Park Life

Sunny Sunday, more days like this please! I cant wait for summer so I can throw on my maxi dresses. So after a lovely night at my best friend Miss J's hen do, I woke up another bestie Miss B to accompany me on a hospital tour of the maternity ward. I weren't going to bother going along as I thought surely you don't care what room you are in when you are pushing a baby out between your lady bits! Turned out it was nice to see and have an idea of where I will be heading when those contractions start. I really like the idea of a water birth. I was so surprised and happy to hear they have two birthing pools and 1 of the 2 is rarely in use as not many people are low risk or they want an epidural. Whilst walking around we could hear one woman clearly having a contraction and all of a sudden one born every minute became real. Today it hit home that there is only one way this baby can come out and it all became more real and scary. I like to think I am good with pain, its just the not being in control and not know exactly how it all might go freaks me out the most. Now to decide whether its worth going along to the free hypno birthing or parent craft classes that are offered at the hospital? :/ 

Park Life

25 Weeks

After the tour Miss B and I headed of to the super market and then headed home for a bacon sarnie with scrambled egg, followed by Dr Oken's Strawberry yogurt and then I cooked another another half sarnie. Hey don't judge, I'm eating for two! I know its just a saying but I am actually soooo hungry all the time!

Miss B and her fire stick

After a quick power nap we then went down to the park at the back of Miss B's house because she wanted to play with her fire stick! Yes, fire stick! She loves to fire dance. It was such a lovely day and made a nice change to be chilling outside.

Ill let you in on a little secret...

So after my mid life crisis freak out, I calmed down and reverted back to my bible for a quick slap in the face. Ive never been big on religion but have always enjoyed reading about the laws of attraction. Its simple,  If you have a negative out look on life then you will only attract negative people and situations around you. The Secret by Rhonda Bryan help you change your mind set and thinking to a positive out look to attract everything you want from life. Ask, Believe and Receive.

I first read the secret about 3 years ago. Everyone sub-consciously lives by these teaching without realising. How else did I get to travel to some of the most beautiful countries in the world including, Thailand, Dubai, Mexico, Miami and Cuba, on a part time salary (not having read the book). Its because I always believed if I book this holiday it will be ok ill find the money and that's when situations like unpaid bonuses and tax rebates would pop up in my life. On the other hand I could have thought, no point planning a holiday iv got no money and then that would have simply been the case. Make sense?

Another case study of mine.

I didn't get my first full time job until I was 26. Once I decided I wanted to move from graphic design into photography, I also decided I didn't want to go back and study. I hated uni and was awful at writing essays. Why they make creative people write essays i do not know. So no to studying, whats next? I would need to look for a studio job but I had no confidants because I had no experience. The only local studio that I found was Venture Photography in Eton. A franchise of the Uk's leading portrait company. Could I really go in at the top? Or should I start with a company like Pixiefoto, who's work I absolutely detest. I then read The Secret and thought F it, I found the confidants and told myself I will work at Venture Photography at their lovely Eton branch.

So for a good year I kept checking their careers section for a trainee position but there was nothing. I even contacted them about work experience but they didn't have anything at the time. In the mean time I done a few short courses and carried on teaching myself.  I even actually applied for Pixie fotos as I just wanted to get some experience but I never even got a call. I then saw a position for a trainee photographer at Venture in Kingston but again not even a call back. I was determined not to give up, I really enjoyed photography and knew this is what I wanted to do full time. It only took me nearly 10 years after leaving school to realise what it is i really wanted to do, not be a librarian like the career adviser advised. What a waste of time they were! 

Then one day there it is was I saw a post on Gumtree and Photographers.co.uk for a Trainee photographer at Eton. I drafted my cv and as always I annoyed my best friend Miss B to proof read it for me and off it went. With in an hour I got a call. It was them ringing to arrange an interview. I felt so confident even with no experience, I just kept thinking positive thoughts like The Secret. Long and short of it, after a number of candidates it came down to me and an older gentlemen who was technically brilliant. It turns out you can know photography inside out but still have no people or customer service skills. The job was mine!

There are many great example in the book to help see life in a positive light to attract what you want. She talks about all areas of life from relationships to financial and health issues. Some people will say its all a coincidence and its just luck and timing but I do honestly believe what ever vibes you put out  that's the frequency you will ride.

I have been really negative lately, I have actually bored myself with my conversations being so negative and depressing with friends. I know Friends are there to listen but if I was them I would be bored of listening to me. Obviously starting a new business was never going to be easy but I attracted my studio because I have always pictured working for myself and I am so proud of that. However instead of staying positive through out the tough times I felt like I lost the reins and everything spiralled out of control. One bad thought after another. I didn't have one ounce of positivity left in me, I was in self destruction mode but as soon as I snapped out of it and went back to being positive and changed my mind set back, one good thing after another started to happen again. So its back to the secret for me. See it here

You heard it hear first, I am going to win the euro millions one day, I just need to start playing!

