So, enter Jerry,  very adorable and lively Collie cross (with what, we’re not sure, but I’m thinking Lab) … absolutely adorable, don’t you think?

Pet Portrait Photographer

I have been deserting you, I know.  Now, I have a million excuses, I really do, but the long and short of it is, I breathed life into you then left you abandoned, alone and empty (ok, bit of drama never hurt anyone).

I will totally make this up to you.  This summer was manic, in a great way.  I have had the pleasure of shooting some amazing people, whether at their wedding, their engagement session, with their families, the odd commercial shoot (not so keen on those, to be honest) … the list is endless … what’s that I hear you say?  You wouldn’t know cos you’ve not seen them?  I know, I know … they’re coming, I’m sorry.

So what HAVE I been up to … well, apart from the above mentioned shooting spree (that always sounds a bit wrong, doesn’t it?) I’ve been managing a house project that was in planning for a few years (boy, they don’t warn you how much of your time THAT will suck !!) and, well, I’ve had a bit of a medical drama these last few weeks … nothing that can happen again (you really do only have 1 set of appendix) but oh my goodness, knocked me sideways that one !  Then it was that annual event called “Birthday” … trying to ignore those these days … Oh and the annual trip to the National Wedding Show, 4 days of intensity, fun and meeting new people.

Apart from that, I have no excuse.  MUST.TRY.HARDER.  And I will … I’ll feed you soon, I promise.

Thanks for hanging around and staying alive !!

Your photographer, Gill x

AND TO MY AVID READERS … thank for hanging in there … I’ll make it up to you !!

I’ll stop blethering and let you see some photos …

Like them?  Well, I can do this for you and your family too … give me a shout !

Stafford portrait photographer

I popped over to Becky’s last week and she rather sheepishly pulled out the school photos that George had brought home … well, all I can say is … actually, my Mother told me “if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all” … moving on.

I told Becky to bring George over to see me in his school uniform so that I could take a few shots of him that mum and dad would treasure, rather than cringe at, to record this time of his school life.  It’s so important to remember what they looked like at every age, every stage in their life, so I was happy to oblige.  So, after a play on the iPad (he got a little addicted to a block game LOL) I managed to get him all comfy and took some portraits.

These are my favourites … I hope you like them as much as I do.

Stafford Portrait Photographer

I have been following baby Haydn since he was a week old … he is the gorgeous son of my friends Paul and Cassandra (Paul is a photographer who has worked with me a lot over the last 3 years or so) … Haydn is growing up at an alarming rate, now a bouncy 9 months old and ready to get walking any day soon!  I simply can’t believe where the time has gone.

As always, it was great to have all the guys stay up with us, we got to chill, I had Paul come on a shoot with me on Saturday morning, then we all stayed on at Shugborough Hall, had lunch, had a good old mooch around (Haydn particularly liked all the animals) then topped it off with a family shoot for them as part of Haydn’s Year In The Life series.

This one image stood out immediately … there is a beautiful old stone structure in the grounds, orange washed walls on the inside that look a little grungy, a particular favourite of mine.  We plonked Haydn on his own, with dad not too far away, just in case, but I wanted to isolate him and show how adorable he is … of course, this was helped by his totally cool outfit !!

So, here he is … cutey patooty !!!

Baby portrait photographer

What can I say … I have been neglecting my poor blog … it’s sitting here, looking at me, with a petted lip, crying out for some content, for some photos, anything, ANYTHING to make it feel wanted, alive.

Truth be told, I just didn’t see this coming.  I thought “no worries, I can do this and run a business and pop on my cape and update the blog and all that stuff along with project managing a major home renovation”.  Boy, was I completely wrong.

Our dream started almost 3 years ago.   Whilst we love our home (finally, after moving 10 times in 10 years, we found a home we were happy with) we always felt that the architect who designed the downstairs, in relation to the upstairs, must have been on meds … or must have forgotten to take them !  For us, and for many others I suspect, it’s important to be living in a home that really works for you, for your family … and for me, for my work life, as this is where I run my business.  I am fortunate to have the layout I have, the front of my home is dedicated to seeing clients  in the viewing room, filled with lovely framed prints, canvases, box frames, albums, with no need to intrude on the family end of the house, at the back.

However, up until 2 weeks ago, this was a warren of small rooms back there, each with no particularly useful function, time to change that.  So, around 3 years ago, we started thinking about knocking down walls, making the space really big and lovely to live in.  Then we thought, why don’t we just move, and now we’re back to where we are after a disastrous house hunting few months (there was just nothing out there, you know?).

