Emma Bradshaw Photography

summer workshops...

2011-05-16T00:40:00.000+01:00

I am really excited to announce that I'm back at the lovely Prema Arts Centre this summer, to run two really fun workshops.

The first is an Ugly Bug Ball, on Saturday, 2nd July 10am - 2pm £15 ages 7-11.

Inspired by the amazing picture above, we are going to explore what mini-beasts we can find on our hands and knees! From grasshoppers, spiders, moths, caterpillars and tiny ants. We will then make our own bugs and then lead them in a procession and celebrate the Ugly Bug Ball!

The second workshop, I'll be helped by my family to run a Den Building Day, called 'Something in the Woodshed'. Monday 25th July 10am - 4pm.

In this timeless workshop we’ll re-live those heady childhood days of tree houses and dens made from clothes horses and old blankets — there’s no place like home when you’ve made it yourself! Join us for a day of fortresses and teepees and work as a family to create your own unique den; you’ll pick up lots of useful and imaginative tips along the way to try out at home. Raid your cupboards for old sheets and any bits and bobs to furnish your den and get ready to have some real fun together.

There are many other fab events at Prema, I quite fancy the 'grand design' creative family recycling event. The centre is small and welcoming and even though it's in Gloucestershire, it's easily accessible from Bath and Bristol. See you there!

back to school...

2011-05-15T21:10:00.000+01:00

I have just been working on a school project, where a group of disadvantaged children designed 'critters' made from socks with an amazing artist Imogen Harvey-Lewis. They then created stories about their critters with a lovely storyteller, Sue Mayfield and finally with me they brought their stories to life by creating scenes from their stories and photographing them.

It was an amazing project, with great stories from the children and really super critters that they hand sewed themselves from their imaginations.

I certainly know what I be making with the next pair of odd socks I find! These owls are just fab, and filled with beans. Some of the children really got involved recreating their stories, whilst others just wanted their pictures taken with the critters.

I would have loved to have five polaroid cameras, so that they could have set their scenes, taken a picture and see it develop instantly in their hands, like magic. But polaroid film is just so expensive about £2/£2.50 per picture, and that's without the cost of additional cameras! I let them hold and take pictures with my Nikon instead so that they could look on the screen and admire their work. I hope we have inspired a new generation of storytellers or photographers!

wild art...

2011-03-13T10:08:00.001Z

Some of my prints are featuring in Gloucestershire Wildlife Trusts - Wild Art exhibition at Woodruffs Organic Cafe, High Street, Stroud from 12th March ~ 30th April 2011.

The prints are for sale to raise money for the local nature conservation charity, in recycled/repurposed frames and were all taken on Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust nature reserves. I am hoping they will inspire others to get outside and discover bluebell woodlands and have picnics on riverbanks!

gorgeous family photography...

2010-12-12T21:21:00.000Z

how hard is my job, when you have cute as a button children like this to photograph? There is always one picture that stands out from a shoot, and the one above and very slightly different one below (cropped and in black and white) just captures their essence so beautifully and the tree acts as a great frame! A truly lovely family and so much fun to work with, thank you!

more wedding pics...

2010-10-16T20:31:00.002+01:00

a mixture of digital and film shots from the day...

the groom

look who I found hanging on the bunting

ready to walk in

flower and flags

she never stopped smiling

amazing venue

everyone rolled up their sleeves and helped wash up at the end of the day!

Pittville Pump Room, Cheltenham

cake,

kilts,

and tea in fine china cups!

flowers in jam jars throughout the house

wedding photography...

2010-10-13T21:01:00.003+01:00

A few weeks ago I photographed my first wedding after saying I would never do weddings! A beautiful day, really relaxed and full of sunshine and smiles. A civil ceremony at Cheltenham Pump Rooms, followed by afternoon tea at home, with tea served in china cups and sandwiches and cakes made by family and friends.

Ian and Julia (who used to blog as Vintage Heaven), didn't want any staged shots, and wanted to capture the day without having a photographer directing the proceedings and getting in the way! Which I felt suited my reportage style, I couldn't imagine having the confidence or experience to direct and shoot a large or formal affair!