3D/4D Scan? No thank you.

They scare the hell out of me. I think it would be nice to view, see there and then but the pictures creep me out a bit. Even more so when I see them as Facebook profile pictures.

Mr C, said the other day do I want to have more scans and my immediate reaction was no I'm good thanks. I think its because I loved my last scan photo so much I am just happy to wait and meet her in person now. Mr C said well I do, so book one. OK then! I think he is worried as a colleague lost a baby in the late stages of pregnancy which could have been detected if a scan was done at a later date. It does seem like a long time and I always imagined there was a third scan at a later date but I guess that's what the mid wife appointments and check ups are for?  He said its not because of that and that he just wants to see her again. 

I know shes fine she kicks far to much these days and demands alot of food i am ALWAYS starving. Gaining weight but still no big bump just a mole hill.

So from the demands of Mr C I was back on future babies website to get their contact details. So its known as a growth scan and you can have it from 24 weeks. I was shocked its £125! The scans all very in price so much i don't understand how it goes £85 for a reassurance, £125 for a growth and then back down to a £85 for a presentation scan from 36 weeks. Surely the presentation scan is more popular then the growth? We only saw her 4 weeks ago so going at 24 weeks seems silly.

So back to the 3D/4D scan starting from £140. I just don't understand people will spend the £140 on a scan but um... and ah.... about spending £150 for a collection of beautiful photos on the baby in person. Crazy.

Ah and wait, there are extras. Add music for £40. I find this hilarious as people say a 10x8 print for £25 at the studio is expensive. The lady said the most popular package is £190 for a number of scan photos and a dvd. Im sure the dvd is lovely but like my charity skydive video that I paid £100 for, it has been out twice and never seen again. Its like when you swim with dolphins its a lovely moment to capture but why do we buy the over priced, pictures that always look bad and never get seen again let alone framed and displayed.

It gets better you can have it printed as a mouse mat! seriously, a mouse mat? T-shirt...REALLY? Even more impressive, you can get it blown up on canvas. Do people really do that? £100 for a 30" canvas. I love my baby but but I think I would actually have alien nightmares if I had a 30" canvas of my 3/4D scan staring at me.

Create a statement

On Saturday I had a viewing with the Pace family. A viewing is an appointment were customers will come back a few days after their 1 hour of fun in the studio with myself and get to see their wonderful family photos, which have been fully retouched. I'm mentioning this viewing as the customer was interested in classic frames. It was really refreshing to hear of someone who still likes the classic frame instead of the canvas. I have been in my studio for 9 months now and this is the first talk of single classic frames. I have to say at the moment I am really loving simple classic black and white frames with a mount.

Classic frames in modern colours

Everyone has their own taste and style but personally I am not a huge fan of canvas which is why I don't sell them. I can appreciate they are cost-effective as there are so many places that sell them really cheap, however do remember you do get what you've paid for. Canvas quality can differ and effect the image and final finish, so try going through recommended channels.

I much prefer the bevel edge and box frame. They are very similar to the canvas but there is just something a little bit more luxury about them. Plus they wont fade in the sun, if you want to be practical. Since working at Venture Photography, it has opened my eyes to a number of wall product and displays that are available. I also learnt about making a statement with your family portrait, making it your own work of art.

I wonder, is it that people just don't know about other wall products or is it they just love canvas?

My top 5 favourite wall framing products are:

1.Classic frames/Collections

2.Bevel Edge

3.The Acrylic
4.Box frame 

5.Gallery mount

I sell digital albums with full copyrights because there are so many great companies like Photobox where you can find all these wonderful products, apart from the bevel edge and classic collections. A new product which is also becoming more and more popular is the Aluminium mount, very sleek but priced at higher end of the scale.

For me different images can work better with different framing products. Also I think different products can work better in different rooms. Product shapes can also have a huge impact to a photo. My favourites are panoramic and squares.

Mr Parie-Don

Some of you may have seen this cutie before if you have been into my studio. This is the stunning panoramic in a bevel edge.

I cant wait to build up a collection of photo over the next year and beyond of my family, friends and of course my baby girl and have a huge gallery wall. I can just see it now, just like the image of white frames below. No doubt I will have collections and bevel edges floating around the place as well. This is all of course in my imaginary mansion. Hey, a girls gotta dream and believe to receive.

My dream gallery wall

Below is a collection of frames and wall displays which are really creative and inspiring to do something a little bit different, even with canvas.

