my secret..

Anna Hardy Photography

I've actually got a secret.

I constantly avoid shooting.

That sounds crazy right?  I'm a photographer.  I love shooting.. I love being creative.. I love creating images.. I love meeting people.. I love giving beautiful images.. I love telling stories.  But... I avoid it.

This probably doesn't make any sense as we shoot over 30 weddings a year.. but you see weddings are different.  Have you ever had to go somewhere and you were kinda nervous (well, bricking it) about going? Worried about performing well and delivering the goods? Maybe even dreaded it slightly?  Then once you got there it was pretty much the most awesome thing you've ever, ever experienced, you love every second, you love everyone you meet and you wondered how on earth you ever felt worried about it in the first place?!? Well.. that's me.

I'm now kinda used to it with weddings and have to remind myself every Saturday morning how amazing I'm gonna feel in approximately two hours when I'm getting emotional watching my Bride get in to her wedding dress.. and then watching her marry her boy.. (maaaaan it really is the BEST thing in the world).. and what I've realised is that it's just fear.. and it's a good thing.. so long as it doesn't stop you from doing things.

But it has stopped me.  Opportunities to shoot outside weddings.. my first reaction is always.. we're too busy.  Yes we are busy.. and yes we're really busy over the Summer (and we're working on that for next year) but deep down I know that what I'm actually saying is "I'm too scared to shoot you".  I immediately have the fear.. I have to deliver.. I have to shoot well, I have to make them feel comfortable, I have to direct, where are we gonna shoot?, what's the light gonna be like? What happens if I freeze?  What happens if the images are no good? It's then all too easy for me to convince myself that I'm too busy.  It makes my life that little bit easier.

But that's shit isn't it.

And you know what.. the times that I have ignored that fear and said yes.. it's been pretty much the most awesome thing I've ever, ever experienced, I've loved every second, I loved everyone I met and I wondered how on earth I felt worried about it in the first place.

So I'm going to stop closing myself off to things.  I'm going to start saying yes.  I'm not going to be scared to shoot.. I'm not going to be 'too busy'.. because when you open yourself up you experience more, you share, you feel and you create the most incredible memories.. not only for the people you are photographing.. but for us too.

spinnin' around..

I'm not gonna lie.. July was crazy town.  It was probably one of the busiest months we've ever had with weddings that literally book ended the country every week.. up to The Lakes and back.. back up to the Lakes the following week.. down to Rye in Kent.. up to the West coast of Scotland.. then Worcester.. Kent.. Surrey.  We are Service Station connoisseurs.. Premier Inn regulars.

Fridays are travel days.. shoot the wedding Saturday.. drive home that night.. Sunday lie like broccoli amongst camera bags and unpacked overnight bags (literally I am fit for nutin').. then try and cram in culling, editing (a lot of weddings), backing up, emails, enquiries, blogging, invoicing, sending weddings to blogs, meeting couples, Engagement Shoots.. (oh and try to still see friends and not ignore every text that I get - sorry guys).. all before Friday smacks us in the face again. No, but seriously Monday to Thursday reeeeeeeally isn't long enough.. AT ALL.

Oh and let's just decide to sell our house too shall we? In peak wedding season?  With only two weekends off until November?  Ohhhh go on then!

I am officially mental.

Ps. Pete read this post and said that I sound like I'm moaning.. hmmmm.. I suppose I am a bit.. but not with the work.. the weddings have been super duper spine tinglingly awesome.. it's just the distinct lack of enough days in the week that's the problem.

vote for Pedro..

Woop! We've been nominated for Best Wedding Photographer by the lovely peeps at Perfect Wedding Magazine!! (busts some sweet ass moves)

So.. yeah.. this bit sucks balls but would you guys mind if we said.. if you had a spare sec could you vote for us?
http://www.planyourperfectwedding.com/wedding-competitions/perfect-wedding-awards-2013

I bloody hate asking.. like REALLY HATE asking.. but this time I really want to win.  Because of Pete.  That boy gets nowhere near the amount of recognition he deserves for what he does for our little business and if we win I'm gonna bloody hang it round his neck and make up a song and sing it to him.  You see some peeps still think that this gig is mainly just me.. I'm guessing the 'Emma Case Photography' bit doesn't really clear it up much.. but this couldn't be more wrong.  This gig is US.. Emma and Pete... equally. We both shoot.. and I was about to say.. we both email but actually Pete talks to our couples, he invoices, he organises getting to weddings.. schedules.. tax.. invoices.. actually.. sometimes I wonder what I actually do!?!?  One thing I do know is that I couldn't have done any of it without him. He is bloody incredible to work with.  On a wedding day he has my back and makes my job the easiest thing in the world.  In the office he organises shit.  Like everything.  Oh and at home he's also the cook and I reckon the washing up gets done maybe 60 Pete 40 me.  I'm telling you.. this guy is amazing.  He is also THE friendliest guy you'll ever meet.. he hugs everyone and means it every single time and he makes all our couples feel like we've known them for years.  He also doesn't give a shit about all the bullshit.. only has time for the good stuff and cares deeply about giving every single one of our couples the best experience ever.

