautumnal conker collecting

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It’s all part of the job :: Relaxed baby photography in Woking, Surrey ::

Now that my ‘baby-days’ are behind me with my own children, I relish the wonderful opportunity to interact and play with other people’s babies. Yes, it is officially in my job description as a photographer nowadays that I get to coo, play peek-a-boo and make lots of truck/plane/car noises. And I love it.

Babies are fab for so many reasons… plus of course, I do get to hand them back to the parents at the end of the Photo Session…. (-;

This little chap was a delight with his baby blue eyes and general cheerfulness at life. I am already looking forward to when I meet him again and see how he has grown.

Kx

Natural and lifestyle relaxed baby photography in Woking, SurreyNatural and lifestyle relaxed baby photography in Woking, Surrey

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A visionary man of wise words…

 

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Land of Happy Children

(or Part II of blogging my annual family holidays)

Forgive me for the indulgence, but this blog post is all about my children. Its when we go away on our family holidays that I really get the chance to take some dedicated portraits of my girls.

As I said in my last post I fell in love with the little part of Norfolk – and my children did too. All those little simple pleasures: crabbing and shrimping in the rockpools, playing on the sand, exploring all the wildlife, fish and chips on the pier – and in a place that didn’t seem to feel even slightly crowded in the middle of the summer holidays. It doesn’t get any better.

They have already said they want to go back next year – and we might just do that.

K x

Family and children's photography on holidayFamily and children's photography on holidayFamily and children's photography on holidayFamily and children's photography on holidayFamily and children's photography on holiday

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Land of the Big Skies

Am back in the office, catching up after having a wonderful, relaxing 2 week family break in North Norfolk. Having never visited this area before, I fell in love with its sweeping landscapes, the never-ending skies and wonderful beaches. Here are a few scenes I captured which give you a flavour – I will definitely be going back there sometime soon.

Landscape photography in North NorfolkLandscape photography in North Norfolk

 

 

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