Tag Archives: photo shoot

Is this you?

We’re introduced at a networking meeting and a professional rapport was established. I viewed the photographers website and checked out their online presence. All the people in the images must be professional models as they all look great/at ease with their poses

Emails are exchanged. Hard questions have to be faced. What do I want? How can this ever work? All the what if’s………………? I really don’t like my photograph being taken. I need to do this but I’m really not comfortable in front of the camera.

Time and date agreed, deposit paid, confirmation received – there’s no backing out now!

The dreaded day arrives, I have a plan, take it steady, arrive calm and relaxed – not. What a calamitous morning, heavy traffic encountered all the way to the shoot (Oh the irony, strike me down now!) running late. What do I wear – grabbed a selection of shirts – some are slightly smaller than I remembered!

I arrive at the venue and I’m greeted at the door, my nervous laughter mixed with babbling small talk – explaining the small shirts – why? What  do we want to achieve – professional, friendly, approachable? All the while my insides are churning like a washing machine on spin cycle!

A backdrop, big lights with reflective umbrellas, but strangely an air of calm slowly begins to descend over me. The offer of a coffee delays the impending failure / gory experience. This is not going to work, how can I look good in a picture?

Lights, camera and action! Seated on a posing block, the heat radiating from the lights is akin to basking in the midday sun. Calming, soothing words of guidance, helping me find a comfortable position. Slight tilt of the head, right hand onto thigh and just drop those shoulders. I interact with the photographer and their assistant, use my hands, my expressive side showing through. Big smile, drop the chin, a serious look. A slurp of coffee between poses, hey, this isn’t too bad!

Wow, I have a best side, but I knew that all along and this is all feeling so much better than I had anticipated. And relax.

I’ve been sat here for thirty minutes already and time is flying by. All change and into the “smaller than I remember shirt” . I do believe that I can carry this off. The talking continues, adjusting position, lean forward from the waist, turn my face a little and back the other way.

And it’s over. Gather my things, the images will be ready within ten working days and I can view them in a password protected folder. Choose the ones that I prefer and they will be mine.

On reflection, that was a goods experience. I left feeling a lot better about how to be myself in front of the camera. Gone is the awkwardness and the toothy grimace masquerading as a smile.

Having a professional take the shots is so much more than someone just pressing a button. They can understand you and get the best out of you. That is when great shots are achieved.

 

Image copyright Penny Morgan Photography.

How much priority should we give ‘down time’?

Easter is around the corner bringing with it a term holiday for those with children in school. Now what to do with the them? Is it a holiday for those in charge? ’I’ll do that, if I have the time’, or, ‘we’ll do it later’. Do we find the time, or are we chasing our tails and it feels like another working week? Remembering the simpler times when we could work out where our friends were by who’s house they’d left their bikes outside and being told as kids to be home by tea time!

No mobiles or internet, just our bikes and imagination.

Not pining for rose tinted nostalgia, too many reminders of dodgy clothing choices and shocking/questionable haircuts, but how much downtime do you book for yourself and your loved ones? The benefits of ‘head space’, enjoying the great outdoors and doing the things that bring enhancement to your life… why on earth don’t we give it a higher priority?

Future memories are being made today.

Outside is free. These things don’t have to be financially restrictive. Build a blanket den, hide & seek or get crafty – make stuff from, well, stuff! But are teenagers going to want to be involved with a ladybird search? Our past experience has included tame pheasants, quad bikes, dogs, sport, music, oh and imitating Mo Farrah and Usain Bolt, to name a few things we’ve captured with the teens of the family.

Picnic in the park, beach walks and nature trails, liking these simple things for what they are, not for the ‘likes’ it may achieve on social media is still pretty priceless.

Create your future memory this year.

Create your future memories this year.    Photograph copyright of Penny Morgan Photography.

You can Love Your Image…

Sometimes blogs can be a bit like waiting for a bus… however…!

