Philbarnesphotography blog

Black and White Baby Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 17:57:00 +0000

Black and white photography often looses out to colour particularly in baby photography so I was particularly happy to photograph a recent baby portrait session in monochrome.

Rather than bright high key images my aim was to use as little light as possible to promote the baby's form. This wasn't a "look at the cute baby shoot" rather a "look at how beautiful this baby as a baby is, shoot".

I hope the images produced are a little different from the norm I've even included a rather grumpy moment as it seems to make the images a little more honest.

Hope you like them and if you're interested in black and white baby photography please get in touch or visit my main website for a look at more of my photography:

Black and White Baby Photography Norfolk.

A gorgeous smiling baby {Baby Photographer Norwich}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Sun, 30 Dec 2012 14:43:00 +0000

Just before Christmas I had a great baby photography session with a beautiful little lady with a great big smile.

The photographs were turned into prints to be framed and given as Christmas presents so I've held back blogging the session until now.

After a cautious start I can say that this little lady decided she'd give us a display of what I can only describe as some sort of baby breakdancing. She obviously enjoyed her floor time and couldn't stop smiling. Great fun!!

If you're interested in baby photography get in touch and we'll arrange a setting or contact me or visit my main website and check out the Baby e-brochure: Norwich Baby Photographer

Norwich Engagement Photography {Wedding Photographer Norfolk}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:32:00 +0000

Erica and Mike are early birds and I found them in Norwich on a beautifully sunny winter Sunday.

We toured the older parts of Norwich including the Cathedral and Elm Hill before heading over for some fun above the market place and outside the Forum.

As it's almost Christmas we enjoyed a snow storm and some great Christmas trees at the forum before taking in some city centre woodland amongst the elegant silver birch trees behind the Forum. We'd already enjoyed some portraits at the Cathedral gate and in the Cathedral Cloisters but also visited Elm Hill for a little bit of private dance practice and the Norwich Lanes area just for some nice natural portraits in a lovely and popular part of Norwich.

We had great fun and Erica and Mike had a chance to practice some poses and feel more comfortable in front of a large camera. I now can't wait until their wedding day in August they're getting married at St Andrew's Church on Thorpe Road before heading to the beautiful Hales Hall, it'll be great fun!

If you're looking for a wedding photographer get in touch and visit my main website for more information Norwich Wedding Photographer Engagement shoot.

Baby, Child and Pet Photography {Norwich Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 10:31:00 +0000

"Never work with children and animals" well that's what they say but I can't help thinking whoever said it didn't have much fun as there's nothing better as I found out in a recent studio portrait session.

I started the studio portrait session photographing two adorable siblings who were brilliant alone in front of the camera and shared some great moments together in front of the lens too. Mum and Dad had surprised me slightly by arriving with the family's dog and asking if I'd mind photographing him too. Of course I didn't as I also photograph dogs and horses on a regular basis but the canine and child conundrum in the studio environment was a new challenge.

I wasn't to worry though as I was introduced to perhaps the most loved and loving pet labrador a family could hope for and he was more than happy to pose with his charges even allowing the younger sister to sit astride his back for a few photographs without so much as a bat of an eyelid.

We had great fun and I'd encourage anyone who'd like to get the whole family including pets in front of the camera to give me a call and arrange a session. Baby and Pet Photographer Norwich.

A beautiful wedding dress or two {Jacka Gowns Norwich new wedding dress range}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 13:24:00 +0000

I had a lovely day recently photographing the new range of wedding dresses being offered by the lovely Mary at Jacka Gowns in Norwich.

Mary's customer service is exemplary and her dresses gorgeous so I'm always happy to recommend her to brides. Mary hired me to photograph her new range of dresses for 2013 and I was very pleased to see a great line up of gowns being modelled by some great girls one at least of whom was one of Mary's recent brides.

If you're looking for a great dress (a beautiful silken gown featured below was my personal favourite) and brilliant service look no further than Jacka Gowns.

For more information about my wedding photography and professional photography services please visit my main website: Norwich Wedding Photographer

Wedding Photography Album by Folio Albums {Norwich Wedding Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:35:00 +0000

I recently received my first sample album from Folio Albums a British company to be proud of with great green credentials and albums beautifully finished, packaged, unique and most definitely gorgeously styled.

