Christina Lauder Portraits

Here are the results from my masterclass at the convention just over a week ago. During this talk I set out to show 3 different lighting techniques using just 2 lights and a white background. I sometimes use more than 2 lights but I wanted to show that good photos can be produced with the minimum of kit. For the first we used a beauty dish to light our model with a second light for the background to give us a high key result. Had I been in my studio I would have used 2 lights to light my background but for such a tight crop the one light (centralised) was clearly good enough. For the second I used a softbox (strip light) on one side with barn doors on the second light on the other side. In hindsight I wish I had a grid with me to soften the light coming from the barn doors side. Not being in my studio I didn't have all my kit to hand so had to use what was available on the day. I found the bare bulb a little too strong here. Notice how we managed to get the whi...

I've just returned from my 7th annual trip to London for the Societies Photographic Convention.  I always look forward to this event much like a child looks forward to Christmas.  And it didn't disappoint.  For the past few years we've been arriving at the start on the Tuesday to help out which also means we have the pleasure of seeing so many of the others arrive throughout the week.  Its like greeting family.  To be honest, the whole event feels a little like a family reunion.  Each year the same people return and everyone is so friendly.  I really look forward to and enjoy so much my time with them all.  This year I had the added pleasure (and hassle) of bringing my daughter.  She and the organiser's daughter, Lucy, spent the week together, mostly hanging out and partly helping out.  We went sightseeing, which mainly consisted of shopping in Hamley's.  They went swimming and they had the honour, wh...

The other day I had the pleasure of photographing my neighbour and her good friend.  I had some new backgrounds and a new lighting technique to try out so I thought I'd invite the girls around to have some fun in the studio.   And of course a couple of 15 year old girls were only to happy to play models for the afternoon.  Virtually all the elements in these photos involved things I've had in my studio for months, some for years, yet I've never taken the time to use them properly.  Over the past few weeks I've done several shoots where I have purposely stretched myself, finally taking the time to put into practice methods I've understood for ages but never actually used.  Now that I have I can't believe its taken me so long.    It feels great having new and stunning lighting techniques at my finger tips.  Its just as good as buying new kit.  In fact its better because it cost me nothing....

Shortly before Christmas I had the joy of photographing a very young little girl.  She was perhaps a little older than I would have liked but with patience we still managed to get most of the shots I was hoping for, even the lovely propped up on elbows pose which is one of my favourite poses for wee ones.  As I've said before, less than 2 weeks is ideal for this type of shoot as baby is still so sleepy.    I also got the chance to use my new prop, a bed.  I didn't though get to use the new (old) pram I recently bought from the Peterborough Antiques fair.  That will have to wait till the next shoot.  I always get the required photos first and if time and baby permit I try something for myself.  Well although we had the time, Sienna just wasn't that keen on being moved about.  She was more interested in milk and Mummy.  I was beginning to feel cruel every time we moved her.  It had me wondering if she comes back w...

I finally photographed George.  I got the idea about 4 years ago and its taken me this long to work up the courage.  George and his family moved into our village about 6 years ago and after having his daughter over for a play date with my daughter I learned that he played Rugby for both the Leicester Tigers and England.  So as my business developed naturally I thought it would be a great opportunity.  The subject was approached and George was happy to oblige but before I could commit to a date I needed to be ready with the ideas and the skill so that I didn't waste his time or my opportunity. As with many things in life, time moves so quickly and before I knew it was years since the idea was first mentioned.  My guilt over my procrastination for all things that cause me stress was not helped by the fact that I see George everyday when his daughter calls for mine for the school run.  Although I am sure its down to seeing him daily that...

Recently my good friend and fellow photographer, Lee Glasgow , and I came up with the idea that we should get together regularly to help each other out, share knowledge, and inspire each other.  So for our first date he suggested a walk to shoot some landscapes.  The plan was Derby but as heavy fog had set in and the general atmosphere was rather grey we decided it could end up being a waste if we spent all that time travelling for nothing but dull grey weather.  So the more local Bradgate Park became the destination of choice.  It turned out to be absolutely perfect.  By the time we arrived the fog had lifting leaving stunningly beautiful frost everywhere.  We even had glimpses of blue sky initially, all renewing my love of landscape photography, something I've not taken much notice of in years. And from this trip I managed to produce 4 images I just love, the one below being one I plan on enlarging and framing for my home.  Now...