My March Inspiration

In March, I take my inspiration from the new light, and the beautiful flowers that arrive to tell us Spring is here. When the clocks go forward, the extra daylight inspires me to go outside and play with the different light. For me the best time is early morning as the sun rises and late afternoon as the sun goes down to create two distinct atmospheres.

This March we have have had the extra bonus of a heavy downfall of snow which has added to the beauty around us, especially the reflective light which inspired me to travel a little further afield to London to take a few photographs of our landmarks. The snow has added an element of depth and mystery that you can't really achieve with any other light.

This link will take you to my blog 'London in the Snow' to see more.

Stella

London in the Snow

As Storm Emma broke, I braved the elements to capture our magnificent capital city, in all its frozen glory.

Throughout our changing seasons, London's spectacular landscape endures, and whenever I visit I always feel so lucky to have this beautiful city just a short train ride away. When Storm Emma hit last week, I felt compelled to leave the warmth of my studio and brave the elements to capture the city in all of its frozen glory! It was so cold that at one point I was unable to use my camera, but despite the freezing conditions I am so pleased I made the trip. I hope you enjoy a few of my favourites.

Stella

Cherishing Special Memories with Our Mothers on Mother's Day

As we approach Mother’s Day, our attention turns to celebrating our mothers, or ladies in our lives who support and love us. As a mother, I know how much you cherish time with your family, and when they are not around, how important it is to surround yourself with happy memories of times spent together.

I often work with families looking to reward their mother for everything she has done, with a one-off 'Stella' Family book. A bespoke photography book is a unique way to celebrate family times together, and when given is a much-cherished gift. A book I created ‘For Sarah’ stands out in my mind, where I was commissioned to capture for one mother her home and family over a three month period. She had no idea that I had been working behind the scenes photographing everything she held dear – her herb garden, favourite roses and sunflowers, the housekeeper’s cottage and garden and of course members of her family.

The book cover was printed on a fine linen cloth with gold foil lettering to create a unique present, which she was thrilled with. If you would like to commission something similar for your mother, please contact me for more information.

Stella

My Highlights from this Year's Fantastic London Classic Car Show

On Thursday 15 February, I packed up my camera and headed over to London’s ExCel’s Exhibition Centre for the fourth annual London Classic Car Show. For those of you who have not been, the show celebrates beautiful, classic motoring nostalgia in a dramatic setting and it is one of the highlights of my year!

This year’s show was opened in a dramatic fashion by three well-known TV motoring presenters; Alex Riley (BBC One Show), Jonny Smith (Fifth Gear and Mud, Sweat & Gears) and Quentin Willson (BBC Top Gear, Fifth Gear and The Classic Car Show).  It was clear right from the opening that the show was going to be bigger and better than ever before. 

Once again, an enormous indoor race track, known as the ‘Grand Avenue’, ran through the centre of the ExCel, enthralling visitors and allowing them to see – and hear – some of their favourite classics in action. The car above is a 1907 Stanley H4 Gentleman's Speedy Roadster, the hypercar of its era.

Getaway Cars

The show paid homage to ‘Getaway Cars’.  This was an evocative tribute to those vehicles made famous in movies or used in headline grabbing real-life robberies and was curated by Philip Glenister, aka DCI Gene Hunt from BBC police dramas Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes.  

Alongside the vehicles made famous for dramatic escapes, the show welcomed their very own celebrity drivers with actor Nick Moran of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels reliving various of his film roles at the special display. 

Nick Reynolds, the son of Bruce Reynolds, was reunited with the very Lotus Cortina that his late father used to stake out the Great Train Robbery in 1963. The Lotus has just 3,500 miles on the clock and is still fitted with the same tyres that helped the police to hunt down the gang!

Nick Moran with the Italian Job Mini Cooper brought to London.

Nick Reynolds with his father Bruce Reynolds' Lotus Cortina used in The Great Train Robbery.

RAF Red Arrows and Aston Martin Owners Club

Squadron Leader Adam Collins from the RAF Red Arrows was on the Aston Martin Owners Club stand with a Vanquish S Red Arrows limited edition model, which was recently raffled for a huge £1.5m, earning for the RAF Benevolent Fund. He was joined by Humphrey Bradley from south east London – the lucky man who won the car.

Lister Thunder Launch on the Grand Avenue

The opening evening witnessed a pair of major global car launches with two of Britain's most iconic marques unveiling spotlight-stealing new models. First Morgan took the wraps on its latest +4 Club Sport and then Lister revealed its never-seen-before Thunder. 

