Catching up with updates from the summer. Let’s kick things off with more from the shoot with the delightful little Noah. He has big blue eyes and two very proud parents! Oh and his very own ark, just saying! In his cute little seaside theme nursery we took some precious portrait of Noah, Mummy and Daddy and he was the quietest little baby I have ever seen. What a gem!
If you’re expecting or you have a new addition to your family, get in touch, I’d love to hear from you.
Lauren x
So as promised I am showing you what I have been working on lately. A few weeks ago I had the honour of photographing Poppy’s christening at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Herne Bay.
As it was such a special day Poppy’s mum wanted to have some family photos with Poppy before going to the church. I love observing and creating a record of people’s special days. It was lovely to see all Poppy’s family and friends of the family come together to celebrate.
One of my favourite shots is Poppy deciding Daddy doesn’t need his nose and trying to pull it off 🙂
Thanks to Kirsty and family for being such a pleasure to photograph.
Lauren xx
Well it has been a long busy week but one of the highlights for me was meeting this little man, Noah.
What a little charmer!
Cannot wait to share more photos of this little cutey but this one warmed my heart.
Lauren xxx
The Orangery at Turkey Mill is a stunning location for a wedding in any season but with the Spring here it really is at it’s best. You don’t need me to tell you we’ve had a real lack of sunshine in the UK though so to say we were all over the moon when the sun came out to play on Roxanne & Lewis’ wedding day is a huge understatement!
Though the morning was grey, it cleared up just in time for the ceremony and shone down on the grounds into the early evening making for some gorgeous light! Guests were clearly doing their sun dances that morning! They did become Mr & Mrs Summers after all, so the sun needed to make an appearance!
It was such a beautiful day full of colour, love, friendship and warmth. I had so much fun. The live band The Locals were amazing too so I boogied a bit from the photobooth.
Thank you Lewis and Rox for letting me be a part of your day and cannot wait to hear about your honeymoon around Asia! Here’s a selection from the day…..
Lauren xx
If you’d like to see the full gallery to get the idea of what a full day of photography will capture, Roxanne has kindly agreed to let me make their full gallery public so follow this link http://laurenbythesea.zenfolio.com/roxlewisturkeymill/slideshow
Sometime a photo takes you by surprise. This is one of those. We’d just changed set ups during a dance photoshoot so this was an inbetween shot while I tested the light and these ladies got themselves ready and into position. They were all very talented and inspirational dancers with incredible flexibility that I could only dream of!
Shortly after this, I got the shot we’d set out for, to capture them leaning back with their legs straight up in the air. I will share some more soon but for now just wanted to focus on the fact that though this isn’t the shot I was briefed to get, that’s the whole point. In the inbetween moments, magic happens and you can’t set a brief for that. That’s what I’m there to capture as a photographer. Not only those staged moments, but more importantly the magic inbetween.
I really love the expression on her face and the way the light is radiating around her. I also really like the contrast of the girl to the left looking down whilst the girl in the center is looking up. It’s as if they’re praying. Can a photo be spiritual? I think it can.
What do you think?
Lauren xxx
I’m here doing a little happy dance so I thought I would share my joy. Really delighted to to say that I won a Bronze Bar in The Guild of Photographer’s monthly competition with this shot below. I was also commended for the two shots below it.
It means a lot to me to be recognised for hard work and I’m always trying to improve so hopefully may have a silver bar award to share with you in the future. Fingers crossed.
Lauren xx
For me this is an oldie but a goodie. I came across this photo again recently while cleaning up my hard drive. A few years back my cousin had asked if I would photograph her son Max in the leather jacket his late and much loved Uncle Andy had given him, as he was starting to outgrow it.
So armed with his favourite bear for company we set out to get some great shots of Max looking super cool in his leather jacket. This is my favourite, I think because of the way he’s holding on to that bear so tightly, as if they were his memories and love for his Uncle Andy. That jacket is so much more than just a jacket. It represents the love and kindess Andy showed to Max growing up. It’s so special and important to be able to capture and keep these moments in time. I know his Uncle Andy would both love this photo and be incrediby proud of Max, he’d probably buy him a new leather jacket too.
Lauren xxx
With all this lovely weather this week it is the perfect time to explore the beautiful Kent coast.
Amongst some of our great seaside towns lay Margate, an artist’s haven undergoing huge regeneration. There are a growing number of must visit places such as Rough Trade, Scott’s furniture mart, Madam Popoffs and many more! Full of vintage clothes shops, second hand bargains, cute cafes, antique and giftware stores galore!
My good friend and fellow photographer Kim Conway has just launched her seaside portrait studio there! Pop along and visit her at 9A on the harbour arm and get your traditional seaside portrait souvenir for only £3.50! A bargain!
While you’re there pop in and check out “Horizon,” the fascinating audio visual exhibition by John Smith, and also Tracey Emin’s latest “She Lay Down Deep Beneath The Sea” at the Turner Contemporary. I am seriously in love with their gift shop, and it’s free entry! No excuses to miss it!
Here are some photos I took on the opening day of Kim’s studio. I was glad that I got to finally give Kim the perfect present that I’d found months ago and been meaning to give it to her for all that time. It actually couldn’t have been a better day to give to her so I’m glad I waited for this special day. Check it out in all it’s vintage beauty, fourth photo down!
Now I just hope the sun stays shining so we can all get out and explore! Where do you plan on visiting this summer? I’ve got more of this quirky town to share with you so come back for Margate part two soon! 😉
Lauren xxx
Day 22
I’m excited to be working with an amazing group of dancers at the weekend. I love watching/photographing people in their element so I can’t wait! I started thinking about the last time I shot dancers and it would’ve been about a year ago when I was working for Island Lake Camp.
The kids there are so super talented and as camp is happening right now not a day goes by that I don’t think about them all doing their thing. I took this shot whilst taking my photography class through the gymastics department on one of our walks around camp. This was one of my favourite places to photograph not only because they are all amazing gymnasts and dancers but because there’s no better shooting conditions than a roof with no walls!!
I’d love to be able to dance like this! Wouldn’t you?
Lauren xxx
Day 21
These photos of my lovely better half were taken for a black and white portrait challenge happening in a photography group I am part of. I took a few and it was fairly easy to pick out these two as the best options to make black and white but I found it so hard to decide which picture I prefer. I’m getting much better at this but I get so emotionally attached to images of people I know that I find it harder to be subjective.
They are so similar and yet so different. I did manage to make a decision but I won’t tell you as I’m intrigued to know which you like best. While I work on my indecisiveness, let me know what you think?
Lauren xx
