My love affair with Italy began in the summer of 2004 when Andy and I donned our backpacks and set off on a fun-filled, 3 month adventure that started in Venice and ended in Positano. And it still continues today. So I was super excited when my parents asked us if we wanted to join them {along with my sister & her husband} for a week in Tuscany a few weeks ago.
There are so many reasons to love Italy; the gorgeous-sounding language, stunning architecture, amazing landscapes, passionate and interesting locals and delicious wines to name but a few, but for those of you that know me, its only ever really about one thing and that's the food! In Italy it is so simple, so fresh and cooked with a passion that is almost tangible, and I just couldn't get enough of it!
We had a fantastic holiday taking in the stunning sights of San Gimignano, Florence and Siena and as always my camera never left my side! Here are a few of my holiday snaps of all things Italiano...{apart from me and my family!}
San Gimignano {& surrounding area}
Showing posts with label Personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal. Show all posts
Monday, 25 October 2010
Tuesday, 9 February 2010
Final answer
Well I did it. 8 days, 4 dresses and a decision made! There were tears, and plenty of them (what a loser!), but I have made my choice now and I am sticking with it, if only for the sanity of my mum and bridesmaids! I really LOVE my dress, it's beautiful and unique and that's all i'm saying incase my lovely husband-to-be sneaks a peak at this!
Now on to the bridesmaids dresses...Four bridesmaids all different shapes and colourings, should be interesting! But thankfully less stressful for me I think/hope!
On a photography front, things are ticking along nicely. I am looking into courses at the moment and in talks with a few people about their weddings this year and next so I'll keep you posted.
Happy Tuesday- and a rather sprighty tuesday it is here in Knutsford, must have been that 6.30am gym sesh this morning!!
Now on to the bridesmaids dresses...Four bridesmaids all different shapes and colourings, should be interesting! But thankfully less stressful for me I think/hope!
On a photography front, things are ticking along nicely. I am looking into courses at the moment and in talks with a few people about their weddings this year and next so I'll keep you posted.
Happy Tuesday- and a rather sprighty tuesday it is here in Knutsford, must have been that 6.30am gym sesh this morning!!
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Super excited
Last week I had the most exciting phone call from Andrea Ellison; a really lovely lady that I met at an open day at the Annabel Williams studio last year. We 'connected' on the day, perhaps due to our lack of confidence and our intimidation by the 'professional' photographers in the room that were baffling us (well me anyway) with their chat and have subsequently kept in touch ever since.
Well true to Andrea's word on the day when she agreed that I, a complete stranger at the time, could shadow her at one of her weddings, she has asked me to accompany her on not just one but numerous weddings this year! And even better than just shadow, Andrea is even letting me loose with my camera!
I have told her not to rely on me for any perfect images just yet, and just do what she would do normally if I wasn't there, but I am hoping secretly for some pearlers to build up my portfolio and to present to the bride and groom alongside Andrea's amazing shots.
I can't believe how supportive Andrea is being and I am so incredibly grateful. She really is a breath of fresh air in this industry that can seem bewildering and rather intimidating at first glance.
Andrea is relatively new to this photography malarky herself, but is doing really well already and has numerous weddings and portrait sessions booked for this year. I just want to say a massive thanks to Andrea, as it's people like her that will shape my career and give me the confidence and experience I need to be fabulously successful at this.
I also want to say a huge thankyou to Jodie Chapman, for answering my endless questions and giving me a boost. I really can't wait for our engagement shoot in May and our wedding day as I know she is going to take amazing shots of our big day.
Well true to Andrea's word on the day when she agreed that I, a complete stranger at the time, could shadow her at one of her weddings, she has asked me to accompany her on not just one but numerous weddings this year! And even better than just shadow, Andrea is even letting me loose with my camera!
I have told her not to rely on me for any perfect images just yet, and just do what she would do normally if I wasn't there, but I am hoping secretly for some pearlers to build up my portfolio and to present to the bride and groom alongside Andrea's amazing shots.
I can't believe how supportive Andrea is being and I am so incredibly grateful. She really is a breath of fresh air in this industry that can seem bewildering and rather intimidating at first glance.
