D R Photography

Gig in the Park

2010-08-19T19:32:00.000+01:00

One of our local pop festivals held in Hlaesworth is Gig in the Park, a real family affair and I was lucky enough to be asked to photograph one of the bands appearing Pig Earth

Sorry about the lack of posts.....

2010-07-08T16:06:00.000+01:00

...its been busy and I'm afraid I tended to miss posting updates here.

Have just finshed a "Cute Kids" competition in conjunction with the Harleston grapevine. 42 entries in total ranging from just a few weeks to nearly 11years. A great time, some super pictures and hopefully some happy parents. I'll post the winners just as soon as they are announced.

2010-03-31T12:21:00.000+01:00

Its always great to do an engagement portrait session and gives us all a chance to get to know one another. Here's a photo from each of the last two that I have done.

A wedding featured in local magazine

2010-02-18T19:29:00.001Z

Last year one of the weddings I covered was for Toni Marie and Lee who is in the Army and it has been featured in the latest issue of Bride and Groom Magazine Suffolk. Its a great buzz to see ones work in print!

I hate having my photo taken - I'm not photogenic!!

2010-02-13T10:47:00.000Z

How many times have I heard that? Nearly every time someone walks into my studio I should think! But then, if I can convince them to have their portraits taken its "I really enjoyed that and Wow don't I look good!."

It particularly happens on the Makeover days we do. Convincing anyone to take part is an uphill struggle but just look at some of the results from last Sunday and you can understand why some are already booking to come again with their friends.

So, if you are really one of those people who doesn't like the idea of having their image taken why not try a session with us at Gladrags, see what fun it is then get the whole family involved!

Super puppy

2010-02-09T09:50:00.000Z

I love photographing animals as much as people, its just that the challenges are different. Kirsty contacted me about the free offer of a shoot to celebrate the opening of my new studio and she wanted some photos of her new 15 week old puppy. Well, always up for a challenge I said I'd love to and she and Ian brought Holly along. I have to say for a puppy of that age she was brilliantly behaved, no accidents (!!!), did as she was told, a real star. The only slight problem was that she didn't like the sound of her paws on the backdrop so I wound that up and photographed her on the studio floor.

So anyone with a puppy, do come along, they are not puppies forever!

Make over day in Harleston

2010-02-03T09:40:00.000Z

Watch out for details shortly of a makeover day I am holding in Harleston in conjunction with Kirsty at Top2Toe

Claim to Fame!

2010-01-28T20:06:00.001Z

Hey I was on Radio Suffolk this morning. Having just opened the new studio we thought it would be good to try to get some coverage so Rachel of Apparition Marketing and Design used her contacts and told 'em how old I was and they thought it was really news worthy that someone THAT old should be starting something new!!!

New studio

2010-01-25T20:32:00.000Z

So my new studio is now up and running. Here's a couple of photos of the studio and the office/viewing room.

My offer of a free shoot is still open so come on and don't be shy!

Studio ready!

2010-01-24T17:47:00.000Z

Have just about finished decorating the new studio now so can back to shooting! I'll post some pics of it here early next week as soon as I've finished clearing up!

To celebrate I'm offering a free shoot and a CD of the results to the first person to write in and ask. Offer open until 31 January 2010.
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2010-01-19T17:36:00.002Z

I was just about to post a note on here about another makeover day we are organising with Gladrags in early February when I got an e-mail from Linda at Gladrags to say that it was already full!

If you are thinking about joining in the fun, and it is great fun, contact us soon to book a place in March - davidruddle@btopenworld.com

Why not come with your Mother, daughter(s) friends etc. With 6 of you you can book a private half day and have the whole shop and shoot to yourselves.

2010-01-04T20:12:00.002Z

Anyone that's following this blog will know that we moved house about 3 months ago and I was using a room at the Fisher Theatre in Bungay as a studio. It worked quite well but was not the same as having my own permanent space so I've now taken some premises in nearby Harleston which I'm moving into this week. Watch this space for some more details.

I'm also offering a special photo shoot for Valentines Day. Yes I know we have only just got over Christmas but its only 5 or 6 weeks away!! So if you would like to really surprise your other half why don't you have your portrait taken to give them. I'm offering a full make over shoot with hair styling and makeup included for FREE with a 20" x 16" canvas print. Mail me at davidruddle@btopenworld.com for full details.

2009-12-10T16:40:00.004Z

As I've mentioned we have recently moved house and are in the process of having a new kitchen installed. In chatting to Grahame Bolton I told him I was a photographer and he asked if I'd be willing to photograph some of his kitchens for him. Well, something different, I usually only do things that move! We did a day at a couple of his jobs and the results seemed to please him and he will be using them in his advertising and on his website.