I'll be using Folio both as my new main wedding album supplier but also to provide a beautiful record of lifestyle family photography sessions. I just can't wait to present a gorgeous family beach shoot or an equally styled wedding in one these beautiful albums.

Please have a look at the photographs below, the album displayed is a beautiful and yet standard album from the Folio fold I dread to think how nice the vintage leather finished sleeves are and can't wait to impress someone with the fine art paper finish which is another great option with these albums : )

If you're interested in modern wedding photography with great style and a super album or a family lifestyle shoot featuring a gorgeous keepsake please get in touch by visiting my main website: Norwich Wedding Photographer

Norfolk Baby photography in your own home.

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:00:00 +0000

I had a lovely portrait session recently spending the morning with a new family photographing them in their own home.

Taking a portable studio set up with me we combined natural lifestyle portraits with studio styled photographs taking regular tea breaks and sneaking in a few fig rolls along the way : )

It was a very relaxed shoot with no worries about travelling with a small baby or where the little fella was going to have a kip in between his time in front of the camera.

A great morning's work, I hope you like the photographs and if you're interested in a shoot please get in touch by checking out the contact page on my main website: norwich baby photographer.

Rocket boy and his angelic little sister {Norwich Family Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:16:00 +0000

I'm currently completing a display product and print order for a wonderful Norwich family I visited recently.

With a new addition to the fold, Mum wanted some photographs in the comfort of her own home and with little hassle, no stress for all involved and a relaxed atmosphere why wouldn't you?

I had great fun for the morning using the variety of natural backdrops in the home, that will themselves no doubt become important for posterity, to photograph the family. My favourite backdrop had to be the rocket transfer in a certain young man's bedroom.

I hope you like this small taster of the photographs and if you're interested in family photographs in the comfort of your own home drop me a line or visit my main website and look at the online brochure for more information: Norwich Family Photographer.

"All the leaves are brown" {Family Photographer Norwich}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 17:24:00 +0000

I had a great morning in the grounds of Felbrigg Hall with the Boden family.

The sun was beaming a golden glow through a gorgeous avenue of Beach trees and the leaves were thick enough on the ground to kick around to your hearts content or even throw up into the air above your head.

We had a lovely walk, discussed plans for halloween and messed about more than a little to create some lovely photographic opportunities. O.k. so it was a little muddier in places than the guide to the walks around Felbrigg let on, but with a multitude of colourful wellies at their disposal the Boden's made light work of the odd muddy patch.

Without doubt its important to take a minute out of our busy lives and decide to stop the lightening pace of life for a few precious seconds captured on a camera. We had great fun and I can confirm that I'll keep my mouth closed next time I invite people to kick leaves in my general direction whilst lying on the ground ; )

Hope you like the photographs visit my main website to contact me about Family Photography in Norwich and Norfolk.

An autumnal Norwich Wedding {Norwich Wedding Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 16:15:00 +0000

A groom who was excited and didn't seem nervous, a ceremony in which the children were invited to the front of the church, a gorgeous bride in a superb classical dress and no rain, not one drop, who could ask for more!

Kevin and Laura had a great day getting married at St Andrew's Church on Thorpe road, Norwich which has the nicest rose garden of any church I've seen, before nipping just up the road to the Oakland's Hotel for their reception. It was a nice local and more importantly relaxed wedding where the guests could enjoy themselves in comfortable and beautiful surroundings.

Laura got her simply gorgeous dress from local dress supplier "Jacka Gowns" on Ber St, Norwich on a personal recommendation and it looked simply stunning on her. Kevin looked the picture of the dapper gent helped out by a great group of groomsmen.

The gallery of images for Kevin and Laura's wedding can be found by following this link and having a look in the Wedding gallery section, but you will need the password to access it!

Norwich Wedding Photographer

Winterton Beach Outdoor Portrait Shoot {Family Photographer Norwich}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 16:44:00 +0000

I had a blast recently running around after 3 siblings and their daughters/nieces at Winterton Beach.

It was a lovely sunny afternoon, blue skies with white clouds, nice golden sand and the gorgeous faded glassy green of Maram grass. Add to this a nice patch of shade to get some lovely portraits complete with an antiquated wooden background and life as a photographer couldn't get better.

