Your Photos Of My Photos. . .
I would love to see where they end up - this is an aspect of my job which has always frustrated me. I put all the work in to producing something you like but don’t get to see what you do with it!
So far I only have a couple of photos so am not going to upload them until I have a few more. Simply email me a copy of your photo and I will add it to the gallery.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
Wee Dotes Competition Continues . .
We are now taking bookings for July, with the last couple of weeks of June already fully booked up. If you were thinking of contacting the studio to enter the competition, please do so now! We anticipate July will be an extremely busy month as school will be finished and many mums will be able to call in for appointments.
We still need many more babies for the Newborn category (birth to 12 weeks) if you know of anyone with a Newborn, please pass on an invitation to them on our behalf. We also have recently decided we may have to consider splitting the Child category (3 to end of Primary School) in to Girls and Boys as there are sooo many entries for that age group.
If you are part of a Mums and Tots, a Playgroup or even just a group of mummies who gather together in a hall somewhere, why not contact us at the studio to see if we will come out to your venue to photograph all your Wee Dotes entrants in one go? I recently did this for a Mums and Tots group and it was very successful. I think any group of 10 children or more would work well.
Keep watching our Wee Dotes Flickr Set. We try to add photos to it at least once a week. You will see many more poses there than you will on the Wee Dotes site which is kept just for the actuall entries.
Anyone Else Rooting For The Netherlands?
In the next couple of weeks, watch out to see if The Netherlands continue to do well in the footy. If they get through to the finals I have promised that the window display will be turned orange!
Anyone who has visited the studio in the past few months will know that I am privileged to have a very talented designer working with me on the design side of the business. Maaike, who is originally from The Netherlands, has been with me since April and in honour of her Dutch-ness we will be celebrating in true orange style if her team gets through.
Big Word Project . . .
About The Big Word Project
The Big Word Project has been set up by Paddy Donnelly and Lee Munroe, two Masters students from Northern Ireland, who are exploring what different words mean to different people. The project allows you to purchase a word from our list to represent your site. Your site will then represent this word in our list and when people click on it, they will be taken to your site. The project is aimed at changing definitions and creating a new tapestry of words, meaning altogether different things.
I think it is a bit of fun and went slightly mad purchasing a few words - they are sold at $1 per letter so are hardly expensive. It is a great way of advertising if you have a distinctive word in your company name. Like this - I think it is REALLY cool!
Personal Note
I went to Toys R Us in order to get a couple of new props for the studio and as I was walking up the aisle I saw a pair of very familiar eyes looking back at me - eyes I haven’t seen for quite some time. As recognition flickered I realised I was looking at a girl I haven’t seen for 24 years. The last time I saw her was around my 16th Birthday - because that is when - well - that is when I last saw her.
For the longest time I have yearned for this meeting and at the same time feared it - this girl - let’s call her Donna - cos - you know what? that just happens to be her name. . . was part of my childhood from I was about 12 to the aforesaid 16. It’s a bit like bumping in to a long lost cousin - someone you knew really well but weren’t related too that closely. She asked what age I am this evening and that startled me a little as I am the same age as her and surely she should remember that? I DO! I was born in November - she was born in December of the same year - if I really rack my brains I could probably pinpoint the day precisely - nuhhhuhhh - the 5th? No - that was Dorinda - she was the 5th of May - what was Donna’s? Nah - can’t impress you that much. The 12th? 11th? 13th? Dude - isn’t DECEMBER impressive enough?
I remember so much about her and I told her a couple of the things that I have thought about recently - she may be from a far and distant past but she would have been one of the people from that era that I always wished I had made more of an effort to keep in touch with.
We weren’t particularly close but we should have been. We had a lot more in common that I had with others from the same surroundings. This evening she stirred up some things that I have pushed down for a long time because I have had no one to stir them up FOR me or WITH me and no one else could come close. I didn’t keep in touch with any of the crowd and always thought that the rest of them ALL did excluding me which is why I have always had a bit of trepidation about meeting up.
So, Donna, I gave you my website name in the hope you WOULD look here - I hope I didn’t miss you. I hope you are well and happy in your life and marriage - that’s why I could never find you in name searches - you had a different name D’Oh! I hope you love your children just that little bit more special because. Just because. I hope you remember me the way I remember you. You probably didn’t believe me when I said I think of you often but it is true. Here are some things that have triggered your face in my mind in the past few weeks:
The word Venus. Now - if you can work that one out I will be REALLY impressed.
The word Saggitarius - EVERY time I hear that I think of you. Remember Paula and her star signs?
Madness. Madness. Madness. ALWAYS WITH THE MADNESS. And again with the Madness. . . I know loads of the words because of you. I hated them so much at the time but now love them.
