Websites I love...

So in my last blog entry, I briefly touched on a website I used to gather resources together called Pinterest.

Pinterest is basically an online pin board. You're browsing the internet, find a picture you like, and you want to show it/share it/ make a note of it for later. Basically with Pinterest, you create an account, then drag and drop the "Pin It" tool to your bookmarks on your internet browser, and every time you see a photo or image you like, you click the "pin it" tool, and it pins the image (with a link to the original source) to your pin board. Think of it like your favourites list on Flickr, only you can favourite anything on the internet.

I find the Pinterest tool very useful for sharing images with people, especially creative teams collaborating on photo shoots. I think of it as being a virtual scrapbook I can access with an internet connection. Using it as a tool with my creative teams during my period photo shoots, I was able to make notes and instructions about what I was looking for, especially in relation to make up, hair, costume, poses, and so on. Make up artists usually create mood boards, and Pinterest is the sort of resource that would let you do that. Plus, you can create as many different pin boards as you like, you can follow and comment and re-pin from friends pin boards too.

As a resource, I think this has endless possibilities for anyone doing research on the web. Still stuck for things you could do? Here's some of my suggestions:


1. Mood Boost Board
Monday morning, sitting at work, feeling a bit fed up that the weekend has gone so quickly? Why not create a mood board that will help boost your mood? Collect pictures of loved friends and family scattered across the internet; pictures of exotic beaches you fancy visiting someday; your dream home/car; or just fill it with collected pictures of your favourite actor/singer to make everyone else wonder what's brought such a smile to your face so early in the day.

2. Healthy Board
It might not be scientifically proven (I'm basing this on personal experience here!) but if you're trying to improve your health, why not gather pictures to inspire you? A dress you want to buy (and fit into!), or photos of appetising and healthy food to tempt you away from the chocolate eclairs. Or photos of people exercising, or doing outdoor activities, or lush green parks, people at spas - anything that makes you want to get fit and healthy. If standing by the supermarket queue and seeing sweets tempts you to buy and tuck into something chocolatey, perhaps a healthy board will tempt you towards something a little better for you!


3. Hair Cuts
Read the beauty pages of any magazine, and they usually suggest that you take pictures of hair styles to show your hairdresser. If you're anything like me, you usually remember this when its a bit late - the day of the appointment! So save some time, and start a haircut pin board; so if you want the back of one cut with the fringe from another picture, or a particular shade then why not create a pin board of haircuts you like, and build a collection of pictures to help you get the hairstyle you want!


4. Interiors
We'd all like to have a home built up of collected and selected objects, but how many of us actually end up with a mismatched clutter instead? Why not make up a mood board to help you create your dream interior designs? Think of it as a means of drawing all your ideas together into a more organised selection, you could use it to find sofas, lights, book shelves, paint or wallpaper or curtains that would all work together into your ideal room.


5. Gardens
Same ideas as the interiors - use the boards to help organise your thought processes over your dream garden. Build up pictures of plants, shrubs, and features that could work in your garden, rather than arriving at the garden centre with a blank mind and a shopping basket filled with plants that you hope will work when you get home. 


6. Holidays
Get inspired for dream holidays and places you'd like to visit. You could also use it as a board to cheer you up when you need a daydream or two of a gorgeous beach when its raining outside. You might be surprised what you find landing on your pin board - you might be tempted to explore a new country or location that you've yet to visit; or swap your usual hotel by the beach in the Med for a holiday exploring the Far East.

7. Photos
This is my favourite one, and perhaps I'm a little biased. One of my previous brides decided to send me links to wedding photos she'd seen on the internet, to ask if I could do photos in the style she'd found. It was a great thing to do - we both then had a clear idea exactly of what she wanted and a starting point for talking about her wedding photography. Much like showing your hairdresser pictures of styles you like, this sort of board could help you get the photos you want, and helps make sure everyone is clear as to what you're after and what can be created for you!

8. Clothes
Ever see a photo of a dress, or shoes or a top you like in a magazine then completely forget about it or where you've seen it? Why not create a visual shopping list for yourself using the Pinterest boards? You could do this especially for getting a holiday wardrobe together before you go away, or maybe some new clothes for a personal make-over.


9. Events
Preparing for a wedding? why not make your own research boards of things you like. So wedding cakes, chair decorations, bridesmaid dresses, bouquets, table centre pieces; or maybe you're planning a birthday bash and want to make sure you get the right location and themes for the day? You could add design, decoration, even just a mood through a picture.