So, 3 weeks ago we started in earnest.  We got our contractor lined up, along with a bunch of other trades … and so it began.

Now I knew it would be tough.  I was warned.  No problemo, it will be cool, thought I.  As I sit here, in the only room in the house not COMPLETELY covered in dust and filled with stuff (my office) I will say this … if I could have afforded to move out while all this was going on, I would have.  No amount of warnings prepared me for this.  No amount.  None.

So, why have I decided to blog about this?  A few reasons … one is to let my lovely clients know that I am working 24/7 to ensure I am on top of the business as well as managing a massive project … you guys are so important to me, I am working longer hours for this short time in order to keep you guys happy !  Yay.  The other is to move onto this subject …

BUDGETING …

I wanted to post this as a piece of advice for any bride and groom budgeting for their big day.

When I set out on my project I pulled out a spreadsheet and started writing out all the things I would need for my new home remodel.  To give you a better idea, we are knocking through a dining room, a study and a kitchen to make a large kitchen, dining, living space.  Bearing in mind we have been planning for this (and saving for this) for 3 years, I thought I would find this pretty straight forward.  I pulled the budget together in what I thought was a pretty realistic manner.  I very swiftly realised that some things would need to take priority over others … and I guess that’s the case with ANY budget, including a wedding …

For me, there was the actual building work (let’s say that’s the venue and food), followed by the kitchen (the next most important thing) … now, this will differ from person to person and couple to couple but, honestly, every single one of my clients will tell you that the photography is up there, it’s one of their top priorities.  It may differ for you, it may be in third or fourth place, say after the dress or the cars … wherever you place these things, you need to realise that some things will be placed in higher ranking than others.  And here is where the bulk of my budget went … after that was a juggling match, weeks and weeks of researching products and prices, retail versus wholesale … there were some items I refused to budge on, those things that would need to stand a battering (cooker for example) and those things that were more cosmetic than functional … I guess the point is, I GET how hard it is to budget for a wedding … I can RELATE to it, first hand at the moment.

And of course, I will be completely and utterly biased to photography as an extremely important part of that budget.  The old cliche springs to mind … it’s all you’re left with once everything else is gone … so make sure your photographer fits well with you and your vision, that you are left with a gorgeous product that will be with you and your children for a lifetime.

I guess I should hit this home with some photos … warning, not for the faint hearted LOL

If any of you are on my Facebook, check in to see the progress … in the meantime, I’m here, I’m working through it all, you’re all keeping me sane hahaha

This year has been absolutely amazing for me (ok, most of it LOL), so much has happened and I really can’t believe it’s about to end … where DOES time go, exactly !!!

And, yes, I still have loads and loads to blog … coming soon I promise … there’s the Rome wedding, the Ireland weddings, all the weddings from October to December and a few portrait shoots as well.

Have fun tonight, whatever you are doing, thank you all for allowing me to be a part of your lives in 2010 … I look forward to doing it all again in 2011 !

Gill

We got Millie at 4 months old, mostly because I really didn’t have time to go through the very early training stages again with another dog, the time of year was just too busy for me … but also because when we read about her plight we just had to go and see if she was a good fit for us.  Her previous owners had a change of work situation which meant that she was left all day by herself.  Knowing Millie as we now do, this must have been tough for her, as she hates being left alone for ANY length of time.  We knew we had to have her when she bounded over and threw her front paws around our necks and licked us to death.

Tess has grown to love her too, this is evident by the fact that she hates being apart from her, scratching on the kitchen door after a short space of time to get back in to see Millie, by the fact that when we give Tess a ball, she throws it to Millie in an attempt to get her to play (Millie usually just runs off, poor Tess) … don’t get me wrong, it’s not all bliss and harmony, there are grumpy moments too, but we wouldn’t be without her now.  John quipped the other day how it feels like she has been with us forever.

So, Millie my love, my cuddly little puppy, have a wonderful first birthday and many many more to come … Love, Mummy and Daddy xxx

I have been neglecting the blog and, to be honest, my business, for a couple of weeks now.  For sure, this is a crazy time of year for all business owners and for photography business owners it is manic.  There are album and framing company deadlines to adhere to, clients ordering precious photos in time for Christmas and, for me and many others, Christmas weddings and portrait shoots.  The last thing we need, therefore, is any downtime.

