Christina Lauder Portraits

So this is really becoming my thing lately. I am having so much fun working with children individually where I can direct and interact in ways that bring the best out of my subject. This has certainly become a process now of creating rather than taking photographs. And its what I have always wanted to be, a portrait artist rather than a photographer. I cannot put into words fully just how rewarding this is. For each of these shoots (as with nearly all of my shoots) we begin with a consultation where we discuss what we would like to achieve in the shoot. Here we will consider the type of clothing and any possible props. We will look at both the clients clothes and my ever growing collection so we can pick what will work best. In all circumstances we are heavily guided by what the child in the portraits wants to wear as I see this as vitally important. If he or she is uncomfortable its going to show and the portraits won't work. But most are happy to play dressups and wear a com...

I've been wanting to put something out there on this matter for sometime but I've never felt I could put into words how it makes me feel. Its a little hard to describe. On one hand my brain is telling me it shouldn't matter that much to me but the feeling in my stomach when it happens tells me something else entirely. (Pictures are just to add a little interest and break up the text - couldn't think of any images specific to copyright theft and thought I might as well include some pretty pictures as well) Well today I read a story from a friend who had a guest of a wedding client produce a canvas from a Facebook download of one of their images. When informed that this was copyright theft she couldn't care less. And this really bothered me. It sparked me into thinking its time I put out there my feelings on the matter. I want more people to know what this means and how it makes anyone who creates digital work, which is easily stolen, feel. To get to the poin...

I am the photographer selected to photograph the prom for Hastings High School this year on June 30th, 2017 at Weston Hall in Bulkington. So I thought I'd introduce myself and let you know what you can expect on the night. I like to think that as a photographer who grew up in Canada I know a little about the look and feel of prom night. Using inspiration taken from Vanity Fair, Vogue and the likes of  Annie Leibovitz and Mark Seliger, to name just a few, I will be approaching this event with the aim of providing fashion type portraits that will capture  the youthful attractiveness of the students as well as the character and atmosphere of the event.  I want the students to be wowed by their portraits and to receive something they couldn't capture themselves.  The photos I am including here are along the lines of what you can expect from your prom night portraits, although these were created in a studio environment with unlimited time. I will be using the same...

This year we thought we'd suggest full studio sessions for prom portraits. Its a common thing for girls to have hair trial days so why not take advantage of great hair and a new dress by booking in for some professional portraits. During a private session we have all the time in the world to provide a true fashion shoot experience. This will allow for outfit changes, background changes and multiple posing and compositions with some fantastic fully retouched images at the end of it all.  But don't feel this is just limited to girls. Boys are just as important as the girls and in some cases just as keen to have the fashion shoot experience. This really is a great time in a child's life to document before they head out into the real world and become fully fledged adults.  To go along with this we have a little offer as well. Our usual session fee of £75 has been reduced to £50 with the added extra of a fully retouched, mounted fine art 8x10 print. And for the first ...

There is nothing I like more than working with a young adult and making them realise they too are just as beautiful as the models that appear in magazines. Having access to a professional photographer who knows how to light and pose can make all the difference when it comes to liking yourself in pictures. In this case this young lady wasn't keen on being photographed. Its not something she particularly enjoyed and certainly didn't look forward to. In fact I had to convince her to trust me. As with so many people, she wasn't all that thrilled to have to see herself in pictures. The more I work with adults both young and not so young the more I'm finding that not many like seeing themselves in pictures. I myself being one of them. I'll admit, photographing professional models is easier. Not because they are more beautiful but because they have a skill. They know how to pose for the camera. And probably more important than that is they are comfortable in fron...

Well we are finished once again for another year. It comes and goes so quickly these days and I spend most of it both loving and fearing the experience. I'm someone who thoroughly enjoys speaking to an audience but loathes the anticipation of it all. Well thats not strictly true. I look forward to the event until just before it when the nerves take over and turn my stomach upside down. And then when its all over I want to do it all over again. I'm already thinking of ideas for next year. (If you have anything you wish to see please get in touch. New ideas are always welcome) I have to admit I was pretty impressed with the turnout for the demos on the Bowens stage. Each time I participate in one of these events I wonder just how many people will be interested in what I have to say. And each time I feel honoured and proud to see such a large audience. It was a fantastic experience and one I feel very lucky to be a part of. I asked for these images to be taken not because I l...