10. Things to do
Think of this as DIY and how-tos. The internet is awash with useful examples of how to make things, how to do things yourself. Sure, we all bookmark the most useful things (if we remember); at worst, we trawl through links we've posted on Facebook/Twitter, or maybe even type in a few words to a search engine. Well, what about tagging the photos of things you want to make, create, do, become, improve? the "after" photo, so you can see how its done? One of the useful things about pinterest, is that it takes you back to the source of the original image, so you can find it there. Alternatively, the how-to in question might take the form of an image, so you could link to that. Or you might want to simply make a collection of things you plan to make in the future (which as someone who enjoys knitting, usually includes "make a scarf like this"). Your things to do might not be quite so creatively minded, but more places you want to visit, local coffee shops, or days out. Make something to jog your memory, keep it fresh, and ensure you actually do the things you're planning, make it a to-do-list you actually feel inspired to tick off.

Portrait of a lady

18th Century lady, originally uploaded by Kristin Mitchell photography.

So the past few weeks, I've been kept exceptionally busy.  As you might know, I already have a collection of qualifications in photography from college, but I recently signed up to a night class for a one-off course. 

When I left college last year, there was a photograph I'd created which to be honest, was what I'd call a bit of a slow burner. It took me a while to fall in love with it, but lots of other people seemed to like it a lot.  

It's this photograph, of a kite. 

The kite photograph was originally for an advertising concept, for wind energy. The outdoor image was shot first, then projected onto muslin cloth in a studio, and a kite was placed in front of the muslin.

After leaving college, I wished I'd experimented more with projections. So, when the chance came to do another class, and a self-initiated project, I decided to use projections again.

The inspiration for my project was old paintings and portraits, how aristocrats were portrayed in front of gorgeous vistas. So I started doing some digging around and more research. I decided to create modern portraits using projections to create the idea of someone sitting in front of a gorgeous vista.

It was a surprisingly big project. Although I created three portraits, the starting point was the background. I decided to take lots of pictures of backgrounds, so that I could bring out the richness in the shadow and detail in the lighter areas, much like traditional portrait painters would have done. If you look at almost any traditional painting, even in the darkest corner, it's not actually black paint; there's tiny details, in deep, dark rich colours, so subtle but still there. I wanted to make sure this wasn't lost with a camera, and took several photos, layering them in such a way to bring out the details and make it a rich palette of colour.

Next, was the portrait. The background was projected, but there had to be separate exposures - one for the background and another for the sitter; the background needed a longer exposure time than the sitter under the studio lights.

For two of the portraits, I hired dresses from Scottish Opera.

The portrait above, drew on inspiration from the 18th Century. I also created a portrait of a one of my regular models, Vivien Taylor, using a gorgeous early 19th Century Jane Austen period costume. The inspiration behind this picture can be found on Pinterest.

Finally, I took a leap into the 20th Century. I was very much curious about this image of Elizabeth II on her coronation by Cecil Beaton. What was curious to me, initially, was the angles of the background in relation to the chair and seating position of the Queen. In closer cropped images, the background is looking up, at an angle, into the roof, while the Queen sits straight on, towards the camera. This wider angle version hints that perhaps what we see behind the Queen isn't all it seems, but maybe a backdrop.

With this in mind, the lovely Wendy from Flossy and Dossy agreed to pose for me as my regal model. Here she's wearing a dress she made, with the tiara kindly borrowed from Gioia Mia. The interior of this shot was taken inside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, and actually I think the flags and banners add an authenticity to the final image. Oh, and if you're wondering, yes, the clothes pegs were entirely intentional in the image - I wanted to show it wasn't simply a photoshop job, as people's awareness of image creation tends to become more cynical of how an image has been created.


The whole project kept me busy for the best part of seven weeks, including writing the proposal, sourcing background locations, photographing and editing the backgrounds, undertaking the research and constructing a research workbook, finding suitable dresses and props, as well as photographing and editing the images, printing them, and finally writing a evaluation. Both the proposal and evaluation had to be the length of an essay each.

So what do I get at the end of it? Well, enough credits, in conjunction with my previous college qualifications to undertake a single year's honours degree course, if I wish to do so. The alternative would have been to have spent a year full-time doing a degree course.

At this point in time, I have no intention on going back to college. While I enjoyed my time there, I don't feel that it's the right choice for me at this time. However, I always like to leave doors wide open when it comes to opportunities for the future, especially as this was very much a one-off night class. What I really got from it was the chance to explore projected backgrounds again in a large studio, and almost exclusive use of the studio for several weeks. It was also nice to do a more academic project again, and throw myself back into writing proposals and evaluations, and knowing that my work will be heavily critiqued and thoroughly evaluated by tutors.

For now though, its life back to normal and back to 21st century portraits!

Amanda and Stuart's Vegas themed wedding party

Recently, Amanda and her fiance Stuart decided to get married in Las Vegas. As a result, not all of their friends and family were able to make it over to help them celebrate. So they had a post-wedding party with a Vegas theme in Kirkintilloch, near Glasgow. They hired me to take some photos.

It was a slightly different set up from most weddings, this was more of an evening party than a full-on formal wedding. Amanda and Stuart hired a mini casino for the spare room to help entertain guests when they weren't enjoying dancing the night away. The function room was decorated with an Elvis cutout, and the prerequisite Vegas sign, to help get their guests in the mood for some casino fun.

