“Building up a business” Chapter 7 – Assistant Wedding Photographer

Posted on May 19, 2012 by adamscullphotographyblog

I have attended a few weddings now as a guest and have always had a longing to be the photographer who the couple have hired to capture their special day. The person who is responsible for capturing the moments big and small and for pulling that all together for them to enjoy for years to come. Now I know it’s not easy and I know it’s a lot of pressure but I believe that the rewarding feeling you get when it’s all come together and the couple really love your work is the best feeling and makes it all worth it in the end. So when I started out on this little photography journey of mine that was one of the goals I wanted to achieve: become a wedding photographer and become good one. But I have no experience and I don’t want to go into this not really having a clue of what I’m doing. Yeah, I’ve shot at a few weddings as a guest and my friends and family have really liked the photo’s I’ve taken but that doesn’t make me a wedding photographer – that makes me an “Uncle Bob” Reading up on the journey other wedding photographers have taken on the web and in books the best way to learn how to shoot a wedding is to assist an established wedding photographer at an actual wedding. So I’ve been in touch with some of the wedding photographers in the Bristol and Bath area and two weekends ago, on Friday 4th May (Star Wars Day:)) I shot my first wedding as an assistant photographer. The wedding was at Bath Assembly Rooms with Dan Pix Photography for a lovely couple called Claire and Kev. Below are just a teaser from the day:

Needless to say I was very nervous before I got to the venue but as soon as the guests started to arrive I got into the swing of things. It was a great experience and I learnt so much. There were two main things I learnt that day and that was to be prepared and to be quick. I couldn’t afford to analyse any of the shots I’d just taken because I’d miss another shot and another, so I had to stay on the ball all the time. I was exhausted when I got home but I couldn’t wait to get going with another one. Luck would have it I had another one to shoot on Sunday 6th May, again with Dan Pix Photography but this time at Cumberwell Park Golf Club. This was for another Claire who was marrying her boyfriend Tom. I took what I’d learnt from the Friday and sat down on the Saturday and planned out what I wanted to shoot and how I was going to do it. I know I was just the assistant photographer but I wanted to ensure I did a good job and that I made as little mistakes as possible. Below is a little taster of the results of the day:

It was a fun day and I felt so much more relaxed having prepared more. I’ve still got lots more to learn and am hoping to shoot more weddings as an assistant soon but feel I’ve made a good start. I think if you are an aspiring wedding photographer like me this is definitely the best way to learn. Hope you like the pics too :)

Take care

Adam

“Personally Speaking…” Chapter 5 – Sarah & Andy Get Married

Posted on April 7, 2012 by adamscullphotographyblog

Saturday 6th November 2010 – Bonfire night – UK
Em and I were invited around her friend, Sarah’s father’s house (got it?) to see some fireworks that evening. We planned to have a few drinkies and some barbequed food with Emma’s crowd of friends, or as I like to think of them; “friends-in-laws”. Anyway the evening ran much as it had any other year; people drifting in and out of the house eating burgers, “oooing” and “aahhing” at the right time when the fireworks went off and generally having a laugh with one another. However, this particular year was different. Sarah’s boyfriend, Andy, had a surprise for her, and for the rest of us who weren’t in the know ie me Gradually whispers were circulating in the crowd that we should all make our way into the garden. So we all gathered around in anticipation of something we knew not what. Sarah was ushered out of the house and in front of the crowd, whilst Andy at the bottom of the garden walked over to what looked like a piece of fencing and lit something at its bottom. Sparks flew, and people started to “ooo” and “aahh” then suddenly this appeared:

(Pic courtesy of Kim Newbold)

And so that was how Andy proposed to Sarah
Fast forward to last saturday 31st March 2012 and the big day finally arrived. It was a great day filled with a lovely ceremony at St Joseph’s Church and dancing, feasting and bingo at Tracy Park Hotel in the afternoon and evening. I certainly had lots of fun taking pictures of my “friends-in-laws” even if they got my name wrong. Here are some of the pics from the day. Hope you likey:

CONGRATULATIONS TO SARAH AND ANDY

“Building up a business” Chapter 6 – Family Photography: Lanie

Posted on March 11, 2012 by adamscullphotographyblog

I sat slightly sleepy on my sofa, sipping my hot cup of tea last saturday morning. I didn’t have to get up early and help Emma up the field with Chester as I’d done my jobs up there the day before and I had a photo shoot to do that morning instead. I then heard the cat flap slowly flip open. Mitzi was up stairs in our bedroom window telling off the naughty pigeons pirched opposite, so I knew it wasn’t her. It was a sneaky intruder. The cat flap slammed shut and a skinny bluey-grey cat trotted past me announcing himself with a few cat like “hmmm”s and raced up the stairs. I should have chased him out but I just sipped my tea. My phone beeped, it was my neighbour Katie:

“Have just put flea stuff on whisper, so if he comes into u, u might want to chuck him out!!x”

I sighed and then sipped my tea.

