Master Craftsman panel!

Last year I completed my Craftsman panel with the Guild of Photographers. I was completely overwhelmed and delighted to be upgraded to Mast Craftsman, a title which only 8 photographer's in the UK holds.

Below I have detailed my statement that was read to the panel of judges and the images I created for the panel. Majority of the images were created during my regular newborn client sessions, keeping the work very much in keeping with what I offer my wonderful families visiting my Sidcup based Studio.

Gypsophila - Be present in this moment, everlasting love, innocence, purity.

I have been self employed within this industry since I graduated from my degree in photography over 12 years ago. The first newborn that I photographed was my nephew, 10 years ago this year and it was then a spark of joy grew and I knew what I wanted to do with my photography business. The images I took that day for my sister could not be further from the ones I show you today. During the last decade I have trained, studied, practiced, and then trained some more. I have been a member of the Guild for 7 years, entering the Image of the Month competition since I joined and I enjoy the challenge and push IOM provides me. Jo Bradley has been my mentor for a number of years now, helping me gain my Qualified status in April 2021, giving me numerous feedback sessions, and most recently she has mentored me with this panel I am showing today. The improvement in my work over this time is clear to see when looking at my first entries into the image of the month. With every session - images from these shoots here today - my goal is always to make images that parents treasure, and so regardless of the other elements I bring in, the baby is always the most important. In every image lighting is carefully considered, props and foliage used to add to a story, to work with colours and skin tones. All these elements that I have learned to work with, and have incorporated into my business, to the work that I am known for. ​

Salvia - Good health, wisdom, inner peace.

My slightly barmy husband had been set on an allotment for quite a while, and a year before the first lockdown I had jokingly signed him up and paid the first year rent on what was essentially a field. Little did I know that this field would become a sanctuary from the craziness of the world around us and a provider for my business.  I became fascinated by the other allotment holders stories, reasons for growing - everyone’s desire for a simpleness, and escape where they can grow in whatever way worked for them.

Ranunculus: I hold you close to my heart. - Sakura: Peace, harmony. - Allium: Protection, long life.

Slowly, seeds germinated, plants emerged, just like the world from lockdowns and isolation. I found myself bringing the allotment into the studio whenever I could. Foliage and florals have always been a feature of my work, the delicate buds of flowers mirroring the arrival of new life from seed, and the satisfaction knowing that I was bringing something different to every session, seasonal, an anchor in time and creating something beautiful for the parents to display on their walls and in albums.
I recalled reading about the Victorians, and how they would send messages through flowers, to friends and love interests, and then how old masters used symbols in paintings and the fizz of an idea combining my work life and the allotment started.
Researching the meanings of flowers and foliage opened a whole new opportunity to create not only visually pleasing images, but images with a meaning, a message. Every parent, from the very start of their journey into parenthood has hopes, dreams and wishes for their baby and family and so each image today features a plant or plants with a message. From parent to baby - wishes of happiness and health - all the good things for their life, from myself to each of my clients messages of encouragement, to be present and hope for their new family and their future. Messages to my own babies, messages of pure love, gratitude and strength.
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The age old saying states a picture is worth a thousand words. I don’t have a thousand words, but I do have heartfelt words and wishes for each and every baby that I photograph. 

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