2009-11-17T16:52:00.004Z

Here's a couple of examples from Sunday's Makeover day. One comment from one of the ladies in particular was so rewarding "I really didn't realise I could look as glamorous as this!"

We still have a couple of spaces left for this coming Sunday so do get in touch if you would like to join in and guys what about treating your partner to a bit of pampering. One of our guests on Sunday was a new Mother, her baby only a few weeks old and as a treat her husband surprised her with a ticket for the make over. What better way to make her feel great?

2009-11-16T20:53:00.002Z

Had a really great day yesterday at the first of Gladrags makeover days. Really hectic but great fun with over 10 lovely ladies to photograph all dressed in retro gear. I'll post some examples of the results in the next day or so as soon as I've had a chance to sort through them all.

2009-11-06T13:45:00.002Z

The old saying is never work with children or animals but the best part of my working day is with one or the other, if not both, and I love the challenge. Children of any age can be difficult but with real youngsters under a year there is very little one can do if they decide that they really don't want to be cooperative. Harry here was the complete opposite. I can't remember a baby who smiled for so long during a session. It wasn't a question of hoping that I had one or two happy shots but how can I edit them down to a reasonable number! Also the range of facial expressions! Better than a lot of paid models I can tell you!

2009-10-29T16:33:00.006Z

Well, we've moved and are settled into our new house. I've done the first shoots at my new studio which is at the Fisher Theatre in Bungay and that went well.

Also I have organised a make over day with Gladrags of Halesworth to be held on various days in November. Gladrags specialises in retro clothing from the 20's to the 60's and the idea is for both men and women to come along have appropriate make up done, choose an outfit to their liking and then have some striking photos taken - all for only £35!

We are holding the days on a Thursday and a Sunday to make sure anyone interested can get along but places are limited so do phone soon!

If you are interested to either mail me at davidruddle@btopenworld.com or phone on 0776 595 3375.

2009-10-11T16:05:00.003+01:00

We've reached the week of our move! Haven't wanted to bore you with the details but am now sitting surrounded by packing cases and wondering where everything is! We move on Friday to Bungay and my new studio will be based at the Fisher Theatre in the town so it should be a bit easier to find! Due to the move I will not be available until Saturday 27th October when I have a couple of shoots booked. If there is anything you want to know do still mail me at davidruddle@btopenworld.com as I'll still be checking the mail but do forgive me if there is a slight delay in replying!

2009-10-10T21:04:00.003+01:00

Sublime to the ridiculous - well, not really, but I think these two photographs from Matt and Fiona's recent wedding show two very different sides to the day. The posed shot took very little time. I had set up the lights whilst Matt and Fiona were enjoying a glass of champagne with their guests and then spirited them away for no more that 5 minutes to get a super selection of very moody shots and then back to the fray and confetti being thrown to the obvious enjoyment of everyone!

2009-09-26T11:18:00.003+01:00

Bit of a delay since my last post as its continued to be hectic, not least because we are moving house and studio in October. We are only going to Bungay and I'll be sending full details to everybody on my mailing list and the website http://www.drphotography.biz/ will have the changes to. Hopefully I will be easier to find after the move!

Part of my wedding package is to offer the bride and groom the chance to have some photographs taken after the event, usually with the bride in her wedding dress but sometimes couples prefer something different and so Bronya and Jonathan decided to have theirs done with a good family friend - Ray- a classic Mini!

2009-09-16T16:31:00.003+01:00

Seems to have been a really busy period lately, which can't be bad! I was lucky enough to be asked to do some advertising photographs for a new London restaurant which had a martini theme so we arranged a couple of scooters, a model and a location and heres the result.

2009-09-03T17:15:00.003+01:00

I had a shoot the other day with Alice who very much enjoys the individuality of retro style clothes and she was introduced to me by Glad Rags of Halesworth, our local vintage clothing shop. She brought along a number of examples and we ended up having a great shoot and showing a variety of moods.

2009-08-31T10:38:00.003+01:00

Quite a weekend! I covered a wedding on Saturday for Mike and Kate at East Harling church and then at Caister Hall just outside Norwich and then a drive down that evening to Swindon to cover the wedding of Matthew and Fiona at Cricklade Country Club on Sunday. Super weddings and a great privilege to be involved with them both. I had photographed Fiona's sister's wedding a couple of years ago in North Norfolk so it was great to see her and her husband Alex again and especially nice to be asked back!

