Studio evening with Hasselblad and the H4D

I don’t usually blog about kit on here for me the images are the important message as is the style of our wedding photography, the portraits we can capture and the types of commercial work that we do.

That said the equipment you use can have a dramatic effect on that. We are pleased to be able to use high end professional cameras, and the quality of the images we can produce from small keepsake portraits through wall mounted canvas wraps, to large commercial installations of our images are exceptional. But we never stop still in looking at equipment.

I was well aware of the quality of the images produced by medium format cameras and lenses having used them at the studio where I learnt my initial wedding craft- but when the market shifted to digital capture I sold my film cameras before they lost all their value and moved entirely over to 35mm, and regularly upgrade that. Five years on and I now see that the cost, capability, and ease of use of the digital medium format cameras is now back to a position where they could once again be part of the capability I bring to a shoot.

So this evening I was pleased to be accepted to attend a Hasselblad “Studioday” session in Portsmouth where due to the restricted numbers I was able to spend over an hour shooting with the new Hasselblad H4D camera. After a brief period of instruction and some time reviewing the quality of results at a still life area I moved onto a white background studio where I was able to photograph Mia with a variety of lenses. Supported by the knowledgeable and friendly Hasselblad staff I was quickly up to speed with the camera and creating some lovely images which I was able to take away with a copy of the Phocus software to process them.

I have been given permission to use these images non-commercially and so here are a couple from the shoot. To say that this web-sized version isn’t representative of the quality of the images is a massive understatement and I’ll be printing at least one of them out at A2 to check the printed quality later on.

For any professional photographers reading this who are considering a move to medium format digital capture you really should take advantage of the Studiodays being run around the country at educational establishments if you have been invited. Having the camera in your hand and using it for real can’t be underestimated.

Now it is a simple business decision about what, how and when.

Commercial Interiors Photography – 1000 Lakeside

We are currently shooting some work at 1000 Lakeside for one of our commercial clients, who is in the process of refitting an office for a national company. 1000 Lakeside is a prestigious office space in Cosham just north of Portsmouth, Hampshire which is rapidly filling with companies.

We have attended some business events there in the past, and over the last few weeks have been documenting the site transformation with interior photography. The site is nearing completion and we will be back over the next week as the furniture is installed and we can complete our brief to show the final office space, and capture the finishing details of the work.

Until then I need to keep the images confidential, particularly as they will be being shown to the end client next week, so here are a few images of the exterior of 1000 Lakeside to go with this post, and I’ll get an entry out with some of the interior images once I have approval.

Clicking on an image will show it in a larger size.

Catwalk show: London Fashion Weekend February 2010 – Friday

On Friday afternoon I went up to Somerset House for London Fashion Weekend to shoot the catwalk shows. After a successful trip up in September I once again had an accredited pass to the catwalk shows and was looking to get some great images of the clothes and of course the models.

Each catwalk show was divided into four set of clothing – three different looks, and the entire Betty Jackson collection and the show was repeated in it’s entirety. Very much different from the September show with it’s amazing Manish Arora couture collection this was full of more accessible looks for the visitors and much more subtle pastel colours in evidence – which actually made it harder to shoot.

Here are some of the first cut of images from Friday – I have another set to look through and I might add some more up here next week but wanted to get some up early while the shows are still on.

Just back from the De Vere Grand Harbour wedding exhibition today

We spent today at the De Vere Grand Harbour wedding exhibition in Southampton speaking with Hampshire couples about their wedding plans from anywhere between March this year and 2012. Having got back unpacked and had a bite to eat I thought I’d quickly blog this before calling it a day.

The show was very busy with a large number of couples, and brides to be with mums or friends attending. We had a reasonably full stand for most of the day, justifying the large position we had booked, and the extensive range of display albums for people to look through.

For anyone reading this that met us on the day – thank you for spending the time speaking with us, and telling us a little about your day as well as taking a look at our photography and hearing about how we work. We look forward to hearing from you again and maybe seeing us for a personal appointment at the studio to talk in more detail about your wedding.

As a memory jogger here is an iPhone picture of the stand.

De Vere Grand Harbour Southampton wedding exhibition

Our next wedding show will be in the Autumn during which we will be at Botley Park Hotel and The Solent Hotel in September, and probably back at the De Vere again in October. So for now we will pack away the exhibition stand and concentrate on shooting weddings and booking in more couples for 2010 and 2011 weddings.

