Here’s Baby Isla, visiting our Dundonald studio for the second of her Baby’s First Year’ Photoshoots.
All posts by Bob McEvoy
Keeping Children Happy at Weddings
Keeping Children Happy at Weddings
For most children weddings actually turn out to be very boring – they get bored, tired, crotchety and downright grumpy. Now whether you care about the kids or not, think about their parents too. Now option one is to have a no children wedding – lots of people do and as far as I can see parents are very happy to have a day (and a night) out without their children.
Option two is to provide entertainment for the children. Continue reading Keeping Children Happy at Weddings
Victoria Square, Belfast
Victoria Square, Belfast
Some ten years ago, the old Victoria Square in Belfast, a drab Victorian street in the south quarter of the city centre with factory and office buildings, and a non-functioning metal fountain in the centre, was demolished and replaced by an ultra modern shopping complex, featuring multinational stores, cinemas and restaurants, residential apartments, bars and leisure, easy parking, and easy access to the streets of Belfast. Continue reading Victoria Square, Belfast
Love Stories
5 Ideas for Telling Your Love Story in Your Engagement Session
What we want to do is really recount your love story through images. Now some of those will be a range of cuddly, romantic poses. But, how about if we can really personalise it around you.
Where did he/she propose? Can we use the spot of the proposal. If it was a restaurant then most owners are really happy to help you re-create the scene. If it was a park then we already have a gorgeous location. If it was on vacation – well we’re game 🙂
Where did you meet? Same as the proposal venue, if it was a pub, concert or sports event again the venues are usually really happy to help.
In both cases it is really nice to send them some images afterwards. We will provide the right info and license so the images are properly credited and the venue has our permission to use the images.
What are your common hobbies? Do you like dancing, let’s re-create your favourite dance. Do you play sports or support a sports team: sports jerseys, scarves, sports wear all make fantastic props.
Do you have pets? Dogs especially are terrific add-ons to your shoot, especially when they are part of your family. Cats don’t usually work so well – they are too lovably self-centred to co-operate. If you have something more exotic like snakes, reptiles or something else then I’m certain we can manage.
What about your personalities? Are you quiet and romantic, we can set you up for some pretty, cozy, lovey-dovey photographs. Are you loud and boisterous always out for a good time – then we can do something much more exuberant. And if you want both, then that’s fine.
All our engagement photoshoots aim to show the whole you and your whole love story, so we like to express both who you are and how happy you are together.
If you would like to reserve your love story photoshoot at Portraits2Go.co.uk then simply phone 07802466302 to make your appointment.
5 Tips for a Relaxed Photoshoot with Children
5 Tips for a Relaxed Photoshoot with Children
You know you are going to get some terrific family images that you will treasure forever. You are also worried that your youngsters (or husband) are going to be a nightmare. Just keep relaxed yourself and all the rest of the family will be fine too. So here are some quick tricks you can apply at any moment you feel a slightly stressed, not only at your photoshoot.
Count slowly down from 10.
As you count down, just breathe slowly and unwind your shoulders.
Deep breaths.
In through the nose, out through the mouth. Calm, slow, deep breathing is a well known relaxation technique.
Laugh and Giggle
If your infant is being a little monkey, then pick them up, give them a tickle and tell them in a happy way they are being a little monkey.
Be prepared to be silly.
Maybe both you and your kids need the tension breaking. A quick game of piggy back, or walking like a chicken, dancing, singing or spinning might be all it takes to go to the next level.
Don’t get cross.
Really, that is when it is all going to go wrong. We understand that children won’t always co-operate and we are happy to work round it. If they are not doing what we’ve asked, then we will change tack and shoot something around them.
Kissing on Camera!
Kissing on Camera!
It wouldn’t be much of an engagement or wedding session if there wasn’t a little cuddling, holding hands and kissing in shot. Now, we are not going to scare your parents (unless you really want to!) but you do want to look like you are together.
We have some nice, standard, formal poses that make you look nice and together without it being all over each other. We also have some more fun styles, that are modern and happy.
And when it comes to the kiss, well actually we are looking for just the moment before the lips actually meet. The anticipation looks so much better than the event on camera.
Oh, unlike our happy bride and groom here, the guy’s nose always goes behind the girls, we always want the girl at the front 🙂
2017 PPA FINALISTS!
Our three finalists for the 2017 Pet Portrait Awards have been announced by the national judges, and here they are! On Feb 5th we’ll find out who is in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and each will win a studio prize of a fabulous Art Print! One of these three will go forward into the national competition with a chance of winning the BIG £1K prize!
The 2018 PET PORTRAIT COMPETITION IS NOW OPEN!
Top prize is £1000, and runner up prizes. Entry is by way of a £10 donation to DogsTrust. We have limited free sessions for this competition, if you are interested please click https://wp.me/P6sr71-nM for full details.
2017 First Round Finalists
ANNOUNCEMENT
Our three finalists for the 2017 Child Portrait Awards (Mini-Models) have been announced by the national judges, and here they are! In no particular order yet, it’s Alby, Cianan, and Olivia.
On Feb 5th we’ll find out who is in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place, and each will win a studio prize of a fabulous Art Print! One of these three will go forward into the national competition with a chance of winning the BIG £1K prize!
The 2018 MINI-MODELS COMPETITION IS NOW OPEN!
0-16 Yrs – Top prize is £1000, and runner up prizes. Entry is by way of a £10 donation to The Lullaby Trust. We have limited free sessions for this competition, if you are interested please click
for full details.
If you know anyone who may be interested please tell them!
Baby Callen
It’s a cold snowy day here – so full marks to baby Callen’s mum and dad for venturing out in the bad weather to come to Dundonald and visit the studio. We were rewarded with lots of lovely pictures and smiles, and a happy little boy who thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
But when you ask Callen to sit up and smile for the camera, don’t be surprised if he makes himself comfortable and waves his feet in the air – just for fun!
© BobMcEvoy
New Year – New Gear #2
I’m still playing with the new Fufifilm X-T2, so today I took it on a walk around Kiltonga Nature Reserve in Newtownards, to test out the film simulation feature. One of the interesting features of this camera is the ability to set it to emulate various Fufi Films, like Fuji’s popular Velvia colour film for example.
The camera has a black and white option to record images on virtual ‘Acros’ monochrome film, which should give outstanding contrast, and a rich tonal range. Furthermore, Acros simulation will produce grain in the image exactly the same size as the film version, by ISO. The claim made by Fuji is that Arcos film simlation is even better than shooting in RAW and later converting to monochrome in Photoshop. Fufi even claim that Acros will outperform any other high end digital camera shooting in B&W mode. So, today I set the X-T2 to shoot in Acros Monochrome on card two, and in RAW on card one. (Shooting in RAW, of course means that should I want a colour image, I can use the RAW unprocessed files to produce it.)
Portraits2Go.co.uk 