My lockdown highlights
Lockdown may have stopped me from shooting but I've still got some lockdown highlights to share with you!
Since the start of lockdown I've had to postpone so many client shoots. Family shoots, beach shoots, toddler group sessions, school class photos and commercial sessions. It was an abrupt end to what was gearing up to be a very busy Spring season. But, I've still been squirrelling away behind the scenes. It took me a few weeks to get my camera back out again, after trying to establish some sort of homeschooling routine for my kids and worrying endlessly about running out of bread and tea bags.
I started doing some shoots with my children, at home and in the garden. You can see my sessions with my daughter in my blog post - Lockdown photos at home, and some with my son, in How to shoot your own lockdown images.
But that's not all I've been up to. I tend to share news and information on my Facebook and Instagram accounts but not so much on my blog. So, I thought I'd write a post to share my lockdown business highlights with you.
I've been a Cardiff family photographer and Cardiff business photographer for 14 years but I've only recently started to share my work with industry peers. I'm quite shy (although no one ever believes that I am!) and so it's a strange feeling submitting and sharing work to the wider world.
It's such an honour to have my work recognised and featured, both online and in print. See below for my business lockdown highlights!
Italian Vogue
The first bit of exciting news was that I had a some images published on Italian Vogue! It's something I've been trying to do for quite a while and lockdown gave me more time to get around to submitting them. I'm so happy that they accepted these client images, which are some of my favourites.
JUNO Magazine
I also had an article and images featured in the latest edition of the fabulous JUNO Magazine. It's the second time I've been featured in the magazine and this article is all about how proud I am of my son, who is a ballet dancer, so it's even more special.
September brought another feature in JUNO Magazine!
This time, my daughter was featured as part of a home-school series. She's the one with the rainbow of books on the right.
United Art Gallery
My images have been published on the United Art Gallery, which was set up to showcase COVID 19 related art from around the world. I was so happy when they contacted me and asked if they could feature some of my 'Lockdown Ballet' series of images. You can see the whole set in my Lockdown Ballet post. Visit the United Art Gallery website to see some amazing and inspiring work from artists from all over the world.
Shootproof blog
I was also contacted by Shootproof - an amazing company providing an online gallery platform to photographers around the world. They have the most brilliant blog, which I read on a regular basis. They got in touch to say that they loved my personal branding work and that they'd like me to write an article to help other photographers start shooting personal branding images too. It was published online and emailed to all their contacts in May. You can read it on their website.
DIY Photography
DIY Photography also kindly published my Lockdown Ballet article, with tips to help shoot your own lockdown images at home.
This Detailed Life
This Detailed Life is a new professional photography magazine to showcase artwork by photographers around the world, to educate and inform, and above all to inspire. I'm very pleased to have had an image selected for publication in the first edition. The magazine is due out Summer 2020!
British Photography Awards
The British Photography Awards shared my COVID 19 Assignment on their social media pages.
First News
Even my son got in on the act and wrote a little article for First News, the award winning newspaper for children, which was published a few weeks ago.
Cardiff Life Magazine
Just before we went into lockdown, I visited the independent shopping hub, Castle Emporium in Cardiff to photograph the indie shops and their owners for Cardiff Life Magazine. When lockdown hit, Cardiff Life Magazine stopped production for a few months but came back in September! Here's the 6 page spread featuring all my images!
Coming up...
There's a few other things in the pipeline too that I won't mention just yet but I'll come back and add them to the blog when they are released!
Cardiff headshot photographer
If you're looking for a Cardiff headshot photographer, then you're in the right place. Winter is a busy time for headshot sessions and commercial shoots. I recently met up with Business Psychologist, Sheila from London to refresh her headshot for her website. The shoot took place in a gorgeous hotel with lots of light and different backgrounds to choose from.
Headshot sessions last around an hour. There's plenty of time to have a chat, change outfits and choose a few different locations as backdrops.
If you're wondering why you might need a headshot, then read my blog post - 3 reasons why you need a professional headshot!
You can also see more of my commercial work in my business portfolio too. Headshot sessions don't always have to be just head and shoulder portraits. If that style doesn't suit your business, we can create different images that portray you in the right way.
Most business people that book a shoot want an image for their LinkedIn profile or website. With my headshot package - you get 5 images included in the price and a gallery of over 30 images to choose from!
See more of my work on my business Instagram account too!
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 portfolio to see more of my work.
Gem x
Personal headshot photo session
This lovely lady contacted me and asked if she could book a personal headshot photo session. She wanted some nice images to give to her children. I thought it was a fabulous idea, so we decided to make the most of the Autumn colours and head to Dyffryn Gardens for our shoot. She brought along her gorgeous little Pomeranian canine friends, Charlie and Lizzie, and we had lovely walk together. Charlie and Lizzie seemed to enjoy themselves immensely - look at their little faces!!
Existing in photos is so important and even though most people feel a bit shy or reluctant to have their photos taken, they are a marvellous keepsake for the future.
Book your own personal headshot session or Family photo session.
Get in touch to find out more.
