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We are now on facebook, and have a whole new website as well as a new blog!

You can leave comments more easily, see your friends pictures, share the pictures you like and have a more interactive experience of Avant Photographic's website.

New Website

Facebook page

thanks for sharing, sharing is cool!

family portrait favourites

here are some recent favorites. Collected from various stages, some just shot, some justedited, some are from collections that people have just taken home! 


Enjoy!

Avant Showreel..

Hopefully this works...:

Avant Photographic showreel

If you have a facebook account, you can have a look at my new showreel of images. They are all recent works and I put this together as a treat to maybe do these more frequently. I have found a way to post these without facebook, but for now, I am unleashing it on fans only.. so become a fan of Avant Photographic on facebook and you can see the new video..!

Phil

family portraits, Eastbourne Photography Studio

This is Jo, Sean and little Jack.. 

and i love this one of Jack on his own..

recent portraits of Eastbourne families

my new backgrounds are causing quite a stir and people are loving how different they are! No more hi key white backgrounds, more natural and soft, to suit my style of family portraits.

Here are some recent favourites.

This is Jayden and Jasmin.. both so photogenic and the perfect little brother and sister!

Kodak wedding & Portrait Awards 2010

Competition Time Again!

Your chance to win £1000 for being in a portrait!

If you have been wanting to have your portraits, here is a great opportunity not to be missed.

You will have a full session, and I will be shooting with the competition in mind. For truly unique and exciting images, something completely different from the norm..

You pay £20, this is for the session and a 10x8 complimentary print of the image chosen to enter. EVERYONE who takes part in this competition will have their portrait entered into this national Professional competition.

The Kodak Wedding & Portrait Awards 2010 is only open to full time professionals, and is judged at 2 judging sessions.. one in April, and one in September.

First entries therefore, must be in by the end of March 2010.. For entry to round two, sessions must be shot by 15th August.

Call now to book your session. 01323 738 566 or email studio@avantphotographic.com The first judging is on in April, so entries for this first stage must be in by 31st March!

This is as great for newborns as it is for a little treat to yourself, there are many categories, and even an 'OPEN' category for those wanting to be really adventurous!

The Avant Photographic Cherub Club

The cherub club is a unique scheme inviting new parents to the studio for an amazing offer.

Those first few months of your new babies life are exhilarating, rewarding and fly by so fast. Make sure you capture these cherished moments with high quality photography.

Over the first year of babies life, bring him in 3 times, at 4 month intervals. You will finish the year with a comprehensive collection of stunning portraits of your baby, and Avant will present you with an ART leather folio, with a portrait from each session mounted beautifully, which will show the exciting developments your baby has made in his first year.

Of course, you can buy extra portraits from your session, but the scheme makes it all so easy.. You will even see your portraits straight after the session..

So, what does this cost?

£29,99.

A small registration fee only. That's it.. until you come to buy more portraits.. which we are sure you will.. but you are under no pressure to do so..

To see more cherubs pictures, go to www.avantphotographic.com and click on 'galleries' then, 'babies'.

or to book, call 01323 738 566 or email studio@avantphotographic.com and speak to Phil

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!

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!

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

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..

Airbourne 2009!

wow, it's here again...

this time of year is so busy but it is also the time when we exhibit at Airbourne. It helps with the awareness of Avant Photographic immensely. We are now so much of a familiar face at Airbourne that we have people visit us year on year and customers also bring their friends to get their voucher, which is probably the best recommendation we can get!

We will be selling our popular portrait vouchers as well as trying to raise money for the Cystic Fibrosis trust with our successful charity offer.

see website for special offers.

I can't resist taking a few pictures of the planes too, and hopefully my favourite, the Typhoon euro fighter will make a grand appearance again this year. ( OK, i can't wait to see the Guinot girls again!!!)

Me, Hayley my Mum and a few other helpers will be on hand to help with the strain, but, as the photographer, obviously most people want to speak to me! I enjoy meeting every one but am shattered by the end of the 4 days..

So, if you have been to the shop and wonder where I am, I hope this explains? I will be back in the shop as usual from tuesday 18th August 10am.. hopefully not too sunburnt..!

The Grand Hotel

Me and Hay's got engaged here, and it is a very special place to us, and now we are going to be shooting some events here!

here is their website: The Grand Hotel

Firstly I am shooting a celebratory event in the Great Hall. Amazingly it is a 60th wedding anniversary portrait! 60 years married. Wow. It will be a formal portrait of the couple now well advanced in years, (though I won't say how advanced). I am thoroughly looking forward to this, and the possibility of afternoon tea at The Grand!

Secondly, come the 29th August, I will be shooting a wedding at The Grand. It will be the small and intimate wedding of Steve and Michelle. They are doing it in style, with a short stay in the opulence of The Grand as well as getting wed in the luxuriousness of the Dukes room followed by unparalleled service with dinner and their reception in the Arlington room. It promises to be a very special day, and I thank them for letting me record it for them.

Photos of the events will be posted soon, with permission of course..

