20 Years SR 2024

20 Years of Photography at Saint Ronan’s School

I started taking photos at Saint Ronan’s School in the Summer Term 2004, using my 35mm camera.

My 2 sons, Joseph and Oliver, joined the school in 2000 and my daughter, Jenny, in 2003 but at that time Saint Ronan’s didn’t have class photos or individual portraits for any of the pupils other than the Leavers.  I jumped at the opportunity to offer my services when William Trelawny-Vernon joined Saint Ronan’s as the new head in 2003.  I am very sentimental and photography to me is all about capturing memories so, of course, I wanted school photos of my own children as well as offering it to every other child there.  Each year, my children would take their turns in having their school photos taken, standing in line with everyone else.

My style of photography has always been about capturing personalities so that hasn’t changed over the years but back then I shot everything with black and white film and in a landscape style.  It was all very different.  The school was much smaller than it is today, with only one class per year group and the classes were small, around 8/10 pupils per class.  As the years have progressed the school has expanded quite considerably, but still retaining its charm and although my photos are a little bit more structured than they were, in terms of organisation, I am still able to capture the Ronian in each child.

As the years went on, I progressed from taking just pupil portraits and class photos, to photos of the Leavers, sports teams, sports matches, staff, various events such as the Brodie, World Book Day, Easter Bonnet Parade, Founders Day, Plays, Concerts, and carol concerts as well as other ad hoc school events.  I’ve taken many photos in and around the school capturing candid images of the staff and pupils as well as all aspects of the school and grounds, that make the school unique.

I have photographed many children over the years.  I may not remember all their names, but I do remember their faces.  I like to think that they also remember me taking their photos, with fondness and with it being a time that was fun and full of laughs.

I love it on match days when some children race up to me asking if I will take their photos during the game or when I’m walking around the school and groups of children want to pose for a photo.  I love being able to turn shyness and reluctance into a fit of giggles or even just coaxing out a little hint of a smile.  And it’s great seeing the children I have photographed, years later and hearing about what they’ve been doing.

Being a photographer at Saint Ronan’s comes with its challenges.  I have been hit by various balls, chased by pigs, pecked by chicken, followed around by peacocks and drenched in the pouring rain.  I have been out in all weathers, sometimes having to use a dog poo bag to cover my camera when I have forgotten my waterproof cover.  I have fallen over in the mud, taken up in a cherry picker to take photos of the front of the school and sometimes given a very tall ladder to stand on.  I have been taken on a joy ride around the school on a Gator – it was the first time Amanda was allowed to drive one – and ‘pestered’ by one of the robotic lawn mowers, which also mowed over my special ‘pencil case’ (if you know you know).   Luckily nothing was damaged and my ‘pencil case’ is still in use today.  As well as all the different children and staff, I have met and photographed the likes of Queen Camilla, Frank Gardner, Clare Balding, Val Biro and Paul McCartney to name but a few.

Having joined as a parent and then continuing to work as the school photographer, Saint Ronan’s holds a very special place in my heart.  When my children left the school they donated a bench, which has their names engraved on a plaque.  I do try and sit on it whenever I can, but it keeps being moved – I think someone is trying to tell me something!!

September 2024 will see a change in the leadership of the school, but I am hoping that I can continue capturing many school memories for as long as I can. 

Over the next few weeks or so, I will be releasing lots of Saint Ronan’s photos from the last twenty years, so look out for those on my social media pages.  There will be lots of funny ones to look back on as well as some of my favourites.

FLOREAT SAINT RONAN’S!

AJ9A3325

SallyTrigg2020-5

SRLeaversBullfrogs20-48

BeckleyAcorns20-31

Josh2020-42

What a strange year 2020 has been!!!  It has taken all of us by surprise, I don’t think anyone could have imagined what was going to happen.  Throughout the year we have all had different battles with health, work, personal issues and loss.  Nobody knows what is going on behind closed doors so it has been even more important to be thoughtful, patient and kind.

It was supposed to be the best year yet… My business reached the age of 20 and I had huge celebrations planned, but, of course, they were postponed.  We have all had to adapt and adjust the way we do things and live our lives.  I have tried to use this time to reassess the way I work and how I would like to keep moving forward.

