Summer holidays!

I am so loving spending more time with my girls over the school holidays. I’m keen to pack in memorable little chunks of what they call ‘Mummy and me time’ before they start back again in only a few short weeks now. It’s such a delight (well most of the time!) watching their characters develop before my very eyes – I just sometimes wish it could all happen in slow motion! At least when I have the camera with me (which, ok, I do admit is a fair chunk of the time!) I can stop the clock for 1/200th second and refer back to it to remind myself of these halcyon days!

After seeing some friends in Claygate recently I’d thought we could nip onto Mayfield Lavender in Banstead, Surrey as I thought it must be just around the corner – I’ve been meaning to go since the start of the summer to check it out as a possible portrait location. I was so wrong – it took ages battling with the end of week rush hour traffic and the girls were none too chuffed that we weren’t heading home for tea. By the time we arrived we were crumpled and sticky (HAD to stop for lollies on the way) but the sight and smell of the wonderful rows lavender instantly revived us! Wow – it was fabulous! I grabbed the camera before running up and down the hillside rows trying to catch the girls in their sheer, girly, flowery, princessy, purpley scented joy! So please take these for what they are – ‘out of breath’ family snaps I wanted to share with you for a little taste of our simple summer fun.

Oh, by the way – I’d be really grateful to know of any pretty or interesting locations you know of in Surrey, Hants or Berks. I’m always on the lookout for new locations for portait shoots. Or if you’d like an ‘on location’ family or children’s portrait session sometime soon – they are seriously good fun. Do drop me a line. Thanks.

Hampshire Social Photography – 60th Birthday Party in Dummer

The fabulously bubbly and warm Ann contacted me through a mutual friend and neighbour here in Woking. Ann said she needed a photographer to capture her longstanding partner, Roger’s 60th birthday party. It involved a Friday night trip a short way down to the very familiar M3 and Ann sounded great fun so I was looking forward to it - there was something Ann hadn’t mentioned about the gathering though!

Their nearest and dearest were invited celebrate Roger’s big birthday but unbeknownst to them (and me!) Roger and Ann had got married that morning! So my simply ‘capturing a birthday celebration’ turned into another Hampshire wedding assignment! Before Ann and Roger announced their happy news to their delighted and surprised guests over dinner they had spilt the beans to me (I was so chuffed to be the first to know!!) so that they could have a sneaky ‘newly weds kiss’ picture! Roger and Ann were such great sports – and I so enjoyed being part of this intimate event. Big congratulations to them!

“We could not have asked for better photos. All our friends and family agreed that you were great fun and made the whole experience enjoyable. Thank you so much.
Our canvas is pride of place and greatly admired by all.” Ann and Roger

Surrey ‘at home’ Portrait Photographer – Testimonial

This is the second family photo session with Sarah and I would not hesitate to book her again. She is professional, friendly and managed to take some great relaxed family photos despite a unco-operative 3 year old and wriggly baby.

Sarah gave some great advice on choosing the pictures, frames and where they could be placed. She used a gadget which allowed us to size up the pictures on the wall and was ability to ‘mock up’ what they would look like to help us make our decision.

I felt confident investing in three large framed photographs because Sarah took the measurements, suggested the photo size, type and size of frame. Without her suggestions I would not have had the confidence, artistic flair or time to have bought the pictures we did.

Katherine McIlroy

Surrey Wedding Photography – Sally & Steve’s Wedding, Weybridge & Woking – Testimonial

‘Sarah is a first class photographer but her service is more than that. She brings the human element to her work, she understood from the beginning how important the pictures were going to be for us and she spent time talking to us about what we wanted. I can honestly say that their isn’t one picture that I don’t love and that was the hardest part, trying to decide which ones to have and which ones to put on the wall but again Sarah helped with that.

For me the important thing was having pictures that captured our day and not overly formal shots, funnily my husband wanted the opposite and wanted more formal pictures, Sarah blended both and I love both the formal and informal shots. Sarah made everyone relaxed and caught moments I didn’t even know had happened. Thank you for being not only the person who has helped me have something forever that I can look at and remember but also for going beyond and making my whole family feel at ease. The pictures have pride of place in our sitting room and every time I look at them, its almost as though I’m there.’ Sally Wright

Surrey Engagement Photography – Anna & Mark, Dorking

Loving the crisp bright weather we have had recently… perfect for romantic sessions like this one with Anna and Mark who are getting wed at the Manor Barn, Buriton later in the year. I always photograph my brides and grooms prior to the wedding so we can get a feel for each other and what works well…

Can’t wait to photograph them again as they were such a fab, fun couple – and the camera loved them both!