Not a good day, very busy getting all the images mounted and wrapped for shipping to BOWENS tomorrow. New backgrounds hanging, steamed and looking wonderful in fact I can’t wait to get a client into the studio. However I was not impressed with a couple of things I found out today, first a photographer offering portrait sessions and all the images sized and burnt to a couple of DVD’s together with a list of shops and websites where to get them printed! Then I came across a site where not only one of our product lines has been copied but on examining  the site further I came across at least 2 other photographers who have been ripped off! Please try and be original!

Today’s image of Clarissa Dickson Wright is from the CITIZENS collection.

So as you may know we have been very busy producing the 28 images for the BOWENS display at FOCUS.  We also had our lighting workshop here at Claremont yesterday which was a great success and many thanks to Chloe and Ashley for being so patient during the day. Jilly, our PA, came across this posting on a blog site yesterday. Looks like somebody really was paying attention during our master class at the SWPP convention. Take a look  http://www.photocreative365.com

No time today as we have been in the office since the crack of dawn but this is one of the images for Focus taken back in 02 on the Blad and printed from the scan onto Fotospeed Platinum Gloss WT paper. Looks lovely….. more images tomorrow. Should perhaps mention that the subject as well as being a talented violinist is also a surgeon at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children.

Well we have had a busy few days so apologies for the lack of posts. We have just finished a 1-2-1 mentoring studio portrait session with Chris who brought Katrina who had kindly agreed to be his model for the session. We went through all of the basic lighting set-up for traditional studio portraiture as well as some more contemporary techniques. Faye post processed this image before they left to demonstrate how we present our work to clients.

Of interest we have been asked by BOWENS to do a couple of lighting demonstrations at FOCUS and in addition supply 28 of our images for display in the Bowens Gallery at Focus so we are delighted and honoured to have been asked. Also delighted to have be invited back to speak at the London Portrait Group Tuesday the 6th of July and down to the MPA in Southampton for an all day wedding workshop on Monday the 21st of June. Email me if you need details of how to book a place and I will put you in touch with the relevant person.

Today, not images just words I am afraid, but to many aspiring photographers I hope words of wisdom. It concerns many, many photographers who are far too concerned and spend too much time looking at and lusting for new equipment.  Now I have one, yes just one, camera. A Nikon D700 with a 85mm lens, that’s it one camera and one lens. That’s it I am afraid no other digital camera.  Yes I also have a 10×8 Gandolfi and a Hasselblad but both are film cameras and anyway thay also just have a single lens each.

When we host workshops I am always amazed at the amount of kit some photographers have, in some cases enough to start a small retail outlet!  But is it all necessary I ask or is it just a vanity kick, the ‘I have so much kit I must be a good photographer’? Well lets face simple facts, its not the camera that takes the image its you the photographer, rather its your heart telling your brain to tell your finger that this is a good/great moment to press that shutter release. Its within you, the photographer, its your emotional interaction with the image that tells you that the moment has arrived, the camera is simply a mechanical object that captures what you tell it to capture. It’s a tool, it’s not magic and it does not have a mind of its own. No camera has ever won an award nor will one ever win an award the author of any image is the heart, mind and soul behind the viewfinder so rather than spend even more money on the latest camera body or lens, pause, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s all within you to create the image all you need to do is to see the image and then capture it on whatever medium. In truth you should be able to create an excellent image on any camera, film or digital, so instead of always wishing for new kit make use of the kit you already have to create some new and exciting image. The secret is to set youself a project and just get out there and take images.

Yes, another busy day, Faye has been trying to work on some images though difficult with her ongoing eye problem but she is managing to do some superb work despite the constraints. I have spent most of the day revamping the studio, tidying up in preparation for…… well that’s for later in February!

We spoke about our CITIZENS exhibition at the Convention, in fact we should consider doing a Masterclass on that project for next year,(note to self).  This image is from that exhibition, Sister Margaret a wonderful human being full of love and kindness.  Taken in the chapel with natural daylight on the Hasselblad with 150mm lens. T Max 100 developed in Selectol Soft and printed onto Ektalure.

So to end the year here is the back cover of our 2010 Fine Art Nude calendar showing all of the images. We will have a limited number of copies at the SWPP Convention in January and of course you can order direct from us payment by PayPal.

To all of our delegates this year, and every year, we wish you all a happy and prosperous 2010 and may all that you wish for yourselves and your family come true. From Faye and myself have a wonderful, safe and peaceful Hogmanay and raise a glass for those who are with us today and those who are not.

As I mentioned yesterday we are very excited about our programme for 2010 and how it is developing and evolving. We will launch it at the SWPP Convention in January where we are hosting 2 Superclasses, both long sold out, and a Masterclass which is open to all. We will also have a trade stand looked after by the wonderful Nicola who many of you will remember from last year. Nicola is also our model on the Sunday Superclass. We hope that many of you will drop by and introduce yourselves to us, we will have some of our Fine Art images for sale and some of our 2010 calendars will be available to purchase.

The Masterclass on the Saturday, 12.00pm – 2.00pm will be about Presentation and Perception. Nothing about lighting, posing or PS just all about where a business starts, with YOU. Faye and I would be delighted if you could join us for what promises to be 2 hours of our open honest opinions and advice.

Many delegates asked this year if Faye would consider doing a day workshop just on PS, the actions we use and how she processes our images including how to use the liquify tool. Well after some persuasion she has agreed to do one to start with here at Claremont for 4 delegates only. If interested drop me an email.

We are delighted to announce 3 Limited Edition Calendars for 2010. Each of these large format, beautifully printed A3  calendars contains 14 different images from one of our collections, VICTORIA’S SUMMER, CLASSIC YERBURY NUDES and ART FETISH.

We have restricted these calendars to a Limited Edition of 100 copies of each priced @ £25.00 and all of which are signed and dated and inclusive of mailing to a UK address.  For overseas please add £2.00 for Europe and £4.00 for the Rest of the World. Payment by BACS or Paypal.

Last month I was delighted to be asked to write the introduction to a magazine devoted to Fine Art Nude and Glamour Photography. Today we received our copy and I must say that we are very impressed both with the content and the quality of the printing so congratulations to Adam and his staff at Bright Publishing and if this is a success then perhaps another on the cards for next year. You can purchase a copy at any W H Smith’s or get a discounted copy from Bright Publishing’s website. Other contributors whose work is featured include industry icons John Swanell and John Stoddart.