Home studio set up and family portraits

I've recently been able to set up a temporary home studio and have just been putting it through it's paces over the weekend.

I did a quick trial shoot on Friday with a very willing model who just loves being in front of the camera!  It also gave me a chance to try out some of my new lighting modifiers that I've recently purchased and which will give even better results to my work.

I'm particularly excited about my new 160x35cm striplight softbox which allows full length portraits to be nice and evenly lit.  Even from it's first outing I'm really pleased with the results and can see that it will soon be a regular feature of my sessions where it can be used to full effect.

Here are a selection of shots that I took:

Child's portrait by John Wood Photography, ©2015

Child's portrait by John Wood Photography, ©2015

Child's portrait by John Wood Photography, ©2015



Child's portrait by John Wood Photography, ©2015

Child's portrait by John Wood Photography, ©2015

Child's portrait by John Wood Photography, ©2015

Child's portrait by John Wood Photography, ©2015

I had another session on Saturday morning after the weather called a halt to our initial idea of a location based shoot out in the park.  Having everything set up and in place meant that we were able to get underway quickly and I enjoyed photographing the three generations of the family who commissioned me.

I'm really pleased with the results from that session and am in the process of going through the post production work before showing them their final selection of images to choose from.  Hopefully I’ll be able to share some images from that session with you soon.

If you are interested in booking a photoshoot for you and/or your family, please do get in touch by email: john@johnwoodphotography.co.uk or give me a call on 07941 758887.

More competition success!

I'm really pleased to announce that a series of my images have just won me a competition at my local photographic society (XRR PS).  The theme of the competition was 'A place of your choice' and had to show 5 images on that theme.

The images I chose were of a winter's morning in Staffordshire which were taken in and around the Shugborough Estate and Trent & Mersey Canal near the village of Great Haywood, Staffordshire this last Christmas.

Following the snowfall we had over Christmas, I went out for an early walk one morning when it was still almost minus 4c but the light was fantastic.  There was mist drifting over the fields and canal which combined with the snow and hoar frost gave a real winter wonderland look and feel to my shots.  It was worth braving those sub zero temperatures for the two hours I was out photographing the various locations.

Anyway, here are my images (you can click on them for a larger view).  Hope you like them!  Feel free to add any comments below and thanks for looking.

Staffordshire Winter's Morn no1 - ©John Wood Photography 2015



Staffordshire Winter's Morn no2 - ©John Wood Photography 2015



Staffordshire Winter's Morn no3 - ©John Wood Photography 2015

Staffordshire Winter's Morn no4 - ©John Wood Photography 2015



Staffordshire Winter's Morn no5 - ©John Wood Photography 2015

SWPP National Competition success – Memorable Moments

I’m delighted to announce that I recently found out that I was a runner up in a national competition organised by the Society of Wedding and Portrait Photographers (SWPP) on the theme of ‘Memorable Moments’.  My shot was one of the winners selected from over 175 entries from across the country.

My image was called ‘Unconditional Love’ and shows a moment of tenderness between a father and his new born child.



'Unconditional Love' by Bump2Baby Portraits / John Wood Photography, ©2014

Do let me know what you think of the photo in the comments below.

I took the shot at a client's home in Stevenage in Hertfordshire using a pop up studio set up with my Elinchrom D-lite 2 studio lights.  We were quite limited on space for the shoot but I managed to get some great shots of the family and their new baby daughter.

I have been photographing the family over the last year and a half as part of one of my bump to baby maternity packages where I do a maternity shoot before the baby is born and then document the baby and family’s first year together.  I love undertaking these shoots as you get to meet the excited, soon-to-be parents and then follow them through that first year as their child grows and develops.

If you are interested in having a maternity or newborn portrait session yourself or know someone who might be interested, please do contact me by email or phone me on 07941 758887 to secure your session now.

Family portraits in the bluebell woods of Hertfordshire

With the mild winter this year, the bluebells have come earlier than usual and have led to a fantastic display.

Family portraits in the bluebells - © John Wood Photography

I undertook a family portrait session in the bluebell woods around Ashridge (just outside of Berkhamsted) just over a week ago.  The session took place in an enchanted bluebell wood that was selected to give a lovely backdrop to the spring colours this season.  The two children were able to explore the carpet of bluebells, peep out from behind trees and generally enjoy doing what kids do – playing and having fun!

