New Experiences

Fresh Academy, Watford - A treat for ME!

BNTM Live - Will 2011 be better?

Last October I visited the BNTM LIVE show at Excel London.  It was a complete let-down for the cost of the ticket, with tacky market-style stalls and totally un-related stands selling psychic experiences, sweets and the like.  However, I enjoyed the catwalk show and bought a few bits and pieces from the handful of decent stalls.  

One involved Fresh Academy.  Basically, they were giving away their make-over sessions, worth £100.  I paid £10 and got the session for free alongside an A5 print.  Made my appointment for a week before my birthday and thought "Why not - I deserve pampering" PLUS I can see exactly how other photographers run their studios, particularly as the makeover section of Fierce is something I'm currently developing.  

Myself and the other half spent the weekend in Watford/St. Albans, so we really made the most of it.  Unfortunately the session ended up running over 2 hours late!  Which was an absolute pain, as I was on my own (My boyfriend went to see his friends!) it got a bit lonely in the make-up room!  However I was well and truly compensated for this (Thanks Fresh for the free A5) and I am eternally grateful!  I had some fabulous make-up applied, my hair was curled slightly and I was entitled to 2 outfit changes - I didn't want a full portfolio so they cut down on a lot.  More on that later.

The shoot was great - I was directed so well (I haven't a clue on how to pose!) and some of the shots I saw were lovely.  The Photographer even took a couple of test shots in my plain outfit I wore to the studio.  

When it came to viewing them -  they were beautiful.  However awkward it felt standing the way I was, it works!  My photographer even roped my other half in for a couple of shots which was lovely.  

In the viewing room, we whittled down the images to around 12, then fine tuned some more.  I was initially going to purchase two, alongside my two free A5 prints.  The one thing I wasn't told in my consultation was that they did a mini-er portfolio than the mini-portfolio, and had I have known this I probably would've got more "on-set" time, and a greater variety of images to choose from.  It turns out I opted for this "Actors Portfolio" and wish that I'd have got a greater range of images.  I ended up choosing the following retouched prints, I think I've got the sizes correct!:

1 - A5 - My partner and I (Portrait)
2 - A5 - A head shot in my evening dress
3 - A4 - My partner and I (Landscape)
4 - A4 - full length of me sitting in a chair in my evening dress
5 - A4 - Full length of me in my summery outfit
6 - A4 - head shot from the test images (Serious smile!)
7 - A4 - head shot from the test images (Laughing smile!)

I get a thumbnail CD with *I believe* 5 of these images on so will post these up when I get them.

Like I've said, I was a little disappointed that I didn't get a greater range, opting for 2 images from the test and only one of me in my evening dress, if I'd have known I could've got a better deal purchasing the 5 images I would've said this to start, and maybe my shoot would have made the most of some of the other backgrounds in the studio.  Never mind... the day was awesome enough!

The images I've posted were taken after the shoot in my hotel room, as a reminder of the beautiful job the make-up artist did.

I've come away with a tonne of personal confidence, and also a great deal of confidence shooting models and individuals.  The studio was amazing - totally different from what I was expecting - but it truly made use of the space they had with at least 15 different styled backdrops squeezed into little spaces.

Thank you Fresh - you've provided me with some valuable information AND pictures!

Charlotte x

More about Fierce!

A little about the Owner...

As this blog has been neglected of late (more information on that later), I thought I'd make a little post about myself - an introduction if you will!  

As many of you know, I run Fierce Photography all by myself.  I've set it up, I manage it, do all the photography and all the photo-editing, alongside advertising, flyer and poster design, website creation and management as well as scouting out the best and most beautiful products out there.  I'm truely dedicated to my art, noted by my Graduation with a 2:1 BA (hons) in Photography in 2002.  I haven't stopped photographing since I was 5 years old, and can't see me ever putting the camera down! 

Since leaving University, I've always wanted to photograph for a living, but not quite sure what route to take.  I just couldn't feel comfortable in any other profession or working for other people, I'm too much of a free spirit!

I've always worked Saturday jobs in shops, and my enthusiasm and great customer skills got me bonuses, recognitions, payrises and promotions - so the best step for me to take was portrait photography.  And I've always loved it, capturing special moments that truely portray feelings, emotions and special times in peoples' lives.

Studio Photography comes naturally to me - I'm very scientific and obsessive.  The studio allows me to control everything, from backgrounds to lighting, poses to outfits and everything in between.  Don't get me wrong, I love working outside, with the unpredictable weather and gorgeous natural backdrops, I just love creating inside.

Being a photographer is a lonely business though!  It's endless hours working alone, either with an enlarger in a darkroom, sat in front of a monitor creating flawless edits of your clients or making bespoke books for married couples.  I'm shy, but I can't stop talking, so doing this day in, day out drives me a little crazy.

This is why I have a little job, working early mornings.  It gets me out of the house as well as getting the opportunity to talk to people that aren't my family, customers or poor boyfriend!  I get criticised for it by other photographers, but in all fairness, I wouldn't have it any other way.  Perhaps when Fierce Photography becomes much bigger and I have staff, then I'll give up the few hours I do work for someone else, but until then, my poor colleagues will have to put up with me!

Unfortunately though I've recently been diagnosed with a severely slipped disc in my spine, and some others that may also ended up prolapsing, so I've had to be signed off work until an appointment with a surgeon.  I'm currently off work, and it's also meant I've had to take it easy with photoshoots - something I'm deeply upset over at the minute. However it's totally not affecting my work in the studio, but I've had to take a few weeks off!

I hope you've enjoyed reading a little about me.  The images I've included are, of course, self portraits, taken by myself in my studio.

Until our next blog,

Charlotte x

Welcome!

Welcome to our BRAND NEW BLOG!

It's been very late coming, but Fierce Photography have finally decided to start blogging.  We're not quite sure WHAT we'll blog about, and we can't promise every post will be exciting... but we do promise we'll try.

We have started blogs in the past, but have usually forgotten about them! Well now is our chance - we need inspiration and help from our biggest fans, our friends and family!

To start you off, here are some images from a photoshoot we did today - Client Mark was talked into posing in his snowboard gear - well it's his favourite hobby and he doesn't get to do it all that often, so having some fabulous pictures can remind him of the fun he's had on recent boarding holidays.

We'll blog again soon,


Charlotte x