{Cheshire Portraits} Liam and Erin

{family portraits} speediest portrait session takes place in Cheshire on a Saturday morning in November!

Helen, of Verity Plum and chair of the committee at Little Foxes Statham was instrumental in helping me organise a day full of portrait sessions for the children and their families. Perfect timing for Christmas presents for the family we thought!

Helen had booked the first session for herself and Louis and Lottie but having spent most of the time making coffee and trying to find out how the heating worked, there was only about 10 minutes left to actually take the photos.

So, the challenge was on - Helen, looking glam as ever but even more so with her veerrrrry blonde hair, Lottie needed to assemble all three (large) teddy bears and Louis, less than enamoured with the whole idea and more interested in making weird and wonderful faces (he has quite a talent there Helen!). I clicked furiously for a few minutes before the first family turned up and to be honest wasn't entirely sure I'd captured anything worthwhile.

I started editing the pictures last night and actually, I'm pleasantly surprised - what has been captured is a really fun couple of shots of all three - personalities shining through, which is after all everything that we aim for as portrait photographers.

Glad you like them Helen and for anyone else reading who wants a quick (although maybe longer than 10 minutes!) portrait session then you can contact me on 07928 150119 or drop me a line on bridget@maitlandphotography.co.uk . Although based in Warrington, I'm happy to travel throughout Cheshire and the North West.

{portraiture} More from the Portrait Session at Little Foxes, Lymm

Gradually working through the pile of photos to edit from this session last weekend. Here's some more, this time of Olivia, pretty in purple.

{portraiture} Models in the making

I've still got a pile of editing to do after a day of family portraits taken at Little Foxes nursery in Lymm but I've just about finished the set of this little chap - he truly is a model in the making. No shyness, endless poses, questions. Every time I was about to suggest where he put himself he had his own ideas which usually worked far better than any of mine would!

Check back soon for some more images from Saturday!

{wedding photography} Put your money where your mouth is...oh, and a free engagement photoshoot...

In a manner of speaking!



There's a whole pile of information out there about how important it is to find the right photographer for your wedding, telling you to check their credentials, their portfolio, what kind of style they will produce for you.



Add to that the debate on why it is (or isn't) important to consider your wedding photography as a real long term investment. After all, after the dress is cleaned and stored, the cake eaten, the presents opened and the speeches done and dusted, your memories are consigned to your photo album. Put in that light it seems daft not to consider very carefully how much importance you want to put on your photography.



I got married 7 years ago - we had a fantastic day, spending time with friends and family who had not been under the same roof for a very long time. Our budget was tight but I felt that I had left no stone unturned in making sure our day was one to remember. I wasn't a photographer then, not even a budding one and the prices that I found for hiring one seemed more than I wanted to spend. I saw the photographs as a way of documenting our day, nothing more nothing less. With that in mind I approached a friend of a friend. A keen amateur photographer who had a fancy looking camera. I paid for her travel, accommodation and she joined us for the meal and celebrations. It was before digital was all the rage so she presented us with a bag full of film that we paid to process and print.



I don't have regrets, life is too short but on looking at my photos recently with a photographer's eye I am so very disappointed that I went down this route. Don't get me wrong - the friend did a great job but what we have is a series of snaps, some OK, some fairly ropey. We certainly don't have a family heirloom and I could really weep now when I think what we might have had.



Without wanting to boast I looked fabulous, radiant, and all the things a bride should look on her wedding day. Andy didn't look too bad either and my brothers always brush up well when they wear their kilts! If I was to do it all again, I would be booking a photographer who really knows and understands wedding photography (if I was lucky, Liz of Eliza Claire photography would be free!). Whatever budget was left would have to cover the rest of the day.



So, here's where I'm putting my money where my mouth is....



If you book a pre wedding photoshoot with Maitland Photography before the end of January 2010, you get the session for free (normal cost - £120). For this you get 1 7 x 5 professional print and all your images in low resolution and watermarked on a CD. If, subsequently you book Maitland Photography for your wedding then you receive all these images in high resolution on CD to print and share with your friends and family. You will also receive £50 credit towards a wedding album.



To book please call me on 07928 150119 or contact me on email.



Look forward to hearing from you!

{portraiture} Megan & Ryan

Today was the long awaited photoshoot with Sarah's Megan and Ryan. Megan goes to school and is the same year as my daughter Megan - they're great friends most of the time although it's difficult to keep up with who is best friends with who these days, it seems to change by the minute!

Ryan is 10 months old and the happiest baby I've come across in a while. His blue eyes are pretty fabulous too!

Thanks for inviting me along Sarah - your kids are gorgeous and I hope you like the results!

It's always the quiet ones!

This afternoon I met with Vicky and Robert who are getting married in December. They want to have a photographic guest book at their wedding so this was to grab some shots for that.

Having met them a few weeks ago I thought they might be quite nervous but they were complete naturals who indulged my passion for brickwork and staircases as we worked our way round Lymm village. Robert at times ended up suggesting poses and locations - Robert, if you ever want to be a photographer's assistant, you have my number!

The highlight of the afternoon was them being invited onto one of the houseboats for a few shots. The owner apologised for the TV aerial which was getting in the way but apparently there was some kind of football match on this afternoon, Liverpool, Everton or somebody (you can guage my interest in football from this sentence by the way!)

We have another photoshoot scheduled for January which will be very exciting indeed but I'll leave the details until then...!

Thanks Vicky and Robert for a fun couple of hours and thanks also to Lindsay, a colleague of my husband's who came out to help with reflectors & brolly carrying. Best of all, she brought me chocolates - Lindsay, you can come again any time :)

These are a few quick edits for tonight - I'll post more in a few days.