Cassandra and Robson are fun, serious, and seriously fun! We spent a couple of lovely hours in my backyard studio, Burnham-On-Crouch, Essex. I figure I better catch up on my blogging, as I’ll be blogging this lovely couple again soon. The wedding is only days away!

I am pleased to announce that I have officially launched my Teen Ambassador Program. This is a program especially for teens in their last 3 years of school. As an Ambassador, you will receive your unique portrait session for free, along with a discounted Signature Book. Here’s the Who, What, Where, When, Why:

Who: Teenagers in their last 3 years of school.

What: A program for Teens to get a free photo session with Faith Stone Photography. Only a limited amount of teenagers from each school can join the Ambassador program. Once your application is filled in, send it to Faith Stone Photography and we’ll get started! After your photo session, Ambassadors will then get a discounted Signature Book to collect best wishes from friends and family. As an Ambassador, it’s your job to RAVE about your experience and get your friends to book in next. For every booking that you bring to Faith Stone Photography, you will earn points toward free stuff!

Where: Teens from all over Essex are eligible. Photo Sessions are primarily held in Burnham-On-Crouch. Other locations may be available depending on the season and distance.

When: Once we receive your application, we’ll contact you to schedule your photo session. The session is designed to make you feel and look great! You may opt to do your own hair and makeup or enlist one of our stylist to complete your shoot.

Why: Hey, I was a teenager once too! I get that it’s sometimes a confusing and challenging time in your life. I also get that it’s a wonderful time in your life that should be documented with joy, laughter and love. My aim is to capture this turning point in your life, make you feel and look great, and have some beautiful memories that you can share with friends and family.

Page layouts of a Teen Signature Book

If you would like more information on our Teen Ambassador Program, or just want a fun and natural portrait experience along with a signature book of your own, contact me!

A lovely student from Camberwell College of Arts contacted me wanting images of her while she worked on a project for school. I thought, ok, that’s an editorial assignment. I can do that. She further explained what the project entailed. There are 2 phases: 1st we will go to Hyde Park in London, she will blindfold herself and interact with the environment. Hmmm. Ok. That sounds interesting. Phase 2: She will blindfold herself and we will approach strangers in the park and ask them if we can touch their faces for about 5 minutes. Without seeing them, she will sketch them from memory. I will document how she touches them in both full face and profile so she can compare her results as part of her project. NOT something I’ve done before, but, hey, I was an art student once too!

Editorial Photography, London

I really thought this would be a challenge. I mean, who’s going to let a total stranger touch their face in the park? Well, you’d be surprised!

So what did I learn by going outside my comfort zone? Well, I learned that a lot of people are kind and generous. I learned that Judy Wong hired the right photographer for the job. A photographer is never just a photographer. Although Judy had a sign that invited people to participate in her project, I led her blindfolded around parks in London, explaining what we were doing and asking them for their help. I’m not sure just any photographer would do that. I met so many people from so many places. Some people looked at us like we were crazy. Some were intensely curious. Some were a bit anxious and most all were more than happy to help. Germans, Swedish, Irish, Polish, American, Asian, British, and people who didn’t really speak much English. All of them were lovely. Some wanted to pay. Some wanted to be paid. All walked away with a smile on their face and the wonderment of how life can change in an instant.

A photographer is never just a photographer….

Come visit me at any of the following wedding fairs where we will have an exciting prize draw!

11 March 2012 at Ivy Hill, Margaretting, Chelmsford, Essex CM4 0EH from 11am to 3pm

13 May 2012 at Hintlesham Hall, Ipswich, Suffolk IP8 3NS from 11am to 3p

16 September 2012 at Thurrock Civic Hall, Greys, Essex RM16 2JU -FASHION SHOW- 11am to 4pm

23 September 2012 at Mulburry House, High Ongar, Essex CM5 9NL from 11am to 3pm

19 and 20 January 2013 is the HUGE Essex Wedding Show at the Brentwood Centre, Doddinghurst Road, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9NN

It’s 1998 and I’m mid way though my Associate of Applied Science degree in photography. I just failed an architectural assignment for the second time and found out that one of my favorite instructors might be leaving before I graduate. I’m sitting in a closet sized room developing black and white 4×5 film, and I’m just about to loose it. I’ve tried a lot of different career paths, from managing a shoe store to being a travel agent, before deciding to put a good deal of my remaining eggs in this basket. My basket is now called “Student Loan- Colorado Institute of Art.”

I have to admit, this college nearly broke me. I was commuting about 45 minutes to Denver, in classes most of the day, then waiting tables in the evening. When I wasn’t doing one of those things, I was shooting and re-shooting. I wouldn’t say I did it for any kind of passion for photography, but rather because, well, I STARTED it and so I was darn well going to FINISH it! I did finish, and yes, even passed that architectural assignment! I also picked up some awards from the college and the Art Directors Club of Denver, along with making the Dean’s List 6 times.