Broken Ankle. Did you really get someone to jump on it to get you out of PE? Grin. It took them 3 weeks to believe you didn’t it? Remember the Doctor we went to? OhOhOhOhOhOh - rememememememememememeber the weeks we had off school because of the rash? *whistles innocently*
I was in my home town the other Sunday visiting my mother and had such a flashback to that one day we were adventurous and made the bus journey.
I was in Ikea on Tuesday with a friend and almost took her on the journey round the ‘hood.
I did a wedding in YOUR home town a while back - looked out for you
Someone showed me a photo of their 1980s bridesmaid dress about 3 weeks ago and I thought of the couple you had in your wardrobe.
And I DID ask Robert that time to tell you I was asking about you - I hope he did.
But the biggest thing I remember about you was the way you were so so so so funny - I always thought you were going to go on to be a comediene or a poet - you wrote the most fantastic poetry - what did you do with all that?
There you go. Just so you know. I would love it if you made the effort to at least email. No point in trying to make up for lost time but at least one long chin wag would be so cool. Best wishes with the baby
Love Susan xx
Competition Skipping Along Nicely . . .
This is the collage which is currently in the shop window - cool huh? I have had loads of shoots recently with some very energetic and fun youngsters and am trying to get them uploaded to my Flickr account but Flickr is messing me about so they will have to wait a couple more days.
For Your Viewing Pleasure . . .
You know what that means? Very few entrants means MORE CHANCE OF WINNING that category! So if you know of a newborn in the area please tell their mum and dad to book them in for a competition sitting!
More Triplets!
Wee Dotes . . .
This is a brand new magazine and a brand new competition for the Lisburn and Banbridge area.
Here is an excerpt from a
recent edition of the Banbridge Chronicle:
On 1st April 2008,
Susan Collins Photography, in association with the
Banbridge Edition of Mums in Control Magazine, launched
the brand new “Wee Dotes Competition”.
The competition is free to enter and will have 4
categories. It will be open to babies and children aged
0-11 years (any child up to the end of primary school)
within the Banbridge area.
Susan is extremely excited about the new venture as the
official photographer for this competition which
coincides with the launch of a brand new free
glossy-print magazine in the area: Mums In Control.
“We have decided to open the competition to open it to
any child up to the end of P7 in primary school instead
of restricting it to being a ‘Baby’ competition” said
Susan Collins from her studio in Scarva Street.
Judging will take place in November. As well as some
fabulous prizes, the finalists will also be published
in the Mums in Control magazine.
To enter your child into the competition simply contact
the studio on 028 40 660 330 to arrange a date and time
for your Free photo-shoot. Every entrant will also
receive a free 7x5 print. A few days after your
photo-shoot you will be invited back to view a
slideshow of your photographs and to select an entry
for the competition, the chosen image will then be
printed for you to keep free of charge.
The competition has been running the month
of April and has proven to be a great success among
local mums. Many have taken advantage of the free
sitting and word is still spreading about the fun the
children have at their studio visit.
I am hoping that the Wee Dotes web site will soon have
a selection of the entrants to view. Keep watching for
this! If you haven't seen the magazine yet, feel free
to call in at the studio to pick up your own copy.
Hush Hush . . .
Trespassers Prosecuted Book Now Available. . .
It is available in both hardcover and softcover. Go and have a look at it and let me know what you think . . .
Three Times The Trouble!
Fairy Princess
Bonny . . .
You may
remember that last year I judged the Bonny Baby Competition in Iveagh
House? These cutie pie brother and sister were the
joint winners and they called in to the studio this
week to have their session with me. . .
School Buddies . . .
They haven't seen each other for almost a year and were determined to have a good time. . .
This is them dancing around a handbag.
It's a bit of a flukey photo but I love it! It may end up in my window!
Published in jpgmag.com
Or here:
If you have never seen Moo Cards please feel free to call in to the studio to see the frame!
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Merry Christmas to
all my customers over the past year.
It has been a wonderful year in the studio, my busiest
yet and I have enjoyed meeting so many new families,
capturing moments and participating in your lives just
a little.
Watch out for my new packages and new products about to
be launched early in 2008.
Vouchers: The Ideal Present . . .
Have you considered a gift voucher from Susan Collins Photography?
Vouchers start from £25 to any amount you wish to spend. An ideal amount would be £50 to cover the session fee. . .
If you purchase a voucher before December 31st 2007 you will have your session at 2007 pricing! So its also a good idea to purchase one for yourself if you are thinking of having a session during 2008.
Vocuhers can be emailed or posted out.
All vouchers are valid for 6 months from date of issue. Your session must be booked before the expiry date.
Christmas Rush . . .
Last year I had a hectic December, trying to fit in as many last minute bookings and print orders as possible to ensure clients had presents to wrap and I did succeed in filling all orders but it was a very fraught experience for everyone concerned.
