Norsworthy Photography A Review Of 2011

Wow what a year! I intended to do a short blog about this years varied commisions, but once I started I realised it would be tricky to narrow them down! A year in which ive worked with and for some interesting people and made many new freinds. Many highlights which include Damien Lovegrove and Chris Hanleys Tuscany Workshop and a comission from Clarence House!

Here below are a selection of moments from my year!

The first job of the year was sorting out the look of the Studio. I had left the colour scheme to the original Red Blue and Grey when I moved in as it matched the logo, but after my first year in the town my style had changed and a new look was decided upon!

A bold new look for 2011 was choosen, a Black High Gloss finish with all Archtiectural details being picked out in Natural Hessien. The canvas's where changed for thick stylish Oak Frames and the result has worked! Our clients love it and new clients are attracted by the bold professional look!

 February
Megan came into the studio with her parents. They had treated her for her birthday, her long hair and natural vintage feel, led to some stunning shots and this image has graced our Window many times throughout the year. Megan is a natural infront of the camera and has agreed to come back for modelling shoots in 2012! 

 Also in Feb Mark came to me to put togther some shots for his website. Wanting a casual looking business approach. I arranged the shoot in the restaurant at Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, the enviroment and great natural light leant itself to the look we wanted.

Later in he year we also shot the products for the company websie and Trade show.

March
Over the past yuear I have been producing many images for the British Bee Keepers Association including their 2011 Calendar. In 2011 i have shot many items for their promotions and sales leaflets and website. In December I have just shot a Bee Hive in stages of build, to illustrate a new book being launched in 2012.

 Spring
A new venue in Wedding Fairs. Bocconocc House in Cornwall. Archant Weddings organised a one day event and not only exhibiting but I photographed the Venue and Models for the magazine. this stunning front door is simply amazing and cant wait to go back and shoot there!

Westcountry Wedding Awards 2011

Another year of being nominated and another year of getting through to the finals.
Here we are at the awards night in Plymouth.
 Mum, me and album designer Julie.

Another food shoot for Devon Life. At The Horn Of Plenty near Tavistock. Great food great venue and great views. I love photographing food, over the past 4 years i have shot the entire Master Chef feature for Devon Life and also in Somerset Life and Wiltshire Magazine.

April
Royal Wedding Fever!
I was asked o help Woolsery Primary Scholl in North Devon create a true to life wedding. The whole of the small Primary School attended and were allocated into Bride and Grooms families and friends. the Bride and Groom also choose their Best Man and Brides Maid and the food for the reception! The whole day was treated 100% as a wedding and was a huge pleasure to be involved in!

June
And our third year Photographing the Kingsbridge Academy Prom and 6th Form too! this year was completely different for us. Our Event kit usually consist of a Lastolite highlight background, producing a clean studio look! This year the Prom was held in the gardens at Buckland tout Saints Hotel. We shot out doors via a wireless link to the laptop and then printed immediatly, still using a studio light and producing fab shots of great students. Cant wait until next year.

 More property shoots. Devon Life have comissioned me over the last three years to shoot their Through the Keyhole feature. I have photographed some amazing properties and the weather has been perfect too! the interiors of the properties are the main focus, and its always great to have a look around fascinating homes!

A Charity Ball, this time at Dartmouth Golf and Country Club in aid of the Devon Air Ambulance. We are busy throughout the summer at many Balls, we dont charge to attend but do charge for prints, we often are part of the buzz of the night and we also give back a percentage of takings to the charity!

 July
Pince Charles visits Salcombe
I was honoured in July to be asked to photograph the visit of Prince Charles by Clarence House, The Duchy of Cornwall and South Hams District Council. Prince Charles had already landed at White Strand quay and been photographed by the press pack. I had been booked as the Royal Photographer to meet up with them at the Shadycombe Fish Quay.

It felt great to be able to walk with the party and photograph the Prince from the usual 4ft zone! while the press had to wait out of the way behind the rope until my part of the visit had ended. One highlight was the being able to direct HRH into the required shots and to be so close and capture candid moments too without having to shout at him like the press!

A great day! and my second comissioned shoot by Royalty

Mike the crabber presented HRH with a box of crab, and i was so pleased to be so close and part of the action to capture such great humour and natural shots. I often think Prince Charles looks awkward in photos, and after experiencing the way the press shout to him and make him do things for their shot I can see why!