In January of this year I gave a talk on a very common subject, but very little discussed – those who dislike being photographed and think they’re not very photogenic.

If you think it’s all down to you and there’s nothing that can be done… think again and read on. The cause can be very different from person to person, but the result is very similar.

Hear me out… it’s not all down to you and there is something you can do about it.

Imagine being completely comfortable in front of the camera and not let it become a repeated challenge to your self esteem.

I’ve launched a specially designed experience to help you explore this further and discover a fresh new outlook and confidence.

Click on the image to read more, or, the following link, for full information on the website – LOVE YOUR IMAGE:

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et in touch if you would like to learn more:

Telephone: 0845 257 2038

Contact: Via the website

 

Celebrating 4 years! August Photo Shoot Offer…

So this week I’ve celebrated reaching 4 years as a professional photographer and what a great year this is turning out to be! If you’ve been following my blog, you may have seen several firsts and lots of images to illustrate.

A huge thank you goes out to all of you who have, supported, promoted or used my services and helped get this far 🙂

As a way of celebrating, I’ve opened a great offer available to book until the end of August – if you or anyone you know may be interested to take advantage of this, do get in touch.

Don’t miss the fun of the holidays – its proving to be such a brilliant summer!

Personal photo shoot for £49.99 and images to keep forever.

Available to book until the end of August. Can be taken by 3rd November 2013 (includes half term).

Families, children, couples, individuals and of course equestrian!

At home, in the garden, or out on location.

Images will be available to view and choose from, in your own private online viewing folder.

Shoot includes an 8” x 6” card framed print, or, a hi res digital file, of your choice.

All other photographs from the shoot can be purchased as hi res digital files, card framed prints, desk or wall mounted items.

Please note – venue hire for studio requested shoots is additional.

Limited time offer and subject to availability.

Phone Penny on 0845 257 2038, or, email pennyjm@gmail.com

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Summer family photo shoot…

While I don’t blog about all the different shoots I do, had to share a few of the photographs from a recent family group.

Happy to say, a returning client (3rd visit) and this time I got to meet and photograph the grandchildren. Three wonderful little characters and their mum out in the garden on a scorching hot day. The lovely walled garden and angle of the sun (all pre considered) provided a great backdrop and shaded area down one side… however I was over on the sunny side with my camera, slowly melting…

Not a pretty site when trying to stay professional and friendly and your hair is sticking to your forehead! However they understood and appreciated what I needed to do to get the best out of a 6, 5 and 2 year old and kept me plied with necessary fluids and the offer of food to keep me going!

After lots of games later, including mum and grandparents, the children were allowed to play in their paddling pool and I turned my attention and lens to mum to do some portrait shots.

I had been shown 3 generations of wonderful black and white portrait shots of the female side of the family and this would add a 4th generation to the collection – it created a beautiful keepsake… great grandmothers picture looked quite like Helena Bonham-Carter 🙂

This is an ideal time of year, when the children are on holiday for this type of shoot and so much opportunity to capture their wonderful personalities.

 

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Mothers Day Special Offer….

It’s time to focus on Mum! We know how much you love her… and how much she would enjoy this gift to keep for always.

For just £49.99 have a photo shoot… with brothers and sisters… and the dog! or just on your own with mum.

Call: 0845 257 2038 – Or email: pennyjm@gmail.com – please see attached leaflet for further details.

Penny Morgan PHOTOGRAPHY

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Or view as a PDF MDEmailFlyerA5

Diss Express Beautiful Baby Competition…



So at the end of last year, I was one of the sponsors of the annual Diss Express Beautiful Baby Competition.

One of the winners recently had their photo shoot prize, well…. baby Amber brought her parents, Marie and David along with her for a studio based session and mum and dad were particularly delighted with the results.

Little Amber seemed to enjoy it too….

When people enjoy their shoot, it makes my job a lot easier, as the happiness is evident in the photographs and helps for a lot longer attention span from little ones… plus when you receive very positive feedback, makes my job so rewarding!