This year I will be asking for orders to be placed before the 3rd December to guarantee Christmas delivery. Orders placed after this time may incur a *rush fee*.
The studio will be closed from 21st December 2007 until the 7th January 2008. There will be no print collections or sittings during this time.
Exhibition Week . . .
I have been inundated with clients thinking ahead for Christmas presents for family and friends but have also been participating in my first personal exhibition at a local gallery in Banbridge. It was organised jointly with local landscape photographer Craig Sands, who was also great fun to work with, and featured my abstract photographs printed on special metallic paper. My photographs are all from a quarry near Lisburn and feature rusty abandoned industrial machinery and equipment.
Paul and Linda of Framed (Rathfriland Street) have been fantastically patient and supportive during the run up to the actual event as I added more and more prints to the line up at the last minute.
We had Open Evenings on both Tuesday and Thursday nights which were well attended by friends, family and clients as well as people who had read about the exhibition in the Banbridge Chronicle last week.
This has been an unbelievable experience for me. I loved working on this project, putting it all together and chatting to everyone on the actual evenings.
I am about to dismantle the display tomorrow and feel quite sad about that. I would love to take it on to a new venue and start all over again. I certainly can not wait to do another exhibition and am already thinking about the next theme!
(First photo above by kind permission from Lorna Dunn.)
Firsts . . .
AJ
brought a rugby ball (and full kit). How gorgeous is
he?
Xander arrived with a surf board under his
arm.
And Gordy treated me to a full
drumming session.
It looks like Gordy is
going to go on to bigger and better things with his
drumming. He will be appearing with his band in the
town very soon - more details to follow.
It has been a busy week but very enjoyable to see the
personalities of my clients shine through in this
way.
Products Not Portraits . . .
Today I had two jewellery designers with me with their model, the model's mum and the model's four month old baby! It sounds bizarre but it was one of the best-fun shoots I have done in a while! The baby was a wee dote and so well behaved it was unbelievable!
One of the girls works with fabrics like felt and silk and the other one works with silver.
It is a wee while since I did product shots and I really did enjoy doing this one! And I love the jewellery!
Glacier Artistry Range Added
I chose one of my favourite shots from a recent client shoot which was then mounted in the centre of a 5mm acrylic panel and then finished with an identical top layer. The product is then suspended using a simple keyhole fixing and comes with an attractive aluminium stand off in each corner. At first glance it looks like it is going to be very complicated to hang - with all the aluminium fixing pins but it simply hangs like any other frame on one nail in the wall!
I ordered the 8" x 8" (overall size is then 12"x12") version which will retail at £220 but they will be available in sizes up to 20"x16" (overall size 24"x20")
I like the effect of it but think it may look best in the larger size. Am really looking forward to showing the *mummy* this photo - I think she will love it!
Canvases Have Landed!
I love the quality of the printing, the finish of the box frame at the back and equally as important: the overall packaging to get it to me safe and sound. Big thumbs up from me and my customers so far.
The only problem is - perfection comes at a price and in this case the downside to this company is the timescale it takes them to get the products to me. It looks like they are going to take between 2 and 3 weeks for delivery which is a little bit on the slow side in the run up to Christmas!
Lesson here: If you want one to be unwrapped on Christmas Morning - ORDER NOW!
Exhibition Book Has Arrived!
Photography Exhibition!
The photos are picked, printed and sitting at the framers waiting to be framed and signed as Limited Editions. There were originally 30 possible images to pick 10-12 finals from and I didn't like the idea of leaving the rest out totally so I have ordered a hard back book to be printed with all the images. If people like the ones which are in the book more then the ones on the wall they will be invited to order from there too. The book has been shipped and ought to be here in plenty of time.
The book gives me the chance to leave the *exhibition* behind at the gallery for the foreseeable future should anyone wish to call in and see it.
In order to pull in more visitors I jumped at the chance of sharing the gallery space with a local photographer I am friendly with: Craig Sands. We worked together on a calendar shoot late last year and have kept in touch.
Craig took on the designing and printing of the invitations and these arrived today just in time for me to start mailing them to friends, family and previous customers.
Facing Your Fears . . .
Every morning I got up at 6am, made a flask of coffee and a flask of soup, checked I had my memory cards, packed my bag and was on site for 7.30am.
The routine involved me getting on to the roof of the building next to the site. The site had various diggers, tippers and small cranes on it with varying sizes of holes to be filled, cemented, made larger and then filled some more. The roof had a maintenance fire escape which had a gate on the bottom to stop civilians wandering *accidentally* on to the roof. The whole area is being revamped so the roof was being used by the plumbers to join heating to the modular units when they arrived. . .
