Your Bluebell Photoshoot Will Soon Be Here.

Spring is in the air and I can certainly feel it with temperatures set for 14c this weekend, hopefully we can start shedding our winter layers and embrace some warmth in the air.

With this in mind it won’t be too long before I start venturing out on bluebell watch to gauge when our magical woodlands will be ablaze with a carpet of bluebells. The first step is to see when the shoots start appearing as this is a good indicator for when to expect them which is usually late April early May, however I have know them to flower as early as the 4th of April.

Now is the time to reserve your place for a family bluebell photo-shoot experience so I can get in touch nearer the time with a few dates to choose from, try not to delay as they will only be in flower for a short time before they are past their best.

Do get in touch either by calling into the studio, telephoning 01883 722282 or follow this link to find out more to commission your photo-shoot.

Thank you!

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

Happy Birthday SMS Creative Photography 22 Today!

Wow! Where have the years gone, all 22 of them, yes that’s right 22 years since I opened the doors to my shiny new business SMS Creative Photography here at 83 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey on 10th February 1997.

A very big thank you to all of you my lovely customers, because without you I would not be celebrating this significant milestone with much ambition for the future.

I have made many changes since 1997 having grown professionally and personally evolving with the times, including the services I offer, my style of photography and in 2011 the change of logo and a new shop front.

The shop front then and now.

However the one momentous change for me and all of you too, has been the introduction of digital photography and all that goes with it on the post production side, this has revolutionised the way I work.

When I first opened the studio I was loading countless rolls of film into my various cameras with either 36 or 12 exposures depending on the format of the camera, then taking the exposed colour, black & white or sepia film to be processed at different specialists, all of which was very time consuming and somewhat restrictive creatively.

I was first introduced to the world of digital photography back in 1999 when I bought my first computer, I never imagined it would ‘catch-on’ because the quality back then did not have the clarity and finesse it does now.

So it was with much trepidation I stepped or ‘clicked’ into unchartered waters and made the gradual change-over at the turn of the century becoming fully digital in 2004.

As we all know there are so many benefits to digital photography - the obvious ones are that you can view your image instantly and share it worldwide at the tap of a button or blink of the eye, the post production, which was once a skill restricted to a very few is now far more accessible to the masses.

I do love the benefit of making multiple copies of a image without loss of quality, something that was not possible with a negative as each generation of a copy would reduce the clarity.

However none of this changes the fact that I come armed with 40 years creative experience to know what the exposure of an image should be instinctively without having to check every single image, a skill learnt back in the days of film photography.

If you haven’t had a photo-shoot with me for a while what are you waiting for? There is a wonderful world out there just waiting for me to take you and your loved ones out and about on a photo-shoot to mark a moment in time for now and many, many years to come…

Thank you and bye for now!

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

Valentine's Love Stories

Roses are red violets are blue, come and have a photo-shoot of a loved one and you!

Spoil a special someone either in our cosy studio, or a stunning outdoor place to profess your undying love, call us to find out where and when to capture the heart of a loved one to say yes - 01883 722282

Come rain or shine, a meadow is always divine!

What’s your love story?

Let me photograph you in all your glory,

I’m just a phone call away,

So don’t delay and make that phone call today…

We can go for a hike with your bike, and pull in at the Bull inn for a pint, that’s after your photo-shoot of course!

You can whisper sweet nothings to your mister.

Happy Valentine’s!

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

Looking Back at 2018 - Highlights

Woodland photo-shoot October 2018.

I love the start of a new year as it focusses my mind on projects and commissions for the coming year, I can reflect on the past year and make changes and improvements to the areas that would benefit most and to be able to engage with you, my lovely customers and readers.

My passion is my work and I’m always up for new challenges and adventures, especially as I celebrate 22 years with SMS Creative Photography.

There have been significant changes during my professional career in the world of photography, if someone had told me back in 1976, when I was a photography student at art college, it would one day be possible to take a photograph and to be able to view it within seconds on the back of my camera, I doubt I would have believed them, let alone to be able to share it worldwide instantly! Back then I was photographing with a roll of film with either 12, 24 or 36 exposures that took at least a week for processing and printing, how times have changed for us all.

What a wonderful thing this is and so powerful too, but we mustn’t loose sight of the importance of printing and saving our images, to share with future generations about how life was back in the day, and to seek the services of professionals to keep the art and craftsmanship of imagery alive.