Kids portraits in the bluebells - © John Wood Photography

After a week of glorious weather leading up to the session, the weather turned on the day of the shoot with showers threatening.  Fortunately the weather just held out for us and we were able to make the most of the criss-crossing of forest pathways to get some great angles and locations.

Children playing in the bluebells - © John Wood Photography

The canopy of beech trees and their stunning foliage gave some great light and would have provided shelter should the weather have turned.

Family portraits in the bluebells - © John Wood Photography

We had a great session in the bluebells and were able to capture a set of lovely photographs which the family will treasure for the future.

Check out some of my bluebell landscape photos taken at the same location after the family shoot had finished over on my Facebook page.

If you are interested in having a location based family portrait session, please do contact me by email or phone me on 07941 758887 to secure your session now.

Prize winning prortrait

I'm delighted to announce that one of my portraits has led to me retaining a trophy for the third year in a row at my local photographic society in the annual 'People/Person' set subject competition.  This image scored a maximum 20 out of 20 and helped secure my win.

The shot was of a father and his 6 week old baby girl and is one of my personal favourites as I feel it shows the amazing connection between the two subjects.  I call the image ' Unconditional Love' which says it all I feel.

Here it is:

'Unconditional Love' by John Wood Photography / Bump2Baby Portraits ©

 



I've had the pleasure of photographing the family over the last year or so, starting with a maternity shoot with the mum and her partner and then a series of shoots every few months as the little girl has grown.  These are one of my favourite types of shoot as you really get to see how a new life changes over time and also you invariably become good friends with the parents.  I certainly look forward to photographing the growing family in the years to come.

Do get in touch if you are interested in having a family portrait taken for yourselves or if you would like to purchase a gift voucher to give someone as a unique present this coming Christmas.

Babes in the bluebells – special promotion

I am running a special promotion during early May called ‘Babes in The Bluebells’.

Bluebell Woods

The promotion is for families or individuals who would like a location based portrait session held in the bluebell woods around Ashridge (just outside of Berkhamsted). The portrait mini-session will last around half an hour to 45mins and will take in an enchanted bluebell wood that has been selected to give a lovely backdrop to the spring colours that this season brings. Kids will be able to explore the carpet of bluebells, peep out from behind trees, little girls can don their fairy wings and generally enjoy doing what kids do – playing and having fun! Why not let me capture your family in this natural, relaxed way?



Babes in the Bluebells




Child portrait


For individuals wanting some photos of themselves – perhaps as a present for loved ones or families, this is an ideal opportunity to get something different to what you would usually give.

Perhaps you even want to treat a special person or loved one to a photo session. Why not book a slot for them with me now?

Babes in The Bluebells – Promotion Details:

• Dates: Sunday 5th, Saturday 11th May (weather and bluebell flowering permitting)

• Location: Ashridge Estate, nr Berhamsted. Full details of location to meet sent on booking

• Time slots available (Sunday 5th): 09:15, 10:00, 10:45, 11:30, 12:15, 13:45, 14:30, 15:15, 16:00. (Saturday 11th): 09:15, 10:00, 10:45, 11:30, 12:15, 15:15, 16:00. Please note: Sessions start promptly at time selected (arrive early if you can!)

• Cost: £55 (Full amount required at time of booking)

• What you get: 5 high resolution images on CD for you to make your own prints from. (The value of the CD of images alone is £100, so this is a great offer). Copyright of the images is retained by the photographer but you will be granted a perpetual license to obtain your own prints etc for non-commercial uses.

• Other options: Additional high resolution digital images are available as are items such as framed prints, canvases and photobooks at my prevailing rates.

Contact me by email or phone me on 07941 758887 to secure your session now.

More competition success

I had the good fortune to win the set subject round of the final competion of the year at XRR Photographic Society last night (Weds). 

The set subject was 'Power' and my image (250,000 volts) below scored a maximum 20 and was Highly Commended.  My other images in the set subject class scored an 18.
 

'250,000 volts' by John Wood ©2013

The image was taken during a walk out on the Munden Estate which sits between Watford and Brickett Wood in Hertfordshire.

More after the jump.....