I love my studio and the practicality and control it gives me, but as a photographer, I revel in the unpredictability of weddings and events. Primarily I am employed to record the day and show it in the best possible light, and tell the story of what happened. But, anything can happen. It is the level of alertness that keeps me fired up on these sorts of occasions, and why I enjoy them so much.

MPA (SE) Print competition 2009

Holy Moly!!!

I've done it again! I amazingly won the title of the Master Photographers Association (SE region) Cherubs Photographer of the year.

THAT'S 2 YEARS IN A ROW!!!!

Dennis Hylander FMPA FBIPP judged the competition and his knowledge and experience showed with his knowledgeable critique of the entries. Qualified master Photographers from the south east Region of the master Photographers Association were invited to enter the awards and show off the regions talents. It is a region that includes last years national Kodak Portrait and Wedding Photographer of the Year as well as previous winners of the prestigious awards from the same competition.

I am chuffed to pieces with the results and I wanted to thank a few people without whom it would not be possible. so, firstly, i would like to thank Jane, mum of Marty... ( yes, the Marty from previous posts.. ) he helped me win the award of MPA (se) Cherub Photographer of the Year 2009 with this image.

I posted this image a few months ago, but knew as soon as i took it that I would enter it into the competition. It melts your heart. Thanks so much Jane.. Yes, a copy of this will find it's way to you I'm sure!!

Also, a massive thank you goes out to Lisa, (Jane's sister) who brought her son into the studio for his shoot when I captured this image. Dennis thought this shot was 'cute'. I have to say I agree. His expression is fantastic..

Here again is Payge. Payge's image won me 3rd place, a merit, in the cherub competition too. Paul, her dad, didn't believe me when I told him this was one of the best photos i took last year, but was over the moon when he saw it on my brochure and used on my website. All visitors to the studio comment on it, and all love the delicate nature of the subject, she was only 14 days old... I have been desperate for the competition to come around to get this entered. I jknew it would do well.. Thanks Paul, Andrea and Payge.

Finally, Joe, Karen and Mia.

I always want to get something unique and different for people coming to the studio for their portraits, and with this image that won a 'Highly Commended' award for Family Portraiture, the real sense of fun and love felt within this family has been captured. I knew, again, that it was a strong image and wanted to enter it in the competition. I am over the moon with the resultant 'Highly Commended' award. Thanks Joe, Karen and Mia..

I now have to find some space for all the certificates!!!

The regional results have given me a buzz and lots of enthusiasm for the Nationals that are coming very soon now. I will be making my final selections for my entries over the next few weeks and still have limited spaces in the diary for competition entry shoots.

remember you could win £1000 if your image wins...!!! click here to go to information about it, or check the website offers page here to see how to book..

I look forward to hearing from you..

Phil

Recommend a friend!

I am glad to announce that we are running the popular 'recommend a friend ' scheme again. Prompted by more and more requests, I have decided a little drive is required to inform those of you that still don't know, you can recommend as many people to Avant Photographic as you like....

If you have visited Avant Photographic and have friends asking where you had your portraits done? tell them!

All you need to do is tell your friends to quote your name when they book and they will qualify for a free session and a 10x8 print.. What's more, if they buy one more portrait, I will print a favourite from your session as a thank you. You can recommend as many people as you like. If you forward 10 people to me, you could get 10 free prints of your family...! How cool is that?

As well as this great deal, there are loads of new offers on the new website, click the link opposite to take you to it, this also can be forwarded..

so.. get recommending... I look forward to speaking to your friends soon...

Thanks all,

Phil

Tinyest ever!

This is Sebastian. He is the youngest baby ever photographed at Avant Photographic!

at 11 days he beats Payge, who is the star in my banner above in the title header of the blog. A picture a lot of you know, I'm sure. He was so alert, and was when he was born.

He made no fuss when being arranged for the photos and seemed to really enjoy the experience, I know his mum and dad did. I love seeing the babies as young as this, it allows us to really get the great, tiny newborn shots that are so cherished by parents.



This is the whole family together at the end of the session. I love the contrast in size, and this shot seems to translate the attention involved in having a new baby to care for.

more faves.....

Hi folks..

spring has arrived and so, therefore, has the energy levels in the studio risen. Have I had some energetic kids in here lately!
As you can see in these though, it makes for great images. These are all from Edens final cherub session where we included her cousins too for a portrait for nan.

some more favorites

Well, as I was asked to I had better do it, eh?

Many of you have asked to see more favorites, so as a special treat, here is a post full of them!

First, as he was so popular, some more of Marty. Jane collected her latest collection with her sister Lisa on tuesday, I was in late after the late finish on monday with the seminar (sorry Jane and Lisa) They were both waiting outside the shop at 1015, looking in Garnish's window.... The first picture is of Marty and his cousin, and I just love his expression..

This on above is exactly what Jane had, In it's full 24 inch x 24 inch size it looks absolutely incredible. I am going to do one for display I am that happy with it. 

This next one is actually from last year, but Natalie, who's kids it is, came again yesterday to have the twins final cherub session and viewed these from the previous session again.. We photograph alot of feet here at Avant Photographic

I get some more together for next week.. I promise.....

regards

Phil