Portrait Photography That You Will Love - Guaranteed

We speak to so many parents who would love some fab framed portraits of their children but dread the thought of a trip to a high street studio. Firstly, its "will the kids behave", quickly followed by the high cost and high pressure sales that seem to go hand in hand with most studio set ups. With high overheads the pressure is always on to make the sales.

But there is a better way. This spring we will be announcing a new portrait offer, timed for the Easter holidays (which seem to go on for ever this year - big thanks to the Royal couple!). We've been out scouting for new locations - outdoors and fun and plenty of space to run around (for the children too!) and we've got new frames and albums on order to ensure the work is beautifully presented.

If you would like to know details, do please give me a call or contact me via the Andrew Jackson Photography website.

Today I have been mostly listening to MC Hammer - U Can't Touch this!!

2011: Portraits in Bristol

All pictures copyright Andrew Jackson Photography

As part of next year's portrait relaunch, I've been looking to capture a little more emotion, more intimacy than in my work to date. These three are just a small sample of pictures from Bristol Docks with Stina & Joel. Pictures shot yesterday, all with natural light and all on location. Fab shoot - and if you would like something similar, there is still time to get a Bristol portrait shoot in the diary before Christmas - just contact me via the website.

Portrait Promotion

www.andrewjacksonphotography.co.uk

Recently, I've been really doing a lot of navel gazing (or is it naval? I'm rubbish at spelling and this is one of those moments where there really is quite a difference: one spelling suggests I spend my weekends at Portsmouth harbour, the other that I am a belly button obsessive - anyway, its the later). So, having removed all the fluff, chewing gum and the remains of last weeks hummus & avocado sandwich, I started to think about how we approach the various styles of photography. And with portraits particularly it felt that I was shooting in much the same way as two / three years ago. So, I've gone back to basics, reassessed my style and approach and created a style more inspired by the fashion pages. First trial shoots have produced some lovely shots and the 'new look' is getting a really good response. Different to the usual studio portraits, it is a style more about capturing movement, emotion and atmosphere.

Special Offer? Well, until Christmas we're looking for victims (doh! sorry, 'customers') to experience the new style shoot. Its a special price of £25 for the session fee (will be £125 when officially launched in January), with discounts on any prints ordered. It's ideally suited to couples or teenagers (rather than family shoots - sorry), so if you know anyone who might be interested, do get in touch as soon as...obviously, good timing for Christmas presents, but even so, a fab experience at a great price. Email the Andrew Jackson Photography website for more info.

Charity Donations

I'm just back from a networking breakfast (how many of these posts revolve around me eating & drinking somewhere???) and an interesting thought came up... The breakfast is £9 and the hosts asks that rather than give change that the £1 goes in the pot for charity. Today we raised £50 which seemed a lovely bonus from an event that is not 'fund raising' in the traditional sense. It posed the question whether I should try something similar - if each transaction - each reprint, wedding booking, portrait booking, etc that went through the business carried an optional £1 donation, which my business then 'price matched', we would get to a reasonable size donation without a great deal effort or pain!

But of course, people like the choice of where their money goes and it can put people on the spot if a donation is asked for... so what do you think? A great fund raising idea or best not to mix business and charity / fund raising? Do let me know...

A Stunning Spring - Its Portrait Time

I'm back in my favourite 'office' - one of Clifton's best coffee shops - wondering why I am sat here and not taking pictures! The weather is glorious, the blossom is in the tree's - this is such a great time to book a portrait shoot! Once upon a time, I did promise that there would be some special offers for people who kept tabs on this blog, so here is the first special offer. Mention that you have seen this blog before the end of April '10 and I will offer a free on-location portrait session (in Bristol, Bath or surrounding area). Reprint prices start from £20 unframed, so a bargain to be had! Shoots need to be booked by the end of April and take place before the end of May. Have a look at my website for some sample images. Have to go - my americano with hot milk is cooling rapidly....

Portrait Models Required

I was looking through my library today and came across this image from a portrait shoot in Bristol Docks. It reminded me again just how dramatic winter light can be. This was captured at about 4pm - a fairly civilised time, whereas in the summer it would have needed to be much, much later! I'm really into exploring the creative potential of mixing flash and ambient light and this image shows just how dramatic the portraits can be. I'm always on the look out for models to swap time for images, so if you would like to be considered, please contact me via my website and send an image with brief contact details - I look forward to hearing from you!

Christmas - Again!

Photographs make for great Christmas presents, but you need to order those reprints, frames and albums sooner rather than later in order for Father Christmas to sort out delivery...

Whilst we can usually turn orders around very quickly, we only use hand-made frames and the framers do tend to get especially busy as the 25th gets closer. Similarly, the album company we commission to create our beautiful hand-made albums is extremely busy, so please let us know if you are planning an album or frame as a gift so that we can place the order. Reprints in folders can be ordered up until the 12 December.

If you order after this, obviously we'll do our best to get it ready in time, but we won't be able to promise...

Autumn Portraits

It always amazes me that people associate the summer so closely with portraits, when autumn especially is so full of colour...yes, its a bit cooler, but a scarf, gloves and hat can look great in a picture. It's so atmospheric and so different to the summer look. The quality of the light can be really special at this time of year too, so what are you waiting for? Book your portrait shoot now and we'll have everything printed, framed and delivered in time for you to give the pictures as Christmas presents (pictures need to be chosen by 20 November if you would like us to arrange the framing). As always, contact us via the website.