O.k. so the sun was a bit hard out of the shade but we had fun in the sand dunes, on the beach and amongst the fishermen's huts before calling it a day and heading home.

Mike had arranged the shoot and amused me somewhat on viewing the secure online gallery by sending me a very succinct email which read, "By god your good!!!!!!!".

If you're interested in a portrait shoot visit my main website and use the contact page to get in touch, here's the link: NORWICH FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER.

Personal digital photography tuition in Norwich and Norfolk

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 18:07:00 +0000

I've had a busy and varied photographic year that has involved a vast variety of photographic work including more recently personal photography tuition.

I pride myself in producing high quality work in each type of photography I undertake and enjoy new challenges so when asked to undertake tuition I jumped at the chance.

Spending 5 days with my last client on a one to one basis we covered a good variety of Norfolk's interesting subjects from sunrise at Cromer pier in North Norfolk to the work of Combine Harvesters bringing in the harvest in South Norfolk.

My client's wish was to move away from the automatic mode on his digital slr and to have confidence to use the camera manually to photograph landscapes and wildlife.

I started my tailored tuition by discussing and learning about the roles of the shutter, aperture and ISO sensitivity of a camera in producing a photograph. We then moved on to practical sessions covering the qualities of different camera lenses from macro to zoom, depth of field, composition techniques, exposure adjustment and finally techniques based around the use of filters and tripods specifically for landscape and wildlife photography. We also covered editing, cataloguing and safely storing digital images, which are skills just as essential as mastering your camera.

The following photographs were taken by my client in Cromer and concentrate on composition and correct scene exposure based upon your desired subjects.

A very wet wedding but no damp spirits {Norwich Wedding Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 13:21:00 +0000

Paul and Janine, well what can you say they flew over from New York to celebrate their wedding in Paul's native city at the gorgeous Norwich Cathedral Cloisters.

The weather had other ideas and some of the meanest rain I've seen this year, and I've seen some mean rain this year, decided to fall on their chosen afternoon to the drums of a distant thunder storm.

It wasn't a great greeting to Janine's family who had all flown over with the happy couple to enjoy the day with them, umbrellas were found, suit jackets were soaked, sunglasses were dispensed with and I believe people even turned up their trousers so they didn't get too wet. In short it looked like Paul and Janine's wedding photographs were going to be a disaster until of course Paul and Janine were taken into account.

As I lay on the path, a wet path, a very wet path I watched as the Bride and Groom danced and skipped toward me across the Cathedral grounds beneath a big white umbrella, not cowed by the rain, not daunted, not frowning or sad, just smiling and cavorting through the puddles... I knew everything was going to be all right.

If you are getting married next year visit my main website and drop me a line for a chat:

Norwich Wedding Photographer.

A very happy baby {Baby Photographer Norwich}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 10:15:00 +0000

Being able to photograph new arrivals to family's I've already had the pleasure of photographing is like having a double scoop of your favourite ice-cream.

A recent studio session with a young family introduced me to their newest and undoubtedly most smiley new member. The little lady concerned like her elder sister was a pleasure to photograph and produced a beaming smile just at the right moment to make mummy's day.

Contact me if you have a new arrival and would like a portrait session at your own home or at the studio?

Follow this link to my main website: Norwich Baby Photographer

"Two Little Boys..." {Children's Photography Norwich}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 07:54:00 +0000

Trying again to catch up with my blogging a little I'm going back a couple of months to the hottest day of the year, which seems a while ago now ; )

I was invited to a lovely house in North Norfolk to photograph two little boys. The little lads concerned are twins and I have found myself photographing a number of twins this year only to marvel at how different their personalities often are.

In this case I definitely found one young man rather reluctant to be photographed and then at the polar opposite his brother who absolutely loved being photographed, posing brilliantly and well taking faultless photographs each and every time the camera was pointed in his direction.

We had to hide a little from the sun, not only was it bearing down on us like a furnace but it certainly had the sky to itself. We found refuge in the shade of a gorgeous garden and the boys were happy to have their photographs taken for quite a while with their grandparents often providing some entertainment behind the camera.

I hope you like the photographs, and if you'd like a portrait session this autumn in time for Christmas get in touch quickly as the diary is booking up fast!

