At home with the Chesters family...

When you arrive at a family's home and are welcomed in so warmly by everyone it really is a great feeling.  I know that a lifestyle 'at home' photography session isn't for everyone, but as it's what I am used to documenting most with my own family I feel right at home doing the same for others.  And I think there is true value in it too.  You capture people where they are comfortable.  Where they feel safe.  And where they spend time together living and loving.  To me it just makes sense to document it and preserve those memories.

The morning I spent with the Chesters family was wonderful.  They are a family full of energy and love.  Super happy kids and relaxed parents.  I couldn't have asked for more.  I think I possibly gained an assistant in their son too, taking after his Mum's creative talents - as he was able to direct me on the shots he wanted me to take.  What a star!  And not that you would be able to tell here, but the youngest of the family was still getting over chicken pox.  If it wasn't for the smallest of spots still present on her face I would not have known.  She was full of smiles and perfectly happy to have me snapping away.

The following images show a small selection of my favourites from the hour I spent with them.  I loved every minute!

Many thanks for looking ~ Fleur x

(as always, click into the images to see them at a better resolution...)

What the Davies' do: Lilli, 10 years in the making.

There's too much to say right now.   I've started this blog at least 4 times.  I've typed and then hit the delete key over and over.  I can't find the right words to express how I feel about my first born getting to double digits.

10 years have gone in a flash.  We couldn't be more proud of the girl who first made us a family.  A whole decade of parenting has completely flown by.  And I feel like we've done OK.  There's been many a tough time, hundreds of arguments, plenty of tears and tantrums - not just from her.  Ha!  But the be all and end all of it is that this kid (along with her younger sister and brother) makes us the happiest parents ever.  I could carry on and on about how much I love her.  But I don't need to do that.  I'm certain many of you know exactly how I feel if you have children yourselves.  High tens all round for our amazing offspring!

The following images were taken a few weeks before she turned 10.  I had came across these fun sunglasses for a great price in Home Bargains and Lilli was excited to use them to create some new artwork for her bedroom wall.  There was no pressure here.  Just a Mum and daughter having fun.  The studio wasn't even fully ready at this point - it was literally just a wooden box.  But we didn't let that put us off.

As Lilli wanted these for her walls I opted for a variety of fun editing styles.  Which I love.  It was a bit of an epiphanic moment actually.  I spend so much time thinking my work 'should' look like this or that.  And it should stay looking like this or that.  But why?  I always describe myself as eclectic in my tastes.  It's going to start coming through more in my work from now on too.  Now that I'm officially old and wise! 😉  Or thats the plan anyway...

Thanks for looking,

Fleur x ~ https://fleurdavies.wixsite.com/fleurdaviesphoto

(As always, click into the images to see them at full resolution.  Cheers loves!)

Couples Photography | Pete & Debs are to wed...

There's a special day planned this summer.  Pete and Debs are set to wed!

I have no doubt in my mind that this couple will share a very special place in my heart from now on.  I had the pleasure of meeting Debs a couple of years ago when she was my eldest's class teacher.  She did the world of good for my daughter and definitely still runs high up as "best teacher ever" in my young girl's eyes.  Many tears were shed on the day she left our school to move on with her teaching career.

The evening I received a message from Miss Johnston asking me if I was available to photograph her wedding day in summer 2017 was one of the most exciting things to happen to me in my photography journey.  We exchanged a lovely thread of written messages before meeting in person over a coffee last winter and finalising all the details of our agreement together.

Since then the three of us have met to capture some wonderful images of the happy couple while enjoying their engagement.  I have shared a couple of these images over on my Facebook page and within my Instagram feed, but I knew the time had come to pop a handful of my favourites into a blog entry.

And all I have left to say, is roll on summer!

Thanks for reading.

Fleur x

(PS - It's best to click into the pics too see better quality versions...  Thanks Peeps.)

Birthday boy

It's criminal that I am now the mother of a 6 year old!  I know, I know - I'm also the mother of an (almost) 10 year old and an 8 year old...  What I should actually say is, it's criminal that my YOUNGEST is six years old!  Urrgghhhh!

He's a handful.  A ball of energy.  Funny.  More clever than he likes to let on.  Feisty.  And always has time for a cuddle with his Mummy (for now.)

So on the morning of his birthday I told him we MUST document the fact he's turned this grand age.  He said himself how he felt so much bigger and better now that he is 6.   He got himself dressed and I put him in his sister's room for a background where I could concentrate on just him and his character.  This is how that documenting went...

Thanks for looking.

Fleur x

(PS - It's best to click into the pics too see better quality versions...  Thanks Peeps.)

What the Davies' do: Poppi asked for birthday cheesecake!

My middle one turned 8 last month and she asked for a Lemon cheesecake as her birthday cake.  She's SO my child.  Excellent choice.  I love a baked cheesecake don't you?  And because I was brought up to share, I'll add a link to the recipe at the end of the post too!

As I began gathering all the ingredients I noticed how soft the light in my kitchen was and it looked good with yellow of the lemons.  I was transported back to the days where I had been completing a 365; photo a day project.  A task like baking would have been documented for sure.  So why not do that now?  So here is the photo blog, step by step of cheesecake assembly.  YUM!


Recipe:  http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/baked-lemon-cheesecake/


(PS - It's best to click into the pics too see better quality versions...  Thanks Peeps.)