I would walk across the roof (avoiding looking over the edge) and climb (slowly) on to the scaffolding at the end. This gave me a great view of the whole site. From where I was, the lorries were driving past just 4 feet from me and as they went through a pot hole the whole rigs would lurch back and forwards. Scary.
By the end of the few days, I have to say, I was very much acclimatised to the whole "OMG I am on scaffolding and can't look over the edge and look how far up I am and how close those lorries are* thing.
The architect had joked with me during the reccy day that it was all about "Facing Your Fears* and that came back to me on the Wednesday when I arrived and thought the lifting of the units had started without me and panicked myself in to climbing the scaffolding ladder rather than using the slower option of going up and round the roof. I don't like ladders. As I went hand over hand up it I chanted "Just Keep Walking . . . Just Keep Walking . . " and found it a lot easier to keep a rhythm that way. Turned out it was a full hour before they were ready to lift the first unit that day but the whole experience will make it easier the next time I have to do anything like that. As will the time that I got ready to go home and got to the bottom of the stairs to find the plumbers had already left for the day and had locked up behind them! I had to climb over the gate. Not easy with all that gear.
The whole thing was a great experience. I got some super photos for them. They kinda just wanted the activity documented but they got a bit more than that in the end. I got access to a roof I wouldn't normally get on to - I pushed my limits - and I learned lots about the building trade just by having to observe them for 2 and a half days non-stop.
Did you know that those little digger operators are so skilful they can make the moving of stones around look like a finely choreographed ballet? Seriously! Don't laugh. Did you know that if you have 17 units to move from England to Northern Ireland you don't have to ring round haulage companies - there is a company who will do that for you? Did you know that if a guy is on the Dole he doesn't really want you to take his photo while brushing up the place? Did you know that these people can clear a site with very little communication between each other - they just get on with it and help each other. Did you know that people working on a building site can be the most friendly people EVER? Did you know there were no women on the site other than me?
The roof wasn't the only high I was on. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and am hoping that this is a *foot in the door* with the people who hired me. There is a second part to the job soon and I hope to be asked to do it too.
Have got a stinking cold now though. Bleh.
Hi To All JPGMAG Visitors . . .
I would just like to say "Hi" to them!
MacFormat Fame!
As a Mac user and lover I was very chuffed to be chosen to be featured in this magazine, showing my Mac Setup in work.
I tidied my desk specially for the photograph to be taken but about one full day after it was back to the normal mess!
Let me know if you saw me in the magazine!
Long Time Coming . . .
Frank (the Just n Casey Sales Manager) had promised that he would be pushing the calendar as much as possible so I am hoping to see it mentioned in lots of different places from now on.
Poetcaster Alex . . .
Alex Pryce is a 19 year old poet, originally from Bangor, Northern Ireland, currently studying English at the University of Leicester. She is about to enter her second year of study.
She needed photos for her website and we took quite a few around the building of both her and the equipment she uses to record the poetcasts.
We set up the microphone and laptop she uses on a spare restaurant table we found in the rear foyer and were just about finished when the security guards arrived to move us along.
It was great to meet up with Alex again and I hope to work with her in the future.
Bonny Baby Competition!
The Nursing Home staff had organised a fund-raising afternoon to be able to buy *extras* for the residents. There was to be a car boot sale, a dog show and my Bonny Baby Competition.
Unfortunately most of the outdoor activities were rained off in some of the worst rain we have had in the past year! There were only 8 babies there in the end but they all received a voucher for a Free Sitting with the winning brother and sister receiving a voucher for a sitting and a framed photograph.
I had the best fun!
JPGMAG
Their About Us page says:
So far I am enjoying uploading some of my favourite photos to the web site. Eventually I will write the odd story for them hopefully too.JPG Magazine is for people who love imagemaking without attitude. It's about the kind of photography you get when you love the moment more than the camera. It's for photographers who, like us, have found themselves online, sharing their work, and would like to see that work in print.JPG is a magazine. It's published 6 times a year by 8020 Publishing and distributed nationally. You can pick up a subscription or find it in US bookstores like Borders and Barnes and Noble. Everything in the magazine comes from you!JPG is a website. Here any photographer can join and upload photos and stories to their member page. You can also submit your work for consideration in the magazine.JPG is a community. JPG exists because of, and exclusively for, photographers like you. Without you, we're nothing.
It's a great incentive that I may some day be published in their magazine. That and the fact I would love a subscription to the mag too!
Non Photography Day
No?
That's because I didn't take my camera.
Some time ago I realised that I was taking photos to show other people things that I should have been witnessing for myself but that I was actually missing out on because I had a camera stuck to my eye. Mummy type things - school plays and such like. Sometimes I look at photos I have taken and can't remember taking them. Wor