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Well.. Today i managed to get around to taking some pictures of my great niece Scarlett, what a little cutie!!
At first she wasn’t to sure what was going on! it took a little time but i managed to get her to smile a little, then have a little chuckle.. but her trademark frown was never too far away, she has a way of letting you know that she is not impressed with something. I think she also knows a lot more than she lets on about! you can ask her things and she will give a yes or no answer straight away! i think she understands everything!!
Anyway, how cute is she?? you can tell me! and i think i already know the answer to that.. Here are a few sneek peeks to the shoot, im only half way through picking the best of the bunch but if i dont post NOW i dont think id be able to choose which ones to put up!!
I was invited to shoot the 50th birthday of Denise.
This promised to be quite a party, With predominantly a West Indian guest list i was expecting some great music, colourful characters and not to forget good food! well.. i wasn’t disappointed!
There were some great old people there that seemed to put the youngsters to shame in the way they danced the night away! it was a very happy occasion and went without hitch..
I arrived early so i could get acquainted with the local area, looking for a nice place to get some portraits but as it turned out, by the time the party had started and the principle guests had arrived it was totally dark and not possible! oh well.. plan B..
The brief was simple, take pictures of family and friends, and of people having fun.. so, thats what i did.. Here is a selection..
I was invited along to shoot the wedding of Garry & Ellie, Ellie is the niece of a good friend and fellow photographer Nigel Wheal (His blog is in my list so go visit him!). It was a VERY hot day (30’s) and the sky was BLUE! other than being a little too hot it couldn’t have been better..
I started off by visiting the Groom at his house in Kent, he, along with the best man were looking very relaxed and seemed to be taking things in their stride, im sure there was a slight undercurrent of nerves all the same.. i think i could sense it.. We had a few pictures in the house and then the garden, James (The best man) opened a lovely bottle of expensive looking Champers and headed for the shaded area of garden to sit and contemplate the upcoming event.. perfect..
Then it was time to leave for the church, St Lawrence of Mereworth, Kent, so i said my goodbyes and set off..
The church was a beautiful old building, having just been totally cleaned from top to bottom to the tune of nearly £1,000,000! the Vicar was very proud to tell me.. The service went very well and i dont think there were any mistakes! lol..
The reception was held at Bradbourne House, in East Malling.. its a lovely old stately home, its staff were very helpful and kept things running very smoothly, the food was of the posh variety, its not the first time iv had a posh Sausage & Mash, but it was great non the less…
Anyway, enough of my drivel, here are some of the pictures of the day..
I was commissioned to shoot a local Psychologist, she wanted some fresh new images for her website, Im always a little uncomfortable when i know im around Doctors of the mind! i cant help thinking that they will be analysing me! and im not sure i want to know what they’d come up with!!
Anyway, i neednt have worried as she didnt make me feel like that at all.. in fact i found myself being rather relaxed, she has a very calming way about her which has got to be a sign of a good Therapist.
She can be found, along with some of my images at http://www.courtneyraspin.com
 Courtney Raspin, therapist
 Courtney Raspin, therapist
 Courtney Raspin, therapist
 Courtney Raspin, therapist
 Courtney Raspin, therapist
 Courtney Raspin, therapist
 Courtney Raspin, therapist
Yes, that WAS a question! Portraits?.. well, part of it at least.. the last part is, Do they hhave to be with a white background and a grin?..
I much prefer to get out and about.. location, or Environmental portraits as they call them. im posting up a few different portraits taken over the last 6 months or so, none of them in a studio, and none with any-more than ONE flash, and NO false backgrounds..
To me, a portrait can be anything that supports the subject, a place, a setting, a chair in the middle of a field, or anything or anywhere that is special, or indeed relevant to the person.
Do they need to be smiling? looks at the camera? posing? NOPE! i don’t believe so, even if they are only a tiny proportion of the frame, if the setting is relevant then as long as they can be seen, maybe doing something that is connected to the setting, at the park flying a kite, on a jet-ski way out to sea..
I prefer to have a natural portrait, or an over the top theatrical look.. iv never been one for the grinning to the camera look, not that i don’t like or wont shoot i, on the contrary, if i am commissioned for a portrait shoot then what my client wants, they get.. (Hopefully with a little of my own ideas thrown in  )
Here are a few that i quite like.. iv tried to pick out a few that dont really fit in the TRADITIONAL category..
The date was 5th of September, It was a Greek Orthodox church in Edmonton, This was the location for young Anastasia’s christening, our old neighbour Tony and his wife Des had invited us to the special day and i was very pleased to be able to photograph it for them..
A Greek christening is quite different to an English one! it involves some spitting at the Devil! and the baby being smothered in Olive oil then almost completely submerged in an urn.. a BIG urn.. most of this went nicely untill the poor victim landed in the tepid water! im sure she started to wonder what was going on at that point! but she came through and even had a smile or two once she had dried off..
We headed back to a local community hall for the celebrations which included quite a feast layed on in true Greek style and lots of dancing..It was a fantastic day that passed without hitch, lots of happy people, celebrating the christening of baby Anastasia.
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