I’ve lived next door to Katie for 6 years now (6 years! How did that happen?!) so when she asked me to do a photo session for her daughter Lanie and her, I didn’t hestitate in saying yes. I mean I didn’t have far to travel did I? So with the cats in one house and the humans in another we started our photo session and the above was what greeted me when I entered Katie’s house.
Below are the some of the other photo’s I took on the day:

Lanie is a little bundle of fun and loves nothing better than running around playing, so it didn’t take long for us to migrate to the garden.

I hope you liked meeting the girl next door; we certainly had a lot of fun that day and we’re all looking forward to meeting our new neighbour soon

If you would like a family portrait session please get in touch by using my contact form. I use natural light on location or within the comfort of your own home (as I’ve done here for Lanie and Katie).

Take care

Adam

“Building up a business” Chapter 5 – Baby Photography: Sophie Banfield

Posted on February 12, 2012 by adamscullphotographyblog

“I’ll hold on to her for a bit mate.” I said. Natalie handed over her baby daughter, Sophie Banfield, and whisked off to the kitchen with Kevin to make some lunch. “I didn’t get a chance to hold her when I was here before.”
Not having much experience with babies I held her like I did little Louie, my other friends baby, lying her down cradled in my arms on my lap. She started crying. Oh no! What do I do… WHAT DO I DO?!
“She likes to sit up.” Natalie called from the kitchen. Sophie was 3 months older than baby Louie, so sitting up was much more preferable for her.
“Ok.” I called back. I gently moved her so she was sat up resting on my leg as we sat together.
“WAAAAGGGGHHHH!!” was Sophie’s response to being moved which I think translated to “No, Scully, I don’t want to be sat here.”
Oh dear…. errmmm…. what to do…. if only there was some way of her telling me what she wants or what she likes…

The answer was right there in front of me. “Oh, I see, that’s what you like. We’ll try that then.” I said to her.
I gently lifted her up and stood her on my knee’s. I then, quite unlike me, started to sing a little tune and we had a little dance. She started smiling, the crying stopped and I think she might have let out a little giggle. Great! I’ve passed the test. Well it was obvious really, it was written on her baby grow

“She loves to dance and sparkle and shine!” Well she can certainly dance, but could she sparkle and shine? I’m sure the photo’s will show that she can, but to take them I had to get my glasses back…

With Natalie’s help I got my glasses back and had a great afternoon taking snaps of lil Sophie. She was very smiley and we had lots of fun. She had a nap in between posing so that the little dancing diva could look her best, but I couldn’t help grabbing a few shots while she was sleeping. Hope you like the results from the day:

Thanks so much for letting me take photo’s of your little family guys. It was a great afternoon, and thanks for the sandwich; it was proper tasty

If you would like a baby photography session please get in touch by using my contact form. I use natural light on location or within the comfort of your own home (as I’ve done here for Natalie, Kevin and Sophie) and can adapt to your tastes in the finished images.

Take care

Adam

“Building up a business” Chapter 4 – Baby Photography: Louie Moore

Posted on January 29, 2012 by adamscullphotographyblog

03:26am 20th January 2012: I was stirred from my sleep by the sound of my neighbour’s 18 month old daughter crying in the night. “I wonder what Lanie’s upset about?” I whispered into the dark. “Errmmm…” I heard back from ESB lying next to me. This is the standard response from Em when she is half asleep. It roughly translates as “I don’t know my sweet. I love you but please go back to sleep.” at least that’s what I think it means I rolled over, settled back down and drifted off back to sleep.

04:08am 20th January 2012: HONK HONK!!! My phone beeped. “….errrr What?! Oh my phone….” I said.

“Louie Jonathan Moore 7lb4 mother and baby doing well”

It was my friend Jason Moore, his wife Cathryn had just given birth to their son.
“Em it’s Jase, Cat’s just given birth.” I said.
“Errrmmmm….” I received back. Roughly translated means “That’s great news! I love you but please go back to sleep.”

