New blog address - come on over to Tumblr!

Ever one to tinker, I have moved my blog to http://suziewilliamsphotography.tumblr.com/ so come on over, I'd love to see you there (and if you like what you see, follow me and make my day!).

See you on the Tumblr side...

Birthday greetings from the studio

I've been working on a few photographic card ideas over the last couple of weeks. I've been meaning to shoot more art photography during the quieter winter months and have a few lovely flower images coming up soon, but for now, and in honour of my eldest son who is seven today, here's a little birthday greeting to show you (and him!).

The Scrabble tiles are lovely little wooden ones, so much better than those plastic ones, and the background is from my assorted collection of wrapping papers and fabrics. The whole image was shot table-top using natural light from a big window to the right of the set up and the image was cropped square in post-processing.  I played about with a few other greetings and backgrounds too, but more of those another time.

Happy Wednesday y'all and Happy Birthday Louis!

3 weeks in to a new creative year...

...and the new year's resolutions are looking good. I am slowly but surely mastering the (very) basics of the piano and I've also spent a rather enjoyable few hours 'playing' with my mini studio set up.

Last year, inspired by my friend Liz's ace present idea for her husband, I created our family in Russian Doll format. Since then, our mini-mes have been much admired so I thought I'd make them the subject of one of my studio shots.  What do you think? A new creative venture in the making? I won't give up the day job yet but I would happily consider commissions to make more little families!

I take the plunge... into advertising

No, not a career change, but a recent venture into advertising my company online. For the last four years, since my photography business came into being, I haven't dabbled in the world of advertising, relying instead on word-of-mouth to generate new business, but it's a new year and in deference to my intentions to grow my little start-up this year, I have taken the plunge and advertised my wares at The Bridal File.

It's quite a clever little site, with listings changing order each time a viewer clicks, so sometimes I might be at the top and at other times a way down the listing, but hey it's a start! I've added some lovely client testimonials to stand out from all the rest so I'm going to sit back now and watch the enquiries flood in!

Wish me luck!

A new blog icon

I am ridiculously excited by my new blog icon, making its debut on my website this week. Made from old printing blocks and with just enough digital illustration to put it on the right side of 'edgy', I've added it to the site and removed the previous clunky navigation, left over from when my blog sat on my .com domain.

Anyway, here it is, in all it's glory (and yes, it does link back to my .com site where you can see it for real!)...

Happy 2012

Happy new year to all my clients, existing and prospective!

To brighten a somewhat overcast early January morning, today's picture is in deference to one of my new year's resolutions. It's a shot created in my mini studio which I don't use very much but have resolved to use much more in 2012! That and learn to play the piano....

So, with Piano Lessons Book 1 on its way, and the studio lights charging the background, here's to 2012 and at least a week of keeping to those resolutions : )

PS: If you're looking to make some positive changes this year, why not treat yourself to a 50:50 photoshoot? Bookings being taken now for lunchtimes, weekends and evening shoots to suit you.

Partying at the Ashmolean

The run up to the festive season is always a busy one for me, with lots of parties, social functions and last-minute photographic presents for grandparents to accommodate, so it was great to be able to combine work with a bit of catching up with friends last Friday.

I was photographing the Pearson Christmas party, held in the beautifully stylish surroundings of the Ashmolean museum in Oxford. Recently refurbished, extended and now boasting a brand new (if you know what I mean) Egyptian artefact gallery, the Ashmolean also opens its doors after hours for all sorts of glamourous weddings, parties and launches.

Sheltering from a cold winter's evening, the 350 or so guests enjoyed champagne and canapes with musical accompaniment from classical guitarists and guerilla opera singers posing as waiters.

I took my leave as the guests were enjoying dinner and dancing in the Randolph Gallery and by all accounts, the partying continued well into the night. Here are a few shots from the evening.