Jess contacted me a few months ago asking if I could take some photos of her and her gorgeous son Harry as a Father’s Day surprise for her husband. Obviously I was more than happy to oblige and even more happy when Jess told me “he loved them”
Here are a few of my favourites xx
There are loads of things I love about Dawn and Mike’s wedding. The cute little page boys in their bow ties and Converse trainers, the ‘first look’ photos of the bridemaids seeing Dawn in her dress for the first time, the soft pastel colour scheme, the stunning Cotswold Hotel and Spa and the FUNNIEST best man’s speech ever!
Congratulations Dawn and Mike xx
A few months ago I was invited to photograph baby Leo at his home. It was a gorgeous sunny day as I drove along the coastal road to Anna and Bob’s home; a light filled house with seaside coloured décor and views overlooking the River Teign estuary.
Perfect.
And it really was.
I frequently look on Pinterest and other sites for ideas for my photography as I sometimes feel that I’m not being creative enough. There is so much competition in this industry and I started to doubt myself.
This photographer is doing this, that photographer is doing that…..
Am I being creative enough? Should I buy some props to take on shoots?
The other day I found a photo online of a new born baby on a skateboard.
Yes you read that right. A SKATEBOARD! And another was on a motorbike (apparently the dad was supporting the bike)
It just baffles me how people feel the need to introduce all sorts of bizarre props when right there in front of you is the most BEAUTIFUL baby, their legs curled up, their tiny little fingers and toes. Their perfectly soft hair. And complete overwhelming LOVE that is right before your eyes. And I decided that is enough for me.
And it was more than enough that day. It was amazing; the light flooded into the house, perfect for shooting with film. We didn’t need any baskets, watering cans, skateboards or motorbikes(!) to make this shoot an absolute pleasure to be part of. Thank you so much Anna, Bob, big sister Sophie and baby Leo for reaffirming my belief that all you need is LOVE xxxx
You spend months preparing for the arrival of your little one. Choosing a pram, furniture for the nursery, deciding which of the million suggested buys you actually need and which you can do without. You speak to other parents for advice, read books, read more books, wash all the baby grows and muslins, pack your hospital bag, stock up on nappies and wipes…… the list goes on and on. Having the baby is the easy part! So when that moment finally arrives, and you bring your precious little baby (or babies in my case) home it is such an amazing time (if a little over whelming too!). You spend hours upon hours just staring at their little screwed up faces, their legs still curled up to their tummies as they were inside your tummy and their tiny little fingers and toes, taking in every single breathe. You want the time to be as calming as possible for you and your baby, but more often than not you have family and friends queuing up to visit, health visitors popping around and a mountain of washing to do! Which is why my aim as your photographer is to keep things as stress free as possible for you.
I absolutely love new born shoots. There is something about a peaceful sleeping baby that I find so calming and capturing the special bond between baby and parents is such an amazing feeling. My style of photography is very relaxed; in your own home with lots of natural light and baby’s familiar surroundings and smells so that they remain peaceful and content.
If you have booked a new born shoot with me here are my top 5 tips for preparing for your shoot:
1) Feed baby! A baby who has recently had a feed and is full up is more likely to sleep throughout the shoot. If you are breast feeding then feel free to do this as and when needed. Capturing the closeness between mum and baby during a feed makes a beautiful image (if you are happy and comfortable with doing so)
2) Clothes: Keep colours neutral and have a couple of outfit options for your baby but keep things simple; nothing too bright or with distracting patterns. Just a clean white baby grow can look beautiful. It’s also a good idea to have something foot-less so that I can photograph those tiny toes. For your outfit- wear something comfortable and neutral. A simple vest top can look lovely as it allows skin to skin with baby on mums shoulder. In terms of hair/ makeup I think that natural always looks best for these shoots and lets be honest, saves a lot of time too!
3) Have a few blankets to hand as they make great props and can also be used as a backdrop to lay baby on. Also little teddies/ cuddly toys can look cute. I love capturing details too such as the nursery, any keepsakes/ cards that you have been given so have these to hand.
4) Involve dad and other siblings. This shoot isn’t just about the baby but about you all as a family.
5) Relax. Do not spend hours tidying beforehand. I don’t care if you have piles of washing/ ironing/ dishes in the kitchen. All I care about is creating beautiful images with you and baby and to do this I ideally need a bright room with natural light, that is all!
I hope my tips have helped you! Please feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch here if you would like to book your own shoot.
Renata x
I have wanted to take part in a workshop for a while; to develop both my photographic and styling skills but to also meet like-minded professionals in the wedding industry. When I saw the Illuminated Collective Workshop advertised I knew it was an opportunity not to be missed.
The workshop took place last May at the stunning Barnsley House in the Cotswolds. The aim of the day was to bring together beautiful styling with photographers who are interested in working with film.
As soon as we arrived at the venue we received a warm welcome from the organisers Jessie Thomson (styling), Ashlee Taylor-Barnes and Holly Rattray (both Fine Art Film Photographers). Every attendee was presented with a welcome pack, containing a range of goodies including discount vouchers for other wedding vendors, which was handmade in a lovely pastel fabric.