Fast forward to 2012. My husband and I recently relocated from Somerset to Essex, UK. It’s now the 3rd time I’ve had to start my business over. I’m actually getting pretty good at it now! I’ll admit, it has occurred to me, especially in this economy, to just throw in the towel and go back to selling shoes. But I won’t. And here’s why:

I mainly market my services to couples getting married. Wedding photography is a specialised field and one that requires a certain set of tools to do the job with success. Surprisingly, you might think I would now go in to a list of equipment, but I won’t. What you need, my friend, is PASSION. What you need is to love photographing people, talking to them and finding out what their dreams are. You need to realise that it’s not about the pose itself, it’s about what happens IN the pose that creates the story. It’s about being competent in the technical side so you don’t miss the MOMENTS. It’s about making images, not just taking them.

I’m a wedding photographer because I’m good at all these things. When my couples see their images, they are often brought to tears of joy. When they get their albums, their faces light up. When they leave their engagement session, they laugh all the way home. I know this because they tell me these things. I know it because I’ve seen it. And THAT’S where the passion comes in. It’s not so much the photography itself that lights my fire, it’s the results. It’s the way I am able to make people feel about themselves. Making people feel amazing, confident, happy and satisfied is extremely rewarding and fulfilling to me. I’m not rich in wealth, but I’m a millionaire in my passion to make other people happy through the vision I see through my lens.

I realise what a personal choice a wedding photographer is to a bride and groom. I had to make the same choice when I got married. (All my photography friends who would even consider documenting my day were IN my wedding.) I also understand that this is a momentous day, not only for the couple, but for the generations who will look at these memories decades down the road.

The following set of images is a good summary of why I do what I do. It’s a day, it’s a story, it’s memories for a lifetime. It’s all about emotion, love, honesty and passion.

Live, Love, Laugh. I’ll take care of the memories.

Thanks to “The Photography Business, SEO and Marketing Blog”  for the inspiration to write this post.

“Samantha and Andrew were wed in Colchester, Essex on a sunny day in May, 2011. It was obvious that all in attendance were over the moon to be celebrating with this lovely couple and I, of course, was pleased as punch to be capturing the images that would document their historic event. Everything seemed absolutely perfect. From the pink bridesmaid dresses, to the lovely church- the fantastic car hire to the surprise dove release- from the fun decorated table decor to the funky cake. It all tied in and suited the couple to a “T.”

When it comes to designing an album, I don’t outsource the work. It’s become my specialty and I find it to be a very personal experience. I want the album to represent the couple and their day. Since I was there capturing the images, I feel I should be the one to convey the story. It is of the utmost importance to me that when it comes to a family heirloom, the couple should have the best choice in how they would like those memories displayed.

With over a decade of experience documenting weddings, I understand that, in the planning process, all the details can get a bit overwhelming. To help relieve the stress, I don’t make a couple choose their album before they’ve even seen the images. Hey, I haven’t seen the images! How would either of us know which album will work best? We can make those decisions later. So Sam and Andrew came by last month to go over the album choices. We needed an album that was in their budget and also would thrill them to have and to hold. They made an excellent choice!

Album case with lovely black satin ribbon

The Cameo Art Album line is the newest line that I offer. There is the choice of matte or metallic pages and several different cover materials. They decided to go with the metal cameo inset on a brushed metallic cover with metallic pages. I love the metallic prints because they really pop the colour and this wedding had lots of that! Now I didn’t leave them all on their own to make these important decisions! We had an album consultation and went over the choices so I could see what made them smile and go over the options one to one. It’s important to me because it’s important to my couples.

The final draft was approved and ready to send off to the album company for production. AND THEN…. I got an email that they were discontinuing the metallic paper! BUT WAIT… they were introducing an even better paper that was so similar in look that it just had to be done. Here’s how they described it:

“NEW PAPER TYPE – GLOSSY PEARL
We are proud to introduce a new paper type – Glossy Pearl! This is a high quality, glossy printing paper with a distinctive pearl-like appearance. Together with a high gloss coating, it will enhance the natural colors on the image, making it pop out more. Since it’s similar to metallic prints, but without the static and fingerprint issues, the new Glossy Pearl is replacing the metallic options from now on.”

And we love it:)

Album cover and spine

Binding allows the pages to lay flat

One of our favorite pages

It FEELS like you're inside the church, doesn't it?

The cake was lush!

