Cheeky chaps

I had such a lovely time photographing these two cheeky monkeys and their mum and dad when they came in to The Studio for a family portrait session recently.

Our family shoots are really relaxed and fun. There's no clock-watching, we just carry on until the little ones have had enough. We stop for drinks and biscuits or a change of outfit.

Understandably, some children are unsure at first, so we take our time to settle in. We've got some little toys to play with and we blow some bubbles. Then, once they've found their confidence, there's no stopping them.

The oldest of these brothers was jumping around and having a great time by the end of our session and showing off his model poses.

The family came back about a week later to look at the edited pictures from their shoot in colour and in black and white. A mounted 5x7 print is included in the price of the sitting, which is £20. This family decided to go for a big canvas print as well as a copyright-free CD with all their pictures on.

For me, having two girls, the 'world of boy' is totally alien. Everything in our house is pink and flowery and has some sort of fairy or butterfly on it. But these two little chaps go to prove that boys can be every bit as cute.

Call 01332 523523 for more info or to book a sitting.

Wonderful wedding!

Everything was perfect for Sarah and Paul's wedding – gorgeous flowers, a glorious sunny day and a fabulous venue.

The couple had seen our studio, in Vicarage Road, Mickleover, after we opened in November last year and booked us in to do the photography at their wedding last month at Shottle Hall, near Belper.

They wanted relaxed pictures, which captured the atmosphere of their big day, without spending hours posing for shots. They made a list beforehand of all the set-up family pictures they wanted, which was no problem at all.

My husband Steve, who did the pictures, said what a lovely wedding it was with a great atmosphere and Sarah and Paul were a brilliant couple to work with.

After the wedding, we sent them a copyright-free disc with all their pictures on it (about 700 in all!). This included a selection of the best ones in black and white and with adjustments made.

It's always nice to get feedback from our couples, and Sarah was really happy. She said: "Thanks for doing a great job at our wedding – we really appreciated your non-intrusive and relaxed style. We are really pleased with the pictures. You have done an excellent job. Thanks very much."

And Sarah's mum even popped into the studio to say how pleased her daughter had been and to have a flick through some of the pictures.

Take a look at the shots below for some inspiration if you're planning a wedding and give me a call on 01332 523523 to have a chat about your photography.

Gorgeous and glowing

I've had two babies - each more than nine pounds.

I've struggled to squeeze into toilet cubicles and had to get my husband to paint my toenails. The last thing I felt was either gorgeous or glowing.

In fact, the only pictures I have of me pregnant are when my enormous belly protruded into the frame in the background of some other family snap.

But nine months goes by in a flash (with the exception of the last two weeks) and the little darlings are on their way to school before you know it.

Having a pregnancy photoshoot at The Studio is a great way to capture that special time and make you feel fabulous.

You can reveal as much or as little as you feel comfortable with, get changed into a different outfit and stop for a chat and a coffee if you need a rest.

Whether it's your first pregnancy and you're loving it, or your last baby and you want some pictures to look back on, give me a call on 01332 523523 to have a chat.