Acrylic frame – family portrait

Today we delivered one of our acrylic products to one of our clients.

This acrylic frame is modern and stylish and show the entire image with no edges, it works well in a modern house, office or corporate environment and we use them for our wedding and portrait clients and our commercial clients looking for a finished product.

This image of a mother and her son, photographed with a white background looks great in frame and our client has it displayed in her work space. Not only does she love it but everyone that see it comments on both the image and presentation as well.

Our acrylic products are available to purchase at the time of ordering, and prices are available prior to booking a photographic session.

Acrylic family portrait framed print

De Vere Grand Harbour Wedding Fair – Southampton, Hampshire on the 21st February 2010

We will be attending the De Vere Grand Harbour wedding fair on the 21st February (this coming Sunday). Based in Southampton, Hampshire this wedding exhibition is central to the area we normally cover for weddings through the New Forest, Romsey, Winchester, Southampton, Wickham, Fareham, Portsmouth, Chichester and Petersfield and then up to Basingstoke, Hook, and Guildford.

This show we will have some new items on our stand, and look forward to speaking with couples looking for quality wedding photography in fine products with a relaxed and friendly service. We will also be showcasing two items which we launched at the Botley wedding fair earlier in the year – our large premium large, canvas wraps and also our new style coffee table book style digital album designs.

We have some 2010 dates available for those couples looking to book a photographer for 2010 weddings and are now starting to take bookings for 2011 with some key dates starting to go already. This show will be our last of the spring, and our 2011 prices will be revised following the show so if you are looking to secure a photographer in the next 4-5 weeks for next year you should be able to benefit from our 2010 prices if you come and see us.

Do come to the stand and take a look at our photography and get an excellent opportunity to speak with us about your day. Studio appointments for detailed meetings can be booked at the show – or if you miss us or can’t attend  then please call 01329 3103104 or contact us via the website to arrange a time to come and see us.

We have just had our stand position confirmed and we will have a large feature stand against the wall just inside the doors of the main exhibition hall, and are looking forward to meeting you.

Children portraits – Framed products

We have just delivered some framed products from a recent family portrait session, and I thought I’d post them up here to give some more examples of what our prints look like when they are finished for our clients.

This shoot was for the grandmother of the four children for a significant birthday. The large image in the gold frame was a clear favourite and one of mine as well. It looks stunning framed, and the colours work really well. This is presented as an 18×12″ print in a 24×20″ frame, and was supplied finished and ready for hanging.

The smaller frame is to sit on a desk, and features two of the children in a multiple image layout. The solid bars on the edges bear the names of the children in white in the original, but these have been removed for posting here after the frame was photographed. Sized as a 10×8″ frame with a 7×5″ print, and a feature mount. Key to this image are the placement of the four images within the group.
Large framed image - grandchildren on a white background

multi image desk frame

Actors headshot for Casting Call Pro

I met up with Harriet at Hill Head beach to take some headshots for her. Harriet is a an acting school up in London and needed a promotional headshot, specifically to place on to Casting Call Pro a web directory of actors and actresses looking for roles in film, theatre and TV.

We used a couple of locations and got some variety of looks and Harriet has just selected her image to go on the site. She is also getting that image and another two in 10×8 format for use at casting calls.

We know there are other Casting Call Pro members in the Hampshire area without headshots, so if you are an actors or aspiring to become one and need a professional headshot then please get in touch and enquire about our service.

Here is one of the images Harriet is planning to use.

actors headshot for casting call pro

Corporate portraits and event PR coverage at the AQ Networking event

We spent today focussing on our commercial photography at 1000 Lakeside in Portsmouth, Hampshire at an AQ Networking – connecting for business event.

We were working for the organiser Laura Swetman capturing some PR images for her business and also had our own exhibitor stand in one of the offices which we had transformed into a studio space. We used it to shoot business portraits for the attendees and some of the exhibitors as well as being somewhere we could talk to people about their commercial photography requirements.

With both responsibilities it was a long and busy day but it was great to meet a large number of people, and to have some good discussions about how we can work with their businesses to produce some corporate PR images for use in websites and brochures, and to shoot over 20 business portraits which will be delivered over the weekend.

Here are some of the images taken on the day. Click on a thumbnail to view a larger version.

