Hope Photography

Mac.

I finally did it...I am even nervous to open it!

Todays shoot...

Brilliant day photographing two gorgeous girls. Sonia...here is sneek peak-a few of my personal favorites. Thank you and speak soon.

Taking a break...

I gave myself a much needed day off work yesterday and we got out of town. We shopped, ate, walked and saw some live music and returned in the early hours of this morning-always a good sign of a good night! I feel refreshed and ready for the next 7 days of work!. I am lucky that I love what I do and everyday is different and varied but I didn't know how much I needed to relax and get some air until we were doing it. I am fortunate that I have loved ones in my life who know me better than myself sometimes and know when I need scooping up and taking away from it all-even for 24 hours! Of course I took my camera but it wasn't in my hands once...and so the camera was turned on me! I have a busy weekend ahead, photographing both days but I am really excited about that, espcecially if the weather stays as nice as it is today. I am going to see the film Into the Wild tonight and I can't wait. I have been waiting on this film ever since I read the book years ago. It is about a man who yearns for something more than the generic and so travels to Alaska in search of a nomadic lifestyle. I have had an on going fascination with Alaska even before I went there, and I am sure it is inside everyone to crave something more. Since I took the day off today's list of things to do is doubled so I should go. Enjoy the weekend.

Reece

I can't believe this boy is only 10! He was wise beyond his years, a pleasure to be with.

If you were a sailboat I would sail you....

Very busy 48 hours. I enjoyed Southend on Sea, I stayed at a hotel right on the sea front which was lovely. After spending 5 hours driving down I spent the evening walking along the seafront. It was not so different to other seafronts- arcades, wooden huts selling candy floss and a sign perched against the entrance to the pier which offered to tell me my future. For a moment I let the idea swim around in my head but figured she wouldn't tell me anything I didn't already know. I sat in a cafe-you know the type-feature heavily in films-unflattering light, padded green chairs, and windows which leave you feeling more goldfish than human. Anyway. I watched people spending copious amounts of money on everything from slot machines to rollercoasters but do you know they sure looked happy. The wedding itself was great, but the best part of my weekend was being able to rise early and walk along the beach before breakfast. One morning was particularly blue and sunny and I just got lost in my own world with my camera.

Today took me again to Thorpe Perrow where I photographed a 10 year old, he took the day off school in order for me to fit him before the deadline for Christmas ordering. I suppose this time of year is naturally going to be busy, I am pretty sure come January I will need to go into hibernation for a while to recover. Good news on the website front, I managed to get copyright for my chosen pieces of music. My work space is looking more like a Fired Earth store everyday. My eyes are so wide right now, to textures and paints and I find myself looking longer at the colour of things. All in the name of research! On a different note I can't believe it's November already, it feels like time is moving so quickly right now. And it feels like time is taking away so much, and the frightening thing is I can't stop it.

Southend on Sea

I am hitting the road soon as I am shooting a wedding this weekend. As always very excited and honoured to be a part of the day. A lot of childrens sessions coming up which I am really looking forward to, I am photographing some ages which I haven't photographed before so it'll be interesting! My blog is a little sparse picture wise at the moment as I am saving my favourites for the new website. I think I have finally solved the music problem I was having, as I found a piece of music which rooted me to the spot, and it's title made it all the more fitting. You will just have to wait and see (hear)! One of my favourite singers is coming to York, which is crazy as she (Beth Nielson Chapman) is an American singer and I never thought i'd get the chance to see her live. My first christmas present to myself.

Happy Halloween!

Work took me to Thorpe Perrow again today, and the colours just get better. I bought some furniture this morning for some upcoming outdoor shoots and got chatting to the owner of the store. I was telling her about my next project for Hope and she said something which resonated with me, she shared a love of beautiful things, and understood how a piece of wood like a photograph can tell a story. She booked me to photograph her son the last available date in November which leaves only the first week in December free to ensure delivery before Christmas. The rest of the day was taken up tying to get copyright for the songs I want to feature on my new website, no easy task. I went running twice today, I have come to like running in the mornings. Seeing the grocer set out the fruit and flowers and the queue of people in the bakery waiting on breakfast. I get to watch the world wake up, where as on a night the streets are empty, the world quieter. Also I learnt today that Pizza Express is coming to Northallerton-brilliant news.

catch up

A busy couple of days...not helped by having a car accident on Sunday, but I can't complain because I am alive. I have the joy of a courtesy car for the next couple of weeks, which is great as my first panic was not being able to make my upcoming shoots. And on a light note, my temporary number plate is my initials. I have some childrens sessions lined up over the next few weeks which I am really excited about as I have some new ideas I want to try out. I met with my web designer this afternoon and hopefully within the next 6 weeks I should have my new site. Another beautiful autumnal day, I wandered around York tonight, latte in hand planning some new projects I have in store for Hope. Sometimes I wish I wasn't always thinking so many steps ahead, other times I am grateful to be so passionate about my life. Like everyone (I hope) I do have crisis of faith, sometimes wish in those moments there was someone there to shake me, wish there was someone who believed in me more than I believe in myself. If that makes sense. True quote:-

'' Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it''

I got approached today to photograph some angels...not literally of course, but wooden sculptures. So I head to Cundall this week in search of  angels. And then I have a wedding down south so another busy week ahead-which is good as I spent copious amounts of money today in Jo Malone. I should know by now that I cannot go in to that store without purchasing more than I should. Today's trip was no exception, one of there candles (Vintage Gardenia) sits on my windowsill as I type this. And I somehow left with not only the one bottle of perfume I went in for but two bottles, because they say fragrance combining is the way forward. Um. It has been the most beautiful week weather wise, I visited Thorpe Perrow for the first time and the trees were just stunning. Even today as I walked down streets strewn with leaves the colours just make me smile. You wouldn't guess autumn was my favourite time of year.

I LOVE AUTUMN!