Visit my website here: Children's Photographer Norwich

Suzy and Rob's Wedding at Park Farm Hotel, Hethersett, Norwich.

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 10:10:00 +0000

I recently photographed the wedding of Suzy and Robin at Park Farm Hotel, Hethersett. This being a now notorious year for poor weather Suzy and Robin were treated to driving rain and high winds for their June wedding which made going outdoors for the couple's photographs an impossibility: I had visions of the happy couple taking off arm in arm beneath a Mary Poppin's like umbrella-the wind was that strong ; )
Having said this Park Farm supplied us with plenty of opportunity for indoor photographs of the couple and is the case with most wet weddings Suzy and Robin really didn't let the weather get them down, in fact I'd say it didn't bother them in the least as they had a great day. We used the wind to our advantage in the evening when thankfully the rain stopped to get some stunning shots of the Suzy's veil in full flight in the grounds of the hotel.
I hope you like the photographs Suzy and Robin were a pleasure and fun to photograph.

If you'd like to know more about my wedding photography please visit the following page Norfolk Wedding Photographer.

Thanks for reading,

Phil.

A cool couple in love.

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Sun, 24 Jun 2012 10:47:00 +0000

I got to know Mary and Bob via Mary's gorgeous wedding dress shop Jacka Gowns.

Mary puts her heart and soul into making sure the bride's that come to her receive the best service and are treated like a member of her ever increasing family of brides. I was touched that Mary chose me to photograph her wedding.

It wasn't a surprise then to see the passion and romance that drives Mary's work also dominating her own wedding. I'd been warned by Mary that the happy couple would be tearful during the ceremony but wasn't quite ready for how contagious the tears would become as Mary and Bob's evident love for each other engulfed everyone at the ceremony.

Grown men wiped away tears, family and friends were overcome with emotion and each time the couple stumbled or had to stop amidst their vows to regroup they were cheered along by everyone involved. Without doubt it was the most romantic ceremony I've ever attended.

Later photographing Bob and Mary I was treated to a masterclass in posing, it's always great when a couple doesn't find posing awkward, but Bob and Mary were naturals. Bob had the calm cool of a filmstar and I can't help but think that the dame on his arm had a great deal to do with that confidence.

A great couple.

If you're interested in wedding photography services contact me via my wedding photography website.

North Norfolk Summer Family Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 07:05:00 +0000

What a weekend with hours and hours of uninterrupted sun from dawn to dusk and last Monday didn't disappoint with the North Norfolk Coast attracting lots of visitors packing the car parks and spending leisurely days on the beach.
I was lucky enough to have a family photography portrait session arranged and headed to the beach looking forward to a great afternoon. We picked up pine cones, created bouquets of daisies, raced down the beach, sought shade from the beach huts, and mum got half buried in sand while dad kept a young lady amused in the shade. It was a great day and despite my best efforts I still managed to deposit a little more sand in my office, I'll soon have a beach of my own : )

Hope you enjoy the photographs of another superb family!

A great family and a beautiful beach {Norfolk Family Photographer}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:44:00 +0000

Meeting new people and getting out in the great outdoors make outdoor lifestyle portrait sessions of families great fun and a recent visit to North Norfolk was no exception to the rule.

An afternoon on the beach ensures that children can use up lots of excess energy and show off their personalities and expressions and allows parents to loosen the reins and relax a little. Of course the beach is a great playground but when it's combined with a big pine woodland with plenty of rope swings and places to sit and hide then you can't go wrong.

We had a great afternoon on the beach, no tantrums, no crying, o.k. there was a little bit of trying to bury your sibling in the sand but that's part of the course ; ).

For an outdoor lifestyle portrait session that's stress free and fun drop me an email.

Family portrait photography in a Bluebell wood near Norwich

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:19:00 +0000

I'm a big lover of nature so at this time of year when the sun finally shines on newly emerged green canopies and wildlife stirs into life I love to be out and about photographing people in a limitless studio.

A great recent family portrait session was based in a great bluebell woodland near Norwich and allowed the family I was with to explore the woods, have fun walking along and climbing on fallen tree trunks, explore and generally enjoy themselves while being photographed. There's nothing better for natural smiles and great expressions than letting children do their thing, of course it means that the photographer has to run around and generally get dirty but that's part of the fun!