We enjoyed fresh coffee and croissants as we read through our packs and introduced ourselves. Then the fun really began… the 16 attendees were divided into 2 smaller groups, enabling us to have plenty of time and space in the grounds of the hotel. The day was divided up into ‘details’, ‘engagement portraits’, ‘bride and groom’ and ‘bridal’ portraits. Jessie and her team made great use of the stunning grounds and as the sun shone down on us I realised just how lucky I was to be part of such a fab day.
We had gentle guidance from Ashlee and Holly to help us with posing the couples, if we needed it. Working in smaller groups meant we were able to bounce ideas off each other and get to know the other attendees well. When I received my scans back from UK Film Lab I was delighted with the results. I used a mixture of Portra 400 and Fuji 400 (Full list of vendors at the bottom of the page)
Vendor/ Suppliers:
Illuminated Collective: www.fineartwedding.com
Mentors:
(Photography) Ashlee Taylor Barnes: www.taylorbarnesphotography.co.uk
Jessie Thomson (Stylist) – JessieThomson Wedding and Events: www.jessiethomson.co.uk
Holly Rattary – Belle and Beau Photography: http://belleandbeaublog.com
Assistant Stylist – Georgia Westwood: www.westwooddesign.co.uk
Venue – Barnsley House: www.barnsleyhouse.com
Florist – The Rose Shed: www.theroseshed.co.uk
Linen – Table to Dine For: www.tabletodinefor.com
Stationery – Juliet Grace Design: www.julietgracedesign.com
Cake – The Natural Cake Company: http://thenaturalcakecompany.co.uk
Bridal Boutique – The White Rose Bridal: www.thewhiterosebridal.co.uk
Engagement Dresses –Maids to Measure (from The White Rose Bridal): http://www.maidstomeasure.com
Wedding Gowns– Johanna Hehir (from The White Rose Bridal): http://www.johanna-hehir.com
Hair Accessories – Kelly Spence (from The White Rose Bridal): www.kellyspence.com
Jewellery – Astley Clarke: www.astleyclarke.com
Crockery, Cutlery, Glassware – Helene Millot: http://www.helenemillot.com
MUA – Nina Norman: www.ninanorman.co.uk
Hair – Nicholas White: http://www.nicholaswhite.co.uk
Goody Bags – Lizzy May Design: www.lizzy-may.co.uk
I haven’t written a blog post in a while as I’ve been really busy relocating my family to Devon. In hindsight the decision to move the week before Christmas was a bit of a crazy one, however taking a walk along the beach earlier followed by a big family roast dinner and playing ‘shops’ with my little niece I know it was definitely the right decision.
2014 has been an amazing year during which SO much has happened. At the start of the year I launched my photography business which has been a dream come true. It has been hard work alongside teaching and being a mum to 16 month twins boys, however I have met some amazingly talented people, photographed beautiful brides, bumps and babies and I have loved every minute of it. A want to say a MASSIVE thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way.
I am really excited to see what 2015 has in store. I am honoured to be photographing weddings in venues including the Hare and Hounds Hotel in Westonbirt, the Cotswold Club in Chipping Norton, Mount Edgcumbe House in Cornwall and Luton House in Devon to name a few. Alongside running Renata Fry Photography I am about to start a new job teaching GSCE and A Level Photography to students in South Devon.
So I thought I would end 2014 with a little round up of my year. Happy New Year everyone!!
My beautiful twin boys back in February
May Bank holiday mini break with friends in Ludlow
Attending the Illuminated Collective Fine Art workshop in late May (full post coming in the new year!)
Our summer holiday in Shaldon, South Devon.
Claire and Tom’s beautiful farm wedding in Hertfordshire in late August
Rachel’s maternity shoot
Lucy and Tony’s rustic autumn wedding
In early October I was lucky enough to photograph little 5 week old Dakota. Back in August I photographed Rachel in the final few weeks of her pregnancy before Dakota arrived. This week that shoot was featured on b.loved blog, if you missed it you can see it here. Now I want to share this newborn shoot with you all.
Any parents reading this I’m sure you will remember how precious those first few weeks are. That new baby smell. The super soft silky skin. The teeny tiny vests and baby grows. Newborn shoots are such an honour to photograph. I love them.
If you are pregnant and considering a new born shoot please do get in touch here. In the mean time enjoy little Dakota…..
Photos shot on Canon 1V using Portra 400
Developed and Scanned by UK Film Lab.
Thanks for reading. See you soon
Renata x
I have lived in Wiltshire for nearly 10 years. I have fallen in love with the countryside, the nearby parks, the local cafes and the amazing tapas bar up the road from us. I have made a good group of friends, built a career in teaching, met my husband, given birth to my beautiful baby boys and this year it became the birth place of my very own photography business, something I have always dreamt of. As many of you may know I grew up in Devon, a place that holds many a happy memory and where my family live. We travel back and forth as frequently as work allows us to, and every time we leave we do so with a heavy heart. This summer my husband and I made a massive decision; we have decided to follow our hearts and move to Devon. My husband is leaving behind a career that he has built up for 8 years, I am saying goodbye to some of my best friends, but despite this we are so excited to be starting our new adventure as a family.
