Day 29 - Launch Party

I picked up the invites for my launch party today. My friend Mark put this together for me at the weekend and we were trying to work out how to get them printed. I then thought that it'd be great to get them printed as 7x5 photos..pretty apt as I'm a photographer! (also cheaper than buying print paper and cartridges!). We now have invites to hand out to people and hopefully this will mean there will be a real mix of friends and business contacts to get a taste of Sesame and Serendipity. I'm getting quite excited about it all and am looking forward to seeing some of my photos enlarged and up on the walls around the bar.

My sister has also designed a flyer for me which I have just sent off to get printed so it feels like it's all coming together.

2008 - The year of Serendipity!

Day 28 - Bike Tricks

I've spent the day trying to sort out flyers and photos to have printed for the launch party I am having for my new business in a couple of weeks time. I love this new stage in my life but there are times when it's quite hard doing all the decision making on your own, especially when you're used to working with a team of others. My sister is being a star and giving me advice with her "event manager's" hat on! She's planned out a flyer for me given me some pointers so I feel that that's sorted...I just need to choose about 10 photos to have enlarged to go on the wall for my launch and I'm finding that really hard!

Anyway, to have a break I took a walk down to Millhouses Park for some fresh air and also to see if I could get my shot of the day. In my mind I was thinking of the skate park and there were a couple of lads down there who were quite happy to do some tricks for me when I said I was a photographer! One of the lads took one look at my camera and said, "I used to have one of them"..my thought was "don't think so love...this costs a fortune!!" He then went off and was quite happy to flick, flip and contort his bike for some "action" shots! I really liked this one as you get the idea of speed with the background all blurred. This was just the break I needed to get my head sorted and back home to do more work.

Day 27 - Woodseats

I had quite a busy day today so was trying to think what to take for my photo of the day. I went out to Ringinglow to meet a couple who have asked me to take the photos at their wedding in May. I met them at the Norfolk Arm's Hotel where they are getting married so it was good to get an idea of the place and have a drink with the couple so they feel relaxed with me.

On my way home I was driving up Woodseats Road, which I do all the time and thought this would be a great shot..typical northern street. I love the lines of the chimneys and the cars. Not a particuarly spectacular photo but I guess with taking a photo a day there are going to be many more days like this!

Day 26 - Castleton

Today was a really blustery, overcast day but it wasn't raining so I got all wrapped up and went out to join the walking group for a walk/social in Castelton. We all met at the visitors' centre and then went for a walk up behind Peveril Castle and round along the ridge to Mam Tor and back down into Castleton. The majority of the group went round the base of Mam Tor but about 8 of us went up and over the top...I have never known it to be so windy. I was struggling to stay on my feet as the wind was pushing us sideways. At the top people were holding onto the trig point to get photos because you couldn't stand on your own! I later heard that a 10 year old kid had been knocked unconcious as the wind had knocked him from the top of Mam Tor on Sunday and he had fallen 30 ft! He has a broken elbow but is OK.
When we got back to Castleton we went to the pub and then had a visit to one of the Caverns...the Devil's Arse! This photo is taken as we walked into the entrance of the cave, quite impressive.

Day 25 - Sheffield Life

Today has been great! I have been out and about doing what I love and I couldn't ask for more! I had an appointment this morning in Sheffield and so I decided to take my camera with me and spend the afternoon wandering around capturing life. I took so many photos that I actually had difficulty choosing my shot for the day! I had some really lovely coversations with loads of people and got to take some good photos which I hope I can use for my Serendipity launch party which is in a couple of weeks.

The Barber's Shop photo was a real Serendipity moment for me. I had got on a bus to come home but there was something wrong with the traffic and we were stuck in a queue going no where so I decided to get off and walk. As I was wandering up London Road this little shop caught my eye; the red chairs, sweeny todd character and the hair on the floor - I loved it! I walked past and then doubled back to ask the owners if they would mind if I took a photo! I think they were quite shocked that I had asked and wanted to tidy up first but I asked them to leave it as I loved the feel this had of a busy shop but without the people. I think I'll get a copy of this photo done and go and give to them as a thank you!

The 2nd photo was taken in Cafe Nero near the Peace Gardens. I decided to stop for a drink and was playing around with my camera. I didn't want to be too obvious taking photos but I loved the line these chairs made with the people in them. Normally I would hate the way the light made the back ground over exposed but here I love it and was really chuffed with the shot!

For some of the other shots I took of an artist I got talking to and 4 friends visiting Sheffield you can check them out on my flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/katysnaps

Day 24 - My Penthouse

Today was a really busy day that I only just caught the sunset as it was disappearing! We finally had a sunshine day after what has seemed weeks of rain so it was lovely to be up on my balcony and watch the sun set. It was really cold but I love it when it's cold and it feels like we're heading towards spring and soon I'll be able to enjoy my balcony again! It's one of the places I feel most peaceful and when the sun is shining it feels like I am on holiday because all I can see is trees and hills....perfect penthouse apartment.

Part of the reason I have been busy today is that I have been finishing the album for my client who came to pick it up this evening. She loved it and it was so lovely to see her reaction when she looked through the album. I feel like this is really happening for me and can't wait to do more photography for people.

Life is good...I live in a gorgeous penthouse apartment, have wonderful family and friends and am doing a job I am really passionate about! All I need to do now is have Robbie Williams. Keither Sutherland or Craig Doyle to come into my life and it'll be perfect! ; )

Day 23 - My first Serendipity Album

Tomorrow one of my Serendipity Clients is coming to collect an album of photos which I took at her parents' Golden Wedding Anniversary. This will be the first official album I have completed and I am really pleased with it, I hope they are!

When I started my business I wanted to use local suppliers as much as possible because I really believe in supporting local people. I found this lady who is a book binder and based in Sheffield, she was recommended by a friend so I have used her for this album. The great thing about these albums is that they are all customised for each client. This album is for a Golden Wedding Anniversary so I chose the gold paper and ribbon which I hope will set the photos off really well and be something they can cherish for a long time to come.

Today I also met with a potential client about her wedding in May, we met over lunch so I could show her some of my work and talk about what she is wanting for her wedding. It was a really lovely meeting and if this is the sign of things to come then I'm really excited about 2008!