So, it's Father's Day this weekend.  A time when shops are full to the brim with cards, and knick-knacky presents like little bottles of whiskey and novelty socks.  I must admit, I rather hate all that stuff.  I am sentimental in a different way, I guess.

It is a time when we are encouraged to thank the important male role models in our life.  To  recognise the value they give us all.  

I am very privileged to photograph families.  To be able to see, and document that special bond that Dad's have with their son, and their daughter.  To witness Dad's brimming with love and affection.  To capture families full of love, laughter and happiness. To photograph tender and thoughtful moments, as families have a moment to think and pause.

On my family sessions I get to see a little snippet of family life.  And of family love.

How perfect is that?

Here a a few of my recent Dad's, to celebrate all that fatherhood has to give.

And finally, here is a celebration of a very special Dad in my life.  My own father, whom is the kindest, most amazing Dad anyone could possibly ask for.  See - I told you I was sentimental!  Not in the socks and novelty card kind-of-way, but in the capture every moment kind-of-way.  Make each day count, kind-of-way.  Document the emotions kind-of-way.  In a world where we often hear too much about hate and despair, I am so lucky to be able to capture everything that is good in this world.  

​Love.

My photography style is very natural, and in each photo I take, I aim to capture the natural story and beauty of each family.  The style of portrait photography I specialise in is generally called 'lifestyle'.  It is about capturing real life situations.  You can see my normal style in my portfolio, or in my past blogs.  However, I know that sometimes people like to have a range of shots to choose from.  So I decided to undertake some training and push my creative boundaries, whilst still retaining my natural style that I know and love, and that my clients expect of me from my portfolio.  

I am a member of The Guild of Photographers, which I joined to be part of a body that upholds standards and quality in my profession, but also to ensure I continue to learn, grow, and develop creatively as a photographer.  I always want to push myself to be the best I can, and ensure my clients get the highest quality images and service I can possibly provide.  I heard about Claire Elliott because she is a Judge panel member, involved in the monthly competitions that The Guild run.  I saw that she was running a training course and jumped at the chance to learn from her. 

After the training, I ran a model call.  I asked for newborn babies near me, to either come to my home, or for me to visit them with my equipment.  I luckily got lots and lots of responses from families in Teddington, Twickenham and St Margarets - all near me, which was great.  

The first session I did was from this gorgeous little baby girl, who was just 11 days old.  They came to my house for a relaxed photo session.  The added bonus is that I got some great cuddles.  Just check out how cute she is, and those cheeks!

It was an absolute pleasure to meet her, and the amazing Mum too.  It was an honour to spend a few hours in their company, and capturing this very special time.

I​f you would like me to capture your family life, please get in touch here to contact me. 
​
Tamsin x

I am very proud to say that a few weeks ago I learnt I have been approved to become an official volunteer photographer for the charity Butterfly Wishes Network.

The Butterfly Wishes Network was founded by a group of Photographers three years ago.  Their  goal was to create a National Network of Professional Photographers, who provide a beautiful family photo session for families with children suffering from a life threatening illness.  The Butterfly Wishes Network is a non profit organisation, and every single person works for free. 

The network spans the UK, and is full of amazing, awe-inspiring photographers, doing fantastic work.  I am honoured to have been approved to join the team.

Please do visit their website www.butterflywishesnetwork.co.uk, or their Facebook page, to see the brilliant work they do in helping families who need the service.

Tamsin x

I was contacted by a large multinational corporation, to provide some new, natural headshots for a number of their employees.

I travelled to their offices in Central London, to spend the morning there recently.  Headshots have become increasingly important in recent years.  With so much happening online, having a great professional headshot provides a vital first impression.  

This company needed photographs to use within the company itself for varied purposes. They were also for the individuals to use on Linkedin and other online media profiles.  To project a highly professional  image, reflecting the company they work for.

An important part of getting a good headshot, is making you feel comfortable and relaxed.  I spent a little time with each individual, getting them to feel happy in front of the camera, and to ensure I capture the best representation of them as a person, and for the company.

I had been briefed as to what the company needed, and knew that they needed a bright, fresh approach to headshots, whilst retaining a highly professional image.

First impressions count.  Having a professional headshot can help you to stand out from the crowd.  It is more than just a photograph - it can help people connect with you.

In this session, it was requested that each individual received five different images, with an image in black and white.  This meant they had range of images to use for different purposes in the future.

Included in my headshot sessions are the digital images, presented on a USB stick, with images prepared for online use, and high resolution images ready for print use.  I work with you as an individual, or as a business, to determine your requirements, and make sure you get amazing results for you to use and be proud of.  

If you are a business owner, sole trader, freelancer, entrepreneur, or even a large corporate company and you are in need of an updated headshot, please do get in contact with me, for more information, prices, and availability.

Tamsin 

In December last year, I had the pleasure of photographing a lovely family, who recently had their second baby.

When they booked the session, I had no idea that the Dad was an awesome, talented artist, or that their home (as a result) would be full of wonderful artwork.

I am a massive lover of all things arty.  In fact, I studied art at A-level (it was the only subject I managed to get an A grade in!).  I decided to follow a different path for a number of years - that is another story, which I must tell you sometime.  Over the years I have been drawn back into the creative world, with photography, which has now ended up being my passion.

Can you imagine my delight when I walked in and saw walls adorned with beautiful pieces of art?  I did nearly squeal with excitement!

The family were AWESOME, the Mum simply beautiful.  Their 5 month old little girl was a super smiley delight, and their 5 year old son hilarious and cheeky.  A perfect combination!  I was so lucky to be able to use some of the Dad's stunning art as back drop for their family photographs, as this totally told their family story.  Here are some of my favourites.

