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..

Morgan Michael Burrowes (My son)

I'M A DADDY!

Morgan Michael Burrowes was born on Tuesday 1st september at 2304 hrs. 8 lb's 8 oz's.

He is a very happy, healthy little boy and both me and Hayley are over the moon. The birth was the usual mix of joy and stress, but with each day the experience becomes less horrific!

We brought him home on Thursday and were relieved to finally get a little sleep, interrupted only a couple of times in the night for feeds and the first of many nappy changes!

his first poo went all over me! I was looking after him whilst Hayley was looked after and he decided the time was good for a little squeeze, all over his birthing blanket! Like a dutiful 21st century man i leapt in to change him, happy to be hands on and to feel useful!

The shop has been neglected for a few days and i can only apologize for my absence over the past few days. Service as usual from tuesday 8th september 10 am..

I am franticly trying to reply to all the messages and emails. Please bear with me at this joyous time, i will be in touch soon, I promise...

Thank you so much for all the well wishes and cards, they mean so much to us both.

many thanks

(Daddy) Phil Burrowes

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