Local Christmas Gift Buying Guide
The nights are drawing in and there's wood smoke in the air, so it's time to start thinking about what gorgeous presents you can surprise loved ones with this Christmas. I've written a little local Christmas gift buying guide to give you a bit of inspiration. I've chosen some fabulous handmade crafts from local artists as well as some relaxing and fun experiences for those who are tricky to buy for. Here's my top ten ideas for you this Christmas.
1. Skratch Ceramics
I adore all of the products from this super talented local artist. Skratch Cermaics have a range of goodies on offer this Christmas, from gorgeous little key rings, bells and Christmas decorations to beautifully handmade vases and plaques. Follow Skratch Ceramics on Instagram to find out when the shop is open and when she'll be visiting local Christmas fairs too.
2. Glass at the Spinney
As soon as I saw the creations from Glass at the Spinney pop up on my Instagram feed, I thought, wow! I love the stunning blue coloured glass she uses for her coasters and wave pieces. She has a fabulous range to choose from, including children's lamps, wall pieces, coasters and Christmas decorations. Visit her online shop and Instagram account to buy something special for your loved ones. Or maybe even a treat for yourself. I've got my eye on those coasters, so hands off! :)
3. Orchard Facial Procedures
Is there anyone out there that would say no to a facial? Exactly. You can buy gift vouchers from the lovely Sarah, who runs Orchard Facial Procedures based in Ewenny. Visit her tranquil treatment room in the beautiful countryside and relax while she pampers you with the latest in facial technologies. She offers a wide range of treatments and products, including Wrinkle Smoothing Injections with Botulinum Toxin-A, PRP Vampire Facials, Microneedling, Medical Facials and Chemical Peels. These treatments are aimed at achieving a natural looking result for her clients, to make them look and feel their absolute best. Contact Sarah to buy gift vouchers.
4. Ceri Gwen
If you have a crafty friend then visit Ceri Gwen's online shop and buy some beautiful and vibrant fabrics, cut and sew kits, calendars, tea towels and even wallpaper. Her designs are simply gorgeous and bursting full of life and colour.
5. Happy Days Vintage Homestore
I've had many a happy hour browsing around Happy Days Vintage Homestore in Cowbridge. There's a wealth of goodies in there - I recently bought a gorgeous sideboard from there which looks fabulous in my lounge. From curated furniture pieces to pretty jewelry there's bound to be something in there for you to buy for a loved one. There's also a lovely tea room for a shopping pit stop too.
6. Photography Training
Do you know a photography enthusiast that wants to get to know their camera better? If so, I have a range of training opportunities for everyone! Choose from the Beginners Photography Workshop for adults, the Young Photographers Workshop for teens or a tailored one to one session. Check out my website for all the details and dates for the workshops in 2020!
7. Noble Grape
It's Christmas! So a celebratory drink is in order. Visit Noble Grape on Cowbridge High Street to browse their fantastic range of wines and spirits. I'm partial to a nice bit of Rioja and a G&T if anyone is interested. :)
8. Cobbles Kitchen
A regular haunt of mine, either on the way to or from the beach or just to meet friends for a coffee. I love the decor in there and there's loads of choice on the menu, including plenty of vegan & veggie options. You can buy gift vouchers from there - so treat a friend or family member to an afternoon tea or a lovely lunch.
9. Hamper from Elephant and Bun
A hamper is the perfect gift for foodies. All hampers can be personalised so you can pick and choose from all the delicious goodies on offer and create something sumptuous and wonderful! Don't think that there's only food on offer at the Elephant and Bun deli though - they also have a range of gifts too. You can buy salad bowls, oil dispensers, salt pigs, garlic pots, olive bowls, jugs and herb pots and a small selection of kitchen pottery from Thythston near Porthcawl. They also stock wooden chopping boards, rolling pins, cheese-making kits and kits to cure bacon. So much to choose from!
10. Family photo shoot with Gemma Griffiths Photography
Yes, you guessed it! I'm finishing with a family photo shoot from yours truly. I offer relaxed and informal outdoor location photo sessions in South Wales. A gift voucher for a family shoot, includes the session fee, as well as a print and matching digital image. Help friends and family to capture their special moments with this gift. Have a browse through my family portfolio to see more of my work and look at my blog to see whole shoots too.
Finally, to get you in the festive mood, don't forget about the wonderful Reindeer Parade in Cowbridge this year. It's on Sunday 24th November and there's a whole special shopping weekend planned in Cowbridge too, with the shops staying open late on Friday 22nd November and a Christmas Market on Saturday 23rd November. Find out more on the Visit Cowbridge Facebook page. If you've got any festive activities or extra special vendors you can recommend, comment below to share the love!
Gem x
Cardiff commercial photo shoot
Cardiff commercial photo shoot
Commercial photo shoot with Cardiff dental practice Courtyard Dental.
