Day 43 - 12th February - Shutterbug Giggles

This is the gorgeous baby of one of my friends. I am taking photos of him over the next year and can't wait to see how he grows up. I did a shoot with him the other week but didn't really get any of him smiling so went back for a 2nd go today. He is 3 1/2 months old and has started to really giggle. I had great fun making him laugh (although I would hate to see a video of me doing that!) and I got a few gorgeous shots of him really laughing. This, as they say, is my money shot of the shoot!

Day 42 - 11th February - Serendipity's 2nd Anniversary

2 years ago today I had a launch party to celebrate the start of my photography business. 2 years in I'm still going strong and am loving my job! I've photographed some gorgeous babies, wonderful families, stunning brides and grooms as well as taken headshots and fashion shoots. I have networked, got to know some amazing businesses and suppliers who I am now working with. I still have to pinch myself that this is happening and is successful and can't wait to see how things get bigger and better in the next few years.
I don't think you can celebrate a birthday without a cake and so my photo had to be of Serendipity's birthday cake. I added the strawberry because of course I am the "strawberry photographer".
Thanks for all of you who have supported and encouraged me in my business.

Day 41 - 10th February - The Cheesegrater

I led one of my photography training days today with 2 very willing and keen students. I spend the first part of my training day looking at the theory behind taking a photo and then after taking them out to lunch we go out to play with the cameras and put what they have learnt into practice. This afternoon we had a cold wander around Sheffield town centre working with snow showers, grey clouds, sunshine and blue skies! There are always so many photos to take when you are out looking for them. I am always on the look out for red, white and black compositions to take for a collection that I am doing. This photo is of one of Sheffield's most photographed and newest car parks which had a bright red all nearby, perfect for the sort of colours and composition I was looking for.

Day 40 - 9th February - Champagne

This is a week of celebrations as I am celebrating 2 years in business and my birthday. When my friends Kim and Lou came round for the evening I thought I'd start celebrations off early with some champagne which my parents had left for me. If I had the money I would always have a bottle of champagne in the fridge but unfortunately the odd bottle every now and then will have to suffice!

Day 39 - 8th February - Sleeping Beauties

I did a photo shoot today with a lovely family. We went up to Graves Park Animal Farm for a family outing. We had to compete with some snow showers so we took some shots in a covered shelter with some animals and then dashed outside for some shots around the farm when the snow had eased up a bit. Life would be dull if there wasn't a challenge involved!
After I had finished taking the photos of the family I went back into the covered pens and had to take this photo of some gorgeous piglets who were snuggled up together keeping warm. Beautiful.

Day 38 - 7th February - Student Night

I have been commissioned to take some shots of students so in order to get a few "bar" shots I went along to a student night that a friend of mine was involved in. I got there at about 8:30pm after going to a wedding suppliers' networking meeting so wasn't really dressed for a night out clubbing. When I got there the only few people around were the guys who were organising the evening so they became the subject of my photos. These guys had planned the whole evening as part of their degree in event management and as I was chatting to them I realised that they could have been in my year group at school when I was teaching!!! I felt old! I did hang around until about 10pm but still the evening hadn't kicked off so I went home with not as many "student" shots as I would have liked. I was told that if I hung around until about 11:30-midnight I'd get some great shots but with my parents visiting and the thought of a hot chocolate waiting for me I went home!! (I am old!)

Day 37 - 6th February - Mi-Phone

This is the 20 month old son of my friend Simon. I have taken photos of him since he was 3 weeks old, he was in fact my 2nd ever Shutterbug! He is at a very cute age, chattering away, running around, throwing himself on the floor to show his version of a somersault and hiding behind the curtains in my living room! Simon came over this morning to collect his car after coming round with other BNI colleagues of ours for a WWF (Wine, Wii and Food) evening last night. There was a lot of competitiveness and wine being drunk so taxis were the only form of transport to get people home!
Simon gave Oli his i-phone to play with whilst we were having a cup of tea and I was amazed at how easily he picked it up and started playing with one of the apps! (It was an app that had different animal sounds on it which changed every time you shook it!) The cutest thing was that he started dancing at every different sound that came out of the phone, from oinking pigs to quacking ducks! I-Phone users get younger every day!