Andrea is relatively new to this photography malarky herself, but is doing really well already and has numerous weddings and portrait sessions booked for this year. I just want to say a massive thanks to Andrea, as it's people like her that will shape my career and give me the confidence and experience I need to be fabulously successful at this.
I also want to say a huge thankyou to Jodie Chapman, for answering my endless questions and giving me a boost. I really can't wait for our engagement shoot in May and our wedding day as I know she is going to take amazing shots of our big day.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
8 days to go....
As you may or may not know, indecision seems to be my forte when it comes to this wedding planning malarky! So the countdown is well and truly on.
8 days... 8 measly days... that is all I have allocated myself to choose the 'perfect' wedding dress. Why 8 days? Well that will be 6 months to the big day and apparently ordering after this date is sacrilege amongst the wedding dress fraternity! And it would seem amongst the 'wedding chat room' bridezillas! I visited youandyourwedding.co.uk last week and what a mistaka to maka... In the 'I'm getting married in August 2010' room, they are all chatting away about how they are having their final fittings on the dresses they bought 12 months ago! Are they mad!
Feeling rather deflated and a little worried that maybe I have left it rather late to purchase the dress of my dreams, I have vowed to abstain from this site until further notice (i.e. a week before my wedding, when I feel I can actually be smug too!)
I have, with a LOT of help from two of my long suffering bridesmaids and my mum, narrowed it down to 4 dresses, in 3 different shops! So that's a start! Although I did spot another beauty today at the Tatton Hall Wedding Fayre, which I have requested to try on at one of my final trying on sessions.
They are just all so darn pretty. I'm hoping for some kind of epiphany next week, but I doubt it, instead knowing me, there will probably be tears...
I hope I pick the right dress, as today when I dragged my lovely husband-to-be around the wedding fayre, he was pointing out dresses telling me how ugly they were, most of which I agreed on, but there were a few I actually rather liked. Note to self... no bling and no lace that looks like a tablecloth, or I may be walking down to an empty alter!
8 days... 8 measly days... that is all I have allocated myself to choose the 'perfect' wedding dress. Why 8 days? Well that will be 6 months to the big day and apparently ordering after this date is sacrilege amongst the wedding dress fraternity! And it would seem amongst the 'wedding chat room' bridezillas! I visited youandyourwedding.co.uk last week and what a mistaka to maka... In the 'I'm getting married in August 2010' room, they are all chatting away about how they are having their final fittings on the dresses they bought 12 months ago! Are they mad!
Feeling rather deflated and a little worried that maybe I have left it rather late to purchase the dress of my dreams, I have vowed to abstain from this site until further notice (i.e. a week before my wedding, when I feel I can actually be smug too!)
I have, with a LOT of help from two of my long suffering bridesmaids and my mum, narrowed it down to 4 dresses, in 3 different shops! So that's a start! Although I did spot another beauty today at the Tatton Hall Wedding Fayre, which I have requested to try on at one of my final trying on sessions.
They are just all so darn pretty. I'm hoping for some kind of epiphany next week, but I doubt it, instead knowing me, there will probably be tears...
I hope I pick the right dress, as today when I dragged my lovely husband-to-be around the wedding fayre, he was pointing out dresses telling me how ugly they were, most of which I agreed on, but there were a few I actually rather liked. Note to self... no bling and no lace that looks like a tablecloth, or I may be walking down to an empty alter!
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
2010...the year of change
2009 was an amazing year for me; I had a now or never moment and gave up my Marketing job enabling Andy and I to spend 7 months travelling the globe soaking up different cultures (and the sun) and along the way, I became a fiancee overlooking one of the 'new' seven wonders of the world. My gorgeous husband to be got down on one knee at 'The Sun Gate' overlooking Machu Picchu, and asked me to be his wife! It was the perfect start to our year.
2009 really will take some beating, but I am super excited about 2010!
The wedding date is set and I am currently in the throws of trying to decide on a wedding dress.Who knew I am so indecisive?!