I combined both digital and film photography, which worked really well as the wedding was beautifully styled and full of detail, from the china teacups to the bunches of fresh flowers in jam jars.

Julia looked stunning and as you can see from these few pics she didn't stop smiling all day!

so despite having vowed never to be a wedding photographer, here I am shooting weddings!

lovely words...

2010-10-12T23:33:00.000+01:00

I asked Diana for a quote I could use to promote my photography, she sent me some lovely words...

"a friend recommended emma's website and blog and the style and quality of her photo's inspired me to commission a portrait of me and my partner as a romantic gift for his 40th birthday and a way of saying goodbye to gloucestershire before us moving to scotland. it was a very unusual thing for me to choose to do and quite a strange thing to meet someone for the first time at a location and get into a relaxed spirit for a photographic shoot by them but emma was just so lovely to get on with and had such a calm and warm air about her and obviously likes people and loves photography that we were soon relaxing and being our silly selves. i'd been concerned that marcus would find it especially hard to relax because he tends to hate having his photo' taken but he got into the swing of things really easily. the experience of the shoot and the way emma presented the pictures to us once she had edited them and had the film ones processed made us feel so cared for and every time we show the pictures to people and see them again for ourselves, we love them more. i've had two blown up and framed, ready to go on the walls of our new flat when it's eventually done up and i'm really chuffed i decided to get them done."

my first commission...

2010-09-28T22:31:00.000+01:00

My first commission has been safely delivered and is now waiting to be hung at the very beautiful Lypiatt Park, home of Dan and Juliet Chadwick, which recently featured in The Sunday Times, under the title 'Britain's Coolest Mansion.'

I have known Juliet for a little while, she is a wonderfully talented artist and Dan is an amazing sculptor/inventor, so I feel extremely privileged to have been commissioned by artists to produce something so different to anything I have ever done before and on such a large scale! Their home is amazing and gallery like, with white walls and large hallways, packed full of amazing art and sculpture, which range from sculpture by Lynn Chadwick, Dan's late father, to Damien Hirst pieces taller than my house! I live in fear of the boys touching anything when we visit - seconds before I took the picture above, Alfie was zooming up and down the hallway on a scooter!

The picture is the next size up from A0 (not sure what that is called?), and is of my favourite blue sky print on film. Up close it's very grainy and almost looks like a painting on canvas, but it is actually mounted on MDF from here. I am so enchanted by how it has turned out that I am going to mount some of my favourite film shots on MDF and offer them for sale from next week, in my etsy shop.

teenage kicks...

2010-09-22T23:19:00.003+01:00

I was delighted to be invited to do a 13th birthday shoot recently, with three of the most gorgeous girls, Molly, Frankie and Anna! It was great fun, we walked to a rope swing in the middle of a woodland, near where they lived and messed around on a drizzly day, swinging, eating birthday cake and lying on gorgeous mossy logs!

Some of the pictures I turned into Polaroids, using the 'Poladroid', a free download, which I thought would capture the 'fun' and be more quirky for teenagers.

I also made the photo's into little Moo sticker books as a surprise present for the girls, which I was really delighted with, as they are such fun.

a busy summer...

2010-09-21T22:51:00.001+01:00

I've had a really busy summer with lots of photo shoots, the one above, for a family with the most beautiful children, on what was probably the years hottest day! Seems so long ago now.

diana & marcus...

2010-07-05T22:47:00.002+01:00

Diana asked me to photograph, her and her partner, as part of his special birthday celebrations. I used both digital and film cameras, at Diana's request (she too is a film lover!), to capture this fun loving couple on a viewpoint that they love and will soon be leaving behind. It was a really fun morning and I love how taking photos helps you to meet new people, just a shame when they are moving away!

a happy camper...

