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This is where you’ll find out what I’ve been up to lately! Please let me know what you think and if you have any questions about photography, do get in touch and I will do my best to answer them on this page!

I have been photographing boots and shoes for www.lamapeach.com for the Autumn/Winter 2010 display book.   The boots and shoes are sold in top London stores and range in price from £200 – £350.  However, if you really want to get your hands on this vintage footwear, visit the website direct or talk to my lovely friend Geraldine Pipping at Scarlett Monroe in Marlow, Buckinghamshire – www.scarlettmonroe.com.

Berkshire-based Success Network, a business support network for women, has recently linked up with Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and Business Link to allow its members to tap into a valuable new source of business support and this week, I went along to the Hilton in Reading to meet the ladies involved and take some publicity shots.

L-R: Mary Fraser (Success Network), Ginette Gower (Thames Valley Chamber), Ute Wieczorek-King (Success Network), Henrietta Bailey (BusinessLink), Shemila Tharani (BusinessLink).

Success Network has recently announced that collaboration is its theme for 2010 but the concept is not a new one.  In 2009, one of the group’s Inner Circles (peer-support business clubs), of which I’m a member, worked together to produce an e-book of success ‘recipes’ to inspire other women who are starting out in business.  We’re not profiting from this book, which is available to download free of charge from the Success Network website.

Roselin D’Costa runs an up-and-coming home-based catering business called Shantana’s which specialises in business lunches and parties with an unusual flair.

The difference is she uses her Goan culinary expertise to create an impact with colour and flavour, especially in her curries which use a lot of coconut and fresh chillies to enhance her special Goan flavours, likewise with her home-made samosas.

Her speciality is her green sandwiches, which use a secret ingredient to make them an unusual alternative to the everyday business lunch.

And Roselin boasts a three star award for catering and food hygiene, so you know you are getting value for money.

Contact Roselin through www.shanatanas.co.uk or on 07930 371524

Diane Tyler, who is now aged 89, joined as a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment, organised by the British Red Cross Society for first aid and nursing) in 1938 at the tender age of 18 to train up to help out during the Second World War. She was posted out into Germany and France, also at Dunkirk during that famous evacuation, when she accompanied her patients back to Britain in the hospital ships.

This cape is special because it is a most carefully preserved example of its kind. Each nurse received the soldier’s badges when they died as mementoes, and they sewed them on the inside of their capes (the red side) as a very private gesture. This particular cape shows badges from English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, French, Australian, New Zealand, Indian and Polish soldiers, and probably some more that haven’t been recognised, but one of them is Diane’s Princess Mary Nursing Corp badge.

Because the cape is still in such good condition, and considered the best example seen, the family have donated it to the Medical Military Museum at Aldershot, where it will be brought out on display for special exhibitions, otherwise suitably stored to expertly preserve it for future generations to remember.

Alison took photographs of this cape before it was passed on to the Museum, so that there was photographic evidence of it being worn by Jan, Diane’s daughter, even if it is inside out!

Oscar was christened at St Peter’s Church, Furze Platt today.

He was such a good boy.  All that water and not a tear!

Congratulations to his parents Becky and Gavin for a lovely day.

Just a few images of flowers from a great day out at Hampton Court Flower Show.

Get the children involved with photography projects this summer whether you are going away or not. Encourage them to look at the world a little differently, see things from unusual angles, notice patterns and experiment with cameras as much as they like. The great thing about digital photography is that it is instant which kids love.

Keep a photo diary for a day
Spend a day taking photos of interesting things they see during the day. This can be anything from having breakfast to Dad washing the car. Encourage them to use photojournalist skills by organising the photos in a diary, writing captions under the photos and even include their own drawings and funny comments.

A day in the life of their pet
Similar to the above but this time they get down to the level of the pet to learn what their pet sees (if you saw Jonathan Ross you will remember he put a camera around his dog’s neck for the day and then laughed because he had lots of photos of his other dogs’ bums)!  Kids will of course think this is hysterical.

Mystery Photos
Take close-up photos of ordinary objects and then ask friends and family to guess what they are.

Photo Puzzle
Glue photos onto cardboard, cut the picture into pieces, and create a personalised puzzle.

Create stories and slideshows with toys such as Lego people
This takes a little practice and you might have to help to start with but it can fill a whole morning or afternoon and by snapping the figures close-up they can make them look huge or scary.

Collections
Coins, shells, toys, anything that they collect or start a virtual collection of number-plates, silly signposts or flowers that are only pink in colour.

Photograph a bean growing
These grow quite a bit each day in a jam jar with blotting paper so even flicking through the photos on the back of the camera will be quite satisfying. They might need to keep one card aside for the exercise if they are taking photos of other things too.

Gurning – face pulling competition
Basic I know, but always a winner with children especially if Grandad takes his teeth out!

Macro – bugs
On many digital cameras there is a macro setting (it is usually a symbol of a flower). This allows them to go in closer and hopefully get some good photos of slugs and snails. Tell them to avoid bees for obvious reasons.

Make Christmas presents now – mugs, mousemats, keyrings
There are so many sites that offer these facilities at really good prices. If they get a good picture then use it to make presents for family and friends. I have seen a Christmas bauble on a website too which might be fun.