Wall display ideas

Many of the frames below can be found for as little as £3.99 for a "30x20" black frame from Ikea and Amazon. Obviously the price varies with the quality but I have seen some lovely ones starting from £14.99





I Love this multi 14 in 1 frame from Amazon and only £58.14 (from £94.99) with free delivery. Now that's a bargain statement piece! I would love this in white.



As you may have worked out already I am a lover of vintage, so I do also love the white distressed look.



Another website that I love for quirky frames is not on the high street.com where you can also find some lovely sellers that make personalised frames for the children's rooms.

Love Not on the highstreet.com Only £10.75

I love the use of words and images to make up a wall collection. This must come from my background in Graphics Design. I started studying Graphic Design at university, to realise half way through I was on the wrong course, as ALL my projects were based around photography. I use to find typography REALLY boring but now I can see it slowly creeping back into my life and work.

Framing text

Use of letters and text

I love the collection below but it is because it is made up of detailed shots to break up the collage. You could do something similar, with canvas squares or a product which is called a gallery mount (probably what I would choose over canvas so it doesn't look to in your face being such a big collection. A set of 3 squares would work brilliant as a canvas collection. Check out Split canvas prints

Canvas/Gallery mount ideas

Another post I am going to do will be on story telling and why buying pictures of you feet and no faces can work really well. Small details do make a big impact. Another refreshing story I heard last week was a customer had blown up an image of her niece but not her face it was her little tutu and bottom up in the air crawling away from the camera.

Think outside the box and get creative or let me help you that's my job!

American/nautical baby boy shower

I had so much fun coming up with lots of ideas for my baby girls, baby shower I got carried away and done one for expecting mummies with little boys in their tummies. Yes im a geek!

Just so happens my best friend Mrs K is 4 weeks ahead of me and the first of the all my girlfriends to have a baby and guess what its a BOY! Not being from a group of girls who have had children yet I was so happy and couldn't wait to be a "Aunty" and make a fuss of her pregnancy and her new baby. We went out to catch up over food and little did I know at the time I was in fact pregnant. I sat there laughing at her, as I ate a platters of sea food and goats cheese, which you have to sacrifice in pregnancy, sad times. I laughed because it is both our favourite food and kept saying I could never give this up! Yes, a good friend I know. Mrs K sat there saying "I wish I weren't doing it on my own and one of you girls were pregnant" oh how we all laughed! ha ha haaaaa

Well.... 2 weeks later I wasnt laughing was I! It had to be me didn't it! (hear my reaction in my very first post "when the second line appears") Thanks Mrs K for attracting that! So of course all the important questions came rushing to mind, not how am i going to cope in a less than perfect relationship but how could i give up seafood and how will i deal with the Brie and Stilton under my nose at every gathering, with christmas just around the corner. This is what it must be like for addicts going cold turkey, not fun! Its been hard but it had to be done.

Now i can see it's a blessing to be going through it with one of my best friends and often wake up to messages like constipated.com and know the feeling. Our other best friend Miss T has already written their love story and goes a little like this:

"Boy meets girl aged 0 months. Girl giggles with boy. Boy likes girl. Girl says just mates. Boy charms girl. Girl n boy marry."

So back to my boys baby shower theme. It would be american bbq meets nautical.

I love this idea for a mint after a meal. I am still doing this just with different coloured tissue obviously

Would change the water to a clear fizzy drink like cream soda or lemonade

Another question that has just popped into my head when thinking of ideas  is Q: Would i slip something a little stronger in the red drink? which brings me to my next question Q. Do people drink alcohol and get drunk at baby showers?

I've only been to two baby shower. One I was working at and the other one I was late for so missed most the fun and games.

Big hotdogs (mini is no fun when your pregnant) and nacho bowls all round

Fun photo op that tastes good

I should really do a post for mummies that haven't found out the sex. You know if I have time I am so doing one! #Geek

Please comment below and let me know about the alcohol situation at baby showers.

What did you do at your baby shower?

favourite game?

favourite food feature?

OR

Do you think baby showers are completely American and don't see what the fuss is all about?

Developing my style of photography

Where i started and where i am heading...

I started my career as a photographer at Venture Photography.




The Uk's leading portrait company. http://www.venturephotography.com/uk/

Such a great company to work for but i lost the love of selling one 7x5 photo for £95, one 10x8 at £165 and digital albums that you cant print from at £600. I would have sales up to £5000 and have no commission after shooting, editing and selling the photos.

Seeing my work at the Venture Award in Nutsford

After a successful year of featuring in the Venture Awards book I left and opened my own studio in Reading town center.