2010-06-23T19:12:00.000+01:00

this month's (July 2010) Sainsburys magazine has got one of my pictures in! Can you see it? It is the fish one! It was passed to them, by the lovely Lizzie, owner of Cornish Tipi Holidays, to illustrate a very gorgeously designed camping layout in which the tipi's feature. I had no idea it was in there, so huge thanks for letting me know! The only downside is that it isn't credited, but hey ho ~ a national magazine no less!

new baby...

2010-06-14T22:58:00.005+01:00

trying for that Anne Geddes baby in a sling shot, works better with little babies, this gorgeous bundle just wanted to lift her head up to see what was going on! One of those 'it looks easier than it actually is' type of shots!

The Ashby's...

2010-06-13T22:53:00.001+01:00

A photoshoot with bluebells, ball gowns and sound bowls all in a beautiful, if not a little chilly woodland!

152 wild things things to do...

2010-05-28T18:03:00.002+01:00

I am very excited as my river dipping photographs have been used to illustrate a brand new book '152 Wild Things To Do'.

Ways of being ‘wowed’ by wildlife are endless but families fumbling for a first encounter with the natural world will find 152 of them in an inspirational new family-friendly guide.

‘152 Wild Things To Do’ is packed with ideas to get families outside and closer to nature, whether at home, out and about in the countryside or in the heart of a city. Published in association with The Wildlife Trusts, the book is full of stunning full-colour photography. It includes entries from each of the 47 Wildlife Trusts, describing what you’ll see during a visit to one of their reserves – be it a sea of bluebells, diving ospreys, or an awe-inspiring waterfall.

I haven't seen a copy yet, but I have already pre-ordered my copy from Amazon. I am sure it will be packed full of 'wild' ideas for things to do this summer

Wildlife Watch...

2010-05-24T18:23:00.005+01:00

I have just finished a photoshoot for The Wildlife Trusts junior branch 'Wildlife Watch'. The club, aimed at children aged between 4 - 11, has just had a fantastic makeover. All children, when they join, receive a pack, which has a magazine, a badge, some stickers, a handbook all packed full of wildlife tips, posters and 'wild' fun. There is a fab website too, which at the moment is running a very cool 'Where the Wild Things Are' competition.

My job was to take some pictures of children enjoying the new pack, which wasn't hard as all the children just loved it! The only difficult thing was to get some sunny days! If you would like to join, it starts from just £1.25 a month, you can join here, I have signed my children up and even though the youngest is too young to read, he just loves looking at the pictures and the posters inside the magazine.

Adam Cormack of The Wildlife Trusts was delighted with the pictures and very kindly said,

"At The Wildlife Trusts we are great fans of Emma’s photography and we have used it for various purposes including books, magazines and other marketing materials. Emma’s photographs are always beautifully composed and somehow manage to capture a sense of childhood innocence and nostalgia while still remaining in touch with the modern world. It’s a tough combination to pull off but Emma manages it every time."

Thank you Adam!

making an exhibition of oneself...

2010-04-29T19:51:00.007+01:00

front cover shot!

My first photography exhibition is running from 9th June - 17th July at Prema Arts Centre in Gloucestershire. I am feeling in equal measure excited, nervous and very unworthy! I am busy shooting some new material for the exhibition, but I will also feature a lot of my favourites, like the one above!

Picture Picnic Workshop

2010-04-07T17:03:00.005+01:00

It can be really frustrating trying to capture that elusive moment when photographing your family. Emma Bradshaw is a photographer specialising in natural light child photography. She takes thousands of photographs and has too many cameras, her favourite being on old film camera and a 1970's polaroid called 'Flash'! In this workshop Emma will show you that you can take beautiful pictures with your own camera, using props and dressing up, to entertain and distract your children, while you click away. The day will be fun, relaxed and informal and you will leave with beautiful pictures and hopefully lots of tips and inspiration. Bring along a picnic lunch and your favourite camera.

Saturday 3rd July 11am - 2pm All ages

Family price £14 or £10 (Friends of Prema)

at Prema Arts Centre, Uley, Gloucestershire

01453 860703

info@prema.demon.co.uk

www.prema.demon.co.uk

howdy cowboy...