Fashion show
One for the girls perhaps. They can co-ordinate clothes and hairstyles so that they can refer to them when they go out.

Create a website for themselves or a friend

You can create a website for free with added games and space for photo albums. We made one for my daughter’s 16th birthday and asked people to write messages in advance. She loved it. Depending on how old your children are you can allow them to be in control of the admin or keep hold of that yourself. The only people who see the site will be the ones you invite to join it.

Bring the family for a photo session while you are tanned and relaxed
Holidays are a great time for getting family photos particularly as you can usually find someone to take the photo so you are in it too. However, if you would like a professional photo of all of you looking good, why not give me a ring on 01628 673948 and arrange a photo session. This could be in the studio or we could go to a location of your choice to take advantage of the good weather. I would love to hear from you.

Over the last few weeks I have done a number of friendship parties.  Last weekend Ellen and her friends came to the studio for a photo shoot to celebrate her fourteenth birthday.  I really enjoyed photographing the girls who asked me to pose them a little but mostly wanted to just have fun and let me capture them being themselves.  They bought a change of clothes, I supplied some props and they threw themselves into it  with real enthusiasm as you can see from the images below.

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These two are my favourites … You can find the rest of the images here.

Last week I spent a couple of days in Cornwall and had a chance to meet my nephew for the first time. Although he was about to go to bed and the light was fading fast I managed to grab a few shots of this gorgeous boy. I am sure his parents won’t mind me saying that their garden is less than landscaped so finding an uncluttered background was tricky. I got around this by throwing the background out of focus which also drew attention to his cute face. Plus, keeping Max in one place wasn’t easy either. I spotted the cardbox box and popped him in it. Turning the image antique sepia gives it a timeless feel and also disguises the fact that the box was bright yellow which clashed with his babygrow!

Lorna Weller has recently launched herself as a virtual assistant.  She is also a Mum, a great friend and the most camera shy person I know!  After a cup of tea and a bit of persuasion that even at 40+ she really did need a photo of her on her website I found a spot in my garden and took this image.  It certainly makes her more approachable than the arty shot of a pot of pencils she was going to ‘hide’ behind!

Read on and you will see as well as having a wonderful bubbly personality Lorna has a wealth of experience in business so please bear her mind the next time you need a solution to your admin problems.  You can call her on 07940 198980 or email lorna.weller@googlemail.com

 Where were you born?

Greenock, Scotland and I still feel as excited as I did as a child any time I go “north of the border”.

Where do you live?

Bourne End, Bucks – living by the Thames calls to me on a summer’s day.

Favourite Place to Eat?

Now I’ve reached 40+  I try to arrange a real treat once or twice a year and Sunday lunch at Cliveden has proved a great favourite – combining the grandeur and luxury of the dining experience with such a lovely setting and the choice of following lunch with a stroll through the grounds, or tea in the library.

What do you do?

After working for the last 18 years as a senior PA at a subsidiary of ICI in Slough where I joined to work for the Managing Director, I was made redundant at the beginning of the year.   I have really enjoyed having some time out and am now setting up as a Freelance PA / Virtual Administrator.   I am finding that my vast experience of office procedures, PC skills and event management are just as useful to small local businesses.   I love the diversity of working with different small businesses, by helping with their admin, routine or otherwise, it frees them up to do what they do best, and of course I love the flexibility it gives me.  I can be contacted at lorna.weller@googlemail.com.

What is your favourite movie?

Out of Africa – I’d let Robert Redford wash my hair any day!

Favourite Food?

Dare I say mint chocolate chip ice cream, but to prove I do have some sophistication my favourite drink is definitely champagne.

Best piece of advice?

Always smile when answering the phone – even if you can’t be seen the tone is instantly set.

What was the last book you read?

An hilarious booked called “I don’t know how she does it”; about a city broker juggling life as a working mother.   It was full of recognisable situations in a working mother’s life.

What is your favourite holiday destination?

Where do I start? – I had the most amazing time on a safari in Kenya which literally was a dream come true.   A couple of years ago I had a wonderful holiday with a couple of best friends and our kids at a villa in Spain – just playing in the pool all day or snoozing in the olive grove – bliss!  But I couldn’t possibly not mention Scotland with all its rugged beauty.

What do you hate most?

The increase in gun/knife crime, and the fact that so many kids get involved in alcohol/drugs – it’s a huge worry for parents.  We do, however, have to learn to let them go although we will always worry about them.

What do you value most?

My friends.   Childhood friends – we have supported each other through our own teens, marriages, divorces, children.  Local friends I’ve met through the children’s schools and friends from my marriage that I see infrequently but nevertheless still have a strong bond with.

Who or What has been the biggest influence on your life?

My mother – although she died when I was only 10 I think of her as a real go-getter.   In her youth she played hockey for Scotland, was a county tennis and badminton player and loved mountain climbing (something I’d be absolutely terrified to do).  She was a Land Girl during  WW2 and I wish she’d lived long enough to share her memories with me.  I know she wouldn’t take no for an answer, thought there was a solution to every problem and was always positive.  Unfortunately, she died aged 45 of breast cancer before they had the treatments they do now.   I try to remain true to some her beliefs and principles.