This year’s theme was ‘Specials’, which put the spotlight on an eye-catching gathering of road and race cars steeped in history and mystique. No fewer than 60 hand-picked classics were fired up for jaw-dropping, not to mention very noisy, displays on The Grand Avenue.

As the dramatic live show came towards its conclusion, the show opening trio of Riley, Smith and Willson selected four stand-out cars with a combined value of more than £3m to join the parade: a 1931 Bentley 8-litre; a highly-original 1961 Jaguar E-type; a 1992 Jaguar XJ220 and a 2015 McLaren P1 hypercar – a classic car of the future. 

The trio was joined by former Blue Peter and GMTV presenter Anthea Turner for the photograph next to the Lister Thunder.

The Morgan latest +4 Club Sport takes its place on the Grand Avenue.

Presenter Alex Riley with the 1961 Jaguar E-Type and 1931 Bentley 8 litre.

A 1934 Rolls-Royce 20/25 Gurney Nutting - a shimmering silver masterpiece of the coachbuilders' art.

A 1989 Lotus Judd Type 101, Chassis no 3 - an aerodynamically ambitious Camel.

Nigel Mansell CBE, closes the show

On Sunday, the racing legend Nigel Mansell CBE arrived at the show to talk about a special collection of his racing cars and to provide a fitting close to the event.

The 1992 F1 World Champion wowed Sunday crowds with some wonderful driving displays on the Grand Avenue, which included a wheel-spinning entrance behind the wheel of a Jaguar E-type inspired Eagle Speedster.

He later returned in a red Ferrari 246 Dino F1 front-engined F1 car from the late fifties and was also reunited with some of the cars which he raced during his roller-coaster career. 

At the end of his performance on the Grand Avenue, Nigel was awarded the 2018 London Classic Car Show Icon award.

My closing thoughts

All in all, this year’s show was a brilliant experience from start to finish. Nigel Mansell CBE was a real highlight for me, especially his performances on the Grand Avenue, his interview at the Supaguard Theatre and his presentation of the London Classic Car Show Icon award. 

I hear the show attracted over 38,000 visitors and featured close to 700 of the world’s finest classic cars worth more than £300m. Next year’s dates for your diary are 14-17 February 2019 - I am looking forward to it already!

To see a variety of other photographs from the event please click this link to our sister website 'Stella'.

Please follow me on Instagram for new pictures and stories of future events on @stellasms and @stellascordellis.

Thank you.

Stella

Celebrating 21 Years of SMS Creative Photography 'In Five' Photographs

To celebrate 21 years of my SMS Creative studio, I have picked my five favourite shots. It was a difficult task, so here goes! 

Girls in front of String Quartet.

I took this photograph at a wedding in 1999 of a little girl who was running around until she came across this wonderful string quartet where she stood mesmerised, giving me the perfect photo opportunity.

Husband and wife on Mother’s Day.

I was commissioned by this couple’s daughter to make a surprise appearance at a family gathering on Mother’s Day five years ago. I just love this photograph because it shows a wonderful moment between husband and wife in their garden - their expressions say it all.

Twins together at Christmas.

These twin sisters I photographed in 1998, aged four, were so close and their unique understanding of each other comes through so clearly in this image to make it a beautiful expression of their partnership.

Little girl behind the flowers.

I photographed this adorable little girl in 2016 with her three brothers at home in their garden with beautiful spring flowers. After photographing her with her brothers we had a little walk around the garden. This photograph wasn’t posed, she just peeked through the flowers and this is the result! I loved it from the moment I clicked the shutter.

The Queens Golden Jubilee June 2012.

This photograph outside Buckingham Palace was the result of me waiting amongst the crowds for over three hours on the Mall for the Royal procession to catch a precious glimpse of the Royals. After the procession, I was jostled along with the crowd and found myself in prime position to take this photograph, at the same time as a Red Arrows Fly Past!  On the balcony are the Queen, Prince William, Kate, Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince Harry.

Stella

Mother’s Day Special Offer:

We are pleased to offer a special gift for Mother's Day. 

Our Mother's Day Special Offer is a discounted studio photo-shoot for up to four people and a 7” x 5” photograph, from the shoot, presented in a silver plated frame and gift boxed.

The special offer for both the shoot and photograph is £125 - the usual cost is £140.

Simply visit SMS Creative Photography to receive a personalised gift voucher or call the studio on 01883 722282. 

Your mother will be able to redeem for this offer within six months from 11th March.

Stella

Terms & Conditions apply - this offer is valid for Mother's Day 2018 with no cash alternative, gift vouchers to be redeemed within six months of 11th March 2018.

Stella