Sunday was the last day (we thought then) of the holidays so we decided to head to the fabulous wonderland at Stockeld Park near Wetherby for our final festive flourish. We arrived just as the sun was setting and although it was bitterly cold, it was a great evening with snow to boot. I took my camera to get a few more wintry shots while I had the chance and had to resort to experimenting with the failing light as I didn’t want to use my flash and draw attention to myself. Little did I know that there was really no need to try so hard since the children have been off school today after just one day back and we are practically snowed in! I didn’t take my camera sledging today as it was still snowing so hard when we went all I thought I’d see was blizzard. But it looks like I may still have tomorrow…
Here are a couple of quick highlights from Stockeld Park, even including a landscape! Clearly the photography experimentation should stop before I go completely nuts. More light soon please!
Jasper was deemed too young to ski in the treacherous conditions so he and I had to walk round the enchanted forest while Karl and the girls made fools of themselves falling over every few seconds.
Off they go, not realising that the peril was themselves…
I was testing my boundaries big time with this one! I wanted some movement as Maisie was skating but it still had to clearly be her. A bit of panning round trying to follow her erratic course and I got her:
It’s exactly a year since Susie Lawrence Photography was launched with a party. What a party that was and what a year it’s been. I have been so busy and so happy and even though I knew I wanted to do this, I had no idea how successful it would really be. I have been so lucky to have met the most fantastic friendly group of photographers who have helped and encouraged me every step of the way. And my clients have without exception, been great to work with and very appreciative of what I do, making my job easy and fun. When I say easy though, I don’t mean ‘easy’ easy! I mean easy in that I really want to do it well and have learnt so much and done everything in my power to make sure I do a good job. I have worked sooooo hard! So I give myself a small pat on the back (and a mincepie) 
I also know there’s still a lot to learn and new things to try and I can’t wait!
What better way to celebrate than to remember who I’m doing it all for in my heart of hearts. Obviously I love my job now and do it for selfish reasons, but these three and Karl, are what my real life is all about. Today we finally got a Christmas tree and Sasha, Maisie and Jasper decorated it as soon as they came home from school. It was quite magical with the sprinkling of snow outside. I’ve processed the shots to be a bit ‘vintage’ as that was how it felt in our living room – one of those moments that goes straight into memory as especially Christmassy.
A big thank you to everyone who has been involved with Susie Lawrence Photography as it’s grown up and flourished this year – clients, friends, family, fellow photographers and suppliers. It’s been amazing and I’m so excited about 2010. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and I hope you have a great 2010 too. xxx
Taking a moment out to check if it’s still snowing outside. It’s not very in focus but I love this shot. (by the way, dear Santa, I would like a D700 for Christmas – it would improve my photography no end in low light like today – just a thought). You can see the snow on the hedge outside the window. So festive!
I ordered the turkey this morning and I’m starting to feel very festive. I also finalised plans for the photographers’ Christmas party a bunch of us are having. We mostly work on our own or as two-person teams and everybody was craving an office party – and that’s what we’re going to get, complete with secret santa, full Christmas dinner, tacky 80s disco, the works – can’t wait!
It would be great to do a few more portraits in the next few weeks. It’s always a bit quiet at this time of year as people are getting ready for the holiday and the light’s not as, well light, as it is at other times of year. But there’s something special and magical about wintry images, especially if they’ve got a bit of a Christmas vibe – sometimes it’s a rare chance to get the group of people together that you’d like to be involved. I’ve got a few dates still available in December so let me know if you’d like to me photograph your family – it’s not too late to do something as a gift if you’re quick or if you’re not quite quick enough, I can provide lovely gift vouchers.
This is Leo posing for some Christmas card images for a bit of inspiration. What a pudding!:
Suzie has launched a fabulous new baby massage class in Leeds called Jelly Babies.
As well as providing mums with the chance to learn how to massage their babies with a friendly fun and qualified instructor, it gives them an opportunity to meet other mums and have a lovely sociable experience with their babies. At the end of the five week course everyone gets a personalised certificate with a beautiful photo of their baby taken by me! Here are some images of Suzie I’ve just taken for her marketing materials, plus a couple of example certificate photos from the last course.
And here are a couple of lovely little models from the last course, as they appear on the front of the certificate with the Jelly Babies logo (they don’t have my watermark, that’s just here for the blog):
by susie
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