The folks at The Courtyard Dental Spa are a wonderfully friendly bunch! I paid them two visits to take staff headshots and images around the practice for their brand new website. The practice is beautifully presented and very light and airy (which is great for me!). We spent time in each area of the practice to capture images for the different sections of the website. We also used different settings for staff headshots to give them a fresh modern feel.
As a small business it's really important to convey your ethos through your branding and images. Clients like to get to know their service provider and a set of professional images can help you to appear friendly, approachable and professional at the same time. If you run a small business and would like to have a chat about how professional images can help your business, then get in touch for a free consultation.
Take a look at more of my commercial photography and headshot work on my headshots and commercial portfolio page. See pricing information on my pricing page or drop me a line for a bespoke quote.
Gem
Small business photoshoot
Small business photoshoot
I adore working with small businesses and I love this small business photoshoot. As a business owner myself, I know how hard it is to work alone. There's so much that needs to be done - marketing, accounts, admin - that sometimes it can feel overwhelming. As a photographer I'm well aware of the need for great images to showcase my work and I also understand how important it is for other businesses to be able to show off their products or services to their full potential.
With years of experience I can help you to create a fantastic set of images for your business that will make it stand out. Each business is unique and so I offer free consultations to all business owners to help map out a bespoke plan for their images.
When Kate from Skratch Ceramics contacted me to book a shoot for her business I was extremely excited. I've been a big fan of her work for years and couldn't wait to see her studio - where all the magic happens.
Kate wanted a selection of images to use across her social media platforms and website, so we included images of her working as well as the studio and products.
If you'd like to find out more about booking a photoshoot for your business, get in touch for a free consultation.
Have a look at my headshot portfolio page and find out more about pricing on my business pricing page.
You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram to see my latest work.
In the meantime, check out this small selection of images from Kate's shoot.
Gem x
Harpist Photo Shoot
A beautiful South Wales harpist photo shoot.
My job is so varied. One day I'll be working with a family on the beach and then I'll be shooting kids at a nursery. Next thing you know, I'm in shooting a harpist! When I received an enquiry from local harpist Marged Hall, I was very excited. The harp is such a beautiful instrument and I knew that together we could create some gorgeous images in a harpist photo shoot for her new website.
At the start of June, the weather was very wet and murky so we were really happy just to have a couple of dry hours! Marged has a stunning garden and a variety of lovely harps so I was very happy indeed. We used a couple of different harps in the shoot - one of which was over a hundred years old! There were lots of different areas of the garden that looked great, so we moved around to try different locations. We also took some shots indoors as well.
There was a huge variety of images to choose from. When Marged saw her images she said:
"Thank you so much for these! I am so pleased and impressed with what you’ve managed to create! Wow! So thrilled to have worked with you - I will be highly recommending you! We are thoroughly enjoying going through all the pictures." Marged x
I love working with local business people, creating images that they can use to promote their businesses online. I have a great headshot package - that includes a set of digital images. Find out more about my business packages on my business pricing page. Check out my headshots porfolio to see more of my work.
Gem x
3 reasons why you need a professional headshot!
Do you run your own business? Work as a freelancer? Do you have a LinkedIn profile? Are you on Facebook or Instagram?
If you've answered yes to any of those questions then it's time to put the selfie stick away and book a professional headshot photo session.
Here's 3 reasons why you need a proper headshot:
1. You need to look professional
Whether you run your own business, work as a freelancer or work for a company, you will need a decent headshot. A good headshot will convey your professionalism at work and portray you in the best light. A professional headshot will stand out amongst the array of cropped and blurry selfie images. It will also will show your potential employers, clients and colleagues that you value yourself and that they should too.
2. You can use it in multiple ways
A photographer can work with you to create a set of images that you can use across a number of platforms. You might need something formal for a conference brochure or something informal for a magazine interview. Or, you might be asked for a portrait image for a presentation or a landscape image for an online article. You can use them as profile pictures on Facebook and LinkedIn or on Instagram to introduce yourself to followers. The possibilities are endless. One thing is for certain, it's an investment that you won't regret.
3. It will make you feel good
Having a selection of professional images that you can use will make you feel good. You'll no longer panic when someone asks for a headshot as you'll have a variety of images to choose from. Having a set of great images will raise your self esteem and give you one less thing to worry about.
This year already I've taken lots of professional headshots for local business people, from physiotherapists to dentists, actors to freelancers and consultants to writers. Each session is tailored to create a set of images to portray them in a way that makes them feel professional and proud. In the next few weeks I'll be photographing a ceramics artist, a harpist and a therapist - each session will be totally bespoke for their needs. Keep an eye on my social media platforms to see them!
Have a look below at a selection of my favourites images from this year. What does your profile picture say about you?
Book your headshot session today!
See my headshot & commercial portfolio.
Find out more about a headshot & business photo session.