Looking back at 2018 there were many of photography highlights, including studio and location portraits as well as commissions to photograph during the British Grand Prix in July and other exclusive events that showcase on my ‘Stella’ Lifestyle Photography website.

Below are few images from the past year to reflect on, the coming year is going to be an interesting one for me as I collaborate with others on exciting new projects, read on to see more…

World Champion racing driver Nigel Mansell at the London Classic Car Show in February 2018 where he was presented with the Icon Award for services to motor racing.

A lovely family amongst the bluebells in April 2018.

A photo-shoot for an adorable pug 2108.

Happy couple in a wonderful private meadow in June 2018.

Family photo-shoot in a local Kent vineyard in July 2018.

A selection of images from Masterpiece 2018 which is held over four days on the site of the Chelsea Flower Show, London, at the end of June and beginning of July.

Lance Stroll showing his golf swing during the Live Sky Broadcast on the Thursday pre-race and press day at the British Grand Prix 2018.

A selection of images from Silverstone Classic July 2018 both track side, garage side and on the podium.

Photographing at Salon Privé at the end of August 2018 held in the spectacular grounds of Blenheim Palace.

Birthday celebrations at Hever Castle in August 2018.

The glass and implements contents of a Sevres travel box for a magazine feature 2018.

Refurbishment and re-opening of the much-loved Bull Inn, Limpsfield in November 2018.

The South Bank - 28 February 2018 during the coldest day since records began.

Thank you for reading my highlights from 2108 - if you would like to follow my monthly newsletter round-up please subscribe at the end of this blog.

To read blogs from my sister website ‘Stella’ Lifestyle Photography please follow this link.

Last but not least, if there is an event, project or commission you have in mind please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.

New Studio Opening Hours for 2019

The New Year has begun and so has the thought process to implement all that has been swirling in my head for the past few days, so with much excitement I can put into action my new SMS Creative Photography Studio Opening Hours for 2019.

As I approach the 22nd anniversary, on 10th February, since opening the doors to my shiny and gleaming new business back in 1997 I am taking the time to change with the forever evolving 21st century and take the Bull (no, not the Bull Inn in Limpsfield) by the horns and make some positive changes to my work and personal life balance. For those that know me well my passion for work has taken up a huge amount of time with other areas taking a back seat.

With the last of my three adorable grown-up children fleeing the well-feathered nest last October and my last full-time junior employee leaving at the same time, to climb the ladder to his ever growing career, it’s also time for me to graduate too - not to pastures new because I’m not ready just yet to leave Oxted town but I am ready to expand my photographic path and explore new adventures which are forever presenting themselves. 

By changing the studio hours it means I will be working away on location projects on the days the studio is closed and spending a bit more time investing in other areas during shorter studio hours. 

We all know modern day technology means we can be in regular contact wherever we are in the world, so I can still connect with you and my regular blogs will keep you updated about forthcoming photo opportunities that I know many of you love, such as family photo-shoots amongst the bluebells and other spectacular locations including studio photo-shoots which will always continue.

As we witness the changes on High Streets nationwide including Oxted, the town I have grown to love personally and professionally, please continue to support your High Street and all the retailers who work tirelessly on their businesses to bring something new to you. 

Whilst Oxted evolves with the demolition of the Gasometer to produce 111 new dwellings to welcome new blood to our town, I look forward to photographically documenting the process over the next two years so we don’t forget, with the blink of an eye, that life is evolving and we can share our social history with our children, and our children’s children.

I am forever grateful to my loyal staff, one of whom left over seven years ago to grow a family of her own and now works for me as an expert retoucher and finisher on a freelance basis.

I will be taking time out from the studio to celebrate the 22nd anniversary on an exciting overseas assignment, more about this to follow with dates to be confirmed, we won’t lose touch as I will keep you updated with the wonders of Instagram on @StellaSMS during the assignment.

From Friday 1st February the new studio opening hours are:

Tuesday to Friday 10am - 5pm

Saturday 10am - 3pm

Sunday and Monday Closed

Location appointments available outside these hours.

Thank you!

Stella

To read other previous blogs these can be found on the ‘Featured’ blogs below by using the arrows on the right to scroll through the past 30 blogs.