Amongst everything else going on around me, I have managed to keep working even throughout the periodic stopping and starting.  I have captured memories for different families through family photoshoots.  I have captured photos for those setting up new businesses. I have refreshed headshots for people within existing businesses and professions, for when the world returns to normal.  I have taken socially distanced school portraits, although I have missed all the other school events; plays, dress up days, nativities, sport days, matches and concerts.  Finally, I have fulfilled orders from those who have had the time to sit down and go through the archives, ordering photos that they didn’t have the time to choose before.  This has shown the importance of keeping photos up to date, by making sure businesses stay current and ensuring personal photos capture moments that are so fleeting.

As this year draws to a close, I would like to thank my clients for all their trust and support throughout this difficult time.  It has meant a lot to have had so many gorgeous faces smiling back at me and I would like to think that I have made a small difference in peoples’ lives too.

DaisyandFriends20-37 AllchorneFamily20-91 DealtryBrothers20-129

 

20YearsSCP

It’s funny to think that 20 years ago I was dipping my toe into the unknown waters of running my own business around something that meant a lot to me and felt very personal.  It was a big leap, turning something that I did for pleasure into a business and having the confidence to take it in the direction I wanted as well as taking my photography to the next level.  I’ve definitely had a few wobbles on the way in terms of confidence, but I’ve learnt that you just have to stay true to your own style.

Although I have dabbled in other photographic genres, there has never really been any doubt about where my photographic speciality lies.  I love photographing people – it’s as simple as that.  I love portraiture in all the forms that that presents.  I love creating special memories for people and helping people realise their dreams by taking headshots that reflect the essence of who they are.

My main goal as a photographer is for people I am photographing to feel relaxed.  My need to capture a moment in time that is just so fleeting, surpasses everything else.  It’s definitely about finding the balance but when I am photographing people I just don’t want to miss any little expression or emotion that flies across their faces, so I try and work quickly before any kind of self consciousness materialises. 

I can’t get away from the fact that I am massively sentimental and all I want to do is collect and archive memories.  That is one of the main reasons I became a photographer.  I loved looking at old family photos and I still do now;  I never tire of it however often I have looked at one image.  A photograph is like a piece of music or a smell – it just takes you right back in time and you remember when or where it was taken and everything about that person. 

My professional journey into photography started by taking photos of children at the local preschool as well as of families and local events.  This quickly developed into family lifestyle photography, portraits, headshots and school photography.  It is very easy to look at what other photographers are doing and wonder whether you should be following specific trends but the truth is, I wanted to be me and to develop my own style.  I can’t tell you how exciting it is for somebody to recognize an image as mine.

It still surprises me today when I get such lovely feedback from people.  It makes me feel that I have achieved what I set out to do in making people happy with my photos, making them smile, inspiring them in some way or giving them something to treasure and pass down to generations to come. 

Despite running my business for several years, it took me a long time to have the confidence to talk about my work and exhibit it but I quickly realised that there are people out there who are interested and are big supporters.  It’s a wonderful feeling.  Thank you!

I wanted to mark my 20 year work anniversary by running various projects from Autumn of last year, leading up to a big celebration in the summer of 2020.  Some of you may have seen the photos I have been releasing from my archive, which has been a great trip down memory lane.  I have also been trying to run a series of ‘Then and Now’ photos, which has been on hold but I am planning on continuing with these over the summer.  My big celebration event had to be postponed but will go ahead when it is safe to do so.  20 years is a big achievement so I want to remember this time as something really special. 

I have been really lucky to have met so many wonderful and interesting people over the years. I love to think that the photographs I have taken have made a real difference in people’s lives, whether that be by creating special memories or by helping people to create an all important professional profile.

Thank you for all your love and support up until now and I hope to see you all very soon for the next 20 year adventure.

To create a storyboard of memories, I would really love to hear your experiences of a photo session with me or to see and hear about a specific photo I have captured for you.  Please share them on social media and tag me, leave me a comment on here or send me an email.  It will mean a lot to hear from you all and there will be a surprise for everybody who would like to share.

How we present our business and ourselves is vital in the competitive world, both online and visual, that we live in. A brand is not just your business, your logo or your website, it is about you and what makes you stand out from other businesses. A headshot and branding photo shoot allows you to connect to your audience by showing the person behind the business.  It is important to stand out from the crowd by keeping your images fresh and professional. 

The session is designed to capture a headshot, your workspace (when appropriate) and you in action, doing what you do.  Branding photos are a vital asset for your business, showing your personality, your brand, what you do and who you are.   It really is an investment worth making.

