Just wanted to share a sneak peak from the family shoot I’m working on today. I had a great time with Sadie, Nathan & Riley at the weekend. Sam, you were missed!
Shame there were no fishes in the pond but that didn’t stop the boys from trying 
Who needs fish when there are ducks to feed!
What did you get up to at the weekend?
Lauren xxx
I hope you already have a smile on your face on this beautiful sunny day. If not surely these two beauties will cheer you up.
These were among the photos I took while travelling. If you missed my post on travel and street photography you can have a read here.Part 2 is coming up in a few days.
For now I thought these two deserved a post of their own. Taken in Texas and San Francisco. I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw Snoop Doggy Dog in the first picture. How cool is he? Just managed to get this shot before the lights turned green and the car drove off.
It made me chuckle how it looked as if the second fluffy pup was guarding all the jewellery beneath him, relaxing on his bed of bling. Once in a lifetime moments that I wanted to capture. I find I always remember things better when I’ve photographed them. How about you?
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Lauren xxx
Day 16:
So I lied a little.This post has nothing to do with Rome and everything to do with Texas!
As they say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do,” so in Texas what should we do? Well, ‘The Texas Two-step’ to be specific. This particular style of dancing is like a mix of classic, ballroom & country dancing and it’s sooo much fun!!
Okay, so I’m going to be completely honest with you… two stepping didn’t come all that naturally to me. However, I can successfully step on two other people’s feet if that counts? No, I didn’t think so!
The experience won me over none the less and here’s why:
I love doing things I’ve never done before, especially the things that make me feel a little bit scared and excited at the same time. Those times that you’re a little bit terrified but don’t want to stop because you’re having too much fun!
There’s no better time to try such things than when you’re already surrounded by the unfamiliar. So when my fiance & I found ourselves in Austin, Texas, I was so excited that my dear friend & amazing host Rebecca wanted to take us two-stepping! I used to indulge in a little country line dancing when I was younger, but walking into the venue ‘Broken Spoke‘ I knew it was the real deal when I saw men in cowboy hats and heard their Southern drawl. We had some giggles attempting to join in but it was just as much fun to watch and take in the atmosphere of the dance hall.
Traditionally it is a man-woman dance but these days it can be man-woman, man-man or woman-woman dancing. People swap partners, mingling & dancing with who ever is free to dance.
The basic etiquette is that if you don’t really know what you are doing you stick to the outside. That’s where you would’ve found me then! If you’re a pro or really going for it you will generally be in the middle. Traditionally, the men set the pace and stride of the dance, gracefully leading their partner through the steps.
While as we didn’t know the steps we were a little less graceful, but today’s photograph is of the ever so gracious Rebecca who knew her way round the dance floor like it was the back of her hand. Her lovely dance partner I did not catch the name of but suffice to say he was a total gent! It is Rebecca we have to thank for an amazing experience in Texas that left us wanting to come back for more.
If you ever get the chance to do some country dancing, definitely give it a go! Even better if it’s in Texas! Maybe watch everyone else until you get some of the moves down but don’t be scared, live a little and hit that dance floor.
Texas we heart you! Yee Haw!
Lauren xxx
“It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance. It is the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance. It is the one who won’t be taken who cannot seem to give. And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.” Bette Midler
I hope you have all had a lovely Mother’s Day. I loved reading all your posts about what you love to do with your Mums. They were really heartfelt so I know that you must all have had a great … Continue reading
To celebrate reaching 450 likes on Facebook I would like to give back to my supporters so I am running a competition to win a free lifestyle shoot and in honour of upcoming Mothers Day (March 18th) I am theming my entry question on that. You do not need to be a mum to enter. Simply answer my question:
What’s your favourite thing to do either as a Mum with your kids or with your own Mum…and why?
To clarify, this can be about the past or it can be about right now, things you loved to do growing up or things you do with your mum now you are grown up. Whatever you want really just share with me your memories and favourite moments.
Please read the competition rules below:
Participation
To enter all you need to do is to comment on this post with your answer to the question.
One comment per person from a blog address or e-mail address.
Secondly you will need to share and this is really simple- Just press “Share” at the bottom of this blog post. Share it via Facebook or Twitter ( you don’t have to do both!) and tag @Laurenbythesea Photography on FB or @laurenbythesea on Twitter so I will be able to see that you have done this. If you need help or have any questions please email lauren@laurenbythesea.com
Each comment will be given a number that will be used to decide a winner. Numbers will be given according to chronological order of the comments.
Please note: you must live within 30 miles of the CT6 Canterbury area or be willing to pay expenses outside of a 30 mile radius.
Selection
The winner will be drawn using a random number generator and I will select a winner on March 18th. The winner will posted here on the blog & on Facebook on March 18th, 2012.