Marwell Hall display album now at venue

As a recommended photographer for Marwell Hall, the listed building within Marwell Wildlife in Hampshire we are pleased to announce that we have a stunning new display album in place showing three of our recent weddings. If you book a meeting with Izzy or Regan to discuss your wedding with a view to booking Marwell then you’ll undoubtedly be shown it but if you have already booked, or would just like to take a look at one of our showcase designs then here is a slideshow of the pages.

Box frame – childrens portrait

Continuing some post which show some of the products which we sell this box frame arrived at the studio this week. It features one of our client’s children who we have photographed many times with this particular image from a white background contemporary portrait session being selected to go into a box frame made of black wood.

With no glass, and the print almost flush this presents a modern look to a wall portrait.

Box frame featuring a childrens portrait

Botley Park Wedding Show – 17th January 2010: Show report

A very quick thank you to everyone that stopped at the stand earlier today at the MacDonald Botley Park wedding show – organised by de Mellow Productions. It was great to speak with everyone and to talk to you about the albums and prints on the stand as well as our photographic style and album designs, and to find out a little bit about your own weddings.

We did have a very big response, and ran out of brochures and showreel DVD’s right at the end of the day, we hope that you find the information useful and of course that once you have worked through your show bags that you give us a call. We are taking appointments to meet up in the studio and spend much more time talking about your wedding plans and how we can work with you on the day to create some timeless and elegant wedding photographs, and hope to hear from you soon.

For anyone that we didn’t get to speak to, or if you couldn’t make the show, then please do call the studio on 01329 310314 or contact us via this blog or the website to make an appointment or to ask any questions.

Finally a quick iPhone shot of the stand as a refresher for you, and for me so I can set it up in a similar way when we go to the De Vere Grand Harbour wedding show on the 21st February.

Botley Park Hotel Wedding Show - 17th January 2010 - Meonshore Studios stand

Hampshire Wedding Fair 17th January 2010: MacDonald Botley Park Hotel

After the disappointment of todays show at the Solent Hotel being cancelled we will be exhibiting as planned at the MacDonald Botely Park Hotel this coming Sunday the 17th January 2010. Once again this is a de Mellow wedding exhibition and promises to be an excellent show. With many shows being cancelled today because of the weather this one could be very busy and we look forward to seeing you all at the show.

We will be on a large feature stand in the atrium and will have display albums, large prints, canvas wraps, pre-wedding shoot information, and lots of our recent images for you to view, as well as the opportunity to talk with us about your wedding plans and your photographic needs. We will also be scheduling appointments for you to come to the studio and talk in more detail about your day as the next 4-5 weeks will be busy with many couples booking their 2010 wedding photographer.

We are also taking bookings for 2011, and would love to speak to any couples or brides looking to secure a quality wedding photographer early for those key 2011 dates.

Hope to see you there.

Solent Hotel Wedding Show on the 10th January has been cancelled

I have just heard from Yvonne De Mellow the organiser of the wedding show planned for the 10th January at the Solent Hotel in Whitely, Hampshire has been cancelled by the hotel. We were expecting to exhibit at the show but apparently the hotel car park is dangerous due to the current snow, ice and freezing weather and they cannot guarantee the safety of the exhibitors and visitors.

Obviously we are extremely disappointed with this news as we have been preparing for the show for some time, and were looking forward to meeting couples and brides looking to book their wedding photographer for 2010 and 2011 weddings.

There is some good news which is that we will be at the MacDonald Botley Park Hotel on the 17th for their wedding show and hopefully the weather will have improved or indeed that the car park be made safe. If you were planning to come to the Solent Hotel show and can make the 17th then please do come and see us there. Alternatively please take a look around this blog and our website and if you’d like to make an appointment to come to the studio and see us in person, along with our display albums canvas wraps and framed prints, to talk specifically about your wedding then we would be delighted to see you here and I’ll make sure you can get safely up the drive.

Triptych framed kids portraits – delivered

Late this afternoon I braved the snow and delivered a wall portrait out to one of our local clients. This lovely framed set of three prints presented as a triptych work really well and the frame keys in nicely with some of the other wall art and the feel of the room in which it will hang. The images were taken just before Christmas at one of our contemporary studio portrait sessions, and I love these images of the little girl and many others from her time in front of the camera.

The prints are made on a heavyweight fine art paper, mounted under a museum quality mount complete with fillets matched to the bronze frame. The glass is UV conservation glass to protect the prints from fading due to the damaging rays in sunlight.

Framed childrens portrait presented as a triptych

F a c e b o o k
W e d d i n g s