RSI-1 RS-96 RSI-19

So how does personal branding work?  Your personal brand means you; the more you share your personality and the more real you are, the greater ease there will be in building relationships with your clients.  Your uniqueness is what makes you stand out.  People like to know who they’re dealing with, so it’s good to show the essence of you in a headshot but you can add that bit extra by showing yourself in your working environment, whether that be delivering a service, doing something creative or teaching.

Before the photo shoot it’s good to plan what you want to achieve, by understanding your business goals and visualising how you want your images to look.  The session is entirely what you make it.  As well as including images directly related to your business it’s good to include something a little extra and personal to you, which will bring out your personality. 

People want to see who’s behind the brand of a product or service as they feel more of a connection.  It establishes credibility and trust as well as building a rapport with your clients.  It’s important to express your individuality.  You want people to stop and look at what you are offering.

PricelessHeadshots19-6 PricelessOffice19-106

There are so many ways you can use your brand photos.  Not only can you use them on different pages across your website but on social media (including LinkedIn), on your newsletters, price guides, information booklets, advertising, business cards, blogs or email footers. These factors need to be taken into account as it is crucial in how the images will be composed when shooting.

We are amidst a global pandemic, which makes the future seem uncertain BUT now is the time to focus on your goals and plan for success.

If you are interested in a branding shoot please get in touch so we can chat about your ideas.

Will's-12 copy

Will's-140 copy Will's-68 copy Will's-82 copy Will's-90 copy

Being a school photographer is intensive and a lot of hard work but I love it and enjoy creating lasting memories.   What I like to pride myself on the most, is adding a more personal touch to my school photography as well as providing good quality photography and prints.  My experience as a portrait and headshot photographer comes into play with my approach to school photography.  My aim is to get to know the children enough to enable me to get the best shots of them that their parents will treasure.  I also like to build a good rapport with the school to take the best possible photos for school use, which reflects the school at it’s best and shows the ethos of the school environment. 

School photography should be so much more than setting a standard pose and counting to 3 before pressing the shutter.  I like to form a connection with each child so that they feel comfortable enough to express themselves and show off their personality.  There’s nothing better than fart noises or a few bad jokes to lighten the mood.  I just love looking through a lens and seeing somebody smiling back at me.  With sibling photos I tend to start with a squish - that always brings out the smiles.

I don’t want children to feel that it’s a daunting prospect having their photo taken and I certainly don’t want it to be a chore for the school, which is why I try and work quickly.  Some children thrive in posing in front of all their classmates but there are children who are quite shy and find this difficult.  I can judge quite quickly how a child is going to respond so that I can adjust to that.  In one school there was a little girl who hated her photo taken.  She cried every year and although I tried to take more candid shots of her waiting with her classmates, she caught onto this very quickly. Eventually after a bit of gentle perseverance, she actually agreed to stay behind with a couple of her friends and have her photo taken.  It took about 4 years to get to this stage.  When she told me that she enjoyed it and liked the photo, I could have jumped up and down with joy.  It was the best feeling.  I want the children to remember having their school photo taken as being a fun part of school life.

With class photos, it’s great to see how the children interact with one another.  I am quite traditional in the sense that I like a class photo to be a ‘normal’ group photo – no posing in small groups and putting together in one big image.  Just one class photo showing the children as they are.  Okay, it’s good to have them all looking relatively neat as they are representing the school but if there’s a child who normally has one sock up and one down, or a tie not quite done up then they are the kind of things that make a photo special.  I always take one ‘formal’ class photo and then a photo where they can all strike a pose or pull a silly face.  Of course this is the one they all look forward to.

It’s exhausting jumping around like a loon but more often than not it pays off and not only do I end up with a school photo that the parents love but I also end up with a number of outtakes, which have proven to be just as popular with the school as they have with the children and parents.

I have worked with one particular school for as long as I have been doing school photography.  It has enabled us to work closely together and for me to adapt to changes that they have made over the years.  I know what works for them and have built on a style of image that suits the school.  Being a regular at a school enables me to build a good rapport with the school, staff and children so that I can capture the best images.