The Prize
The winner will receive a voucher for a lifestyle session for up to 90 mins. This is usable for up to 3 people and valid for 3 months. No private details of the winners will be published on this blog. You may give the prize as a gift if you wish so anyone can enter and select another recipient for the photoshoot as long as you have followed the conditions of entry.
And please, do pass on the news to your friends and relations, too. The more participants play, the more exciting it is to find out the winner!
Thank you so much to everyone for your support and interest in my photography. Keep on sharing and telling your friends and family and good luck!!
Lauren xxx
For a while I’ve been meaning to write about a shoot I did recently that featured the biggest musical instrument I’ve ever seen- a giant harp! I’ve always wished I could play an instrument. When I first got really serious … Continue reading
In my last post I mentioned that I’ve been a few newborn shoots as I’ve been starting to focus photographically on areas I enjoy the most. I wanted to do a personal post to share why I feel drawn to the genre of newborn photography, to give you an insight into why I do what I do & maybe to give myself an insight into where my photography journey might be headed.
Thinking about it I realised I never really had much exposure to babies growing up. I held my cousins once or twice as a teenager, but swiftly handed them back when they started to cry or when I wondered “what is that smell?” It wasn’t until my nephew was born 4 ½ years ago that I got to really witness that precious time when a new life comes into the world & everyone is in awe at the wonder that is a newborn baby.
It wasn’t all excitement & happiness however as my nephew Jack was born 10 weeks premature, weighing only 3 lbs 2oz when he was born. Nobody got to hold him straight away as he had to stay in an incubator. Even when we could hold him he had to spend seven weeks in St Thomas’ special care baby unit. He was so, so tiny. All we could do was sit helplessly, glad he was here & willing him on in his fight for life.
Of course it is impossible not to fall into a daze looking at the little fingers & toes of newborn babies, but watching Jack in his first month of life I was completely overwhelmed & fascinated. I didn’t want to blink. I’d often forget to breathe whilst holding him. It really was a huge reminder to me of how sacred life is & I wanted to always remember that.
Though I wanted to photograph his every move, I was soon to embark on a study year abroad so I sadly had to live vicariously through relatives as my first year of being an Auntie- cooing over him through Skype instead of in person. (Thank God for Skype!) I’ve since made up for missing out & I photograph him A LOT though he much prefers to be my assistant & insists on carrying all my equipment …
It truly has been such an adventure watching him grow up. Though he has asthma as a result of being born with underdeveloped lungs, you’d otherwise never know of the problems he had at birth. Such a little brainbox with, in his own words, a “massive imagination,” he really is full of life & energy. Absolutely one of my favourite people of all time.
I was already passionate about photography, taking my camera everywhere even before Jack was born, but watching him grow up has been a big inspiration. It has taken my photography to a different place & is one of the reasons I adore working with children, capturing their little quirks & personality traits as they become little people & mini adults. Jack reminds me what it is like to be a child- when you see the world through eyes of hope & wonder- it makes me strive to always see the world like that- with an open heart & mind. For that I will always be thankful.
Well now I am energized & ready for action as my second nephew is due, on Christmas Eve would you believe! I cannot put into words exactly how excited I am to begin that journey all over again, capturing those little fingers & toes, laughs & smiles & special moments as he grows up. I find myself wondering what kind of person he’ll become and what a great brother Jack will be. As we sit & await his arrival all I know is that this time around I will be here for the first year & plan to make the most of that, with Jack as my assistant I imagine.
Thanks for reading,
Lauren xxx
Hi lovely people and welcome to the laurenbythesea blog which has been a long time coming! I’ve been meaning to do this for so long not only to record the journey that photography is taking me on but to share inspiration and beauty with those around me. I would really like to build this blog into something wonderful, inspiring and insightful so I hope you’ll stick around a while or come back soon if you have to dash off.
While the website is still in progess (i’m a perfectionist) you can go to my facebook page if you’d like to see my most recent work. I try to post a photo a day there just to show what I’ve been up to.
I’m keen to get blogging though and I couldn’t wait any longer as I want to keep you up to date with my adventures and that includes the gradual improvement of this website. This blog will mainly feature photography related posts. I’ll be doing some how-to features , before and afters to show what happens in the editing stages, and some inspirational posts too so i can share what and who inspires me. If there’s anything you’d like to see a post on make sure to get in touch as I’d love for this blog to be as interactive as possible, so get involved. You can email me at lauren@laurenbythesea.com
I recently made the landing page below to greet new visitors on facebook, show them what I’m about and hopefully encourage them to ‘like’ my page and stay in touch. So if you know anyone you think would like my work, point them in this direction.
Thanks and until next time,
Lauren x