If you remember a few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to do a maternity shoot for Cat and Jase which can be found here. So we were all very excited about little baby Louie’s birth, but it was worth the wait as he’s turned out to be quite a little heart breaker. And if my neighbours daughter anouncing his arrival into the world with tears is anything to go by he’ll be a little heart breaker when he grows up too So when Em and I went round to meet the little fella yesterday I was too excited to leave my camera at home. Having known both of them seperately for years, to see them get together, get married and have their first child is just amazing! We’re so pleased for them. Here are some of the photo’s I took (we even managed a pout):

CONGRATULATIONS GUYS HE’S A BEAUT!

If you would like a baby photography session please let me know by using my contact form. I use natural light on location or within the comfort of your own home (as I’ve done here for Cat, Jase and Louie) and can adapt to your tastes in the finished images.

Take care

Adam

“Personally Speaking…” Chapter 4 – A walk up Glastonbury Tor

Posted on January 8, 2012 by adamscullphotographyblog

The sun broke through the clouds as they rolled overhead, the wind blew a cold chill through my coat but I had time to waste so I slung my camera bag over my shoulder, grabbed my walking stick and walked on.

Over muddy fields I crossed, with fresh air in my lungs I felt content and at peace. Whistling a little tune as I snapped away with my camera I finally reached the bottom of Glastonbury Tor.

My contentment suddenly subsided as I stared up the Tor, not because I had to climb it, but because a strange feeling of dread flooded over me. I shook it off, thinking I was being silly, put my camera away and began to climb.

Half way up I began to hear it, faintly carried by the wind, it was the sound of a man’s voice, chanting words I could not understand. Suddenly an elderly Native American woman, with fear on her face, appeared from the brow of the Tor, she moved gingerly but quickly towards me, she too was chanting words I could not understand, repeating them with each step that she took. I stood aside and let her pass. Watching her float down the hill I nervously turned and continued my climb, unsure what I’d find when I reached the top.

When I reached the brow of the Tor there was no one to be seen. I slowly took my camera out again, if something were to happen I wanted to capture it. I began to hear the chanting again, it had become quiet and I realised it was coming from inside the tower. I nervously moved around it, pretending not to be bothered by the strange sounds coming from within. I took a few photos of the outside and gradually circled it, until finally, I felt brave enough to peer inside.

It was dark, grey and had a damp, old smell like some church’s do, I could just make out a hooded figure sitting crossed legged on a plinth. He didn’t notice me but his chanting became louder and louder. Suddenly he stopped. I gasped half expecting something to happen. Nothing. A few seconds past and I pull my camera back up to my eye. He then suddenly pulled back his hood and shouted “SPIRITS REVEAL YOURSELVES TO ME!!”
And then suddenly a huge gust of wind blew through the tower and blew me off my feet. I guess I took this shot on the way down.

When I got back to my feet the man had gone! A little freaked out I turned to see a ghostly figure of a woman and her dog admiring the view at the other end of the Tor.

Needless to say I hot tailed it back down the Tor, over the fields and back to my car!
When I finally reached my car, out of breath and unsure what had just happened, the clouds cleared and the sun began to set. I was safe again.

I hope you liked my little ghost story? Well at least it made my little walk up Glastonbury Tor, while I was waiting for ESB (my wife) to get her hair done I might add, a little more interesting

“Building up a business” Chapter 3 – Cat, Jase & the Magic Bump

Posted on January 1, 2012 by adamscullphotographyblog

New Years Day 2012, a start to a new year and one that should be a good year. For one thing it’s the year that a little bump, which started out as a magic little bean, will have grown big enough to be born into this world. Exciting stuff! :) And it was fitting that when I arrived around my friends; Cathryn “Cat” Moore and Jason “Jase” Moore, for their maternity photo shoot that Harry Potter was playing on their TV. (Jase is a big fan of the famous wizard).

After seeing the pictures I took of little baby Sophie Banfield they asked if I could do a pregnancy photo shoot for them. I was both excited and nervous as I wanted to do a good job for them, however I’d never done a maternity shoot before. So I was well chuffed that they had asked me and after a lot of practice, reading up and planning I stepped through their front door with my new camera bag over my shoulder (Xmas present from Mum & Dad ) I was ready to get started. And it was magical.