Enjoy the photographs and contact me if you'd like to take advantage of Norfolk or Suffolk's gorgeous countryside for a family photoshoot.

Outpouring of emotion and downpours of rain on Rachel & Ben's Wedding day!

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:17:00 +0000

The weather's not been too kind to us this year, it's re-filled reservoirs yes, but been a tad on the wet side for quite some time and on the day of Rachel and Ben's wedding there was no exception.

I know it was a really cold day, the guests were a little too cold outside the church, I almost froze waiting for Rachel's wedding car in the rain, but when I look at the photographs of the day I hardly notice the weather. That's simply because for Ben and Rachel it was their big day and the emotion was palpable, caught on camera, and everything else was immaterial.

I'll remember two things from the day, Ben losing his composure slightly when Rachel appeared at the door to the church and Rachel giving a really heartfelt speech in a beautiful whisper of a voice which I'm glad to say I recorded for posterity and included on their feature length slideshow.

Here are some photographs of Ben and Rachel's day.

For more information about my wedding photography visit:

Norwich Wedding Photographer Phil Barnes.

Daffodils and spring sunshine {Children's Photographer Norwich}

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 08:18:00 +0000

As the perfect antidote to a busy Saturday photographing a lovely wedding I made my way to a client's home in North Norfolk for a relaxed Sunday afternoon portrait session with a smiley young man.

With a brief from the little lad's grandmother to include some daffodils in the photographs I set about my portraiture in the short period of grace that six month old babies give you between sleeps and food demands.

It was a gorgeous day in which the sun strolled uninterrupted over a blue sky and a perfect introduction to the season of spring for a happy little boy.

A great spot for Baby & Children's Photography near Norwich!

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 17:50:00 +0000

Last week was gorgeous, the weather was fantastic and warm, the birds and blossoms were bursting with song and colour and well it was a great time to get out and about for a lifestyle session with most of a young family at Thornham Walks.

Thornham Walks is a great place for families particularly if you enjoy the outdoors and wildlife, some arts and crafts and of course a superb playground for kids. Just over the Suffolk border it takes 35 minutes to get to from Norwich and the trip is well worth it! As far as costs are concerned parking is £2 for the whole day and there's toilets and a cafe and small craft shops to visit once you've explored the woodland paths and let the children enjoy the playground.

Spending about an hour and a half with the girls (dad was at work : ( ) we got some great photographs at a relaxed pace and most importantly everyone enjoyed themselves and enjoyed a perfect spring day. The session finished with one very happy two and a half year old taking to the playground's slide with evident pride sending her favourite Lemur soft toy down the slide first with it's owner following moments later.

Many thanks to the family for a great afternoon.

New DVD presentation for my Portrait and Wedding Photography.

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:05:00 +0000

Family's and Couples opting to buy their Portrait session and Wedding photographs as digital files will now receive a copy of the files and their preview slideshow in a bespoke case carefully packaged in my Phil Barnes Photography presentation box.

With a disc for the digital files and another for the slideshow my clients will be able to order high quality photographic prints using the images on the digital file disc. They will also be able to copy the files to their own computers for further safe keeping, and share the duplicated lower quality image files included on the disc with friends via social media websites.

I'm hoping that my clients will not only be able to store images on their hard drives but also store my little black box in a treasured little corner of their homes. It's a perfect way to store those cherished memories of your baby and your children's lives and of course the wedding memories.

Here's a few photos of Georgina's DVD before it left in the post this morning!

Family lifestyle photography at Blickling Hall Park

noreply@blogger.com (Phil Barnes) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:49:00 +0000

I'm still pinching myself given the good luck I and the family I was photographing had last weekend. The most miserable wet and dreary day turned into a beautiful sunlit spring afternoon in the time it took me to drive from Norwich to Blickling Hall Park.
Norwich was a scene of continual downpour and as I drove through the city looking at the pedestrians enclosed in their waterproof coats and hurrying along beneath umbrellas I couldn't imagine what sort of fate awaited me, and then I saw a bit of blue sky...
I had a great afternoon with the Whall family and Henry the dog, o.k. so when it came to sitting on the floor to get a nice angle I got wet but it's worth it!
Enjoy the photographs...