2010-02-20T15:22:00.003Z

Trying to photograph children is always a challenge! My two boys resemble excited springer spaniels most days, so I completely understand how difficult it is to capture photographs of children, when they won't stay still! With younger children I find dressing up helps, putting them in a role play situation where they are 'acting' can focus even the most distracted child! I managed to capture my six year old this morning, whilst he was a 'cowboy', he remained completely still whilst saluting!

"adam and eve" {on film}

2010-01-22T11:06:00.000Z

two gorgeous blondies, secretly pinching damsons from the basket!

Cornish Tipi Holidays use Emma Bradshaw's photographs on website

2010-01-19T19:01:00.012Z

Cornish Tipi Holidays have just updated their website and my photographs are dotted throughout ~ see if you can spot them! Cornish Tipi Holidays are just great for family or romantic holidays, situated in a secluded oak woodland, the tipi's are just enchanting and for children it's like living in a storybook, with boats to row, fish to catch and logs to chop! Be warned though this is real camping with real open fires, ideal for toasting damper bread and marshmallows! No TV, computers or cars on the site guarantee a real family bonding experience without distractions ~ perfect.

See Cornish Tipi Holidays gorgeous website and find out more information and if you book, tell them Emma Bradshaw sent you ~ I'll see you there!

film photography

2010-01-18T18:53:00.000Z

all taken with a vintage film camera ~ ahh summer!

news from the latest photoshoot...

2009-12-08T22:30:00.005Z

and a sneak preview...

Four adults, four children and two dogs kept me busy this weekend, on a glorious winters day! Here is just one picture from the shoot, one of my favourites as I loved the light and the dog!

New limited edition vouchers launched

2009-11-14T11:02:00.011Z

Just launched, a new limited edition Emma Bradshaw Photography Gift Voucher, in time for Christmas. Produced to celebrate the launch of my new photography business, the vouchers feature a range of Emma Bradshaw Photographs and are printed on a gloss card and come with a 100% brown recycled paper envelope. The value of the voucher is an amazingly affordable £35, for a one hour shoot and a 6"x4" print of your choice, additional photographs available from £10. Prices usually start from £55.

This offer is limited to a local shoot {within Gloucestershire} and the voucher is to be used within one year from date of purchase. Contact me for more information or to buy your voucher. There are 10 vouchers available buy yours today!

Stop Press:

there are now only 2 limited edition gift vouchers left!

The White Family {October 2009}

2009-11-14T10:01:00.005Z

a sneak preview of one of the shots from my latest commission of two gorgeous blue eyed boys, one who lost his front tooth the day after the shoot!

The Palmer Family {June 09}

2009-11-13T22:01:00.004Z

a photoshoot in a beautiful meadow, chasing butterflies, picking elderflowers and enjoying a picnic in the long grass with a lovely family. It must of been the hottest day of the year and I asked Marc to throw little Anna in the air!

2009-11-13T17:07:00.002Z

blackberry picking with my boy {on film}

Emma's pictures published in new book!

2009-05-01T11:24:00.001+01:00

I am delighted that two of my photographs are included in the new book by Daniel Start "Wild Swimming Coast" on the back cover and on page eight. It is a beautiful book and a great follow up to the original "Wild Swimming ~ Rivers and Streams" and out now!

Ted ~ third birthday portrait {on film}

2009-04-24T10:56:00.002+01:00

This is one of my favourite photographs, I just love the lighting, it was taken in the Woolpack Inn, Slad, near Stroud, a great location with good food!

The Turner Family {November 2008}

2009-03-14T11:14:00.001Z

the princess and the kitten

Emma Bradshaw wins Snail Trail Photographic Competition

2009-01-01T17:53:00.002Z

I entered the photo above of Prudence the camper van into the Snail Trail photographic competition after our fantastic holiday in Prudence back in July 2008 and am delighted to say it won the competition. What a fantastic start to the new year.

Now do we stay faithful to Prudence or do we choose another of the wonderful campers that Snail Trail hire? Who would you choose?