Congratulations to Stuart and Amanda on their wedding, and wishing them the best of luck for their future together!

Bridesmaid Revisited

I thought that today I'd share with you the images from the photoshoot I did last Thursday.

The shoot took place at the Hub, in Edinburgh (right next to Edinburgh Castle). One thing about the Hub is that its spire is actually the highest point in all of Edinburgh. 

My dressmaker for this was Wendy from Flossy and Dossy. We'd been talking about doing a bridesmaid wear shoot since October last year, following my previous shoot with her dresses at Viewpark Gardens.

We got together with Sonia from Gioia Mia who supplied the jewellery and fantastic head pieces; one of my favourite make up artists, Kathryn Hughes, and two models Sophie and Esther who looked absolutely gorgeous and radiated the demure glamour we needed. Both Wendy and Sonia provided bespoke, individual pieces for this shoot, which I think look gorgeous. Wendy even supplied the shoes, which she hand-painted to work with the dresses. You can see more about how she did that here:

http://flossyanddossy.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-shoes.html

To be honest, this was a dream shoot to work on. Everyone gave complete commitment and worked hard; the venue, The Hub, were fantastic at giving us the space to shoot; and the whole day couldn't have run more smoothly. 

Dresses: Flossy and Dossy www.flossyanddossy.co.uk
Jewellery and accessories: Gioia Mia www.gioiamia.net
Make up and hair: Kathryn Hughes
Models: Sophie Robertson and Esther Kungu www.estherkungu.com/
Photography: Kristin Mitchell www.kristinmitchell.co.uk
Location: The Hub, Edinburgh www.thehub-edinburgh.com/

Coming soon....

Twirl preview, originally uploaded by Kristin Mitchell photography.

Just finished a lovely photoshoot today. The shoot was in conjunction with Gioia Mia Designs jewellery, Flossy and Dossy, Kathryn Hughes make up artist, and the Hub in Edinburgh.

We had a great day, and I'm really looking forward to processing them. In the mean time, a quick preview photo for your delectation!

Keep on moving

I don't think I've ever been good at staying still for long. I'm always wanting to tweak things just a little. Even if its my sitting position.

April is my annual website anniversary month. Even before I hit my anniversary though I'm always looking at ways I can improve my site.

My website is my shopfront in the virtual world. I don't like it to stay still for long. Much like wandering past shop windows, with mannequins with ever-changing outfits, I like to keep adjusting my display.

The hard bit though is sometimes knowing what other people like about it. Whether what I like is hitting the same chords with everyone else.

I like to try and keep the layout as fresh as possible, to update, constantly improve. I take the view that my website is a continuous working document; I don't like to leave it sitting still for long, or stagnating.

At the moment, I'm looking for views about my website to help me improve it. I'm looking for opinions on what I've currently got. I have thoughts of my own, but its always good to hear the thoughts of other people, to give me ideas of how to improve my website and make it more appealing to potential customers. Given anyone could decide to walk down the aisle, or hire someone to take some lifestyle portraits, it's good to get as broad a range of tastes and thoughts as possible. As much as I want my website to be about my personality and photography, it's also about making it aesthetically pleasing to others.

So, if you have time to spare, I'd be grateful if you could take some time to fill out this survey.

Seeing Past the Photograph

Today I thought I’d write about looking at photography.

Whenever we log on to the internet and look at people’s websites and galleries, its easy to be blown away by a slick photography website, and overlook what we’re actually considering. If you went into a car showroom, and saw a lovely, shiny new car, complete with the new car smell, lovely wet look black tyres, the reflection of lights dazzling on the bonnet, its easy to get the wow factor just looking at it. It might be a car you actually don’t like very much, that doesn’t meet your needs, you might not even like the colour – but the showroom surroundings make it look great.

Looking at an online gallery is a bit like a showroom. The hardest bit is actually looking properly at the images and deciding whether it meets our needs, whether we think it’s a good photograph. Is that a photograph you’d want in your home, or are you being dazzled by the showroom effect?

Photography is an individual taste thing. I can’t tell you what to look for. I don’t even advise looking at whether it “fulfils the rules of composition”, because some photos don’t adhere to the so-called rules and look great; and anyway, rules are made to be broken.

What you need to look for is whether you can you see yourself in that photo; do you want to be that person in the photo; is that a photograph you would want to have on your wall or in your wedding album for the rest of your life?

To help though, I’ve written a few things I tend to consider when I’m looking through other people’s work.

1. What's going on in the portfolio?
Most photographers have their work broken down into different categories, different galleries. I look at each category gallery as a portfolio. Look through each portfolio carefully, and see what they’re including in it. Also consider what they’ve not included though – have they included images of details, the flowers, table decorations, cake, rings? They may have chosen not to include it in their portfolio, but by considering what’s included – and what’s not included – can help inform you, and you can always ask about this if you choose to contact them.

