Giant smiles aplenty here and much lens polishing; I’m now taking client bookings for August.

What’s happening for you that you need me to capture on camera next month? Send me an email via the contact page so we can schedule a casual conversation over the phone.

I’m delighted this morning to report that portraits, headshots and family session photography which have taken place over the month of July and within these different, more cautious times, have all been very successful. Clients are pleased with their photography and the way we’ve coordinated the shoots themselves. This, at times, phenomenal summer weather has certainly contributed too.

Amongst other projects, this month I’ve photographed a headshots refresh and work process for wood sculptor Alison Crowther who has been using the lockdown period to create some incredibly striking new work.

Plexus, the RipTide benches and Votives Collection are simply stunning ( see attached photography )

July has seen completion of several family sessions, all in nearby places of natural beauty such as Butser Hill. With a wonderful sweeping outlook right over the South Downs National Park, across towards Winchester and – on a clear day such as we were blessed with – clear unobstructed views down to the south coast, across the Solent and the Isle of Wight beyond. 271m elevation for anyone curious and, as you can see, a perfect location for some family cartwheeling on camera.

I’ve also been working on various commercial commissions for a textiles brand, greenhouse manufacturer and garden design business.

Titley and Marr have a new Collection of textiles about to drop, which is exciting for me as I get to capture all the hues and feast my eyes on new patterns & prints very soon. Some of T&M’s previous range is featured below.

An early morning commission to capture a fabulous greenhouse bursting with fresh produce and healthy pot plants left me with serious succulent envy this month.  Alitex has such a lush display of green growth in the glasshouse over at their Hampshire HQ, nestled at the foot of the South Downs.

With several new joiners recently, Graduate Landscapes needed some team member portraits taking. There’s also one of their beautiful gardens to look forward to photographing in its summer glory soon; I’ve witnessed the same garden in its winter wonderful, with bleached grasses that choreographed themselves obligingly in the onshore wind.

If its your family you wish me to capture on camera, I can promise great results. With four children of my own, I know how to strike up a rapport swiftly with small children and teenagers alike, ensuring that even the meekest of small people and most awkwardly camera-shy adolescents feel comfortable with me working with my camera safely in the background. Whilst you’re all having fun together of course.

My youngest has special needs, Down Syndrome to be precise, and I can promise you that I’m not easily phased by any behaviours or quirks that children present with. I’m very sensitive to other needs, idiosyncracies or phobias which we always manage to gently work around on the day.

1-2 hours is generally enough time for me to capture you together. I get all the photographs I need to deliver you a gorgeous gallery within two hours as a rule of thumb, but there’s no real time restriction and no need for you to be concerned; if we need longer, I stay longer and we keep shooting until we have everything we need.

Get in touch either via the website contact form here, by email info@sarahsheldrake.co.uk or, if you prefer, my mobile number is M: +44 7900 626865

Sarah