]]> http://www.faithstonephotography.co.uk/2012/01/a-beautiful-colchester-wedding-with-an-album-to-match/feed/ 0 http://www.faithstonephotography.co.uk/2012/01/how-im-nothing-like-a-used-car-salesman-and-as-an-essex-wedding-and-portrait-photographer-proud-of-it/ http://www.faithstonephotography.co.uk/2012/01/how-im-nothing-like-a-used-car-salesman-and-as-an-essex-wedding-and-portrait-photographer-proud-of-it/#comments Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:08:40 +0000 faith http://www.faithstonephotography.co.uk/?p=240

My husband and I  have now been living in England for about 6 years. The car I got when we moved here is a Mercedes A class. It was perfect for me! Lord knows, it’s not an easy task to drive in this country (coming from the land of big roads, USA), let alone getting a license to do it legally- and I wanted to do both! The Mercedes offered me a small car with a good amount of cargo space, a manual transmission (‘Cuz I’m known for speeding too much in an automatic) and the knowledge that Mercedes makes a solid, safe car. It wasn’t a particularly emotional choice, it was more about getting what I needed within our price range.

I’m feeling more confident now, and my needs have changed. I’m ready for a bigger car and have duly noted warnings on Facebook) and Twitter (@FaithSPhoto) that this may be a little scary at first for other drivers around me! But with experience comes confidence, and I’m now both.

So off to a Vauxhall dealer to test drive the Zafira. I decided on this car primarily for its cargo space and its price tag. I know I won’t get the warmer, fuzzy feeling of a Mercedes, or even the nice ride of it. But its going to suit my current needs. I’m making a compromise, thinking that I’m not likely to have this car for more than 5 years. It’s not the memories of a lifetime like my wedding photographer choice was. It is, however, the best I can get for what I need and the money that I have to spend.

Simple Analysis:

I want to buy a car. The dealer wants to sell a car. We’re a perfect match, right?

Well, maybe not. And here’s why:

The whole thing started out pretty good, with only a few glitches. I got my Mercedes valeted and it was looking pretty good. Except they shampooed the heck out of the interior and I got home to find my electric windows wouldn’t work and the stereo no longer came on. After checking all the fuses, we decided to put in in the garage to save it from the rain (no easy feat in itself!) and stick a space heater in it. After several nail biting hours, our patience paid off. After much research on dealers, we drove the spanking clean car almost 2 hours away on January 2nd with full intentions of kissing it goodbye and driving home in our new Zafira. (Well, used, that is.)

The salesman greeted us and we told him what we wanted and he showed us what he had that matched our needs. He listened to us and didn’t try to sell us something we didn’t want. We went for a test drive and I probably scared the heebee jeebee’s out of him, trying to work out the friction zone on the clutch. While we were gone, the “manager” worked up an offer on the Mercedes for trade in. When we returned, the salesman then went in to “salesman” mode, stopped being our friend, and most sadly, stopped LISTENING! He began by saying that he had to go through some extras with us because that was “his job.” Ok. We get it. This isn’t our first car purchase, after all. So he prattled on. I just sat and listened, occasionally checking my husband’s demeanor for clues to his opinion and thinking how this approach would never work in my industry. We didn’t want most of what he described, but said we might consider one or two options, but not until we heard the bottom line on the car price. We did make it clear that we were NOT interested in something called “Gap Insurance.” My husband researched this when he bought his last used car and was of the opinion that it didn’t make sense on a used car, only a new car. He was gentle, but firm on the point.

We got the bottom line and wanted to haggle a bit, because, well the price wasn’t right and that’s what Americans do when we buy a car! We explained that we thought we should get more for our trade in as it was well looked after and had just been serviced. Then the guy starts MAKING THINGS UP! Well, he says, we would have to do XYZ to that car before we could put it on the lot, yada yada yada. Huh? They’re a Vauxhall dealer! They’re just going to take that car to auction! Don’t be silly! They aren’t going to do a darn thing with that car, certainly aren’t going to put it on their lot, and will just resell it elsewhere at a profit. Duh!… Now I’m insulted and a little edgy. I’m certainly not feeling like I want to buy a car from this guy, no matter what the price. We decide to take a breather…..

My husband and I go outside to look at a few more things on the car and have a chat. In the meantime, the salesman has a word with his “manager.” And do you know what he comes back with? Yep- a new offer on the Gap Insurance. Seriously? And he keeps on talking.

I haven’t said much up to this point, but all the time I’m thinking to myself, would I use these same techniques in my business? Would I get any work as a photographer if I acted like a used car salesman? Do these guys have any idea that for decades people have joked and stereotyped used car salesmen? Are they concerned at all about breaking the mold and selling cars some other way? Yeesh.

Then I spoke: “You can keep talking about the Gap Insurance, but we’re not interested.”

Yep, quiet, nice girl time was over! Why my husband seemed slightly surprised, I’m not sure. We’ve been married for over 7 years. The salesman, however, seemed a bit offended and got a little touchy. Hmph. Now he knows how I feel.

Then we realised it was a holiday and we couldn’t drive the car off the lot that day whether we decided to purchase it or not. Now there was no decision to be made. It would all have to wait. We left. And that’s definitely not something a used car salesman should want. He didn’t seem to mind, however, and made no attempt to work a different deal.

