Merry Christmas..

Well, this is the last post of 2009..

Merry Christmas everyone, i have had a ball this year, and have met so many of you wonderful families.

It is always a pleasure photographing you, and this is my chance to thank you..

so..

THANK YOU

I look forward to seeing you all in 2010, and even more of your friends, (remember you can do a recommendation for them, just send them to the website, get them to contact me quoting YOUR name..)

I am going to be refreshing all the display pictures in 2010, and will have lots of exciting new products including acrylic frames, and even a 'wall of portraits' which you will have to check back and find out about..??

It feels so great to be so involved and sewn into Eastbourne's community, with my involvement in the Little chelsea Christmas evening, which was a huge success, as well as work we do with local schools and charities raising funds for their special projects..

(please contact me to find out how we can help your child's school or local club) ..

So, that is me, done for 2009, we are open again on the 5th january 2010, 10am..

only slightly fatter with all the food, but i will soon work it off with our fist sessions..

Thank you all so much..

Phil, Hayley, Morgan and all at Avant Photographic..

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Morgan own post...

I am being selfish and posting a load of pictures of my son Morgan..

'cause he's just the best.. sorry, but he is... : )

just after a bath..

play time!

urgh... who's that? Yuk! what am I doing in a photo?

Daddy makes me giggle..

So does Mummy..

good ain't he?

Phil

Recent faves

Just to prove it isn't all bikes and boy toys.. Here are some recent faves from the last weeks shoots.

It has been great doing some child portraits of some slightly older children recently. They enjoy it just as much as the babies do, and as i always like to do something different on each portrait photography session, it keeps me fresh and the creative synapses sparking.. First, the Maynard girls.... ( who should have their own t.v. show!)

Second.. on a wet and windy tuesday, i had the pleasure of photographing this pair with their mummy..

This shot stood out to me, as it was a bit of a grab shot, I was concious of her reaching the limits of the suitable lighting area, but her expression, which is what i alsways want to apture, is perfect, and her stance i could not have manufactured.. completely at ease in the studio, she was a joy to photograph. This result is a perfect example of how i want to get something unique from the child each time. That is what makes a perfect family portrait..

Here are some of the boys from the family portrait above. This is such an emotive picture... Ilove it!

Here is a fantastic seasonal baby portrait, and not a bit of tinsel in sight! A proper little poser.. but still a natural baby portrait, full of character and life!

Shaw's Harley Davidson Shoot

Me and my good mate Peter Prior have had a wonderful photography assignment these last few mondays. Shooting Custom Harley Davidsons for Shaws's Harley Davidson at Holmes Hill, East Sussex. In all, we have photographed 16 of these marvelous machines, and each shoot produces more and more stunning results and the itch down to my boots wanting to dust off my leathers and get on a bike again..

So, here are some of my favourite shots.

We have just done another 4 bike yesterday, includng a Buell racing tuned and chopped custom Buell Lighting XB12S.. which is just incredible. Once i have edited the shots i'll post them too. This thing really has to be seen to be believed.. it is just the bike for me. A real street racer idea for waking up half of sussex on a sunday morning.. (sorry, that is my latent 'ooligan rearing up..).

Me and Peter Prior also photographed a Services tribute bike with battle scenes and Remembrance references in the intricate artwork.. It was quite stirring shooting it, knowing many people would see it, and have a sacred place for it in their thoughts..

From now until Christmas it is portraits, printing, child portraits, baby portraits, family portraits and more and more printing.. so a very busy time....

Check back to the blog tomorrow to see some exciting news about the 'Little Chelsea, Little Christmas' evening on Friday 4th december..

Phil

Morgan..

OK OK..

here are some more of Morgan..

who had his first set of 'jabs' yesterday....

and, with Mummy...

just got to find someone to take some of me and Morgan now...

Phil

recent faves

Here is Michelle, my PA's family, first her nephew, we really liked the Hear-no, see-no, speak no idea from the website and they wanted to re-create it with him, so with a little coaxing, i managed to get him to perform ..

Here he was having a sulk.. but it makes for a great portrait. I don't always want massive smiles. Children are little people too, with their own moods and personalities and we need to convey that in 'portraits'.

