Lisa Devlin's Photography Farm with Kat Williams, Rock n' Roll Bride!

Another busy one, started my Degree in Photography, helped at Lisa Devlin's Photography Farm and second shot a wedding in Basingstoke with the rather fantabulous Jayne Sacco of Sacco & Sacco Photography.

In case you're sat there wondering what the hell a 'Photography Farm' is, it is this....  Two and a half days spent at a stunning location near Gatwick with Lisa Devlin, British Wedding Photographer of the Year where you get to learn about all areas of wedding photography from how to work in practice, to workflow, to technique, to pricing & marketing... the list goes on and on but I would recommend it to anyone who wants to take their business further and gain some focus and direction in what they're doing.  Not to mention, it's also a great opportunity to get photographs for your portfolio!!

The first day of the Farm was all about taking photos.  There were three staged areas around the Farm styled absolutely beautifully by Hannah of The Tea Set and Jayne Sacco of Sacco & Sacco Photography who just did an amazing job and worked so hard to make it a really successful day.

Rob and Heather, who are having their wedding shot by Lisa next April, had their engagement shoot at the Farm so everyone was able to firstly watch Lisa as she photographed them before having time with them to get their own shots.  I'll blog the photos of the engagement shoot later plus some behind the scenes stuff!

For the other two shoots, Kat Williams from Rock n' Roll Bride was our model!  Kat, also guest speaker, talked on Day 2 about wedding blogs and what she looks for in photographers submissions.

All in all, if you're thinking about it, I'd say it's a brilliant opportunity to be part of something really special and to gain hands on practical photographic experience as well as learn about the business side of things.

I think sometimes as photographers it's easy to feel lost and overwhelmed by the sheer amount of competition and imagery out there and the Photography Farm is a great chance to meet people who feel just the same as you, get some great shots for your portfolio and find direction for yourself and your business.

Now - the photos.  More to follow of the engagement shoot next week plus behind the scenes xxx

 Contributors List:

 Models

 Kat Williams: Rock n Roll Bride http://www.rocknrollbride.com/ 

 Heather and Rob

 Guest Speaker

 Kat Williams: Rock n Roll Bride http://www.rocknrollbride.com/ 

Credits

Photography: Lisa Devlin http://devlinphotos.co.uk/

Video: FX Films:  http://www.fxfilms.co.uk/

Event Co-ordinator: Jayne Sacco http://www.saccophotography.co.uk/

Styling: The Tea Set http://www.the-tea-set.co.uk/

Flowers: The Tea Set http://www.the-tea-set.co.uk/

Cakes: The Tea Set http://www.the-tea-set.co.uk/

Wedding Dress: Candy Anthony http://www.candyanthony.com/

Make up and hair: Elbie van Eeden http://www.elbievaneeden.com/#home

Shoes: Irregular Choice http://www.irregularchoice.com/

Caravan: Hazy Days Caravan Hire http://www.festivalcaravanhire.co.uk/

Paper pompoms: Paperpoms  UK http://www.paperpoms.co.uk/

Location: Photography Farm http://devlinphotos.co.uk/2011/07/28/photography-farm/

Goodie Bags

Folio Albums http://folioalbums.com/

Bob Books  http://www.bobbooks.co.uk/

Wewow  http://www.wewow.co.uk/

Photoshelter http://www.photoshelter.com/

Photo Professional http://www.photopromagazine.com/

Queensbury Albums http://www.queensberry.com/

 

What have I been doing?

Well, where do I start??!?!??  There's been the Lisa Devlin 'Shooting Creative and Quirky Weddings' course I did, the two weddings I've second shot, the submission of my Farbridge wedding to Whimsical Wonderland Weddings which has been accepted - wahoo!, then I sat up a PhotoBooth, and I did another family shoot and I've been looking into online galleries, and cd covers and stationery and albums and I"m going to be helping at Lisa Devlin's Photography Farm (I'm in charge of sticking glittery things on shoes! - very important job!).....and, oh, I've just been BUSY!  Did I mention I'm now on Twitter too (Lisa Devlin made me!) - you can follow me here https://twitter.com/#!/Ruby_Roux!