I am confident that moving to Devon will bring a whole heap of exciting opportunities to my photography business. Even though we will be living in Devon I am still very much a UK Photographer and will be taking bookings throughout the south west and further afield. 75% of my wedding bookings for next year are in Devon and I hope that through those I build up a list of contacts in the wedding industry as I have done in Wiltshire. I recently attended a Fine Art Film Workshop during which I made some invaluable contacts in the industry, and some good friends, all of whom I will remain in contact with. As well as an opportunity to develop my photography business I also have a job continuing my passion of teaching photography at a fantastic school which specialises in the Arts.
Despite all these amazing opportunities, living nearer to our loved ones and giving our boys the opportunity to grow up by the sea there are days when I think “are we doing the right thing” or ” what if our dream doesn’t work out?”. Right now I don’t have the answer to those questions, but I hope in a few months time I will look back on this post and smile to myself.
I’m sure the upcoming months will be ones of uncertainty, anxiety and excitement and even though there are times when I just want to fast forward 12 months to us being happy settled into our first family home by the sea, I will cherish every moment and take as many photos as possible along the way! Thank you to everyone who has supported us in making this decision and made the whole process a lot easier for us.
Renata x
People frequently ask me why I shoot film when shooting digital is ‘easier’. Granted digital is easier; it’s cheaper, well actually it’s free if you don’t count the cost of editing images, you can instantly see your images and delete any you aren’t happy with. On paper it does seem the better option and don’t get me wrong, there are situations when grabbing my digital camera rather than my film camera works best for me. However, I just love the look of an image shot on film ten times to that of a digital. The colours are richer, the slight grainy look gives it a nostalgic, romantic appearance, the light is just beautiful and has a lovely warm feeling that makes you go all fuzzy. Basically I think film is just stunning.
On a recent mini-break with friends I took some photos of my friend Hannah and her husband Jimmy wandering through a pretty garden in a country estate. Once back from the lab (which I will get to in a sec!) and published on Facebook, Hannah’s comment was “beautiful, it looks all hazy and summery; exactly how I remember it” and that is the main reason why film is just lush- it captures a moment in time perfectly.
My adventure with film started in Art college, but it’s a very distant memory of dark rooms, chemicals, and very grainy black and white photos that did nothing to wow me. I experimented a bit more in the dark room at uni but again, wasn’t really impressed by the results I was getting. I do love being in the darkroom though, it’s like a little secret world where magic happens. Like Narnia! It’s ten years later and I am teaching Photography in Swindon and I still love the magic of the darkroom. I love teaching my students how to develop their own film, enlarge their photos and watch as they place the photographic paper in the tray of developer and their image appears after a few seconds.
But only this year have I discovered my love for colour film photography. After reading this book I was completely inspired and desperate to start shooting with film again. I borrowed a Canon AE-1 that was donated to college complete with vintage leather case, and bought a roll of Kodak Superior and off I went, and it was a lot harder than I expected. Firstly, in an age of iPhones and digital cameras it was really weird not being able to see the photos. I found myself looking eagerly at the back of the camera!! I had to rely on my knowledge of ISO, aperture and shutter speed to suss out the correct exposure and hope for the best. Secondly, the Canon AE-1 has manual focus which with my dodgy eye sight was interesting to say the least!! But nevertheless I just loved the experience and was so careful not to waste my 36 exposures, which is another thing I love about film- I don’t waste photos. How many of us are guilty of taking about 5 photos of the same thing ‘just in case’. I do it all the time on my iPhone. Not with film. You have to actually use your brain too which is refreshing! Here is the lovely Canon AE-1 and a couple of photos shot on it:
After a bit of research I invested in my first film camera, a Canon 1V. I am still getting to know her (yes I’m one of those sad people who refer to their cameras as people!!) but so far I am impressed and I just adore the results. I am also enjoying experimenting with different film, so far Fuji 400h is my fave.
Nowadays it isn’t as straightforward as dropping your film into a high street store for developing. I use UK Film lab to develop my photos, but there are loads of others that I will get around to trying as each give different results. I send off the film and 10 days later I receive digital scans straight into my inbox with feedback from the lab on my photos. Lovely jubbly! Here are a few taken on my Canon 1V of the lovely Louise and Derek.
As I send more and more film off for developing I am becoming more confident shooting with film and I love the photos I am creating. I hope you do too! Please leave a comment below and come back soon to see my adventure with film continue.
Renata x
A few weeks ago on a sunny day in May I took a drive over to the village of Fairford in the Cotswolds to photograph Harriet and her beautiful baby bump. I was in love as soon as I walked into her home as both Harriet and I have a love for shabby-chic furniture and décor. Harriet and her husband Toby are expecting a little girl at the end of July and she is one lucky little lady- you should see the beautiful nursery that awaits her and she has a wardrobe FULL of clothes, in fact I think she has more clothes than me! I cannot wait to meet this little one. All photos are shot on Fuji 400h developed by UK Film Lab.