More hear no, see, no.. but this time of all the grandkids.. for Michelle's Mummy....

Abigail and Thomas are old hats at this now, I have photographed them many times, and Thomas I think classes me as an equal..!? I am glad to be, i don't think I am much older than him inside anyway?

Abigail has really blossomed, and is the perfect little model now, after a tough age last time I photographed her last time, she is now full of confidence and loves having her photo taken.

Finally...

sorry michelle.....

here is Michelle and her sister......

I had to do it...

thats me in trouble tomorrow!

oops!

pictures from The Grand Hotel Eastbourne

Following on from my previous post, here are the results from the shoots. It was great shooting on a busy saturday at The grand, and the staff helped immensely. I am sorry for monopolising their Great hall for an hour, and hope the chairs went back as they should have? Any way, here are the photos ...

this is the great grand childre,n such a great bunch. There are a few personalities here..

here, we have The eldest brothers and sisters, grand parents to the children above.

..and here, the final result of the full family portrait..

I think the regal nature of the surroundings really make for a unique and beautifully traditional family portrait which will become a valued heirloom.

Thank you to all the Edlingtons and again, the staff at the grand, without whom, the shoot would not have been possible..

Phil

location shoots.

As mentioned in a previous post, I have been privileged to do some shoots at the Grand Hotel recently.

I shouldn't, but I always indulge myself with their fabulous cuisine when I visit if I have time, and this time on the recommendation of the catering manager, Annie, I had a fabulous Grand Club sandwich.. with fries...and a coffee and a biscuit... Oops!

Here is Annie with her niece, this was done nearly 2 years ago, time for another visit Annie!

Any how, this blog is about photography, not food, so I had better get on with what you come here to see. The pictures.

First, I had a 60th wedding anniversary portrait to shoot. Quite a formal set up and very different to my studio shoots, but great fun to do.

This couple had been together for 60 years. I think that is incredible!

Both husband and wife were full of spirit and it was wonderful hearing their freely given life story whilst shooting them for posterity alongside their commemorative card from the Queen.

As ever, the staff at The Grand were so helpful and made sure I had what I needed, which I did, two happy clients, well fed after their cream tea and sandwiches!

Here is a shoot I did a few weeks ago too. It was a last minute booking for a saturday afternoon, so after a full day shooting in the studio I lugged my gear to the harbour to collect the Loughlin family for a stroll on a very windy beach.!

This is what location shoots are about, fun for the whole family and capturing unique family portraits and having a great day out too! what ever the weather!

And finally, some wedding pictures from Steve and Michelle's wedding on the 29th August a brilliantly relaxed couple and a marvelous wedding!

so all in all a mixed bag of photography this week..

I'm off to wind Morgan again. The poor little feller is a little under the weather with this horrid cold that is going round, but he seems to be on the mend.

recent family portraits

Phew,

Well, being back to normal has meant just that and more!! After the Birth of Morgan on the first of September, I took some time away to properly settle mummy and baby in at home, but the continued interest in Avant photographic and of course, our record success at Airbourne meant I had to return quite quickly.

A steady stream of families and babies wanting portraits done here at Avant photographic has meant full diaries and many an hour editing your portraits. I have had a storm these last few weeks and am over the moon with the work I am producing.

Here is a taster..

Heres a favourite of Morgan's first studio session.

second,

here is Lewis and his mum and dad, who were guinea pigs for a new idea i had for a family portrait. I think it gets round the problem of parents wanting to not be in the pictures!
These I love, Simon and Louise were at the hospital with having their son the same time as me and Hay's. he had an Airbourne family portrait voucher and we bumped into each other when Hayley was in labor. I had fun shooting the sorts of family portrait i would like of me Hayley and Morgan.
This one was a wicked session! Tracey and her son Jake have a very special relationship and it was great to capture it. He is everything a boy should be, boisterous, adventurous and full of personality! But, at the same time incredibly tender, and mainly a big 'mummy's boy'!
This is little Alex.. rosy cheeked and gorgeous.. what more can I say. just a gem of a little boy..
seems that there is not that many girls around at the moment!

must be something in the water...

remember, if you have not booked your Airbourne voucher you still have time, but please hurry to get your preferred date..