Here are a few images from a recent shoot with Leicester Prep School, Stoneygate College. And yes, they’re of the lovely Claudia (you have to admit she’s a pretty good model and model release is never a problem). I’ve always been a great believer that school and nursery photography doesn’t have to be mottled backgrounds and pasted on smiles – so give the pictures a modern look whilst making it enjoyable and painless for the children – as well as myself. I was surprised to count the other day that I will have done over 30 nursery and school shoots by the end of this year and hope to build on this success into next year.

I’ve been keeping busy throughout November and December with, amongst other things, lots of nursery shoots. To be accurate, 12 nurseries shot over three weeks with over 400 children and 100 staff.

Despite a few hiccups out of my control, like my computer giving up in week one and no post getting to my printers in Mansfield for a week due to snow(!),  we’re on course to get all products back well before Christmas. A big thank you to all of the nurseries involved if you’re reading this. And a special mention to some of the parents at Broughton Astley Tots Group for offering and granting model release to enable me to add to my nursery gallery, much appreciated.

The summer’s as good a time as ever to update your website so I’ve started the process by adding to some of the galleries. Good news is I’ve received model release for a few more school and nursery portraits so you now see more of a selection now from formal(ish) school studio shots to the natural nursery playtime images here.

The Events gallery has also been updated to include some recent work for the University of Leicester amongst others. I shall continue to add more work during holiday periods so do come back…

I thought I’d let you know how I was getting on with my nursery photography. I’ve recently finished shoots at two nurseries in Market Harborough and Branston; and have bookings in the summer and autumn for at least four more local nurseries. And a booking for next March, which is pretty impressive planning on the nursery’s behalf!

So far, there seems to be an event split between studio shoots and the natural playtime pictures – both have their place and it all depends on the style and look the nursery and parents are going for. I’m limited with what I can show online as it all depends on parents consent for model release but I shall add images to the portfolio as and when.

Just as they are is a new product of mine aimed at nurseries and schools. The idea behind it is to take natural pictures of the children in a studio environment or at play.

In the studio, it will be a modern take on the standard school portraits, with clean white backgrounds and using simple props like school chairs and books. At play, I take portraits of the children in the nursery environment. In some they’re be smiling at camera, others getting very mucky (!) and others concentrating. We all know how difficult it is getting children to pose for the camera so spending a morning or two at a nursery or school to blend in can sometimes get better results.

I’ve just finished my first commission at Allexton nursery in Leicester and we’re on course to get all pictures ordered and back before Christmas. The packages include 10 x 7″, 7 x 5″ and wallet size prints, calendars, copywright-free discs and framed prints, with mousemats and canvases as additional options.  If you know of a nursery or school that would like to offer either option for the parents, then please send me an email or call on 07739 035923.