I'm aiming to produce some insightful and delightfully witty blogs about all of these things, once I've done all the things that are on my To Do List and the three notebooks I keep scribbling things on!  In the meantime, here are a few sneaky peeks of my shannigans to whet your appetites:

Going to the chapel baby....

I'm beavering away editing the most beautiful vintage wedding that I had the honour of photographing this Bank Holiday Monday.  Here's a little taster, full post to follow:

I'm behind I know!!! Day 10 to eternity....

I've been busy, what can I say.  We've swanned off to the Loire Valley, I had a mini mid-life crisis, the boy is officially ready to go back to school, or at least I'm ready for him to back to school and I've been playing in Photoshop to make pretty storyboards for my images, the results of my efforts are below!

I also went to see the fabulous Lisa Devlin, the British Journal Wedding Photographer of the Year, (http://devlinphotos.co.uk/) speak last night at the Brighton Smug Meet Up. http://www.meetup.com/Brighton-SMUG/.  A monthly free event for photographers held at Eclectia Gallery and Studio in Brighton Marina.  Met some lovely people and learnt loads which I can directly use to help my business.  It's so worth meeting and talking to other photographers, I'm constantly amazed by how open and helpful the people I meet are in such a competitive industry.

As it's late and I'm being told off by my husband for being up past 10pm, I'll leave you with some images from the last week. xx  laters taters xxx

Days 6,7, 8 & 9 - Going Strong!

Well, you've missed the big prize draw!  Where were you? Winner was picked from Jack's trilby and announced by his goodself.  Check out the Ruby-Roux facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruby-Roux-Photography/164515083621794 for the announcement!  While you're over there, hit the like button a couple of times!!!

Also, did a family shoot this weekend.  Very girlie, lots of pink.  There were bubbles, tutus, lavender so will load some of those photos here tomorrow or you can head over to http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruby-Roux-Photography/164515083621794 where all the photos are up.  I loved it, first chance I've had to do the girlie thing, I'm usually surrounded by grubby little boys (I mean that in a loving way) but it was nice to have some hot pink sequins and tutus to play with for once!

As for photographs, here are some more from the Summer Holidays Photography Project....

1. My husband considers many hobbies.  He reads about them but doesn't actually do them.  This Saturday it was fishing.  2.  Preparing for my family shoot  3. My son's piggy masterpiece  4.  My pink toes 

1. My new favourite magazine  2./3. Sights from my dog walk  4. Husband's Sunday hobby - inflatable kayaking!

1.  Dog walk  2. All the old buses came to town, I liked this one  3/4.  Drinks in the garden with an old friend

1.  Hobby horses ready for family racing  2. Lovely seaside  3.More bus action on the seafront  4.  Loveheart shaped cement, how fabulous! 

1.  More dog walks  2. Nice little motorbike  3.  My friends gorgeous boy  4.  Beach huts in the sun

1. Fishers Farm - love it there.  2. Butterflies on a beach hut  3.  After waking me from 4am - 7am, he had the cheek to go to sleep till 9am  4.  Jack loves his mummy (I told him to write that!)

Day 5 - Still here!

Well, we've made it to Friday.  Too pooped to write much this evening, so will leave you with pictures from last night's 'Cornflake Game' for only the most flexible of women.  It involves picking a cornflake box off the floor with your teeth.  Each time the box gets cut lower and lower.  Well done to Michelle who dazzled us all with her elasticity!  

Big draw tonight for Ruby-Roux Photography facebook page, for those who have pressed the like button!  When Jack's home from MacDonalds with Grandma and Grandpa (featured below in ridiculous glasses - as am I), he will be pulling a lucky winner out of his trilby.  Free photoshoot on offer worth £100 but get over there quick and make sure to hit like.  You've probably got about 30 minutes!!!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ruby-Roux-Photography/164515083621794

Incidentally, I'd loved to not be the one doing all the talking, so, if there's anybody out there, please leave comments below (only nice ones though, otherwise I'll cry) x 

It's my birthday and the sun has shone ....