I could never be a used car salesman. I care about my clients and even my prospective clients. Other than the fact that a car is a product purchased and photography is usually both a service AND a product, there are many similarities in the buying process.

1.) You need a photographer. I can fulfill your needs.

2.) You have a budget. I have several options in different budget ranges.

3.) You may want certain products included from the start or you may want to get them later. You have this option with Faith Stone Photography.

4.) You are planning an amazing day and want amazing images to compliment it. You want vibrant, romantic images, you want to have fun and you want it all from an experienced and educated photographer who will deliver a remarkable experience. Ok. We’re still on the same page!

5.) Photography is one of the priorities on your list, you want a lasting keepsake from the day and you want a photographer who will listen to what YOU want. Hurray! We might very well be a match.

Now, on the other hand, if you:

1.) Don’t much value photography

2.) Really just want the cheapest deal

3.) Don’t care how long the photographer has been in business or even knows what they are doing

4.) Want all day coverage but don’t have the appropriate budget and

5.) Are happy with cheap looking results from a cheap photographer,

Then I’m not at all the right photographer for you! Believe me, there are plenty of second income amateurs out there that can fulfill your requirements.

What I do promise is that I will listen to you every step of the way. As a professional who has been in business for over a decade, I will also offer helpful advice and suggestions. I won’t try to sell you something that you don’t want and I’ll always strive to be respectful and professional as well as provide you with a fun, relaxing and memorable experience.

As for the Zafira? We’ll keep looking. I’m thinking about a Mazda 5 now. I don’t mind going all the way to Ireland if I have to, to find the right car at the right price from the right salesman.

Follow this link to order your frame online, but hurry, there is limited stock! If you’d like to avoid shipping charges, just print your cart, email me your order and post a cheque. I’ll contact you for a collection time. If you’d like your frames shipped, just compete your order via Paypal and shipping charges will be included. You may also notice that we have limited time special prices when you order through the website!

http://www.faithstonephotography.com/view-event.php?event=85

Just in time for Christmas, you can now get a lovely, original, Organic Bloom frame for a very special price. We have several in stock to choose from, but if the colour, size or style you want isn’t here, order by 20 November 2011 and have it just in time for Christmas! But hurry, this offer ends 19 November and all orders will be placed on 20 November. Can’t decide or don’t know what would suit the decor of the one you’d like to gift a frame to? Then just get a Gift Voucher and let them choose! Contact me for further details:)

Check out what we’ve got in stock as of today:

14×14″ Twin Double June: Blush with brown glaze on Parchment

Regular Price: £374.40 VAT inclusive. Now 20% off at £299.52!

Organic Bloom "June" Twin Double

10×15″ Twin Double Cary Grant: Black on Slate Sky with brown glaze

Regular Price: £289.80 VAT inclusive. Now 20% off at £231.84!

Organic Bloom "Cary Grant" Twin Double

8×12″ Single MaryAnn: Retro Teal and Single Lucy: Tangy Taffy with gold glaze

Regular Prices: MaryAnn £115.68 and Lucy £138.60 VAT inclusive. Now 20% off at £92.54 and £110.88!

Organic Bloom "MaryAnn" Single

Organic Bloom "Lucy" Single

5×7″ Single Lucy: Bahama Blue

Regular Price £91.80 VAT inclusive. Now 20% off at £73.44!

Organic Bloom "Lucy" Single

5×5″ Single Eva: French Vanilla or Purple People Eater

Regular Price £82.14 VAT inclusive. Now 20% off at just £65.71!

Organic Bloom "Eva" Single

Organic Bloom Single “Eva”

Yes, you heard right. We are pleased to announce that we are currently the sole UK retailer of Organic Bloom frames! Based in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, USA, this frame company was founded in May 2010 by Jason and Andrea Sooter. Needless to say, this company has gone absolutely VIRAL in the USA!! They describe their direction as “A company devoted to crafty creativity, artistically unique products, and outstanding customer satisfaction… quality frames… quality experiences.”

But can a frame really provide an “experience?” Well, not just any frame. I believe this frame can. As I’m primarily a wedding, portrait and bump photographer, I’d also like to branch out more in full fledged family photography. I’d like to provide the kind of service that a couple can rely on all their photographic needs. From your wedding, to your pregnancy, to your family, I want my clients to Live, Love and Laugh through out their lives, and let me be the one to take care of the memories.

So here you are. These beautiful frames will showcase all your lasting memories with style, grace and the ability to “WOW”  you every time you walk in to the room. The only place you can get them in the UK is through me. So you’ve just found the golden egg in this blog! Now have a look at the Organic Bloom website, pop on over to my Facebook page and my website, then contact me for more information.

Cary Grant Organic Bloom frame

June, Lucy, Mary Ann, Eva