I really love the interaction and the involvement that I have in a child’s school life. It’s wonderful seeing the children grow and develop from one year to the next and it’s a privilege to be part of their school journey.  I have been called Mrs Farty Pants (you can take from that what you will) but I accept that as a term of endearment.  With all the children I have photographed, I hope I have as much as a special place in their hearts as they do in mine.  I like to think that having their photo taken at school holds fond memories and that they remember me for all the right reasons.

MakingFacesAge6-1 MakingFacesAge6-4 MakingFacesAge6-5 MakingFacesAge6-3 MakingFacesAge6-2

 

I never really did this with my sons, which I regret, but from the time that my daughter was in nursery (she’s 18 now), I would take a series of photos of her making silly faces at the end of each school year.  From these photos, I would select around 9 images to make into a thank you card for her teachers.  The teachers loved them so I continued making these gifts until she started secondary school, when she wasn’t so inclined to be silly. 

The photos shown above were taken when my daughter was 6 years old.  More recently, I have taken headshots for her audition and college applications.  Once again, she couldn’t resist slipping into making a series of funny faces. 

MakingFacesAge18-1 MakingFacesAge18-2 MakingFacesAge18-3 MakingFacesAge18-4 MakingFacesAge18-5



 

I look back at all these photos I have taken over the years and they do make me smile.

Keep an eye on my social media pages, as I will be sharing a few other funny faces I have photographed over the years. 

Once we have got through this time of uncertainty and life returns to normal, I would like to launch the option of booking a mini session, during which I can capture funny faces of your children or even your whole family.  I have sourced some wonderful collage frames, which are a perfect way of displaying these photos and will always be a talking point for your visiting friends and relatives. 

Keep safe, keep smiling and practice those funny faces.

AprilBlog-1LR

AprilBlogLR

I think you will agree that the world is going through a very strange and unsettling time right now.  We’re in uncharted waters and many of us are facing challenges we’ve never experienced before in our lifetimes. 

The news is changing day-to-day and it’s all a little scary and uncertain but we have to remember that we’re not alone.  It’s all about being sensible and approaching this logically.

Hardly any photographers have their libraries and archives sorted out properly so I have been spending time on that over the last couple of weeks, as well as catching up with filing and general administration.  I plan to sort through all my equipment, selling pieces I don’t use or I don’t want, as well as giving all my equipment and bags a deep clean.  By the end of this period my workspace will be super organised, which will make me feel really good and well and truly ready for my working life to get back to normal.

Postponed photo shoots are a challenge when we don’t know how long this situation is going to go on for but I am trying to come up with realistic alternative dates.  If you do have a booking with me sometime over the next couple of months, I will be in touch to decide on our best options.

In the meantime, if anybody is thinking about updating their headshots, now would be a good time to contact me to book a session.  As soon as the current movement restrictions are lifted, I can take your new headshots in an outdoor space, in accordance with current distancing guidelines.  I am used to working with natural light and would be more than happy to discuss your ideas and requirements at any time.  I will be releasing another special offer shortly, for anybody wishing to book a headshot session once this madness is over, so keep an eye on my social media pages and website for any announcements.

I do miss seeing my clients and having that working interaction but I have managed to capture photos of my family trying to develop a routine at home, keeping themselves busy with work, dance classes, exercising and jobs in the garden.  They won’t let me take too many photos but I will be releasing a few of them on my social media pages, which will give you a little insight to how life in the Clark household is at the moment.   The photos accompanying this blog were snapped yesterday, during an outside headshot photo session with my daughter.  As you can see a certain somebody was feeling very left out.

We are all going through the same uncertainty but we can all come out the other side of this refreshed, recharged and ready to tackle the mountain of postponed work that will be waiting for us when society begins functioning again. Don’t project your stress and panic onto others. Let’s work together, be sensible and do the right thing so that life can return to normality.  There are very few times that people are out of work or at home for a long period of time.  Life is normally so busy, so it will be good to use the circumstances we find ourselves in to take the time to just enjoy our families, being at home and to enjoy life.

Keep positive.  Keep smiling.  Be kind. 

Lindsay2019-22

HeadshotOuttakes

Lindsay2019-26

I love taking headshots.  Working closely with one person and getting to know them enough to bring out their personality is a real privilege.  There are few people who are really comfortable having their photo taken so it’s my job to make the experience enjoyable and fun.  I want people to feel relaxed and good about themselves.

A photograph is a powerful thing – it shows the world who you are and what you represent so it is vital that your headshot is kept up to date.