2. Size and variety of portfolio?
I've learned to try and edit my portfolio down to the very best images I have, the ones I feel proudest of. I might have four or five similar photographs but editing is important, so I'll find the strongest image of those four or five and will only use that image in my portfolio. A portfolio with lots of similar images for example, a bride from a slightly different angle, but in the same location, same pose... to me, its a bit like watching the same advert three times in a commercial break. It can work as a diptych or triptych as a sequence to tell a little story (where two or three images are placed together on one page). One thing that's always been ingrained to me is that its better to have a small portfolio of 10 fantastic images, than 20 images where 10 aren't so great. I've always been reminded I'm only as strong as my weakest photograph. In terms of variety, that's a personal choice. I actually have different portfolios for each category of work I like doing. So my wedding portfolio consists purely of wedding work; there's no portraits or non-wedding related photographs in the selection. I like seeing portfolios that stick to one category of photography. I'm less keen on portfolios with two garden flower photos; three bridal images; a slick city building; two of cars; four of children in a studio... I like photographs to stay relevant to the subject of the portfolio. It doesn't matter if the portfolio is small, as long as it’s the best work the photographer has to offer. I think of it like a chef showcasing their food - they don’t serve a starter, main course and dessert all on the same plate at the same time.

3. What do these people look like?
Nobody is perfect, everyone has their flaws. A good photographer though should make the viewer completely overlook the flaws. It shouldn't be the first, second or third thing you see. The mood of the photograph should be the thing that catches your eye first – are these people wearing fixed grins, or are they genuinely having fun? We've all seen photos of ourselves that we hate, ones that show off a double chin, look right up the nostrils, make our bodies look larger than we need reminded of. A good photographer should be able to avoid this. Sometimes photographers will ask someone to drape their body over something – a car, a tree, a bench. Think about how these people look – whether their pose looks stiff and uncomfortable, or whether it looks relaxed and natural.

4. What am I looking at here?
This is a bit like no. 3 – look at what the photographer has seen; or maybe look at what the photographer hasn’t seen. Taking a good photograph involves more than pressing a button – the photographer should be looking around before they take the photograph. It’s about the attention to detail in the image. So look around the picture. When we pose for photos with our friends, we might find the tidiest location to take the photo, or we select a nice view in the background. Has the photographer thought about this?

Some details can be edited out, but it should be noted that Photoshop and other photo editing software isn’t a failsafe, fix-all. There are things I will edit out of the image, which are easy to take out, and might be unavoidable, for example a bright green exit sign in the far background of a photograph; dead leaves lying on a lawn, even fence poles between my subject and a great view.

Ideally a photographer should get everything right in camera, rather than rely on Photoshop to fix it. Some things simply can’t be fixed in Photoshop, and a good photographer should manoeuvre to try and get it as right as possible.  Look around the image and see if the photographer has achieved that.

5. What effects have they used?
There are so many effects now, but you still need to look beyond the effect to see the actual image. The effects a photographer might employ include: sepia or cyanotype toning; spot-saturation (one item is colour, the rest is black and white), soft, hazy effects, turning the camera at a 45 degree angle.

Personally, of all those listed above I dislike the black and white with spot saturation effect most of all, as I find it distracting and overused. I also think its an effect that is already starting to go out of fashion, and it’s going to date the image quickly, although its something I think most people will experiment with at some point.

Sepia and cyanotype (blue toning) can be quite nice, as an alternative to black and white, but it depends on the situation. Certainly, their roots are in traditional darkroom techniques.  The 45 degree angle will give an effect of being candid, suggesting that it’s been “shot from the hip” and unposed – but you’ll have to look carefully to decide whether its actually posed or not. 

The most important thing to decide is whether these effects are appropriate for the actual content of the image. A vintage wedding car might look good with a sepia tone; a modern wedding car however might not.  Equally a black and white image of a bride with spot saturated blue eyes or red lips may end up looking a bit too supernatural or ghoulish.

I remember years ago at a portfolio review in London, a photographer asked me why I’d put an image into black and white when the rest of the set were in colour. I replied, “I thought it looked good when I tried it out”. The photographer advised me that I ought to think about what I was going to do with the image before I took the photograph rather than as an afterthought. Ever since then, effects have been a pre-thought rather than slapping it on an image afterwards to see what happens.  I’ll take the image with an idea in mind about how I want to present it. If an effect looks a bit odd, then I tend to assume the photographer hasn’t planned or considered the image first. I love photograph where the effect complements the subject matter perfectly.

These aren’t hard and fast rules for analysing photography, but its important to remember this is something you need to love once it’s come out of the showroom. There’s nothing worse than a photograph depreciating in its value to you when you take it home.  

Vintage darlings: Fifties Wedding

As part of my exploration into vintage, I am extremely pleased to present this week’s featured guest, Charlie, who co-writes the blog at http://fiftieswedding.com/.