Last Sunday, I had a lovely meal out with some local photographers, we chatted, we drank, ate, the usual.  It was fun, everything was fine.  The next day, having not over-indulged, I had my annual eye test and as I had to have my eyes dilated, I got a cab into town.  I decided to walk home but halfway decided it was way too cold and icy underfoot, so I stopped at a bus stop … anyone who truly knows me will now be picking their jaws off the floor … Gill took a BUS ! LOL

On that 20 minute ride home, I managed to pick up the airborne Norovirus, easy to pick up, especially with someone who’s immune system isn’t always the best.

And so we come to Tuesday morning.  I awoke with nausea, so I decided to sleep it off.  No such luck.  I vomited constantly for the next 28 hours.  Straight.  Every 20-40 minutes, again and again and again.  I couldn’t THINK about food, I couldn’t hold down water.  I was dehydrated beyond belief but no sooner did I try to get fluids IN, out they came.  It was hell on earth.

To complicate matters, I have type 1 diabetes.  With any “normal” person, the Norovirus will be painful, awful but will last a couple of days and hey presto, back to normal.  With any severe illness, a diabetic’s body will suddenly become intolerant to insulin.  This is a major problem, as you can imagine.

I finally called for help on Wednesday morning and was rushed into hospital.  I was immediately placed on drips with saline for severe dehydration, potassium replacement and insulin, before being admitted for 2 nights and monitored constantly.  Turns out the virus had led to Acute Ketoacidosis, a very dangerous condition.

The staff, doctors, nurses, were all wonderful.  One of the most positive things was that I got MOT’d at the same time … ECG … check ! … Chest X-Ray? … check! (that latter was to check on my lungs … did you know that prolonged shallow breathing can lead to a build up of crap in your lower lungs which can lead to pneumonia … yes, really). I was well looked after and was out after 2 nights.  Of course, I second guessed myself at every stage.  Did I do something wrong?  Something different?  Could I have prevented it?

I had my follow up appointment with my consultant today.  He confirmed the virus, alleviated my fears that this was something I could have avoided, as he put it “you got unlucky”.  He started to build my confidence in myself and my control of my condition, something that this whole episode knocked for six.

So, what now.  Well, I am on the mend more and more every day.  I tire easily, but honestly that’s a side affect I am willing to work around and live with.  I had to cancel a couple of portrait sessions which were scheduled days after I got out, mainly because I had so many blown veins I couldn’t be confident I would be able to hold a camera for any length of time.  I have very understanding and caring clients.  Thank you all.

I do, however, have 5 weddings scheduled between now and the end of the year and I am so excited to be shooting them.  I am feeling fit, up for them and cannot wait to get there and get shooting !  I would like to thank John (aka hubster) who is helping me on Sunday, Sara for Monday, Steve for Wednesday and Matt for the last 2 of the year … in advance I already know your assistance is going to make the difference for me and for my clients.  Thank you.

So, if you’ve made it this far, thanks for listening.  Thanks for everyone who sent me messages on email, text and Facebook … you have no idea how much it was all appreciated.  It got me through a horrific time.  Thank you.

One final thought … take care out there, stay healthy, take vitamins, pace your workload, whatever it takes, take care.

And if I forget to tell you later … Happy Christmas to you all xx

John and I have been thinking for a while about adding to our menagerie of pets … we have 2 7-year-old cats (brothers), Tom and Tig and of course Tess, our almost-2-year-old beagle. So we started looking around at puppies over the last week or so. To be perfectly honest, I just couldn’t see myself going through the pain of training a tiny wee thing again (we got Tess at 7 weeks and man it was tough going !) and, rather selfishly, having just redecorated the conservatory where we live in summer, I just couldn’t be bothered with another ruined carpet LOL. I also wanted to see if there was something a little older who needed a good home (puppies sell quickly, older dogs not so much).

So we widened the net a little bit and found a 4-month-old tri-colour beagle not far from us in Coventry (about an hour away). She looked so similar to Tess in many ways and the cuteness oozed through at us. Her owners had a change of circumstances which meant she would be alone all day, not idea for such a boisterous breed. After an initial couple of phone calls, we headed off, with Tess along for the ride, to see her on Saturday.

We were hooked ! She is the most adorable little thing and Tess took to her immediately. Of course, since coming back with us there have been many tussles over who is “the boss” but I think that will settle down … ok, I am PRAYING that will settle down.

And so here she is … our adorable new puppy called Millie … go on, you know you want to … everybody say awwwwwwwwwww …