For several years now I have been working with Feva http://www.fevadesigns.com/ a Cheltenham based clothes store that specialises in international designers. I always love their choice of clothes in any season. So when Jan and Nicki turn up with this seasons shoot rails it’s always a buzz to see what they’ve brought.

We’ve worked with different models over the time, but our main star, featuring in every shoot is Sasha. Sasha is one of those girls who brings that perfect mix of fun, enthusiasm and professionalism to her shoots. For catalogue shoots this is vital, there’s no fancy posing, no creativity, no time of primping and make-up – you have to be able to pull off every item of clothing, in 5 minutes or less, each time all day long. And that takes something – it’s physically quite demanding, but when you are shooting the 65th item of clothing the model still has to step up to the plate – and look like this is the best t-shirt she’s ever worn.

Feva have been selling online for several years, and this year is working through a re-design, not just of the web site, but of the principals behind the way they use the web for selling. One of the aspects that’s being looked at is the inclusion of video as well as stills for clients to see how the clothes move. Personally I think this is really positive step forward, video on the web has become a practical reality only recently – this has led to (a) clients having the software and bandwidth to view videos, (b) photographers to have hardware and software to capture video at a reasonable cost for all concerned.

Crucially it seems to me that when buying clothes, seeing how great it look in motion can make the difference from a no-sale to a sale. And this context, a sale is where we’re aiming.

Related posts:

1. Feva, Dani & Me

The girls from the Dance Society at Gloucester University gave up their time and energies, dressed in their best pinks to raise awareness of breast cancer and raise funds for the Breast Cancer Awareness charity.

As well as getting sponsorship, they also auctioned off a poster from the photo shoot.

We also need to thank Donna Banfield, from DonnaBanfieldMakeUp.weebly.com

This was the picture chosen to go to the newspapers

And a number of the pictures featured in the University magazine as well.

So well done girls, a good day and a good cause.

If you’re wondering about the “Take 2” title of the video, it took a lot of wrestling with Adobe to get their flippin’ (not the word I used at the time) software to actually render this video.   Over 24 hours of faffin’ around with the darn thing, which is why it’s not quite edited up to the standard I’d like.

Related posts:

1. JD Couture – Fashion Shoot

The images from the fashion shoot at Berkeley are now out in Cotswold Life.  It seems so long ago now!  I have to say the girls look great – the teams efforts really paid off big time here.

Related posts:

1. Berkeley Castle Fashion Shoot

Yes, girls all of this can be yours.   Seriously, although the spoof is very funny, all this can be yours.

After each of our shoots all images are retouched, you tell us how far you would like us to go.

We tend not to go for the complete plastic skin, super-thin look, but really we want it all to look like you, but you at your best.

In the meantime, enjoy the video

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1) Get In Close – it’s the faces your interested in, not the shoes.   Fill the frame with the face or faces. 

2) Keep it natural – don’t over-pose pictures – natural pictures are often the best ones.  Keep your camera ready and take peoples pictures when they’ are not looking.  This is especially true for children.

3) Get down with the kids:  while your children are playing with the Christmas presents you want to be down on your knees or tummy photographing from their height.

4) If you are posing to be in a photo – guys face square forward and look big.  Girls should turn slightly sideways and kick the hip out for a more feminine shape.

5) If you’re a couple, girls should rest their head on the fella’s shoulder for a nice relaxed, but loving and joined portrait.

6) If you’re shooting one person, then put them off-centre in the frame rather than bang in the middle – it makes a more interesting picture.

7) If you’re shooting a couple make sure your camera is not focussing down the gap in the middle of them – leaving you with an out of focus picture.

If you’re shooting three or more people, try and arrange the heads into a triangle, or a circle if there’s lots of people – this makes a much stronger composition.

9) Lots of Christmas pictures are taken at parties – but try and keep the drinks out of shot – they look messy and ruin many a good photo.

10) If you can, try and shoot without flash – many new digital cameras can shoot in quite dark places without flash – the images will look much more natural.

