My First Few Weeks!

So I've been in my new studio for just over a month now and I'm loving it!!!  I've been mega busy with family shoots and also taken a couple of wedding bookings from the extra exposure the shop front has given me!  It makes me smile when py pictures make other people smile!

I've started to quiet down a bit now so it's time to put up a few shots of the new place and a couple of pics from my first few weeks.

Does it Really Cost £250 to Put Some Photos on a Disc?

What I'm referring to here is digital copies of photos from a studio sitting. And no, it doesn't cost £250 to put photos on a disc. So why do I charge £250 for your photos on a disc?

Ultimately, I have to make a profit… Many people think digital copies are a cheap way of getting lots of prints. Get the disc, take it to Tesco and get dozens of prints for all the family for pennies. Well yes. That would be great. But I don't make anything from it. What I really want is for you to buy all those prints from me. And some frames. And maybe a canvass or 2!

But I understand that people might not want to do that. You're likely to get between 30 and 50 photos if you buy a disc. If you bought the prints from me that would cost you at least £450. And that's just for 7x5"! So what I'm basically doing is compensating myself for the prints you don't get from me. For that many photos £250 is a bargain really!

Thou Shalt Not Steal

Please don't nick my pictures!!

This is a very polite plea for you not to use my images on your own websites without my permission or a credit. And that includes Facebook!

Legally, the photos I take belong to me. If I sell you a picture you own that copy of the picture. You aren't (legally) allowed to copy it in any way. Similarly if I put a photo on my website, that picture belongs to me. You are not allowed to copy that picture from my site. You are definitely not allowed to save it, print it or stick it on Facebook as your own! If you do I am within my rights to claim compensation from you.

OK, that's the legal position. I'm not quite that militant in practice. If I really didn't want people to take my photos from my site I could protect them. What I actually do is watermark them in the certain knowledge that some people will put them on Facebook giving me a free advert to all their friends!

So basically what I'm saying is - if you really must pinch my images and put them on Facebook, just tell people who took them!

Ta then!

New Studio - At Last…

So it's finally finished and open! I'm half way through my first week and it's going very well. I had a busy week last week photographing and editing and this week is just the same! The weekends are busy as well…

It's fantastic to be back in the studio at last. It's been 9 months since my last studio shoot! I was a bit worried I would have forgotten how to do it… But they have all gone really well so far. I actually think the shots I've taken this week are some of the best I've ever taken. I think having some time off has given me a chance to come up with new ideas and editing methods. Hopefully some of the parents will let me put a few up on my Facebook page… Have a look and see if they have!

Although I've only just reopened it's nearly time to stop for Christmas! To guarantee Christmas delivery the shoot needs to be done by the end of November. So in a couple of weeks it'll be all about the vouchers!

Thanks to everyone for their support so far. It has really helped get me up and running again. I won't name them - you know who you are!

New Studio - Time to Decorate!

OK.  So I wanted to write an update on this every couple of nights with a progress report.  But I've been so busy I just haven't had time!

Over the last 2 and a half weeks me and my dad have been putting in 8 to 12 hour days 7 days a week to get it all sorted.  And we're finally nearly there!  All the building and joinery work is done and most of the painting.  Just a few bits of skirting board to finish off, a bit of wallpaper then it's just the dressing to do.

That might be the hard bit though...  I think I might rearrange my pictures and furniture a few times before I'm happy but I WILL be ready to open on Monday 7th November.  Although that's my birthday so I might leave it until Tuesday...

New Studio - Let's Build!

So I'm in and started moving on the renovation!  So far I have:

• Stripped a load of wallpaper
• Knocked a hole in a wall for a door
• Removed a door and blocked up that hole
• Knocked another hole through for a changing room
• Got a massive delivery of wood for more walls
• And made a start on some stud work!

I say 'I'.  I've had a lot of help...  If I overuse 'I' please replace it in your head with 'we'.


I'll be getting some signs soon as well.  Keep an eye out as you're passing!

New Studio - Episode IV : A New Hope

A long time ago in a solicitor's not that far away I started the process of renting a commercial property. 3 solicitors, an estate agent and a bank all got involved and 5 months later we've finally completed!

Well it's about bloody time frankly!  At last I have my keys and can now make a start on the renovations, decorations and preparations.

Thankfully there isn't much to do. Some new signs, a couple of new walls and doors and a bit of a window display should just about do it! And obviously a bit of tidying and decoration just to make it look as stunning in real life as it does in my head...

With a bit of luck I'll be open for business by late October. Just in time for the Christmas rush! A bit late to start advertising really but I was a bit nervous to start shouting too loud until I actually had my keys.  I now need to contact my list of interested people and cross my fingers they haven't found somewhere else to go or just lost interest!

I'll be having a big push on vouchers as well in December for anyone stuck for gift ideas!

Right.  Off to strip some wallpaper!