Now that social media has taken such an important role in promoting our professional abilities, having a professional headshot is more important than ever, whether it be for your business, event programme, college application, agency headshot or spotlight page.

A headshot might only take up a small amount of space on screen but it can still have a huge effect on how you are perceived.  A great headshot shows you at your best but it does need to be truthful, striking, natural and, of course, completely professional.  A good headshot gives people an idea of your personality before they meet you. 

I want people to be themselves in front of the camera.  Authenticity and approachability is what people react to.  I love to chat with my clients, to laugh and create a relaxed atmosphere, which is important to get the best possible results on the day.  I want the headshots that we create together to
be natural, and show you as you are.  I want to get to know you and understand what you need your headshot for, so that I can capture the essence of you.

Here are a few photos from a recent headshot session, which were needed for a start up business for use on her new website and LinkedIn.  As you can see we had lots of fun, as well as capturing those all important winning images. 

Keep an eye on my social media pages for some more ‘outtake’ photos from different headshot sessions. 

There are several things you need to bear in mind when booking your headshot session so take a look at the Info page of my website to find out more about what to expect.

Let me know if you would like to make a booking and we can get something in the diary.

JOJ JOJ-1

We often don’t realise the importance of family photos until it’s too late. Photos take us back in time and they can prompt so many memories of a person, time and place.  They are a great way to reminisce and they are part of our legacy. 

I have two sons aged 23 and 21 and a daughter aged 18.  They have all grown up in front of the camera and despite the hundreds of photos I have actually taken, I wish I had taken more. 

It has taken me ages to choose some photos to show you as I lost myself in a trip down memory lane but the old photos I have chosen are a few that hold very fond memories.  These photos were taken using my old 35mm SLR Minolta.  Back then I had my own darkroom in the garage and it was always exciting waiting for photos to appear during the development stage.  I haven’t been able to get my hands on the negatives as they are packed away somewhere, so I have had to scan the original prints.  They could be better but it gives you a rough idea.  The photo of the 3 of them together was just a quick snap but it is one of my favourites.  It just sums up their individual characters perfectly and I love it. 

Life is so busy but it is so important to capture fleeting moments so that you can look back on those photos and all the memories they hold.

Leading up to my 20 year work anniversary I have started to take photos of people I have photographed within that time, which I will team up with the old photos I have of them. 

‘You should never tire of looking at a photograph - it should have an effect on anyone that views it and it should live forever’

Jenny Oliver Joseph (1)


JennyLR OliverLR JosephLR1

MemoriesMy mother's camera and some old images.

My passion for photography started with my Mum’s old camera and a pile of old family photos.

My Mum’s camera was one of her treasured possessions but, of course, film was very expensive back then so she never took as many photos as she would have liked.  I am the youngest of 5 children so by the time my parents had me I think they had become too busy to take many photos so I only have a handful and there doesn’t seem to be any of me as a tiny baby.

Photographs are so important in connecting us to our past.  They remind us of people, places, feelings and stories.  You can never have enough photos, especially of people.  Each image will show something that’s slightly different.

I started taking photos in my late teens, when I actually had access to a camera.  I wanted to capture everything and I was known as the friend who always had a camera with me.  At that time I never even thought that it could be a career for me.  I didn’t think anybody would be interested in the photos I took or in the reasons I took them. 

I was given my first SLR camera for my 30^th birthday and it was at this point that I thought perhaps I could do more with my photography.  For a number of reasons, I gave up my job as an Operations Manager for an Investment Data Services company, when I had my second son.  I spent my time being Mum to my two boys and, of course, taking photos.  More and more people asked me to take photos for various events and in 2000 I took the plunge and launched my own photography business.  It was such a scary thing.  I didn’t know whether I was good enough to do it as a job but overriding that I just wanted to show people how important it is to capture a moment in time and have that memory forever.  Of course I have done workshops and courses over the years but I don’t think anybody can teach you how to capture the real nature of somebody in a photo.  We all see things in a different way and I wanted to capture images that would reflect the kind of feelings that I always had when I was looking at the pile of old family photos.

People are my passion.  Every face tells a story…..  I want to capture people as they are.  It’s not just about what a person looks like but it’s about the essence of what makes them who they are.

So that’s how I became a photographer.  Nothing dramatic but just a very personal journey.  I’m so glad that other people can see what I see though, and that they want me to take photos for them.  Photos that become treasured memories.