Charlie‘s blog is very much a mother-daughter collaboration, with her mum Selma writing a regular post every week. Their website features lots of beautiful vintage ideas and inspiration, most noteably paying homeage to Charlie’s icon, Audrey Hepburn.

Their Fifties Wedding blog is a lot more than articles about vintage. Selma and Charlie offer brides (and anyone involved in weddings) lots of useful tips, how-tos, practical ideas and inspiring images, including dedicated inspiration galleries of wedding dresses and wedding shoes. Personally I think it’s a great resource that ought to be bookmarked by any vintage inspired bride in the process of planning her wedding.

Charlie and Selma began writing Fifties Wedding in October 2010, and in the short space of time it’s become very popular, no doubt as a result of Charlie and Selma’s evident passion for vintage and breadth of ideas. I asked Charlie how she finds having such a popular blog since October. Charlie explains “I have met so many lovely people through doing it. I am completely shocked at how popular the blog has become in such a short space of time – I really never thought there were so many 50s inspired brides out there! It’s obviously a great feeling to know that people are interested and reading the blog though! I couldn’t be happier – hopefully it will just keep growing!”

Charlie was initially inspired to start the blog after finding difficulty in sourcing what she wanted for your own wedding. She particularly had problems finding a dress, bird cage veil and shoes, all within her budget. Like many people, although she could have spent hours on Google, what she really wanted was a single website with tips on everything. Charlie explains, “In the end I made my own birdcage veil for example, because I just didn’t know where else to get it! Since doing the blog of course I have found that there are hundreds and hundreds of fabulous small suppliers & designers out there. Indeed many of them I wish I had known about when planning my wedding!”

I asked Charlie about what vintage she incorporated into her own wedding. Charlie replies, “It was a mixture of 50s, vintage, summer & country all wrapped up in one. My dress was 50s inspired – tea length with a petticoat to give it that 50s shape. I wore my mum’s vintage pearls too, and had 50s inspired peep toe shoes with bows on. We hired an old-fashioned style ice cream trike, made lots of bunting to hang round the garden, and put flowers in vintage vases and jugs”.

I wanted to know a little more about what attracted Charlie specifically towards 50s vintage. She says “I love the fashion and style of the era and the glamorous movie star icons (Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn). Those full dresses, the red lipstick, the bows, the polka dots…just some of the things I love!”

So why does Charlie think there’s been such an increased interest in vintage inspired weddings? Charlie responds “I think there has been a general acceptance over the years that your wedding doesn’t have to be traditional if you don’t want it to be. The eras of the 20s, 30s, 40s & 50s particularly evoke nostalgia and romance that I think people are drawn to – the black & white movies, the art deco posters, the wartime fashions, the Hollywood actors of the 30s etc. All of these times reflect our history. I also think that there has been a growing interest towards vintage-inspired weddings just as much as there has been a growing interest towards DIY weddings, hippy weddings, weddings in unusual locations and all sorts of other sorts of weddings. With more and more wedding websites and blogs, and more articles in magazines about ‘alternative’ weddings, brides-to-be are encouraged to make their big day personal to them – whatever that may be.”

Of course, not everyone wants their wedding to be completely vintage inspired, and some brides might want to incorporate a few elements that can achieve a vintage feel. I asked Charlie what tips she had for anyone looking for some subtle vintage details. Charlie suggests “Well it’s all about the wedding you want that reflects you. For a touch of 50s glamour it could be anything such as little pearl earrings & gloves, or perhaps an Audrey Hepburn updo. I think flowers in vintage vases and tea cups are a great idea too. I think a 50s style dress of course is very important!”

Since I started this exploration of vintage weddings, one thing that has been apparent is how flattering vintage clothing is on different figures. I asked Charlie if she thought this was part of the appeal of vintage wedding glamour. Charlie answers “I definitely think that plays a part – with 50s styles anyway! That’s why I love the 50s style dresses. Wearing vintage clothing is like wearing a little bit of fashion history too, and if you’re wearing you mum’s cardigan from the 1960s you can be pretty sure no one else will be wearing the same thing! It’s fun to be different!”

And does Charlie have any tips to achieving the right look? She says, “There is no right or wrong – that’s the beauty of it! You can incorporate as little or as much vintage as you like.”

Finally, I asked Charlie if she had anything she’d like to add?

Charlie replies “Only that if you’re getting married, have the wedding your way!”.

With thanks to Charlie for her fantastic answers – her blog is definitely a must-read for any bride to be, or anyone interested in vintage. I'm personally eyeing up the brooches featured in their article 1950s Inspired Thank You Gifts for Bridesmaids & Mums - I reckon they could make a nice mothers day gift!