11) If you have to use flash – see if your camera has a “night” mode – this will make sure your subject is properly lit, but will also show the background well too.

12) Backgrounds are interesting too – and let you remember where you were when the picture was taken. 

13) If you’ve got an add-on flash unit that fits to the top of your camera – tip it towards the ceiling to “bounce” of the ceiling – it’s a much nicer light and also stops red-eye

14) See if you can find a plain wall as a background, doesn’t matter what colour – but if you get a choice blue works best for faces.  Look out for fire signs, plant pots, etc.  Don’t stand the subject right against the wall though – the more space between your subject and the background the better.

15) Take a second picture straight after the first – often the moment when people relax after they think the picture has been taken is the best one.

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This is Alena and she’s our official “Yummy Mummy” for November 2011.   We were all instantly struck by Alena’s good looks and figure.   After our make-up specialist Lucy had completed Alena’s hair styling and make-up we just thought Alena looked gorgeous.

If you would like to be the next Yummy Mummy of the Month then we look forward to seeing you for a shoot soon.   Family shoots, Mother and Daughter and Teenage Fashion Experience shoots are available to cover all ages.

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Venture Studios went into liquidation earlier this year and Double Take Studios closed its doors in November.   While it’s always sad for the employees under these circumstances it has to be said both sets of studios had a reputation for being very aggressive in their sales techniques.

FilmPhoto.co.uk to the rescue!

We know that both studios have lots of customers who have prepaid for photoshoots and we will honour any voucher, gift or similar you may have with either studio.   As long as you’ve got some thing to show you had given them money we will take over what ever they had offered you.

We are the absolute opposite to these studios, we are very relaxed all round.  Your makeover and shoot will get you in the proper mood for your photoshoot – no time pressures, nothing hectic and we guarantee no heavy sales pressure.

I do all the sales sessions and I cannot stand the twist your arm style of selling and you certainly won’t get it from me.  You only choose what you want to choose and what you can afford to choose.

And, our prices are very reasonable as well.

Want to book your shoot

If you want to still use your vouchers for either of these studios then please just give me a call on 01242 717273 and I’m sure we will be able to help you.

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The Matara Centre was created by Geoffrey Higgins after the death of his wife June, inspired by a vision they shared in the months before her death. It began as a meditative centre for well-being, and has evolved into a centre for the celebration of life and life’s events.

Wedding Photography from FilmPhoto.co.uk.

I love shooting weddings, they are romantic, lovely, happy, wonderful events.If you would like to have a chat about your wedding plans and how they can be captured in a glorious Wedding Story Book, then please call FreePhone: 0800 4681 488

Wedding photography for the discerning buyer, finished in high quality wedding story books
Available for wedding photography in Cheltenham, Gloucester and the rest of the world!
Wedding Photography available as packages or a la carte

Related posts:

1. Lisa and Neil’s Wedding Day in Five Minutes
2. Helen and Richard – Love you can touch!
3. Choosing your wedding photographer

This means that you will be able to buy boudoir gift shoots from leading stores across the uk which gives the recipient a full makeover and boudoir shoot and high quality print at FilmPhoto.co.uk.

While this is a service we have always offered since our launch years ago, it is very pleasing to be selected for to be asked to join this very select group.

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It was a classic British wedding which was hosted by the Matara.

It was terrific fun for everyone involved and needless to say we had a great time taking part.

Wedding Photography from FilmPhoto.co.uk.

I love shooting weddings, they are romantic, lovely, happy, wonderful events.If you would like to have a chat about your wedding plans and how they can be captured in a glorious Wedding Story Book, then please call FreePhone: 0800 4681 488

Wedding photography for the discerning buyer, finished in high quality wedding story books
Available for wedding photography in Cheltenham, Gloucester and the rest of the world!
Wedding Photography available as packages or a la carte

Related posts:

1. Lisa and Neil’s Wedding Day in Five Minutes
2. Choosing your wedding photographer
3. Helen and Richard – Love you can touch!