The great joy of covering weddings to being able to photograph the little moments that would otherwise pass perhaps unnoticed, the brides Mother having a little tear in her eye, the couple squeezing each others hands. Those moments so often happen during the ceremony that it is particularly frustrating when I am prevented from taking pictures by the officials. This seems to happen more at civil weddings than in church although this weekend the Vicar would not allow me to photograph the actual signing of the register which I find is usually allowed in church although invariably banned in civil weddings. At Matthew and Fiona's wedding I was banned from taking any picture at all during the ceremony except for the exchange of rings. Why? What is different about the exchange of rings that separates it from the rest of the service? I wouldn't mind so much if it was consistent but every County and every registrar/Vicar have their own rules.

2009-08-20T18:15:00.006+01:00

Its been a really busy week so far and I'm off to Norwich tomorrow with a stand at the Norfolk Garden Show for 3 days. If you are going please look in on me in the craft tent.

One of the shoots this week was for Katy Stangroom a professional dancer, who wanted her portfolio updating. We did various sets but I think my favorite has to be this one. If you would like to know more about Katy or learn to dance - perhaps so you can really show off in front of your guests at your wedding reception then have a look at www.artstheatreschool.com/katy_stangroom.html

2009-08-17T11:16:00.005+01:00

Busy weekend over, although no weddings I covered a 50th wedding anniversary and started on the shoots of dogs from this years Suffolk Dog Day.

Talking of dogs we have two of our own Teazle and Tansie and if I'm looking for a model to try out some new lighting idea they tend to get pressed into service. Have to say they are sometimes less than willing but their fee is good, just a milk bone each!

2009-08-12T20:53:00.003+01:00

Thought I'd try something different from the usual studio portraits the other day and did some "urban street fashion" in downtown Halesworth! It was a great shoot. They were erecting the stage for the Gig in the Park in the background so seemed appropriate somehow!

2009-08-10T16:03:00.002+01:00

Needed to be in two places at once on Saturday as I had a wedding to cover in Cromer but I also had a stand at the Suffolk Dog Day so my wife and son kindly volunteered to man the stand. If you came along and looked at my work thank you. Here is one of the resulting photographs that I took from a booking at last years show

2009-08-03T09:37:00.010+01:00

The great joy about photographing weddings is the variety of styles that are available to capture the day. Here's a couple of pictures which I think capture that mix from Tim and Amelia's wedding recently.

One of the photographs I needed was of the groom, best men and ushers so rather than having a conventional line up I thought this would be fun! I didn't realise at the time but one of the guests was the MD of Thomas Crapper Ltd www.thomas-crapper.com how appropriate!

But then the bride and groom was done somewhat more conventially although I loved the background of the old shed and bench and thought that the sepia really added a timeless quality.

2009-07-30T17:28:00.004+01:00

Part of what I love about being a portrait photographer is the variety of shoots and personalities I get to know. I was talking to my music teacher this morning (Tom Horton http://www.tomhorton.co.uk/) and mention of aspiring musicians - Not that Tom is aspiring, he has definitely arrived! - reminded me of a number of shoots I have done over the past year or so. Having a musical instrument to work around adds a dimension to the shoot and I do enjoy trying out slightly different ideas.

2009-07-23T16:05:00.001+01:00

A family came to collect their photographs today and it always gives me a thrill when a Client sees the printed results for the first time and this Mother was absolutely speechless and just couldn't wait to get the prints home and framed and hung. It really is the best part of this job!

2009-07-22T08:25:00.003+01:00

Just about surfacing this morning from the post production work of a wedding I shot on Saturday. A very full day from the brides preparations through to the first dance for Amelia and Tim (Fitz Higham you may know the name http://www.fitzhigham.com/ )

Over 400 hundred guests and 2 locations to cover so plenty of adrenaline pumping. The weather was superb for once. Terrible morning with strong wind and heavy rain but by the time we needed to get outside to do some bridal shots before leaving for the church the sun was out and the afternoon and evening could not have been better; a perfect English summers day.

2009-07-17T09:18:00.002+01:00

Did a shoot recently on a 1940/50's theme (see photo at top of blog too) and it really went well. I tried to recreate the lighting of the era and with the young lady in question looking like Audrey Hepburn I think the result was great!

2009-07-14T13:46:00.000+01:00

Here's a few more

2009-07-14T13:39:00.001+01:00

We have just returned from a short break on our narrowboat - "Blue Moon" Gave me a chance to wander around and shoot a few landscapes.

Welcome

2009-07-14T13:19:00.000+01:00

Time for me to enter the 21st Century and join the world of blogging! I'm not sure that the posts here will be very regular but I'll try to keep them interesting and informative, about whats happening with D R Photography and anything else that I feel might interest you.