Follow Fifties Wedding on Twitter @fiftieswedding
 Fifties Wedding Facebook page
Fifties Wedding website

Society girl

One of the things when people are looking for a photographer, is to check their credentials. This means different things to different people. It could be what courses they've undertaken - checking whether its a part-time, full time college or university course; whether they've had a class as part of a wider study; whether they've attended weekend classes run by professional photographers  - and if so, who they are. It can also be their reputation- whether previous couples had a positive experience; it can be their photographic background; but it can also be whether they're a member of a group, society, or organisation, and that's what I'm going to write about today.

Truth is, I'm not a member of any photography organisation. I'm currently weighing up the value of each, as there are a few, and each offer different memberships and conditions of membership. I often see a chain of letters after photographers names, and in some cases this indicates a membership of an organisation. As a photographer, I am trying to work out a number of things, which I'm going to write about today:

• what are the benefits to me as a photographer for joining;
• what is the entrance requirement to join;
• what are the qualifications or distinctions within the organisation, and what's required for these;
• how well respected is the organisation perceived to be by members and members of the public;
• what's the quality of members work like.

The societies and organisations I've been looking at are:
The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP)
The Royal Photographic Society (RPS)
The British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP)
Master Photographers Association (MPA)


Benefits
First of all, the benefits. This is particularly important. Photography organisations need to offer something to me, as a photographer, more than just having my name listed alongside a hundred other photographers for the cost of membership. Photography organisations can cost upward of £100; and they don't guarantee any client that their experience will be somehow better than a non-organisation member. Lots of great photographers aren't members of photography organisations. It's certainly not compulsory. I was formerly a member of an organisation (although I won't name it), and I personally felt the benefits were very poor, so I let my membership lapse. Year on year, they began withdrawing the benefits but the cost stayed the same. To me, it was a bit like having a gym membership but watching as they removed the equipment and classes and still expect to pay the same. So don't expect every photographer to be a member of an organisation when you speak to them. Not all of them will feel that the benefits of any of the organisations matches their individual needs as photographers. The benefit for the photographer has to be more than giving a client peace of mind (which you shouldn't take purely on the basis of the photographer being an organisation member). For the same amount of money, a photographer could pay for flyers, an advert on a reputable wedding website, or in a magazine.

Entrance Requirements
After assessing the value to the photographer, next comes the requirement to join the organisation.
To make it a little easier, I've basically listed from the various websites of the organisations listed as I understand it. There are also page links to where I have sourced this information. The organisations listed all have different levels of entry. I'd advise reading through these (and read the websites) and familiarising yourself with what the entry requirements are, and the qualification options. In some cases there are also student membership options, however I have not included these in this list.

Some photographers may have joined an organisation purely by making a payment; others will have filled out an extensive application form and submitted photographic work for review by a panel to attain membership. You should be aware that not all organisations have the same entry requirement.

The Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) - no formal entrance requirement to join, to become a member, you pay the membership fee. http://www.swpp.co.uk/join.htm

There are however qualifications that members can apply for after they have joined. To attain a qualification, the member must submit prints of their work to be judged by a panel. The levels of qualification are: Licentiate; Associate; Craftsman (wedding only); and Fellowship. More information on the criteria required for members to attain these qualifications can be found here: http://www.swpp.co.uk/qualify.htm

The Royal Photographic Society There is no entry requirement to join the RPS. This is open to anyone with an interest in photography to join, more information can be found here: http://www.rps.org/membership-introduction/Join-The-Royal-Photographic-Society

 The RPS has three level of qualification (or distinction, to use their word). These are Licentiateship, Associateship and Fellowship, and the portfolio is judged by a voluntary members panel. More information can be found here: http://www.rps.org/distinctions-introduction

The British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP) - This organisation has various levels for people to join. The first level is as a "friend", and requires no formal entrance requirement. However members at friend level aren't allowed to promote themselves as BIPP members or use the BIPP logo. Secondly, there's qualifying membership and qualified membership. Qualifying membership allows photographers to work towards a qualification (although they can't advertise themselves as a member or use the logo until after they have qualified). Qualified membership is for more experienced photographers, for example those who require less assistance with attaining a qualification; or people who have previously been members and are rejoining. More information can be found here: http://www.bipp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=105

There are three levels of qualification: Licentiateship, Associateship and Fellowship. Members need to complete an application form and submit work to a judging panel to attain their qualifications. More information on qualifications can be read here: http://www.bipp.com/Default.aspx?tabid=95

Master Photographers Association - Membership to the MPA is restricted to full time professional photographers. To join, the photographer needs to submit references, which after approval the membership is accepted at probationary status. Candidates only receive full membership after completing their Licentiate and Diploma in Photographic Practice, and only after that can they advertise themselves as members and use the logos. More information is available here:
http://www.thempa.com/joining-the-master-photographers-association.php

The qualifications available are Licentiate, Associate, and Fellow. These are attained through submission of a portfolio of work, although the type of portfolio required depends on the type of category (e.g. wedding, portrait, fashion).  More information can be found here: http://www.thempa.com/master-photographers-association-qualification-grades.php

Is the organisation well respected?
On a personal level, I assess this by talking to people who are currently members. I like to get a feel from them from the inside as to how they view the value of their membership. Whether joining it has been a regret, or whether they recommend it. Sometimes, it's not until you join that you get an honest feel for all those benefits offered originally.

