I am very pleased to announce that my new portrait photography vouchers are ready! They look yummy, and make a great gift for Christmas, someone’s birthday, or as a present for yourself. They are also jam packed with useful information and tips on how to prepare for your portrait session.

Vouchers can be for just the portrait session itself, or if you would also like to include a contribution towards products as well, then you can choose to add any denomination you like.

Portrait photography sessions can take place anywhere in and around York, including your home, and we specialise in portraits of children, couples and families. Even the dog is welcome!

You can buy portrait photography vouchers here and here. We will then call you to book your portrait session.

I have always loved stationary, and I fell in love with letterpress printing the first time I saw it. It is just so luxurious! I think that if a business card is just so damn cool that you can’t throw it away, then that has to be a good thing. Mine were designed and printed by Sally Ann of Invited Ink and I am so pleased with them. They are almost too nice to give away but I will have to remind myself that that is what they are for!

Sally Ann also designs and prints wedding invitations so brides and grooms, take note. You could hardly hope for a more stylish introduction to your wedding.

Here they are, with my signature colour on the back:

And notecards to match:

Today is a very sad day. I have to let my baby go.

The time has finally come for Beans to fly the nest and start his life with his new family. In just over an hour, I will have to give him a big cuddle and a sloppy kiss and say goodbye. He has his bag packed, with all the essentials included; puppy food, favourite toy, insurance, vaccination certificate, and blanket that smells familiar smells of mummy and daddy.

O my little Beans, you captured my heart from the beginning but I know that you will make one little boy very, very happy and you will be his friend for life. I’m glad you’re not going too far and I hope I can come and visit you soon. You will be able to keep your name, but it now has a funky twist: Beanz, as in Heinz.

Here he is all grown up and ready for his new adventure, doesn’t he look handsome with his brand new collar?

I am sure I should have been born on a beach, and never have left. Nothing makes me happier than hearing the sound of waves gently lapping at white sand, so hot that you have to hop across it to get to the sea. I love diving and snorkeling, and will never stop being amazed that there are such beautiful, colourful fish and coral just waiting there under the surface for anyone who cares to look. I have, therefore, been very happy for the past couple of weeks.

It was my first trip to the Caribbean and I can’t believe I have waited all this time to go! I will definitely be back, the pace of life suits me down to the ground, and the motto “maximum chill” rang true of the whole holiday. Whether I was sitting in the back of the pick up with a Piton beer watching the palm trees tip precariously away from me as we whizzed around the island on steep, potholed roads, on a beach with sand in between my toes, underwater with those amazing fish, or having a local BBQ and rum punch, I was in heaven. Watch out, Caribbean, I will be back!

The first drink of the holiday, a Belinni at 7.30am in the Virgin lounge:

And the second, on Jalouise beach. If you like Pina Colada’s, getting caught in the rain……

Huge conch shells are everywhere. I even saw them used as bricks!

Some of the houses are just amazing. Most are brightly coloured and cheerful, and others are naturally worn by the sea air. I was pretty glad we weren’t staying at no. 39 though:

The town of Canaries, with our favourite bar ‘The Viewpoint’ at the top left. A great place to enjoy a rum punch and watch the sunset as the name suggests.

The famous St. Lucia Pitons, two striking volcanic peaks. I’m afraid we wimped out of walking up them:

And the beer that shares their name. Most of the adverts are hand painted:

A typical rum shack, found all over the island

Definitely a couple of good philosophies!

My sister Laura enjoying a spot of sunbathing:

We weren’t the only ones enjoying the sea though. This horse had just enjoyed a swim to cool off:

The kids were fascinated by my camera and loved posing so they could see themselves on the back:

The taxis are definitely more fun than the ones in the UK:

Unfortunately we didn’t have time to learn kiteboarding, by the time we discovered the beach and asked about it, it was too late. It takes an average of 11 hours of training before you even get anywhere near the sea!

My one true love; a cocoa bean:

I wish I had an underwater housing for my camera, so I could have taken photographs whilst diving and snorkeling. I’d find it hard to trust through. I knew someone who took their camera down in it’s brand new housing (that costs more than the camera) and it leaked…eek!

Happy April 1st. I hope you fooled someone! And thanks to my wonderful father. I love you Dad!

I used to always take family portrait photographs in the studio, against the very modern white background, but for the past year or so I’ve gradually started shooting almost exclusively on location. It’s so much more fun and relaxing, and the aim for me is to always take enough time and not be too dominated by the clock. I really enjoy looking for new photography locations, finding good light, and then having a good time playing and messing about – it doesn’t really feel like work at all!

Matt is very ticklish!

The boys asked to come and have a few photo’s with the puppies at the end:

Happy St. Patricks day, to o’ the morning to ya and enjoy a Guiness! It is also Twix’ birthday so he will be getting extra treats.

When Rachael announced that Gareth had proposed to her, I knew the wedding would be gorgeous and that they would make the perfect couple. Five years and two little bundles of joy later, and they now also make the perfect family. Makes you sick doesn’t it?!

Rachael is also a brilliant wedding co-ordinator, she has has a couple of years out to have her family, but will soon be back in full force. Brides, watch this space!

James getting ready for the big portrait shoot:

Isn’t that just the cutest little yawn?!

Have a good weekend!