Holly and Dans Pre Wedding Shoot, a great evening spent with Holly and Dan at their favourite location. All of this years pre wedding shoots have been special in one way or another. Holy and Dan both work in local hotels specialising in Weddings, so to help shoot and plan theirs was even more special! Start Point and the light house provided the back drop for a fab evenings shoot!

A food shoot for WED Magazine at Antonias Kitchen. Great day great food Great people!

After 10 years of restoration and hard work, Shilstone Manor near Modbury is nearing completion and ready to open its doors as a stunning Wedding venue and a venue for film making and conferences.

I was lucky enough to take two previous brides and a groom to the venue for an evening shoot in the summer sun! Yes we had some!

I used the eveing to try of camera flash and a few other ideas which paid off and boosted my confidence in this field.

i have now received a booking for a Summer wedding at Shilstone and look forward to working there more often.

 A very different job, Sherford Church is 12th Century and has an amazing rood screen with hand painted saints. During the war the screen was removed for safe keeping and has never been restored! Sherford Church has recently had a history book produced and I was called in to photograph the amazingly preserved painted panels.

Its great to see them in close up to truely see the quality and detail.

 September
Now this was a busy month five weddings and lots else!
These shots were taken on a SWPP training day at Gypsy Lane Hotel Exeter. It was held by John Denton, and it was an eye opener for me as it was my fist use of the Quadra Ranger Flash set up, I thoroughly enjoyed the day and the images are awesome! They are certainly a genre I'd like to offer future wedding couples looking for a contemporary fashion look.

Model Fredau made the day very easy, she has a great look, and so easy to pose.

I love this shot so much, it was taken on the new foot bridge over the M5, rather windy and traffic thundering under neath.

We lit the shot with a Quadra ranger flash to the left of Fredau and exposed for the sky, I love the angle i choose to make the sweep of the bridge go over head.

 Another day out! Up in the Cotswolds for the launch of Cotswold Bride Magazine. I photographed the event for Archant Weddings, although this photo of myself and Wedding Link SW Manager Rachel was taken by the fab Nikki Kirk.

 The Lords of the Manor Hotel was a beautiful Hotel to hold the event in and the Afternoon tea was brilliantly served and delicous.

October
And a commercial shoot for the old bag! yep The Old Bag Company, I have shot all of her campaigns and brochures for the past 3 years. the designs are as strong as ever and new ranges always being added

i love the Union Jack range!

 Westpoint Wedding Show
The largest in South West was held at the Wespoint Arena.

We exhibited with a 3 metre square stand decorated to match the studio complete with our black and white wall paper. We had lots of interst and hope to secure bookings in the New Year.

I was also asked to photograph the Fashion show for Archant Weddings. It was amazing, the models, some of which are seen in Mgazines and TV really worked it and the audience couldnt fail to be wowed.

The men were very amusing, dancing to a Micheal Jackson Track and having a ball!

A shoot at The Oak Barn in mid Devon for Southwest Bride Magazine in October lead to a meeting with Eleanor Rafferty, Dress Designer and owner of The Ivory Secret. Her designs are very different. Very pre raphealite. I cant wait to see the feature in next years Magazine!








The following Images are a selection from my amazing trip to Tuscany. I attended along with 11 oher photographers a Workshop by Damien Lovegrove and Chis Hanely. I have blooged previously about this and they arestill here to view. I made such great friends and really grew in my confidence. Fminine Beauty was nw to me as i hve never liked Boudoir, this new genre is much more my style. Enjoy! keep reading tho as the years not over yet!

 October and November saw a number of commercial shoots.


 Karen and Andy Jones, owners of Coast and Country Cottages celebrated their 10th Anniversary in the business.I was called in to photograph the offices and staff for their marketing.
I also provided images for BSKYB sports magazine of our local betting shop after being comissioned by SKY

 

And another shoot at one of my favourite Hotels, Langdon Court near Plymouth. All of the rooms and an updated food shoot for the website and Marketing materials. And also a technical shoot for Datum Developments, who produce coatings for metal work and industrail use.

 And so to November, December and Christmas! Below are a few selections of Family Portraits, Framing and Dogs! All of which have been in and out of the Studio since late October. As i wirte this all of the frmaes and albums and Canvas's have been delivered to very happy customers, and i know the love and joy will be spread on Christmas day as people unwrap them! I wish all a Merry Christmas and lets hope 2012 is as fab as this year!