Everyone has their own opinion, their own idea and own story to tell. How compelling the story is though influences my opinion of the respectability of the organisation, and adds to how I'm presently trying to assess which organisation, if any, I want to join.

Ask around, speak to people who've hired photographers previously who were members of an organisation. Did they feel it made a difference? Were they satisfied with the quality of work they received from that photographer?  Remember, portfolios can consist of a small selection of images from a wide range of photographic shoots, sometimes over a number of years.

Quality of members work
Now this is something I definitely can't answer. My best advice here, is to look at the portfolios, exhibitions and galleries of members work. Do you feel overall, that the members galleries are consistent with what you like? Do you look through them and spot fantastic images constantly, or is it more sporadic?

What should you be looking for in a photographer's work? Again, that's an individual taste thing. Ultimately: can you see yourself in that photo; do you want to be that person in the photo; is that a photograph you would want to have on your wall or in your wedding album for the rest of your life?

Work out how much you like the photos, whether the styles appeal to you; whether they cover work which fits with the sort of photography service you're after. Don't necessarily expect someone who specialises in landscapes to be as strong, or as interested in wedding photography. A studio-based high fashion photographer might make a model look great for five photos in a half-day session in a studio filled with professional lighting equipment and careful post processing, but may lack the skill for timing, posing, and fast acting required for a reception filled with normal people and no fancy lighting set ups. Don't assume all photographers can do any type of photography. We all have strengths and weaknesses and we all have specialist interests. Think of it like a shop - some shops sell shoes, others sell clothes, others sell food, some sell cosmetics, others specialise in electrical equipment, some sell pet care. Ultimately, they all sell a product from fixed retail premises, but their specialism and individual knowledge can be quite different.

Look at the portfolio, see what they do, what they excel at, what interests them. Critique them honestly, be totally brutal about the worst things in their photos. Are those worst things really something that would destroy that image if it was yours? Is that worst thing a deal breaker? Or is it something that's so minute, so tiny, so small, it barely dents your overall opinion of the image? Remember, that image represents the highest standard the photographer has to offer.

Hopefully, this entry today will have given you some things to think about when you're selecting a photographer and the importance you place on organisation membership. Personally speaking, I'm hoping to make a decision soon - I'll let you know soon enough which organisation I apply for pending any necessary approval.

All of the text is based on information I've attained through research; as I'm yet to reach a personal decision I'm not sharing any personal opinion on the value of any of the organisations I discuss. However, if after reading this entry, you've got something you want to clarify (or if you know I've said something that's completely wrong and you wish to correct me), please feel free to do so via the comments or by email. Equally, I'd love to hear from people and their personal experiences, or opinions. Feel free to email me directly to tell me what you think and how you perceive photography organisations.

Coming soon, I'm going to write a piece about what I look at in photography, how I see a photograph that I wish I'd taken or I dislike totally. I'll also write about my own process of creating a portfolio and what it means to me.

Springness

Ok, so here's the thing: as much as I love the winter, the thing I really love about it is snuggling down and keeping snug. The downside is that it doesn't really inspire me to do all the things I ought to do with my time. I read a lot, I get ideas, but motivation for going outside isn't one of my strong points when we're down to 5 hours of daylight and actually, its just above freezing outside.

So I am pretty darn happy about springtime being here. I'm not big on summer, but I do like transitional periods of the year, and spring pretty much does that.

This spring, I'm looking forward to a number of exciting portfolio based photoshoots. All on location, and my little head has started ticking away with ideas and things to do. The downside to the photoshoots is the organisation. It's not that I'm useless at organising (sometimes I even surprise myself at what I can produce) it's just that I never really relax about something until the end of the shoot, when it's all done and dusted. That's when I take a chance to reflect and enjoy what's happened.

I enjoy the portfolio shoots for the fact that I have a chance to exercise my skills. The way I see it, there's no point in putting down the camera between paid work. I need to keep doing things, and my portfolio is constantly a live project.

The thing I enjoy about this time of year is how I feel more naturally motivated to do something, probably to do with the clocks and the amount of daylight, and all the lovely fresh smells. This spring in particular is much milder than last year, which is good for making me want to spend a little more time outside.

Hopefully, at least one photoshoot will be complete this time next month, and I'll have something new to show you; the others I'm hoping can be done soon too. I think the big thing is how impatient I get to produce the idea sitting in my head into an image.