But because people associate the business with me (again, yep the name'll do it) Pete sometimes gets overlooked.. but he deserves so much more... I just wish 'We are the Smyths' had a better ring to it.. ;)

So I just wanna put it out there..

He's awesome.

..and fit.

the Define School

The Define School is a wonderful online school for evolving photographers.  Their mission? To provide online courses for both professionals and hobbyists. A place for individual artists to flourish.. an online community where evolving photographers could go to connect, learn and grow.  There are a wonderful collection of talented instructors sharing their experiences of running successful businesses in the arts and they are all there to share their story.

But simply imparting information is not the goal.  Students are equipped with knowledge and then encouraged to use it to create their own path.. to achieve total authenticity. And by connecting with other artists, they in turn, learn more about themselves.

The Define School also has a journal with a regular feature called 'What I Have To Say..' I am hugely honoured to be a part of this amazing community and immensely enjoyed writing something that had no real agenda.. just.. simply.. something I wanted to say..

You can read the full article HERE I also recommend reading through the whole of the journal and signing up for some classes.. these are good people with lots of good stuff to say.. :)

holiday..

10 things I learnt on holiday.
1. Holidays are good and we should have more of them.
2. If I can't speak the language I either put on a weird accent and/or start using British Sign Language in  an attempt to get my point across.
3. 42 degrees is the equivalent of having a hairdryer constantly pointed at your face.
4. My shins never goes brown.
5. I can actually love Pete more.
6. Some women are made of lava. (One woman sat out ALL day sunbathing in the 42 degree heat. Mentalist.)
7.  Your business will not disappear, fail, crumble, die if you go away for a week.
8. Waiters are people too.  I already knew this but it turns out some other people don't.
9. I'm pretty good at haggling... :)
10. You don't need to look at your phone when you wake up, when you're on the toilet, after you get out the shower, in-between mouthfuls or when you've just finished looking at your phone.

We decided not to take our main cameras as we wanted a proper break and we'd had a few warnings about taking photos in the square so we took a few of our other guys instead..

Say hello to Pete's fisheye..

..my £4.99 point and shoot.. (who I love).. 

..my yummy Cadet (similar to a Diana).. 

..and of course a few iPhone photies too..

 

The (blurred) photo below is of me, Pete, Mohammed (one of our lovely waiters at the hotel).. and a guy called KING TEA! Mohammed took us to meet him and we had the BEST Moroccon tea whilst being taught about an array of spices.. I love King Tea.

 

I think someone definitely missed us while we were away... chatting away and constant cuddles since we returned..

A Bit More Soul..

I say this quite a bit but this job smacks me in the face an awful lot.. like literally.. a massive smack right up in my face kinda stuff.. and at every turn you try to take it all in.. try to remember.. to stop and look around.. appreciate the journey.. the huge steps that you take.

This job, the people we connect with through this job and the places it ends up taking us blows me away every single day.

I actually cannot believe I'm saying this but we have been invited to speak in New Zealand.

In friggin' New Zealand.

In November a bunch of wonderfully creative, open, warm and honest photographers are getting together to share, learn, create and laugh (a lot) and we are so overwhelmingly excited to share our story and meet a bunch of amazing people.

A Bit More Soul is a four day retreat at the most amazing Boomrock in Wellington.. and we'll be speaking alongside six incredible photographers, all at different stages of their careers... sharing our stories, shooting, playing and most importantly.. switching off and experiencing..

We actually don't know how we're going to get to November without bursting with excitement.

If you are over that side of the world (or even if you're not).. there are still a few spots left and we would LOVE to see you there..

www.abitmoresoul.blogspot.co.nz/

Woah.

Life lately..

So.. life has been pretty crazy the past few weeks and wedding season has well and truly kicked in!  Soooo... going in reverse.. this Bank Holiday Weekend we had two weddings.. one in Liverpool and then one in Wales on Sunday.. we were only an hour away from our good friends O&C Photography so we decided to pay them, their little girl Florence and the beach a visit (the actual Harry potter beach no less.. you know.. the one where Dobby dies).. it was absolutely beautiful and exactly what we needed. We hung out.. ate good food and laughed a lot.. we love this little family..