You must check out the artwork on www.adamballonline.com .  Go on, grab a cuppa and check out some stunning work.  It will be worth it, I promise!

If you would like me to capture your family life, please get in touch here to contact me. 
​
Tamsin x

My Spring mini sessions are now open for booking.  They are a great introduction to having a professional photo session.  They are also the perfect gift for Valentine's Day, or Mothering Sunday!

What is a mini session?
Lasting 30 minutes, they are simply a shorter version of a bespoke full portrait shoot (which normally last around 2 hours).  Due to the shorter shoot time, you will be shown fewer photos.  It is a good option if you want to have just a few special pictures and want some relaxed, natural photos, in an outdoor location.
 
A mini session is not advised for larger families, or those with teeny tiny newborn babies.  For these the full bespoke session is best, as I can spend longer with you.

When are the mini sessions?
The mini sessions are to be held on Saturday 16th April 2016, and Saturday 23rd April 2016.  

If you are interested in reserving a slot, please get in touch via my contact page here, as soon as possible, because they will get booked up quickly.

Where will they be held?
They will be held at a location near Teddington, in a local park.  I will confirm the location nearer the time.

How much does a mini session cost?
The price for the mini sessions start from £150. This includes:

• The pre-shoot communication (finding out a bit about your family, what you are looking for, and advice and guidance on what to wear, and what to expect on the day)
• A 30-minute shoot
• The post-shoot editing and production 
• Proof images sent electronically (with copyright/watermark)
• The post-shoot communication, to choose your favourite images that you want (as part of the mini package), and to discuss any additional images or products you may wish to order
• £150 - 3 digital images and 3 matching mounted gift prints
• £200 - 5 digital images and 5 matching mounted gift prints
• There is the option to upgrade, and purchase all the digital images and other products at a discount if you wish, but are under no obligation to do so!

This provides a considerable saving on a full bespoke photography session.  You can see my full pricing details by clicking here.  If you are interested in a mini session, get in touch and I will send you some more details.  

How can I book? 
Please pop over to my contact page by clicking here (or if you have any questions, I will happily answer them, just send me a message!).  

​Please let me know which day you wish to book, I will then let you know what time slots I have available.  Once confirmed, I will send you an invoice for £150.  Once payment is received, your time slot and date is booked.  Any remaining money owed will be invoiced to you, and is payable after the session.

Other important points
If the weather is horrible, then the back up dates for my mini sessions will be arranged with you.  In the event that we cannot find a suitable alternative date, then your £150 will be reimbursed in full.

If you have any questions, please just contact me, and I will be happy to talk it through with you.  Click here to see a previous mini session to give you an idea of what you can expect.

Tamsin x

To celebrate the launch of a new product for 2016, I am running a competition.  

My new products are wooden photo blocks, and are simply stunning.  Your image is adhered onto wooden blocks, lovingly handmade in the Netherlands.  They are covered in a protective layer, for light and water resistance.  I am rather in love with the round shape, but they come in all sizes and shapes! The simplicity of them is divine.  They have a small hole in the back, so they are ready to hang on your wall.  I think they are a wonderful and unique addition to my product list.  Let me know if you think so too!

The WINNER will get a free photo session (worth up to £145), and a small wooden round photo block (worth £70), with your choice of photo from your session, and the same image as a digital download for you to print or share.

The session is for a couple, or a family of up to 4 people.

To enter, please do the following :
Website entries:
1) Comment on this blog below (so I know you have entered)
2) Fill out the contact form here including your email address (so I can contact you if you win)
Facebook entries:
3) Pop over to Facebook (Tamsin Holland Photography) and 'like' my page, and comment on the photo linked to the competition (so I know you have entered)

Small print type thingy-me-bobs ......

• You have ONE WEEK to enter.  Entries close at 8pm on Friday 22nd Jan.  
• The WINNER will be picked randomly and announced on Facebook.  
• The photoshoot MUST be taken by 24th March 2015, and you need to be able to travel close to Teddington, Middx, TW11 for the session.

Good luck everyone.

Tamsin x

I love doing arty-crafty things with my twins.  They are in Reception class at school, and came home this weekend with an alphabet challenge.  I wanted to find creative ways to make it more interesting for them.

I remembered we used to make 'paint bags' when they were much smaller, to practice holding pencils in a tripod grip, and making marks.  So, I thought we would try it again with their alphabet challenge.

They have just turned five, so I wasn't sure if it would capture their attention.  I shouldn't have worried - they literally spent hours playing with it!

All you need is a little bit of paint, a sealable plastic bag, and a cotton bud.

We wrote the alphabet letters, made shapes, and wrote words.  All great fun.  They said the best bit was that it looked like it glowed when you held it up to the light, and that it disappeared really quickly so they could write again! 

As you can see, I took some pictures to capture the fun.  I hope this has given you an idea of something to do with your little ones.  If you would like me to capture your family having fun, please get in touch here to contact me. 
​
Tamsin x
​

One of my resolutions this year is to continue to deliver exceptional service to all my customers (past, present and future!), and make 2016 even better.

To ensure you can all hear about my latest news, any special offers or when my bookings open, a few years ago I set up a VIP email list.  I have now decided it is time to write a newsletter, which will be full of news, any special offers, and important updates.

I promise not to send these out too much, so your inbox will not get clogged up with tons of emails from me (as that is one of my pet hates!).  They will be select, short, and be issued every few months.

I have just clicked 'send' on my very first newsletter, so if you are already part of my VIP list it should be waiting for you in your inbox.

If you would like to sign up to my VIP list, please click on the contact button here.  You can have a look and see what my newsletter looks like below.  Let me know what you think!

Tamsin x