Vintage darlings: Flossy and Dossy

all images courtesy of Flossy and Dossy

As part of my on-going exploration into vintage themes at weddings, I'm extremely pleased today to present talented Glasgow based dressmaker Wendy from Flossy and Dossy. I first met Wendy in September 2010 when we collaborated on a photoshoot. I was instantly drawn to Wendy's beautiful vintage inspired clothes - cute little summer dresses and ladylike floral print tops that wouldn't look out of place at a vintage tea party. What struck me most was the beautiful attention to detail and care towards vintage design.

Wendy started dressmaking and knitting initially as a hobby, making her own unique vintage inspired clothes. She started receiving compliments from friends as well as from strangers on her stunning creations and the requests started to come in from friends wanting her to make clothes for them. Wendy's confidence in her ability began to grow steadily along with her understanding of garment construction, however she knew she was onto something a little more special when her sister asked her to design and make a wedding dress.

Wendy began Flossy and Dossy in 2008. So where did the name Flossy and Dossy come from? Wendy explains "I wanted to pick a name that was fun, a little twee and playful, and after considering a few ideas I liked how it reflected my design concepts. It's also something that seems to stick in people's minds". Wendy was mindful of the importance of a good name and carefully selected a name which suited the market and brand of her business.

Wendy discusses how her business began, "I started off small, taking stalls at handmade vintage fairs such as those run by Made in the Shade, and dipping my toes in online selling, and it's all taken off from there. I also discovered early on how important it is to get good photographs, to show off my clothes in their best possible light."

I asked Wendy about where she gets her inspiration, and the personal appeal for her of vintage. Wendy says "Ever since I was little I've adored old movies, and I've always been fascinated by the how almost every actress carries herself with such poise and sophistication.

If it wasn't for Audrey Hepburn I doubt that Flossy would exist; I've always adored her impeccable, individual style. Hers is the playful sophistication that inspires all of my clothes, from the ballet pump/ full skirt look of Roman Holiday, to the glamour of Breakfast at Tiffany's. 


Behind all of Flossy's designs is a great deal of research; not only on the technical aspects of, for example, frock design, but also how a certain look is constructed. I ask myself what makes a Hitchcock Blonde so distinctive? Therefore one of my greatest influences is Edith Head, who designed wonderful gowns for Hollywood films for over forty years. She was nominated for the Oscar for Costume Design an astonishing 35 times, and the list of actresses who wore her designs is a who's-who of cinema.

When I'm designing frocks I'm mainly influenced by the 50s. I love how full-skirted designs flatter every figure and make the wearer feel feminine. When I'm working on my knitwear I'm mainly influenced by the 40s. I love the nipped-in waist and wide shoulders of knitwear from this time."

We move on to the topic of vintage at weddings. I asked Wendy why she thinks vintage has had such an allure at weddings. Wendy responds "I think that the main reason interest has been growing in vintage-inspired weddings is that people want something that's a bit more personal, and that the flavour of the whole day, from the bridal and bridesmaid frocks right down to the invitations and favours, can be elegantly themed. At a recent wedding I attended, the table decorations were handmade by the bride's mother and involved lovely little floral sprays set into vintage teacups - touches like that are wonderful.

There's also an increasing amount of inspiration on the web, from Offbeat Bride to the Etsy Wedding Blog. These websites have great style tips, and have examples of things you can make yourself which look better than the generic wedding stationery or table decorations."

Of course, vintage can go wrong. So what advice does she have to avoid the pitfalls, and how to get the look right?

Wendy replies "I think the main thing to remember is that finding vintage accessories can take time especially if you're on a tight budget. It's also sometimes difficult to blend vintage and modern and you might have to bear this in mind when picking the venue. I've seen a lot of lovely vintage style weddings which are slightly let down by the hotel decor (especially in Scotland with the trend for tartan carpets!) To get round this I'd make sure you pick out a main colour and carry it through the whole wedding; if the hotel has a blue tartan carpet make sure you pick up the blue in the groomsmen's ties, the buttonholes or a sash on the bridesmaids dress that helps tie the whole look together."

I asked Wendy if she has any advice for anyone looking to take the plunge into slipping into something a little more vintage, how to find something that works for them. Wendy explains "Vintage style clothing can flatter all shapes and sizes, Its all about picking the right accessories and being confident about what you wear. Lots of my customers have been reluctant to wear the full 50s skirt as they think its going to make them look larger than they really are, but once they've tried it on they realise the shape actually shrinks the waist it will give you an hourglass silhouette whether your slim and boyish or large and curvy. Every woman should own one."

Finally, does Wendy have any predictions for what vintage inspired clothing is going to be popular in the near future? Wendy replies "I think full skirted 50s dresses and skirts will always be popular but I do think there's going to be a rise in 40s style dresses from cotton tea dresses to glamorous evening wear. There's been a big increase in 1940s styling on the internet with lots of video tutorials showing you how to style your hair in victory rolls or how to do pin curls."

Many thanks to Wendy for sharing her insight into vintage clothing and her beautiful designs from Flossy and Dossy. Time to get practicing on those victory curls!

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