On the Sunday we found ourselves in the beautiful surroundings of Fforest in Wales.. it was such a beautiful wedding and it was so true.. no strangers were there.. just lots of new friends..




Ohhh I got a pair of Agnes and Norman shoes!! My absolute favourite.. Daisy in Mustard.. they are GORGEOUS!! I still need to blog about that shoot!! I also bought myself a Parker and have pretty much not taken it off since..

We also got to hang out with another good friend Lucy Ledger at her Sister's wedding on Friday.. and we got to meet her gorgeous boy Tristan.. I actually wanted to take him home with us.. I got cuddles most of the evening.. he is simply scrummy..



We managed to spend a little bit of quality time at home putting our wedding photos in frames and cooking.. and anyone that knows me at all will know that I HATE cooking.. with a passion.. so this is actually pretty big news..



We had a bloody great time down in London shooting a wedding with the Shutterbox kids.. we love working with these two.. actually it really isn't like work at all.. :)



Ahhhh and my favourite little family.. we celebrated Freddie's Christening in style with a little party at their house.. I've known my friend Zoe since I was 14 and she now has four gorgeous kids who both me and Pete adore.. we're so honoured to be God Parents.. check out her beautiful blog... here.

the insignificants..

To a lot of people this is a photograph of just some doors.. an insignificant detail on a day full of so many significant details.  What's the point of including this in a couple's wedding photos?  It has nothing to do with a wedding..

It has everything to do with a wedding.

When you read a story.. or watch a play you are given so much detail but there is also so much that we ourselves create.. we fill, we imagine, we decide, we see.. for us that story is so much bigger than just the lines spoken or the words on the page.

I love this image. Behind these doors is the boy you're about to marry. Behind these doors are the friends and family that all root for you.  Behind these doors is your commitment.. your decisions.. your beginning.. your team.. your future..

Behind these doors is your story..

Now tell me this photograph is insignificant.

my favourite family..

I honestly do not have the words to tell you how much I love this family.. or how proud both me and Pete are about being Freddie's God Parents.. how gorgeous is this little dude!!  Me and Zoe have been friends since I was 14 and I've watched each of their beautiful children grow and blossom.  This beautiful family are my family.. and I don't see them nearly enough..

You can read more about them over at Zoe's blog.. Just the 6 of us.. :)

EWE

What are you all doing this Sunday??  Come see us!! We're going to be at the Eclectic Wedding Extravaganza in Birmingham from 11am until 4pm!!


EWE is the UK's most unusual wedding fair filled with unique wedding suppliers who like to do things a little differently.. think Back to the Future wedding cakes.. tattooed wedding dresses.. batman shoes.. :)

We'll be there.. Shutterbox Films are gonna be there.. The Couture Company, Veronica Dearly, AVA Styling, Chris Barber..  AND Pete's band The Rebel Party Band!!  We can't wait.. and we have been planning something a little special when it comes to our stand.. hee hee.. let's just say.. we're picking a part of it up from one of our very special couples today.. yey!

So if you fancy it.. come and hang out.. I have a feeling it's gonna be a good day!

two years..

Two years ago today we got married.. on one hand it only feels like yesterday and on the other it feels like a lifetime ago.. I remember everything.. our first look.. Pete forgetting the rings.. laughing and crying through the ceremony, chugging along the water on our canal boat, the sunshine pouring through the windows, decorating the hall before everyone arrived, the nerves pretending it was my Birthday party, the screams when we walked in in our wedding outfits, the tears.. all the smiling faces.. the sweaty dancing and the love... so much love literally thrown at us from everyone..

I still can't seem to say the word 'husband' without giggling first and then feeling this enormous sense of pride. Every time I look at him I actually cannot believe how lucky I am. I simply adore the guy.  A week before the wedding Pete finished at his old job and this little business became officially 'ours'.. and that's what it is.. this business is 'us'... it's not me... it's not my business.. we are a complete team and over the past 2 years we've looked after our couples together... we've road tripped every weekend together..we've shot weddings together.. we've planned workshops together.. we've moved to an office space together.. we've made decisions together and I wouldn't want it any other way.

I adore sharing this huge, exciting and incredible adventure with this crazy guy.  He gives the best hugs.. he loves to dance.. he sometimes laughs so hard he sounds like Mutley.. he burps ALL the time.. and sometimes forgets that they're loud and that he is in a public place.. he's a bloody amazing cook.. he totally brings the party, he has an incredible set of pipes, he has me crying laughing, he can chat to anyone, his eyes are the most beautiful blue and he supports me in every single thing I do.