Seeing two of my images in the Venture Awards book

Having worked at Venture i find it difficult when customers question my prices and say they are expensive when my digital albums start from £150 with full copyright in comparisment to £600 for 15 images as a pc slide show. There are lots of studios that lack quality, bad lighting and bad retouching. My best friend Nicola and I often have the same discussion not understanding how people cannot see the difference in quality and creativity between photographers. Maybe people just dont care enough about family portrait these days? I think this topic will need to be a separate blog post. I will compare the difference in quality and prices. I will show you the Primark from the Prada of family portraits. Like all product you have the low-end, mid and high-end range but in photography the prices don't seem to vary that much so its finding the high end photographer with the low end prices like me! :) Im not saying im the best in the game and dont want to sound bigheaded but want people to see the value for money in my work. For me family portraits are about creating your own piece or art to have up on the walls at home. Its not about sitting stiff, looking into a camera, saying cheese with forced smiles. I will come back to this as a new post.

Family portraits are not something you do everyday so are worth investing in. That is me talking as a new mum to be not as a photographer.

Toes do not stay this cute forever! LOVE my job

I cant wait for my baby to arrive so i can take lots of beautiful photos. I predict she will either grow up to hate the camera completely or will be a model.

My current work

This little strawberry was shot last week at my studio www.nu-nuu.com

I am adapting my style to concentrate on maternity/newborns and wedding photography. I love my job and entertaining families for an hour of fun in the studio but i am losing the love for white studio backgrounds. I want to do more fun family portraits on location and more boutique baby photos.

My new style wont be to everyone's taste but for me i absolutely love the use of colours, textures and accessories. However this means building up a new collection of props as my current style includes no props only personal items that customers bring in.

Stools and bowls i need

I already have this pompom tutu isn't it beautiful

I want to build a collection of hairbands for girls and hats for boys

Cute crown

The images below show an example of the style i am working toward. I hate it when photos of sleeping new borns getting refered to as "very Anne Geddes" as I am not really a fan of her work and have come across many american photographer whose work is so much more amazing.

Inspiring photos

My Vintage Tea Party Baby Shower

Baby Shower Plannng

I dont know where all this excitment has come from. I havent been very excited about being pregnant and have worried about how I will cope as it wasn't exactly a planned pregnancy but since finding out the sex I cant stop planning.

Straight on Pinterest I started a new board "My Vintage Tea Party Baby Shower" I have never been a fan of pink but i fell in love when coming up with all these ideas and finding these images.

I got so carried away I was re-pinning pictures until 3am and have already sourced everything i need and want.  I cant wait, I just want it to be May already so i can take my own photos of the day.

My New Addiction

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard.

Pinterest lets you organise and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

So far my boards include:



Babys room, Baby shower, Baby photography, Food, Home and more.....

Follow me:

http://pinterest.com/nunuunat/ 

Warm jelly on my belly

The past week has flown by but the 4 weeks previous were the longest 4 weeks ever!

The count down for Monday 6th February 2012 was over. 10am I texted Mr C "Are you excited?" a man of not many word i was expecting a "yeah" but he said "Ive been up since 6am, I cant wait!"

Me either, I thought the day was going to drag as the appointment wasnt until 3pm but after doing some work and running some errands Mr C and i were en route to our 20 week scan.

So there I was again on the bed, with warm jelly on my belly.

This is more of an intense scan that takes up to 20 minutes and is amazing how much they can see and check, even down to a clef pallet.

You always just assume everything is ok but you just dont know.

Just like the sex you just dont know its  50/50.

Mr C's family is predomitly girls and the last 6 babies have been boys in my family and no girls since my cousin Jenna which was over 25 years ago. So pressure from either side for the opposite sex.

And so the sex....

of course its A GIRL! ha ha BUT she didnt say it confidently as bean kept crossing her legs. She looked again at the end and said "im going to go with a girl, it looks very flat in that area" knowing my luck in life a winkey was probably hiding and it will actually be a boy! She said she is 95% sure.

She was already being a madam, playing up,  rolling and jumping around when the lady was trying to check her spinal cord. Also pouting a lot she must get that from her father, ha ha.

I never understood people uploading scans to social networking sites and never thought i would think much of a scan but I actually fall more and more in love with her every time I look at it and find the scan really cute!

I just feel so happy and excited to being another step closer to knowing our baby. Mr C said of course he is a little bit gutted but is blessed she is healthy and everything is ok and that he cant wait to meet her now. I feel a little bit gutted for him but girls are always "Daddy's girls" and boys "Mummy's boys" so I never understand why the majority of guys desperatly want a boy. It must come down to doing sports and activities together instead of watching dance shows! However i grew up a bit of a tomboy climbing trees and play fighting and then grew into a lady, we could have the best of both.