Half the day has elapsed already and we’re halfway through half term.  I’ve half a plan for what to write here and am allotting myself a meagre half hour to do so. That’s just how it has to be today. Simple as.

I’ve beautiful music playing –  Chloe Foy  – so will cut to the quick and get typing.

The snow has disappeared and there are signs of Spring and that’s just as it should be. Much is not. Yet, I’m a glass half full kinda human bean. Continuing in work & home life to celebrate the everyday moments that continue to inspire and encourage, excite and evolve.

Fizz & fermentation

Moments like discovering Kickass Kombucha brewed locally and by a genius young chef with a brand new business.  Earth to Oven has a freshly baked website and promises a fine new street food menu. Roll on the Spring and Alfie can roll out these delicious wraps and donuts from the trailer. In the meantime, his offer of a seasonal takeaway menu is on point. Try those sourdough donuts; they are perfect crumb-free desk snacks.

Uovo

Banana skins & coffee mugs didn’t feature in the brief but the blue bakelite table with carpet squares cushioning all the precision-sharpened tools in the barn light, it just shrieked shoot me.

The marvellous work in progress which the pictured gouges are being urged by Alison’s magic hands to create, that sits alongside, just out of shot. Half-finished. Ok, so that might be an exaggeration; there are still some 700 inverted pyramids to carve! Jump across to view ‘Uovo’ and watch it reveal itself week on week. Already a phenomenal and beautiful giant of a piece and so pertinent right now, at this moment in human time.

Family at home.

We deliberated and decided on the favourite images from a fun family winter shoot which included outdoor sculpture pieces also from Alison Crowther, as above. 

Lots of characterful and genuine moments between teenage siblings and bathed in delicious winter light.

Fine Art Prints

Earlier this month, I ran a little Giveaway of a photographic print ‘ Verging’ over on my insta and will be releasing more nature-inspired limited edition giclée prints in the Spring via my online shop. I will also start to sell framed prints from The Himalaya as per the two images featuring here.

If you’d like to purchase any of my framed work or my gift vouchers*, please send me an email to request more details.

Sarah

* Vouchers come beautifully printed, packaged and personalised and may be redeemed against a number of photography offers, prints & experiences.

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