Pete I would marry you over and over again.. you are the absolute nuts.


Emma & Pete from cine8 on Vimeo.

vsco journal

You know what.. I expect the protocol right now should be that I'm all cool about this but I'm not succeeding AT ALL.. a few days ago I was featured on the incredible VSCO Journal.  The photography they feature totally blows me away every single time and I'm not kidding.. I actually cannot believe that my photographs are on there.. and I couldn't be happier that they have featured my trip to Zambia with Sound Seekers..

Over the past three years there have been a few moments that stop me in my tracks.. where I look around and go 'Shit.. is this REALLY happening?'.  This feature truly means a lot to me and I'm not going to be embarrassed to say it..

And if I could give you one bit of advice... don't ever, ever, ever think those dreams of yours are too big.. because they do sometimes come true...

You can check out the full feature here

 

life lately..

We've had a pretty lovely February.. we've finally come to the end of the epic 'paint all the things' house makeover. It's taken us about 6 weeks to paint everything, get a new kitchen floor.. new carpet.. have a HUGE clear out and get pictures up on the walls.  There is still a few 'little' jobs to finish but it finally feels like home and that feeling is absolutely incredible..

Feb also gave us a bit of time to just chill..we hung out at home..bought some new clothes (I'm kinda feeling the aztec thing this year), ate well, went to hot yoga, played with some new cameras, shot quite a bit of personal stuff and my second article (about branding this time) appeared in Photo Pro Magazine.. yey!

We then had the pleasure of heading down to Brighton for a few days for a shoot involving some friggin' awesome shoes.. (which I'll be talking about very soon).. we were there for just 3 days and had the most incredible luck of being graced with sunshine for the whole trip.  We both really needed it and came back refreshed and so, so happy..

Life is, once again going to start getting a lot more hectic from now on as wedding season is about to kick in. I am determined more than ever for this year to be filled with good times in and out of work.. I want to keep exercising, eating well, taking the normal amount of days off a week and making more memories for us.. I'm really looking forward to the year ahead..

fearless..

Joanna Brown Photography

It's funny.. when I first started this photography business I felt completely fearless.. I wasn't afraid to do things my way.. to push it.. to choose the opposite road.. to be myself.  But as our first year turned to two.. then three.. and now we're hitting our fourth year.. this fearlessness is harder to hold.  You get comfortable knowing you can do your job.. you know you can do it well.. you know where the shots are.. you know the ebb and flow.. you want to be consistent.. you want to keep being wanted... you're doing well.. why rock the boat?

You're busy.. you shoot things.... you now and then play it a bit safer.. and then you stop.  You tell yourself to open your eyes.. to shake things up.. to be completely fearless again..

Making that leap is always easier the first time.. you've got nothing to lose.. nothing to prove.. the second leap is always the hardest..

It's time to be fearless again..

us...

I love him.... I love him with all my heart.
Today we've been together 7 years....
Seven years ago today... I found Pete on Myspace.. yep.. Myspace.

(images by the wonderful Featherlove)

I was living in Birmingham and only knew my flatmate... I was in between Acting jobs and saw that Pete lived in Brum and had pretty much the same taste in music... and he looked fit in his photo... so I sent him a message and he replied.  We got chatting and he gave me tips on where were the good places to go and we realised we'd been in the same pub on New Years Eve too but never saw each other!  We then exchanged numbers and Pete had played it cool saying if you fancy catching up some time then give us a text... great.... HUGE ball in my court.  So on that Thursday I knew he was in town and I text him (cue wandering around town for a few hours trying to keep busy waiting for a reply). He text back saying that he was meeting some mates and I was more than welcome to join them.. oh christ... have to walk in to a pub on my own, not 100% sure what he looks like and he's with his mates.. also I'd found something to fill some time that afternoon which was actually giving blood (sounds random but I'd tried to go the day before and it was closed) ...so passing out was another concern.

I walked in and stood at the bar, called my mate, saw him walk past (he didn't have his glasses on so wasn't sure it was me) and then plucked up the courage to go over... luckily his mates consisted of another couple so I sat down and we got chatting... we then went to another pub and chatted some more.. we then headed to a club (a pretty dead one) and chatted some more.. then Pete stopped chatting, stared at me for quite a long time (to the point where I actually asked if he was ok) and then he kissed me... all together now... 'Ahhhhhh'... we have been inseparable ever since.

Pete actually sent me a message (via Myspace) two days after we met and I feel the exact same way about the last seven years...

Pete, I wanted to tell you that I've had the best 7 years.
So much fun, so easy and natural..
Your girl xxx