It is also the year that I pursue my dream career of becoming a professional photographer...but where do I start??
I need to believe in myself more; I CAN make this happen. It's just in my nature to doubt myself at times. I sometimes wonder if I'll ever be able to make my goals and ambitions come to fruition. In an ideal world, I would have someone take me by the hand and show me the ropes, but this isn't feasible.
So where do I start??
Do I just ask people if I can take photos of them? Is this how other photographers started their careers? Maybe that's what I'll do...but first I need to buy my new kit, the Canon 5d Mark ii to be precise and master photoshop! That way I can correct, crop and improve my images before anyone sees them!
2009 really will take some beating, but I am super excited about 2010!
The wedding date is set and I am currently in the throws of trying to decide on a wedding dress.Who knew I am so indecisive?!
It is also the year that I pursue my dream career of becoming a professional photographer...but where do I start??
I need to believe in myself more; I CAN make this happen. It's just in my nature to doubt myself at times. I sometimes wonder if I'll ever be able to make my goals and ambitions come to fruition. In an ideal world, I would have someone take me by the hand and show me the ropes, but this isn't feasible.
So where do I start??
Do I just ask people if I can take photos of them? Is this how other photographers started their careers? Maybe that's what I'll do...but first I need to buy my new kit, the Canon 5d Mark ii to be precise and master photoshop! That way I can correct, crop and improve my images before anyone sees them!
Thursday, 19 November 2009
Humble beginnings...
So here begins my online journal of where I am heading. I really want to document my photographic adventure, along it's long and winding path, so I never forget my humble beginnings in the photographic world! It will also be interesting to see how my personal style evolves and develops as I gain more experience and confidence behind the camera.
This blog will be all about me...although that sounds rather self indulgent, it will not only showcase my work and images, but also give you an insight into me and what makes me tick.
This blog will be my online journal documenting certain aspects of my life and my daily goings-on. I have no doubt over the coming months, I will be airing my frustrations and deliberations in the planning of my own wedding, raving about certain photographers I meet and gain inspiration from, stating how much I LOVE Christmas and I will blog whenever I feel I have something to share with you, be it family holidays, weekends away or good nights out - everything that I do with or without my camera.
This blog will be all about me...although that sounds rather self indulgent, it will not only showcase my work and images, but also give you an insight into me and what makes me tick.
This blog will be my online journal documenting certain aspects of my life and my daily goings-on. I have no doubt over the coming months, I will be airing my frustrations and deliberations in the planning of my own wedding, raving about certain photographers I meet and gain inspiration from, stating how much I LOVE Christmas and I will blog whenever I feel I have something to share with you, be it family holidays, weekends away or good nights out - everything that I do with or without my camera.
Sunday, 8 November 2009
WELCOME TO MY BLOG
Welcome to the first official post on the blog for Stephanie Oakes Photography!
For those of you who know me, you may think taking Andy's name before we are married is somewhat premature(!), however it will be my legal name and trading name as of the 7th August 2010 (as long as everything goes to plan!) so I thought i'd use it from the off!
I am currently in the very, very, very early stages of a career change to become a photographer! Growing up with a father and sister who are both keen (amateur) photographers, I have always appreciated this amazing art form and loved tinkering around with cameras and creating beautiful images. But it was when I started searching for a wedding photographer for my forthcoming nuptials, that I completely fell head over heels for photography again. When I found my wedding photographer, Jodie Chapman (http://www.jodiechapman.com/), I knew this is what I wanted to do. Her imagery really inspires me and has prompted me to pursue my dreams of being a photographer.
Ideally, I would love to specialise in weddings, as from a photographer's point of view, a wedding is the perfect occasion to photograph with a full roller coaster of emotions; a contagiously happy day with beaming smiles, tears of joy and happiness, butterflies and pre-wedding nerves and post-wedding bliss!
But, whether it be weddings, bumps and babies, commercial or portraits I am just excited to get behind my camera and create some natural, beautiful images.
So....now I just need to bite the bullet and invest in training and equipment! I am weighing up my options at the moment regarding which training path to head down, so i'll keep you posted when I have made up my mind!
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