The first things my eye focused on (I can only manage one eye when I first wake up) this morning was my son, sporting his his new superhero vest, into which he tucked a red polyester cape.  The red bandana he squeezed so tightly around his forehead made his hair stick out the top of his head like a pineapple.

I let out a soft groan.  "Happy Birthday" chimed Hub.  I groaned more deeply.

Presents followed.  Check out the necklace my boy got me!  He didn't choose it but instructed daddy to fetch a necklace with a love heart on it (I like love hearts)!  Bless him for noticing x

The infamous gift from Hub was presented, in a silver bag.  I held my breath.  Previous presents have ranged from coasters featuring Pit Bull Terriers, a weird wooden trinket box with fetching duck and fishing pole atop and a one night stay in St Ives which involved 14 hours in the car for 12 hours out of the car ..  Anyway, I'd requested a night in Paris, so hopes were high.  He hasn't done badly, a night at The Goodwood Hotel!!!  Not quite Paris, but looks fantastic and at least the journey shouldn't take 2 days x

Hub was then despatched to work, Son and Pooch to parents and off I skipped to something I'd been very much looking forward to.  A photoshoot I was helping Jayne Sacco of Sacco and Sacco Photography with.  Photographing all the pretty things from CocoRose's shop, in Rowlands Road, Worthing.  Check it out if you haven't been, some really fantastic vintage lovelies to be had.

I so enjoyed it.  Surrounded by sparkly things, faded hydrangeas, vintage tea sets, crystal glasswear, lace tablecloths, French linen and just about everything I love to look at.  I learnt so much from watching Jayne at work and it's always lovely to find someone who loves all the same things as you!

AAAhhhhh, it's been a good one and now have a night with the girlies to look forward to. Happy days and the sun is shining on my birthday, as it always does!

Thank you for all my lovely birthday wishes peeps.  xxx

Summer Holidays Day 3 - AAAHHHHhhhhh!

To be fair, these photos don't really do justice to the day I've had.  It's only day 3 of the Summer Holidays but my spirit is wilting.  I don't know if it was the lemonade, 4 cookies and the donut he had for breakfast but things have not gone well.  Bedtime scheduled for 6.30pm (his and mine!)....  Here's the day in pictures, but doesn't include the footage of my precious one flying around the lightswitches xxx

1. Jack no longer participating in the 'Summer Holidays Photographic Project'(SHPP),  2.  Morning brew courtesy of hub  3.  Jack now more committed to SHPP.  4.  Morning kiss goodbye, lucky me (don't think hub fully committed to SHPP either) xx

1.  I tried to leave him up there but he got down and ran after me!  2.  Ed making friends  3.  Darth Vader hits the cornfields  4. What I thought were conkers but dad told me were sweet chestnuts (I still don't believe him!)

1. One second of peace  2.  Picking blackberries.  3.  Arrival at mum and dad's for brekkie.  4.  My old bedroom (ahhh... those were the days.  I crawled under the cover for a few minutes this morning and pulled the duvet over my head - (Jack found me though)

1.  Le Waffle  2.  Le papa  3.  Mum in stealth mode playing hide and seek.  4.  The Lovebirds 

1.  The Homestead 2.  The Pooch  3. Me and Daddykins  4.  A juggling Nanna (everyone should have one) 

1. Making Superhero outfits with fabric paints (now have red, purple and pink patio) - incidentally, guess which vest Jack did  4.  Mmmmm....doughnuts

Day 2 of the Holidays

As the sprog has been released from school, the opportunity to photograph anything but him is going to be limited so here begins my photo diary of the holidays.  It began early, it began raining and, naturally, my son was dressed as a knight.  Not just any knight, he informed me, the 'Silver Knight!', no wait, 'The Golden Knight', stops to think for a minute, "No, the Golden, Silver, Black Knight".  Right then, I said, and off we went.  These are the things we did.  These are the peeps and things we saw.

I also learnt today, from my son, that wasps aren't really black and yellow.  They wear stripey coats of black and yellow in order to look like bumblebees.  Well I didn't know that!